TITLE:  WE MUST HEAR GOD FIRST BEFORE WE SPEAK FOR HIM

TITLE:  WE MUST HEAR GOD FIRST BEFORE WE SPEAK FOR HIM

SCRIPTURE:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 8 When I say to the wicked, ‘You wicked person, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade them from their ways, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. 9 But if you do warn the wicked person to turn from their ways and they do not do so, they will die for their sin, though you yourself will be saved.  10 “Son of man, say to the Israelites, ‘This is what you are saying: “Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?”’ 11 Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’  (Ezekiel 33:7—11 NIV)

OBSERVATION:

            God is dealing with Ezekiel in his calling and what to say to the people.  There is a greater judgement on all of us who are called of the Lord to do his outreach to people who do not know him.  All of us are called to be watchman for God’s people.  God said to Ezekiel, “I have made you a watchman.”  As watchman of God for his people, we are called to do two things.  Firstly, WE must HEAR the word of God.  Secondly, WE must SPEAK.  We cannot give to the people what God wants to say to them, if we as watchman hear God speak to us first. Otherwise, we will give the people our own words.

            If God said, people are wicked, than that is what we say.  People’s destiny depends on what we give them.  God holds me responsible for what he told me to tell others.  If there is sin, we must tell the soul that is sinning of what God has for them.  God’s intention is never to punish people of their sin.  He first gives us a warning and it is up to us to choose or not to choose to stop sinning. 

            God said to Ezekiel, tell the people who our saying; Our offenses and sins weigh us down, and we are wasting away because of them. How then can we live?” Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways! Why will you die, people of Israel?’

            God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked.  God does not rejoice that the wicked people will be judged.  God’s desire is for everyone who wants to live to turn from their ways and live.  They are to turn from their evil ways.  Why will they die?  Not because the good things that they have done, but for the evil ways they continue to commit to do.  We are called to hear God’s word first and relay that to those who continue to do wickedness.  God does not take delight in the death of any person.  It is his heart that people will turn away from their evil, repent and do the right thing. 

APPLICATION:

            I am reminded to hear God first, and then to speak on his behalf a message that he has spoken to me to the people.  I am responsible to deliver the word of God as I heard it.  I learned as well how gracious God is in giving chances and opportunities for people to turn and change their ways.  God is a good God.  I want to be a watchman that faithfully hears God and speak on his behalf to others.

PRAYER:

            Heavenly Father, help me to see the importance of speaking to others what you are speaking to me for them.  Help me to hear you clearly.  Help me to take my responsibility in such a way that it honors you.  Teach me and help me to help others who are struggling and sin in life.  Teach me and help me to help others in such a way that bring them closer to you.  I ask for your courage and power to speak your word without fear of how people react.  _Amen!