Their Blood on your Hands

Eze 3:15 Then I came to them of the captivity at Telabib, that dwelt by the river of Chebar, and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.

Telabib,"mound of the flood" was Ezekiels dwelling place. He sat by the river, stunned and awe struck for seven days.

Eze 3:16 And it came to pass at the end of seven days, that the word of the LORD came unto me, saying,
Eze 3:17 Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me.

A prophet watchman hears from God, not with natural hearing, but of the Holy Spirit. He then is to share what he hears to those in which he was sent.

Eze 3:18 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.

Blood guilt is a serious thing. Pontius Pilate did not want the innocent blood of Jesus on his hands but the people spoke foolishly.

Mat 27:24  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 

Mat 27:25  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 

So much of preaching is to make us feel good or to become prosperous, that is positive but what is God saying? If we do not warn them from God when he speaks to us, then their blood is on our hands. Warn them of their sins and the coming judgement.

Jas 5:19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
Jas 5:20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Eze 3:19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
Eze 3:20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand.
Eze 3:21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.

Paul understood the responsibility given to him to preach the gospel message to the Gentiles.

Rom 1:14 I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
Rom 1:15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

A final thought; what of those who respond to our message of salvation in our day? Do we put their names somewhere and leave them to their own way? We shake the dust off our sandals at those who will not receive our message, but do we shake off those who receive our message too? There is a responsibility to disciple these who come to the Lord. Ezekiek was calling Israel to repentance. They had always had a temple, but it was to be destroyed. A new faith was required in the God of the temple; a personal trust in him. For today we trust God and believe in Jesus as our savior. How will they make it in perilous times if they are not taught to trust in his promises? To ignore their growth could be as blood on our hands. To be born again is the blood of Jesus covering them and his spirit with them to guide them into all truth. It is important to have guidance from the church to keep them from the cults. They must be given the mind of Christ. We have a responsibility to the babes in Christ.