KINGDOM ORDER - WHAT IS IT: PART II | Rev. Ampong | SUNDAY SERVICE | ICGC CHICAGO

Elijah stands as a model of kingdom order. God shuts the heavens at his word and then directs him to the brook and to Zarephath, where unlikely sources feed him. The text insists the word of God is not advice but a command, a kingdom order, and fruit rides on obedience. Ezekiel is then set in the middle of a valley filled with very dry bones. God asks, Can these bones live? Ezekiel answers rightly, Only you know, and he acts under command. He prophesies twice, first to the bones, then to the breath, and the scattered dead rise because he “prophesied as [he] was commanded.”

The lesson of futility names what looks both hopeless and helpless. Israel in Babylon looks like that field of bones, yet God’s order is not stopped by despair. The lesson of longevity says the length of a problem does not intimidate the Lord who asks, Is anything too hard for me. The lesson of complexity says God calls what looks complicated simple, since his power is not tangled by circumstance. Over helplessness, long delay, and confusing turns, the declaration holds true: the Lord is able.

What makes a kingdom order fruitful is alignment, agreement, and authority. Alignment adopts the word at face value and adapts by intentional adjustments. Face value Christians refuse to twist what God has said. Adaptation looks like divine tuning. Like finding the right frequency on a radio, alignment puts a believer where heaven sees and answers before the call. Humbling, praying, seeking, and turning are the posture of alignment. Agreement advances the order because God meets where two agree. That agreement rests on covenant order, not a contract. God’s covenant is non negotiable, unbreakable, and trustworthy. Shrines and dark bargains entangle because they are covenants, not contracts, but God binds himself by his own holiness, My covenant I will not break.

Authority flows because the word is a prophetic order. Ezekiel’s command to the bones trains the church to pray prophetically, not only for daily bread today but into the future God already sees. Kingdom order then brings kingdom encouragement, kingdom enlightenment, and kingdom empowerment. David at Ziklag models encouragement by turning to God’s faithfulness and turning worry into worship. Ezra and Nehemiah move with courage because they know the hand of God is upon them. Kingdom enlightenment comes by the Holy Spirit, who instructs, informs, inspires, uplifts, and empowers, not by counterfeit enlightenments. Empowered by God’s presence, as with Joshua, the believer stands where no opponent can finally stand against him, because God abides and keeps his order.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Kingdom order overrules dead ends God’s command is not stalled by what looks hopeless, long standing, or complex. Ezekiel’s valley teaches that God restores what is both helpless and lifeless when his word is obeyed. The bones respond to a two part obedience, and breath follows the word. The Lord is able, regardless of the terrain. [13:21]
• 2. Align by adoption and adaptation Face value adoption refuses to twist Scripture and adaptation makes intentional spiritual adjustments that tune a life to God’s frequency. Alignment positions a believer under open heaven, where answers anticipate the call. This is humility in action, not theory, and it births steady provision and guidance. [20:35]
• 3. Agreement stands on covenant, not negotiation Real agreement is birthed from God’s unbreakable covenant, not from back and forth bargaining. Where two agree under that covenant, heaven moves, because God has sworn by his holiness. Contracts can be amended; covenants anchor prayer with God’s own faithfulness. [34:19]
• 4. Authority prays prophetically into future The word is a prophetic order, so prayer should not be trapped in today’s needs alone. Prophetic prayer declares God’s promises into the years ahead, meeting tomorrow’s battles with today’s utterance. Ezekiel’s model trains the church to speak breath where God intends life. [39:21]
• 5. The Spirit encourages, enlightens, empowers True encouragement begins in the word, often before any human help arrives, and can even turn worry into worship. Kingdom enlightenment comes as the Spirit instructs, informs, inspires, uplifts, and then empowers. Counterfeit enlightenments distract; the Holy Spirit equips for holy courage and clear steps. [51:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [06:40] - Elijah’s kingdom orders
• [07:25] - God’s word is a command
• [07:52] - Ezekiel among dry bones
• [09:11] - Futility, longevity, complexity named
• [14:54] - The Lord is able
• [17:09] - Alignment: go where God sends
• [20:35] - Divine tuning to heaven
• [22:28] - Face value adoption
• [26:44] - Adaptation: intentional adjustments
• [32:00] - Agreement in a covenant, not a contract
• [38:23] - Authority: prophetic order and prayer
• [43:40] - Encouragement: David turns to God
• [50:29] - Kingdom enlightenment by the Spirit
• [55:28] - Kingdom empowerment; Joshua’s charge

Bible Reading
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (ESV)
1 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. 2 And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. 3 And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” 4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 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, and you shall know that I am the Lord.” 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. 9 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 may live.” 10 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. 11 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 is lost; we are indeed cut off.’ 12 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. 13 And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. 14 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, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.”

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Observation Questions

1. What two specific actions did God command Ezekiel to perform in the valley of dry bones, and what happened after each?
2. How did the Israelites describe their condition in Ezekiel 37:11, and what did God promise in response?
3. In the sermon, what three lessons were drawn from the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones? (Refer to [09:11], [12:34], [13:55])

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Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think God asked Ezekiel, “Can these bones live?” before commanding him to prophesy? What does this reveal about the relationship between human obedience and divine power?
2. The sermon emphasized that Ezekiel’s obedience involved two prophecies (to the bones and to the breath). Why might both steps have been necessary? What does this teach about the process of God’s restoration?
3. The sermon described God’s covenant as “non-negotiable” ([34:19]). How does this contrast with human contracts, and why is this distinction critical for understanding prayer and agreement?

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Application Questions

1. The sermon stressed “alignment” with God’s Word through adoption (taking it at face value) and adaptation (intentional adjustments) ([20:35]). What is one area of your life where you need to stop negotiating with Scripture and simply obey it? What practical adjustment could help you align more fully?
2. When facing a situation that feels “hopeless and helpless” ([09:11]), how can you intentionally shift from analyzing the problem to declaring God’s promises, as Ezekiel did? Share a current challenge and a specific Scripture you could prophesy over it.
3. The sermon urged turning “worry into worship” ([45:36]). What worry or fear tends to dominate your thoughts? How could you actively replace anxious thoughts with worship this week (e.g., through prayer, music, Scripture)?
4. The idea of “prophetic prayer” ([39:21]) involves speaking God’s promises into future battles. What is one long-term concern (e.g., family, career, spiritual growth) where you need to start praying with prophetic authority instead of just asking for daily needs?
5. Agreement in prayer was tied to covenant, not negotiation ([34:19]). Is there a relationship or situation where you’ve been trying to “bargain” with God or others? How might trusting His covenant faithfulness change your approach?