1. One of the worst parts of traveling is getting caught in heavy traffic.

2. The Waze app provides a warning of traffic conditions allowing for course correction.

3. Ezekiel 33:1-2 And the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

4. 2 "Son of man, speak to the sons of your people and say to them, 'If I bring a sword upon a land, and the people of the land take one man from among them and make him their watchman,

5. The role of the watchman was crucial for the well-being of Old Testament cultures.

6. Watchman would guard the crop from animals and thieves.

7. Watchman would warn against the impending attack of invaders.

8. Watchman would monitor the people in their society.

9. Eze. 33:3-5 “and he sees the sword coming upon the land and blows on the trumpet and warns the people,

10. 4 then he who hears the sound of the trumpet and does not take warning, and a sword comes and takes him away, his blood will be on his [own] head.

11. 5 'He heard the sound of the trumpet but did not take warning; his blood will be on himself. But had he taken warning, he would have delivered his life.

12. When the watchman brings the message, the people have two choices:

13. 1. Listen
2. Don’t Listen

14. When the watchman performs his responsibility, the consequences rest on the people.

15. It is not the responsibility of the watchman to argue with the people.

16. Eze. 33:6-7 'But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet and the people are not warned, and a sword comes and takes a person from them, he is taken away in his iniquity; but his blood I will require from the watchman's hand.'

17. 7 "Now as for you, son of man, I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel; so you will hear a message from My mouth and give them warning from Me.

18. When the watchman doesn’t perform his responsibility, he inherits the consequences.

19. 1 Pet. 2:5 “You also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”

20. Peter’s letter was written to Jewish Christians who had been scattered throughout Asia minor.

21. Everyone is called upon to be a watchman in our current society and culture.

22. Eze. 33:8-9 "When I say to the wicked, 'O wicked man, you will surely die,' and you do not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require from your hand.

23. 9 "But if you on your part warn a wicked man to turn from his way and he does not turn from his way, he will die in his iniquity, but you have delivered your life.

24. Ezekiel is charged with bringing a message of hope and salvation.

25. It is always God’s message delivered through human instrument.

26. Psalm 271:1 “A Song of Ascents, of Solomon
Psalm 271:1 “A Song of Ascents, of Solomon. Unless the LORD builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the LORD guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain”

27. The watchman has to ensure the right message is communicated.

28. The watchman doesn’t save the people but delivers the message.

29. If we do not watch and warn, the wicked will.

30. “The wicked spies upon the righteous And seeks to kill him” (Psalm 37:32, NASB).

31. Satan is on a relentless pursuit to drive a wedge between man and God.

32. Matt. 16:18 "I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it

33. We are to be attacking, gates are designed to defend.

34. What is our responsibility as watchmen?

35. 1. Guard the Crop (Protect the truth)

36. 1 Tim. 6:20 “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly [and] empty chatter [and] the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"-- which some have professed and thus gone astray from the faith. Grace be with you”

37. 2. Warn against Attack (Teach the truth)

38. Matt. 28:19-20 "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age"

39. 3. Know our People (Live the truth)

40. Acts 2:46-47 “ Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart,

41. 47 praising God and having favor with all the people
47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved” (Acts 2:46-47, NASB).

42. Why does it feel that we are always on defense?