1\2 Come Alive

Tithing

is an act of worship. It’s a tangible way of honoring God and acknowledging His lordship over our lives.

The early church in Acts 2:44-45 demonstrated this by sharing everything they had and ensuring no one was in need. Their giving was an expression of their unity and devotion, fueled by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:44–45 NIV

All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.

Supporting Quote: John Wesley once said, "Earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can." Wesley’s life was marked by generosity, reflecting his deep commitment to God and His mission. His example reminds us that our giving is a reflection of our heart's condition and our devotion to God's work.

visitors

Canada trip ways to help

T-shirts, Donuts, Popcorn, Cappuccino

Israel Perdonsin 1\2 Come Alive

July 20th

Breathing Life into the Dry Bones

Introduction

Good morning, church. Today, we embark on a powerful journey through one of the most compelling visions in the Bible, found in Ezekiel 37:1-14—the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones.

This passage challenges us to believe again, to hope again, and to trust in God's power to breathe new life into the areas of our lives that seem dead and hopeless.

I remember a time in my own life when I felt like I was walking through a valley of dry bones.

Everything seemed lifeless, and I couldn't see a way out.

But through prayer and faith, I witnessed God breathe life into my situation, transforming it completely.

Today, I want to share this message of hope and renewal with you, and I believe that God will move powerfully in our hearts as we study this passage together.

Main Point 1: Dry Bones

Scripture:

Ezekiel 37:1-3 - “1 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

Ezekiel 37:1–3 NLT

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

Valleys in the Bible often represent low points in our lives.

Psalm 23 speaks of the "valley of the shadow of death," and Psalm 84 mentions the "valley of tears." In Ezekiel's vision, the valley was full of bones—very dry bones.

These bones had been dead for a long time, symbolizing hopelessness and despair.

In our lives, we might find areas that feel dry and lifeless—dreams, relationships, ministries, or even our faith.

Like Ezekiel, we need to identify these dry bones in our lives.

Here are some practical examples of "dry bones" in people's lives…

1. Dreams and Aspirations

Story: Sarah always dreamed of starting her own bakery. She loved baking and had plans for her shop, but after several failed attempts to secure funding, she gave up. Her dream felt like dry bones—lifeless and forgotten.

2. Relationships

Story: John and Maria's marriage was on the brink of collapse. Years of misunderstandings and lack of communication left their relationship feeling like dry bones. They decided to seek counseling and prayed together for healing.

3. Ministries

Story: Pastor David's church had decline in attendance and enthusiasm. The once vibrant ministry felt like a valley of dry bones. David and his congregation began to pray fervently for revival. They reached out to the community, started new programs, and reignited their passion for service.

4. Faith and Spiritual Life

Story: Emma felt spiritually dry and disconnected from God. Her faith journey seemed like dry bones—empty and lifeless. She joined a small group, began studying the Bible more deeply, and spent more time in prayer.

5. Careers and Professional Life

Story: Michael had been in the same job for years, feeling unfulfilled and stuck. His career felt like dry bones—no growth or satisfaction.

It might be a dream that seems out of reach, a relationship that's strained, or a ministry that feels stagnant.

Today, let's identify these areas and write them down, believing that God can breathe new life into them.

Quote: "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." - Martin Luther King Jr.

Action: Write down three areas in your life that feel dry or lifeless. Pray over them, declaring "Come Alive" in faith.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to see the dry bones in my life. Lift up my perspective and give me the boldness to declare "Come Alive" in my situation.

Main Point 2: Speak Out

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:3-7 "'Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?” “O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.” Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord .’”

Ezekiel 37:3-6

God asked Ezekiel a strange question: "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel wisely responded, "Sovereign Lord, you alone know."

Then, God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, to speak life into a dead situation.

The power of the tongue is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, emphasizing the influence of words in various situations.

Here are several biblical instances that highlight this theme:

Creation (Genesis 1:3 )

Genesis 1:3 NIV

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

Situation: God created the world through His spoken word.

Significance: "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." This demonstrates the ultimate power of God's word to create reality out of nothing.

Blessing and Cursing (James 3:9-10 ):

James 3:9–10 NIV

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Situation: The tongue's dual capacity to bless and curse.

Significance: "With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be." This passage underscores the moral responsibility associated with speech.

Proverbs on the Power of Words:

Proverbs 18:21: "The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit."

Proverbs 15:1: "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 12:18: "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Jesus and the Fig Tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-21):

Situation: Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit.

Significance: Jesus spoke to the tree, and it withered from the roots. This act illustrated the power of faith and the spoken word.

Healing and Deliverance (Matthew 8:5-13):

Situation: The Centurion's servant is healed by Jesus’ word.

Significance: The Centurion said, “Just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus commended his faith and spoke healing, demonstrating the power of spoken words in performing miracles.

Peter and the Lame Man (Acts 3:6-7):

Situation: Peter heals a lame man at the temple gate.

Significance: Peter said, "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." By his spoken command, the man was healed, showcasing the power of speech combined with faith.

Confession and Salvation (Romans 10:9-10):

Situation: The role of confession in salvation.

Significance: "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." This emphasizes the power of verbal confession in the process of salvation.

Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:39):

Situation: Jesus speaks to calm a storm.

Significance: "He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, 'Quiet! Be still!' Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." Jesus' words had authority over nature.

Paul’s Command to the Spirit (Acts 16:16-18):

Situation: Paul commands a spirit to come out of a slave girl.

Significance: Paul said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” The spirit left her immediately, illustrating the power of commanding words in spiritual deliverance.

Joshua and the Sun (Joshua 10:12-14):

Situation: Joshua commands the sun and moon to stand still.

Significance: Joshua spoke to the Lord and commanded the sun to stand still over Gibeon, and the moon over the Valley of Aijalon. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. This miracle showed the power of a faithful leader's spoken words in achieving God's purpose.

These examples illustrate the biblical principle that words have profound power to create, bless, heal, curse, and change situations.

Words That Can Destroy Dreams and Lead to the Dry Bone Valley

1. “You’re not good enough.”

2. “That’s a stupid idea.”

3. “You’ll never succeed.”

4. “Why even bother?”

5. “You’re a failure.”

6. “It’s too late for you.”

7. “No one cares about your work.”

8. “You’re just wasting your time.”

9. “You’ll never be as good as [someone else].”

10. “Just give up already.”

The tongue, when used in faith and alignment with God's will, can bring about remarkable outcomes.

This takes courage and faith. Jesus did the same when he stood before Lazarus's tomb and called him to come forth.

Quote: "Faith is the daring of the soul to go farther than it can see." - William Newton Clarke

Action: Remember the three areas you wrote down .

Speak out audibly, declaring that God will breathe new life into those situations. Say, "Come Alive" in the name of Jesus.

Prayer: Sovereign Lord, I will speak new life into my situation. Breathe life into me, my family, my business, my church, and my community.

Main Point 3: Breathe

Scripture: Ezekiel 37:8-10 "8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army."

Breath is essential to life.

In Genesis 2:7, God formed man from the dust, but it wasn't until He breathed into his nostrils that man became a living being.

Similarly, the dry bones in Ezekiel's vision needed the breath of life to truly come alive.

Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit" (John 20:22). The Holy Spirit empowers us to accomplish God's purposes in our lives. Without the Holy Spirit, we are like bones without breath.

John 20:22 is part of the narrative of Jesus' appearance to His disciples after His resurrection.

This event occurs in the evening of the first Easter Sunday when Jesus appears to the disciples who were gathered behind locked doors for fear of the Jewish leaders.

He shows them His hands and side as proof of His resurrection and then commissions them with the words, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you" (John 20:21-22

John 20:21–22 NIV

Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Original Greek Terms

Key Greek Words:

Λάβετε (Labete): Translated as "Receive." This is an imperative verb, commanding the disciples to accept or take the Holy Spirit.

Theological Significance

New Creation:

The act of Jesus breathing on His disciples is reminiscent of God breathing life into Adam. This suggests that the giving of the Holy Spirit is a form of new creation. The disciples, and by extension all believers, are being renewed and empowered for their mission.

Empowerment for Mission:

Jesus' commission, coupled with the gift of the Holy Spirit, equips the disciples to continue His work on earth. The Holy Spirit is essential for the disciples to bear witness to Jesus and to carry out their mission effectively.

Fulfillment of Promise:

This act fulfills Jesus' promises in the Farewell Discourse about the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's role includes teaching, reminding, convicting, and guiding the disciples in truth.

Action:

Identify an area in your life that needs the breath of God.

Research the Holy Spirit and His role in your life.

Consider reading John Bevere’s book, “The Holy Spirit - an Introduction”.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, breathe on me the breath of life. Empower me with the Holy Spirit to fulfill Your purposes in my life.

Conclusion with Key Points

Today, we have journeyed through Ezekiel's vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. We identified the dry bones in our lives, spoke out in faith, and sought the breath of God to bring new life. Remember:

Identify the dry bones in your life.

Speak out with boldness, declaring God's power over your situation.

Seek the breath of the Holy Spirit to empower and revive you.

Practical Applications

As you go about your week, I encourage you to:

Reflect on the areas you identified as dry bones and pray over them daily.

Speak life into those areas with confidence and faith.

Seek a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit through prayer, study, and worship.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the power of Your Word and the breath of Your Spirit. Help us to believe again, to hope again, and to trust in Your ability to bring new life to our dry bones. Empower us with Your Holy Spirit and guide us as we walk in Your purposes. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.