12/04/2022
Zion Spring Church of Christ Bunn NC
Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Topic: Prophecy Life (Speaking)
in our text, Judah had become just as idolatrous as Israel and was heading for destruction.
Babylonian empire reigned supreme over that entire region of the world.
They overtook the land of Judah and carried away many of its inhabitants.
You probably remember that among the first group of Jews deported was the prophet Daniel.
Ezekiel was in the second group of Jews to be carried off to Babylon.
Brothers and Sisters,
It’s difficult for some of us to imagine the pain and suffering experienced by the people who have been carried away from their homeland.
Not only did they have to deal with the brutal treatment of their captors; also had to adjust to a completely new culture.
Ezekiel, after being called as a prophet by God, began to prophesy about the destruction of Jerusalem.
Yet, no one seemed to take him seriously, until it came true.
History reveals that Jerusalem was completely destroyed in 586 BC.
All that remained of the once proud city was rubble.
Picture this; the people Ezekiel was speaking to in chapter 37 were a group of people with no identity, no hope, and no future.
Miracles for them no longer seemed like a possibility.
It was in the midst of this situation that Ezekiel says that he was carried off by the Spirit of God to a Valley.
In this vision, Ezekiel witnessed a valley of bones.
The floor of the valley was covered with bones. Perhaps, this valley was once the sight of a great battle.
The fact that the bones are described as dry, hits home the point that there was no life in them at all.
God then asks the prophet a question, “Can these bones live?”
The question that God asks Ezekiel is all about vision.
What does Ezekiel see? Does he only see his presencircumstances or does he see the possibility of a miracle?
The prophet replies, “you alone know.
So, God tells Ezekiel to start a Reformation.
Proclaim a Word to Re-Form the Body from the bones laying dead and dry.
God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones until they come together and re-form into bodies.
Brothers and SISTERS, I don’t want us to take this moment for granted.
We may be quick to dismiss Ezekiel’s actions as bold. But the fact that this was a vision doesn’t discount the value of Ezekiel’s decision.
God was asking Ezekiel to do something that seemed ridiculous.
Prophesying to bunch of dry bones is not the normal course of action.
Bones are laid to rest; they are buried.
They are not usually the recipients of prophecy.
God was asking Ezekiel to take a leap into the unknown. God was asking the prophet to act in spite of what he saw.
Ezekiel did as he was told and witnessed the resurrection of bones to new life.
God then began to explain to Ezekiel what this vision meant.
The bones represented Israel. They say, “Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.”
Apostolic Prophetic Contending for the Faith Expository Teaching
Apostolic Prophetic Foundation to An Apostolic Church as The Acts of The Apostles,
Jesus Christ Our Chief Cornerstone. He is our Rock, out tested Stone, our Head, who holds the Body of Christ
Ephesians 2: 20 – 21"Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the chief cornerstone, In whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord.
The apostle and the prophets are the foundations of the church; to equip, build, fit together and for the growth of the believers into a mature and lacking nothing mighty in power and demonstration.
