Ezekiel 37:1–14 The Valley of Dry Bones
Ezekiel was twenty-five years of age when he, his family, and his nation were carried off as a captives of war, to the country of Babylon, 900 miles away.
It was a Dark, Depressing and Difficult time for all of Israel.
Ezekiel had been in captivity for at least ten years when God gave to him this vision.
This vision of the dry bones was given to interject hope into a hopeless situation.
Like Israel, we are dejected, despondent, discouraged, disillusioned, defeated, and dead
We desperately need the breath of God
Stephen Olford, “I see absolutely no hope outside of a mighty spiritual revival.”
I. THE CALL TO REVIVAL, 1-4
It Involves Divine Assistance
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD,
It Involves Divine Appointment,
1 and set me down in the midst of the valley, which was full of bones,
It Involves Divine Assessment, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about:
It Involves Divine Assignment, 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones,
(a) He Was To Proceed With Divine Expectancy -
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live?
(b) He Was To Preach with Divine Urgency - 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. The word of the LORD is a :- Sovereign Word, Saving Word, Sure Word. Ps 119:89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. (c) He Was To Proclaim With Divine Authority - 5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: (d) He Was To Pray With Divine Fervency - 9 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.
II. THE CONCERN FOR REVIVAL 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
(a) The Spiritual Death "in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,"
• Without God! •Without Christ! •Without Help! •Without Hope!• Without Life
(b) The Spiritual Dearth 2 and, behold, there were very many in the open valley;
and, lo, they were very dry."
There is no Purpose, no Passion and no Productivity in death.
Preacher - his church,"Obviously the folks in my church don't love each other because I haven't married anybody in the last ten years. They don't love God because no one ever comes to the altar to make a decision for Christ. And sometimes I wonder if God even loves them because He hasn't seen fit to call any of them home to heaven during the past decade.
Otherwise, everything is going well in our church."
(c) The Spiritual Division 7 and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
Duncan Campbell, “I personally believe in the Sovereignty of God in the affairs of men, but I do not believe in any concept of revival that eliminates man’s responsibility. God is the God of revival, but we are His instruments, His agents through which revival is possible.”
III. THE COURSE FOR REVIVAL, , 4-10
A. It begins in Prayer, (God will do nothing but in answer to prayer!)
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
B. It continues through Preaching, 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
the foolishness of preaching, faith comes by hearing,
C. It is confirmed through the Spirit 9 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.
a. The Holy Spirit Convicts John 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
b. The Holy Spirit Convinces 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
c. The Holy Spirit Converts Washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost(Titus 3:5). "Born of the Spirit" (John 3:5).
IV. THE CONSEQUENCES OF REVIVAL
A. Revival 10 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.
(a) They Were Vitalized - 10 and the breath came into them and they lived,
(b) They Were Energized - 10 and stood up upon their feet
(c) They Were Mobilized - 10 an exceeding great army.
To Move, March,& Mission
B. Renewal 12 Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
C. Restoration 13 And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
14 And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
