"The Valley Of Dry Bones"

Ezekiel 37:1-14 NIV

U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris, Jr.

Fort Ord Chapel

Seaside, CA

24 February 2008

Big Idea: Believers are encouraged to remain faithful at their present task because there are no limits to what God can do.

Scriptural References: EAI (Expository; Application; Illustration) 2 Kings 13:20-21 KJV (And Elisha died, and they buried him. And the bands of the Moabites invaded the land at the coming in of the year. And it came to pass, as they were burying a man, that, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha: and when the man was let down, and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood up on his feet); Proverb 17:22 KJV (A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones); 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV (We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed); Deuteronomy 31:8 KJV (And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed); Jeremiah 32:27 KJV ( Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?); Genesis 2:7 KJV (And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.); Psalms 31:24 KJV: Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: Ezekiel 37:1-14 NIV

II. READ THE PERICOPE: Ezekiel 37:1-14 NIV

III. READ THE TEXT: Ezekiel 37:11-12 NIV (Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ’Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: ’This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.

IV. PURPOSE: To encourage believers to obey the inner voice of God, and remain faithful at their present task, because there are no limits to what God can do.

V. SERMONIC THEME: “The Valley of Dry Bones”

VI. Introduction: Webster’s Dictionary.com defines “DESPAIR” as the loss of HOPE and a feeling of hopelessness. It’s the idea of giving up hope … and feeling discouraged and defeated. Believe it or not … there’s a company’s website on the INTERNET called “DESPAIR.INC. At the company’s website, one can find pictures of sinking ships and designs that are called DEMOTIVATORS.

In fact, at DESPAIR, INC their slogan reads as follows: “we believe motivational products create unrealistic expectations, raising hopes only to dash them.. That’s why we created our soul-crushingly depressing Demotivators designs, so you can skip the delusions that motivational products induce and head straight for the disappointments that follow!”

There’s one picture of what looks to be a marathon race with runners running to the finish-line; and beneath the picture IN BIG BOLD PRINT is inscribed:

DEFEAT: For every winner there are dozens of losers. Odds are you one them.

Now, seriously in contrast, The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 KJV: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.

********** TAKE 5 BEATS *********

MOVE 1: Therefore, this morning (my brothers and sisters) I have a FEW Questions to ask of you?

a. Question Number 1: Is there ever a time for a believer to become UNFAITHFUL TO GOD?

b. Question Number 2: Is it possible for a Believer … who knows how awesome and powerful God is … to momentarily get so wrapped-up in his trials and troubles that he loses his nerves … and his HOPE?

c. Again, Is it possible for a Believer … who knows how awesome and powerful God is … to momentarily get so wraped-up in his trials and troubles that he loses his nerves … and his HOPE?

d. Question Number 3: As a God Fearing Believer, within the rudiments of your mind and heart, do you think that there’s anything that God CAN NOT DO?

e. In other words, “Is there anything TOO HARD FOR GOD?

**********TAKE 5 BEATS **********

MOVE 2: As you ponder the questions, I would like to call your attention to the Book of 1 Kings, Chapter 19 and verses 1-21 …

a. Because it is there … that we find the account of Elijah at Mount Horeb (or Mount Sinai).

b. For you see, just shortly after God had displayed His awesome power in the life of Elijah, perhaps a day earlier, and defeated hundreds of Baals Priest on Mount Carmel …