Title: The Keeper of the Gospel
Text: Ezekiel 3:16-21
Keeper of the Gospel
Today, ahead of Invitational Sunday of the Lost Sheep, I would like to talk about the Keepers of the Gospel. First, the word watchman (hp;x) is chapa in Hebrew, and the root means 'to look around, watch over, watch over, watch over, watch over, watch over', and the participle of chapa means 'watchman'. Chapa is a modern military term used to protect people's lives and property, mainly by standing vigilant at night, referring to sentries and sentries.
The absolute condition of a watchman is first to be awake. Second, you must have wise insight. Third, you must be healthy. Fourth, you must have a strong sense of duty. However, in the text, the prophet is called a watchman, but spiritually, all Christians who have become disciples of Jesus are called watchmen. So we are watchmen because we are Christians. The watchman of the gospel must remember three things and cry out boldly. Keepers of the Gospel
I. Remember that faith comes from hearing.
Verse 17 says, “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; listen to my mouth and give them warning for me.” I did. The mission of the watchman is to first hear the word of God, and then realize it with the word that he has heard from others on behalf of God. The watchman must first hear the voice of God that others have not heard, and must first see what others have not seen. And it is the mission of the watchman to make those who have not heard hear, and to awaken those who have not yet understood to understand. Romans 10:17 says, “Therefore faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” Faith must hear the words of Christ. Missions and evangelism are to make known those who do not know and to awaken the ignorant.
3 common sins of modern people
(1) It is the sin of not learning.
(2) It is a sin for not putting into practice what you have learned.
(3) It is the sin of not teaching.
II. We must remember that we can coexist together by sharing the gospel.
Verse 18 says, “If I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not alert him, or tell the wicked to turn from his evil way and save his life, the wicked will die in his iniquities, but I will pay the price of his blood. You will find it in your hand." It is a shocking statement that if the watchman of the gospel does not preach the gospel, the price of the blood will be found in the hands of the watchman of the gospel. In 2 Kings 7, the city of Samaria was besieged by Ben-hadad king of Syria, and the people in the city starved to death.
The four lepers who were outside the city couldn't stand their hunger any longer, so they went to Aramzin and said they would die if they died. As these four lepers entered the Syrian camp, God performed a miracle so that the sound of the soles of their feet could be heard as the sound of the horsemen of millions of Egyptian troops. It happened so quickly that the Arameans didn't even have time to collect their munitions, so they all ran away.
The four lepers ate and plundered their gold and silver treasures. 2 Kings 7:9 “The lepers said to their friends, “We must not do this, because today is a day of good news, and we are silent. Let's make it known." The four lepers did as they had discussed, and when all the people in Samaria heard the news, they went to the Syrian camp and escaped hunger. This is why we need to be alert and preach the gospel. Keeping in mind that I can live only if I save myself, I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will diligently preach the gospel wherever you are weak.
Ⅲ. I must remember that my life is preserved by fulfilling the responsibility of sharing the gospel.
Verse 19 says, “Unless you awaken the wicked and turn from his evil heart and evil deeds, he will die in his iniquities, but you will preserve your life.” It's not my fault that he doesn't believe even after I preach the gospel. He who does not believe will perish because of his sins, but I, who preached the gospel, fulfilled my responsibility, so it is a precious word to preserve life.
Therefore, when we evangelize, we are told to preach the gospel without judging whether or not we hear, “Whether that person believes or not.” We must not make the mistake of not preaching the Gospel at all because of our prejudice. Would you give up being a stubborn husband and a prodigal child? If he gives up, he falls into the depths of Hell. Even his family has given up, who will preach the gospel to him? Please do not give up and spread the gospel with all your zeal.
There are people who spend their whole lives as debauchers, hear the gospel at the last moment of their lives, repent, believe in Jesus, and die. Therefore, it is saying that I must fulfill my responsibility by preaching the gospel to the end. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you will do your best in preaching the gospel, keeping in mind that I will save myself and I will live at the same time when I am properly fulfilling the mission of a watchman that God has given me.