Thoughts That Keep You Out Part 2
Notes
Transcript
Thoughts That Keep You Out, Part 2
Thoughts That Keep You Out, Part 2
23 Then He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in, to give us the land of which He swore to our fathers.
In the part one of this series, we saw that the mindset of the Israelites served to keep them out of the promised land.
Because they made gods out of giants, they were too afraid to enter in. Their problems became greater than their God.
Because they didn’t agree with God, they were unable to enter in. God said they could, but they said they couldn’t.
Because they didn’t stand on the promises of God, they were unable to enter in. They were looking in the past and not moving towards God’s prophetic future.
God wants to bring us into His purpose and His promises. He brings us out of our sin and our shame and our failure. He redeems us and calls us into holiness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit (cf. Romans 14:17).
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
The hope we have in Christ, through His resurrection, is an anchor to our soul and it brings us into God’s presence (Hebrews 6:17-20). Faith is the title deed of things hoped for, the proof of things which are not being seen (Hebrews 11:1 Weust).
Illustration: Chesty Puller, Frozen Chosin, 1950.
“They are in front of us, behind us, and we are flanked on both sides by an enemy that outnumbers us 29:1. They can’t get away from us now!”
“...they’ve got us just where we want them. We can shoot in every direction now.”
Faith possesses what we hope for.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.
The events and circumstances of the last year or so have caused many to lose hope. Unrelenting disappointment (MSG) has seemly beat upon us from every direction - social, spiritual, physical, psychological - and many have become overwhelmed. Life still has yet to return to “normal” and we are being challenged to embrace a “new normal.” According to a Forbes article published in September of last year over 100,000 establishments that temporarily shut down due to the pandemic are now out of business. Churches are not immune to this and some have lost hope—one expert is saying that confidence of pastors in church reopening has dropped from 70 to 50%. People have lost jobs, friends, connection. People have given up.
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.
In the face of exile and disappointment and discouragement, God spoke this word. And into our lives and circumstances, God speaks life and hope and promise and purpose.
Dry Bones Live
Dry Bones Live
1 The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” 4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” ’ ” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’ ”
This passage is familiar to many. Songs are written about it. But the occasion for this prophetic promise was the thoughts of the people of God.
11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’
God didn’t say they were dry bones. God didn’t say that they were old and dead and without hope. They did. They had given up. They felt spiritually dry and disconnected from God (cf. Psalm 141:7). They felt as though God had left them (Isaiah 49:14).
They said that they had been cut off. They were separated from God—sin separates us from Him (Isaiah 59:2, see also Isaiah 53:8). They had been exiled. They had been through upheaval in their lives. And they were on the verge of giving up.
When God came to Ezekiel, He took him around and showed him the situation.
There was a valley of dry bones. A low place, like a grave. It was in a plain by the River Chebar.
The bones were strewn throughout the valley. They were bleached white. They were dry. They had been dead for a long time. There had been a process of decay, of wasting away. The bones were disconnected and scattered.
And God asked, “Can these bones live?” God’s question was a setup and a call for assessment. God was pointing out to them that the situation was impossible. He asked, “Can these bones live?”
And Ezekiel responds, “Only You know that!” (MSG).
What impossible thing are you facing? What areas in your life seem like they are dead and dry?
The bones were unburied. This is an important detail. This pointed to hope for resurrection (in Ezekiel 39:12-15 the bones of Gog and Magog were buried and there was a sense of final destruction).
Ezekiel knew that with God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). He can raise the dry bones. He can restore the broken heart. He can resurrect dreams. He can do the impossible.
POINT 1: Hold on to hope. With God, all things are possible.
Prophesy To Them
Prophesy To Them
God had an answer to the problem of the dry bones
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
God had a word for the dry bones.
And God had an answer to the people who believed they were dry bones...
12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel.
God’s had response to the people…prophesy and say to them.
They were not going to step into their future as long as they had given up hope. God had actually promised to bless them in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:5-7). But because they had lost hope, they were not possessing the promises of God.
Who, or what, is the them that you need to prophesy to? What is it in your life that caused you to lose hope? What dreams have been deferred? Prophesy and say to them! Prophesy to the dry bones in your life. God’s answer was a declaration!
POINT 2: Prophesy to your problems. Speak the word of the Lord.
Provision and Process
Provision and Process
As you hold on to hope in the God who does miracles and prophesy to your problems you will see that provision follows proclamation. After God’s word was declared, miracles happened.
God’s word is not just any old word. It is spirit and life (John 6:63). God’s word was not subject to the condition of the bones or the bones’ ability to “hear.” When God speaks, miracles happen.
4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.” ’ ” 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone.
There was a process of restoration that came forth to the dry bones.
Sinews - tendons and ligaments. These speak of connection.
Flesh (and muscles NLT). This speaks of strength.
Skin. This speaks of covering or protection.
Breath. This speaks of spirit and life.
God spoke. In response, the bones began to connect. Then they began to be strengthened. And then they were covered and protected. But it wasn’t until the breath came in that there was fullness of life. When they connected and were strengthened, covered and protected, then they received the spirit. And then they stood on their feet (Ezekiel 37:10).
POINT 3: Persevere through the process.
God’s word often isn’t instant. There is often a process.
God’s word connects us with Him, His purpose, and His people.
God’s word strengthens and empowers us.
God’s word covers and protects us.
And God’s word gives us life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Hold on to hope.
Prophesy to your problems.
Persevere through the process.