Reviving Hope: The Power of Faith and Prophesy
Summary
### Summary
Life often brings storms that create crises of faith. These storms, whether they be death, divorce, rejection, grief, poverty, or other challenges, can make us feel dead inside. However, we are not saved or delivered by how we feel but by our faith in God. Our emotions are real, but they should not dictate our faith. The Bible even shows that different emotions produce different chemical compositions in our tears, proving that our emotional responses are complex and varied. Despite these storms, God calls us to believe in His power to resurrect what seems dead in our lives. [01:05]
In Ezekiel 37, God sets the prophet Ezekiel in a valley full of dry bones, representing death and hopelessness. God asks Ezekiel if these bones can live again, challenging his faith. Ezekiel wisely responds, "Sovereign Lord, you know." This response shows that while we may not always have the answers, we can trust that God does. God then commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, demonstrating that our words have power. When we speak God's word over our situations, we invite His power to bring life to what seems dead. [13:30]
Ezekiel's obedience to God's command to prophesy to the bones is a powerful lesson. As he prophesies, there is a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones come together, forming skeletons. This miraculous event shows that when we speak God's word, even the most hopeless situations can begin to change. However, the bones, though assembled, still lack life. This teaches us that while initial changes are significant, we must continue to seek God's breath, His Spirit, to bring full restoration and life. [29:16]
God then instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, calling the Spirit of God to enter the bones. As Ezekiel obeys, the breath enters the bodies, and they come to life, standing as a vast army. This illustrates that God's power not only brings things together but also breathes life into them, making them fully alive. We are reminded that God's instructions may seem outrageous, but they are designed to show His glory and power. [35:11]
Throughout the sermon, the emphasis is on the power of our words and the necessity of prophesying to our situations. We are encouraged to speak life into our dead dreams, visions, and purposes. By declaring God's promises and believing in His power, we can see miraculous changes in our lives. The sermon concludes with a call to action, urging everyone to stand and declare God's word over their lives, believing that all things are possible with God. [46:21]
### Key Takeaways
1. Storms and Crises Are Temporary: Life's storms, whether they be emotional, financial, or relational, are temporary detours on the way to our destiny. These crises can make us feel dead inside, but our faith in God, not our emotions, should guide us. We must remember that God has the power to resurrect what seems dead in our lives. [01:05]
2. The Power of Prophesying: In Ezekiel 37, God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, demonstrating the power of speaking God's word over our situations. Our words have the power to bring life to what seems dead. By declaring God's promises, we invite His power to work in our lives. [13:30]
3. Obedience Brings Miracles: Ezekiel's obedience to God's command to prophesy to the bones resulted in a miraculous transformation. This teaches us that when we obey God's instructions, even when they seem outrageous, we can experience His miraculous power. Our obedience makes a demand on the anointing and creates a response from God. [29:16]
4. The Breath of God Brings Full Restoration: While the initial prophesying brought the bones together, it was the breath of God that brought them to life. This illustrates that we need the Spirit of God to bring full restoration and life to our situations. We must continue to seek God's breath, His Spirit, to make us fully alive. [35:11]
5. Declare God's Promises Over Your Life: We are encouraged to speak life into our dead dreams, visions, and purposes. By declaring God's promises and believing in His power, we can see miraculous changes in our lives. This act of prophesying is a demonstration of our faith and trust in God's ability to bring life to what seems dead. [46:21]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - Life's Storms and Crises
[13:30] - Ezekiel and the Valley of Dry Bones
[29:16] - The Power of Prophesying
[35:11] - The Breath of God
[46:21] - Declare God's Promises
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ezekiel 37:1-10 (NIV)
> The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’” So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live.’” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet—a vast army.
2. Romans 4:17 (NIV)
> As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
### Observation Questions
1. What was Ezekiel's initial response when God asked him if the dry bones could live? ([14:25])
2. What happened when Ezekiel prophesied to the bones as God commanded? ([30:39])
3. According to Romans 4:17, what two things does God do that demonstrate His power?
4. What did God instruct Ezekiel to do after the bones came together but still lacked life? ([25:24])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Ezekiel responded with "Sovereign Lord, you know" when asked if the bones could live? ([14:25])
2. How does the story of Ezekiel and the dry bones illustrate the importance of speaking God's word over our situations? ([17:32])
3. In Romans 4:17, what does it mean that God "calls into being things that were not"? How does this relate to the concept of prophesying to dead situations?
4. What is the significance of the breath (ruach) entering the bones in Ezekiel 37? How does this relate to the idea of full restoration? ([25:52])
### Application Questions
1. Think about a "storm" or crisis you are currently facing. How can you shift your focus from your emotions to your faith in God's power to resurrect what seems dead? ([01:05])
2. Have you ever experienced a situation where speaking God's word brought about a change? Share your experience and how it impacted your faith. ([17:32])
3. What are some "dead" areas in your life (dreams, visions, purposes) that you need to prophesy over? How can you start speaking life into these areas this week? ([09:14])
4. How can you practice obedience to God's instructions, even when they seem outrageous or impossible? Reflect on a time when obedience led to a miraculous outcome. ([29:16])
5. The sermon emphasized the power of our words. What specific declarations can you make over your life today to align with God's promises? ([46:21])
6. How can you seek the breath of God (His Spirit) to bring full restoration to areas of your life that have seen initial changes but still lack life? ([35:11])
7. Reflect on Romans 4:17. How can you cultivate a belief in God's ability to bring life to dead situations and create new things out of nothing in your daily walk?
Devotional
Day 1: Faith Over Feelings
Life's storms, whether they be emotional, financial, or relational, are temporary detours on the way to our destiny. These crises can make us feel dead inside, but our faith in God, not our emotions, should guide us. We must remember that God has the power to resurrect what seems dead in our lives. Our emotions are real and valid, but they should not dictate our faith. The Bible even shows that different emotions produce different chemical compositions in our tears, proving that our emotional responses are complex and varied. Despite these storms, God calls us to believe in His power to resurrect what seems dead in our lives. [01:05]
Isaiah 43:2 (ESV): "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."
Reflection: Think of a recent storm in your life. How can you shift your focus from your emotions to your faith in God's power to bring life to what seems dead?
Day 2: The Power of Prophesying
In Ezekiel 37, God commands Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, demonstrating the power of speaking God's word over our situations. Our words have the power to bring life to what seems dead. By declaring God's promises, we invite His power to work in our lives. Ezekiel's response, "Sovereign Lord, you know," shows that while we may not always have the answers, we can trust that God does. When we speak God's word over our situations, we invite His power to bring life to what seems dead. [13:30]
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV): "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Reflection: Identify an area in your life that feels hopeless. What specific promises from God's word can you declare over this situation today?
Day 3: Obedience Brings Miracles
Ezekiel's obedience to God's command to prophesy to the bones resulted in a miraculous transformation. This teaches us that when we obey God's instructions, even when they seem outrageous, we can experience His miraculous power. Our obedience makes a demand on the anointing and creates a response from God. As Ezekiel prophesies, there is a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones come together, forming skeletons. This miraculous event shows that when we speak God's word, even the most hopeless situations can begin to change. [29:16]
1 Samuel 15:22 (ESV): "And Samuel said, 'Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.'"
Reflection: Think of a recent instruction from God that you have hesitated to obey. What steps can you take today to act in obedience and trust in His miraculous power?
Day 4: The Breath of God Brings Full Restoration
While the initial prophesying brought the bones together, it was the breath of God that brought them to life. This illustrates that we need the Spirit of God to bring full restoration and life to our situations. We must continue to seek God's breath, His Spirit, to make us fully alive. God then instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath, calling the Spirit of God to enter the bones. As Ezekiel obeys, the breath enters the bodies, and they come to life, standing as a vast army. [35:11]
Job 33:4 (ESV): "The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need the breath of God for full restoration? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to bring life to these areas today?
Day 5: Declare God's Promises Over Your Life
We are encouraged to speak life into our dead dreams, visions, and purposes. By declaring God's promises and believing in His power, we can see miraculous changes in our lives. This act of prophesying is a demonstration of our faith and trust in God's ability to bring life to what seems dead. The sermon concludes with a call to action, urging everyone to stand and declare God's word over their lives, believing that all things are possible with God. [46:21]
2 Corinthians 4:13 (ESV): "Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written, 'I believed, and so I spoke,' we also believe, and so we also speak."
Reflection: What dead dreams or visions do you need to speak life into today? Write down specific promises from God's word that you can declare over these areas.
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Life brings storms that sometimes create a faith crisis. Storms come, and we know they're going to come. Storms don't last forever, right? Storms are temporary detours on the way to your destiny as you are on your journey for your destiny. But storms come. Crises come. And when crises come, it could be death. Death. It could be divorce. It could be rejection. It could be grief. It could be poverty or lack or bankruptcy. It could be emotional, mental challenges. It could be relationship challenges, family challenges. It could be job challenges, job-related, employer-employee relations, co-worker challenges. Crises comes, and it could be abuse. Let's just call them storms." [01:05]
2. "When you cry tears, depending on the emotion, the chemical makeup of your tears are different. When you're crying tears of anger, they've analyzed those tears, and they have one particular chemical makeup. When you are crying because you are grieving, it's different. When you are crying because of... pain, physical pain, you're in pain. The chemical makeup of those tears is different again altogether. And when you are crying tears of laughter, you're laughing so much that tears are coming out. It's a totally different kind of chemical makeup or balance in those tears." [02:10]
3. "What has gone dead in your life that you've not buried in somewhere deep down? You know, there's hope and you've got hope and you think, but this was God's plan. This is my dream. This is my purpose. I just don't know where I got off track. I don't know what happened. I don't know why it seemed to disappear. Why don't you just put your heart, your hand on your heart? Put And say right now, live again. Come on, prophesy to the dead things in your life. Let the heart represent whatever it is and say it again. Live again, live again, live again." [09:14]
4. "When God speaks, nothing is outrageous. When God tells you to do something, if you'll do it, if you'll believe it, it will happen. He will bring the past. He will blow your mind. He will supernaturally impart to you. And supernaturally flow through you. And you will see miracles happen in your life. In your family. On your job. In your finances. In every situation of your life." [25:05]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Regarding your valley. Regarding your circumstance. Regarding your situation. Regarding the things that have died in your life. The dry bones that are there. He's asking you a question. He's saying to you. Do you believe that the bones can live again? Do you believe that your situation can change? Do you believe that what you have worked on. And prayed for. And talked to others about. And been to doctors to. And been to lawyers to. And been to bankers to. Tried to find an answer somewhere. And been to counselors. And talked to preachers. And talked to other people to pray for you. Do you believe that your situation in the valley. The bones that are there. The death that is there. The depravity that is there. Do you believe that my God. And your God. And our God. That we continually believe. Do you believe that he can cause them to live again?" [16:21]
2. "We ought to make a joyful noise. But we cannot stop there. It's more than the shout. It's more than the roar. It's more than the movement. It's more than the dance. We have to have the word of God in our heart. We have to believe his word. We have to go the next step. We have to breathe and call on the breath of God. Let the breath of God touch us and quicken us and cause us to be alive. He said, but there was no breath in them. So what do you do? I'm glad you asked. So Ezekiel, when he realized there was no ruach. There was no breath. There was no movement. Just bones. Just a skeleton. Watch what he did. I prophesied again as he commanded me. I prophesied again." [35:11]
3. "As a soldier. Begin to march. Begin to do. Whatever God has told you to do. The obedience. Requires. Demands. A response. Something is going to happen. So here's what happened. Ezekiel said. I prophesied. As I was commanded. And as I was prophesying. As I was talking. To dead dry bones. In my valley. See some of you won't even start. Prophesying. To the dead things. In your life. Because you're worried. About what somebody's going to say. You're worried. About what somebody's going to think. Worse yet. You're worried. That it won't happen. So you just don't prophesy. You just don't step out. You just don't obey. Because you just think. How could that be? That's impossible. That would take. A supernatural touch. From God. That would have to be a miracle. It can't happen. Too many people. Will tell me. It can't happen. So just stay there. In your death. That was mean. Wasn't it? Just stay in your death. Stay in your situation. Keep lapping the mountain. Or trust God. And obey him. And begin to speak. And begin to declare. And begin to talk. In your valley. To the dead dry bones." [29:16]
4. "Prophesy to the breath. And say to the breath. This is what the sovereign Lord says. Come breath. How many know that word breath there is? Ruah. Breath of God. Spirit of God. Power of God. Come breath from the four winds. And breathe. Ruah. Into these that are slain. That they may live. Therefore prophesy. And say to them. This is what the sovereign Lord says. My people. I am going to open your graves. And bring you up from them. I will bring you back to the land. Of Israel. So Ezekiel began to prophesy." [25:52]
5. "When I began to prophesy. When I began to talk. To my situation. When I began to speak. To the bones. In the valley. The dead dry bones. There was a noise. There was a roar. There was a thundering voice. It wasn't my voice. It wasn't me trying to be loud. Oh no no no no. When I began to prophesy. Something began to happen in the supernatural. Something began to happen in the spirit realm. When I began to prophesy. There was a thunder. There was a release. There was a loud voice. There was a loud roar. It sounded like the roar. Of the lion. Of the tribe. Of Judah. And everything began to happen. Bones began to move. Bones began to come together. Bone to bone. The foot bone. Connected to the ankle bone. The ankle bone connected to the shin bone. The shin bone connected to the thigh bone. The thigh bone connected to the hip bone. Come on somebody. Arm bones coming together." [32:18]
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