What practical steps can we take to heed God's messages in our community? Setting the Scene: Ezekiel’s Watchtower “At the end of seven days the word of the LORD came to me, saying” (Ezekiel 3:16). The prophet is pulled aside for a full week of silence before God speaks again. From that solitary watchtower, the Lord lays out the job description for every believer who cares about the spiritual welfare of a community. Hear Before You Speak • Schedule regular “seven-day spaces” — deliberate, unrushed blocks of time for listening, not talking. • Silence the phone, the news feed, the music playlist; make room for Scripture to ring in your ears. • Journal what you sense God highlighting; listening is an active discipline. Stay Saturated in Scripture • Read broadly: plan to cover the whole Bible in a year so you gain the full counsel of God (Acts 20:27). • Read deeply: linger over passages that address current community issues; commit key verses to memory (Psalm 119:11). • Read repeatedly: let recurring exposure sharpen discernment (Hebrews 5:14). Evaluate Every Word Against the Word • Test prophecies, trends, and popular opinions with Biblical plumb lines (1 Thessalonians 5:21). • Refuse half-truths, no matter how appealing; error always harms the flock. Speak Up—But With Love and Clarity • When you see danger, warn; when you see obedience, affirm (Ezekiel 3:17–19). • Use plain speech, avoiding jargon that clouds the gospel (1 Corinthians 14:8–9). • Aim for hearts, not headlines; let love frame every confrontation (Ephesians 4:15). Live the Message Before You Deliver It • Personal holiness makes public witness believable (1 Peter 1:15). • Let neighbors watch you forgive quickly, serve gladly, and work diligently—sermons with skin on. Guard Your Own Heart Daily • Confess sin immediately; unrepentant watchmen lose moral authority (Proverbs 28:13). • Cultivate humility; remember you were rescued too (Titus 3:3–5). • Lean on the Spirit’s power; self-effort alone cannot keep you faithful (Galatians 5:16). Stand Together as a Watchman Team • Form small groups committed to mutual exhortation (Hebrews 10:24–25). • Share insights God gives; no single believer sees every angle (1 Corinthians 12:21). • Pray corporately for courage to act when warnings are unpopular. Keep the Long View in Mind • Judgment and salvation are both real and eternal (2 Corinthians 5:10–11). • Faithful warnings today may spare souls tomorrow; persevere even when results seem slow (Galatians 6:9). |
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