Ez37:1-14 The Dry Bones (4/5)
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# The Dry Bones ## Ezekiel 37:1-14 (4/5) [Brad Helmink](https://unsplash.com/photos/8EFA86nI6yg "caption") --- # What happens when all **hope** has gone? [###](#/outline "secret") >>> + sometimes it has been too **long** + I'm **set** in my ways + the **hurt** is too severe + I can't **forgive** + I've **invested** too much in my dreams + I can't yield **control** + when all **hope** of change is lost? --- | 1. What must I change? |
[ch16:](# "ref") *Princess* [(identity)](# "ref")
| | --- | --- | | 2. Who will help me? |
[ch34:](# "ref") *Shepherds* [(leadership)](# "ref")
| | 3. How do I change? |
[ch36:](# "ref") *Wanderers* [(God's work)](# "ref")
| | 4. **Am I beyond hope?** |
[ch37:](# "ref") *Dry Bones* [(new life)](# "ref")
| | 5. If others won't change? |
[ch33:](# "ref") *Watchman* [(missions)](# "ref")
| [Bad Pyrmont, Germany. Sebastian Unrau](https://unsplash.com/photos/sp-p7uuT0tw "caption") >>> + orphan ⇒ **princess** + ⇒ harlot ⇒ betrothed + as **shepherds** derelict in duty + as **sheep** disappointed + as **strong** sheep pushing weak + remember our **Good Shepherd** + **heals** us of our idols (if we let Him) + new **heart**, His Spirit dwell + so we may be **humble** + godly **grief** ⇒ repentance + when **hope** has perished --- ## The Dry Bones [(Ez37)](# "ref") 1. When **Hope** Has Perished [(v1-3,11)](# "ref") 2. Coming Out of the **Grave** [(v4-8,12-13)](# "ref") 3. The **Breath** of Life [(v9-10,14)](# "ref") >>> + + Creator can do the **impossible** + --- He brought me out in the **Spirit** and
set me down in the middle of the **valley**;
it was full of **bones**. [2](# "ref") ... and behold, they were very **dry**. [Ezekiel 37:1-2 (ESV)](# "ref") [Kota Garut, Indonesia. Dikaseva](https://unsplash.com/photos/zvf7cZ0PC20 "caption") >>> + very **many**: as after **battle**, defeated + bones: **strength**, numbers + totality / essence of **self** + "dried": no **water**, no life --- A **joyful heart** is good medicine,
But a **broken spirit** dries up the bones. [Proverbs 17:22](# "ref") --- These bones are the whole house of **Israel**.
Behold, they say,
‘Our bones are **dried up**, and our **hope** is lost;
we are indeed **cut off**.’ [Ezekiel 37:11 (ESV)](# "ref") [Dominik Martin](https://unsplash.com/photos/YuVzPOBuuf0 "caption") >>> + "cut off": --- And he said to me,
“Son of man, can these bones **live**?” And I answered,
“O Lord God, **you** know.” [Ezekiel 37:3 (ESV)](# "ref") [Geetanjal Khanna](https://unsplash.com/photos/8CwoHpZe3qE "caption") --- # How do I **cope**
with a **hopeless** situation? >>> + "Oh Lord, You know" --- ## The Dry Bones [(Ez37)](# "ref") 1. When Hope Has Perished [(v1-3,11)](# "ref") 2. **Coming Out of the Grave** [(v4-8,12-13)](# "ref") 3. The Breath of Life [(v9-10,14)](# "ref") --- Prophesy over these bones and say to them,
‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’ [Ezekiel 37:4 (ESV) (p.1/3)](# "ref") [Montreal, CA. Marc-Olivier Jodoin](https://unsplash.com/photos/TStNU7H4UEE "caption") >>> + **voice** of the Lord has power --- And I will lay **sinews** upon you,
and will cause **flesh** to come upon you,
and cover you with **skin**, and put **breath** in you, and you shall **live**,
and you shall **know** that I am the LORD.” [Ezekiel 37:6 (ESV) (p.2/3)](# "ref") >>> + **purpose** of giving us new life: + to **know** He is the LORD --- And as I prophesied, there was a **sound**,
and behold, a **rattling**,
and the bones came **together**, bone to its bone. [8](# "ref") And I looked, and behold,
there were **sinews** on them,
and **flesh** had come upon them,
and **skin** had covered them. [Ezekiel 37:7-8 (ESV) (p.3/3)](# "ref") --- 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. [13](# "ref") And you shall **know** that I am the Lord,
when I open your graves,
and raise you from your graves, O my people. [Ezekiel 37:12-13 (ESV)](# "ref") [Milada Vigerova](https://unsplash.com/photos/pHR_S0PeOF0 "caption") >>> + "grave": not Sheol, but **tomb** --- An hour is coming when all who are
in the **tombs** will hear his **voice**
[29](# "ref") and come out, those who have done **good**
to the resurrection of **life**, and those who have done **evil**
to the resurrection of **judgment**. [John 5:28-29](# "ref") [Neil Thomas](https://unsplash.com/photos/bSYRuzEaT5k "caption") --- # What **grave** am I stuck in? >>> + **habitual** sins + secret **shame** + remember God's **power**: life + death + **calls** us out of grave + leave old life of sin behind --- ## The Dry Bones [(Ez37)](# "ref") 1. When Hope Has Perished [(v1-3,11)](# "ref") 2. Coming Out of the Grave [(v4-8,12-13)](# "ref") 3. **The Breath of Life** [(v9-10,14)](# "ref") --- But there was **no breath** in them. [Ezekiel 37:8b (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + **two** stages + out of **grave**: rescued from sin + have **flesh**, semblance of humanity + but no breath of **life** + a bit like **zombie** --- “Come from the four winds, **O breath**,
and breathe on these slain, that they may **live**.” [10](# "ref") So I **prophesied** as he commanded me,
and the **breath** came into them,
and they **lived** and stood on their feet,
an exceedingly great **army**. [Ezekiel 37:9-10 (ESV)](# "ref") [Western Wall, Jerusalem. Toa Heftiba](https://unsplash.com/photos/Y1BdWi52y14 "caption") >>> + not enough to be **rescued** + still **empty** + need to be **filled** w/Christ's **life** + ask Jesus to be **Saviour** + but also **Lord**? + whole life **dedicated** + **follow** / disciple? + Jesus gives **illustration**: --- When an **unclean spirit**
has gone **out** of a person,
it passes through **waterless** places seeking rest, and finding **none** it says,
‘I will **return** to my house from which I came.’ [25](# "ref") And when it comes,
it finds the house **swept** and put in **order**. [Luke 11:24-25 (ESV) (p.1/2)](# "ref") [Hirzel, Switzerland. Ricardo Gomez Angel](https://unsplash.com/photos/iTwmi4p4Q_c "caption") >>> + **rescued** by God + back to **normal** + **resume** pursuing my life goals --- Then it goes and brings
**seven** other spirits **more** evil than itself,
and they enter and **dwell** there. And the **last** state of that person
is **worse** than the first. [Luke 11:26 (ESV) (p.2/2)](# "ref") >>> + get **sucked** right back + into old **habits** + even **worse** than before! --- And I will put my **Spirit** within you,
and you shall **live**,
and I will place you in your own **land**. Then you shall **know** that I am the Lord;
I have **spoken**, and I will **do** it,
declares the Lord.” [Ezekiel 37:14 (ESV)](# "ref") [Iceland. Davide Cantelli](https://unsplash.com/photos/H3giJcTw__w "caption") >>> + firm **assurance** God's promise + **Spirit** empowering us + **life** from death + **home** / identity: land, Adam + ch37b: **reconcile** Israel+Judah + vertical ⇒ **horizontal** --- For God, who said,
“Let **light** shine out of darkness,” has **shone** in our hearts
to give the **light** of the knowledge
of the **glory** of God
in the face of Jesus Christ. [2 Corinthians 4:6 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + authority as **Creator** + **light** reveals God's **glory**: + and our **unworthiness** + e.g. dim restaurant vs **searchlight** + **knowing**: experiential, not theoretical + through **Jesus**: God revealed + power to **change** us: + **heart** ⇒ values / priorities + ⇒ actions ⇒ **habits** --- But you are a **chosen** race, a **royal** priesthood,
a **holy** nation, a people for his **own** possession, that you may **proclaim** the excellencies of him
who called you **out of darkness**
into his **marvelous light**. [2 Peter 2:9-10 (ESV)](# "ref") [Chuckanut Mountain, US. Patrick Fore](https://unsplash.com/photos/74TufExdP3Y "caption") >>> + we've **experienced** the change + now we can **proclaim** His excellencies --- # Have I **experienced** God's power to change? # Will I **proclaim** it? >>> + **old-timer** Chr: get to know **new** Chr + **story** of transformation + still have non-Chr **friends** + welcome their **questions** + but need to **have** the ball first + before can **pass** the ball on ---