Topic: Dry Bones Shall Live Again [Open Heavens 31st May 2018, Thursday]
Memorise: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: – John 11:25
Read: Ezekiel 37:1-10 (KJV)
1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
5 Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Bible in One Year: 1 Kings 9-10, Acts 3
MESSAGE:
Bones are often associated with dead bodies or with death itself. Dry human bones symbolize a human body that has been dead for an extended period of time: in some cases, for hundreds or thousands of years. By this time, it is impossible for anyone in the right frame of mind to contemplate any means by which such bones will come back to life again. This was the situation in the valley of dry bones when God asked Ezekiel, “Son of man, can these bones live?” knowing well that it was impossible by any human means for those bones to live, but also being conscious of the fact that he was standing before the one that created the universe by the power of His word, Ezekiel tactically answered by saying “O Lord God, thou knowest.” Then the Lord asked the prophet to prophesy to the bones, and in Ezekiel 37:7, as soon as he prophesied, this happened:
“…there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.”
I therefore prophesy to everything that stands as dry bones in your life and to every symbol of death in your family; hear the word of the Lord: Be restored back to life now in the Name of Jesus.
In Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones brought back to life by God’s Spirit, the resurrection of the bones is used as a symbol. Ezekiel’s vision is not directly related life after death, but rather with the salvation of God’s people from captivity and exile. Some people are locked up in a strange land, enjoying the pleasures of sin, some are addicted to harmful behaviors, burdened by their conscience and far away from the Spirit of God. They are dead like the dry bones! However, as the Spirit of God sends the breath of life into them, their return to their creator can be likened to new life rising from the grave. To anyone that is in bondage, captivity or exile, to anyone that has been displaced from his or her position, to anyone that is being told that he or she has reached a point of no return in life, I decree once again: Let there be a noise and a shaking from heaven that will set you free from now on in Jesus’ Name. The dry bones were sitting quietly in their forgotten state, fully surrendered to the power of death that held them bound. They were without any hope until God told Ezekiel to prophesy to them. One more time, I prophesy that the wind of the Holy Spirit will blow against every agent of death that is holding your life and destiny bound right now in the Name of Jesus. This marks the beginning of real progress in your life and henceforth you will be unstoppable in Jesus’ Name.
Prayer Point: Father, please let everything about me that is dead and dry live again by Your grace and power, in Jesus’ Name.
If you missed yesterday devotional, please click HERE to read Open Heavens 30th May 2018 Wednesday Daily Devotional – Mercy
HYMN 6: A NEW THING
(Tune: There shall be showers of Blessing)
1. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because GOD will do new things
Sinners will soon be forgiven
Prodigals will come home soon.
Chorus:
Shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Rivers in desert now flowing
Halleluyah to our king.
2. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Sickness and sorrow will be gone
Bondage will be forgotten.
3. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
The barren will be fruitful soon
Failure will be forgotten
4. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Poverty will be forgotten
Stagnancy will soon be gone.
5. We will soon shout Hallelujah
Because God will do new things
To all miracles are given
There shall be celebrations
6. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Many will have testimonies
Of prayers answered fully
7. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
One of us will chase a thousand
Two will conquer ten thousands.
8. We will soon shout Halleluyah
Because God will do new things
Songs of praises we will sing
Halleluyah to our King.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer’s Ministries. The Open Heavens devotional application is available across all mobile platforms and operating systems: iOS, Android, Blackberry, Nokia, Windows Mobile and PC.
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