We saw in Believing (1) that principle #1 for us to apply to our lives, our families, our church, our community, our world if we want revival:
see what’s dead.
Let's look at principle #2 for us to apply to our lives, our families, our church, our community, and our world if we want revival:
speak God’s word. Ezekiel 37:4-8
God commands Ezekiel to do something that seems futile.
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Ezekiel 37:4 (ESV)
“Talk to dead bones? What’s the point? It’s hopeless, right? OK, Lord. If You say to talk to dead bones, I will. But what should I say?”
The Lord responds, “Don’t just say anything. Don’t just give them good ideas. Give them God ideas. Speak the Word of God.”
See, my words mean nothing. Your words mean nothing. But God’s Word means everything. The word of God changes things. Another prophet, Isaiah, once wrote:
My word… that goes out from My mouth… shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
The man of God has to speak the Word of God. Any strategy or tactic or program designed to bring life to what is dead that does not include the Word of God as a foundational core element is doomed. We must speak the Word of God to what’s dead!
What is Ezekiel supposed to say?
5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
6 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…"
I love this. It’s not a message of condemnation. It’s not, “You dry bones you… What’s wrong with you? You once had life and now you’re dead? Condemned!”
No. It’s a message of grace and mercy. Justice says, “Collect the bones, pile them high, and burn, baby burn.” Mercy says, “There’s not going to be a fire.” Grace says, “Here’s My hope and here’s My life in the place of your death.” That’s the gospel. Life for death was purchased by Jesus on the cross.
So, Ezekiel gives them the Word of God – words of grace and mercy – to give hope and build faith.
What’s that dead place for you? You need to get into the Book and find specific words from the Word that will give hope and build faith. Write them down. Speak them into the deadness. Talk about how the Lord can transform dead things to life. Tell yourself and others that the Lord can bring them back to life again.
Why do this?
6b … and you shall know that I am the LORD."
Speak the Word of God so that everyone will know that Ezekiel is a great preacher and did a good job? No. “You shall know that I am the Lord.” It’s the glory of the Lord that is at stake here. We don’t want people to say, “Wow. Look at CVC.” It’s not about filling a church or transforming a life or a family or even a city. God will never bring revival if we want one for the wrong reason. It’s not about your parenting, your family, your ministry.
We cry out, “For Your great name’s sake, Lord, do something.” It's about God and His glory.
God says, “Prophesy to the bones.” Ezekiel could have said, "What good is preaching to these people?" What will Ezekiel do? He obeys.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37:5-8 (ESV)
When Ezekiel spoke the Word of God, something happened. God was working. A noise. A shaking. Bones coming together. Whenever the Word is spoken obediently and accurately, things change.
Sometimes, we get discouraged with the progress being made in our lives, homes, churches, communities. We think, “People are not responding.” But that betrays a lack of trust in God and his Word. Notice the step-by-step, methodical workings of God. Bone to bone. Sinews. Flesh. Skin. Often there is a gradual working of God to bring renewal and revival.
You speak the Word of God. Then, believe that He’s working step-by-step in your son’s life, in your marriage, in your ministry, in our city.
Revival is not magical. It’s a series of progressive spiritual movements one step at a time until it pleases God to bring the bones back to life. Be encouraged by small advances, by every little rustling of the bones. Even if they still seem to be dead, believe that God is at work through His Word.
Speak the Word accurately. Speak the Word systematically. Speak the Word faithfully. Speak the Word hopefully. O that God would give us the leaders today who speak His Word into the dead zones.
What is your plan to get grace-and-mercy-filled promises from this Book so that you can speak them into dead zones?
Principle #2 for us to apply to our lives, our families, our church, our community, our world if we want revival:
...speak God’s Word.
see what’s dead.
Let's look at principle #2 for us to apply to our lives, our families, our church, our community, and our world if we want revival:
speak God’s word. Ezekiel 37:4-8
4 Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Ezekiel 37:4 (ESV)
“Talk to dead bones? What’s the point? It’s hopeless, right? OK, Lord. If You say to talk to dead bones, I will. But what should I say?”
The Lord responds, “Don’t just say anything. Don’t just give them good ideas. Give them God ideas. Speak the Word of God.”
See, my words mean nothing. Your words mean nothing. But God’s Word means everything. The word of God changes things. Another prophet, Isaiah, once wrote:
My word… that goes out from My mouth… shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11 (ESV)
The man of God has to speak the Word of God. Any strategy or tactic or program designed to bring life to what is dead that does not include the Word of God as a foundational core element is doomed. We must speak the Word of God to what’s dead!
What is Ezekiel supposed to say?
5 Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.
6 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…"
I love this. It’s not a message of condemnation. It’s not, “You dry bones you… What’s wrong with you? You once had life and now you’re dead? Condemned!”
No. It’s a message of grace and mercy. Justice says, “Collect the bones, pile them high, and burn, baby burn.” Mercy says, “There’s not going to be a fire.” Grace says, “Here’s My hope and here’s My life in the place of your death.” That’s the gospel. Life for death was purchased by Jesus on the cross.
So, Ezekiel gives them the Word of God – words of grace and mercy – to give hope and build faith.
What’s that dead place for you? You need to get into the Book and find specific words from the Word that will give hope and build faith. Write them down. Speak them into the deadness. Talk about how the Lord can transform dead things to life. Tell yourself and others that the Lord can bring them back to life again.
Why do this?
6b … and you shall know that I am the LORD."
Speak the Word of God so that everyone will know that Ezekiel is a great preacher and did a good job? No. “You shall know that I am the Lord.” It’s the glory of the Lord that is at stake here. We don’t want people to say, “Wow. Look at CVC.” It’s not about filling a church or transforming a life or a family or even a city. God will never bring revival if we want one for the wrong reason. It’s not about your parenting, your family, your ministry.
We cry out, “For Your great name’s sake, Lord, do something.” It's about God and His glory.
God says, “Prophesy to the bones.” Ezekiel could have said, "What good is preaching to these people?" What will Ezekiel do? He obeys.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone.
8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Ezekiel 37:5-8 (ESV)
When Ezekiel spoke the Word of God, something happened. God was working. A noise. A shaking. Bones coming together. Whenever the Word is spoken obediently and accurately, things change.
Sometimes, we get discouraged with the progress being made in our lives, homes, churches, communities. We think, “People are not responding.” But that betrays a lack of trust in God and his Word. Notice the step-by-step, methodical workings of God. Bone to bone. Sinews. Flesh. Skin. Often there is a gradual working of God to bring renewal and revival.
You speak the Word of God. Then, believe that He’s working step-by-step in your son’s life, in your marriage, in your ministry, in our city.
Revival is not magical. It’s a series of progressive spiritual movements one step at a time until it pleases God to bring the bones back to life. Be encouraged by small advances, by every little rustling of the bones. Even if they still seem to be dead, believe that God is at work through His Word.
Speak the Word accurately. Speak the Word systematically. Speak the Word faithfully. Speak the Word hopefully. O that God would give us the leaders today who speak His Word into the dead zones.
What is your plan to get grace-and-mercy-filled promises from this Book so that you can speak them into dead zones?
Principle #2 for us to apply to our lives, our families, our church, our community, our world if we want revival:
...speak God’s Word.
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