God set Ezekiel as a
"watchman" over the house of Israel.
In the instruction God gave to Ezekiel, God told him to go to the house of Israel and warn them.
If Ezekiel failed to warn them, their blood would be on Ezekiel's hands.
This is a very strong charge upon Ezekiel.
Ezekiel 3
4 And he said unto me, Son of man, go, get thee unto the house of Israel, and speak with MY words unto them.
5 For thou art not sent to a people of a strange speech and of an hard language, but to the house of Israel;
(Prophets are sent to speak to the church, not to the world.)
6 Not to many people of a strange speech and of an hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, had I sent thee to them, they would have hearkened unto thee.
7 But the house of Israel will not hearken unto thee; for they will not hearken unto me: for all the house of Israel are impudent and hardhearted.
8 Behold, I have made thy face strong against their faces, and thy forehead strong against their foreheads.
9 As an adamant harder than flint have I made thy forehead: fear them not, neither be dismayed at their looks, though they be a rebellious house.
10 Moreover he said unto me, Son of man, all MY words that I shall speak unto thee receive in thine heart, and hear with thine ears.
11 And go, get thee to them of the captivity, unto the children of thy people, and speak unto them, and tell them, Thus saith the Lord God; whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear.
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17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at MY mouth, and give them warning from ME.
(This is what prophets do in the New Testament church today. After Jesus arose, HE gave to the church apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:8;11-12)
18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumbling-block before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.
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I asked God, "Does this apply to the New Testament church?"
And God reminded me of the following:
In Acts 20, the apostle Paul explained that he had given them "all the counsel" of God and therefore he was free from their blood.
(Though Paul was not a prophet but was an apostle/teacher, he felt that same responsibility of communicating all the counsel to God to the church to warn them.)
Acts 20 (Paul speaks to the elders of the church at Ephesus)
17 And from Miletus he (Paul) sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which HE hath purchased with His own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
***
The above scripture in Acts 20 has been very important to me in motivating me to share everything God has given me with the church. And it has helped me to be diligent to warn individuals as I believe God has shown me to warn them. If they fail to head that warning which I deliver from God I know myself to be free from their blood.
But if I fail to warn them, I will likely be accountable in some way for their blood if they continue in their wrong way.
Because of this, I have strength to present the warning to them.
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