Sermon Central
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Dry Bones Series
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 28, 2017 (message contributor)
Summary: There are three things for us to do to receive a breath of Heaven in 2011, for our families, our church, and for our community. We must allow the hand of the Lord to guide our lives by His Spirit. We must speak his word faithfully and truthfully. Then we
Geisler from his book, “A Popular Survey of the Old Testament” notes the following:
Ezekiel begins with a vision of the glory of God , explaining that Judah no longer experiences it because of their sin (1-24). He then speaks of God’s visitation in judgment on the nations surrounding Judah in preparation for the return of God’s glory (25-32). The book concludes with a description of the return of God’s glory and the restoration of Israel (33-48) (Page 279).
In Ezekiel 37 our priestly prophet is taken away in the Spirit similar to what happen to john in revelation and he is brought to a valley filled with dry lifeless bones:
Thesis: There are three things for us to do to receive a breath of Heaven in 2011, for our families, our church, and for our community. We must allow the hand of the Lord to guide our lives by His Spirit. We must speak his word faithfully and truthfully. Then we must ask him to send his breath of life from Heaven to resurrect all that is dead in our lives.
I. Allow the Hand of the Lord to be on you (37:1-3)
a. When this happens in your life then you to can be led by the Spirit and given a fresh vision of what can be?
i. In Ezekiel chapter 1 we have our prophet receiving a vision of God in Heaven and He see God’s glory and it changes and transforms his life.
1. It was life changing – like a few others mentioned in the Bible who saw the glory of God.
ii. Others who had similar experiences:
1. Isaiah 6 – Isaiah saw the Lord and it resulted in his call to ministry.
2. Revelation 1:4, 5 – With the apostle John who received a message of encouragement in a time of despair.
3. Jeremiah 1 - His call and word from the Lord also inspired him to speak God’s word when no one would listen.
4. Daniel 7 – This parallels Daniel’s vision as well.
a. Getting a fresh breath from Heaven along with seeing the glory of God will transform you, it will encourage you, it will give you direction and hope.
iii. In Ezekiel Chapter 1 Ezekiel receives this vision of the Glory of the Lord and he doesn’t understand everything other than he knows He saw God. He heard His voice rumble from the throne. He saw the brilliant display of God’s glory and felt the fresh breath of Heaven on his life and in that was the call to serve God.
b. In Ezekiel 37 we once again have God’s hand scooping up our Prophet by the Spirit to once again reveal himself to him.
i. When you get a fresh breath from Heaven - God will show you how dead things around you really are and then give you a clear description of its lifelessness. In Ezekiel first few chapter Ezekiel see’s God’s Spirit depart Jerusalem, Judah and the temple. He makes it clear why things die they die when sin is allowed to reign freely. He paints the picture that without the Spirit and without God’s involvement things are dead – really dead – really dry.
ii. It’s in these God moment when the Lord will ask you the faith question:
1. He will ask you if you believe – that life can come back into dry bones?
2. Your answer is critical here – your response needs to be like Ezekiel – “Only you know Lord” – but faith believes in what it cannot see and even though things look dead. He can still breath the breath of life back into them.
