We’ve been talking about warnings for a number of weeks—warnings in general and warnings from God―as well as our response to them. So what about the day in which we live? Does God still give warnings and do we have a role to play in those warnings being given?

Let’s look at God’s Word to Ezekiel in Ezekiel 3:17-19:

Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself.

 Darris McNeely says, “Notice it is God’s message, not Ezekiel’s message or any other prophet’s message. It is always God’s message delivered through the human instrument. The warning comes from God in language phrased to fit the situation and designed to bring people to repentance.”

I love the purpose given for the warning in the passage in Ezekiel: “in order to save [the wicked man’s] life.” So the purpose for giving someone a warning from God is to save their lives, or as Darris McNeely says, the warnings are designed to bring people to repentance.

I also love the fact that the person delivering the message is not responsible for whether or not the person repents. His/her only responsibility is to deliver the message.

In the New Testament we’re told in Galatian 6:10:

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted (Galatians 6:1).

 As this passage indicates, the attitude of the person delivering the warning, as well as the purpose, is of utmost importance.

There’s no doubt in my mind that God still gives warnings and that sometimes He gives them through “watchmen” in the body of Christ. However, many of us are so worried about sounding negative, judgmental or politically incorrect, that few of us are bold enough to be His messengers. I quake when I read Ezekiel 3:18 which says if we do not pass along His warning, God will hold us accountable.

I’ve found myself in the position of being God’s messenger more than once, and it’s without a doubt my least favorite role in the body of Christ. I don’t deliver warnings or messages unless I’m so sure that for me not to do it would be disobedience. At times God shows me things so I can pray for someone; at other times, I have to speak. Knowing the difference requires great discernment. Sometimes I seek guidance and direction for weeks or even months before I know what to do.If we’re sure God has given us a warning to deliver, we have to decide whether to be ruled by an unhealthy fear of man or a healthy fear of God.

I love The Message’s rendering of Matthew 10:28. “Don’t be bluffed into silence by the threats of bullies. There’s nothing they can do to your soul, your core being. Save your fear for God, who holds your entire life—body and soul—in his hands.” Will unhealthy fear of man prevent us from delivering God’s message or will a healthy fear of God prompt us to obey?

Father, if you give us a warning to deliver to someone who is “caught in a sin,” give us the courage to be obedient. Enable us to choose not to be ruled by fear of man but by a healthy fear of you. Amen.