Ezekiel is asked “Can these bones live?” Today we hear of the impossible. The dead come back to life. Can Israel live again after being destroyed as a nation? What is impossible with man is possible with the Lord.
Ezekiel 37: The Valley of Dry Bones
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 am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."
I Will Be Their God, They Shall Be My People
15 The word of the LORD came to me:
16 "Son of man, take a stick and write on it, 'For Judah, and the people of Israel associated with him'; then take another stick and write on it, 'For Joseph (the stick of Ephraim) and all the house of Israel associated with him.'
17 And join them one to another into one stick, that they may become one in your hand.
18 And when your people say to you, 'Will you not tell us what you mean by these?'
19 say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am about to take the stick of Joseph (that is in the hand of Ephraim) and the tribes of Israel associated with him. And I will join with it the stick of Judah, and make them one stick, that they may be one in my hand.
20 When the sticks on which you write are in your hand before their eyes,
21 then say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will take the people of Israel from the nations among which they have gone, and will gather them from all around, and bring them to their own land.
22 And I will make them one nation in the land, on the mountains of Israel. And one king shall be king over them all, and they shall be no longer two nations, and no longer divided into two kingdoms.
23 They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.
24 "My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes.
25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children's children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever.
26 I will make a covenant of peace with them. It shall be an everlasting covenant with them. And I will set them in their land and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in their midst forevermore.
27 My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
28 Then the nations will know that I am the LORD who sanctifies Israel, when my sanctuary is in their midst forevermore."
Things to think about…
1. Ezek 37:1-14 describes the events of dry bones getting up, having flesh put on and a spirit entering in giving life has two aspects. One refers to the literal nation of Israel returning in great numbers and becoming a nation again. We see this happening today – they were literally brought back from the dead. The other aspect is that the spiritually dead are made alive by the Spirit of the Lord. Those who are dead even while they live can be made alive by committing their lives to the Lordship of Christ. What is the most significant case you can think of where someone was so dead spiritually, who then became a Christian? Who are you praying for now that will have the same amazing life changing experience?
2. Consider how Ezekiel is told “Prophesy to the breath”, Ezek 37:9. We are told to call upon God, to speak to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to make people alive to Christ. We cannot know or worship Him without the Spirit. Let’s continue to “Prophesy to the Spirit” and ask Him to wake this city and nation out of their slumber so that many would come out of their ‘graves’ and live new lives in Jesus.
3. Consider Ezek 37:11, 12. The nation was indeed lost and without hope after the Nazi holocaust of the second world war from 1939-45. But the bones of the nation of Israel stood on their feet on the 14th May 1948 when they became a nation once again. The Jews have continued to return to the land from the surrounding nations until this day. There are now more Jewish people in Israel than anywhere else in the world including the United States. Source https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/latest-population-statistics-for-israel . The Lord indeed opened Israel’s graves and they came out Ezek 37:13.
4. Ezek 37:15 - 28 hold incredible significance to the people of Israel. These promises are for literal Israel. Note that they come out from among the nations into their own land. The two sticks (Judah and Israel) are joined and become one stick, vs 19. Note also that they united under King David who will be their Prince forever. This means that Israel will not only return back to their land from the other nations of the world, which is currently happening more now than any time before in the history of the world, but that they will see Christ as their true Messiah. This links in with what we know of Paul’s prophesy in Romans 11:25 ‘when the fullness of the Gentiles has come’. Please pray for the people of Israel, that they may see and know their true Saviour – Yeshua the Son of David.
5. We will read in Ezek 38 and 39 how Israel will finally see Jesus as their Saviour. It is indeed through the most significant trial that they will ever experience according to our Lord Jesus Christ, Mt 24:21, 22.
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
Title was “True love looks like this” – Reading John 16:1-20.
1. We would all say we trust in the Lord. But analyse what have you trusted in this year – perhaps your health, finances, stable employment. Have things worked out for you this year.
2. The relationship with the disciples was about to change. They would receive the Holy Spirit. Jesus would not be there in person. They were about to go into a season of sorrow. But their sorrow would turn to joy. What did Jesus mean?
3. The Holy Spirit will convince the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. Explain how this happens for us today?
4. True love tells the truth. The only real and living hope is found in Christ. Have you shown true love and Christ’s hope to others by being obedient to the Holy Spirt by telling others of sin, righteousness and judgement.
5. Pray for each other and the outreach of the gospel.
Prayer Points
1. AGM – 6th Nov after the service.
2. Carols service 18th December – Family fun Day afternoon/evening 3pm-7pm.
3. Christmas Day Service – on a Sunday this year.
4. Pray for the leadership of our country.
5. Pray for the people of Iran and Ukraine.
6. The right choice for a full time Youth and Young Adults Pastor to start Jan 2023 and the finances to support them.
7. Health of Ross Goltz
8. More young families and youth into the church.
9. Ministry leaders within the church.
10. Our One for Israel ministry.
11. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof.
12. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points
1. Praise God for the health return of some who have suffered with Covid.
2. More visitors at church on Sunday.
3. Some returning back to church after a while away.
4. Worship on Sunday – thankyou Suzy, Gina, Ashley. Bec on Words and Doug on sound. Thankyou. Fi, Suzy and Maddison in café always do a stellar job. Thankyou for those who welcomed at the door.
5. All those who faithfully serve in ministries, Worship, Sound/Technical/Kids Church/ Cell Groups/Admin - Bulletins/Finances/Property/Welcoming/Spiritual Leadership/Cafe
6. Joy, peace and grace we see at CBC. Thankyou Lord
Announcements
1. Members Meeting – AGM 6th November after the service.
2. Carols service – 18th Dec 3pm to 7pm.
3. Christmas Day service – 9am Dec 25th.
4. Remember to check your duty rosters.
5. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
6. Tune in again this week on our youtube page. Subscribe to the CBC channel Chuwar Baptist YouTube channel.
