Ezekiel 37:1-14 - (Sermon) God Sees Your Dry Bones

Thanksgiving

Giving honor to God!

Pastor - Wei (way)

Congregation

Musician - Obadiah

Scripture

Ezekiel 37:1–14 NRSV

The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded; and as I prophesied, suddenly there was a noise, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. I looked, and there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them; but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, mortal, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.” I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood on their feet, a vast multitude. Then he said to me, “Mortal, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are cut off completely.’ Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord God: I am going to open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil; then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken and will act,” says the Lord.

God Sees Your Dry Bones

Life in the Valley of Dry Bones

Resurrection Power: Finding Life in Dead Situations

God Sees Your Dry Bones

Hope for the Hopeless: A Message for Dry Bones

It's Not Over Yet: God Can Restore Your Dry Bones

Introduction

Brothers and sisters, we all have those areas in our lives that feel dry and lifeless, like a valley of dry bones. Maybe it's struggles with food or housing, maybe it's a broken relationship, or maybe it's just a feeling of hopelessness that weighs you down. We come to places like Chosen300 seeking help, seeking a way out of those valleys.

But what if I told you that even in those dry, seemingly lifeless places, God can bring new life? What if I told you that God sees those dry bones and says, "I can bring life back to this situation"?

That's the message of hope we find in Ezekiel 37, and that's the message I want to share with you today. We're going to learn how to find life in those dead situations, how to trust in God's power to bring restoration and hope, even when things seem impossible.

(Congregation Question) How many of you have ever felt like giving up, like your situation was just too much to handle?

(Congregation Question) How many of you are longing for a change, for a breakthrough in your life?

If you answered yes, you're in the right place. Because today, we're going to discover that it's not over yet! There is life for your dead situation!

Historical, Theological Reference

The prophet Ezekiel lived during a time of deep despair for the people of Israel. Imagine their homeland invaded, their temple destroyed, their families torn apart and forced into exile. They felt like dry bones scattered across a desolate valley – lifeless, hopeless, abandoned by God.

Ezekiel, whose very name means "God strengthens," was called to be a watchman, a voice of hope in this darkness. He reminded them that even though they were in exile, God had not forgotten them. He promised restoration, a future where those dry bones would live again.

(Congregation Question) Have you ever felt like you were in exile, far from where you belong, surrounded by challenges that seem impossible to overcome? Like those Israelites, you might feel lost, forgotten, maybe even abandoned by God.

The prophet was perplexed by this vision of the bones coming together that couldn’t escape its clutches. The prophet was presented with all the cares of his people in one big vision. But this is what God wanted for Ezekiel. Verse 2 of this text said that God “led Ezekiel around among them, and behold, .” This encounter was no mistake of God. God present this vision too Ezekiel so that he would experience Gods power, remain mindful of His surroundings, and witness how God could bring life into a dead situation.

Life coach Steve Maraboli says “Happiness is not the absence of problems; it’s the ability to deal with them.” Its no mistake of God to allow the challenges we face in life. But here's the powerful truth in Ezekiel's vision: those dry bones weren't just about the nation of Israel. They represent any situation that seems hopeless, any area of our lives that feels dry and lifeless. Whether it's struggles with food insecurity, unemployment, addiction, broken relationships, or just a feeling of deep despair, Ezekiel's message speaks to us today.

This vision reminds us that God sees our "dry bones" situations. He sees our pain, our struggles, our hopelessness. And He says, "I can bring life back to this."

Dry Bones of Our Pain

Think about those areas of your life where you feel the deep ache of pain. Maybe it's the pain of losing a loved one, the pain of a broken relationship, or the physical pain of illness or injury. These are the dry bones of our hearts, the places where we feel broken and empty.

Dry Bones of Our Struggles

We all face struggles in life. Maybe you're struggling to put food on the table or keep a roof over your head. Maybe you're battling addiction or struggling with mental health challenges. These struggles can feel like dry bones, weighing us down and making it hard to move forward.

Dry Bones of Our Hopelessness

When we've been through a lot, it's easy to lose hope. We may start to believe that things will never get better, that we'll always be stuck in this valley of dry bones. This hopelessness can be the driest bone of all, sucking the life out of our souls.

But here's the good news: God specializes in bringing life to dead situations. Just as He promised to restore the nation of Israel, He promises to bring restoration to our lives. He sees our dry bones, and He offers us hope.

This hope is found in Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for our sins and rose again, conquering death and offering us new life. In Him, we find the strength to face our challenges, the courage to keep going, and the assurance that we are never truly alone.

As the hymn writer reminds us, "My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness." We don't place our hope in our circumstances or our own strength, but in the eternal power of Christ. He is our refuge, our strength, our ever-present help in trouble.

Applicable Points

Trust in the Power of God.

Do the Work in Between

Speak Life Into Your Situations

(1) Trust in the Power of God

Description: Just like Ezekiel was led by the Spirit into the valley of dry bones, we need to trust in God's power to lead us through our challenges. We can't fix our "dry bones" situations on our own; we need the Holy Spirit working within us. (Ezekiel 37:1) Application: This means inviting God into every area of our lives, surrendering our struggles to Him, and believing that He can bring life to even the most hopeless situations. Examples:

Instead of worrying about how you'll pay the rent, pray and trust that God will provide. If you're struggling with addiction, seek help and rely on God's strength to overcome it. When you feel overwhelmed by your circumstances, remember that the Holy Spirit is your helper and comforter.

(2) Do the Work in Between

Description: God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones. Similarly, God calls us to take action, to do the work He sets before us, even when it seems impossible. (Ezekiel 37:4-7) Application: This means stepping out in faith, obeying God's commands, and actively participating in the process of restoration. It's not enough to just sit and wait for God to do everything; we need to play our part. Examples:

If you're looking for a job, don't just pray about it; also update your resume and go on interviews. If you want to improve your relationships, take the first step to reconcile and communicate. If you're struggling with your finances, create a budget and seek wise counsel.

(3) Speak Life Into Your Situations

Description: Ezekiel prophesied life to the dry bones, and they came back to life. We also have the power to speak life into our situations through our words and our faith. (Ezekiel 37:10) Application: This means replacing negative self-talk with words of faith and hope. It means declaring God's promises over our lives and believing that He can bring restoration and healing. Examples:

Instead of saying, "I'll never get out of this mess," say, "God is working in my life, and I believe things will get better." If you're facing a health challenge, declare healing over your body and trust in God's power to restore you. When you feel discouraged, speak words of encouragement to yourself and others.

Closing

(With energy and passion) Let's put an end to those self-destructing words! Are you ready to start speaking life into your LIFE? Let's go, let's do it!

I can do this! I am prepared for this!

I am fully equipped!

I have more than enough! I am loved!

I am valued!

I have the resources I need to accomplish my goals! God has not forgotten about me!

I have not been overlooked! I have purpose! I am here for a reason! This moment will be the time I will put in action everything! I am not afraid! I am unstoppable! My dry bones will live! My dry bones are alive!

(Transition to a more reverent tone) I am excited today because God is so good! He's faithful! He's merciful! He's just! He is a loving God! He's kind! He's a provider! He's a way-maker! He's a deliverer! He's a healer! He is a very present help in our time of need! His name is a strong tower that we can run to and be safe!

And remember, all of this is possible because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. He died so that we might have life, abundant life! He rose again so that we might have hope, even in the midst of our dry bones situations.

(With emphasis) The Bible says in Romans 8:31, "If God is for us, who can be against us?" No matter what you are going through, know that God can resurrect your dead bones situation. Stand on His Word and prophesy! Don't give up! We have the ability to prophesy "LIFE" to a dying world because we live in resurrection power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit!

(With a call and response) Can these bones live? (Congregation: Yes!) Can these bones live? (Congregation: Yes!)

Invitation to Christian Discipleship

Brothers and sisters, we've heard today that even in the midst of our dry bones situations, God can bring new life. But this new life isn't just about our circumstances changing; it's about a change in our hearts, a transformation of our souls.

This transformation begins with a decision, a choice to follow Jesus Christ.

(1) The Call to New Life - If you've never experienced this new life, if you're longing for hope and restoration in your heart, today is your day! Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) He sees your dry bones, your pain, your struggles. He offers you forgiveness, healing, and a brand new start. Will you answer His call today?

(2) The Call to Rededication - Maybe you've already started your journey with Christ, but somewhere along the way, you've stumbled or lost your focus. Today, you can rededicate your life to Him. Remember His promise: "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Mark 1:17) He wants to restore your hope, renew your strength, and use you to bring life to others. Will you recommit to following Him today?

(3) The Call to Serve - For those who are already walking with Christ, there's a call to serve, to use your gifts and talents to bring hope and healing to this world. Just as Ezekiel prophesied to the dry bones, we are called to be agents of God's restoration. Will you answer the call to serve and be a part of bringing life to the dry bones situations around you?

Benediction

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. May you go forth from this place with renewed strength and courage, knowing that even in the midst of your dry bones situations, God is able to bring life and restoration. And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forevermore. Amen.

Prayer for the Meal:

Loving God, we thank you for the food we are about to receive. We thank you for the hands that prepared it, the hearts that served it, and the resources that made it possible. Bless this food to nourish our bodies and strengthen us for the journeys ahead. May we always remember that you are the ultimate provider, and we are grateful for your abundant provision. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Blessing for Volunteers and Staff:

Gracious God, we ask your blessing upon all those who volunteer and work at Chosen 300. Thank you for their compassion, their dedication, and their willingness to serve those in need. Fill them with your love, your strength, and your wisdom. May they be a source of hope and encouragement to all who come through these doors. And may they experience the joy of serving you by serving others. In Jesus' name, we pray.

Amen.