Subject: God’s Answer For The Dead Situations Of Life

Subject: "God’s Answer for the Dead Situations of Life"

Text: Ezekiel 37: 1-14 “The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.”

11-14 “Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

Introduction: The prophetic proclamation is God’s answer for dead situations. In Ezekiel 37, speaking a prophetic message to dry bones means to actively declare God's word and promises over seemingly hopeless situations, believing that God can bring life and restoration where there appears to be none. It's about recognizing the potential for renewal and acting in faith, even when circumstances look bleak.

In the Church in general, there seems to be common knowledge that we need true revival to combat the dryness and lifelessness we see. We need to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to bring in a greater measure. No matter what denomination, independent or traditional, there seems to be something missing of the presence of God in the church. Whenever the Spirit of the Lord is manifest, every person present can sense the realness of the presence of God. Tonight's lesson is taken from the book of Ezekiel. The word Ezekiel means "God will strengthen". This book was written to encourage the Israelites in their most difficult hour. But it is also designed to encourage each of us, no matter how dead or lifeless your present situation appears to be, there is still hope for the future. God knows how to strengthen you for the role you must play in his turnaround. It takes strength to speak life to dead situations. It takes strength for the weak to say, “I am strong”. It takes strength for the poor to say, I am rich”!

In Joel 3:10, God said, “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, I am strong.” The scripture "let the weak say, I am strong" speaks of a complete reversal of role in God's judgment and restoration. The passage encourages those who feel inadequate or powerless to declare their strength through faith in God. It's a call to speak positively and believe in God's power to transform weakness into strength. In 2Corinthians 12:9 we hear these words, “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Then Isaiah 35:3-5 “Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.” Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.” Reversal begins with the prophetic proclamation. Speak life!