Intro: These verses of Scripture spoke prophetically of the rise of the Jewess Nation from the Babylonian Exile in 586 BC. But this vision is also prophetic of the Church today. We as the Church were once the standard that many honored and respected, but the time has come were the people of God who were once a great army has fallen and become weak. We are no longer the leaders that once should many the way, but rather we have become a fallen army that heads up the rear of the World. Today I want to talk to you about “Coming out of the grave and into the Battle”.
I. Fallen Army.
A. Since the establishment of the Church in the book of Acts, men and women have fought, defended, and died for the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
B. But within the last century the Christian Church has slowly weakened.
C. The standard that the Word and Church once upheld is being replaced with compromise and Worldliness.
1. Matthew 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if [it were] possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2. As were the days of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah shall the last days be.
3. 1 Timothy 4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (2) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (3) Forbidding to marry, [and commanding] to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.
4. 2 Timothy 3:1 ¶ This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. (2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 2 Timothy 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 2 (4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; (5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. (6) For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, (7) Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5. 2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4) And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
D. We as the church have been fighting in the valley of the Shadow of death, and have let it over takes us.
II. Now is the time to restore the image of God within us.
A. In Ezekiel 37 describes the rise of the Jewess nation as a people again. For us God wants to raise us up and restore his image in us again.
a. Matthew 4:16 The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
b. Luke 1:79 To give light to them that sit in darkness and [in] the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.
1. The bones are our foundation that was created for us in the beginning. All that God has giving us has been striped away leaving us bare. 1 Peter 2:9 But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
2. The Lord needs to put His image upon us once again. Making the church more than a Skeleton crew, but a mighty army.
3. Lastly he needs to breathe on us again a fresh with his Holy Spirit. The Hebrew word for wind in these verses is ruach. It is the same word that is translated Spirit for the Holy Spirit or the Spirit of God in the Old Testament. The Wind, the breath, the Spirit of God is all the same word in Hebrew.
B. Once we are assembled together, we need to unit ourselves together as an army.
III. When we are united as an army we then need to be equipped for battle.
A. Ephesians 6:10 ¶ Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (12) For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]. (13) Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. (14) Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (15) And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; (16) Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (17) And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
(18) Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
1. 2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2. When Paul said we need to gird our loins with truth he was speaking of the belt that would hold the armour together. He is telling us that we need to be held together by truth.
3. We need righteousness as our breastplate.
4. We need to walk on the Word of God. Romans 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
5. We need the shield of faith to keep from the heavy attacks. Hebrews 11:1 ¶ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
6. We need to protect our heads or mind with the assurance of our Salvation and deliverer.
7. We need to keep our swords sharp that we may cut the enemy and his attacks down. Hebrews 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. No weapon formed against me shall prosper for I am more than a conqueror. Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
Conclusion: We need not to stop praying but as a mighty army of God unite ourselves with the whole armour of God protecting one another and ourselves and march out of the valley and into his Glory.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.
2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Mark 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].
