RISE NOW

God Does Not Need an Audience. He Needs an Army.

Ezekiel 37:1-10

Introduction

God brings Ezekiel into a valley full of dry bones.

Everywhere Ezekiel looks he sees death, hopelessness, and impossibility.

Then God asks one question:

“Son of man, can these bones live?”

Ezekiel saw bones.

God saw an army.

Today our valleys are filled with broken marriages, addicted lives, hurting families, prodigal children, weary Christians, and spiritually dead communities.

Many people see hopelessness.

God sees harvest.

The question is still the same:

Can these dry bones live?

The answer is yes.

Three things must happen.

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I. RELEASE THE WORD

God first gave Ezekiel a Word.

Then He commanded him:

“Prophesy unto these bones.”

Nothing happened until Ezekiel opened his mouth.

John 6:63

“The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”

The Word of God carries life.

The sword is already in our mouths.

God may speak to us privately, but until we stand at the edge of the valley and release His Word, nothing changes.

The valley is our community.

Our workplaces.

Our schools.

Our neighborhoods.

Our families.

The church was never called to stay inside the building.

We are called to declare the testimony of Jesus everywhere we go.

Romans 10 reminds us:

Faith comes by hearing.

How will people believe if they never hear?

How will they hear unless someone speaks?

You don’t have to stand behind a pulpit to preach.

To preach simply means to proclaim.

You can speak life to a hurting mother in Publix.

You can pray with a coworker.

You can lead a neighbor to Christ.

Nothing moved until the prophet spoke.

Nothing changes until the Church speaks.

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II. RECEIVE THE SPIRIT

After Ezekiel prophesied…

The bones came together.

Bodies were formed.

But there was still no life.

They looked complete…

but they were empty.

Then God said,

“Prophesy unto the wind.”

The breath entered them.

Acts 1:8

“Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”

John 20:22

“Receive ye the Holy Ghost.”

This is the New Testament picture of Ezekiel 37.

People can be born again…

standing on their feet…

yet never walk in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Without the Holy Spirit we cannot fulfill God’s mission.

The Spirit gives power.

Direction.

Boldness.

Compassion.

Supernatural ability.

Galatians 5:25

“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

God is breathing again.

Into weary believers.

Into broken families.

Into tired ministries.

Into dry churches.

The breath of God still brings life.

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III. RISE AND GO

God does not need an audience.

He wants an army.

Matthew 9 says:

“The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.”

Notice…

The harvest is not the problem.

The laborers are.

If we believe:

God created the universe…

Parted the Red Sea…

Raised Lazarus…

Raised Jesus from the dead…

Then surely we can believe He can save our neighbors.

The dry bones are not the problem.

The lost are not the problem.

The valley is not the problem.

The silent church is the problem.

God never told Ezekiel:

Organize the bones.

Study the bones.

Complain about the bones.

He said,

“Prophesy to the bones.”

The answer to a dying world is not better opinions.

Not better politics.

Not better arguments.

The answer is the Gospel.

Romans 1:16

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation.”

Romans 10

How will they hear without a preacher?

Every believer has been sent.

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THE COMMAND OF JESUS

Mark 16

Jesus rebuked their unbelief.

Then He gave His command:

“Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.”

These signs will follow believers.

Demons cast out.

The sick healed.

Lives transformed.

Then the disciples went.

The Lord worked with them.

And confirmed His Word with signs following.

Notice:

God didn’t confirm their comfort.

He confirmed their obedience.

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Conclusion

God is still asking today:

Can these dry bones live?

Can our marriages live?

Can our prodigals live?

Can our cities live?

Can our nation live?

The answer is yes.

When the Church…

Releases the Word.

Receives the Spirit.

Rises and Goes.

The valley isn’t the problem.

The harvest isn’t the problem.

The dry bones aren’t the problem.

The answer has always been the same.

Speak the Word.

Receive the Spirit.

Rise and Go.

Then the Breath of God enters the valley…

And dry bones become a mighty army.

God does not need an audience.

He is raising an Army.