Nov. 18

Ezekiel 37 

The Old Testament Prophets spoke the authoritative word directly from what they heard God say. So when Ezekiel says things like "thus says the Lord" or God says "Prophesy and say", Ezekiel is speaking what he hears God telling him to say. What an incredible gift, but that can be for another blog.  In today's reading, Ezekiel is witnessing God bring the valley of dry bones back together. Here's what stood out to me in this part of the passage though, until God's breath entered the dry bones, they were still nothing but dry bones. God's Ruach brings life. (Genesis 2:7) God says that the dry bones are the house of Israel, spiritually cut off, with no hope. God told Ezekiel to call His breath into "the slain" so that they may live. (v9) God promised he would put His spirit into them and as the breath entered them, they stood up on their feet. Who is "them" in this passage? The dry bones referred to? The lost? The slain? The people of Israel crying out God? Could it also be you and me, or those who have walked away, lost faith and hope? My biggest take away from this passage is that the Spirit of the living God is the only hope for life. We live, move and have our being in Christ. (Acts 17:28) The essence of who we are isn't found in the building we attend on Sunday, it is found in the Ruach Ha Kodesh and when we find ourselves cut off, God is but a cry away.  I can't lie, there are days my bones are dry and I find myself face down on the floor crying out to God for a fresh filling of His spirit. I cry out for those who, like the house of Israel, are spiritually cut off and feel like there is no hope and those whose works are done out of their own strength and are disconnected from God. God told Ezekiel to call dry bones back to life and by the power of His Spirit, the breath of God brought new life. Now more than ever is the time for the body of Christ to rise and speak life. By the power of the Ruach within us, cry out for dry bones to come to life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XAeyFagceQ

Blessings,

Randi