Ezekiel 33:9
Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
God told Ezekiel that he was a watchman to Israel and that his messages were to warn Israel of their ways. A watchman was the man who sat in the tower on the wall, whose job it was to look for the enemy coming from a distance so that he could warn Israel of the impending danger. If this watchman did not sound the alarm, many would die because of his negligence. If this watchman warned the people, but they did nothing with the warning, their destruction was their own fault.
God told Ezekiel that, as a preacher, he was the watchman for Israel. It was his responsibility to warn people of their ways so that they could turn from those ways that would destroy them. Just like Ezekiel was a watchman for Israel, the pastor is the watchman for the church, and the parent is the watchman for the child. To see ways that are dangerous and not warn those who they have a responsibility to warn is negligence, and God will judge the watchman. If we are to warn people of dangerous ways, we must learn what God means by the word way. Let me share six things the word way means that we must warn people about.
First, the word way is talking about a person’s conduct. How you live your life does matter to God. Your conduct as a believer is a representation of your heart. Your conduct is not to look like the world or to have the world’s manners, but it is to be a representation of Christ. When your conduct changes, it is the watchman’s responsibility to warn you.
Second, the word way is talking about a person’s disposition. A wrong attitude reveals a deeper problem in your life. Your attitude can be detrimental to your Christian testimony. You have no right to have a bad attitude just because of another’s wrongdoing toward you. One wrong doesn't make your wrong right. Guard your attitude so that it doesn't become a detriment to your Christian walk.
Third, the word way is talking about your habits. When your good habits change, it is the responsibility of those who lead you to warn you. I often talk to people who do things out of character because I know something has changed in their life. Keeping the right habits is critical to doing right, and a change in routine is always a change for the worse.
Fourth, the word way is talking about the wrong direction. You may be positionally right, but your direction may be directionally wrong. I would rather be directionally right and positionally wrong than to be positionally right and directionally wrong. Your direction dictates future position; therefore, when your direction is pointed toward compromisers and KJB deniers, you are headed toward compromise, and someone must warn you.
Fifth, the word way is talking about methods. Methods say a lot about a church or an individual. The methods you implement tell where you are going. The methods of the old paths should never be set aside, but must always be done because those methods dictate who you will become.
Sixth, the word way is talking about distance. Backing up is always an indication that you are changing for the worse. Guard your distance from God and the things of the right. Distancing yourself from right always results in wrong associations and compromise.
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