18/11/2025
“CAN THESE BONES LIVE AGAIN?”
(Ezekiel 37:1‑14, ESV)
Text: Ezekiel 37:1‑14 (ESV)
Theme: God has the power to bring life to what is dead.
Key Verse: “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” — Ezekiel 37:5 (ESV)
INTRODUCTION
Ezekiel, a priest living in Babylonian exile, receives a vivid vision of a valley full of dry bones. The scene mirrors Israel’s desperate condition—nation, temple, and hope all stripped away. God’s probing question, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (v. 3) invites Ezekiel (and us) to confront hopelessness and recognize divine possibility.
ALLITERATED OUTLINE
✳️1. Place of Death
- The Valley of Dry Bones (vv 1‑2)
- Imagery: Bones scattered, “very dry” → symbolizes long‑term spiritual death.
- Illustration: A church once held a “revival” only to discover the problem was spiritual dryness, not attendance. After earnest prayer, the Spirit’s wind swept in and hearts were ignited.
- Lesson: God often leads us to the valley not to abandon us but to display His resurrecting power.
✳️2. Possibility of Life
- The Question from God (v 3)
- Dialogue: God asks, “Son of man, can these bones live?” Ezekiel answers, “O Lord GOD, you know.”
- Insight: The question forces us to look beyond visible circumstances to the One who can change them.
- Application: When a marriage, career, or dream feels dead, the same question echoes—_“Can these live?”_—and the answer is “Lord, You know—and You can.”
✳️3. Preaching of the Word
- The Prophet’s Obedience (vv 4‑8)
- Command: _“Prophesy over these bones… O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.”_
- Process: Bones come together, flesh and sinews appear—but no life until the Spirit arrives.
- Illustration: Martin Luther famously said, “The Word did it all.” During the Reformation, the simple preaching of Scripture revived a spiritually dead Europe.
- Lesson: The Word prepares the canvas; the Spirit brings life. Proclaim God’s promises even to “dead” audiences.
✳️4. Power of the Spirit
- The Breath of Life (vv 9‑10)
- Command: _“Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain that they may live.”
- Term: _Ruach_ (Hebrew) = wind, breath, Spirit. The same word used in Genesis 2:7 (God breathes life into Adam) and John 20:22 (Jesus breathes on disciples).
Illustration: A missionary in a remote village prayed for rain. A sudden windstorm brought rain, crops, and a spiritual harvest—people sensed God’s breath reviving both land and souls.
- Lesson: No true revival occurs without the dynamic, life‑giving Spirit.
✳️5. Promise of Restoration
- The Hope of Israel (vv 11‑14)
- God’s Assurance: _“I will open your graves… I will bring you into your own land… I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live.”_
Application: This is not just national restoration; it points to personal renewal—broken marriages, wayward children, shattered ministries—all eligible for God’s resurrecting power.
PRACTICAL LESSONS
1. Identify Your Valley: Acknowledge areas of spiritual dryness—fear, doubt, addiction, complacency.
2. Respond with Faith: Answer God’s question with humility—_“Lord, You know.”_ Trust His ability, not your ability.
3. Prophesy Life: Speak Scripture over the situation. Example: “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Ps 139:14); “Greater is He who is in me…” (1 John 4:4).
4. Seek the Spirit’s Breath: Engage in prayer, worship, and community where the Holy Spirit is welcomed.
5. Expect Restoration: God’s ultimate goal is to bring you back to “your own land”—fullness of relationship with Him.
CONCLUSION
Ezekiel’s vision reminds us that; God’s power transcends human impossibility. The same God who assembled dry bones into a living army can revive any dead circumstance in our lives. The valley is not a final destination but a staging ground for divine miracle.
CLOSING ILLUSTRATION:
A sculptor once chipped away at a block of marble, revealing a beautiful statue. When asked how he did it, he replied, “I simply cut away everything that wasn’t David.”_ God, the Master Sculptor, removes our dryness, adds flesh, and breathes life—transforming us into His masterpiece.
FINAL CHALLENGE:
What “dry bones” are you facing today? Commit now to hear God’s Word, obey by prophesying, and wait for the Spirit’s breath. Trust that with God, even the dead can rise.
🙏 Amen.
