Theological Status: Critical Concern
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum
❓ What do these grades mean?
🔍 Biblical Discernment: The 7 Church Parallels
The Cold Orthodox Parallel
Ephesus
Teaching that upholds doctrinal precision yet parallels the loss of the "first love"—the vital, motivating power of the Gospel (Rev 2:4).
Why strictly "Mark & Avoid"?
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
We do not issue this rating to attack the speaker, but to protect the listener. This church's overall teaching trend consistently deviates from sound doctrine. As per Romans 16:17, we identify these patterns so believers can guard their hearts.
🧐 Overview
Sermon Summary: This sermon passionately uses the story of the Valley of Dry Bones to offer hope for seemingly dead situations. It encourages listeners to believe in a God who can bring life from death, but a closer look reveals a critical misunderstanding of how that new life actually begins, placing the burden on human effort rather than on God's sovereign grace.
Big Idea: God is the God of new life, who can and will change and revive lives of people who trust in him and will give themselves in total devotion to Him. [00:52:19 ▶️ 📄]
Pastoral Analysis: The sermon is a well-intentioned exposition of Ezekiel 37 that unfortunately falls into significant theological error. The central proposition is built on a synergistic framework, requiring human trust and devotion as prerequisites for God's life-giving work, which undermines the doctrine of man's total inability. This soteriological error, combined with a failure to properly administer the Lord's Supper by offering it without restriction or warning, constitutes a fundamental departure from biblical practice and teaching.
Biblical Parallel(Archetype): Pergamum — The sermon holds to much biblical truth but compromises on the foundational doctrine of salvation by grace alone, blending it with a requirement for human cooperation (synergism), which is a fatal error.
🧭 Biblical Alignment Dashboard
Overall Verdict: Fundamentally in Error
| Category | Status | Reasoning |
|---|---|---|
| Soteriology | ❌ FAIL | The sermon explicitly conditions God's regenerating work on prior human actions ('trust,' 'total devotion,' 'willingness'), which is a synergistic view of salvation that contradicts the biblical doctrine of man's spiritual deadness (Eph 2:1-5) and God's sovereign, monergistic work in regeneration. |
| Bibliology | ✅ PASS | The sermon holds a high view of Scripture as the Word of the Lord and the necessary source of truth for revival. |
| Hermeneutic | ⚠️ WEAK | While the sermon is expository in structure, its application of Ezekiel 37 is primarily moralistic and therapeutic. It fails to connect the vision's ultimate fulfillment to the person and work of Christ, who secures the new life of the Spirit through His own death and resurrection. |
| Theology Proper | ✅ PASS | The sermon correctly portrays God as sovereign, powerful, and the ultimate source of life and hope. |
| Sacramentology | ❌ FAIL | The Lord's Supper was administered without any biblical restriction ('fencing the table'), explicitly inviting children to partake without reference to faith or understanding, and with no warning against partaking in an unworthy manner as commanded in 1 Corinthians 11. |
📖 How they Handle Scripture & Jesus
Primary Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14 (Expository (Deep))
Scripture Saturation: Verses Read: 14 | Referenced: 0 | Alluded: 1
Passages Read Aloud:
Christological Connection: None (Moralistic): While Christ is mentioned as 'alive now' and the 'commanding officer' of the army, and the preceding liturgy includes communion focused on His body and blood, the sermon's application of the 'new life' theme from Ezekiel 37 primarily focuses on God's general power to revive and the human conditions (trust, devotion, willingness, belief) for receiving this life. It does not explicitly or deeply ground the *mechanism* of new life in Christ's specific redemptive work (e.g., His death and resurrection as the source of the Spirit's life-giving power for regeneration). The connection is present in the broader service but not central to the sermon's homiletical trajectory for the 'new life' proposition.
🧱 Sermon Outline
- Introduction: The Valley of Dry Bones [00:32:06 ▶️ 📄] : Setting the scene of Israel's desolation and Ezekiel's vision of a valley full of dry bones.
- Have you been in a valley of dry bones? [00:33:59 ▶️ 📄] : Relating the vision to various personal and communal struggles, such as troubled marriages, broken dreams, health issues, prodigal children, addictions, and a stagnant church.
- Can these bones live? [00:41:04 ▶️ 📄] : God's question to Ezekiel and Ezekiel's response, acknowledging God's sole power to restore life to dead hearts and desolate lives.
- Prophesy to these bones [00:42:46 ▶️ 📄] : God's command to speak His Word and the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing life, resulting in a vast army of believers.
- God is the God of New Life [00:51:23 ▶️ 📄] : The promise of God to open graves and bring His people back to glorious life, emphasizing that God is still doing miracles today through Christ.
💧 Sacraments & Ordinances
"The body and blood of Jesus, shed for you, shed for me, so that we could have life. ... This is my blood, a new covenant that will save the faith in Jesus, not by what we do."
Fencing the Table (Communion):
- Believers Only Stated: ❌ No (Open Table Risk)
- Warning Against Unworthy Manner: ⚠️ None Detected
🗝️ Key Topics & Themes
- Revival : The central theme of God bringing life back to dead or hopeless situations.
- Hope : The message that even in despair, God offers new life and restoration.
- Spiritual Life : Addressing the state of individual and corporate spiritual vitality, from routine to desolation.
- God's Power : Emphasis on God's unique ability to perform miracles and transform lives.
- Holy Spirit : The role of the Spirit in breathing life into dry bones and empowering believers.
✅ Commendations
Homiletics | Relatable Application
The speaker effectively connects the ancient image of a valley of dry bones to modern, personal struggles (marriage, health, prodigal children), making the text's promise of hope feel immediate and relevant to the congregation.
Theology Proper | Affirmation of God's Power
The sermon consistently and rightly upholds God's absolute power to intervene, create life from death, and restore what is broken. The refrain that only God can make the bones live is a strong and biblical starting point.
⚠️ Theological Concerns
🔴 Synergistic View of Regeneration
Root Cause: Semi-Pelagianism / Synergism. (Reason: This view denies the doctrine of Total Depravity by assuming that the unregenerate human will is not 'dead' but merely 'sick' and retains the ability to cooperate with God's grace to initiate salvation.)
"God can and will change and revive lives of people who trust in him and will give themselves in total devotion to Him." [00:52:19 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: Scripture teaches that man is 'dead in trespasses and sins' (Ephesians 2:1) and therefore incapable of initiating or cooperating in his own regeneration. New life is a sovereign act of God, not conditioned on our actions. 'So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy' (Romans 9:16). Faith is the *result* of regeneration, not its cause (John 6:44, Acts 13:48).
🟠 Failure to Fence the Lord's Table
Root Cause: Practice of Open Communion. (Reason: This practice neglects the biblical commands for self-examination and church discipline, treating the sacrament as a mere memorial open to all rather than a covenant meal for the visible church.)
"So if you have children with you and you want them to take communion, it's not a problem." [00:19:23 ▶️ 📄]
Correction: The Apostle Paul commands self-examination before partaking and warns that whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup 'in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord' (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). The ordinance is for the covenant community, those who can 'discern the Lord's body.' Offering it indiscriminately is a serious pastoral failure.
📝 Other Corrections & Notes
- Those children that are raised in Christian homes 75 to 80% of them leave the church and leave their faith by the time of their teens or college age years. → Correction: While many studies show a significant drop-off in church attendance for young adults, the specific figure of '75 to 80%' is on the highest end of estimates and often lacks nuance regarding the permanence of this departure. Stating such a high number without qualification can create unnecessary fear and may not be a precise representation of the data. (00:37:13 ▶️ 📄)
📜 Full Sermon Transcript (Audit)
Use the 📄 icons next to quotes above to automatically jump to their location in this raw transcript.
[00:00:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
and Rebuilding.
[00:00:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Thank you.
[00:00:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Okay.
[00:00:46] Let's do it.
[00:00:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:01:17] Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:01:25] Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:02:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let the heavens shake to lit the sky Let the people clap their hands and cry It's not for us, it's all for you
[00:02:37] To your name be the glory, not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:02:53] Our hearts of gold before your throne, the only place for those who know God for us.
[00:03:17] Not for us, it's all for you Not to us, but to your name be the glory Not to us, but to your name be the glory The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
[00:03:49] The waves are crashing, the sun is raging, it's all for you The universe is standing and singing, it's all for you The children dancing, dancing, dancing, it's all for you
[00:04:20] Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:04:54] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:05:10] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:05:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:05:12] You may be seated.
[00:05:13] I have the privilege this morning to take Pastor Brandon's place and just the announcements, guys.
[00:05:19] I'm not doing the message.
[00:05:20] Don't worry.
[00:05:20] Somebody else is going to do that.
[00:05:22] But I'm going to give you our announcements for this week and talk a little bit about what's going to be going on here at the bridge.
[00:05:27] Celebration Sunday on November 23rd.
[00:05:30] We've got some folks who are going to be baptized and some folks who are going to be dedicated that day.
[00:05:34] So please put it on your calendar and make sure you're here.
[00:05:37] It should be an exciting celebration.
[00:05:39] I know baptismal services are really wonderful and they can inspire all of us to remember what it is to be God's children.
[00:05:48] Next one please.
[00:05:50] Alright, so the food pantry.
[00:05:51] Our next food drive.
[00:05:53] It's going to be on December 6th, weather permitting.
[00:05:57] I was told if it's too cold, Gene's not going.
[00:06:01] So Gene is out if it's too cold.
[00:06:03] But December 6th, the sign-up sheet will be out there for you folks to sign up.
[00:06:07] I was told we got, yesterday at our food drive, we got eight carts of food.
[00:06:14] and $241 in financial donations.
[00:06:19] The need is great and people are stepping up to the plate and so that's great.
[00:06:23] But don't forget folks, the food pantry can always use your help.
[00:06:27] So if there's anything that you can do, you see that buy two get one free sale over at Food Lion or you're down at Walmart and you see a really good deal, the food pantry can pretty much use anything that you can bring.
[00:06:36] So just keep that in mind.
[00:06:38] Let's support our food pantry and our community in this very difficult time of need for some folks.
[00:06:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Yes, absolutely.
[00:07:06] You support my AA group that I'm involved in, which they meet down in the building down there.
[00:07:26] He said, you saved my life.
[00:07:27] That's what the ministries that we support and the hard work that Gene and Tim put into it and their helpers, it really means a lot to a lot of people.
[00:07:32] And this gentleman that...
[00:07:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:07:37] Amen.
[00:07:38] That is good to hear.
[00:07:39] We don't always get to hear from the folks too.
[00:07:44] But you know that there are families out there that are surviving because of the hard work that Jean and her husband put in and all of their volunteers and all of you who not only participate in our food drives but who help to contribute.
[00:07:59] A couple more announcements that aren't on the screen.
[00:08:01] Next Sunday, we do have a missionary coming to do the message and to speak to us about their ministry.
[00:08:08] Next Saturday, Jean needs some folks if you can come at about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning to come help set up the tables.
[00:08:15] We are doing a potluck next Sunday, so all you get out your potluck recipe books and see what you can contribute, we would really appreciate that.
[00:08:24] Last announcement, there is a clipboard that's going to be circulated today.
[00:08:29] We're asking everybody to put their name, address, telephone number.
[00:08:32] I guess we're updating our directory to make sure that we have all the information that we need to be able to contact folks and be in touch with them.
[00:08:40] So please, if you see that clipboard come around, take a moment to just fill it out.
[00:08:43] Even if you've done it before, make sure that your information is updated so that we have your current information available.
[00:08:49] I think that's about it except for our prayer cards.
[00:08:52] Remember, these folks come together every Monday.
[00:08:54] I was privileged enough to come here one time and watch them pray and they do it.
[00:08:58] And they pray with thunder and they pray with authority here.
[00:09:01] And if you want something to be prayed for, please take a moment to write it down.
[00:09:05] If you want to report a praise and you want to let people know what God is doing in your life, that's exciting too.
[00:09:11] So remember those are there and we'll take it from there.
[00:09:14] We're going to ask our ushers to come forward and we're going to take our morning offering.
[00:09:18] Let's pray.
[00:09:21] Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, and we thank you for this opportunity to worship.
[00:09:25] We thank you so much for your presence here today.
[00:09:28] Open up our hearts and minds to your message, to your will, and to whatever you need us to do this week and in the weeks to come.
[00:09:36] In your Son's precious name we pray.
[00:09:38] Amen.
[00:09:48] One, two, three, four.
[00:10:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love There is no shadow in your presence No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne Before the Holy One of Heaven It's only by your blood
[00:10:34] It's only through Your mercy, Lord, I come We bring an offering of worship to our King No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
[00:10:55] Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due.
[00:11:05] O Lord, I bring an offering to you.
[00:11:22] There is no shadow in your presence No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne Before the Holy One of Heaven It's only by your love And it's only through your
[00:11:59] We bring a portion to our King No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due Oh Lord, I bring an offering to you
[00:12:31] The one on earth deserves the praises that I sing Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due O Lord, I bring an offering
[00:13:00] Amen.
[00:13:03] Give Him a praise offering this morning.
[00:13:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
We've got one more for you before I turn things over to Pastor Jerry.
[00:13:36] Every one of us here today is here today because we need something.
[00:13:42] The most important thing that we need today is the Savior.
[00:13:45] Every one of us.
[00:13:48] One, two, three, four, five, six.
[00:14:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The love of my Jesus, the life that He gave So many times will I praise You today
[00:14:27] I lift up my life Cause we're always the same In my offering You I bring Your name is Jesus Your name is Jesus
[00:15:09] I know that You brought me through All the days of loss to the cross You knew That I'd need a Savior
[00:15:34] How many songs can I sing to proclaim the wondrous love of a beauty so brave?
[00:16:01] Oh, what would I say if you'd walk down the rain?
[00:16:03] Every day I walk through the pain My heart will still say Your name is Jesus Your name is King
[00:16:33] I know that you brought me through On the days of loss to the cross you knew That I'd need a Savior
[00:17:18] I know that you brought me through all the days of loss to the cross you knew
[00:17:35] I need a Savior.
[00:17:41] I need a Savior.
[00:17:46] I need you, Savior.
[00:17:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:17:56] You may be seated.
[00:18:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
We have been in the presence of the Lord.
[00:18:28] I don't know if you have experienced that.
[00:18:31] You know how you know if you experience that?
[00:18:34] If there is just a reverence, a sense of reverence, a humble sense of reverence in you, it's when you're in the presence of the Lord.
[00:18:46] I mean, when was the last time you came to church and you just felt that reverence for the Lord, that you were in a sacred place?
[00:18:58] Today we're going to take communion together.
[00:19:02] It's another way of coming into the presence of the Lord.
[00:19:08] The bread, His body that was given for you.
[00:19:14] The juice, here we use grape juice.
[00:19:19] It's not fermented, it's not wine, it's grape juice.
[00:19:23] So if you have children with you and you want them to take communion, it's not a problem.
[00:19:28] If alcohol is a problem, it's not a problem today.
[00:19:31] This is grape juice.
[00:19:35] The body and blood of Jesus, shed for you, shed for me, so that we could have life.
[00:19:48] And so, I'm going to ask those who are going to be helping me, if they would come at this time,
[00:19:57] And as soon as you're ready, as soon as we're ready, if you would just come down these center aisles and receive the elements and then go back towards the far aisles to go back to your seats.
[00:20:11] So why don't we stand in the presence of the Lord?
[00:20:26] Thank you.
[00:20:49] What's that?
[00:21:06] It's fine.
[00:21:06] I didn't do it.
[00:21:38] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
and more.
[00:24:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Jesus took bread, and he blessed it, and he broke it, and he gave it to us, and he said, Take, and this is my body.
[00:25:09] Jesus took a cup, blessed it, gave it to take a drink.
[00:25:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
This is my blood, a new covenant that will save the faith in Jesus, not by what we do.
[00:25:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
That we might know you.
[00:25:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
That we might have hope, eternal hope.
[00:26:01] Thank you Lord for your love.
[00:26:03] We have never experienced love like yours, Lord.
[00:26:07] And we are so grateful for the life that you have given to us.
[00:26:11] Bless us as we continue in your presence.
[00:26:17] Open up your word to us, Lord.
[00:26:20] May we hear from you.
[00:26:21] May we be filled with your spirit.
[00:26:26] May we be changed in some good way today.
[00:26:30] For we ask these things in Jesus' name.
[00:26:33] Amen.
[00:26:34] God bless you.
[00:26:35] You may be seated.
[00:27:00] Yeah, we're going to have the kids come forward, and we're going to do a word first.
[00:27:04] Yep.
[00:27:53] that was fun excuse me as you can see this morning we're going to be looking at Ezekiel chapter 37 verses 1 to 14 if you have a Bible to look in your own Bible we have it up on the screen for those who are watching at home it's Ezekiel chapter 37 starting with verse 1
[00:28:29] The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord, and set me in the middle of a valley.
[00:28:39] It was full of bones.
[00:28:46] 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.
[00:28:58] He asked me, son of man, can these bones live?
[00:29:03] I said, oh sovereign Lord, you know.
[00:29:05] You alone know.
[00:29:08] Then he said to me, prophesy to these bones and say to them, dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:29:16] This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones.
[00:29:22] I will make breath into you
[00:29:29] 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
[00:29:59] A rattling sound.
[00:30:02] And the bones came together, bone to bone.
[00:30:09] I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
[00:30:20] Then he said to me, Prophesy to the breath.
[00:30:24] Prophesy, son of man, and say to it, This is what the Sovereign Lord says.
[00:30:31] Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.
[00:30:42] So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them, and they came to life, and they stood on their feet, a vast army.
[00:30:53] Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.
[00:31:00] They say our bones are dried up and our hope is gone.
[00:31:06] We are cut off.
[00:31:08] Therefore prophesy and say to them, this is what the Sovereign Lord says, O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them.
[00:31:23] I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
[00:31:27] Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from them.
[00:31:37] I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.
[00:31:47] Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.
[00:31:56] May the Lord bless the reading of his word.
[00:32:06] It's the nation of Israel, the holy city of Jerusalem, the sacred and magnificent temple, all in ruins.
[00:32:25] Many people captured, many people in exile.
[00:32:31] Bodies in graves.
[00:32:33] It was a tragic scene, really.
[00:32:37] But the prophet Ezekiel had a vision.
[00:32:41] God put his hand on Ezekiel and gave him a vision.
[00:32:48] And in that vision, he was led to a valley.
[00:32:55] And there was nothing in that valley but old, dried up skeletons.
[00:33:08] They must have been there for a while.
[00:33:11] They were dry.
[00:33:13] Bones covered the valley.
[00:33:16] Dead bones were everywhere.
[00:33:20] Not piled up in a heap, but scattered throughout
[00:33:26] That valley looked like it was probably the site of a battle.
[00:33:37] It was a battlefield.
[00:33:42] It's a scene of total sadness and misery and despair.
[00:33:53] And Ezekiel stands here in the middle of this valley of dry bones.
[00:33:59] Have you ever been in a valley of dry bones?
[00:34:06] You may think not.
[00:34:09] But I think you have been.
[00:34:13] Maybe he was in the middle of a troubled marriage.
[00:34:18] He didn't know what happened.
[00:34:21] One time things were so good.
[00:34:24] And it seemed like all of a sudden things were not good anymore.
[00:34:28] You're not even sure how you got there.
[00:34:34] Dry bones.
[00:34:36] Maybe it was in the middle of broken and shattered dreams.
[00:34:42] You had such plans and aspirations, but they were never realized.
[00:34:50] One time your life seemed so promising.
[00:34:54] But then one by one, it seems like your dreams just didn't happen.
[00:35:02] Dry bones.
[00:35:04] Maybe it's your work, maybe it's your job, maybe it's your health.
[00:35:11] Or someone else's health that's close to you and it's been tough.
[00:35:16] It's been tough for you and your family.
[00:35:20] Or perhaps you're discovering
[00:35:24] Like I am, that aging is not for cowards.
[00:35:32] My mother told me that a long time ago.
[00:35:35] And now I know that she was right.
[00:35:38] As you find yourself more and more with doctors or waiting for a doctor.
[00:35:52] You know, I...
[00:35:53] I heard that there are three things that comes with aging.
[00:36:09] The first is loss of memory.
[00:36:14] And I don't remember the second and the third.
[00:36:24] Maybe you're caring for an aging parent and it gets stressful.
[00:36:30] You love them, but it gets stressful.
[00:36:34] And you're emotionally and physically exhausted.
[00:36:40] It feels like dry bones.
[00:36:43] Maybe it's your relationship with your kids.
[00:36:47] They become prodigals, reckless.
[00:36:52] And it's caused you many tears and much heartache.
[00:36:56] Because you know you brought them up in the church and you brought them up to know Jesus, but they seem so far away from Him now.
[00:37:07] I saw a poll this week.
[00:37:10] Poll, whatever.
[00:37:12] This is what it said.
[00:37:13] It said that those children that are raised in Christian homes
[00:37:19] 75 to 80% of them leave the church and leave their faith by the time of their teens or college age years.
[00:37:33] I don't know how accurate that is.
[00:37:35] I saw that 10 years ago, that number was 43%.
[00:37:41] And we thought that was high then.
[00:37:52] Or if it's not your children, maybe it's somebody else you know that once was close to God and now they're not.
[00:38:03] All you see is dry bones.
[00:38:08] Maybe you've never put your faith in Jesus.
[00:38:13] And life has gone from bad to worse.
[00:38:18] And you're struggling with all these addictions.
[00:38:21] There's normal addictions that we think of, drugs and stuff like that.
[00:38:28] But we all have addictions.
[00:38:30] Whatever you put before God to help you in your life, that's your addiction.
[00:38:40] And God wants us to come out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
[00:38:48] And I know what that's like.
[00:38:49] I've been there.
[00:38:52] And I know what it feels like.
[00:38:54] It feels like dry bones.
[00:38:58] Maybe it's your spiritual life.
[00:39:02] Yes, you pray and you read your Bible and you come to church.
[00:39:07] But it seems like just routine.
[00:39:11] Almost boring.
[00:39:16] Maybe it's become easier not to pray.
[00:39:19] Not to read the word.
[00:39:24] Maybe you're here this morning or watching on the live stream and you're wondering, why?
[00:39:32] Why do I bother?
[00:39:38] I don't even know what I believe.
[00:39:41] Dry bones.
[00:39:44] Today the church, especially in the United States, is divided.
[00:39:50] Angry Christians fighting among themselves.
[00:39:56] We have too many that are just good enough Christians and think it's okay.
[00:40:04] But they're not true disciples, devoted followers of Jesus.
[00:40:11] Dry bones.
[00:40:14] In our country and in other parts of the world, less and less think
[00:40:19] that they even need God or the church Ezekiel looked around at all those dry bones and he understood that they represented his people and God's people the church scattered without hope and he knew that only a miracle
[00:40:49] could restore them.
[00:40:51] Only a miracle can make them live again.
[00:40:55] And he heard a voice, the voice of the Lord, asking him, Son of man, can these bones live?
[00:41:04] Son of man, human being, let me ask you, can these bones live?
[00:41:12] Wow, what a question.
[00:41:14] What a question.
[00:41:16] In other words, is there any hope?
[00:41:21] Is there any hope that that person, that marriage, that child, that nation, that church, that relationship, you, your future, is there any hope that it can live again?
[00:41:40] What do you think, Ezekiel?
[00:41:43] What do you think?
[00:41:46] And I love Ezekiel's reply.
[00:41:48] He says, O sovereign Lord,
[00:41:51] You alone know.
[00:41:54] You alone know.
[00:41:56] He didn't want to say no because he knows the power of God.
[00:42:00] And he knows that no one and nothing can do it but God.
[00:42:05] But Lord, if you don't give them life, they will not find life.
[00:42:16] These dry bones, they represent dead hearts.
[00:42:23] Dry.
[00:42:25] Lives.
[00:42:26] Desolate.
[00:42:28] Lonely.
[00:42:29] Empty.
[00:42:32] Ezekiel says, I don't know if they can be revived.
[00:42:36] I hope they can.
[00:42:37] I want them to be.
[00:42:38] But only you know the answer to that question, Lord.
[00:42:45] And then look what happens next.
[00:42:46] The Lord says prophesy.
[00:42:48] What does that mean?
[00:42:50] It means hear from the Lord.
[00:42:52] And then in the Lord's power, tell others.
[00:42:56] Prophesy to these bones.
[00:43:01] Hear and be inspired by my spirit.
[00:43:05] And give them this message.
[00:43:08] Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:43:18] First you need to hear the word of the Lord.
[00:43:22] How?
[00:43:25] Through the Word, through prayer.
[00:43:27] We hear the Word of the Lord.
[00:43:33] And the Lord said, speak.
[00:43:35] You speak.
[00:43:37] You give them a message.
[00:43:42] Yes, it's the Lord who works.
[00:43:43] It's the Lord who can revive and restore.
[00:43:46] He wants to work through us and speak through us.
[00:43:51] What does that assume?
[00:43:53] That assumes that we are hearing from the Lord, that we are close to the Lord, that we're with Him in prayer, we're hearing from Him through the Word in prayer.
[00:44:05] We forget that the people that Jesus chose were neither spiritually or emotionally mature, yet God used them.
[00:44:17] Like us, they had a lot to learn.
[00:44:22] But most of them had one great quality.
[00:44:26] They were willing.
[00:44:28] And that's what God asks, and that's all that God asks of us.
[00:44:33] So prophesy the word of the Lord.
[00:44:42] Think of the parable of the prodigal son.
[00:44:49] The world is filled with those who are wandering away from the love of God.
[00:44:58] Wandering from deep relationship with God.
[00:45:04] Maybe a relationship that they once have and no longer have.
[00:45:08] And in the church, the church is filled with people who are like the older son in that parable.
[00:45:15] Angry, bitter, grumpy.
[00:45:18] Complaining.
[00:45:21] Every time God doesn't meet their expectations.
[00:45:26] And you know what?
[00:45:28] We can relate to both of those sons.
[00:45:32] People desperately looking for what the Father in that parable and only the Father can give.
[00:45:40] Grace and mercy, faith and hope, love and value and peace and life.
[00:45:49] This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones.
[00:45:53] This is the word of the Lord.
[00:45:57] I'm going to make breath enter into you and you will come to life.
[00:46:04] I want to connect tendons.
[00:46:06] You know what tendons do?
[00:46:07] Tendons keep the bone attached, the muscle attached to the bones throughout the whole body.
[00:46:15] So it allows for movement.
[00:46:18] In other words, what is God doing?
[00:46:19] He's restoring from the inside out.
[00:46:24] That's how God does it.
[00:46:27] I'll put breath in you and I will transform you from the inside out.
[00:46:33] And you will come to life.
[00:46:34] And then you will know that I am the Lord.
[00:46:40] So Ezekiel speaks to these dry bones as he was commanded to do.
[00:46:44] He speaks this message of God.
[00:46:47] And there's a noise, a rattling sound.
[00:46:54] Can you hear it?
[00:46:57] A commotion among the bones, dry bones coming together.
[00:47:04] It'll be a miracle.
[00:47:07] And it could happen if they hear the word of the Lord.
[00:47:10] But there is still no breath in them.
[00:47:16] We have here kind of a play in words because the word that's translated breath can also be translated spirit.
[00:47:25] And the voice of the Lord said, speak a prophetic message and say, this is what the Lord says, Come, O breath.
[00:47:39] Come, Holy Spirit.
[00:47:41] Come.
[00:47:42] And fill these
[00:47:46] Dry-boned bodies.
[00:47:48] Breathe in them.
[00:47:50] Let them live again.
[00:47:51] O Holy Spirit, come and revive and restore and give life.
[00:47:59] See, it's not just hearing the Word, it's receiving the Spirit.
[00:48:04] And life comes from the Word and the Spirit.
[00:48:08] Have you received the Spirit of God?
[00:48:13] So Ezekiel
[00:48:15] spoke the message as God commanded him and breath, spirit came into the dry bones and they came to life and they stood up on their feet, a vast army, a great army.
[00:48:32] Can you imagine it?
[00:48:36] An army, a great army living in the Holy Spirit of Christ.
[00:48:45] Not getting involved in worldly things, they're obeying their commander, commanding officer, who is Jesus.
[00:48:54] Can you see it in your imagination?
[00:48:56] Not only did Ezekiel see it, do you see it?
[00:49:03] People coming to life again in God through the Spirit, whether it's someone you know or your own life.
[00:49:14] Can you imagine it?
[00:49:16] Can you believe God for it?
[00:49:19] A great army of spirit-filled believers in Jesus.
[00:49:25] This picture from Ezekiel ought to be exciting.
[00:49:32] The Lord says, these bones represent my people whom I love.
[00:49:44] They were saying, we have become dry bones.
[00:49:49] All hope is gone.
[00:49:51] Our nation is finished.
[00:49:53] Our church is dying.
[00:49:55] My life is falling apart.
[00:49:57] But prophesy to them and say, this is what the Sovereign Lord says.
[00:50:02] O my people, I will open those graves and cause you to rise again.
[00:50:08] Come out of the graves.
[00:50:10] Come out of exile.
[00:50:11] Stand up and receive life.
[00:50:15] The life of my spirit.
[00:50:17] Come.
[00:50:19] Come home.
[00:50:20] To my kingdom.
[00:50:22] The kingdom of God.
[00:50:24] Hear the word of the Lord.
[00:50:26] Be led by the Spirit.
[00:50:27] And when this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord.
[00:50:32] Yes, the Lord has spoken.
[00:50:35] Does that make you want to
[00:50:38] Stand up and shout and dance.
[00:50:40] That which was dead will be brought back to glorious life.
[00:50:47] That which was without hope or promise will be restored to vitality and purpose.
[00:50:54] The Lord has spoken.
[00:50:57] You think life is hopeless?
[00:51:00] You think your marriage is hopeless?
[00:51:03] You think your future is hopeless?
[00:51:05] You think the nation is hopeless?
[00:51:08] You think the Church, capital C, all of the Church, not a particular one, but you think the Church, especially in America, is hopeless?
[00:51:20] No.
[00:51:21] No.
[00:51:23] God is the God of new life.
[00:51:28] You look at dry bones, even of your own life, and despair that anything good
[00:51:35] Can it ever happen again?
[00:51:36] Well, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:51:39] Them bones, them bones, them dry bones, they're going to rise again.
[00:51:47] Our God is a God of new life.
[00:51:52] God is still doing miracles in lives today and he wants to do a miracle in yours.
[00:52:01] There'd be reason to despair if we were only talking about something that happened in ancient history.
[00:52:08] It's something that can happen now.
[00:52:11] Why?
[00:52:11] Because Christ is alive now, right now.
[00:52:16] And he's still touching people's lives today.
[00:52:19] God can and will change and revive lives of people who trust in him.
[00:52:31] and will give themselves in total devotion to Him.
[00:52:37] Ezekiel heard a voice of the Lord.
[00:52:40] Can these bones live again?
[00:52:41] O sovereign Lord, Ezekiel said.
[00:52:44] You alone know the answer to that.
[00:52:50] Maybe you're asking the same question this morning.
[00:52:54] About your life or someone else's life.
[00:52:58] Well, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:53:00] Verse 5.
[00:53:02] This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones.
[00:53:06] I will make breath, spirit into you, and you will come to life.
[00:53:13] Them bones are going to rise again.
[00:53:16] A vast army coming home.
[00:53:20] We cry out to dry bones, come alive.
[00:53:25] Come alive.
[00:53:27] I'm going to ask the worship group to come back up.
[00:53:30] They're going to sing a final song.
[00:53:32] And then I will close in prayer after that song.
[00:54:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Everybody awake now?
[00:54:16] You're awake now.
[00:54:17] This one is one that you can feel free to stand to and sing along with if you know it, but please feel free also to sit and just reflect on the lyrics that you're going to hear.
[00:54:30] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
One, two, three, four.
[00:54:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
And it seems to me so much we have lost As we've downed the road where all the prodigals have walked One by one the enemy has whispered lies and led them on astray
[00:55:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
As we call out to tribals, come along
[00:55:50] We call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive.
[00:56:01] Out of the ashes, let us see an army rise.
[00:56:06] We call out to dry bones, come alive.
[00:56:18] His mercy God of honor and in love Rescue every daughter bring us back the wayward sons And guide us here in freedom wonder To the world that You alone can save You alone can save
[00:56:46] As we call out to dry bones, come alive, come alive We call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive Up out of the ashes, let us see an army rise We call out to dry bones, come alive
[00:57:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Breathe, O Breath of God, now breathe!
[00:57:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Breathe, O Breath of God, breathe!
[00:57:48] Breathe the breath of God, breathe the breath of God, breathe the breath of God, now breathe We call out to dry bones, come alive, come alive
[00:58:09] We call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive Up out of the ashes, let us see an army rise We call out to dry bones, come alive We call out to dry bones
[00:58:41] Let's pray.
[00:59:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Lord, we thank you for meeting with us today, speaking to our hearts today, and loving us today.
[00:59:10] Lord, I pray for each one that is here.
[00:59:12] I pray your blessing on each one.
[00:59:15] I pray, Lord, that you would draw all of us to a deeper relationship with you.
[00:59:24] Fill us with your Word and your Spirit, Lord.
[00:59:29] Help us to be vessels that you can use.
[00:59:34] So bless us as we go.
[00:59:35] Give us a good week, I pray.
[00:59:38] Thank you, Lord, for all that you have done and are doing in our lives.
[00:59:43] Jesus, we pray in your name.
[00:59:45] Amen.
[00:59:47] God bless you.
and Rebuilding.
[00:00:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
Thank you.
[00:00:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Okay.
[00:00:46] Let's do it.
[00:00:59] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_06]:
Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:01:17] Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:01:25] Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:02:02] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Let the heavens shake to lit the sky Let the people clap their hands and cry It's not for us, it's all for you
[00:02:37] To your name be the glory, not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:02:53] Our hearts of gold before your throne, the only place for those who know God for us.
[00:03:17] Not for us, it's all for you Not to us, but to your name be the glory Not to us, but to your name be the glory The earth is shaking, the mountains shouting
[00:03:49] The waves are crashing, the sun is raging, it's all for you The universe is standing and singing, it's all for you The children dancing, dancing, dancing, it's all for you
[00:04:20] Not to us, but to your name be the glory.
[00:04:54] In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:05:10] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Amen.
[00:05:11] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:05:12] You may be seated.
[00:05:13] I have the privilege this morning to take Pastor Brandon's place and just the announcements, guys.
[00:05:19] I'm not doing the message.
[00:05:20] Don't worry.
[00:05:20] Somebody else is going to do that.
[00:05:22] But I'm going to give you our announcements for this week and talk a little bit about what's going to be going on here at the bridge.
[00:05:27] Celebration Sunday on November 23rd.
[00:05:30] We've got some folks who are going to be baptized and some folks who are going to be dedicated that day.
[00:05:34] So please put it on your calendar and make sure you're here.
[00:05:37] It should be an exciting celebration.
[00:05:39] I know baptismal services are really wonderful and they can inspire all of us to remember what it is to be God's children.
[00:05:48] Next one please.
[00:05:50] Alright, so the food pantry.
[00:05:51] Our next food drive.
[00:05:53] It's going to be on December 6th, weather permitting.
[00:05:57] I was told if it's too cold, Gene's not going.
[00:06:01] So Gene is out if it's too cold.
[00:06:03] But December 6th, the sign-up sheet will be out there for you folks to sign up.
[00:06:07] I was told we got, yesterday at our food drive, we got eight carts of food.
[00:06:14] and $241 in financial donations.
[00:06:19] The need is great and people are stepping up to the plate and so that's great.
[00:06:23] But don't forget folks, the food pantry can always use your help.
[00:06:27] So if there's anything that you can do, you see that buy two get one free sale over at Food Lion or you're down at Walmart and you see a really good deal, the food pantry can pretty much use anything that you can bring.
[00:06:36] So just keep that in mind.
[00:06:38] Let's support our food pantry and our community in this very difficult time of need for some folks.
[00:06:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_09]:
Yes, absolutely.
[00:07:06] You support my AA group that I'm involved in, which they meet down in the building down there.
[00:07:26] He said, you saved my life.
[00:07:27] That's what the ministries that we support and the hard work that Gene and Tim put into it and their helpers, it really means a lot to a lot of people.
[00:07:32] And this gentleman that...
[00:07:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:07:37] Amen.
[00:07:38] That is good to hear.
[00:07:39] We don't always get to hear from the folks too.
[00:07:44] But you know that there are families out there that are surviving because of the hard work that Jean and her husband put in and all of their volunteers and all of you who not only participate in our food drives but who help to contribute.
[00:07:59] A couple more announcements that aren't on the screen.
[00:08:01] Next Sunday, we do have a missionary coming to do the message and to speak to us about their ministry.
[00:08:08] Next Saturday, Jean needs some folks if you can come at about 11 o'clock on Saturday morning to come help set up the tables.
[00:08:15] We are doing a potluck next Sunday, so all you get out your potluck recipe books and see what you can contribute, we would really appreciate that.
[00:08:24] Last announcement, there is a clipboard that's going to be circulated today.
[00:08:29] We're asking everybody to put their name, address, telephone number.
[00:08:32] I guess we're updating our directory to make sure that we have all the information that we need to be able to contact folks and be in touch with them.
[00:08:40] So please, if you see that clipboard come around, take a moment to just fill it out.
[00:08:43] Even if you've done it before, make sure that your information is updated so that we have your current information available.
[00:08:49] I think that's about it except for our prayer cards.
[00:08:52] Remember, these folks come together every Monday.
[00:08:54] I was privileged enough to come here one time and watch them pray and they do it.
[00:08:58] And they pray with thunder and they pray with authority here.
[00:09:01] And if you want something to be prayed for, please take a moment to write it down.
[00:09:05] If you want to report a praise and you want to let people know what God is doing in your life, that's exciting too.
[00:09:11] So remember those are there and we'll take it from there.
[00:09:14] We're going to ask our ushers to come forward and we're going to take our morning offering.
[00:09:18] Let's pray.
[00:09:21] Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day, and we thank you for this opportunity to worship.
[00:09:25] We thank you so much for your presence here today.
[00:09:28] Open up our hearts and minds to your message, to your will, and to whatever you need us to do this week and in the weeks to come.
[00:09:36] In your Son's precious name we pray.
[00:09:38] Amen.
[00:09:48] One, two, three, four.
[00:10:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The sun cannot compare to the glory of your love There is no shadow in your presence No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne Before the Holy One of Heaven It's only by your blood
[00:10:34] It's only through Your mercy, Lord, I come We bring an offering of worship to our King No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing
[00:10:55] Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due.
[00:11:05] O Lord, I bring an offering to you.
[00:11:22] There is no shadow in your presence No mortal man would dare to stand before your throne Before the Holy One of Heaven It's only by your love And it's only through your
[00:11:59] We bring a portion to our King No one on earth deserves the praises that we sing Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due Oh Lord, I bring an offering to you
[00:12:31] The one on earth deserves the praises that I sing Jesus, may you receive the honor that you're due O Lord, I bring an offering
[00:13:00] Amen.
[00:13:03] Give Him a praise offering this morning.
[00:13:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
We've got one more for you before I turn things over to Pastor Jerry.
[00:13:36] Every one of us here today is here today because we need something.
[00:13:42] The most important thing that we need today is the Savior.
[00:13:45] Every one of us.
[00:13:48] One, two, three, four, five, six.
[00:14:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
The love of my Jesus, the life that He gave So many times will I praise You today
[00:14:27] I lift up my life Cause we're always the same In my offering You I bring Your name is Jesus Your name is Jesus
[00:15:09] I know that You brought me through All the days of loss to the cross You knew That I'd need a Savior
[00:15:34] How many songs can I sing to proclaim the wondrous love of a beauty so brave?
[00:16:01] Oh, what would I say if you'd walk down the rain?
[00:16:03] Every day I walk through the pain My heart will still say Your name is Jesus Your name is King
[00:16:33] I know that you brought me through On the days of loss to the cross you knew That I'd need a Savior
[00:17:18] I know that you brought me through all the days of loss to the cross you knew
[00:17:35] I need a Savior.
[00:17:41] I need a Savior.
[00:17:46] I need you, Savior.
[00:17:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Amen.
[00:17:56] You may be seated.
[00:18:05] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
We have been in the presence of the Lord.
[00:18:28] I don't know if you have experienced that.
[00:18:31] You know how you know if you experience that?
[00:18:34] If there is just a reverence, a sense of reverence, a humble sense of reverence in you, it's when you're in the presence of the Lord.
[00:18:46] I mean, when was the last time you came to church and you just felt that reverence for the Lord, that you were in a sacred place?
[00:18:58] Today we're going to take communion together.
[00:19:02] It's another way of coming into the presence of the Lord.
[00:19:08] The bread, His body that was given for you.
[00:19:14] The juice, here we use grape juice.
[00:19:19] It's not fermented, it's not wine, it's grape juice.
[00:19:23] So if you have children with you and you want them to take communion, it's not a problem.
[00:19:28] If alcohol is a problem, it's not a problem today.
[00:19:31] This is grape juice.
[00:19:35] The body and blood of Jesus, shed for you, shed for me, so that we could have life.
[00:19:48] And so, I'm going to ask those who are going to be helping me, if they would come at this time,
[00:19:57] And as soon as you're ready, as soon as we're ready, if you would just come down these center aisles and receive the elements and then go back towards the far aisles to go back to your seats.
[00:20:11] So why don't we stand in the presence of the Lord?
[00:20:26] Thank you.
[00:20:49] What's that?
[00:21:06] It's fine.
[00:21:06] I didn't do it.
[00:21:38] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
and more.
[00:24:34] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Jesus took bread, and he blessed it, and he broke it, and he gave it to us, and he said, Take, and this is my body.
[00:25:09] Jesus took a cup, blessed it, gave it to take a drink.
[00:25:26] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
This is my blood, a new covenant that will save the faith in Jesus, not by what we do.
[00:25:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
That we might know you.
[00:25:57] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
That we might have hope, eternal hope.
[00:26:01] Thank you Lord for your love.
[00:26:03] We have never experienced love like yours, Lord.
[00:26:07] And we are so grateful for the life that you have given to us.
[00:26:11] Bless us as we continue in your presence.
[00:26:17] Open up your word to us, Lord.
[00:26:20] May we hear from you.
[00:26:21] May we be filled with your spirit.
[00:26:26] May we be changed in some good way today.
[00:26:30] For we ask these things in Jesus' name.
[00:26:33] Amen.
[00:26:34] God bless you.
[00:26:35] You may be seated.
[00:27:00] Yeah, we're going to have the kids come forward, and we're going to do a word first.
[00:27:04] Yep.
[00:27:53] that was fun excuse me as you can see this morning we're going to be looking at Ezekiel chapter 37 verses 1 to 14 if you have a Bible to look in your own Bible we have it up on the screen for those who are watching at home it's Ezekiel chapter 37 starting with verse 1
[00:28:29] The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord, and set me in the middle of a valley.
[00:28:39] It was full of bones.
[00:28:46] 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.
[00:28:58] He asked me, son of man, can these bones live?
[00:29:03] I said, oh sovereign Lord, you know.
[00:29:05] You alone know.
[00:29:08] Then he said to me, prophesy to these bones and say to them, dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:29:16] This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones.
[00:29:22] I will make breath into you
[00:29:29] 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
[00:29:59] A rattling sound.
[00:30:02] And the bones came together, bone to bone.
[00:30:09] I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.
[00:30:20] Then he said to me, Prophesy to the breath.
[00:30:24] Prophesy, son of man, and say to it, This is what the Sovereign Lord says.
[00:30:31] Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.
[00:30:42] So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them, and they came to life, and they stood on their feet, a vast army.
[00:30:53] Then he said to me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel.
[00:31:00] They say our bones are dried up and our hope is gone.
[00:31:06] We are cut off.
[00:31:08] Therefore prophesy and say to them, this is what the Sovereign Lord says, O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them.
[00:31:23] I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
[00:31:27] Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord when I open your graves and bring you up from them.
[00:31:37] I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land.
[00:31:47] Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.
[00:31:56] May the Lord bless the reading of his word.
[00:32:06] It's the nation of Israel, the holy city of Jerusalem, the sacred and magnificent temple, all in ruins.
[00:32:25] Many people captured, many people in exile.
[00:32:31] Bodies in graves.
[00:32:33] It was a tragic scene, really.
[00:32:37] But the prophet Ezekiel had a vision.
[00:32:41] God put his hand on Ezekiel and gave him a vision.
[00:32:48] And in that vision, he was led to a valley.
[00:32:55] And there was nothing in that valley but old, dried up skeletons.
[00:33:08] They must have been there for a while.
[00:33:11] They were dry.
[00:33:13] Bones covered the valley.
[00:33:16] Dead bones were everywhere.
[00:33:20] Not piled up in a heap, but scattered throughout
[00:33:26] That valley looked like it was probably the site of a battle.
[00:33:37] It was a battlefield.
[00:33:42] It's a scene of total sadness and misery and despair.
[00:33:53] And Ezekiel stands here in the middle of this valley of dry bones.
[00:33:59] Have you ever been in a valley of dry bones?
[00:34:06] You may think not.
[00:34:09] But I think you have been.
[00:34:13] Maybe he was in the middle of a troubled marriage.
[00:34:18] He didn't know what happened.
[00:34:21] One time things were so good.
[00:34:24] And it seemed like all of a sudden things were not good anymore.
[00:34:28] You're not even sure how you got there.
[00:34:34] Dry bones.
[00:34:36] Maybe it was in the middle of broken and shattered dreams.
[00:34:42] You had such plans and aspirations, but they were never realized.
[00:34:50] One time your life seemed so promising.
[00:34:54] But then one by one, it seems like your dreams just didn't happen.
[00:35:02] Dry bones.
[00:35:04] Maybe it's your work, maybe it's your job, maybe it's your health.
[00:35:11] Or someone else's health that's close to you and it's been tough.
[00:35:16] It's been tough for you and your family.
[00:35:20] Or perhaps you're discovering
[00:35:24] Like I am, that aging is not for cowards.
[00:35:32] My mother told me that a long time ago.
[00:35:35] And now I know that she was right.
[00:35:38] As you find yourself more and more with doctors or waiting for a doctor.
[00:35:52] You know, I...
[00:35:53] I heard that there are three things that comes with aging.
[00:36:09] The first is loss of memory.
[00:36:14] And I don't remember the second and the third.
[00:36:24] Maybe you're caring for an aging parent and it gets stressful.
[00:36:30] You love them, but it gets stressful.
[00:36:34] And you're emotionally and physically exhausted.
[00:36:40] It feels like dry bones.
[00:36:43] Maybe it's your relationship with your kids.
[00:36:47] They become prodigals, reckless.
[00:36:52] And it's caused you many tears and much heartache.
[00:36:56] Because you know you brought them up in the church and you brought them up to know Jesus, but they seem so far away from Him now.
[00:37:07] I saw a poll this week.
[00:37:10] Poll, whatever.
[00:37:12] This is what it said.
[00:37:13] It said that those children that are raised in Christian homes
[00:37:19] 75 to 80% of them leave the church and leave their faith by the time of their teens or college age years.
[00:37:33] I don't know how accurate that is.
[00:37:35] I saw that 10 years ago, that number was 43%.
[00:37:41] And we thought that was high then.
[00:37:52] Or if it's not your children, maybe it's somebody else you know that once was close to God and now they're not.
[00:38:03] All you see is dry bones.
[00:38:08] Maybe you've never put your faith in Jesus.
[00:38:13] And life has gone from bad to worse.
[00:38:18] And you're struggling with all these addictions.
[00:38:21] There's normal addictions that we think of, drugs and stuff like that.
[00:38:28] But we all have addictions.
[00:38:30] Whatever you put before God to help you in your life, that's your addiction.
[00:38:40] And God wants us to come out of darkness and into his marvelous light.
[00:38:48] And I know what that's like.
[00:38:49] I've been there.
[00:38:52] And I know what it feels like.
[00:38:54] It feels like dry bones.
[00:38:58] Maybe it's your spiritual life.
[00:39:02] Yes, you pray and you read your Bible and you come to church.
[00:39:07] But it seems like just routine.
[00:39:11] Almost boring.
[00:39:16] Maybe it's become easier not to pray.
[00:39:19] Not to read the word.
[00:39:24] Maybe you're here this morning or watching on the live stream and you're wondering, why?
[00:39:32] Why do I bother?
[00:39:38] I don't even know what I believe.
[00:39:41] Dry bones.
[00:39:44] Today the church, especially in the United States, is divided.
[00:39:50] Angry Christians fighting among themselves.
[00:39:56] We have too many that are just good enough Christians and think it's okay.
[00:40:04] But they're not true disciples, devoted followers of Jesus.
[00:40:11] Dry bones.
[00:40:14] In our country and in other parts of the world, less and less think
[00:40:19] that they even need God or the church Ezekiel looked around at all those dry bones and he understood that they represented his people and God's people the church scattered without hope and he knew that only a miracle
[00:40:49] could restore them.
[00:40:51] Only a miracle can make them live again.
[00:40:55] And he heard a voice, the voice of the Lord, asking him, Son of man, can these bones live?
[00:41:04] Son of man, human being, let me ask you, can these bones live?
[00:41:12] Wow, what a question.
[00:41:14] What a question.
[00:41:16] In other words, is there any hope?
[00:41:21] Is there any hope that that person, that marriage, that child, that nation, that church, that relationship, you, your future, is there any hope that it can live again?
[00:41:40] What do you think, Ezekiel?
[00:41:43] What do you think?
[00:41:46] And I love Ezekiel's reply.
[00:41:48] He says, O sovereign Lord,
[00:41:51] You alone know.
[00:41:54] You alone know.
[00:41:56] He didn't want to say no because he knows the power of God.
[00:42:00] And he knows that no one and nothing can do it but God.
[00:42:05] But Lord, if you don't give them life, they will not find life.
[00:42:16] These dry bones, they represent dead hearts.
[00:42:23] Dry.
[00:42:25] Lives.
[00:42:26] Desolate.
[00:42:28] Lonely.
[00:42:29] Empty.
[00:42:32] Ezekiel says, I don't know if they can be revived.
[00:42:36] I hope they can.
[00:42:37] I want them to be.
[00:42:38] But only you know the answer to that question, Lord.
[00:42:45] And then look what happens next.
[00:42:46] The Lord says prophesy.
[00:42:48] What does that mean?
[00:42:50] It means hear from the Lord.
[00:42:52] And then in the Lord's power, tell others.
[00:42:56] Prophesy to these bones.
[00:43:01] Hear and be inspired by my spirit.
[00:43:05] And give them this message.
[00:43:08] Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:43:18] First you need to hear the word of the Lord.
[00:43:22] How?
[00:43:25] Through the Word, through prayer.
[00:43:27] We hear the Word of the Lord.
[00:43:33] And the Lord said, speak.
[00:43:35] You speak.
[00:43:37] You give them a message.
[00:43:42] Yes, it's the Lord who works.
[00:43:43] It's the Lord who can revive and restore.
[00:43:46] He wants to work through us and speak through us.
[00:43:51] What does that assume?
[00:43:53] That assumes that we are hearing from the Lord, that we are close to the Lord, that we're with Him in prayer, we're hearing from Him through the Word in prayer.
[00:44:05] We forget that the people that Jesus chose were neither spiritually or emotionally mature, yet God used them.
[00:44:17] Like us, they had a lot to learn.
[00:44:22] But most of them had one great quality.
[00:44:26] They were willing.
[00:44:28] And that's what God asks, and that's all that God asks of us.
[00:44:33] So prophesy the word of the Lord.
[00:44:42] Think of the parable of the prodigal son.
[00:44:49] The world is filled with those who are wandering away from the love of God.
[00:44:58] Wandering from deep relationship with God.
[00:45:04] Maybe a relationship that they once have and no longer have.
[00:45:08] And in the church, the church is filled with people who are like the older son in that parable.
[00:45:15] Angry, bitter, grumpy.
[00:45:18] Complaining.
[00:45:21] Every time God doesn't meet their expectations.
[00:45:26] And you know what?
[00:45:28] We can relate to both of those sons.
[00:45:32] People desperately looking for what the Father in that parable and only the Father can give.
[00:45:40] Grace and mercy, faith and hope, love and value and peace and life.
[00:45:49] This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones.
[00:45:53] This is the word of the Lord.
[00:45:57] I'm going to make breath enter into you and you will come to life.
[00:46:04] I want to connect tendons.
[00:46:06] You know what tendons do?
[00:46:07] Tendons keep the bone attached, the muscle attached to the bones throughout the whole body.
[00:46:15] So it allows for movement.
[00:46:18] In other words, what is God doing?
[00:46:19] He's restoring from the inside out.
[00:46:24] That's how God does it.
[00:46:27] I'll put breath in you and I will transform you from the inside out.
[00:46:33] And you will come to life.
[00:46:34] And then you will know that I am the Lord.
[00:46:40] So Ezekiel speaks to these dry bones as he was commanded to do.
[00:46:44] He speaks this message of God.
[00:46:47] And there's a noise, a rattling sound.
[00:46:54] Can you hear it?
[00:46:57] A commotion among the bones, dry bones coming together.
[00:47:04] It'll be a miracle.
[00:47:07] And it could happen if they hear the word of the Lord.
[00:47:10] But there is still no breath in them.
[00:47:16] We have here kind of a play in words because the word that's translated breath can also be translated spirit.
[00:47:25] And the voice of the Lord said, speak a prophetic message and say, this is what the Lord says, Come, O breath.
[00:47:39] Come, Holy Spirit.
[00:47:41] Come.
[00:47:42] And fill these
[00:47:46] Dry-boned bodies.
[00:47:48] Breathe in them.
[00:47:50] Let them live again.
[00:47:51] O Holy Spirit, come and revive and restore and give life.
[00:47:59] See, it's not just hearing the Word, it's receiving the Spirit.
[00:48:04] And life comes from the Word and the Spirit.
[00:48:08] Have you received the Spirit of God?
[00:48:13] So Ezekiel
[00:48:15] spoke the message as God commanded him and breath, spirit came into the dry bones and they came to life and they stood up on their feet, a vast army, a great army.
[00:48:32] Can you imagine it?
[00:48:36] An army, a great army living in the Holy Spirit of Christ.
[00:48:45] Not getting involved in worldly things, they're obeying their commander, commanding officer, who is Jesus.
[00:48:54] Can you see it in your imagination?
[00:48:56] Not only did Ezekiel see it, do you see it?
[00:49:03] People coming to life again in God through the Spirit, whether it's someone you know or your own life.
[00:49:14] Can you imagine it?
[00:49:16] Can you believe God for it?
[00:49:19] A great army of spirit-filled believers in Jesus.
[00:49:25] This picture from Ezekiel ought to be exciting.
[00:49:32] The Lord says, these bones represent my people whom I love.
[00:49:44] They were saying, we have become dry bones.
[00:49:49] All hope is gone.
[00:49:51] Our nation is finished.
[00:49:53] Our church is dying.
[00:49:55] My life is falling apart.
[00:49:57] But prophesy to them and say, this is what the Sovereign Lord says.
[00:50:02] O my people, I will open those graves and cause you to rise again.
[00:50:08] Come out of the graves.
[00:50:10] Come out of exile.
[00:50:11] Stand up and receive life.
[00:50:15] The life of my spirit.
[00:50:17] Come.
[00:50:19] Come home.
[00:50:20] To my kingdom.
[00:50:22] The kingdom of God.
[00:50:24] Hear the word of the Lord.
[00:50:26] Be led by the Spirit.
[00:50:27] And when this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord.
[00:50:32] Yes, the Lord has spoken.
[00:50:35] Does that make you want to
[00:50:38] Stand up and shout and dance.
[00:50:40] That which was dead will be brought back to glorious life.
[00:50:47] That which was without hope or promise will be restored to vitality and purpose.
[00:50:54] The Lord has spoken.
[00:50:57] You think life is hopeless?
[00:51:00] You think your marriage is hopeless?
[00:51:03] You think your future is hopeless?
[00:51:05] You think the nation is hopeless?
[00:51:08] You think the Church, capital C, all of the Church, not a particular one, but you think the Church, especially in America, is hopeless?
[00:51:20] No.
[00:51:21] No.
[00:51:23] God is the God of new life.
[00:51:28] You look at dry bones, even of your own life, and despair that anything good
[00:51:35] Can it ever happen again?
[00:51:36] Well, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:51:39] Them bones, them bones, them dry bones, they're going to rise again.
[00:51:47] Our God is a God of new life.
[00:51:52] God is still doing miracles in lives today and he wants to do a miracle in yours.
[00:52:01] There'd be reason to despair if we were only talking about something that happened in ancient history.
[00:52:08] It's something that can happen now.
[00:52:11] Why?
[00:52:11] Because Christ is alive now, right now.
[00:52:16] And he's still touching people's lives today.
[00:52:19] God can and will change and revive lives of people who trust in him.
[00:52:31] and will give themselves in total devotion to Him.
[00:52:37] Ezekiel heard a voice of the Lord.
[00:52:40] Can these bones live again?
[00:52:41] O sovereign Lord, Ezekiel said.
[00:52:44] You alone know the answer to that.
[00:52:50] Maybe you're asking the same question this morning.
[00:52:54] About your life or someone else's life.
[00:52:58] Well, hear the word of the Lord.
[00:53:00] Verse 5.
[00:53:02] This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones.
[00:53:06] I will make breath, spirit into you, and you will come to life.
[00:53:13] Them bones are going to rise again.
[00:53:16] A vast army coming home.
[00:53:20] We cry out to dry bones, come alive.
[00:53:25] Come alive.
[00:53:27] I'm going to ask the worship group to come back up.
[00:53:30] They're going to sing a final song.
[00:53:32] And then I will close in prayer after that song.
[00:54:13] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Everybody awake now?
[00:54:16] You're awake now.
[00:54:17] This one is one that you can feel free to stand to and sing along with if you know it, but please feel free also to sit and just reflect on the lyrics that you're going to hear.
[00:54:30] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
One, two, three, four.
[00:54:47] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
And it seems to me so much we have lost As we've downed the road where all the prodigals have walked One by one the enemy has whispered lies and led them on astray
[00:55:18] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
As we call out to tribals, come along
[00:55:50] We call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive.
[00:56:01] Out of the ashes, let us see an army rise.
[00:56:06] We call out to dry bones, come alive.
[00:56:18] His mercy God of honor and in love Rescue every daughter bring us back the wayward sons And guide us here in freedom wonder To the world that You alone can save You alone can save
[00:56:46] As we call out to dry bones, come alive, come alive We call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive Up out of the ashes, let us see an army rise We call out to dry bones, come alive
[00:57:19] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
Breathe, O Breath of God, now breathe!
[00:57:33] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
Breathe, O Breath of God, breathe!
[00:57:48] Breathe the breath of God, breathe the breath of God, breathe the breath of God, now breathe We call out to dry bones, come alive, come alive
[00:58:09] We call out to dead hearts, come alive, come alive Up out of the ashes, let us see an army rise We call out to dry bones, come alive We call out to dry bones
[00:58:41] Let's pray.
[00:59:00] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Lord, we thank you for meeting with us today, speaking to our hearts today, and loving us today.
[00:59:10] Lord, I pray for each one that is here.
[00:59:12] I pray your blessing on each one.
[00:59:15] I pray, Lord, that you would draw all of us to a deeper relationship with you.
[00:59:24] Fill us with your Word and your Spirit, Lord.
[00:59:29] Help us to be vessels that you can use.
[00:59:34] So bless us as we go.
[00:59:35] Give us a good week, I pray.
[00:59:38] Thank you, Lord, for all that you have done and are doing in our lives.
[00:59:43] Jesus, we pray in your name.
[00:59:45] Amen.
[00:59:47] God bless you.
