Called as Watchman

**This podcast is taken from our Global Video Report: EMPOWER CONNECT October 2025 Edition**

Carrying Responsibility

Scripture: Ezekiel 3 & 33

RON:
Hello friends, and welcome back after a long, beautiful summer to Empower Connect.

Today, I want to begin by sharing a portion of Scripture from the book of Ezekiel — passages that have meant a great deal to me over the years.

A Foundational Lesson

When I was a young pastor in training, I was eager to learn. I attended as many services and teachings as I could, studying Scripture and growing in my understanding.

One day, I heard an older pastor speak about the calling of Ezekiel — the role of the watchman. That message stayed with me.

Ezekiel speaks about this in both chapter 3 and chapter 33. The same imagery is used in both places, and it centres on a powerful idea: responsibility.

I’ve titled this message Carrying Responsibility.

The Watchman Explained

The watchman was placed in a high position — on a tower or a hill — watching for danger.

If an army approached, it was his duty to sound the trumpet. When the people heard it, they would gather their families and belongings and move to safety.

But if the watchman failed to sound the alarm, people would suffer and die.

He carried an incredible responsibility. He could not sleep. He could not ignore his duty. This had to be the focus of his life.

A Sobering Responsibility

Let me read from Ezekiel chapter 33:

If someone hears the trumpet but does not take warning, their blood is on their own head. But if the watchman sees danger coming and does not warn the people, their blood will be required from his hand.

Then it says:

“Son of man, I have made you a watchman… when you hear a word from My mouth, you must warn them.”

Another translation puts it this way:

“If you do not warn the wicked person, I will hold you accountable.”

Wrestling with the Weight of It

When I first heard this, it shook me. It felt heavy.

But as I grew in the Lord, I began to understand it more clearly. While there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ, we must not ignore the seriousness of this calling.

God was showing me that I had a responsibility — to Him and to others — to share the Gospel.

I had to be that watchman.

A Personal Calling

This became part of my life.

Wherever I went, in ministry or in daily life, I carried this sense of responsibility. I could not set it aside.

This is part of growing in the faith — spiritual maturity.

India: Young Watchmen Rising

Recently, I travelled with a brother from India. Some of you have met him.

He shared how young pastors — many between the ages of 16 and 25 — are being trained.

They are taught from passages like Ezekiel 3 and 33. As they read Scripture again and again, something grows within them — a burden, a responsibility.

They are told:

“You must go back to your village. You must tell your people. You are the watchman.”

And they take it seriously. These young men mature quickly. They carry this calling every day. Even in the face of persecution, beatings, and restrictions, they continue. Why? Because they know they must stand in the gap and share that Jesus saves.

Ethiopia: A Woman with a Mission

I remember meeting a small woman in Ethiopia, in the Bali region. She was attending a simple Bible school to learn how to share her faith. Her whole family had come to know the Lord. Now she was travelling to nearby villages to reach her relatives. She would stay with them for weeks at a time, sharing the Gospel. When I asked her why she was doing this, she said:

“In our traditional beliefs, God was distant. He did not know us or care for us. But we discovered Jesus — a God who loves us and lives within us.”

Then she said something I will never forget:

“I am the only one in my family who knows this. It is my responsibility to go and tell them.”

The Watchman in Action

She saw herself as that watchman — standing on the hill, sounding the alarm. She was determined to go, no matter the cost, and to stay until her family understood the Truth. This is what we are seeing all over the world.

Spiritual Maturity and Responsibility

Spiritual maturity is not just about knowledge. It is about carrying responsibility for others — to share the Gospel, to warn, to love, and to act. This truth has shaped my life.

A Call to Faithfulness

I believe that God has placed each of us in positions of responsibility. Through Empower, through the Church, and through our daily lives — we are called to be watchmen. One day, we will stand before the Lord and give an account. So I will not step back. I will carry this responsibility.

Closing Encouragement

I encourage you to read Ezekiel chapters 3 and 33. Let the Lord speak to you through them, just as He did to me.