Introduction

Good morning, beloved family of God. Isn't it wonderful to be gathered here in His presence, in this place of worship and fellowship? We are here today, not by chance, but by His divine appointment. Our lives, our stories, are all part of His grand narrative of love, grace, and redemption. Today, we are going to immerse ourselves in the profound richness of God's word, as revealed to us in the book of Ezekiel, chapter 37, verses 1 through 14.

In this chapter, we find ourselves in the midst of a beautiful metaphor, a vivid vision, and a divine promise. It's a story of dry bones coming to life, a story of hope in the midst of despair, a story of God's power to restore, redeem, and revive.

Charles Spurgeon, the great prince of preachers, once said, "To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust him in the dark, that is faith." And indeed, today's passage illuminates the darkness with the light of God's promise, a promise that He is always at work, even when we can't see it.

Let's read together from Ezekiel 37:1-14.

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Let's bow our heads in prayer. Dear Heavenly Father, we are grateful for this opportunity to gather in Your name and to study Your word. We ask that You open our hearts and minds to the truths You have for us today. Help us to understand and apply these truths in our daily lives. May Your word, like the breath that breathed life into the dry bones, breathe life into us, transforming us from the inside out. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Restoration from Ruin

The bones are described as 'very dry', indicating a state of prolonged decay, a picture of utter hopelessness. Yet, it is precisely in this place of ruin that God chooses to demonstrate His power to restore.

God asks Ezekiel, 'Can these bones live?' A question that, humanly speaking, seems to have an obvious answer. But God was not looking for human wisdom or understanding. He was setting the stage for a divine demonstration of His restorative power.

God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones. The act of prophesying in this context is more than just speaking words. It is speaking God's words, His promises, His truth. It is declaring the reality of God's kingdom in the face of earthly realities. It is a call to align with God's perspective, to see beyond the physical and into the spiritual.

As Ezekiel prophesies, there is a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones come together. Flesh and tendons appear, and skin covers them. This is a picture of God's restorative work, a work that begins with bringing together what has been scattered and broken. It is a work that involves every part, every detail. Nothing is overlooked.

Then, the bodies are formed, but there is no breath in them! They are bodies, but not yet living beings. And so, God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, to call forth life where there is none. And as he does, breath enters the bodies, and they come to life.

This is a powerful picture of God's restorative work. It is not just about fixing what is broken, or patching together what has been scattered. It is about bringing life where there is death, and hope where there is despair.

God's restoration is also holistic. He doesn't just restore parts of us, He restores all of us. He is not just interested in our spiritual well-being, but also our physical, emotional, and mental well-being. His desire is for us to be whole, in every sense of the word.

But perhaps the most beautiful aspect of God's restorative work is that it is rooted in His love for us. He restores us not because we deserve it, or because we have earned it, but simply because He loves us. His love is the driving force behind His restorative work. It is His love that sees us in our ruin and chooses to restore us.

Amid our ruin, God offers restoration. In the face of our despair, He offers hope. In our brokenness, He offers wholeness. This is the promise of our God. And it is a promise that is as relevant and powerful today as it was when it was first spoken.

Transition. So, let us hold onto this promise. Let us trust in God's restorative power. Let us believe in His love for us. And let us look forward to the day when our dry bones will come to life, when our ruin will be restored, and when we will stand as a vast army, a testimony to God's power, love, and faithfulness.

Redemption in Resurrection

As we continue to engage with this scripture, we find ourselves confronted with the reality of resurrection ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO