Reviving Hope: God's Power in Our Lives

Summary

### Summary

Today, we delved into Ezekiel 37, the powerful vision of the Valley of Dry Bones. This passage is a profound reminder of God's ability to bring life to what seems dead and hopeless. We began by acknowledging that God can work in our lives even when we think we have everything under control. The core of the message is encapsulated in God's question to Ezekiel: "Can these bones live?" This question is not just about the physical resurrection of bones but speaks to the revival of our homes, churches, and individual lives.

We explored three main areas where God can bring life: dead homes, dead churches, and dead sinners. In our homes, Satan often attacks where it hurts the most—our families. But with God's presence, even the most broken homes can be restored. A Christian home is not built overnight; it requires hard work, dedication, and God's intervention.

Next, we discussed the state of our churches. Many churches may appear alive with activities and programs but are spiritually dead. True revival comes when we focus on God's truth and mission rather than our preferences. A church that catches a fresh vision of Jesus can accomplish greater things through His power.

Lastly, we addressed the condition of dead sinners. Without Christ, we are spiritually dead, but through His sacrifice, we can find true life. Jesus' death and resurrection offer us freedom from sin's dominion and the promise of eternal life. This transformation begins the moment we accept Him as our Savior.

We concluded with the hope of resurrection for dead saints, emphasizing that those who believe in Christ will be raised to eternal life. This promise is a cornerstone of our faith, offering hope and assurance that God can and will fulfill His promises.

### Key Takeaways

1. God's Power to Revive Dead Homes: Our families are often the primary target of spiritual attacks. Financial troubles and other issues pale in comparison to family problems. However, with God's presence, even the most broken homes can be restored. A Christian home requires hard work, dedication, and God's intervention. [34:25]

2. Reviving Dead Churches: Many churches may appear alive with activities but are spiritually dead. True revival comes when we focus on God's truth and mission rather than our preferences. A church that catches a fresh vision of Jesus can accomplish greater things through His power. [39:33]

3. Transformation of Dead Sinners: Without Christ, we are spiritually dead. Jesus' death and resurrection offer us freedom from sin's dominion and the promise of eternal life. This transformation begins the moment we accept Him as our Savior. [43:39]

4. The Hope of Resurrection for Dead Saints: Those who believe in Christ will be raised to eternal life. This promise is a cornerstone of our faith, offering hope and assurance that God can and will fulfill His promises. [48:07]

5. God's Faithfulness in Fulfilling Promises: God will do exactly what He said He would do. He is faithful to fulfill His promises, even when we fall short. This assurance should encourage us to trust Him fully and seek His intervention in our lives. [53:47]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[26:38] - Introduction and Reading from Ezekiel 37
[27:19] - The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones
[27:51] - God's Command to Prophesy
[28:22] - The Bones Come to Life
[28:48] - Interpretation of the Vision
[29:12] - Prayer and Reflection
[30:20] - Israel's Struggles and God's Promise
[31:26] - The Core Message: Can These Bones Live?
[34:25] - Reviving Dead Homes
[39:33] - Reviving Dead Churches
[43:39] - Transformation of Dead Sinners
[48:07] - The Hope of Resurrection for Dead Saints
[53:47] - God's Faithfulness in Fulfilling Promises
[55:04] - Invitation to Respond
[01:00:32] - Announcements and Closing Remarks

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
- Ezekiel 37:1-14

### Observation Questions
1. What was the condition of the bones in the valley when Ezekiel first saw them? ([27:19])
2. What did God command Ezekiel to do to the dry bones? ([27:51])
3. How did the bones respond to Ezekiel's prophecy? ([28:22])
4. What was the interpretation of the vision given to Ezekiel? ([28:48])

### Interpretation Questions
1. What does the vision of the Valley of Dry Bones symbolize in the context of Israel's history and future? ([30:20])
2. How does the question "Can these bones live?" challenge our faith in God's power to revive what seems hopeless? ([33:37])
3. In what ways can the revival of dead homes, churches, and sinners be seen as a reflection of God's restorative power? ([34:25])
4. How does the promise of resurrection for dead saints provide hope and assurance for believers today? ([48:07])

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your family faced significant challenges. How did you see God's presence work in your home, or how could you invite His presence into your current situation? ([34:25])
2. Think about your church community. Are there areas where the church might be spiritually dead despite being active? How can you contribute to a revival focused on God's truth and mission? ([39:33])
3. Consider your own spiritual journey. Have there been moments when you felt spiritually dead? How did accepting Christ transform your life, or how can you take steps to experience this transformation now? ([43:39])
4. The sermon emphasized the importance of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Can you identify a promise from God that you are holding onto? How does this promise impact your daily life and faith? ([53:47])
5. The pastor mentioned the struggle with forgiveness. Is there someone you need to forgive? How can you take practical steps to extend forgiveness and experience the freedom it brings? ([52:25])
6. How can you actively seek God's intervention in areas of your life that seem dead or hopeless? What specific actions can you take this week to invite God's restorative power into these areas? ([51:05])
7. Reflect on the hope of resurrection for dead saints. How does this promise influence your perspective on life and death? How can you share this hope with others who may be struggling with fear or uncertainty? ([48:07])

Devotional

Day 1: God's Power to Revive Dead Homes
Description: Our families are often the primary target of spiritual attacks. Financial troubles and other issues pale in comparison to family problems. However, with God's presence, even the most broken homes can be restored. A Christian home requires hard work, dedication, and God's intervention. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones in Ezekiel 37 reminds us that God can breathe life into what seems dead and hopeless. Just as He asked Ezekiel, "Can these bones live?" He asks us to trust in His power to revive our homes. [34:25]

Ephesians 3:14-16 (ESV): "For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being."

Reflection: Think about a specific area in your family life that feels broken or strained. How can you invite God's presence into this situation today and trust Him to bring restoration?

Day 2: Reviving Dead Churches
Description: Many churches may appear alive with activities but are spiritually dead. True revival comes when we focus on God's truth and mission rather than our preferences. A church that catches a fresh vision of Jesus can accomplish greater things through His power. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones serves as a powerful reminder that God can breathe new life into our congregations, transforming them from mere activity hubs into vibrant communities of faith. [39:33]

Revelation 3:1-2 (ESV): "And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God."

Reflection: Reflect on the spiritual state of your church. What steps can you take to help refocus your church on God's truth and mission rather than personal preferences?

Day 3: Transformation of Dead Sinners
Description: Without Christ, we are spiritually dead. Jesus' death and resurrection offer us freedom from sin's dominion and the promise of eternal life. This transformation begins the moment we accept Him as our Savior. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones illustrates that God can bring life to the spiritually dead, offering hope and renewal through His power. [43:39]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: Consider your own spiritual journey. How has accepting Christ transformed your life, and what areas still need His life-giving power?

Day 4: The Hope of Resurrection for Dead Saints
Description: Those who believe in Christ will be raised to eternal life. This promise is a cornerstone of our faith, offering hope and assurance that God can and will fulfill His promises. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is a powerful reminder of the resurrection hope we have in Christ, assuring us that death is not the end for those who believe. [48:07]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

Reflection: How does the promise of resurrection and eternal life impact your daily life and decisions? What can you do today to live in the hope of this promise?

Day 5: God's Faithfulness in Fulfilling Promises
Description: God will do exactly what He said He would do. He is faithful to fulfill His promises, even when we fall short. This assurance should encourage us to trust Him fully and seek His intervention in our lives. The vision of the Valley of Dry Bones is a testament to God's unwavering faithfulness and His power to bring life to the dead. [53:47]

Numbers 23:19 (ESV): "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?"

Reflection: Reflect on a promise from God that you are holding onto. How can you trust in His faithfulness today, even if the fulfillment of that promise seems distant?

Quotes

1. "The most important thing we can do during this time is set everything else aside and focus on Him and just worship the Lord together. I know what God can do. I've seen Him do it over and over and over, and God can change every heart and every life in this place today. You may think there ain't nothing wrong with you. Maybe you got everything going well for you. God can still work in your life." [26:38] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "At the nucleus of this story is the one thing that I feel like God is trying to say not just to Mud Creek but trying to tell his church today. And it's found in verse number three when he asked Ezekiel a question. I was sharing this morning with a couple of the guys out in the coffee shop. Ezekiel's ministry and Jeremiah's ministry were parallel ministries. They both happened at the same time." [31:26] (33 seconds) ( | | )

3. "The worst problems I can have are not financial troubles. Those are bad. Car troubles are bad. Troubles with the actual structure of the house are bad. But the worst problems that I can have are family problems. Them getting me down quicker and keep me down longer than any other problems I got. I don't know if I'm the only person in the room that has family troubles, but I'm telling you right now Satan has attacked the church at the one place where if he can tear it down, he'll have us from now on." [35:22] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When God reigns within a home, we have a little foretaste of what heaven is going to be like. Amen. I have had people come up to me over the years, 'Preacher, what's heaven going to look like?' Well, I really can't tell you what it's going to look like. All I know is what the Bible said. It's going to be real bright and it's going to be real calm and there's going to be a lot of noise because there's going to be a lot of worshipping going on." [37:17] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "You can be full of life and you can be full of energy and you can have a lot of good things going on and you can be dead spiritually and still do church. How is that, preacher? Because in the south, we know how to do church. Oh, we know how to say the right things and do the right things and wear the right things and read the right things and watch the right things. We know all about how to do church." [39:33] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Many folks that come in the church into our building, and we've seen it a lot this last year, a lot of folks come into the house of God and they get in and the Lord begins to speak to their heart and reveals to them their need for a Savior, their need. This hole, this longing in their heart, they're separated from God. They're dead. Although they're drawing breath, they're already dead." [42:44] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "Christ's death on the cross happened so that you and I could be free from sin's dominion. It took me a long time to figure out a good word to put right there. The power of sin, the dominion that it had over me before Jesus moved in. And I didn't have any hope. I didn't have any joy. I didn't have no real life. I thought I was living, but I wasn't really living. I didn't even know what true life was." [45:00] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "If you want Jesus to change something, you gotta go to him. You want him to change your home, you gotta put him in the middle of it. You gotta go to him. You want him to change your heart, you gotta go to him. I'll be honest with you. You know what I struggle, one of the things I struggle with the most in my heart, and I'm telling you, I'm your pastor, I'm your preacher, I'm your friend, and I'm telling you like it is, I struggle with forgiveness sometimes." [52:25] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | | )

9. "God can change anything. Broken lives can be mended if you will go to him. Unhappy people can find joy if you go to him. Dead bones can live, but only if he gets involved. Morning I found myself early on. The Lord spoke to my heart and he told me just as clear as I've ever heard it. Sometimes when I talk to myself, it's just one set of dry bones speaking to another." [53:14] (36 seconds) ( | | )

10. "I tell you this morning, God will do exactly what he said he would do. He's made you a promise. He will fulfill that promise. He'll make good on his word even when we don't make good on ours. Amen. You hear this morning and need the Lord. I want to give you an opportunity to come. If you're here this morning and you've never been saved, right now will be a good day. The Bible said that today is the day. Now is the time. Today is the day of salvation." [53:47] (31 seconds) ( | | )

Chatbot

Transcript

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