BREATHING NEW LIFE IN THE CHURCH
A. How is your WALK with Christ?
1. I think most Christians will answer that question with, "It’s good."
COMMENT:
Deep down, however, something is MISSING. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but the JOY you once had in Christ is DIMINISHING. DESPONDENCY has crept in. You feel undue PRESSURE at WORK. You’re having TROUBLE at SCHOOL. Your MARRIAGE is not what you want it to be. You can’t GET ALONG with your PARENTS. You are on the verge of GIVING UP.
2. The way we FEEL as individual Christians effect the CHURCH as well.
COMMENT:
Our PRAYER LIFE is not what it used to be. We quit READING our Bible. Our WORSHIP ATTENDANCE falls off. We QUIT going to Sunday morning Bible Class altogether. We DROP OUT of the MINISTRY TEAM we were part of. We no longer SERVE in the AREAS we once ENJOYED. We don’t even want to think about JOINING a SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY.
B. Many Christians don’t realize it, but they are GRADUALLY dying SPIRITUALLY.
COMMENT:
Satan is SAPPING the LIFE right out of them. They are not HAPPY with the way they are, but they don’t see a WAY OUT. Many don’t even UNDERSTAND what’s going on. They just know that the JOY, the SPIRITUAL FERVOR, and the LIFE they once had in Christ is being SAPPED out of them.
C. In Ezekiel 37, we find the prophet being told by God to PROPHESY over a valley of DRY BONES so they can come ALIVE.
1. The Valley of DRY BONES represented the nations of Israel who, after being taken captive into Babylon, felt that they could never live as a NATION again.
COMMENT:
God says to Ezekiel, "You tell them that is not so. Although everything seems HOPELESS now, they will become a GREAT and POWERFUL nation once more."
2. What Ezekiel sees is not only the NATION of Israel, but the Messianic Kingdom--the CHURCH!
COMMENT:
The church is to be a GREAT ARMY for God. Sadly, instead of containing an EXCEEDING GREAT ARMY, many congregations contain ROTTING CORPSES! It doesn’t have to be that way, because God has provided everything that is needed to build and maintain a VIBRANT church.
3. Although we have seen NUMERICAL GROWTH in this church during the last two or three years, I sense a LULL--a COMPLACENCY--in our SPIRITUAL GROWTH. I sense a SPIRITUAL DEPRESSION in my own life as well as in the lives of some in this CONGREGATION.
COMMENT:
However, the message of our TEXT today is that God can BREATHE NEW LIFE in this church and in us as individual Christians. Do you believe that?
MESSAGE:
I. LIFELESS CONDITION- vv. 1-2 (READ)
A. Israel is seen as having no LIFE at all. Ezekiel sees nothing but BONES scattered all over the surface of an OPEN VALLEY.
1. The picture brings to mind a GREAT BATTLE that has been fought where THOUSANDS of men have died, and their bodies were left on the ground where they fell.
a. Now there is nothing but BONES--very DRY BONES indicating that they have been DEAD for a long time.
b. I don’t know if Ezekiel understood that these BONES represented Israel’s condition--if so it must have been very DISTURBING to him.
2. Israel at one time was a GREAT and VIBRANT NATION.
COMMENT:
They were God’s children BLESSED beyond any other people. But because of their WICKEDNESS and IDOLATRY, their LACK of FAITH in God, they were taken into CAPTIVITY. They felt that there was no more HOPE for them, that Israel would soon PERISH and never receive God’s BLESSINGS again. Israel didn’t realize it, but even while they were a STRONG NATION they were gradually DYING and being DRAWN away from God.
B. Today the Lord looks at many congregations and sees a valley of DRY BONES--no LIFE, no JOY, no DIRECTION, no FRUIT in their lives.
1. Often what the Lord sees are Christians who merely PLAY CHURCH.
ILLUSTRATION:
Many Christians go through the MOTIONS--they come to Bible Class, they partake the Lord’s Supper, they SING the SONGS, they PRAY and GIVE, but there’s no LIFE there.
2. Maybe you have felt that way.
ILLUSTRATION:
I don’t know about you, but lately I have been going through this SPIRITUAL SLUMP. It’s gotten better over the past few weeks, but it has certainly DIMINISHED my JOY in Christ. It has affected my PRAYER LIFE, my BIBLE STUDY, my MINISTRY. I have faced some CHALLENGES in my FAMILY that have been DIFFICULT to deal with.
I feel like the LIFE of Christ is gradually being SAPPED out of me by the PRESSURES of the WORLD.
I’M SURE THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO FEELS OR HAVE FELT THIS WAY! I know that some of you have been going through your own STRUGGLES. You, too, have felt like you are SPIRITUALLY DYING inside.
3. This is what Ezekiel is DESCRIBING.
COMMENT:
Here are people who were once God’s CHOSEN, but have been CUT OFF from God and now are nothing but a pile of DRY BONES.
II. LIFE GIVING POWER OF GOD- vv. 3-6 (READ)
A. Ezekiel realizes God’s POWER.
1. God asks, "Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel replied, "Lord, you know the answer to that one, not me."
COMMENT:
Undoubtedly, if anyone else would have asked that question, Ezekiel would probably answer, "Are you kidding me! Look out there! There’s nothing but a BONE YARD in that VALLEY! How can they possibly LIVE AGAIN?"
The prophet didn’t UNDERESTIMATE the awesome POWER of God! He knew that no matter how BLEAK, how HOPELESS, and how LIFELESS this GRAVE YARD appeared God could bring them back to LIFE.
2. God- "You prophesy over those DRY BONES and stand back and marvel, because you’re going to see them come ALIVE, and you will know that I am the Lord."
COMMENT:
If Ezekiel entertained any DOUBT, he won’t after God gets through with this GRAVE YARD. God can take that which has no LIFE at all and make it LIVE again.
B. Never should we UNDERESTIMATE the LIFE GIVING POWER of God.
1. I believe that one reason that many churches are DYING is because they don’t RELY on the POWER of God, but on their own POWER only.
COMMENT:
Usually these churches are more SELF-CENTERED than GOD-CENTERED. Almost all that they do--their WORSHIP, their MINISTRIES, their GIVING, their EVANGELISTIC
THRUSTS, are to bring GLORY to themselves and not God.
And when they do make some PROGRESS and accomplish certain OBJECTIVES they pat themselves on the back and say, "Look what we’ve done!’
2. This church can make a GREAT IMPACT for Christ in our community only if we step out of the way and let God take CONTROL.
ILLUSTRATION:
God can take a church that is DYING, a church that has lost its SPIRITUAL FERVOR, a church that is DOING NOTHING and GOING NOWHERE, and make it a LIVING, THRIVING, PROGRESSIVE church.
He can take a person that is BORED with life, TIRED of Christianity, one who has become WEARY in DOING GOOD, and RESTORE his SPIRITUAL PASSION for Christ, his LOVE for others, his COMMITMENT to the church and the furtherance of the GOSPEL.
He can take a FAMILY who are having PROBLEMS--a COUPLE whose MARRIAGE is on the rocks, PARENTS who are at the end of their ROPE dealing with a TROUBLED CHILD, TEENAGERS who can’t get along with their PARENTS--and RENEW their LOVE and DEVOTION to each other and STRENGTHEN their RELATIONSHIPS.
He can take a GROUP of people DRYING UP and gradually WITHERING AWAY and BREATH new LIFE into them!
3. Whatever has been DECAYING our SPIRITUAL
FERVOR . . . whatever has been SAPPING the STRENGTH, the EXCITEMENT, the DEDICATION out of our Christian life can be REVIVED.
COMMENT:
I know I’m not the only one who has been EXPERIENCING a lack of ZEAL and ENTHUSIASM. Others have come to me and said that they, too, have been DOWN SPIRITUALLY. I’m sure that we have all experienced the LISTLESSNESS, the LETHARGY, the STALENESS of our Christian PROFESSION at one time or another.
4. WE ARE NOT ALONE! Even the apostle Paul felt the PRESSURE of the WORLD and became greatly DISCOURAGED- II Corinthians 1:8-9 (READ)
a. Paul is saying, "We have felt so BURDENED, so WEIGHTED DOWN that even DEATH sounds APPEALING. We have DESPAIRED even of LIVING ON."
COMMENT:
Paul is not specific about the EVENTS that led up to this DESPAIRING condition, but it’s something that has made LIFE almost UNBEARABLE. A lesser person than Paul would have CAVED in.
A person can go for just so long in face of outright OPPOSITION from PEOPLE and EVENTS, and then there is a SLOW CRUMBLING of RESOLVE or RESISTANCE.
b. Don’t CONDEMN yourself if you finally reach a point where you want to CHUCK IT ALL and CRAWL under a ROCK and just DIE, but don’t forget that God can make you LIVE AGAIN!!
COMMENT:
Paul- "This has happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who RAISES the DEAD." -v. 9.
Paul is saying, "If my trust is in myself, I would just give up and die! But I TRUST in God who can LIFT me up from my DESPAIR and BREATH new LIFE into me."
C. This is what Ezekiel sees.
COMMENT:
He sees a GROUP of people who are DEAD--they are DISCOURAGED, FRUSTRATED, PERPLEXED. They are ready to GIVE IT ALL UP!
Yet, God looks over them and asks, "Can they LIVE AGAIN?" The answer is emphatically, "YES! YES! THEY CAN LIVE AGAIN!" Through the POWER of God a CONGREGATION that is literally DYING and DOING NOTHING, can turn the WORLD UPSIDE DOWN for Jesus. And if God can do that with a DYING CHURCH, then think what He can do with the Rossville Church of Christ!
III. LIVING RESULTS- vv. 7-14 (READ)
A. Ezekiel PROPHESIED over those BONES and saw them come to LIFE.
1. He saw BONES reconnect, and then the TENDONS, FLESH, and SKIN began to FORM.
a. God- "Prophesy to the four winds to come BREATH into the DEAD so they can come ALIVE!"
b. Then BREATH came into their BODIES and they stood on their FEET, and Ezekiel looked over the VALLEY and saw a VAST ARMY.
2. This was God’s way of showing Israel that regardless of how HOPELESS their condition seemed, they were going to be REVIVED and become a GREAT and POWERFUL NATION again. What God can do for Israel, He can do for any of His PEOPLE!
B. If we allow God’s SPIRIT to BREATH new life into us, there is nothing that Rossville Church of Christ cannot do for the Lord.
1. What do you want to see ACCOMPLISHED in this church?
a. More SOULS being SAVED.
b. This AUDITORIUM filled to CAPACITY¡XGROW to the point of having two SERVICES.
c. Greater EDUCATION program.
d. More meaningful PRAISE and WORSHIP.
e. Full-time Worship Minister.
f. Stronger FELLOWSHIP.
g. Greater ZEAL for the Lord and His church.
h. More people INVOLVED in MINISTRY.
i. Family Life Center built on our property.
2. Whatever you want ACCOMPLISHED for this church, God also wants. If it’s not being done, it’s because we have tried to do it ourselves and not give it to God.
C. What will it take to help this church to continue to GROW and become a DYNAMIC FORCE in our community?
1. Have FAITH in the POWER of God
- Mark 9:23- "Everything is possible for him who believes."
2. GET into the Word of God
- I Peter 2:2- "Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk (of the word), so that by it you can grow up in your salvation."
3. Be COMMITTED to the WORK of the Lord
- I Corinthians 15:58- "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the lord is not in vain."
4. RESPECT and SUPPORT your SPIRITUAL LEADERS
- I Thessalonians 5:12-13- "Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other."
5. GIVE GENEROUSLY to the CAUSE of Christ.
- II Corinthians 8:7- "Just as you excel in everything--in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness, and in your love for us--see that you also excel in this grace of giving."
6. ENCOURAGE one ANOTHER
- Hebrews 3:13- "...encourage one another daily, as long as it is called TODAY, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness."
7. PRAY
- James 5:16b- "...The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."
CONCLUSION:
A. Have you ever wondered what it would be like to have Jesus WORSHIP with us today?
ILLUSTRATION:
How would you REACT if Jesus walked through those double doors, came down the isle, and sat on this FRONT PEW? Would you FALL DOWN on your KNEES and WORSHIP Him? Would you shout, "HALLELUJAH!" and PRAISE Him openly and without EMBARRASSMENT if Jesus were SITTING right here?
If Jesus came into this BUILDING this morning, how would it affect your SERVICE? Would you go to that SICK neighbor who you have refused to assist in her time of NEED and extend a HELPING hand? Would you be more INVOLVED in the MINISTRIES of this church if Jesus were SITTING right here?
How would it affect your LOVE? Would you go to the brother you have WRONGED and say, "I’m sorry"? Would you FORGIVE that sister that you have BEGRUDGED all these years? Would you QUIT GOSSIPING about your FRIENDS and NEIGHBORS? Would you quit RIDICULING, FAULT-FINDING, and CRITICIZING your brethren if Jesus were SITTING right here?
How would it affect your OUTREACH? The next time you saw your fellow-worker who is LOST in his sins, wouldn’t you tell him about Christ? Would another day pass that you wouldn’t PLEAD with your HUSBAND, your WIFE, your CHILDREN, those you LOVE who are without Jesus to turn their lives to Him, if He were SITTING right here?
How would it affect your PRAYER LIFE and BIBLE STUDY? Would you spend more time in your PRAYER CLOSET and DELVING into God’s Word, if Jesus were SITTING right here?
How would it affect your WORSHIP? Would you be GOING somewhere else and DOING something else while the rest of the church was here WORSHIPPING Jesus? Would you merely be going through the MOTIONS or would you put your HEART into your WORSHIP? Would your SINGING be BETTER? Would your PRAYERS be more MEANINGFUL? Would your WORSHIP be a JOYOUS CELEBRATION or a FUNERAL SERVICE, if Jesus were SITTING right here?
How would it affect your ATTITUDE toward your brothers and sisters in Christ? Would you allow PETTY DIFFERENCES to DIVIDE you anymore? Would it really matter if we didn’t see EYE-TO-EYE on every ISSUE? Would it be a FAITH-SHATTERING experience for there to be DIFFERING OPINIONS, if Jesus were SITTING right here?
Would it change our PRIORITIES, would it change our CONDUCT, would it change our ATTITUDE, would it change our LIVES if Jesus were HERE in our ASSEMBLY this morning?
COMMENT:
I want you to realize that Jesus is HERE! He’s with us every minute of the day! When we finally become aware of that, then we will see CHANGES in our lives and in this life of this CHURCH!
I don’t care where you are SPIRITUALLY, God can take your LIFE and TRANSFORM you into a POSITIVE, DYNAMIC Christian to be used in His SERVICE!
