REVIVAL OF DRY BONES

REVIVAL OF DRY BONES

By Rev. Samuel Arimoro

Main Text: Ezekiel 37:1-10

"And He said to me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?’ So I answered, ‘O Lord God, You know.’"

Supporting Texts: Isaiah 61:3, Acts 2:17-21, John 11:25-26, Psalm 85:6

INTRODUCTION:
In Ezekiel 37, the prophet Ezekiel is taken to a valley filled with dry bones, symbolising the hopelessness and despair of the people of Israel. God asked Ezekiel a profound question: "Can these bones live?" The dry bones in the valley were not just a physical manifestation of death but a representation of spiritual desolation. However, God, in His infinite power, breathed life into them, bringing them back to life as a great army. This passage is a prophetic reminder that no situation is too dead or hopeless for God to revive. Whether it is in our personal lives, communities, or churches, God's revival power can breathe life into any dry place, and He is calling us to prophesy His breath into the dry bones of our generation.

1. THE VISION OF DRY BONES

Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones reveals the spiritual condition of the people of Israel, and by extension, the world.

a) A Vision of Hopelessness
The bones were very dry, indicating a state of complete desolation, where life has long since passed.

b) The Bones Were Scattered
The bones were not in one place; they were scattered, symbolising how sin and disobedience can lead to fragmentation and disorder.

c) The People Were Spiritually Dead
God used this vision to show Ezekiel that the people of Israel were in a state of spiritual death, far from God’s will.

d) A Desperate Need for Restoration
The dry bones were a metaphor for the desperate need of revival in the hearts of the people, who had lost their spiritual vitality.

e) Biblical Example:
In Judges 6, Israel was oppressed by the Midianites and seemed to have no hope until God raised up Gideon to lead them to victory. Just as the dry bones were revived, God can bring revival to even the most hopeless situations.

2. GOD’S QUESTION: "CAN THESE BONES LIVE?"
God's question to Ezekiel was not about His own knowledge but about Ezekiel's faith in God's ability to restore.

a) A Question of Faith
God was testing Ezekiel’s faith, asking if he believed that the dry bones could live again.

b) The Possibility of Revival
The bones symbolised hopelessness, yet God was asking Ezekiel to see beyond the physical and believe in divine restoration.

c) God's Ability to Revive
The question calls us to reflect on our own lives. Are we willing to believe that God can revive the dead areas of our hearts, families, and churches?

d) A Call to Trust God's Power
No matter how dry or dead a situation seems, God is more than able to breathe life into it.

e) Biblical Example:
Jesus asked Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40). Even though Lazarus was dead for four days, Jesus brought him back to life.

3. PROPHESYING TO THE DRY BONES
Ezekiel was instructed to prophesy to the bones, and his obedience brought the start of revival.

a) The Power of Prophetic Declaration
Ezekiel did not simply pray or wish for the bones to come to life; he spoke God’s word over the dry bones, and they began to move.

b) A Call for Action in Faith
When we see dry bones in our lives or in the lives of others, we must speak the Word of God over them, declaring life and restoration.

c) The Word of God as a Tool for Revival
Ezekiel's prophetic declaration was God's command, showing that revival starts with a declaration of God's truth, not just human effort.

d) A Response of Obedience
Ezekiel’s obedience in speaking the Word allowed the bones to begin to come together. Revival begins when we speak and act in obedience to God’s will.

e) Biblical Example:
In Acts 2, Peter prophesied to the people of Jerusalem, and the Holy Spirit fell upon them, leading to the revival of the early church.

4. THE BREATH OF LIFE
The revival of the dry bones didn’t happen through Ezekiel’s words alone; it was God’s breath that brought them to life.

a) The Importance of God’s Breath
It was only when God commanded the breath to enter the bones that they became alive and stood on their feet. This is a reminder that revival is not by our might, but by God’s Spirit.

b) The Holy Spirit as the Breath of Life
The Holy Spirit is the one who breathes life into our dry places, bringing transformation and renewal. Without the Spirit, there is no true revival.

c) God's Power in the Restoration
God’s breath signifies His sovereign power to transform and revive even the most hopeless situations.

d) The Need for Spiritual Awakening
Without the breath of God, all efforts toward revival are in vain. We must pray for the Holy Spirit to breathe into us again, reviving our hearts and our churches.

e) Biblical Example:
In John 20:22, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." This breath brought the disciples into new life and equipped them for their mission.

5. THE GREAT ARMY OF GOD
After the bones were revived, they stood up as a vast army, signifying that revival brings strength, unity, and purpose.

a) From Death to Strength
What was once a valley of dry bones became a mighty army. God’s revival restores us to strength and purpose, transforming the hopeless into the victorious.

b) The Restoration of Purpose
The revived bones were no longer dead but had a new purpose: to be part of God's army. Revival always brings renewed purpose and vision.

c) Unity in Revival
The bones came together, symbolising the unity that God desires to bring in the body of Christ. Revival brings a sense of community, unity, and collective purpose.

d) Equipped for Battle
A revived army is equipped for action, prepared to fight against the forces of darkness and advance God's kingdom.

e) Biblical Example:
In Acts 2, after the Holy Spirit filled the disciples, they were transformed from a scattered, fearful group into a powerful, unified church that spread the gospel with boldness.

CONCLUSION:
Just as Ezekiel witnessed God’s breath bring life to dry bones, we too can experience revival in our own lives and in our communities. No situation, no matter how dead or hopeless, is beyond God’s ability to revive. We must not only trust in His power but also actively speak life into the dry places, rely on the Holy Spirit to breathe new life into us, and recognise that God is raising up a mighty army for His glory. Let us be part of the revival that God is bringing to the earth today.

PRAYER POINTS:
1. Lord, breathe life into every dry and hopeless area of my life.

2. I declare that every area of spiritual dryness in my life is being revived right now.

3. Father, release Your Holy Spirit to bring revival to my heart and soul.

4. I speak life and restoration to every dead situation in my family.

5. Lord, help me to be obedient to Your voice and to speak life over every dry bone.

6. I pray for a fresh outpouring of Your Spirit upon the church for a global revival.

7. Father, bring unity and strength to Your people as You revive us.

8. I declare that I am part of the mighty army that You are raising up in these last days.

9. I pray that Your breath of life will awaken the church to fulfill its purpose.

10. Lord, use me to declare life and revival to the nations.

PROPHETIC DECLARATIONS:
1. You are entering a season of divine revival where every dry place in your life will be restored.

2. God is breathing life into your circumstances, turning them from hopeless to victorious.

3. The Spirit of God is bringing unity and strength to the body of Christ in this season.

4. God is raising you up to be part of a great army that will advance His kingdom.

5. Every dead situation in your life is receiving the breath of life right now.

6. The power of God’s Holy Spirit is igniting a revival fire in your heart.

7. You will see the impossible come to life as God breathes new life into your dreams and vision.

8. A new purpose is being revealed to you as God revives and restores your calling.

9. The glory of God will manifest in your life as you experience personal and spiritual revival.

10. You are marked for revival, and the breath of God is stirring you to greater heights in His Kingdom.

May the breath of God revive every dead area in your life, bringing you into His purposes for this season. In Jesus' name, Amen!