Hope and Restoration: Prophesying Life to Dry Bones
Summary
In my sermon, I explored the profound message of hope and restoration found in the visions of the prophet Ezekiel, particularly the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, and its relevance to our lives today. I began by honoring the service of Holly, our thrift store manager, who has been a cornerstone of our community for 20 years. Her leadership, especially during the challenging times of COVID-19, has been a beacon of hope and resilience. As she steps into a new season, we celebrated her legacy and the impact she has made.
I then transitioned to the heart of the sermon, focusing on the theme of "Redemption Revealed" and the "Resurrection Revolution." I emphasized the significance of Christ's resurrection for us today and how it shapes our hope and calling as the church. I reminded us of the importance of understanding the context of Ezekiel's prophecies, which were delivered to a people in exile, disconnected from their land, temple, and God.
I recounted the history of Israel, from their deliverance from Egypt to the establishment of the monarchy and the eventual division and downfall of the kingdom. I highlighted the covenant God made with Israel and how the temple in Jerusalem was a symbol of God's presence among His people. However, due to their unfaithfulness, Israel faced judgment and exile.
Ezekiel's visions, particularly the one where he is led through a valley of dry bones, were a stark representation of Israel's spiritual death. Yet, God asked Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, promising to breathe life into them, symbolizing hope for restoration. This vision echoes the creation narrative and points to the power of God's word to bring life out of death.
I drew parallels between Ezekiel's message and our current context, where we see spiritual death and hopelessness. I urged us to be the voice of hope and life, prophesying to the dry bones of our generation. I emphasized that God's spirit dwells in us, enabling us to speak life and point people to the hope of a restored new heaven and new earth.
In conclusion, I offered a benediction from 2 Corinthians, encouraging the congregation to rejoice, strive for full restoration, encourage one another, and live in peace, assured of God's love and peace with us.
Key Takeaways:
1. The history of Israel serves as a backdrop to understanding the depth of their despair in exile, which is mirrored in our own times when we witness spiritual death around us. As followers of Christ, we are called to be agents of hope, speaking life into situations that seem beyond redemption. ([01:01:06])
2. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is a powerful reminder that God's word can bring life where there was once death. We, as the church, must embrace our role as prophets to our generation, declaring the transformative power of the gospel. ([01:29:03])
3. The act of prophesying to the dry bones is not just about speaking hope but also about embodying it. Our lives should be a testament to the life-giving power of God's spirit, demonstrating the reality of resurrection in our daily walk. ([01:36:50])
4. The presence of God's spirit within us is a profound truth that empowers us to live out our calling. We are not alone in our mission to serve and proclaim the gospel; God's prevenient grace goes before us, preparing the way. ([01:45:49])
5. As we sing and worship, let us do so with the joy of the gospel that claims our lives. Our final song is not just a melody but a declaration of the good news that we carry, a news that brings restoration and life to a world in need. ([01:44:14])
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Ezekiel 37:1-14 - The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
2. 2 Corinthians 13:11 - Benediction encouraging restoration, peace, and love
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel's vision? How did it represent Israel's spiritual state? ([01:06:56])
2. How did God instruct Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, and what was the result of his prophecy? ([01:19:02])
3. What parallels did the pastor draw between the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones and our current spiritual context? ([01:16:25])
4. What was the benediction given at the end of the sermon, and what does it encourage believers to do? ([01:44:14])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to use the imagery of dry bones to convey His message to Ezekiel? What does this imagery tell us about the state of Israel and their need for restoration? ([01:06:56])
2. How does the act of prophesying to the dry bones relate to the power of God's word in bringing life and hope? ([01:19:02])
3. In what ways does the presence of God's spirit within us empower us to live out our calling as agents of hope and restoration? ([01:45:49])
4. How does the benediction from 2 Corinthians 13:11 align with the overall message of hope and restoration in the sermon? ([01:44:14])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt spiritually dry or disconnected. How did you find hope and restoration during that period? ([01:16:25])
2. The pastor emphasized the importance of being a voice of hope in our generation. What are some practical ways you can speak life and hope into the lives of those around you this week? ([01:29:03])
3. How can you embody the message of hope and restoration in your daily walk, not just through words but through actions? ([01:36:50])
4. The presence of God's spirit within us is a profound truth. How can you become more aware of and rely on the Holy Spirit in your daily life? ([01:45:49])
5. The benediction encourages us to strive for full restoration and live in peace. What steps can you take to promote peace and restoration in your relationships and community? ([01:44:14])
6. Think of someone in your life who might be experiencing a "valley of dry bones" moment. How can you support and encourage them with the message of hope and restoration? ([01:16:25])
7. As we sing and worship, we declare the good news of the gospel. How can you incorporate this joy and declaration into your daily routine, beyond just Sunday worship? ([01:44:14])
Devotional
Day 1: Agents of Hope in Despair
In times of spiritual desolation, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the magnitude of despair that can grip a community or even a nation. Yet, the history of Israel, particularly their exile, serves as a powerful example of how God's people can find hope in the most desolate of circumstances. The call to be agents of hope is not merely a passive wish for better times but an active engagement in speaking life into situations that seem irredeemable. It is about recognizing the dry bones in one's own context and daring to believe that they can live again. This is the challenge laid before every believer: to look upon the valleys of dryness and death in our society and respond with a message of hope and resurrection, just as Ezekiel did. [01:01:06]
Ezekiel 37:4-5 (ESV)
"Then 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, and you shall live.'"
Reflection: Identify a situation in your community or personal life that seems hopeless. How can you actively speak hope into that situation this week?
Day 2: Proclaiming Life Amidst Death
The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is a stark reminder of the transformative power of God's word. It is not just a historical account but a call to action for the church today. Believers are called to embrace their prophetic role, declaring the life-giving message of the gospel to a world that often seems filled with spiritual death. This proclamation is not just through words but through actions that embody the resurrection power of Christ. It is a revolution that starts within the heart of each believer and extends outwards, bringing the hope of new life to the dry bones of our generation. [01:29:03]
Isaiah 58:11 (ESV)
"And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail."
Reflection: What is one way you can embody the resurrection power of Christ in your community, and how can you begin to take action this week?
Day 3: Testaments of Resurrection
The act of prophesying to the dry bones is a profound metaphor for the Christian life. It is not enough to speak of hope; one must also embody it. The life of a believer should be a testament to the life-giving power of God's spirit, a demonstration of the reality of resurrection in everyday life. This means living in a way that reflects the transformative power of the gospel, showing love, grace, and mercy in tangible ways. It is about being a living witness to the power of God that can make all things new, even the most broken parts of our world. [01:36:50]
Colossians 3:12-14 (ESV)
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
Reflection: How can your life more clearly demonstrate the reality of resurrection, and what is one step you can take today to live this out?
Day 4: Empowered by the Spirit
The indwelling of God's spirit is not just a theological concept but a profound truth that empowers believers to live out their calling. This empowerment is a reminder that one is never alone in the mission to serve and proclaim the gospel. God's prevenient grace goes before, preparing the way and enabling the faithful to speak life into the dry bones of this world. It is the spirit that sustains, guides, and equips, ensuring that the message of hope and restoration is not carried in human strength alone but in divine power. [01:45:49]
2 Corinthians 4:7 (ESV)
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us."
Reflection: In what area of your service to others do you need to rely more on the Holy Spirit, and what practical step can you take to do so?
Day 5: Singing the Gospel of Joy
Worship is not just a routine part of a believer's life; it is a declaration of the good news that claims our lives. The final song sung in worship is a powerful act that proclaims the gospel of joy, restoration, and life to a world in need. It is a reminder that the joy of the gospel is not confined to the walls of a church but is meant to spill out into the streets, homes, and hearts of all who hear it. As believers sing and worship, they do so with the joy that comes from knowing they are part of a story that ends in victory and restoration for all creation. [01:44:14]
Psalm 96:1-3 (ESV)
"Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!"
Reflection: How can your worship extend beyond Sunday services and become a daily declaration of the gospel in your life?
Quotes
1) "For God calls us to be his prophets. God calls us to be his hands and his feet and his voice of hope to this generation. He calls us to prophesy to this generation that the word of the Lord can bring life where there was once death." [01:30:53]
2) "And so we need to say again, Lord, breathe new life into me. And I want to go on living this life of the living, living dead, because I know there is more available to me. But this is also a prayer for the church to rise up and be the voice of hope, to be the prophets for this generation." [01:32:42]
3) "So we proclaim a gospel not on our own, but in the power of the one who goes before us and his word. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." [01:45:49]
4) "That as we speak and as we live and as we point people to you, many would come to know you and be saved. Many would come to place their hope and their trust in the hope of a restored new heaven and new earth, a restored life, full resurrection." [01:41:22]
5) "This is the gospel that claims our powers. The gospel message, the good news that we find in Ezekiel that then is fully realized in the gospels of the New Testament. That new life, that restoration is available. This is good news for this age of ours." [01:43:47]
6) "But hope is not lost. Because Jesus is Lord. Let's sing Holy Spirit. going to invite you to stand with us as we sing this final verse because this really is the prayer for our church, the prayer for the church, Holy Spirit from creation's birth, giving life to all that God has made." [01:36:50]
7) "That you call us to be your people, not because you're some selfish God who revels in our offerings and in our sacrifice, but because in following you, you want to bless us. You draw us in so that you might bless us, so that we might live in abundance into eternity." [01:39:45]
8) "Ultimately our message must be one of hope. That all is not lost because you died on the cross for our sins and you were raised from the grave. Meaning death no longer has the last word. And that right now, today, we can experience something of eternal life with you." [01:40:33]
9) "Prophesy to these dead and dry bones that you have left no hope of life that the word of the lord will bring life again. Where else do we see the word of God bringing life? Creation. This is echoing the creation narrative, echoing new life." [01:19:02]
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. 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." [01:22:43]
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