The Message
This Month’s Message: Set it off!
The church of the living God continues to go through transition. As the world at large is shifting, we are discovering more and more that the shift began in the House of the Lord. God deals with the House for sure. The Word to the House is as it was with Israel during the time when the mind set of the people of God was that any and all things are acceptable to do. But, God has sent the message through his priest and prophets that His word is not governed by the times; but, it transcends time and is as expedient today as before. As we are being equipped to minister in this Last Hour, we must be mindful that in our ministering we don’t become a part of the problem instead of the solution. As God continues to equip us to ministers his gospel we must:
- Know what we are looking at
- Discern how to move in the midst of the situation
- Do what God instructs and no more
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Breath of Life1-2 God grabbed me. God's Spirit took me up and set me down in the middle of an open plain strewn with bones. He led me around and among them—a lot of bones! There were bones all over the plain—dry bones, bleached by the sun.
3 He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "Master God, only you know that."
4 He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones: 'Dry bones, listen to the Message of God!'"
5-6 God, the Master, told the dry bones, "Watch this: I'm bringing the breath of life to you and you'll come to life. I'll attach sinews to you, put meat on your bones, cover you with skin, and breathe life into you. You'll come alive and you'll realize that I am God!"
7-8 I prophesied just as I'd been commanded. As I prophesied, there was a sound and, oh, rustling! The bones moved and came together, bone to bone. I kept watching. Sinews formed, then muscles on the bones, then skin stretched over them. But they had no breath in them.
9 He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath. Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, 'God, the Master, says, Come from the four winds. Come, breath. Breathe on these slain bodies. Breathe life!'"
10 So I prophesied, just as he commanded me. The breath entered them and they came alive! They stood up on their feet, a huge army.
11 Then God said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Listen to what they're saying: 'Our bones are dried up, our hope is gone, there's nothing left of us.'
12-14 "Therefore, prophesy. Tell them, 'God, the Master, says: I'll dig up your graves and bring you out alive—O my people! Then I'll take you straight to the land of Israel. When I dig up graves and bring you out as my people, you'll realize that I am God. I'll breathe my life into you and you'll live. Then I'll lead you straight back to your land and you'll realize that I am God. I've said it and I'll do it. God's Decree.'"
Ezekiel had a vision where he was in a valley that contained dry bones. When he looked he saw the bones were dry and as he continued to observe, he saw that the bones were very dry and bleached. From this he knew the bones had been there for some time because the sun would have had to bleach them. He also observed that there were lots of them. God posed a question to Ezekiel pertaining to what he saw. Ezekiel described this scene to him. This process allowed Ezekiel to know what he was looking at.
As Ezekiel observed, he was able to discern this is the result of a people who would not listen or heed warnings. So often he had spoken the Word of the Lord to them warning them to turn from indulging themselves in promiscuous sex and sexual idolatry and turn back to God. He spoke so often that the people’s ear became filled with wax and there was no hearing, therefore, no obedience. For generations they had been told this with no seemingly consequence. Now, when God does move, they are overtaken and have been rendered ineffective. Now, except for a mediator, God will not speak to them. Yet, though Ezekiel was in the midst of the bones, he did not try to identify with the dry bones. He did not touch them. You must discern how to move in the midst of the situation. Many of us are sent to others for one purpose, but, in trying to identify with the person, we make ourselves to be like them. Your authority is rendered useless if you get there and become part of the problem.
God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones. Ezekiel did just this and nothing extra. God’s will and the man of God’s willingness to be obedient rendered immediate results. Do what God instructs and no more. This mediation would serve as a type of resurrection and restoration for the people of God.
God set it off! The bones began to immediately come to life and warriors began to come forth out of the bones. This represents the House of Israel rising. Church, we are fainting on God. What is named among the world is commonplace in God’s house. Because we have known him; we are now taking his grace for granted. For Israel’s sins and blindness, transference of power was given to the Gentiles. Yet, if we also take advantage of His grace, how much so will we become dry and ineffective to the kingdom. The Church will prevail; so, for those who insist upon continuing in their way a spirit of impotence, spiritual and physical, will be released for the purpose of drawing you back in. But, for those who want to be a part of the solution, gird yourself and prepare to shine as never before! His return and our resurrection is soon to come!
- When you are faced with a situation you don’t quite understand, stand still, observe and wait before making a move. You have to know what you are dealing with before taking the next step.
- Once you understand the situation, ask God to tell you what you are to do about the situation. Don’t just do what you want to do!
- Do what God tells you to do. No more-No less!
