TOPIC: Easter; New Life, Resurrection
TITLE: A CRUCIAL QUESTION - Son of man, can these bones live? [Adapted: Proclaim. BSSB, “The Sermon Seedbed” by Kevin Shrum; Jul-Sep 1996, p.21]
The period preceding Easter is a good time to talk about the resurrection of the dead. For some people it is not an easy subject no matter how you explain it. Butterflies or seeds, it makes no difference, it’s just too unnatural!
God often confronts us with difficult questions; not because He likes to see us squirm, or because He doesn’t know the answer, but because He wants to reveal how He see things. Said another way, He wants us to see how we see things.
This reminds me of what a field strewn with seed looks like, the seed dry and without any observable sign of life.
Thus God tells Ezekiel to prophesy: and the Word of God goes out, and powerfully does what no man alone nor men in concert can do!
And as it was in the Garden when Adam had been formed out of the ground, God put breath in him after that which was lacking for life was given.
The dry bones are indeed an army; but they are not to imply that the resurrected Israel will arise from its grave a military force. The illustration is of something without life receiving life, miraculously.
Prophesy impacts us in two ways: first, it gives testimony of God’s word and power in past historical events; second, it points the scepter of God at future events which will come to pass as surely as the earlier event did!
The prophet’s purpose in his prophecy is to predict the restoration of Israel in a future dispensation of time!
The purpose of God in the prophecy is to reveal the prophet’s and the nation’s abject hopelessness and the reality that nothing short of the power of God can save them! By this act, God says, ye shall know that I am God. [v.6]
Paul wrote of this power when he spoke of Abraham:
The choice is yours. The world is dying and sliding into the abyss one soul at a time ... let me ask you the question again - SON OF MAN, WILL YO' BONES LIVE?
TITLE: A CRUCIAL QUESTION - Son of man, can these bones live? [Adapted: Proclaim. BSSB, “The Sermon Seedbed” by Kevin Shrum; Jul-Sep 1996, p.21]
The period preceding Easter is a good time to talk about the resurrection of the dead. For some people it is not an easy subject no matter how you explain it. Butterflies or seeds, it makes no difference, it’s just too unnatural!
God often confronts us with difficult questions; not because He likes to see us squirm, or because He doesn’t know the answer, but because He wants to reveal how He see things. Said another way, He wants us to see how we see things.
For since in the wisdom of God the world, through its wisdom, did not come to know God, God was well-pleased, through the foolishness of the message preached, to save those who believe.TEXT: Ezekiel 37:1-141 Corinthians 1:21
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. And 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. [1-2]NO LIFE - DEAD!
This reminds me of what a field strewn with seed looks like, the seed dry and without any observable sign of life.
And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, Thou knowest."GOD ALONE - ABLE!
Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.' Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. And 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.'" [3-6]
Thus God tells Ezekiel to prophesy: and the Word of God goes out, and powerfully does what no man alone nor men in concert can do!
And as it was in the Garden when Adam had been formed out of the ground, God put breath in him after that which was lacking for life was given.
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. And I looked, and behold, sinews were on them, and flesh grew, and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. [7-8]A kind of slow-motion reverse of the scenes in the horror movies.
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."'" 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. [9-10]A TYPE - ISRAEL!
The dry bones are indeed an army; but they are not to imply that the resurrected Israel will arise from its grave a military force. The illustration is of something without life receiving life, miraculously.
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.'THE WAY - PROPHETIC!
"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. 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. And 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.'" [11-14]
Prophesy impacts us in two ways: first, it gives testimony of God’s word and power in past historical events; second, it points the scepter of God at future events which will come to pass as surely as the earlier event did!
The prophet’s purpose in his prophecy is to predict the restoration of Israel in a future dispensation of time!
The purpose of God in the prophecy is to reveal the prophet’s and the nation’s abject hopelessness and the reality that nothing short of the power of God can save them! By this act, God says, ye shall know that I am God. [v.6]
NEW LIFE - RESURRECTION!
- Can these bones live? God asks the prophet. Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
- Can the dry bones of an unbeliever live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
- Can the dry bones of backslidden believers live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
- Can the dry bones of dead churches live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
- Can the dry bones of a nation wasted by sin live? Yes, but only by the power of God! (Expand this)
Paul wrote of this power when he spoke of Abraham:
A FATHER OF MANY NATIONS HAVE I MADE YOU, in the sight of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist.And Isaiah wrote of the powerlessness of man in contrast with the power of God:Romans 4:17
We were pregnant, we writhed in labor, we gave birth, as it were, [but] only to wind. We could not accomplish deliverance for the earth nor were inhabitants of the world born. Your dead will live; their corpses will rise. You who lie in the dust, awake and shout for joy, for your dew is as the dew of the dawn, and the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.Can you believe that some people believe this happened in a vision in order that God could demonstrate His unbelievable power but that they do not believe that a general resurrection of the dead will take place?Isaiah 26:18-19
"Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live. For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, be-cause He is the Son of Man.But many do marvel: even today the same is true as it was in Paul’s day –
Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs shall hear His voice, and shall come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”John 5:25-29
For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.1 Corinthians 1:18
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.THE CHALLENGE - YOURS!1 Corinthians 1:25
The choice is yours. The world is dying and sliding into the abyss one soul at a time ... let me ask you the question again - SON OF MAN, WILL YO' BONES LIVE?
Posts
