A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer. All of a sudden, he said out loud, "Lord, grant me one wish."
The sunny California sky clouded above his head and in a booming voice, and the Lord said, "Because you have tried to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish."
The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want."
The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking. The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific! The concrete and steel it would take over thousands of miles! I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things. Take a little more time and think of another wish, a wish you think would honor and glorify me."
The man thought about it for a long time. Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand women. I want to know how they feel inside, what they are thinking when they give the silent treatment, why they cry, what they mean when they say " nothing!", and how I can make a woman truly happy."
The Lord replied, "You want two lanes or four lanes on that bridge!
That made me laugh. I don’t find it a bit hard to understand women and what it takes to make us happy…but I’m sure most of you men out there would disagree. In fact…some would think it impossible!
But all joking aside, I want you to think this evening about situations in life that seem impossible. Maybe you’re facing some of them now.
Perhaps you’ve lost a job and finances aren’t what they need to be.
Or…perhaps you have a job, but there’s just not enough money to cover emergencies when they crop up…
Maybe you’ve been diagnosed with a disease and it seems like there’s no hope in sight.
Do you have a child who’s not saved? Perhaps it’s a brother, or a sister. How about a mother or father – or even a spouse? You’ve prayed for years and nothing has happened. Salvation for them seems next to impossible.
Perhaps it’s you that sits here today unsaved. You’ve been coming to church – maybe even for years. Maybe the whole church thinks you’re a Christian – but you know in your heart you’re not.
You just haven’t reached that point yet. You’ve listened to sermon after sermon…sang song after song…and yet it’s never happened. You’ve never really admitted your sins – and your own need for a Savior. It seems like it’s never going to happen. It seems…next to impossible.
Maybe it’s something else. Maybe you are sitting here all alone because the man or woman you were married to walked out on you after years of what you thought was a good marriage. And you’re left with the sole responsibility of raising your children. Does a secure future seem impossible?
Or maybe you’re sitting here alone not because your spouse walked out – but because they were taken from you in death. You’ll never hear their voice again…feel the brush of their hand against yours…Can you ever find joy again – or is it impossible?
Maybe you’re still with your spouse. But you’re stuck in a loveless relationship. Maybe even an abusive one. How in the world can your situation change?
Is it impossible to imagine light at the end of tunnel?
Most of us have faced these or similar situations in our lives. If we haven’t…chances are…one day we will. And when we do find ourselves facing the impossible – I want you to know one thing:
With God nothing is impossible.
Turn with me to Ezekiel, Chapter 37 beginning with verse 1.
I know many of you are familiar with this passage. In it we find the prophet Ezekiel in the valley of dry bones.
1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! 5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.’”
Pray
Verse 1: The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones.
Verse 2: Then he caused me to pass by them all around, and behold there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry.
Verse 3: And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”
Now I want to stop right there for a minute and think about bones. These weren’t just any old bones. They would have been picked by the birds, bleached by the sun…and almost ready to crumble because of decay. That’s pretty dead, if you ask me.
And here we find God asking Ezekiel – a prophet of God who had seen miracle after miracle occur – we find God asking him a question that doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. – can these bones live?
Now there have been some mighty fine miracles I’ve read about in this book. Lazarus was dead 4 days and at the sound of Jesus’ voice, he rose from the dead.
Impossible? Not with God.
What about the children of Israel? They found themselves against the red sea. No hope in sight. The army of Egypt was upon them and they knew escape was impossible. Ha! Not with God. With a mighty wind – He parted the red sea and the children of Israel escaped.
Daniel faced a den of lions – and escaped with out a scratch.
Remember the fiery furnace? God’s Word tells us that their clothes didn’t even smell like smoke!
How about the time Joshua commanded the sun to stand still in the sky – and it did!
And what about the greatest miracle of all? What about our God who left His throne in heaven and came to earth as a man…who walked among us – and went to the cross. Taking upon Him our sins – dying for us…and rising again. Ahhh…many would say that was impossible – but it happened, didn’t it?
Time after time we read in this Bible about the impossible being made possible by God.
But what about this time? This time seemed the most impossible of all!
After all, these were old, dried out bones. And God said, “Son of man – can these bones live?”
What impossible situation are you facing today?
“Son of man – can these bones live?”
No money in the bank? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
No job? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
Incurable disease? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
Broken relationship? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
Loneliness, despair, depression? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
Unsaved loved one? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
Your own salvation? “Son of man – can these bones live?”
And Ezekiel answered him.
“O Lord God – you know.”
Looking out over the valley of death – when asked if the impossible was possible, Ezekiel simply answered, “O Lord God – you know.”
Do you know tonight that God knows tomorrow? Do you know today that God not only knows tomorrow, but He holds it in His hand – and He is in control of it?
“O Lord God – you know.”
God knows about that situation you’re facing. He knows about addictions…your broken heart…the fact you have no food in the house for your children.
He knows the about the nights you’ve been so lonely, so frightened, so sad…that you’ve cried yourself to sleep.
He knows your heart aches because your loved ones are gone and you’re left behind.
He knows about the struggles you face at work, at home, with your teenagers…
But not only that…for some of you…I want you to know that God knows about the secret sin you hide so well. The one you’re sure no one knows about. The one that has a hold on you so strongly that you don’t know a way out.
And He knows that others are sitting here tonight unsaved and headed for an eternity separated from Him.
“O Lord God. You know.”
Say it with me. O Lord God. You know.
Do you really know that tonight?
Verse 4: Again 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: Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”
Now listen to me church:
Verse 7 holds an important key for you and for me: So I prophesied as I was commanded.
What’s God telling you to do?
God told Ezekiel to prophesy to old dry bones telling them to live (in other words – God told Ezekiel to take a step of obedience in faith) – and he obeyed God.
Do you know that God expects obedience from you even if the situation seems hopeless?
That means you have to pay that tithe when you don’t know how you’re going make it till the end of the month.
You’ve got to love that abusive husband of yours even when you don’t feel like it.
You have to keep praying for that lost son or daughter, that sister or brother, or that parent of yours even when they reject you and what you have to say.
You have to admit your sin – and acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior of your life.
Why? Because God expects you to! And here’s something else you need to get a hold of tonight: He will not work outside your obedience.
Now, that’s important. So important I’ll save that one for another sermon. But I want to repeat it so you get it. God will not work outside your obedience.
Remember the fishermen in the book of Luke who fished all night long and caught nothing? Jesus said to Peter “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Peter answered and said to Him “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing…NEVERTHELESS… by Your word I will let down the net.”
What happened when they dropped the net? They caught so many fish their net broke! They filled two boats so full of fish, both boats started to sink!
Peter knew the situation was impossible. After all these were professional fishermen. They knew what they were doing.
But Jesus said. “Do it” and they obeyed.
What is God telling you to do that you aren’t doing?
If you are in a place of disobedience tonight, God cannot help you out of your situation. Church hear me now: You have to obey God and when you do…ahh…that’s when the impossible becomes possible.
Now – let’s get back to Ezekiel because there are a couple of more things I want you to see.
We find in verse 8 that indeed the bones were restored – but the word tells us there was no breath in them.
Now, I find that interesting. God asked Ezekiel in the beginning of the chapter if the bones could live. God obviously wants them to. Ezekiel did as God asked. And something happened, didn’t it?
Verse 8: I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
No breath in them? I could preach another sermon here – just on verse 8. You see verse 8 is for those of you sitting out there tonight that have no power! You come to church, make a good appearance, but you’re empty. Oh, sure there’s meat on your bones and clothes on your back. But you’re not filled with breath. There’s no life in you. The Spirit of God isn’t in control of your life. That’s not what God wants for you! He wants more! So much more – but you have to be willing to surrender…oh what victory lies ahead for the saint of God who is willing to die to self and surrender all to Jesus!!
I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
We know that God told Ezekiel to prophesy – and we know that Ezekiel obeyed God. So…is God unable to make the bones live? To be full of life – and full of breath?
Or is there something else God wants us to see tonight?
Read on…Verse 9: And God said to Ezekiel: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy son of man and say to the breath “Thus says the Lord God – Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”
And so I prophesied as He commanded me.
Ah – verse 7 and verse 9 say the same thing – Ezekiel did what God told him to do – twice!!
Did you get that? That’s important for you to get this morning Church. Ezekiel had to obey God twice before the bones came to life.
Making the impossible possible may take more than one step of obedience.
How many times have you thrown your hands up in defeat – when you should have trusted? How many times have you given up when you should have persevered?
I want you to know that it’s not too late. God is still in the miracle business – and today He wants to take that impossible situation in your life and turn it into a possibility.
But you have to be willing to surrender to God. You see Ezekiel could have looked out at that valley of dry bones and walked away. After all – the situation WAS impossible, at least from his view.
But we can’t operate in faith if we look at situations from our human perspective. I wonder what we could do if we’d ask God to show us the situations we face from His point of view?
Ezekiel could have walked away when the bones didn’t fully come to life. But he didn’t. You see, Ezekiel realized that someone greater was in control. Remember well his words in verse 3: “Oh Lord God, you know.”
As we prepare to sing tonight, I want us to look at the reason Ezekiel knew. The key lies in the very first verse: The hand of the Lord came upon me. You see, Ezekiel knew because the hand of the Lord was upon him.
Ah…the hand of the Lord. What does that exactly represent? Many may think that is where the power is. Others may see it as a place of protection. I think it represents both. I see it much as AW Tozer did – a dwelling place. You see, Ezekiel KNEW because he KNEW God. And, the only way to know God is to surrender your life to Him and abide in His presence. Then, the Hand of God is with you at all times – no matter your need.
Ezekiel’s vision of the Valley of the dry bones shows us his ability to see as God sees. Without the Hand of God in our lives, all we can see is dry bones…unsaved loved ones…broken relationships…empty wallets…and impossibilities.
But from God’s point of view – we see something else. We see the very breath of God breathing life back into the dry bones. We see life. We find hope. We see the impossible become possible.
Do you need that miracle this evening? Are you facing the impossible? Is the mountain just too high? Then I invite you to come to the altar and surrender it to Jesus.
Is your financial situation impossible? It just seems that no matter what, you can’t ever seem to make ends meet? Come to the altar and surrender it to Jesus.
Is there a loved one in your family that is lost in sin? Come to the altar and surrender it to Jesus.
Is there a situation with your job that is hopeless unless God intervenes? Then come up here to the altar and give it to Jesus.
Are you ready to surrender your life to Christ? The Bible tells us that now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Is He calling you today? Don’t miss God’s call. We have no guarantees in life. You may leave this church today and step into eternity before morning. If that happens – are you ready to face God?
These altars are a place for you to bring it all – regardless of what it is - and lay it at the feet of Jesus.
You see, Jesus is waiting for your step of obedience tonight. And He promises you will not walk away disappointed.
In fact, I want to share with you His very words from the last verse of Ezekiel: You shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it.”
If there is something God is speaking to you about this evening, come up here to the altars. Let God take the impossibilities in your life and show you that He is capable of doing far more than you can ever ask or imagine.
