Revive

REVIVE “Breathe Again — God Is Awakening What Went Silent”

Primary Text: Isaiah 43:18–19 (KJV)

Extended Text: Ezekiel 37:1–10

INTRODUCTION: WHEN LIFE KEEPS MOVING BUT YOU FEEL EMPTY

My beloved Saint Thomas Baptist Church family, grace and peace be multiplied unto you in the mighty and matchless name of Jesus Christ!

We have been journeying together prophetically. We declared that God will restore what life tried to take away. We confessed that God will reshape us for divine purpose.

But today, the Spirit leads us into a necessary, honest, and holy conversation.

Because there is a place many believers reach—but few are willing to admit out loud.

Some of us made it into a new year with our hands lifted— but our hearts feel heavy.

We’re showing up. We’re serving. We’re smiling.

But something on the inside feels quiet… muted… empty.

We’re worshiping, but tired.

Serving, but drained.

Praying, but weary.

And the danger is not when you fall down— the danger is when you keep standing, keep functioning, keep smiling, while something inside of you stops breathing.

You can be alive outwardly and suffocating inwardly. You can be faithful and fatigued. You can be saved and still silently struggling.

But I came with an announcement from heaven: This dryness is not permanent. This weariness is not final. This silence is not your conclusion.

God is about to revive you.

Isaiah declares God will do a new thing— but Ezekiel shows us how God revives people when life has drained them dry.

Because sometimes revival doesn’t start in a sanctuary— sometimes revival starts in a valley. So, with the help of the Holy Spirit and the real preacher Jesus Christ I want to leave us with three things to help us understand revival and the first is this.

GOD MEETS US IN THE VALLEY BEFORE HE MAKES US VICTORIOUS

“The hand of the Lord was upon me…and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones.” — Ezekiel 37:1

God takes Ezekiel on a spiritual journey—but notice where He drops him off. Not on a mountain. Not in a miracle service. Not in a praise-filled sanctuary.

God places him right in the middle of death, decay, and dryness.

And this is where many of us get confused. Because when God leads us into valleys, we automatically assume: “Something must be wrong.” “I must have missed something.” “God must be mad at me.”

But hear this clearly, Saint Thomas: The valley is not proof of abandonment— The valley is often the place of assignment.

God intentionally brings Ezekiel to what is dead because God specializes in reviving what everyone else has given up on.

Some of you have been asking, “Lord, why am I in this emotional valley?” “Why am I carrying this burden?” “Why does this feel so heavy?”

And God answers, “Because I trust you enough to stand where others would run.”

Psalm 23:4 reminds us that even in the valley, God walks with us. “Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.”

Isaiah 41:10 assures us that fear does not have the final word. “Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.”

Lamentations 3:32 teaches that compassion still flows even in grief.  “But though He causes grief, yet will He be moved to compassion according to the multitude of His loving-kindness and tender mercy.”

If God brought you into the valley, it is because He plans to reveal something about Himself there. The valley is not your burial place. It is your meeting place.

TRANSITION: But standing in the valley presents a deeper challenge— because being surrounded by death can slowly affect your expectations.

FAITH MUST SPEAK EVEN WHEN HOPE FEELS UNCERTAIN

“…there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.” — Ezekiel 37:2

Ezekiel notices three painful details: The bones were many — the problem was overwhelming. The bones were open — the damage was visible. The bones were very dry — this situation wasn’t recent.

Translation: This wasn’t a bad week. This wasn’t seasonal fatigue. This had been dead a long time.

Some of us aren’t just tired— we’re historically tired. We’ve been praying about the same thing. Struggling with the same thing. Waiting on God in the same place.

Then God asks a dangerous question: “Son of man, can these bones live?”

God doesn’t ask because He lacks power. God asks because faith must be invited to respond.

Ezekiel doesn’t fake confidence. He doesn’t deny the situation. He simply says: “O Lord God, thou knowest.”

In modern language: “God, I don’t see a way—but I still trust Your will.” “I don’t know how—but I believe You can.”

PREACHING TRUTH: Faith is not pretending everything is fine. Faith is admitting the problem— while still trusting God’s power. God isn’t looking for loud faith. He’s looking for honest faith. And when faith speaks—even cautiously— God releases the next instruction.

TRANSITION: Because after faith answers, God always responds with His Word.

REVIVAL REQUIRES GOD’S WORD AND GOD’S SPIRIT WORKING TOGETHER

“Prophesy upon these bones…” — Ezekiel 37:4

“Come from the four winds, O breath…” — Ezekiel 37:9

God does not tell Ezekiel to: Analyze the bones. Rearrange the bones. Explain the bones

God says, “Speak My Word.” Because revival never comes from opinions— revival comes from proclamation.

When Ezekiel speaks: Bones connect to bones. Structure returns. Alignment happens.

The Word brings order.

Romans 10:17 teaches us that faith comes by hearing. “So, faith comes from hearing [what is told], and what is heard comes by the [preaching of the] message concerning Christ.”

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us that the Word is living and powerful. “For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

Psalm 119:50 says the Word revives us in affliction. “This is my comfort and consolation in my affliction: that Your word has revived me and given me life.”

But even after the Word is spoken, there is still no life. That’s when God says: “Now call for the breath.” Because Word without Spirit brings information— but Word with Spirit brings transformation.

Genesis 2:7 — God breathed life into Adam. “then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].”

John 20:22 — Jesus breathed on the disciples. “And when He said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 2:2–4 — Heaven breathed into the Church. “and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.”

PREACHING DECLARATION: Programs won’t revive us. Plans won’t revive us. Structure alone won’t revive us. God has to breathe on it. And when He breathes, the Bible says: They stood up.

Not as survivors— but as an exceeding great army. Revival doesn’t just refresh you. Revival repositions you. God didn’t revive them to sit down— He revived them to stand, serve, and move forward.

CONNECTION TO ISAIAH 43

“Behold, I will do a new thing…” Saint Thomas, the new thing God is doing next will require revived people. You can’t walk into the future God promised with lungs filled with yesterday’s exhaustion. God is breathing again— on your faith, on your joy, on your calling.

CELEBRATORY CLOSE

Breathe on me, Lord!

I got tired—But God revived me!

I got weary—But God revived me!

I almost quit—But God revived me!

I was tired…Still faithful—but tired.

Still serving—but tired.

(Pause)

But God stepped into my valley…And when God breathes—Dead things start living again!

Dry bones—heard the Word!

Dry bones—felt the breath!

Dry bones—stood back up!

(Call & Response Setup)

If God breathed on you before—say BREATHE LORD!

If you need Him to do it again—say BREATHE LORD!

(Shout)

I almost quit—But God revived me!

I almost gave up—But God revived me!

Clap your hands and declare: “I’m still standing—Because God breathed on me!”

ALTAR CALL — “LORD, BREATHE AGAIN”

This altar is not for quitters— it’s for the faithful who got tired.

If your prayer is: “Lord, I need Your breath again,”

“Lord, restore my passion,”

“Lord, revive my joy,”

This altar is open.