Dry Bones Come Alive

This week, we received an awesome word from God, through Alana Martz. Alana was visiting her family (as she lives in Tampa, Florida), so we were so glad she was willing to carve out this morning to bring us the morning message.

Alana began by providing some background on the book of Ezekiel.

The North section of the Kingdom of Israel was under Assyrian rule/control.

The South section - the Kingdom of Judah was under siege of the Babylonian Empire. This was not the first time Babylon had moved in here… The first exile was when was Daniel was taken. The book of Ezekiel is written during the second exile.  

Ezekiel chapters 1-3 are messages of warning.

Ezekiel 4 is about God testing Ezekiel (showing trust). In this testing, God is declaring to Ezekiel: You are a priest on this Earth, but more than anything, you are Mine...

There are moments in life when hope feels exhausted... Ezekiel 37 speaks to those moments.... 

Ezekiel 37

1 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. 3 Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord God, only you know.”

4 He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. 6 I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”

7 So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!” 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me; the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look how they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. 13 You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the Lord.’”

The bones brought to life in Ezekiel 37 symbolize the house of Israel and God’s promise to bring them out of exile - which He did… But this chapter also tells us so much more!

This chapter is encouraging as it tell us how God meets us in our valleys. It also reminds us that God is talking to us.

To prophesy is to deliver a message directly from God. It is also a critical part of living our best Christian life.

I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be edified. ~ 1 Corinthians 14:5

But if an unbeliever or an inquirer comes in while everyone is prophesying, they are convicted of sin and are brought under judgment by all, as the secrets of their hearts are laid bare. So they will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, “God is really among you!” ~ 1 Corinthians 14:24-25

And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. ~ Joel 2:28-29

God is able to lead anyone back to Him from any path they are on. Sometimes He needs someone to deliver them a message from Him to bring them back. God will speak to all of us and give us all something to prophesy about. God might be calling you to give a word to someone… It could be in the middle of the store, at work, in a parking lot, anywhere…

No situation is too hard for God.

We need to be ready to listen and answer His nudging - no matter how uncomfortable or nervous we may be.

God's Word spoken in faith - transforms lives. 

As you become faithful with the little things, He will start giving you bigger things. 

In Ezekiel 37:9, God uses the word:

רוּחוֹת

rū-ḥō-wṯ

This word doesn’t just mean, “the winds,” but is also means, “spirit.” We need the Holy Spirit breathed into us. True Prophesy depends on the Holy Spirit.

We need to share the word of Jesus... it brings life, relationship, and purpose. However, we are not always necessarily called to preach Salvation, but sometimes God is calling us to plant seeds that will mature into Salvation.

God brings back to life what is meant to stand and testify. 

His Word is never void. His Spirit brings life.

Let Him show us where we need to be.

So, be challenged to slow down and identify areas in your life that might be dry, and find a message from God in His Word to declare over that area - to bring those dry bones back to life.