Revival Rattle

Introduction:

I don’t know about you but I have been looking forward to service this morning! I believe God has set a divine appointment today and He has a word for us—that’s ALWAYS exciting.

I hope you have had a good weekend—weather has been great—other than the rain shower we got yesterday evening/this morning.

Maybe some of you were able to enjoy outdoor activities

Some may have spent the weekend prepping for this coming week

Some may have been involved with the never ending task of cleaning and getting rid of things—

Recently one of our sons said “Mom you’ve got to see this. What he wanted me to see was a clip of a show. So my family watched a reality TV show about hoarders.

It seems like an impossible task of cleaning up a home that is filled with stuff. But usually at the end of the show the home looks vastly different—and the “impossible” became possible.

When it comes to our spiritual lives, we might find ourselves filled with stuff that is destructive, painful, and impossible to overcome.

But God is the God of the impossible. Jesus said:

Mark 10:27 NLT

27 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”

In the Old Testament, Israel was facing the impossible. They were driven away from the homes, their cities, and their country—taken to exile in Babylon. They lost everything.

Then God spoke to a man—called him to be His prophet—and revealed to him how Isreal can get from Point A (lost, alone, empty) to Point B (victory).

I believe God spoke to our church a prophetic message a few weeks back—August 8 to be exact.

I began to search out this message more in the Word of God

I see principles in the passage we will look at today that God began speaking to us back in August that apply to us as individuals but also as a church body.

Ezekiel 37:1–3 NLT

1 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 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. 3 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.”

I. Always Accessible to God (vs 1-3)

A. Lead by His Spirit—wherever He wants to take us

Ezekiel was not looking for this place but the Holy Spirit lead him to this place represents hopelessness, despair, even death—desolation

Why would the Spirit of God lead us to a place like this?

Moses—lead into the dessert—he became privy to God’s plan that He—God alone would deliver Israel from bondage/desolation so they could serve Him

Paul—lead into the dessert for an opportunity to learn who/what God was calling him to be and to do—and what God alone would do in him and for him.

Jesus—lead by the Spirit into the dessert—to face the enemy himself with an opportunity to resist his temptation to become the innocent/unblemished sacrifice; He was empowered by the Spirit to preach the Word

*moved away from distractions—

Closer more true look at where we are/reality of our incapabilities and reminder of God’s abilities

easier to hear God’s voice—Ezekiel heard God’s question.

*Often we are more comfortable with the distractions so we fill up the solitude with other things.

B. Life changing moments with life changing opportunities

For Ezekiel the life changing moment came with an opportunity to answer a question asked by God: Can these bones live?

The answer appeared to be unmistakably ‘No’. Ezekiel, however, believed that it could happen

Ezekiel’s answer: Lord you alone—In the moment, Ezekiel was reminded in this place of desolation all was hopeless—BUT GOD

Ill.:

Danny Satterfield

Paul—lead into the dessert for an opportunity to learn who/what God was calling him to be and to do—and what God alone would do in him and for him.

Jesus—lead by the Spirit into the dessert—to face the enemy himself with an opportunity to resist his temptation to become the innocent/unblemished sacrifice; He was empowered by the Spirit to preach the Word

App: We need to be Always Accessible

The place of desolation positions us to rely on God and what only HE can do.

Which brings us to our next principle: We need to

II. Acknowledge God (vs 4-6)

A. Listen to the word of the Lord (vs 4)

Israel had been listening to many other voices that lead them to idolatry.

Embraced words and doctrine that were not from God.

a. God’s Word comforts, refreshes us

(Psalm 119:50)

(Psalm 119:103)

b. We learn and know the power of God through HIS Word

(Matthew 22:29)

c. It brings revelation and exposes our hearts

(Hebrews 4:12)

B. Look at what God is doing (vs 5)

When we listen, He shares His heart with us

We begin to see HIS plan unfold—shared His plan for the bones with Ezekiel

a. We are not intimidated by the enemy and his plan—Ezekiel was not concerned about the enemy that had brought pain and devastation to his country—that left them discouraged and hopeless

Jehosaphat

(2 Chronicles 20:12)

2 Chronicles 20:12 ESV

12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

Ill.:

Daniel Pic

b. We desire God’s will, not our own agenda

Ill.:

Samuel/Israel/and a king

(1 Samuel 8:19-20)

1 Samuel 8:19–20 NLT

19 But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said. 20 “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”

What God is doing and HIS will may look differently than what we have thought/envisioned

**Bones—my bones wanted to stay a certain way because they had become comfortable in a certain position. I was surprised with how painful it was once the cast was removed to move my foot. It was uncomfortable.

III. Act in obedience (vs 7-14)

A. Even when it doesn’t make sense—Does it really make sense to speak to dry bones?

But when we act in obedience to God

B. Things begin to happen - rattle (vs 7)

What has been disjointed—comes together as a whole/complete

lives, marriages, families, finances, and the list goes on

C. Brings the “xtra or missing” pieces and places just where they need to be— muscles, flesh, skin

IV. Ask for Holy Spirit Power (vs 9-10)

A. Brings life—the bones came to life

B. Provides strength—They were able to stand on feet

C. Empowered to do what God intends—they are a vast army

Ill.:

APP.: We need to ask for Holy Spirit Power

V. Accept Sovereignty of God (vs 11-14)

A. God opens the grave

B. God Resurrects—new life

C. God positions us/the church

D. God reveals who He is to ALL

What God says He will do, He does.