Will You Be Obedient & Tell Them?

“When the watchmen sees the enemy coming, he sounds the alarm to warn the people. Then if those who hear the alarm refuse to take action, it is their own fault if they die. They heard the alarm but ignored it, so the responsibility is theirs. If they had listened to the warning, they could have saved their lives. But if the watchman sees the enemy coming and doesn't sound the alarm to warn the people, he is responsible for their captivity. They will die in their sins, but I will hold the watchman responsible for their deaths." Ezekiel 33:3-6

There will be times that the Lord will prompt you to speak a loving word of correction, warning, or even rebuke to others. Perhaps it is a brother or sister in the Lord that is not living a life worthy of their calling or has strayed off the narrow path. It could be a lost soul that needs to know that Jesus died for their sins and if they do not confess and repent of their sins and believe in Christ they will die and go to hell. My question to you is will you be obedient and tell them or will you say it’s none of my business Lord? It's not my place.

Don’t allow yourself to be conformed to the world’s way and its customs. (Romans 12:2)The world does not care about the eternal souls of men. They do not have the Spirit of God and the love of Christ in them so they do not understand the things of the Spirit. But we do and we must watch out for one another and also hold each other accountable. We must speak the truth of God’s Word to each other. It is our responsibility as servants of the Most of God to be watchmen and watchwomen for one another, helping each other to stay on the narrow road. This does not mean that we are to become sin spotters going around trying to spot sin in our brothers and sisters lives to call them out on it. No..what I am talking about is lovingly watching each others back. If you see your brother or sister slipping away from the truth, being drawn into sin or disobedience and the Lord tells you to talk to them then go quickly and address the situation in love. Don't wait when the Lord tells you to go.

We all know it is not easy to give someone a word of correction, warning, or rebuke but our heavenly Father said through Ezekiel that we are to warn others when we see the enemy coming. We are to sound an alarm to warn the people. The alarm is our mouth. I plead with you don’t turn your back on your brother or sister when you see that they are heading down the wrong path and are in disobedience to God. Don’t say it is not your business, because IT IS! Lovingly remind them what the Word of God says about their situation, circumstances, attitude or actions. If they refuse to listen and ignore the warning then they will suffer the consequences. But if we see that someone is surely headed for destruction or is even only ‘a little’ involved in sin or disobedience and we don’t warn them then we are responsible for their bondage and even their spiritual death. (Ezekiel 33:6) Remember also that it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. (James 4:17)

Imagine how the prophet Nathan felt when the Lord had him go to King David and talk to him about the murder of Uriah. He presented a story to the king about an injustice that was done to a poor man and King David became angry at the offender in the story and said that he deserved to die. He ordered for the poor man to be repayed for what was stolen. The Prophet Nathan immediately revealed that the man in the story was King David himself. He rebuked King David and told him that his sins were rooted in dissatisfaction with God's blessings. David just couldn't be satisfied with what God had given him (his own wives) he had to take more (another man's wife). King David repented immediately and Nathan the Prophet encouraged him by saying his sins were forgiven, although there would still be consequences for his disobedience and sin (the death of their unborn child and rebellion in his household). (2 Samuel 12:1-15)

It’s not easy to tell another believer that they are sin or are compromising their faith. Perhaps it is not easy because we don’t want to offend anyone. We want to be liked. We may even fear that the person will get angry with us, but we can not fear what man will say or do, instead we must fear the Lord and do His will at all times. We can not try to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people is our goal then we will not be able to be Christ’s servants and responsible watchmen. (Galatians 1:10)

If our Lord says, "Please tell them that their foul and abusive language, telling obscene stories and coarse jokes and foolish talk are not for them", then tell them in love.(Ephesians 5:4). If our Lord says, "Please tell your sister that her life of fornication and adulterous relationships is not pleasing to Me. This sin is against her own body and Me. Leave this lifestyle and turn back to Me", then do it promptly. (1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 7:1-2) Do it immediately when the Lord says, "Share the love of Christ and tell this thirsty soul about the life giving water of Jesus Christ. Tell them that they will thirst no more if they will drink from the Living Water, but if they continue down this destructive path they will surely die in their sin."

Do not hesitate trust the Lord. We can be sure that whoever brings a sinner back will have saved that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. (James 5:19-20)An open rebuke is better than hidden love! (Proverbs 27:5) Love will move you to point out a person’s failings because you know the consequences. Your love for them will want to see them living in the light. The rebuke will benefit the recipient, whether they seem to have received it or not. Our job as watchmen is to sound the alarm. It’s up to them if they heed the warning or not. (Ezekiel 33:4-5)

May our Lord help us to watch out for one another. May we be obedient and go at once when prompted by the Spirit to speak the truth in love. Give us eyes to see when we and others are under attack. Help us to sound the alarm with all the Love that you have put in our hearts for the truth of God’s Word. Help us to do your will even if that means being rejected or persecuted. In Jesus name..Amen.