Topical Sermons Power Point Show
Scripture Readings:
AM: Ezekiel 3:16-21
PM: Isaiah 62:6-12
WATCHMEN IN ZION
Intro.
1. Recent tornadoes that did untold damage and loss of life. Early warning systems help protect (weather warnings, storm spotters, alarms).
2. Are there watchmen in Zion today? Should there be? If so, who are they? How do we react to them and the work they do? Is it scriptural to describe Christians as watchmen? Are you are watchman?
I. WATCHMEN IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
A. OT Written for Our Learning (Rom. 15:4).
1. Wise unto salvation in Christ (2 Tim. 3:15).
2. Its examples admonish us to avoid sin and live faithfully (1 Cor. 10:6-12).
B. In the OT, God Likened the Work of His Prophets to That of Watchmen.
1. A watchman:
a. Positioned on city wall to watch and report what he saw – 2 Sam. 18:24.
b. His report could be an assessment of what he saw, or a warning based upon what he saw – 2 Sam. 18:25-27 (2 Kgs. 9:17-20). He could recognize friend and foe.
c. Stationed on the wall of a city, watching and warning of approaching danger or friends.
2. God used this common practice to teach His truth to Israel and surrounding nations (Prophets were God’s watchmen):
a. Isa. 21:6 – Announced fall of Babylon and Edom (“Go, set a watchman, Let him declare what he sees,” cf. Isa. 21:6-9; 11-12).
b. Jer. 6:17 – God set watchmen over Israel and Judah who warned them of their sins.
c. Ezek. 3:17; 33:7 – Ezekiel a specific example of a watchmen from and for God.
3. Israel fell into judgment for her sins because she failed to heed the warnings God’s watchmen gave – Jer. 6:16-19 (7:16-27). (Assyria and Babylon invasions and exiles.)
4. If watchmen failed to speak God’s word of warning:
a. They were held guilty, too. – Ezek. 3:18, 20; 33:8
b. Such were useless to the Lord and His people – Isa. 56:10 ("His watchmen are blind, they are all without knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber").
II. WATCHMEN ON THE WALLS OF ZION.
A. Messiah’s Kingdom, the Church of Christ, is Mount Zion, the City of the Living God – Heb. 12:22-23; Gal. 4:25-26.
B. God Has Placed Watchmen on the Walls of Zion (the church, Messiah’s kingdom).
1. Isa. 62:1-2, 6-7 – They shall never hold their peace.
2. Isa. 52:7-8 – Context of redemption (52:3), the predicted work of preaching the gospel to those lost in sin by watchmen who lift up their voices. – Fulfilled: Rom. 10:15-17
III. CHRIST HAS SET WATCHMEN IN HIS CHURCH.
-It is scripturally right for us to use the term watchman when speaking of those who preach and teach the gospel.
-The NT establishes both the need of every saint to be watchful and the work of those to whom Christ has given particular responsibility as watchmen. (cf. Severe weather watchers)
A. All Christians are to be Watchful in All Things – 1 Cor. 16:13.
1. Spiritual alertness a prominent theme of the gospel – Matt. 24:42-44; 26:41; 1 Ths. 5:6; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 3:2-3.
2. Moral responsibility to watch out for our souls and the souls of others – Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18.
3. The real question: Has Christ given any particular watchman responsibilities to brethren?
4. Who are the watchmen in Zion spoken of by God’s prophet in Isaiah 52:7-8 and 62:6?
5. Answer: Yes, they are found in Eph. 4:11-16.
B. Inspired Men: Apostles and Prophets of Christ are Watchmen in Zion – Eph. 4:11.
1. By their work of revelation, confirmation, and inspiration; Gospel delivered (Jude 3).
2. As watchmen on Zion’s walls, they announced the way of salvation and warned of sin – cf. Acts 20:20-21, 30-31.
3. These watchmen continue to function through the gospel they preached – Col. 1:28-29 (2 Tim. 3:16-17).
4. Held responsible when they didn’t – cf. Gal. 2:11-14.
C. Uninspired Men: Evangelists are Watchmen in Zion – Eph. 4:11.
1. Preach the apostle-given word – 2 Tim. 4:1-2.
2. Isa. 52:7-8 applied to preachers in Rom. 10:14-15. They are watchmen in Zion.
3. Warn and teach – 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:6, 16.
4. By so doing, evangelists watch for the souls of men – 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
5. “Watchman” is not some “official designation” of superiority or an effort to seize brotherhood oversight, control or preeminence – it is descriptive of the preacher’s work.
6. 2 Tim. 4:5 – Be watchful in all things…fulfill your ministry..
7. Held responsible if they don’t – 1 Tim. 4:16.
D. Pastors (elders) are Watchmen in Zion – Eph. 4:11.
1. Watch out for your souls – Heb. 13:17.
2. How they do their work as watchmen – Acts 20:28.
3. When these watchmen are silent, souls are devoured. – Acts 20:29-31
4. Shall we discard the description of “watchmen” when teaching work and responsibility of elders?. Shall they “hold their peace” and not take heed, feed, watch and warn? (Isa. 62:6)
5. Held responsible if they don’t – Heb. 13:17.
E. Teachers are Watchmen in Zion – Eph. 4:11.
1. Teachers equip students with God’s saving word – Matt. 28:19-20.
2. Teach God’s warnings against sin and its disastrous effects – 2 Tim. 2:24-26.
3. Gospel teachers teach to save the lost and to teach others – Rom. 1:15-16; 2 Tim. 2:2.
4. Acts 18:26 - Aquila and Priscilla were watchmen for the sake of Apollos and Eph. church.
5. Held responsible when they don’t teach truth – James 3:1.
F. Every Christian is a Watchman in Zion.
1. Every Christian must be watching for spiritual dangers (1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 2:11).
2. Help restore the fallen – Gal. 6:1-2 (James 5:19-20); Pray for all the saints – Eph. 6:18.
4. Not just apostles and prophets, preachers, elders and teachers: Mk. 13:37: “And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch.”
IV. A CALL FOR WATCHMEN WHO WILL WATCH AND WARN.
A. Watch and Warn Against Worldliness – 1 John 2:15-17 (Eph. 5:3-12).
1. Immodest dress, social drinking, dancing, vulgar speech, ungodly entertainment, etc.
2. Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen and dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)
B. Watch and Warn Against Doctrinal Error – Jude 3 (Gal. 1:6-7).
1. MDR errors, fellowship, work of the church, plan of salvation… – 1 Tim. 4:1.
2. Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen and dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)
C. Watch and Warn Against Compromise with Error – 2 Cor. 11:3-4; Gal. 2:5; Eph. 5:3.
1. Worldliness; Unity in moral and doctrinal diversity is spreading, etc.
2. Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen and dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)
D. Watch and Warn Against False Teachers – 2 Pet. 2:1; Rom. 16:17-18.
1. There are still evil men and imposters deceiving the innocent – 2 Tim. 3:13.
2. Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen and dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)
E. Watch and Warn Against Divisive, Ungodly Men – Titus 3:10-11.
1. Refuse divisive people after 1st and 2nd warning -- they certainly exist.
2. Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen and dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)
F. Watch Against Apathy and Spiritual Indifference – Rev. 3:2-3.
1. Time to wake up, clean up and grow up (Rom. 13:11-14).
2. Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen and dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)
V. OBJECTIONS TO WATCHMEN IN ZION.
A. “Some are Trying to Control the Brotherhood” (violating congregational autonomy).
1. Paul is not to be so charged when he taught everywhere in every church – 1 Cor. 4:17.
2. We may follow his example of teaching everywhere in every church without being so charged – 1 Cor. 11:1 (Mk. 16:15).
3. Charged with preaching the word at all seasons – 2 Tim. 4:2.
4. Did Timothy violate autonomy of the Ephesian church? – 1 Tim. 1:3
5. Did Titus violate autonomy of churches in Crete? – Titus 1:5
6. Am I violating your autonomy by preaching you the truth? – Gal. 4:16
7. Word of God is not bound (chained, restricted) – 2 Tim. 2:9 (cf. Amos 7:10-13).
B. “We Can’t Identify One as a False Teacher Unless he has an Evil Heart.”
1. 2 Pet. 2:1-2 – It is the teaching of false teachers that is warned against.
2. 1 John 4:1, 6 – Try their teaching…not their character.
3. “Where have all the false teachers gone?” – Matt. 7:15-20 (know them by their fruits).
4. Rest assured, God’s watchmen are accused of having evil hearts and dividing churches.
a. cf. Instru. music in worship; institutionalism and work of the church; mdr; etc.
b. Will be called “watchdogs” of the brotherhood, jingoists, unloving, unheroic, etc.
5. Watchmen in Zion must persevere – 2 Tim. 4:3-5.
C. “It is Wrong to Publicly Name the False Teachers.”
1. Was it wrong for Paul to name false teachers? 1 Tim. 1:18-20; 2 Tim. 2:16-18
2. Was it wrong for Paul and John to name divisive, ungodly men? 2 Tim. 1:15 (Phygellus and Hermogenes); 4:10 (Demas); 14-15 (Alexander); 3 John 9-10 (Diotrephes).
3. If so, we must equally stop naming those who teach truth and set good examples. – 3 John 11-12 (Demetrius); 2 Tim. 1:16-18 (Onesiphorus); Phil. 2:19-22 (Timothy); 2:25 (Epaphroditus)…
4. Watchmen in Zion take note of false teachers and warn against them. (Rom. 16:17)
D. “You’re Just Too Negative.”
1. Why is it tornado watchmen are a positive thing, but spiritual watchmen are a negative thing?.
2. All balanced gospel work includes both negative and positive aspects – Jer. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 4:2 (Gal. 4:16).
3. Warnings are not pleasant to hear nor easy to heed, but essential to our salvation.
1. Watchmen in Zion are needed today, as always.
2. We should thank God that He has placed watchmen on the wall. (Are we not thankful when men set in place warning systems to protect us against severe weather?)
3. Will we listen to God’s warnings against sin and repent, or like Israel, refuse to listen to His watchmen and doom our eternal fate? (Jer. 6:17)
4. Jer. 31:6 – May we all heard the watchman and go up to Zion, to the Lord our God, for His salvation. (Isa. 2:2-3)