“So you, mortal, I have made you a sentinel for the house of Israel; whenever you here a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked ones, you shall surely die,’ and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but their blood I will require at your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from their ways, and they do not turn from their ways, the wicked shall die in their iniquity, but you will have saved your life.” Ezekiel 33:7-9…. “For thus says the Lord GOD; I myself will search for my sheep, and will seek them out. As shepherds seek out their flocks when they are among their scattered sheep, so I will seek out my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places to which they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness.” 34:11-12 …. “Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. … Then he said to me, ‘Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.’ … ‘Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from your graves, O my people, I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live.’” Ezekiel 37:4-5, 9, 12-14a
We as the priesthood of all believers are called to hold each other accountable with love. To call out those who do wrong and to help them do right. To assist those who are dead without Christ to live with Christ. We are called to assist two groups; those who profess faith in Jesus and those who don’t know Jesus. We are to call out and help up those who profess faith but live sinfully, we are to introduce and help up those who are ignorant of the faith but live sinfully. We are to “prophesy” – introduce life to any situation where there is death. Luke says of Jesus, “this fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.” (Luke 15:2) Praise God he does! Do you know there is a celebration every time a lost soul is found, a lost soul is restored to the Kingdom of God? Jesus says, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.” Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents that over ninety-none righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15: 6b-7. When was the last time you celebrated? Why?