Dry Bones Can Live!
The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding and entering into the blessings of the new covenant, which is made possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.
David Wilkerson emphasizes God's desire for believers to embrace the promises of His new covenant as illustrated in Ezekiel 37, where dry bones are called to life. He highlights that although these bones were under the covenant, they had not yet experienced its blessings, reflecting the struggle many believers face in fully accepting the Holy Spirit's indwelling. Wilkerson encourages believers to prophesy and invite the Holy Spirit to breathe life into their spiritual deadness, leading to transformation and empowerment. The sermon illustrates that through obedience to God's command, believers can rise as a powerful army, fully alive in Christ. Ultimately, it is about entering into the fullness of the new covenant and experiencing the life-changing power of the Holy Spirit.
Text
Ezekiel 37 is all about God's desire for us to lay hold of the promises of His new covenant--learning how to truly live by entering into the blessing of the covenant.
We have all heard the story of the "dry bones" that Ezekiel speaks of. It is important to note that these vessels lying lifeless on the ground were under the covenant. You see, the Lord had told them, "O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!" (Ezekiel 37:4). They had heard God's covenant promise: "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live."
Yet, even though these dead bones had the new covenant promise preached to them, they had not yet entered into the enjoyment of its blessings. Many believers today know of God's new covenant--yet they can hardly believe it, because it sounds too good to be true. They say, "I know God has given us the Holy Spirit to indwell us. And I know the Spirit takes it upon Himself to cause us to obey Christ. Oh, I want that blessing badly, but how can I obtain it for my life?"
There is something we must do. Ezekiel writes that God told him to prophesy, "Thus says the Lord God: 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live'" (37:9). Then Ezekiel says he prophesied as God had commanded, ". . . and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army" (37:10).
Suddenly there stood before Ezekiel a great army, alive and breathing! The Holy Spirit had filled all those dead bodies with life--and now they were prepared to do battle. In an instant they had entered into the full enjoyment and blessings of the new covenant. God's Spirit had taken His rightful place in them--and He was bringing about all the promised changes.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Promise of the New Covenant
- A. God's desire for us to lay hold of the promises
- B. Learning to truly live by entering into the blessing
- II. The Problem of Unfulfilled Promises
- A. Believers know of God's new covenant but struggle to believe
- B. Feeling like the promise is too good to be true
- III. The Solution: Prophesying God's Word
- A. Ezekiel's prophetic act brings the Holy Spirit's power
- B. The Spirit fills the dead bodies with life and prepares them for battle
Key Quotes
“Thus says the Lord God: 'Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live' (Ezekiel 37:9).” — David Wilkerson
“And breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army (Ezekiel 37:10).” — David Wilkerson
Application Points
- You must trust in the power of the Holy Spirit to bring about the promised changes in your life.
- Prophesying God's Word is essential to entering into the full enjoyment and blessings of the new covenant.
- The Holy Spirit is ready to fill you with life and power, but you must receive Him by faith.