‘But there was no breathe in them…’ Ezekiel 37:1-10

Introduction

Defining the Pentecost: Pentecost means ‘Fifty’. 50^th day from Easter Sunday. This is the period for collecting harvest.

ii. The book of Acts reports that Pentecost empowered the disciples to harvest in the spiritual realm (massive church growth, and great miracles.).

iii. 2000 years have gone by since the first outpouring of the Holy Spirit. But can we see the same power today?

iv. The church is dead, because the tradition is seated in God’s throne.

v. Tradition is the living faith of those now dead. Traditionalism is the dead faith of those still living.

The Prophet Ezekiel explains how tradition kills the church? (In this context the valley is the world and dry bones represent the dead church)

1. Tradition is powerless against darkness, Ezekiel 37:1-2

A. The prophet finds himself standing in a valley full of ‘dry bones’.

B. These bones were the remains of God’s army who fell at the battle.

C. In the spiritual realm dry means lifeless, hopeless, no power.

Church is God’s light in a dark world. But the church is so traditional she has lost her influence against darkness. We worship as a tradition, we preach and listen to God as a tradition.

2. Only the word of God and the Holy Spirit can bring revival, Ezekiel 37:3-8

A. God commands the church to listen to his word first (v. 4)

i. When it says Listen (or hear) it’s a command.

ii. A conditional promise is given. If we do what he says, he will breathe life, even into dry bones! And we will know that the Lord is God (the church will be re-empowered).

B. Someone said,

i. Word + word = (produces) dryness, Power + power = blows up, Word + power = Revival

C. When Ezekiel prophesied to the bones they were joined together. Flesh and skin covered them, but there was no life (v.8).

i. Systems and procedures alone can not bring revival

ii. Word preached without power cannot serve it’s purpose

3. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit again, Ezekiel 37:10

A. The dry bones became a vast army

B. This is the purpose intended for the church.

C. What does the Holy Spirit do in the believer?

i. Passion for God, his word and his service,

ii. Anoints and empowers for witnessing, Gives a bold spirit, (Acts 4:5-23)

iii. Imparts his gifts, (Ephesians 4:11-14)

D. Changed life

i. Changed attitude (humble, submissive)

ii. Love for God and one another (Galatians 5:22)

4. What must I do? (Conclusion & application)

A. Cry out to God in prayer

i. Repent and ask God to forgive you, (Revelation 3:1-3)

ii. Determine to break free from your traditional Christian life, (Revelation 3:14-22)

iii. Forget about the past hurts

iv. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit (John 16:12-13)

v. Ask Jesus to fill you with the Holy Spirit, (Luke 11:11-13)

vi. Revival precedes evangelism. but revival always produces evangelism. (Dr. Maurice Lednicky)