공동체와 양육

Mission Field of Dry Bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

2010.01.24Rev. Mike Lee

The dry bones in Ezekiel 37 show a hopeless situation that God can transform, so the church should take part in his redemption plan through missions, experience revival through his word and obedience, and witness resurrection power in the lives of people dead in sin.

Hopeless situations are where God works (1-3)

Ezekiel wrote this book while he was in exile, far from home and cut off from God's presence. God placed him in the middle of a valley of very dry bones and asked whether they could live. Ezekiel gave a cautious answer, saying only that the Lord alone knows. Such a scene shows that God sees hope where people see none. In the same way, the mission God has given us is to see unbelievers come to faith in Christ, and so we are given a part in his plan of redemption. Without God there is no hope, and the spiritual condition of the world is like that valley of bones.

Obedience to the word brings revival (4-10)

God told Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, and Ezekiel simply spoke the word of God, with nothing elaborate about it. Revival comes through the word of God, which has the power to bring life. Ezekiel obeyed without questioning, even though preaching to a pile of bones seemed absurd, and the bones came together and stood as a vast army. The Hebrew word ruah, meaning spirit, breath, or wind, is the same Spirit found in Genesis 1:2, Genesis 2:7, and Romans 8:11, and that Spirit brings life out of death. When we take part in missions, we see revival on a corporate level, as the refugee church we visited in the Middle East showed us.

God's breath brings resurrection (11-14)

The bones of Israel said that their hope was gone and that they were cut off, but God promised to open their graves and bring them up, returning them to their land. A grave opened by God means life, not robbery. God's breath gives life to the dead, as spiritual CPR breathes life into those who are spiritually dead, and this promise is fulfilled through Jesus Christ, who overcame death. Jesus breathed on his disciples and said, receive the Holy Spirit, and he wants the whole earth to receive his Spirit.

The love of Christ sustains mission

Hudson Taylor, director of the China Inland Mission, said that motives such as obeying the command to go or the perishing of millions are not enough in times of testing, trials, and possible death. Only the love of Christ can sustain us in trial. Whether we go on short-term or long-term missions, we must go out of love for Christ, wanting to be part of his redemption plan, to see revival in churches outside our homes, and to see resurrection power in the lives of people.

Apply to Life

  • Let us ask God what our hearts are for missions, and what he is placing in our hearts.
  • Let us not put aside the calling to missions because of our work or family, but obey what God has called us to do.
  • Let us pray for the countries of the world that have not heard the gospel, and for the missionaries who are serving there.
  • Let us support missionaries so that they have the resources to advance the kingdom of God.
  • Let us go out of our love for Christ and share the gospel, whether through short-term or long-term missions.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

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