CAN THESE BONES LIVE? Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Key Word: Pentecost Key Thought: We Need to Understand the Implications of Pentecost Sunday INTRODUCTION Today is a day of celebration in Christian Churches. It is known Pentecost Sunday or Whitsunday or even Trinity Sunday. Pentecost was originally an Old Testament festival. Since the time of Josephus it has been calculated as beginning on the fiftieth day after the beginning of Passover. On the Christian calendar, it falls on the seventh Sunday after Easter. Our Jewish friends still call it the Feast of Weeks (Shavuot). In the Old Testament it was originally an agricultural festival celebrating and giving thanks for the "first fruits" of the early spring harvest (Leviticus 23, Exodus 23, 34). By the early New Testament period, it had gradually lost its association with agriculture. By the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70, the festival focused exclusively on God s gracious gift of the Torah (the "Law") on Mount Sinai. It continues to be celebrated in this manner in modern Judaism. But that is not how we celebrate. While there are other references to Pentecost in the New Testament (e.g., 1 Corinthians 16:8), it is most significant in Acts 2 with the familiar scene of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on those in the "upper room." The New Testament writers associate the events of Acts 2 with Pentecost, and relate it to the prophecies of Joel 2 as well as the promises of Jesus (Acts 1:8). In both, the emphasis is on an empowerment through the Holy Spirit to enable the people of God to witness of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. As a Pentecostal, we celebrate God s enabling presence that is actively at work among His people, calling and enabling us to live out in dynamic ways the witness of being His people. This perhaps links us with Judaism, for in Judaism the Torah, God s instruction to His people, is the means by which they become His witness to the world. The word pentecost means the fiftieth day. The First Day of the Omer begins the 49- day countdown (7 weeks of 7 days) to the celebration of Shavuot, known in the Old Testament as the Feast of Weeks. The period between the two festivals is known as the Days of the Omer, and serves to tie the two festivals together into a season of sacred time. Page 1 of 8
Since Easter is a movable feast, meaning that it occurs on different days in different years (it is tied to the lunar cycle while the calendar is solar based). Pentecost is therefore, also moveable. It can occur as early as May 10 and as late as June 13. For Christians, Pentecost Sunday is a day to celebrate hope knowing that the Holy Spirit is at work among us. It is a celebration of renewal of purpose, mission, and calling as God s people to share their faith. It is a celebration of God s ongoing work in the world. Yet, it is also a recognition that His work is done through His people as He pours out His presence upon them. The Old Testament reading for Pentecost Sunday normally comes from Ezekiel s Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14) which dramatically illustrates this sense of newness and renewal of mission. The reading from Isaiah 44:1-5 also connects renewal with the "breathing" of God in beautiful imagery of "streams in the desert" and the recreation of His exiled people. This focus on the church s mission to the world, and the enabling presence of God through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Church to empower that mission should provide a powerful impetus for churches, especially those like ourselves in the Pentecostal tradition, to recover this season of the church year. There is a tremendous opportunity to use this sacred time to call people to renewal though the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives as seen in these 3 stages. What Were the Three Stages of Israel s/church s Revival? I. THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (Ezekiel 37:1-14) II. THE UNIFICATION OF GOD S PEOPLE (Ezekiel 37:15-28) III. THE VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES (Ezekiel 38-39) I. THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (Ezekiel 37:1-14) This prophecy of the Valley of Dry Bones is believed to have taken place after the year 586 BC (see Ezekiel 1:3). This was the date that the final siege of Israel took place by the Babylonians. It would begin 70 years of captivity for God s people. They needed a word of encouragement at this time. Ezekiel was shown a valley with bones scattered upon the surface of the ground; not in heaps and not buried. A special word came from the sovereign LORD which said, Son of man, can these bones live? Ezekiel 1:3 Page 2 of 8
I. THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (Ezekiel 37:1-14) (Contd.) Ezekiel was given a panoramic view of these sun-bleached bones. There was no way, outside of an act of God that anything could take place. These bones were dry and lifeless. It seemed like an impossible task until God once again spoke to the prophet. Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones hear the word of the Lord! 5. This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 6. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin: I will put breath in you and, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD. Ezekiel 37:4-6 When God speaks, life appears out of nowhere. The same is true today. You may be feeling like a sun bleached bone in a desert. Your life may depict one that has been neglected (like these bones that were never buried). It is during the times when no one else can be called upon that God breathes life into your resurrected body. We are living between the times -- the time of Christ's resurrection and the new age of the Spirit, and the time of fulfillment in Christ. Life in the Spirit is a pledge, a "downpayment," on the final kingdom of shalom. In the meantime, we are to be signs of the kingdom which is, and which is coming. Author: David Kirk Jehovah Jireh is still our Provider. Jehovah Rohi is still our Shepherd. Jehovah Shalom is still our Peace. Jehovah Tsidkenu is still our Righteousness. Jehovah Rophi is still our Healer. Jehovah Nissi is still our Banner. He is Immanuel - God with Us. He is El Olam - the Everlasting God; El Shaddai - Almighty God; El Elyon - Most High. Our God is Yeshua (Jesus) - the LORD Saves. The implications of the Resurrection is that God can bring life from that which is dead. I will put my Spirit in you and you will live. All of us must begin with a life that is breathed upon by the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel 37:14 Page 3 of 8
II. THE UNIFICATION OF GOD S PEOPLE (Ezekiel 37:15-28) This vision did not stop with just the resurrection of these dry bones. It went on to speak of the unification of God s people who are brought back to life. Son of man, take a stick of wood and write on it, Belonging to Judah and the Israelites associated with him. Then take another stick of wood, and write on it, Ephraim s stick, belonging to Joseph and all the house of Israel associated with him. 17. Join them together into one stick so that they will become one in your hand. Ezekiel 37:16,17 God is not ONLY wanting to bring the power of a resurrected life to His people, He also wants us to walk in unity with each other. Judah represented also the tribe of Benjamin which was known as the 2 southern tribes of Judah. Ephraim represented the 10 northern tribes which were called Israel when the kingdom was divided under king Rehoboam. It remained divided up until its final captivity by the Assyrians (northern kingdom of Israel) and then by the Babylonians (Southern kingdom of Judah). Ezekiel is instructed to use two pieces of wood as an object lesson of the unity that was once enjoyed. Not only that, God was promising to return them to their promised land (Ezekiel 37:21). And if that wasn t enough He prophesied, They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people and I will be their God. Ezekiel 37:23 God help us not only to be alive in the Spirit of God but also to be unified once we are set free from the things that defile our spirit and mind. That wonderful cleansing from sin brings us back into fellowship with God and each other. Sin keeps us apart while the Spirit of God brings us back together. United we stand divided we fall. We can never be truly at unity with God and disunity with our brothers and sisters. What ever disunites man from God, also disunites man from man. Author: Edmund Burke Page 4 of 8
III. THE VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES (Ezekiel 38-39) A. Over Israel s Enemies This last area has a dynamic change of focus when you are considering the difference between Israel and the Church. Both have been and will be involved in a time of warfare. The history of Israel s warfare is well documented in the Bible as well as our history books. The end days will bring about a warfare like none other in Israel s past. Nations will gather from the 4 corners of the earth like a cloud to cover the land but will be totally defeated. It will take seven months to bury their dead enemies (Ezekiel 39:12) and seven years burn up all the recovered weapons of war (Ezekiel 39: 9,10). It will become a time of great feasting for carnivorous animals and birds (Ezekiel 39:17-20). Throughout this time God will reveal His glory to His people as well as to the nations of the world.... and the nations of the world will know that I LORD am the Holy One of Israel... 21. I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay upon them. 22. From that day forward the house of Israel will know that I am the LORD their God. Ezekiel 39:7,21,22 It is through this act of war and victory over their enemies that God will be declared great and Holy among Israel. Yet another very important act will take place. This links this event to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD. Ezekiel 39:29 Page 5 of 8
III. THE VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES (Ezekiel 38-39) (Contd.) B. Over the Church s Enemies (Acts 2) I much prefer the victory that is granted to the Church over the one given to Israel. Israel will be involved in a physical warfare while the Church will be involved in spiritual warfare. In order for the Church to be prepared, God selected the Day of Pentecost to pour out His Spirit upon those who were waiting in obedience to His Word. The enemies of the Church were not so much defeated as they were amazed and perplexed (Acts 2:12). They were cut to their heart and repented and were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ as well as in the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:37-38). The victory did not stop on that day but has continued throughout the ages (Acts 2:39). It was a victory that totally changed the dynamics of the early Church. Read Acts 2:42-47 God's Sword How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword, His instrument. I trust, a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God. Robert Murray McCheyne to a young ministerial student The Church has long ago discovered that the best way to overcome its enemies is to win them to Christ. We have been sent forth into this world, enabled to carry to truth of the Word of God in the power of the Holy Spirit. We have been endowed with Spiritual Gifts to fulfill the work at hand. Today, being the celebration of the Day of Pentecost, is a time of harvest. We have been empowered in order to carry the message of the gospel to a needy world around us. God will uplift you so you can uplift others. He will encourage you so you can encourage others. Let us leave this place today empowered by God s Holy Spirit to do His work in a hurting world. Page 6 of 8
C:\My Documents\WPWin(11.0)\Sermons.2007\Special Days\Ezekiel 37_1.14.wpd Date: May 27/07 Place: FCA Time: 10:30 Am Songs: Holy Spirit Rain Down - F; Come Oh Come (And Fill This Temple) - F Page 7 of 8
CAN THESE BONES LIVE? Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14 Key Word: Pentecost Key Thought: We Need to Understand the Implications of Pentecost Sunday INTRODUCTION 44:1-5 Leviticus 23, Exodus 23, 34; I Corinthians 16:8; Acts 2; Acts 1:8; Ezekiel 37:1-14; Isaiah What Were the Three Stages of Israel s/church s Revival? I. THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD (Ezekiel 37:1-14) - Ezekiel 1:3; Ezekiel 37:4-6; Ezekiel 37:14 II. THE UNIFICATION OF GOD S PEOPLE (Ezekiel 37:15-28) - Ezekiel 37:16,17; Ezekiel 37:21; Ezekiel 37:23 III. THE VICTORY OVER THEIR ENEMIES (Ezekiel 38-39) A. Over Israel s Enemies - Ezekiel 39:12; Ezekiel 39: 9,10; Ezekiel 39:17-20; Ezekiel 39:7,21,22; Ezekiel 39:29 B. Over the Church s Enemies (Acts 2) - Acts 2:12; Acts 2:37-38; Acts 2:39; Acts 2:42-47