Blake Allen, Dunbar Cave Campus Pastor, LHBC
Ezekiel 37
37 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,[a] 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.’”
God is the author of life. He is the creator (Gen 1–2; Ps 33:6–9), sustainer (Isa 46:4; Matt 6; Col 1:17), and reviver of life (Ps 85:6; Hos 6:2). Scripture affirms that God is sovereign over life, for He gives and takes away (Job 1:21). As the sovereign author of life, Scripture also makes clear that God is able and desires to give new life to those spiritually dead (Ezek 37:1–14). The author of life who speaks the word of life and breathes the breath of life into a lifeless corpse grants new life. One of the clearest examples of this truth is found in the book of Ezekiel. In Ezekiel 37:1–6, the prophet Ezekiel is given a vision of God. In this vision, God takes the spiritually dead nation of Israel and breathes new life into their dry bones.
God is still in the business of restoration. He still breathes new life into dry bones. He still brings revival to those who are in need of spiritual resuscitation.
He gives life through His word
After hearing the word and speaking the word, the prophet witnesses the power of the word. This word produced activity, shifting the scene from scattered bones to reorientation! Indeed, Scripture testifies to the transformative and life giving power of the word of God (Heb 4:12; 1 Pet 1:23). God desires to give new life to His people. The path to new life would come through a prophetic word spoken by God.
He gives life through His Spirit
The lifeless corpses of Israel could only be made alive when the Spirit filled them. New life requires both the prophetic word and work of the Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit to come and do a work in our hearts and lives.
He gives new life through His Son
Jesus went to the cross so that we could experience new life in Him. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one receives new life outside of Christ. Maybe your in a place of life where you wish you could start over. Guess what, you can! Have you given your life to Christ? New life begins with Him. He will cleanse you of your sin and give you new life.
Now live your life for Him.
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Dear Heavenly Father, breathe in us new life by your Spirit. Pour out your Spirit in us and may we live out our new life in Christ.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK:
1 John 5:12
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.