Good day Beloved of God in Christ Jesus. You are all welcome to another new day. We thank God for the gift of life.
In our today’s episode 563 of studying and understanding the Bible, we shall be looking into the book of Ezekiel Chapter 33 titled:
This Is A Must Read! The Functions Of A Watchman
Who is a Watchman?
To get a proper definition for the word “watchman,” we need to examine the original Hebrew text for the word.
According to Strong’s Lexicon, in Hebrew text, you will see something like this: צפה
Transliterated as tsâphâh
And pronounced as /tsaw-faw’/
What does it mean?
From its primitive root word, which is a verb, it means to lean forward in order to peer into the distance in order to observe what is going on or what is coming.
It also implies to behold, to spy, to look up, to watch, to look out or look about.
Anyone saddled with the above actions, is a watchman.
This is exactly what Prophet Ezekiel and other prophets in the Bible were commissioned to do.
Someone is reading this post now and probably you might have been a watchman for a long time without even knowing. Someone can be a watchman for his household, for the nation, for the church of God and even in the marketplace. Their job is to observe things closely and sound the alarm the moment they sense dangers. They could do this because they are gifted with eagle eyes and rightly dividing the Word of God for people to come to the full knowledge of God.
Basically, every minister of God should function in this role.
In chapter 33 that we are examining today, we can see how God again reminded Ezekiel of his assignment as a watchman. Remember, he was already commissioned in chapter 3:16 as a watchman. So, the onus was upon him to function in that regard for the people of Israel.
To warn people of their sins which always caused enemy’s invasion upon their land.
This position is a very sensitive one in the sense that if people are sinning and the devil is about to attack and God reveals it to a watchman so he could sound the alarm, but refuses to warn the people, in the old testament, the watchman will be held responsible for the death of that sinner. However, if he sounds the alarm, which means warning the people of their sins and the impending danger and they refuse to listen, then the watchman is not to blame. The blood of those sinners will be on their own heads.
If we should interpret this with the lenses of the Epistles, we will be talking about those who are performing their roles as ministers in bringing people to God and revealing God’s Kingdom to them and making them function in this Kingdom, as true citizens (Believers) and when they fail to carry out this assignment, they become disqualified on the last day.
Yes, that’s what Apostle Paul says in 1 Cor 9:27
He says: “…but I train like a champion athlete. I subdue my body and get it under my control, so that after preaching the good news to others I myself won’t be disqualified…”
That means he did not want to lose his reward of being a watchman. There is a reward for serving God well. Doing the work, the way God wants you to do it not the way you want to do it.
Another new covenant application can be found in 1 Cor 3:12-15 where every man’s work will be tested with fire. (please read).
See, the truth is God is not interested in the death of sinners but for them to come to repentance and bear good fruits that have eternal benefits.
As a matter of facts, in Ezekiel 33:11, God says He would rather be happy to see them stop sinning so that they can live. He wanted and still wants people to stop the evil they are doing, because sin has a price, and the price is death.
But the moment we embrace and receive the gift of Salvation that Jesus perfected and gave to us free of charge, then we do not have to pay the price for sin again, since He did that already using His shed blood. Every minister of the Gospel should let people realise this truth. The price has been paid. All that is required is to believe and receive the offer from Christ Jesus.
We must be ready to reconnect this generation back to the original Gospel of Christ, the true Gospel of Salvation, which is all about the Kingdom of God. Remember this was the sole responsibility entrusted with His disciples in Luke 10:9 and also in Matt 28:19-20
The moment you start to preach the true Gospel, do not be surprised when religious people start to attack you. Because for many decades, religion has succeeded in substituting itself for the Kingdom of God. Both are two different paths that will never meet.
The Kingdom message is a threat to religion. We must all bear that in mind. This is why they hated Jesus Christ, because Jesus Christ did many things that religion frowned at and still frowns at.
For example, Jesus dined and made friends with the so called “sinners.”
He associated with prostitutes, street people, publicans and so many of them, which religious people will never do. Rather, they will always condemn sinners and find a way to destroy them (read John 8:3-11).
So, according to this chapter under study, God is looking for those who will serve as watchmen that would lead people back to Himself so they could have and enjoy Father-Son relationship and become the citizens of God’s Kingdom.
Will you be ready to carry out this noble assignment?
The ball is in your court.
This is why Apostle Paul encourages us to pray for all men in 1Timothy 2:1-4 why? Because God’s desire is for all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of God – The Divine Truth.
To be continued…stay tuned and stay blessed.
Let us Pray:
I declare you continue to walk in the divine truth revealed in Christ Jesus as you continue in your life journey to know more about the true God and how to be fulfilled on earth, in Jesus name.
No one will be able to blow you about by the waves and winds of false doctrines, you will not be led into errors, you will always be firmly rooted in the knowledge of God, in Christ Jesus.
Receive the capacity for discernment to be able to detect satanic deceit and manipulations and be protected from every form of evil attack, in Jesus name.
In this new week, you will breakthrough barriers and obstacles and emerge winners always, in Jesus name.
Bible Readings For Today: Jeremiah Chapters 43, 44, 45 & 46 with Isaiah 25
I call you blessed now and always.
Monday October 12, 2020 (DDMI)
