A Revival of Bones

(Ezekiel 37:1-10/ NLT) says, “The LORD took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the LORD to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me around among the old, dry bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground. 3 Then he asked me, "Son of man, can these bones become living people again?"

"O Sovereign LORD," I replied, "you alone know the answer to that."

4 Then he said to me, "Speak to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to breathe into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.' "

7 So I spoke these words, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as they had been before. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, "Speak to the winds and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so that they may live again.' "

10 So I spoke as he commanded me, and the wind entered the bodies, and they began to breathe. They all came to life and stood up on their feet — a great army of them.”

It's amazing the authority God gave Ezekiel by asking him whether he thought the bones could live again or not! God placed life or death in the hands of Ezekiel, and God has left that same decision in our hands today. As a result of our actions, we actually choose LIFE or DEATH! We're all modern day Ezekiels with the power to decide whether our bones will live. It's simple, unbelief and disobeying the Word of God brings eternal separation and DEATH; while faith in the Name and obedience to the Word of God brings LIFE!

The Lord has been dealing with me for the past month on what the differences are between a dead church and church that's full of life. I'll tell you this much, it's NOT their location. It's NOT their music style. It's NOT their preaching style. In fact, it has NOTHING to do with style. The difference is HUNGER! Hunger for the Word of God and the promises of which His word makes available!

There is a world of difference between an ENTERTAINED CHURCH and a HUNGRY CHURCH! People who only show up to be entertained are lifeless, complacent, and satisfied. But people who are hungry are DESPERATE! They’re desperate for His touch; they’re desperate for His presence! They’re hungry for His Word and ready to receive it! In a nutshell, desperate people do whatever it takes!

The solution to our "dead, dry bones" is found in (verses 4-10) where it says, "Speak to these bones and say, 'Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Look! I am going to breathe into you and make you live again!... I will put breath into you, and you will come to life...7 So I spoke these words, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as they had been before...Then he said to me, "Speak to the winds and say: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so that they may live again.' "...They all came to life and stood up on their feet — a great army of them.”

What we need right now is a Revival of Bones! The Spirit can't move until the bones are REVIVED and that happens when we get HUNGRY and DESPERATE for GOD!

We NEED a REVIVAL in our Pastors!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Leadership!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Music Programs!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Sunday School Programs!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Children!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Youth!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Adults!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Elders!
We NEED a REVIVAL in our Churches!

We NEED a REVIVAL of HUNGER and DESPERATION for God! We NEED a Revival of Bones!

(2 Chronicles 7:14-16/ NLT) says, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land. 15 I will listen to every prayer made in this place, 16 for I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be my home forever. My eyes and my heart will always be here.”

God, forgive us of our CARNALITY! Forgive us of our COMPLACENCY and LAZINESS! Forgive us for being SATISFIED with where we are! Forgive us for being so consumed with "entertainment" that we've failed in our pursuit of HUNGER to just be in your presence. May there be a rattling of bones which REVIVE us and allow your Spirit to breathe LIFE into us so we can LIVE again!