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Watchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion““I have set watchmen on your I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or never hold their peace day or night.”night.”(Isaiah 62:6)(Isaiah 62:6)

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•Weather alertsWeather alerts•Storm spottersStorm spotters•Alarm systemAlarm system

Early warning is essential Early warning is essential to saving lives!to saving lives!

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Watchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion• Watchmen today? Watchmen today?

– Should there be?Should there be?– If so, who are they?If so, who are they?

• What is their work & our What is their work & our reaction to their work?reaction to their work?

• Is it scriptural to describe Is it scriptural to describe Christians as watchmen?Christians as watchmen?

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Watchmen in the OTWatchmen in the OT

•Learning –Learning – Rom. 15:4Rom. 15:4•Wise unto salvation –Wise unto salvation – 2 2

Tim. 3:15Tim. 3:15•Examples that teach & Examples that teach &

warn –warn – 1 Cor. 10:6-121 Cor. 10:6-12

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•Watch & Report Watch & Report 2 Sam. 18:242 Sam. 18:24

•Assess & Warn Assess & Warn 2 2 Sam. 18:25-27 Sam. 18:25-27 2 2 Kgs. 9:17-20Kgs. 9:17-20

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““My servants the My servants the prophets”prophets”

•Announced fall Announced fall of nations of nations Isa. Isa. 21:6-1221:6-12

•Warned Israel Warned Israel Jer. 6:17Jer. 6:17

•Ezekiel Ezekiel Ezek. 3:17; 33:7Ezek. 3:17; 33:7

WATCHMENWATCHMEN

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Watchmen who Watchmen who would not warn would not warn

(Ezek. 3:18, 20; 33:8)(Ezek. 3:18, 20; 33:8)

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““His watchmen are blind, His watchmen are blind, they are all without they are all without knowledge; they are all knowledge; they are all dumb dogs, they cannot dumb dogs, they cannot bark; dreaming, lying bark; dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber.” down, loving to slumber.” – Isaiah 56:10– Isaiah 56:10

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Watchmen Watchmen on the Walls of Zionon the Walls of Zion

•Church of ChristChurch of Christ Heb. 12:22-23; Gal. 4:25-Heb. 12:22-23; Gal. 4:25-

2626•Do not be silent Do not be silent

Isa. 62:1-2, 6-7Isa. 62:1-2, 6-7•Gospel of salvationGospel of salvation

Isa. 52:7-10; Rom. 10:14-17Isa. 52:7-10; Rom. 10:14-17

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Watchmen in the ChurchWatchmen in the Church

•Watch – Watch – 1 Cor. 16:131 Cor. 16:13– Alertness – Alertness – Matt. 24:42-44; 1 Ths. Matt. 24:42-44; 1 Ths.

5:6; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 3:2-35:6; 1 Pet. 5:8; Rev. 3:2-3– For souls –For souls – Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18Matt. 26:41; Eph. 6:18– Specific watchmen? Specific watchmen? (Isa. 52:7-8; (Isa. 52:7-8;

62:6)62:6)•Yes!Yes! Ephesians 4:11-16Ephesians 4:11-16

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Watchmen in Zion:Watchmen in Zion: Apostles Apostles & Prophets& Prophets• Delivered gospel – Delivered gospel – Jude 3Jude 3• Announced salvation & warned Announced salvation & warned

of sin – of sin – Acts 20:20-21, 30-31Acts 20:20-21, 30-31• Continue to function through Continue to function through

the gospel – the gospel – Col. 1:28-29Col. 1:28-29• Held responsible if they didn’t! Held responsible if they didn’t!

– – Gal. 2:11-14Gal. 2:11-14

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Watchmen in Zion:Watchmen in Zion: EvangelistsEvangelists

• Preach the word – Preach the word – 2 Tim. 4:22 Tim. 4:2– Isa. 52:7-8 …… Rom. 10:14-15Isa. 52:7-8 …… Rom. 10:14-15– Warn & teach,Warn & teach, 1 Tim. 1:3; 4:6, 161 Tim. 1:3; 4:6, 16– Watch for souls,Watch for souls, 2 Tim. 2:24-262 Tim. 2:24-26

• Be watchful – Be watchful – 2 Tim. 4:52 Tim. 4:5• Held responsible – Held responsible – 1 Tim. 4: 161 Tim. 4: 16

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Watchmen in Zion:Watchmen in Zion: Pastors Pastors (Elders)(Elders)• Watch for souls – Watch for souls – Heb. 13:17Heb. 13:17• Work described – Work described – Acts 20:28Acts 20:28• When silent, souls devoured! –When silent, souls devoured! –

Acts 20:29-31Acts 20:29-31– Shall they “hold their peace”Shall they “hold their peace” (Isa. (Isa.

62:6)?62:6)?• Give account –Give account – Heb. 13:17 Heb. 13:17

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Watchmen in Zion:Watchmen in Zion: TeachersTeachers

• Equip students with God’s Equip students with God’s saving word – saving word – Matt. 28:19-20Matt. 28:19-20– Teach God’s warnings, Teach God’s warnings, 2 Tim. 2:24-2 Tim. 2:24-

2626– Save lost, Save lost, Rom. 1:15; 2 Tim. 2:2Rom. 1:15; 2 Tim. 2:2– Aquila & Priscilla,Aquila & Priscilla, Acts 18:26 Acts 18:26

• Held responsible –Held responsible – Jas. 3:1 Jas. 3:1

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Watchmen in Zion:Watchmen in Zion: Every Every ChristianChristian

• Watch for spiritual dangers – Watch for spiritual dangers – 1 1 Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 2:11Pet. 5:8; 2 Cor. 2:11

• Help restore fallen – Help restore fallen – Gal. 6:1Gal. 6:1• Pray for all – Pray for all – Eph. 6:18Eph. 6:18

““What I say to you, I say to all: What I say to you, I say to all: Watch!” (Mk. 13:37)Watch!” (Mk. 13:37)

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A Call For Watchmen Who A Call For Watchmen Who Will Watch & WarnWill Watch & Warn• Against worldliness – Against worldliness – 1 Jno. 1 Jno.

2:15-17 (Eph. 5:3-12)2:15-17 (Eph. 5:3-12)– Immodest dress, social drinking, Immodest dress, social drinking,

dancing, profane speech, ungodly dancing, profane speech, ungodly entertainment, etc.entertainment, etc.

– Will we be watchmen in Zion, or Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen & dumb dogs?blind watchmen & dumb dogs? (Isa. (Isa. 56:10)56:10)

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A Call For Watchmen Who A Call For Watchmen Who Will Watch & WarnWill Watch & Warn• Against doctrinal error – Against doctrinal error – Jude 3 Jude 3

(Gal. 1:6-7)(Gal. 1:6-7)– MDR errors, fellowship, work of the MDR errors, fellowship, work of the

church, plan of salvation church, plan of salvation (1 Tim. (1 Tim. 4:1)4:1)

– Will we be watchmen in Zion, or Will we be watchmen in Zion, or blind watchmen & dumb dogs?blind watchmen & dumb dogs? (Isa. (Isa. 56:10)56:10)

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A Call For Watchmen Who A Call For Watchmen Who Will Watch & WarnWill Watch & Warn

• Against compromise with error Against compromise with error – – 2 Cor. 11:3-4; Gal. 2:5; Eph. 2 Cor. 11:3-4; Gal. 2:5; Eph. 5:3, 11; 1 Cor. 15:335:3, 11; 1 Cor. 15:33– Unity in moral & doctrinal diversity Unity in moral & doctrinal diversity

(2 Cor. 6:14-18)(2 Cor. 6:14-18)– Will we be watchmen in Zion, or Will we be watchmen in Zion, or

blind watchmen & dumb dogs?blind watchmen & dumb dogs? (Isa. (Isa. 56:10)56:10)

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A Call For Watchmen Who A Call For Watchmen Who Will Watch & WarnWill Watch & Warn

• Against false teachers – Against false teachers – 2 Pet. 2 Pet. 2:1; Rom. 16:17-182:1; Rom. 16:17-18– Are still evil men & imposters Are still evil men & imposters

deceiving innocent deceiving innocent (2 Tim. 3:13)(2 Tim. 3:13)– Will we be watchmen in Zion, or Will we be watchmen in Zion, or

blind watchmen & dumb dogs?blind watchmen & dumb dogs? (Isa. (Isa. 56:10)56:10)

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A Call For Watchmen Who A Call For Watchmen Who Will Watch & WarnWill Watch & Warn

• Against divisive, ungodly men – Against divisive, ungodly men – Titus 3:10-11Titus 3:10-11– Warn, warn & then refuse!Warn, warn & then refuse!– Will we be watchmen in Zion, or Will we be watchmen in Zion, or

blind watchmen & dumb dogs?blind watchmen & dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)(Isa. 56:10)

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A Call For Watchmen Who A Call For Watchmen Who Will Watch & WarnWill Watch & Warn

• Against apathy & spiritual Against apathy & spiritual indifference – indifference – Rev. 3:2-3Rev. 3:2-3– Time to wake up, clean up & Time to wake up, clean up &

grow up! grow up! (Rom. 13:11-14)(Rom. 13:11-14)– Will we be watchmen in Zion, or Will we be watchmen in Zion, or

blind watchmen & dumb dogs?blind watchmen & dumb dogs? (Isa. 56:10)(Isa. 56:10)

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Objections toObjections toWatchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion

• ““Some are trying to control the Some are trying to control the brotherhood…violate autonomy”brotherhood…violate autonomy”– Paul not so charged, Paul not so charged, 1 Cor. 4:171 Cor. 4:17– We should imitate him, We should imitate him, 1 Cor. 11:11 Cor. 11:1– Charged with preaching at all seasons Charged with preaching at all seasons

– – 2 Tim. 4:2 (1 Tim. 1:3; Titus 1:5)2 Tim. 4:2 (1 Tim. 1:3; Titus 1:5)– Word is not bound – Word is not bound – 2 Tim. 2:92 Tim. 2:9

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Objections toObjections toWatchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion• ““We can’t say one is a false We can’t say one is a false

teacher unless his heart is evil”teacher unless his heart is evil”– Warn against teaching, Warn against teaching, 2 Pet. 2:1-22 Pet. 2:1-2– Test their teaching, Test their teaching, 1 Jno. 4:1, 61 Jno. 4:1, 6– Where have all the false teachers Where have all the false teachers

gone? gone? (Matt. 7:15-20)(Matt. 7:15-20)– God’s watchmen will be accused of God’s watchmen will be accused of

evil evil (2 Tim. 2:9; 4:3-5)(2 Tim. 2:9; 4:3-5)– ““Watchdogs, jingoists, unheroic”Watchdogs, jingoists, unheroic”

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Objections toObjections toWatchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion• ““It is wrong to publicly name men It is wrong to publicly name men

as false teachers”as false teachers”– Was it wrong for Paul? – Was it wrong for Paul? – 1 Tim. 1: 18-1 Tim. 1: 18-

20; 2 Tim. 2:16-1820; 2 Tim. 2:16-18•Divisive & ungodly men:Divisive & ungodly men: 2 Tim. 1:15; 2 Tim. 1:15;

4:10, 14-15; 3 Jno. 9-104:10, 14-15; 3 Jno. 9-10•Godly, sound men:Godly, sound men: 3 Jno. 11-12; 2 3 Jno. 11-12; 2

Tim. 1:16-18; Phil. 2:19-22, 25Tim. 1:16-18; Phil. 2:19-22, 25– Watchmen in Zion take note of false Watchmen in Zion take note of false

teachers & warn against them! teachers & warn against them! (Rom. (Rom. 16:17)16:17)

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Objections toObjections toWatchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion• ““You are just too negative!”You are just too negative!”

– Why are tornado watchmen praised as Why are tornado watchmen praised as positive, but spiritual watchmen are positive, but spiritual watchmen are vilified as negative? vilified as negative?

– All balanced gospel work includes All balanced gospel work includes both negative & positive – both negative & positive – Jer. 1:9-10; Jer. 1:9-10; 2 Tim. 4:2 (Gal. 4:16)2 Tim. 4:2 (Gal. 4:16)

– Warnings are not pleasant to hear nor Warnings are not pleasant to hear nor easy to heed, but essential to our easy to heed, but essential to our salvation!salvation!

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Watchmen in ZionWatchmen in Zion““I have set watchmen on your I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or never hold their peace day or night.”night.”(Isaiah 62:6)(Isaiah 62:6)

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How will you react to God’s How will you react to God’s watchmen in Zion?watchmen in Zion?

• Listen as they warn of sin & teach Listen as they warn of sin & teach the way of salvation in truth?the way of salvation in truth?

• Repent or refuse? Repent or refuse? (Jer. 6:17)(Jer. 6:17)• May we all hear God’s watchmen & May we all hear God’s watchmen &

go up to Zion for the Lord’s go up to Zion for the Lord’s salvation! salvation! (Jer. 31:6; Isa. 2:2-3)(Jer. 31:6; Isa. 2:2-3)