KEY PASSAGE
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; and it was full of bones. 2 He caused me to pass all around them, and behold, there were very many [human bones] in the open valley; and lo, 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 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to 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 make breath enter you so that you may come to life. 6 I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and I will put breath in you so that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’”
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on the bones, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them. 9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, 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 came to life and stood up 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 completely cut off.’– EZEKIEL 37:1
BONES BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.
– EZEKIEL 37:11
BONES = LIMBS, MEMBERS
4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
– ROMANS 12:4
11 …Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope is lost. We are completely cut off.’
– EZEKIEL 37:11
WORDS CREATE WORLDS
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a [thundering] noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 8 And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on the bones, and flesh grew and skin covered them; but there was no breath in them.
– EZEKIEL 37:7
GOD’S BREATH EMPOWERS EFFECTIVE BONES
7 then the Lord God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].
– GENESIS 2:7
BREATH = WIND OR SPIRIT; AS A SIGN OF LIFE
9 Then He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, 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.”’”
– EZEKIEL 37:9
1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am [God Almighty; Walk [habitually] before Me [with integrity, knowing that you are always in My presence], and be blameless and complete [in obedience to Me].
2 “I will establish My covenant (everlasting promise) between Me and you, And I will multiply you exceedingly [through your descendants].”
3 Then Abram fell on his face [in worship], and God spoke with him, saying,
4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, And [as a result] you shall be the father of many nations.
5 “No longer shall your name be Abram (exalted father), But your name shall be Abraham (father of a multitude); For I will make you the father of many nations.
6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.– GENESIS 17:1
5 You [believers], like living stones, are being built up into a spiritual house for a holy and dedicated priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices [that are] acceptable and pleasing to God through Jesus Christ.
– 1 PETER 2:5
GROUP ACTIVATION:
THE HOUSE GOD IS BUILDING
READ: EZEKIEL 37:1-11
- BONES BUILD THE HOUSE OF GOD
READ: EZEKIEL 37:11; ROMANS 12:4-5; EZEKIEL 37:4; EZEKIEL 37:7-8
ASK: What words are being spoken that are forming and equipping my world?
Are the words in alignment with God’s words over my life?
- GOD’S BREATH EMPOWERS EFFECTIVE BONES
READ: GENESIS 2:7; EZEKIEL 37:9; GENESIS 17:1-6; 1 PETER 2:5
ASK: Are you attempting to “make it happen” on your own or are you calling on God to breathe?
PRAY:
God, thank you never abandoning me and giving me the power of your breathe to revive my life. Forgive me for thinking I could do life on my own without you. God I need you to breathe on my life so I can be effective at excelling as part of the bones that make up your house.
Amen!