November 21 2021

Restoration Begins

“I was lost in utter darkness”

“I was bound by all my sin” Come Thou Fount Come Thou King

“sinking deep in sin” - Love lifted me

“wretch like me” - Amazing Grace and others (unfortunate or unhappy)

Our understanding may fall short of our actual condition - We may miss seeing the grandeur of God

Valley of Dry Bones

Besides the beginning vision - this is highly memorable

Ezekiel 37:1–14 NASB95

1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ 5 “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 6 ‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’ ” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they come to life.” ’ ” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’ 12 “Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God, “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, My people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. 13 “Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves and caused you to come up out of your graves, My people. 14 “I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken and done it,” declares the Lord.’ ”

The Valley

dry bones

lifeless (dead)

without hope

the result of sin

The picture of no breath of God - not filled with the Spirit

Can these bones live?

no

“You know”

Not with our efforts; scattered, brittle, broken, jigsaw Remember the first vision - God is big

Came to life

bone to its bone

skin

breath came into them

What a scene

Only God

The point

Picture of hope and restoration

God gave hope - God restored (story of our relationship from the fall)

Action Steps

What needs restored in your life?

What seems impossible in your life?

Can these bones live?

What have you given up on? What can God do with it?