1. The prophet Ezekiel was the son of a priest, and he himself was a priest (cf. Ezek.1:3). However, he never served in that office because he was taken captive to Babylon during the reign of King Jehoiachin, who was the king of Judah after Jehoiakim.
2. This would be during the second deportation, in 597 BC.
3. During the early years of the captivity the false prophets from Israel and Judah were saying that the people were going to return to Jerusalem and that the city would not be destroyed. However, Jeremiah had sent a message to Babylon saying that the city would be destroyed.
4. Ezekiel confirmed his message and warned the people that they must turn to God before they could return to Jerusalem.
5. There are many applications in the book of Ezekiel for us. I want to deal with his warnings in chapters 3 and 33. If we do what we are supposed to be doing (winning souls, supporting missionaries, being faithful, etc.), God will richly bless us.

I. ALL CHRISTIANS ARE TO WARN THE UNSAVED OF THEIR LOST CONDITION (3:17-19; 33:7-11).

1. This responsibility to warn the lost is taught in both the Old and the New Testaments (cf. Acts 18:4-6; 20:25-27).
2. I shall never forget a true story concerning Dr. Lee Roberson, who was the pastor of Highland Park Baptist Church in Chattanooga for many years. A member of his church slipped him a piece of paper with an unsaved lady’s name and address on it, asking him to visit her. The lady’s husband had just died and she needed help. Pastor Roberson got home and emptied his pockets, putting the slip of paper on his desk. But while studying for a message, he inadvertently buried the paper under some books. A couple of weeks later, he was putting the books away and clearing his desk when he discovered the slip of paper. "Oh no!" he thought, "I had better go and visit her tomorrow."
3. The next morning, Bro. Roberson went out early to pick up the newspaper. When he opened the paper, the front page story was about a lady who had hung herself. He ran into the house and found the piece of paper on his desk - it was the same woman! Bro. Roberson said that, many years have passed but he is still bothered by what happened.
4. Many Christians have this unscriptural notion that soulwinning is only for the pastor or other preachers (cf. Eph.4:11,12).
5. The Great Commission is for the local church (Matt.28:18-20; Mark 16:15,16).
6. I remember about 4 years Bro. Roland Garlick preached a message from these passage in Ezekiel, and when he gave the invitation many came forward. But what happened? (cf. Ezek.33:31,32).

II. EZEKIEL WAS COMMISSIONED NOT TO WARN THE NATION BUT TO WARN INDIVIDUALS.

1. The nation was very rebellious and was already judged by God. Its doom could not be averted (3:4-11; 33:21).
2. Yet God in His long-suffering still gave the individual an opportunity to escape the threatening judgment, that by hearing and obeying the Word of God he might live (cf. 18:4-9).
3. I believe the situation is the same today. I believe it is probably too late for America with its legal abortion and homosexuality and other horrible sins against a holy God. But God is still patient and long-suffering with sinners and if they repent, God will save them.

III. GOD HAS NO PLEASURE IN THE DEATH OF THE WICKED (33:11).

1. God wants sinners to repent (Ezek.33:11; cf. I Tim.2:4; II Peter 3:9).
2. God is merciful and patient with sinners (Ezek.18:23,31,32).
3. God has given us the responsibility to warn the unsaved. Henry Heinz (1844-1919) was the founder of Heinz Ketchup, the largest producer of ketchup, vinegar, and pickles in America. He was known as "the Pickle King." He also happened to be a Christian. One day someone said to him, "Since you are a Christian, why are you not winning souls?" Heinz became very angry and was unable to sleep that night. Finally, at 4:00 in the morning, he prayed that God would help him to win souls. Then he was able to sleep. He went on to become a successful soul winner, winning over 250 people to the Lord.

CONCLUSION:

1. We do not have watchmen today like they did back in Israel, but we have night watchmen, security guards, and policemen.
2. But God is not speaking here of these type of watchmen. He said to the prophet Ezekiel: "I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel…give them warning from me" (3:17).
3. Today, God wants us to be watchmen. If you have any doubts about this, read again Acts 18:6 and 20:26.
4. The duties of a watchman are:

1. To watch while others sleep.
2. To warn while others are indifferent.
3. To awaken by sounding an alarm. Are you sounding the alarm?