I will be very sensitive to be guided by God to admonish others

STUDY: #607 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES

Pastor: Edith Cruz

From: September 1 – 7, 2009

TOPIC: “I will be very sensitive to be guided by God to admonish others" Ezekiel 3:16-21 The prophet Ezekiel had a great responsibility on his shoulders and this was to severely admonish the people of Israel when they were in disobedience before God. No one likes reprehensions because they are shameful, then we get upset with the person that admonishes us and we criticize the admonishment. But this should not be this way, what we should immediately do is proceed to repentance. There is a purpose and a restoration that goes with the admonishment or reprehension. After the reprehension a change should occur, a regeneration of what God doesn’t like. For this reason, we should understand clearly what God likes and what He doesn't like. We should walk with that responsibility on our shoulders. It was important for Ezekiel to admonish the Israelites in order to deliver them from judgments or punishments. Therefore, Ezekiel knew how serious it was to be guilty of the blood of those he was supposed to admonish and correct; it is just as serious for us in these times to admonish, correct and warn those who are with us of the danger of sinning and disobedience. We should do what is correct in each opportunity that God pleases to give to us. God looks at our life. He looks for someone whose heart is willing to feel compassion. When He finds it, then God begins to worry us, to speak and to direct us. Ezekiel’s duty was to speak while his tongue was loose and slight. We need to be sensitive to God’s guidance. In these times the church has become a system that provides for people to come and feel well. But this is not right, the church is where courageous men and women snatch the Kingdom of Heaven and live their lives soberly, where believers know where they are headed. Ezekiel had to be very sensitive to be guided by God, and so should we in order to testify and speak to others. Sometimes we remain silent when we should speak. Weakness wants to overcome us and we are afraid of what people may say. We should know that when God demands us to deliver many from evil it is because we love with passion in our lives. That is what drives us to speak and move around. Why not get in the way and deliver someone from his disgrace? We live too much for ourselves; we are very selfish. As God demanded from Ezekiel, nowadays we should be more conscious of our duty as watchtowers of the living God. Perhaps it is because we ignore the power of God. When God is in us, He speaks to us, and He reveals Himself to us to do according to what it is in His mind. Sometimes, we work according to our state of mind, but we should work according to what God wants and be capable of stepping aside and take God’s thoughts. Sometimes we meditate too much in things that are vain. We should know how to walk for God. In order to hear and speak to God we have to be in communion with Him. Ezekiel was going to be the watchman, the guard, the one that cared and spoke on God’s behalf, but there began to be problems and bad intentions. It would have been better to die than to be the town’s watchman. The watchman was the person to sound the horn or alarm before the imminence of danger. That is why God chooses us, to deliver others from the great dangers. But Ezekiel did what he had to

do; he opened his mouth to announce the dangers to his town. Let us do the same in our time and circumstances. When disgrace comes along no one will be able to fix it. But, when we are warriors to set free others from the great dangers, we should know that we do it to avoid destruction. The watchmen also run into great dangers, because the enemy would have a sound victory if he succeeded to give death or make the watchman desert. If the enemy succeeds to make us die spiritually, then he has shut are mouths. We should never allow this. When the voice of God is no longer there it is because of our apathy, this is where spiritual death comes so that we will not be vigilant. If we see the danger and we don't announce it we will have to pay a high price. The God from Heaven pays us to be watchmen; there is no reason to fear. The watchman sees how the devil destroys people; then one has to be full of passion and love for them. The times come to an end and God marks the times. When there is spiritual death, people become speechless; they don't know what to advice. Beware of the dangers of the watchmen. Spiritual death can be seen when there is apathy towards everything that surrounds us. Let us see, observe, fight for the good things, because regretfully we will have to answer to God. Spiritual death, apathy, and the lack of passion will not allow us to be vigilant and not know when the enemy comes, and this would be an embarrassment for our lives. God’s people cannot be victims of the enemy but rather they have to confront the enemy, being vigilant spiritually restless, courageous and prepared. In many occasions there are deserters who escape from the battlefield. The deserter escapes because of the danger he saw. Sometimes we leave our place because we don't want to see the danger. Then, there will be complaint and lament on behalf of the deserter because he left the post where God placed him. A deserter will have tears in his old age when he no longer has strength. Those who struggle and know that Jehovah has called them as a watchman will always be vigilant. The church of the Lord Jesus Christ is a pure church. We are the ones who struggle, we will have the world against us, but there are persons that we have to deliver from danger. It seems that some people prefer to desert and remain quiet. The watchman cannot abandon his post even if he is ambushed by his worst enemy. The great problem for the watchman who abandons his post is that he can be executed by his own boss, because Jehovah’s anger is against him, the payment is given by God. Like Ezekiel we should not allow this to happen to us. Some men of this earth curse the watchmen who are faithful to God, but it is better than to have a curse from our God for being false, mediocre and for keeping the people happy while sinning and doing what was wrong. Let us seek God’s blessings by being brave. Who do we want the reward from, God or mankind? The watchman receives and informs faithfully. Let us look above where God is and let us admonish on His behalf, let us take note of what God has spoken and revealed. Let us struggle. Something we should know is to inform what we have heard, not in our name but in God’s name. Let there be no sadness because we didn’t struggle and let things pass by. Let us inform what the Lord wants to put in our heart and let us be willing. Let us be the watchmen of the High Priest, courageous and decisive like the prophet Ezekiel. Amen.