DEVOTED TO REVIVAL

Ezekiel 37:1-14 NIV

37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  2  He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.  3  He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” 4  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!  5  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.  6  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to

life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” 7  So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.  8  I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them 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 it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”  10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army. 11  Then he said to me: “Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. They say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.’  12  Therefore prophesy and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel.  13  Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and bring you up from them.  14  I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’”

Matthew 27:51-57 NIV

51  At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52  and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  53  They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Romans 8:11 NIV

And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

I. GOD CONFRONTS THE REALITY OF OUR BROKENNESS

Ezekiel 37:1-2 NIV

37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.  2  He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry.

Psalm 34:18 New Life Version 18

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart. And He saves those who are broken in spirit.

II. GOD SPEAKS LIFE WHERE DEATH HAS RULED

Ezekiel 37:3–6, 7–8 NIV

3  He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” 4  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!  5  This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath  enter you, and you will come to life.  6  I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’””

Verse 7

7  So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone.  8  I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Hebrews 4:12 

The Word of God is living and active.

John 10:10 

Jesus came to give life abundantly.

III. GOD BREATHES HIS SPIRIT TO REVIVE US INTO AN ARMY OF GOD.

Ezekiel 37:9–10, NIV

9  Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’”  10  So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.”

Acts 1:8 

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”

2 Corinthians 5:17 

“If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.”

Ezekiel 37:12-14

Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. “I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live… then you shall know that I the Lord have spoken.”