IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER
I am very excited and encouraged in my spirit today because God is so good! Not only is He good; He’s faithful! He’s merciful. He’s just. He is a loving God. He’s kind. He’s a provider. He’s a way-maker. He’s a deliverer. He’s a healer. He’s Lord and Savior .
GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU.
I am here to tell somebody: “Don’t throw in the towel just yet”. It might look like all hope is gone, and that everyone else is finishing the race without you, but
Don’t give up just yet. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over !
God has blessings for you and if you don’t quit you will see His promises for your life. Just because things don’t work out exactly how we planned them does not mean that God is not at work in your life. No matter what your situation is, I can tell you that God is at work in your life. “ It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over “
Ezekiel is faced with a seemingly hopeless situation.
God physically picks Ezekiel up and carries him out to a valley full of dry bones, probably the scene of some great battle of years gone by. And He asks him a very interesting question. "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel looks out over the carnage. Bones are lying everywhere. I doubt very seriously if they were all nice and neatly arranged. They had been certainly ravaged and torn apart by scavenging animals.
Then they had been exposed to the elements for many years. Likely the bones of individual bodies were scattered everywhere. Ezekiel ponders His answer.
Of course had it been anyone else asking the question, the answer would have been obvious. Ezekiel's first thought was probably what yours and mine would have been. Are you kidding? These bones have been laying here for years. What do you mean, "Can they live?" Then Ezekiel remembers who he is speaking to.
LORD - Jehovah - The self-existent one. Then he gives his wise answer. "O Lord GOD, thou knowest."
He answered that way because as far as he could see, the situation was plainly and desperately HOPELESS. And yet, in faith, he recognized that NOTHING IS HOPELESS OR IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
The Title of my message this morning is…
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
I don’t know WHAT the future holds…but I state with complete certainty that I know WHO holds my future! When most people think it’s over, God asks, “Did I say it was over?” “Weeping may last for a night, but Joy comes in the morning.” It’s not over until God says it’s over. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.
◾A marriage can come back together
◾A family can come back together
◾A church can come back together
◾A business can come back together
◾A dream can come back together
◾Hope can come back together
Why? Because it ain’t over….till it’s over.
Keep fighting. Keep praying. Keep fasting because it ain’t over. Keep on pressing, keep on believing.
Keep moving cause it ain’t over. No! Keep reading, Keep interceding. Keep believing. Keep trusting.
Keep trying. Keep travailing because it ain’t over. Keep living. Keep giving. Keep going because it ain’t over! So keep fighting until the victory is won!!!!
When people say you can’t, remember He can.
When you don’t know what to do, He knows. On this day, the Lord says to you. It ain’t over till it’s over!
I don’t care what it looks like. It ain’t over till it’s over God and God alone has the final say! It ain’t over….
When Sarah was 90 years old and God told her that she would bear a son, Is anything too hard for God
Jer 32:27 Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?
The angel Gabriel reminded Mary… Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Jesus told His disciples, Matt 19:26 With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.
Ø There is no such thing as a hopeless case.
Ø There are no hard cases for God
Ø There are no problems that are too big for our God.
Ø There is nothing that comes as a surprise to Him.
Look at Samson, It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.
I'm talking to some folks today who are away from the Lord. You're not right with God, and you know it. Others know it, too. I'm talking to adults, teens, and younger folks alike. You come to church and sit through sermon after sermon all-the-while being convicted of the sins you harbor in the depths of your heart. Will you ever just decide to make things right? Can you make things right? You can, because it ain't over till it's over. You are still alive. This means it's not over for you. You still have time to make things right with others and get right with God.
- You still have time to get right with that husband.
- You still have time to get right with that wife.
- You still have time to get right with that son.
- You still have time to get right with that daughter.
- You still have time to get right with that mom.
- You still have time to get right with that dad.
- You still have time to get right with that friend.
- You still have time to get right with that teacher.
- You still have time to get right with that pastor.
- You still have time to get right with that neighbor.
- You still have time to get right with that family.
- You still have time to get right with that in-law.
It ain't over till it's over. You’re still here !
I. THE DRY BONES ARE A PICTURE OF ISRAEL
There can be no mistaking of this interpretation, because Scripture itself is very plain. - vs. 11
A. Judah is being held captive in Babylon.
They had been there for over fifty years.
B. Things looked hopeless. - vs. 2b, 11b
The last time Israel found themselves in this kind of captivity was their time spent in Egypt.
That captivity lasted for over 600 years.
They didn't see any way out of this. The Babylonian Empire ruled most of the known world. They weren't likely to let go their grip on this small nation.
C. But God lets Ezekiel know that no matter how hopeless the situation may seem, God is not finished with the nation of Israel. - vs. 12-14
He doesn't stop there. He reminds them time and time again that he still has plans for this nation. Is. 45:17
But Israel shall be saved with an everlasting salvation: ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded
Romans 9:27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Zion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
God sent Ezekiel to remind Israel that with God, nothing shall be impossible. God’s character doesn't change regardless of the people he is dealing with.
II. DRY BONES ARE A PICTURE OF THE LOST
Every person without Christ is as dead as the bones in that valley. It doesn't matter who it is,-rich or poor,
old or young. Everyone who has not come to Christ in repentance and faith is dead. Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: ¨ There are those who say, "Well, I'm not as bad as some other people I know" Romans 3:10-12
As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Some feel that as long as they go to church on occasion and do lots of good works, certainly God will overlook everything else. Matthew 7, 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils?
and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never
knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags;
BUT……… WAIT, WAIT, WAIT
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
A. First we have to go where the lost are.
Vs. 2 "and caused me to pass them round about."
Had Ezekiel stayed in his comfortable home, or even worshipped faithfully at the Temple and went regularly to the synagogue, he would have never encountered the dry bones. We have to go where the lost are. We can never sit back and expect them to walk through our door asking us how to be saved.
B. We must bring them the Word of God - vs. 4
God asked Ezekiel to prophesy to dead dry bones.
They're not listening! They couldn't care less what I have to say. How often have you felt that way about a loved one you've been witnessing to? Yet the command was clear. The dead bones would live. But they needed to "hear the word of the Lord." The Word of God is more powerful than we can ever imagine.
Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. There is power in the Word.
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God. Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard, and how shall they hear without a preacher
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 10:9 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
We must explain to them that in order to be saved they must confess their sin, come to Him in repentance and faith confessing Him to be the Lord and Master of their life. And they must hear Christ's words…
John 6:37 All the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
III. DRY BONES are a Picture of Dried Up Christians
A. Remember the time when you were got saved.
Nobody had to talk you into going to church.
No one had to shame you into reading your Bible.
No one had to guilt you into talking about Jesus.
B. For some reason that newness wears off.
1. Sin gets in the way. Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
When the Christian allows himself to play with the pleasures of sin, he is not only risking his own self-destruction, but he also forfeits the joy of his salvation.
Another reason Christian can dry up is that…
2. Life gets in the way. Mark 4:18-19 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceit of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in,
choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
We allow ourselves to become too busy.
God takes a back seat. It starts by missing daily quiet time. Then we start missing services here and there. Then we don't have enough in the bank account to tithe. Then we have drifted completely away.
Another reason Christians get dry is that…
3. Boredom sets in. You start just going through the motions of having devotions, spending time in prayer, you wonder if your prayers are even reaching the ceiling. You come to church, but it is more out of duty than a genuine love for God. Am I describing you.
C. There is a valley of dry bones in everybody’s life.
1. It's a dry place - there is no joy there.
2. It's a dead place - there is no fruit there.
3. It's a dangerous place. - you should ever stay there.
D. Can these bones live? Is there a way out?
LISTEN It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
Jesus Christ died and rose again in victory over sin, and death and grave, so that we can have victory.
The victory is there. We just have to claim it.
Oh Victory in Jesus!
My Savior forever
He sought me and bought me
With His redeeming blood.
He loved me er'e I knew Him.
And all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory
Beneath the cleansing flood!
Are you depressed and distressed, fretful and fearful, wounded, worried, dead, dried up or down right tired.
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over,, I’m talking to you.
I’m talking about the Army of the Lord. You’re a rare breed of people who have learned to be soldiers.
We’ve got a lot of Saints in the church, but we don’t have a lot of Soldiers. We have a lot of Saints holding the fort, but we don’t have many Soldiers possessing the land. God said: It’s time for the Army of the Lord to come to attention, The adversity is great, the conditions are hard but we were bred for the battle.
Yes there will always be dry bones that need a prophet who will see the plan of God and prophesy and bring restoration and transformation. I’m here to prophesy to you the Army of God, this is your Hour of Power.
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
God said he raised you up out of the valley of dry bones. He said he has brought divine order into your life, he said he has strengthened you and nourished you by his word, and the wind of his Spirit has filled your lives and stood you up on your feet and now it’s time for you to fulfill your purpose. You are Gods mouthpiece, His hands and feet on this earth. You are to bring change and deliverance here in the earth.
It is Gods mighty power flowing through you that brings down satan’s strongholds and raises up and establishes the kingdom of God, here and now.
We are anointed to set the captives free.
Jer 51:20-21 Thou art my battle axe and weapons of war, for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms, and with thee will I break in pieces the horse and his rider, and with thee will I break in pieces the chariot and his rider.
Isa 41:15 Behold I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth: Thou shalt thresh the mountains, beat them and make the hills as chaff.
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive Power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
We are the Army of God. We have been delivered from the hand of the enemy, we’ve been washed in the blood of the lamb and filled with the Holy Ghost.
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
We have the power of the name of Jesus. The name above every name, the name that holds all power.
Philip 2:9 -11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name above every name:
That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ac 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other:
for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
Mk 16:17-18 And these signs shall follow them that believe;( In my name) shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing,
it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
*We have the power of the blood of Jesus
There’s protection thru the blood
There’s healing thru the blood
There’s deliverance thru the blood
There’s cleansing for your conscience thru the blood
There’s access into the presence of God thru the blood
There is overcoming power thru the blood
( Rev 12:11) And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony.
There is power in the blood of the lamb.
We have the power of the word of God.
The same word that God used to create the universe.
The same word that Jesus used to cast out devils and heal the sick, to open blind eyes and unstop deaf ears. Ps. 119:89 That word is eternal, forever O Lord
thy word is settled in heaven
*There is healing power in the word
There is delivering power in the word
Psalms 107:20 He sent his word and healed them
and delivered them from all their destruction’s.
We have the weapon and the power of Praise:
Praise is so powerful that even a prison couldn’t hold the ones who dared to praise God in the midnight hour
Praise will knock down walls
Praise will open prison doors
Praise will set captives free
Praise will bring divine help in your battle
Praise will confuse your enemies
We have the power of Prayer and Fasting
To loose the bands of wickedness and heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke
Prayer is powerful but fasting multiplies and magnifies the power and the effect of prayer.
We have the weapon of Praying in the Holy Ghost.
You are called
You are chosen
You are anointed
Greater is he in you than he that is in the world
Lu 10:19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
Matt 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church;
and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Lu 9:1-21 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach
the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
You are an army on the move, advancing, marching in power and authority, treading down every enemy, every devil, every sickness and every disease, breaking through every obstacle and every hindrance.
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over Tell your neighbor: That’s us, Now tell your neighbor: That’s me
We’re not going in our own authority or our own power, but we are going in the name of Jesus and the power of the Holy Ghost. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
I feel an anointing rising up in here right now.
I feel some bones coming together
I feel some muscles, and tendons and sinews, and skin coming on some bones, I feel a wind of the Holy Ghost
I feel the breath of God breathing new life into some bones, I feel a fire getting into some bones
I feel a mighty Army rising up in the Spirit
I feel a fight coming back to someone
I feel like somebody is jumping back into the battle
You’re up again: You’re standing on your feet again, You’ve got your breath back, You’ve got your fire back and you’ve got your faith back
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.
There is nothing too hard for the God we serve.
He can turn a red sea into a super highway.
He can cause water to flow out of a rock like a river.
He can open blind eyes, unstop deaf ears, make the lame to walk, restore missing body parts.
He can burn cancer out of your body.
He can raise the dead, walk on water, calm the storm, feed the multitude, It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
He can save the drug addict, deliver them and set them free, and fill them with the Holy Ghost.
He can heal broken hearts, restore marriages and put families back together again, Save Souls from Hell.
I came to prophesy life, I came to prophesy restoration and healing. I came to prophesy new beginnings.
Today is the day of new beginnings, of restoration, and of resurrection. Marriages being resurrected
Ministries being resurrected
Friendships are being resurrected
Dreams are being resurrected
Can these bones live again?
Yes they can and Yes they will
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
There is a healing anointing in this house right now: The power of God is beginning to flow through this place. I speak resurrection and restoration.
The Spirit of God is moving in the secret places,
the healing oil of God is saturating the bones.
Rejection is being healed, anger and forgiveness is being healed, bitterness and hatred is being healed, fear and confusion and disorder is being healed.
The wind of God is blowing through this place right now. I prophesy to the wind, Come O breath and breathe upon these slain that they might live.
The wind is blowing: The wind of God is blowing through this place and it’s blowing out hurt and discouragement, it’s blowing out fear and anxiety, stress and worry, it’s blowing out hopelessness and confusion, it’s blowing out sickness and depression.
There’s resurrection in the house (there’s restoration in the house) there’s transformation in the house.
God is building an army and he’s not putting together a bunch of broken, wounded, angry, hurt, frustrated, hateful, stubborn, selfish, old dry bones.
This army is made up of lives that have been healed, restored, transformed, made whole and complete.
I came here like Ezekiel, to prophesy to dry bones:
I came to prophesy to the bones that lost their joy.
Bones that have been hurt, cheated, talked about,
Bones that have been mistreated, bones that have been lied on, bones that have been betrayed.
Bones that have become discouraged and frustrated.
Bones that have forgotten how to dream.
Bones that have settled for less and low living.
I came to prophesy to you and declare to you with prophetic authority: It ain’t over till it’s over
*You will love again
*You will dream again
*You will sing again
*You will laugh again
*You will preach again
You’re going to get your joy back, you’re going to get your peace back, and you’re going to get your dance back, you’re going to get your praise back..
It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over.
AND IT AIN’T OVER
I SAID,,,,,,,,,, IT AIN’T OVER
IT AIN’T OVER TILL IT’S OVER
IT AIN’T OVER, “Come on Give Him Praise”
Ezekiel 37:1-10 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and
set me down in the midst of the valley which was full
of bones, And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. And he said unto me,
Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered,
O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them,
O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold,
I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am
the LORD. So I prophesied as I was commanded:
and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold
a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them. Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD;
Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. So I prophesied
as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet,
an exceeding great army.
Notice to Sermon Central Users:
My name is William Poovey, and I pastor at Bethel Church in Olar, SC. I have been a long-time user of Sermon Central and truly appreciate its content and contributors. Some of the best sermons I’ve ever preached have been reworked material from this website. As you use the material from my sermon bank, understand that it is work that has been done from not just myself, but from hundreds of other pastors as well. If you see part of your message, or a lot of your message with my name on it and this upsets you, please email me and I will quickly respond and cite you as the main source. My intent is not to claim someone’s work as my own. I am disclaiming up front that I use the resources from Sermon Central and appreciate the tool. I simply want all those who use my work to know that some of these messages were inspired by the Holy Spirit working through other pastors. Because I do use the messages of other pastors I waive all claims of originality or origin of creativity for the messages posted under my messages. I pray God blesses your preaching ministry for the glory of His Kingdom.
Respectfully,
William Poovey
