God has the power to restore and renew even the most desolate situations, breathing life into our "dry bones" and transforming our lives, hopes, and dreams.
Good morning, family. Today, we're diving into a powerful passage from the Old Testament that speaks volumes about our mighty God and His incredible power to restore hope even in the most desolate of situations.
As we embark on this spiritual journey, let's remember the words of Philip Yancey, "Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse." Our God is a God of restoration and resurrection, and sometimes we only understand His plans in retrospect.
So let's open our Bibles to the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 37, verses 1 to 5:
"The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' I said, 'Sovereign Lord, you alone know.' Then he said to me, 'Prophesy to these bones and say to them, dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.'"
The imagery of a valley full of dry bones is a stark representation of situations in our lives that seem hopeless, desolate, and beyond repair.
Not dependent on the magnitude of our problems: It’s also not dependent on the depth of our despair. His power is inherent in His nature, His character, and His promises to us. When God asks Ezekiel if the dry bones can live, He is not seeking an answer but provoking a realization of His divine capability. God's power to restore is not limited by human understanding or natural laws. He is the God of the impossible, the God who brings life from death, hope from despair, and joy from mourning.
A tangible reality that we can experience in our daily lives: It is manifested in the grace that forgives us when we err, the mercy that embraces us when we fail, and the love that sustains us when we are weak. It is seen in the opportunities that arise from failures, the strength that emerges from trials, and the peace that transcends understanding amidst turmoil.
Intricately linked with His word: In the passage, God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones. This prophetic word was not a mere prediction but a creative force that brought about a transformation. Similarly, God's word in our lives has the power to change our circumstances, to breathe life into our dry bones. His promises are not empty words but life-giving truths that can revive our hope and renew our strength.
A continuous process: The dry bones did not come to life instantly but gradually, as Ezekiel prophesied. Likewise, the restoration of our hope may not happen overnight. It may require persistent faith, fervent prayer, and patient waiting. But rest assured, God is at work, even when we can't see it.
For His glory: The resurrection of the dry bones was a testimony to God's power and a beacon of hope for the Israelites in exile. Similarly, when God restores our hope, it serves as a testimony to others and brings glory to His name.
The Valley of Dry Bones represents the desolation and hopelessness that we sometimes experience in our lives ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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