DATE: 29th March, 2020
THEME: DRY BONES SHALL LIVE
SCRIPTURE READINGS
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Romans 5:1-11
John 11:3-7, 20-27, 33-45
Psalter: Psalm 95:1-11
INTRODUCTION
The “Vision of the Valley of the Dry Bones,” is a very familiar passage of Scripture. In this vision Ezekiel sees Israel as a dead nation. God promises this dead nation that a day will come when He will raise them from the dead and use them again for His glory.
When Ezekiel received this vision, he found himself surrounded by the bones of the dead. Everywhere he looked he saw dead people. He was commanded to preach to them. And, he was commanded to pray over them. When he obeyed the Lord’s command, Ezekiel saw those dead bodies brought back to life. He saw the Lord’s power on display at that graveyard, and that is the thought I want to magnify for a while today.
Like Ezekiel, we are surrounded by the dead. We find ourselves in Hopeless situations. COVID-19 is infecting and claiming lives. Everywhere we look there is evidence of the spiritual death that dominates our world. And, like Ezekiel, we have been sent out to tell the dead that they shall live. That COVID-19 shall also pass. Jesus is still on His throne.
BODY
I. A SHOCKING REVELATION
The vision Ezekiel saw depicted the desolation, destitution, and devastation of Israel. What did he see?
A. He Saw Death – The bones speak of death. Here is a valley filled with the bones of the dead. Defeated by their enemies and left to rot where they fell. Ezekiel saw a vision of death on a massive scale. A hopeless and helpless one.
B. He Saw Devastation – The bones Ezekiel saw were “very dry.” In that dead, dry condition, they were fit for nothing but to be gathered and buried. They were absolutely useless.
C. He Saw Defeat – “…behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost…” Verse 11. In a sense, they were not LIVING; they were merely EXISTING. Ezekiel saw their hopelessness and was moved by it. Yes, dry bones will live again and COVID-19 will also pass.
II. A SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY
As Ezekiel looked over that valley of dry bones, God spoke to the prophet and told him what to do. Ezekiel was shown that he had a personal responsibility to that valley of dead, dry bones.
A. He Was Commanded To Preach – “…Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.” Ezekiel was commanded to preach to a valley filled with skeletons!
Only through such preaching will there be “…a noise,…a shaking;…bones coming together, bone to his bone,” Eze. 37:7.
What does a lost world need? They do not need to hear about our church, our denomination, our preachers, our opinions. They need to hear the Gospel of grace.
B. He Was Commanded To Pray – “…breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” With the preaching there may be a noise, a shaking, a coming together of bone to bone, and even the appearance of sinews and skin, but the Word says “…there was no breath in them,” v. 8.
This is still God’s method of bringing the purpose of the gospel to fulfilment.
It is our obligation to see that we not only preach with divine urgency, but pray with divine fervency. With fervent pray dry bones shall live and COVID-19 shall pass.
III. A SUPERNATURAL RESURRECTION
In response to the preaching and praying of Ezekiel, the Lord moved in power.
A. How They Were Activated – We read that “they lived.” Those corpses were animated, vitalized, brought back to life. As the astonished prophet watched, a valley filled with the dead came to life. This is power.
B. How They Were Animated – They “…stood up upon their feet…” God brought them to life, then He caused them to stand before Him. This is power.
C. How They Were Associated – They are transformed into “…an exceedingly great army.” One moment they are dead bones filling a valley, the next they are a mighty, living army, ready for the Lord’s use. Yes, with God all things all possible. This is power.
D. How They Were Assured – “And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land.” This is a promise to the nation of Israel that they will be restored to their land, and that they will receive His blessings again. Then He says, “…then shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it…” THRUSTING JESUS…that is all.
APPLICATION
a) Dry bones here can represent that particular situation that you have given up on or that you don’t ever believe will work out to favour you no matter how you try.
b) If you study Ezekiel 37 from verse 1 and 2 you will realize that Ezekiel was never in control. The Spirit of God was in total.
c) Sometimes in life, it looks like nothing is just working out for our good. You need the Holy Spirit to grab you and show you what to do.
d) These bones were completely dried out which means no hope for that situation humanly speaking, but beloved again the truth is that, there is a solution to that problem. Jesus can fix it.
e) I perceive God telling you to speak and prophesy to that issue, dry bones or COVID-19. Instead of crying He expects you to prophesy.
f) God has given you His word, eat it and prophesy to those dry bones and COVID-19 and they will respond to the specific command you give to them. THEY WILL ALSO PASS.
g) God did not just pick Ezekiel and asked him to prophesy. He made him feed on His word as seen earlier then he spoke the very words of God.
REFLECTION
▪Martha learned that even when everything seems hopeless, in Jesus there is hope.
▪Even, when it seems like it’s too late for a miracle, it’s not. JESUS WILL FIX IT.
▪Even when it seems like something has gotten so bad that not even God can take care of it. HE APPEARS TO FIX IT.
▪Yes, opening up a problem will probably stink, but we still need to give Jesus access to it. HE WILL FIX IT.
▪We need to help one another move obstacles that keep Jesus from working in our lives.
CONCLUSION
Jesus wants to show us his love, power, and glory. We may be hurting, discouraged, frustrated, confused, and the depressed. JESUS IS READY TO REVIVE EVERY DRY BONE IN OUR LIVES and fix that COVID-19. This will also pass. STAY BLESSED AND PROTECTED
PREPARED BY:
VERY REV. DR YAW DUA DODD
CALVARY METHODIST CHURCH
ADABRAKA-ACCRA
