Speaking Life Into Dead, Dry Bones

Today I attended a chapel service, and Reverend Dale Shorter gave a message from Ezekiel 37.  I’ve heard the story of Ezekiel’s walk through the dry bones before, but Pastor Shorter brought that story alive today in a refreshing way, and spoke words I needed to hear.  (He even brought a skeleton to bring home the point!)  I am so thankful when ministers hear from God, and speak out what He would have them speak, and in turn touches me where my needs are.  Here are some of the things Pastor Shorter had to say.

“Form without life is of no value.” Such were the bones represented in Ezekiel’s case.  The bones had the form of bodies, but yet had no life, so they were of no value.

“There are a lot of people who will settle for having form without having life.”  Think of people who seem to have it all (millions of dollars in the bank), but what they had to compromise for it (marriage or family).

In the pile of bones Ezekiel was looking at, were the bones of what had been young men, men of valor, who had died defending what was theirs.  But now, not even the vultures were interested in the dry bones.  It makes you wonder how a mighty army, such as this, became a pile of dry and dusty bones.  Romans 1:21 says “For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.”  They no longer had a covering, and sin brought death.  Verse 14 of Ezekiel 37 says to prophecy over the bones by saying “I will make breath come into you…and then you will know I am the Lord.”

With your mouth, you can speak to something that is not just sick, but it is dead, and life will emerge.  God wanted Ezekiel to speak it out, rather than speaking it Himself, and that is something we can do, too.  Pastor Shorter asked, “What gleam in your eye is not there anymore?”  He gave suggestions of a marriage with problems, or a spiritual life that is not where it should be.  No matter the situation, God wants to speak life into your situation, but you have to speak out what He says to speak out.  Speak life.  God wants you to speak to the dry bones to give them life.  God never puts a dream in a person’s life that was meant to die.  Speak over those things, and speak life.