Last month, we talked about the seed of God’s Word. The Word of God causes life to spring forth. As believers, we can speak life into this dying world. The prophecies of Ezekiel were given to the prophet during Israel’s captivity in Babylon. In chapters 36 and 37, the Lord gives Ezekiel prophecies to encourage Israel. They are prophecies of blessings and restoration. They were prophecies that told Israel that God had not completely abandoned them. They were fulfilled and will continue to be fulfilled. I firmly believe them and do not want to take away from them, but I want to draw your attention to two things that will help motivate you today.
We are living in a time where the dry bones are rattling again. You may be thinking, what do you mean? Something is happening around the world. There is a shaking going of sorts going on so that the people are beginning to question what has happened to our world, our society, and our countries. Many people are becoming shaken as we face the most significant moral decline that the world has seen. This awakening is not just happening in our churches, and we know it needs to start there. It is happening all around. Disease, poverty, immorality, and violence are awakening the unbelievers. There is a greater hunger for God in the world than ever before. The unsaved are flocking to meetings to hear the answers they are craving. In parenting seminars, we have told parents that whoever provides the most information will win. That is where we are today as believers. We need to be giving answers to these bones that are rattling.
There are two things that I want to draw from Ezekiel 37. The first is this; God asked Ezekiel if these dry bones could live. Ezekiel 37:3 says,” He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Ezekiel does not really answer God’s question. This is a question that we need to answer before moving on. Can people change? Hopefully, your answer is yes, they can change. Some will tell us that the trouble we are seeing is prophecy, which cannot be changed. I tend to agree that we are approaching the return of Christ at a quick pace. But can people be rescued? Yes! I am a prime example of that, along with people like Paul and Peter and yourself. How can this take place? By the breath of the Holy Spirit being breathed into them just as Ezekiel prophesied.
Something needed to take place before the Holy Spirit restored life. That is the second thing we need to see. Ezekiel needed to prophesy. He needed to speak what God gave him to speak. Now is the time for every believer to begin speaking, not necessarily in a prophecy, but to say what is inside us. The Hebrew language is very picturesque. The picture that this word creates is something that bubbles up from the inside of you. Every believer has a fountain inside of them. We need to let it flow out to those who are dry and thirsty. We do this by sharing the good news or Gospel with others. We do it by testifying that we once were bound but now are free from sin. We once were blind, but now we can see. It is simple as that.
When Jesus spoke to women at the well, He did it in a very casual and loving way. He didn’t condemn her for the sin He knew she was living. He presented the answer. Come and drink from me, I will give you living water, and you will never be thirsty again. That is what the world is looking for. They are thirsty and longing for what you have. Do you believe that they can live again? Then take the next step and speak to them the words of life.
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