Dry Bones Come Alive
Ezekiel 37:1-14
In our scripture today Ezekiel gives us a vision of hope when all seems lost. It reminds us that even in a world that feels “bone dry,” God can bring life, renewal, and purpose.
Point 1: We live in A World that is in Crisis
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones represents total devastation and hopelessness. For the nation of Israel, these bones symbolized exile and a sense of being cut off from God.
Today, we see a world that feels divided and discouraged, where crises seem endless—We live in a world full of conflict, natural disasters, mental health struggles, economic uncertainty.
And on top of all that many of us feel like we’re walking through our own valleys.
It may be a personal struggle, loss, maybe anxiety, or just the weight of the world resting on your shoulders, and sometimes it makes us feel like the dry bones in the valley ... disconnected, scattered, and without hope.
But I want to tell you, there is hope, God’s response to despair isn’t to leave us there. We serve a God who brings life out of death... My God can restore what seems beyond repair.
Point 2: The Power of God's Word—Renewal in the Midst of Division
God asks Ezekiel a question, “Can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers, “Lord, only You know.” Then God commands him to prophesy to the bones. As Ezekiel speaks, the bones begin to reconnect, tendons and muscles forming around them. That’s the first step of the process.
Even when we are in chaos God’s Word brings order and structure, that’s the first step of renewal. The saints who went before us lived through wars, plagues, and times of division...and they were grounded in God’s Word, that’s where they found strength and purpose, and they found renewal in His promises.
In today’s world, people are searching for something solid to stand on… with all the voices of fear and division, they are seeking some solid ground… The Word of God speaks hope, truth, and peace and that’s where the solid ground can be found. Just like in Ezekiel’s valley, God’s Word can speak life into our situations, and guide us to love, serve, and be His presence in a hurting world.
Point 3: The Breath of the Spirit—True Life in Troubled Times
Ezekiel’s vision continues, God tells him to prophesy to the breath—prophesy to the Spirit. As the Spirit breathes into these bodies, they come alive and stand as a great army.
Friends, without the Spirit, we’re just going through the motions, and in a world like ours, that’s not enough.
Jesus says in John 6:63, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing.” God calls us to go beyond just surviving; He’s calling us to be alive in Him, even in the darkest of times.
The Spirit’s breath gives us courage to act and speak in faith. Many people today feel spiritually exhausted, they feel weighed down by the crises going on around us. Just as God’s Spirit filled Ezekiel’s valley of Dry Bones, the Spirit can fill us today, It can transform our fears into courage and our despair into hope.
Point 4: God’s Promise of Restoration—Hope Beyond Today’s Challenges
God’s message to Israel was one of promise: “I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live.” This wasn’t just about returning to their homeland; it was about restoring them as a people, as His witness.
Today, we have the same promise through Christ. Romans 8:11 tells us that "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He will also give life to your mortal bodies." In other words, the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead can bring us to life, even now… even in the face of every challenge that arises.
Conclusion & Call to Action
As we reflect on Ezekiel’s vision, let it remind us that God brings life to our dry bones, as individuals and as a church. He calls us to be living witnesses, to show others that His Spirit can renew and restore anyone even in difficult times.
Do you see “dry bones” in your life today? Maybe you see them in your community, and even in our world? Where can we, speak words of life... where can we speak hope, and healing?
If you feel spiritually dry, just ask God to breathe new life into you today. Invite the Spirit to renew your heart, to bring you from a place of surviving to a place of truly living.
Commit to being an agent of hope, like the saints before us. There’s a world out there that needs the life-giving presence of God, and He has chosen us, that’s right you & me to bring His breath to those places.
May we always be up for the challenge.
