WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.280 I'm going to just invite Yannick to come and join me so that you can get to meet him very briefly before he preaches to us. 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:06.000 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:06.000 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:31.579 Dima Queens Park also went to Yannick. 00:00:32.240 --> 00:00:33.140 So what do you think about it? 00:00:33.240 --> 00:00:36.460 So really, you know, you had an opportunity to mess it up and you didn't. 00:00:36.539 --> 00:00:37.100 So thank you. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:38.439 That's great. 00:00:38.519 --> 00:00:43.659 Yeah, I wonder if you just tell us just a little bit maybe about your family and the ministry at Stockwell Baptist. 00:00:43.780 --> 00:00:44.159 That'd be great. 00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:45.320 Great. 00:00:45.460 --> 00:00:48.640 So first of all, joy to be here again. 00:00:48.760 --> 00:00:49.659 Joy to be with you all. 00:00:49.900 --> 00:00:54.140 Family wise, I'm blessed to have a wife, a wonderful wife. 00:00:54.140 --> 00:00:57.060 We have two kids who just turned three and five. 00:00:57.060 --> 00:01:02.940 Two girls who are crazy and a boy on the way due in just over a month. 00:01:03.140 --> 00:01:04.980 So you can pray for that. 00:01:05.600 --> 00:01:13.980 In terms of the ministry, I mean, as Steve said, really the parallels between Stockwell Baptist Church and here are incredible. 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:14.579 Right. 00:01:14.700 --> 00:01:22.060 So six years ago, there was a church that had been planted through commission and there was an older established Baptist church, which was part of the FIC. 00:01:23.060 --> 00:01:24.379 And they merged. 00:01:24.379 --> 00:01:30.159 And if that sounds familiar, similar to your story, that's what happened with us just over six years ago. 00:01:30.819 --> 00:01:32.819 And it's been such a joy. 00:01:32.899 --> 00:01:38.359 It's been such a blessing to see God merge two churches, very different, very different church cultures. 00:01:38.679 --> 00:01:40.099 And it's been a massive blessing. 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:46.840 And one of the things we said, and I remember saying at the time, is it would be so wonderful if this could happen in so many other places. 00:01:46.840 --> 00:01:50.240 And so I was super excited to hear about this. 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:52.840 I've been thinking of you, praying for you guys. 00:01:53.200 --> 00:01:56.500 And so, yeah, I'm just buzzing to be here with you guys today. 00:01:56.500 --> 00:02:02.819 So what do you think, like six years into that, what's been the hardest part? 00:02:02.879 --> 00:02:04.319 What's been the biggest blessings? 00:02:04.700 --> 00:02:05.099 What do you think? 00:02:05.480 --> 00:02:06.019 Oh, yeah. 00:02:06.019 --> 00:02:15.960 I think that the hardest part is probably, you know, what lots of you would have experienced, which is when you merge, it's like everyone feels like they've lost their church. 00:02:16.539 --> 00:02:18.259 So you don't notice what's the same. 00:02:18.340 --> 00:02:19.319 You notice what's different. 00:02:19.879 --> 00:02:23.240 So it was, for us, it was Brixen Local Church and Stockwell Baptist Church. 00:02:23.340 --> 00:02:26.680 Well, everyone in Brixen Local Church thought, well, Brixen Local Church is over. 00:02:26.780 --> 00:02:27.979 Now it's just Stockwell Baptist Church. 00:02:27.979 --> 00:02:31.019 And everyone in Stockwell Baptist Church thought, well, Stockwell Baptist Church is over. 00:02:31.099 --> 00:02:32.560 Now it's all just Brixen Local Church. 00:02:33.000 --> 00:02:38.280 And so there's just a sense of loss because both people, you know, both sides, you notice what's different. 00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:41.259 So I think that's what's challenging. 00:02:41.399 --> 00:02:42.079 That's what's hard. 00:02:42.259 --> 00:02:47.639 And, you know, but the blessing is, I guess, similar demographic to you guys. 00:02:47.759 --> 00:02:54.239 The blessing is once we merged, we were able to just reach a breadth of people that we weren't able to before. 00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:55.919 Neither church was able to before. 00:02:55.919 --> 00:03:01.879 And so the real blessing is the Merge Church has grown in ways that neither of those churches were growing. 00:03:03.019 --> 00:03:04.639 Just exponentially more. 00:03:05.319 --> 00:03:11.299 And to see God do that, to see some of the people who had left Stockwell Baptist Church over the years, 00:03:12.000 --> 00:03:16.379 come, hear about the Merge and come back to the church is a particular blessing. 00:03:16.479 --> 00:03:20.199 So to have parents see their children return to the church was one of the blessings. 00:03:20.319 --> 00:03:23.199 So I could say lots, but there's been lots of stuff that's been amazing about it. 00:03:23.199 --> 00:03:23.560 Great. 00:03:23.560 --> 00:03:27.080 Let me pray for you, Yannick, and pray for us, and then we'll listen to God's word read. 00:03:27.159 --> 00:03:27.500 Let's pray. 00:03:28.500 --> 00:03:32.240 Father, we thank you so much that you are a gracious and loving God. 00:03:32.719 --> 00:03:40.140 We thank you for Yannick's friendship of the church here and for his wise counsel over the last year, 18 months or so. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:43.300 Pray, Lord, that you might bless him as he opens your word to us. 00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:45.699 Give us tender hearts to listen to what you say. 00:03:45.699 --> 00:03:52.599 We've come this morning not to listen to Yannick's good advice, but we've come to listen to you. 00:03:52.719 --> 00:03:53.959 So bless us, we pray. 00:03:54.519 --> 00:03:55.399 Watch over us, we ask. 00:03:55.479 --> 00:03:56.159 In Jesus' name. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:56.739 Amen. 00:03:57.219 --> 00:03:57.399 Amen. 00:03:59.399 --> 00:04:01.799 Well, let's read Ezekiel 37 together. 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:04.280 It's on page 868. 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:10.719 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of the valley. 00:04:11.300 --> 00:04:12.360 It was full of bones. 00:04:13.020 --> 00:04:19.360 He led me to and fro among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:22.600 He asked me, Son of Man, can these bones live? 00:04:23.220 --> 00:04:26.120 I said, Sovereign Lord, you alone know. 00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:32.139 Then he said to me, Prophesy to these bones and say to them, Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:36.259 This is what the Sovereign Lord said to these bones. 00:04:37.000 --> 00:04:39.720 I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 00:04:40.139 --> 00:04:44.500 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:47.300 I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. 00:04:47.759 --> 00:04:49.319 Then you will know that I am the Lord. 00:04:49.800 --> 00:04:55.319 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound. 00:04:55.319 --> 00:04:57.839 And the bones came together, bone to bone. 00:04:58.079 --> 00:05:03.839 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them, and skin covered them, and there was no breath in them. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:09.740 Then he said to me, Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, Son of Man, and say to it, 00:05:10.019 --> 00:05:11.819 This is what the Sovereign Lord says. 00:05:12.159 --> 00:05:19.219 Come, breathe from the four winds, and breathe into these slain, that they may live. 00:05:19.439 --> 00:05:22.899 So I prophesied as he commanded them, and breath entered them. 00:05:22.899 --> 00:05:26.500 They came to life and stood up on their feet, a vast army. 00:05:27.179 --> 00:05:30.879 Then he said to me, Son of Man, these bones are the people of Israel. 00:05:31.299 --> 00:05:35.079 They say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope is gone, we are cut off. 00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:39.739 Therefore, prophesy and say to them, This is what the Sovereign Lord says. 00:05:40.179 --> 00:05:44.099 My people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them. 00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:46.560 I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 00:05:47.239 --> 00:05:49.839 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord. 00:05:49.839 --> 00:05:53.039 When I open your graves and bring you up from them. 00:05:53.659 --> 00:05:58.060 I will put my spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. 00:05:58.799 --> 00:06:03.679 Then you will know that I am the Lord, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord. 00:06:04.599 --> 00:06:04.919 Amen. 00:06:06.599 --> 00:06:09.079 It's a joy again, as I said, it's a joy to be with us. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:11.379 We're going to look at the passage that was just read. 00:06:11.659 --> 00:06:14.819 But before we do that, please join me in prayer. 00:06:14.819 --> 00:06:20.480 Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of your word. 00:06:20.680 --> 00:06:22.300 We thank you that you have spoken. 00:06:23.279 --> 00:06:26.019 We pray, Lord, that we would experience the power of your word this morning. 00:06:27.060 --> 00:06:29.079 I pray, Lord, that we would hear from you. 00:06:30.800 --> 00:06:36.360 I pray, Lord, that you would increase our expectation of what you can do when you speak. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:39.439 And I pray that you would go beyond our expectations. 00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:42.579 I pray, Lord, that you would bring life. 00:06:44.719 --> 00:06:49.139 I pray, Lord, that you would be merciful to us and speak to us and change us. 00:06:50.060 --> 00:06:51.699 And I ask this in Jesus' name. 00:06:52.420 --> 00:06:52.699 Amen. 00:06:53.860 --> 00:06:54.240 Amen. 00:06:55.279 --> 00:07:01.279 One thing we all need as people, one of the things that is necessary as people, 00:07:01.379 --> 00:07:02.819 is we all need hope. 00:07:04.300 --> 00:07:05.439 We all need hope. 00:07:05.439 --> 00:07:10.660 We can, as people, people can go through the most horrific things, 00:07:10.740 --> 00:07:12.199 the most terrible things in life, 00:07:12.500 --> 00:07:16.040 and they can just keep going as long as they have hope. 00:07:16.680 --> 00:07:18.139 As long as there's something they're looking forward to, 00:07:18.220 --> 00:07:19.779 something they've got their eye on, 00:07:20.060 --> 00:07:21.959 they can go through incredible things. 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:23.240 And you look through history and you think, 00:07:23.459 --> 00:07:26.779 how did this person go through that or endure through that? 00:07:26.800 --> 00:07:28.300 And you think they had hope. 00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:29.360 Hope kept them going. 00:07:30.220 --> 00:07:34.139 And as soon as we lose hope, it's all over. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:35.919 Our souls need hope. 00:07:36.039 --> 00:07:36.719 We need hope. 00:07:36.819 --> 00:07:39.379 And so as people are constantly looking for hope, 00:07:39.439 --> 00:07:41.479 we're constantly searching for hope. 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:46.500 And Christians, we know that we have hope. 00:07:47.459 --> 00:07:48.979 There is a hope of the gospel. 00:07:49.180 --> 00:07:50.599 There's a hope in Jesus. 00:07:51.599 --> 00:07:57.300 And so what I want us to do really today is think about what the Christian hope looks like, 00:07:57.360 --> 00:07:58.979 what the hope of the gospel looks like. 00:07:58.980 --> 00:08:02.300 And what we're going to see is that it's a very special kind of hope. 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:05.140 A very different kind of hope. 00:08:05.980 --> 00:08:08.620 And yet it's the only hope that lasts forever. 00:08:08.780 --> 00:08:12.280 It's the only hope that actually will count for anything in the end. 00:08:12.700 --> 00:08:16.200 And we're going to start by looking at where this hope begins. 00:08:17.280 --> 00:08:18.560 And the one thing about this hope, 00:08:18.600 --> 00:08:19.980 the first thing I want you to see about this hope, 00:08:20.580 --> 00:08:23.800 is that this hope begins with death. 00:08:23.800 --> 00:08:30.660 This hope, the hope of the gospel, it begins where there is no hope. 00:08:30.720 --> 00:08:32.200 It begins where hope is dead. 00:08:32.259 --> 00:08:34.799 Look with me at the first three verses of Ezekiel 37. 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:35.359 Ezekiel 37. 00:08:37.599 --> 00:08:39.079 The hand of the Lord was on me, 00:08:39.659 --> 00:08:41.740 and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord 00:08:41.740 --> 00:08:43.339 and set me in the middle of a valley. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.939 It was full of bones. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:47.740 He led me to and fro among them, 00:08:47.819 --> 00:08:50.259 and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, 00:08:50.759 --> 00:08:52.079 bones that were very dry. 00:08:52.539 --> 00:08:53.459 He asked me, 00:08:53.639 --> 00:08:56.519 Son of man, can these bones live? 00:08:56.579 --> 00:09:00.079 I said, Sovereign Lord, you alone know. 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:05.700 Ezekiel is taken to a valley full of dry bones. 00:09:07.460 --> 00:09:12.060 It's difficult to imagine a situation that's more hopeless than this vision, 00:09:12.300 --> 00:09:15.120 or at least this situation that Ezekiel was brought to. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:21.120 God could have brought Ezekiel to a valley full of people who were really sick. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:25.340 And that would have been tragic if you saw a valley just full of people, 00:09:25.400 --> 00:09:25.960 and they were all sick. 00:09:26.140 --> 00:09:27.320 That would be really tragic. 00:09:27.440 --> 00:09:28.100 That would be sad. 00:09:28.100 --> 00:09:30.840 But it's worse than that. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.860 God could have brought Ezekiel to a valley full of people who were just really injured. 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:36.620 They were all hurt in one way or the other. 00:09:37.080 --> 00:09:39.600 And that would have been quite hard and tough, 00:09:39.720 --> 00:09:41.220 but it's worse than that. 00:09:42.060 --> 00:09:45.279 God could have even brought Ezekiel to a valley full of people who were dead, 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:47.139 dead bodies all over the valley. 00:09:47.820 --> 00:09:50.019 And you would think that's hopeless. 00:09:51.460 --> 00:09:53.259 But it's more hopeless than that, 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:55.240 because it's not just a valley full of dead bodies. 00:09:55.460 --> 00:09:57.200 It's a valley full of bones. 00:09:58.100 --> 00:10:00.420 And they're not just bones. 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:02.560 The Bible says they're dry bones. 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:05.379 And they're not even just dry bones. 00:10:05.659 --> 00:10:09.500 The Bible goes further to say the bones are very dry. 00:10:09.500 --> 00:10:12.820 So picture this. 00:10:12.879 --> 00:10:14.480 Picture Ezekiel in a valley, 00:10:15.080 --> 00:10:16.399 and he's full of bones. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:17.700 And they're not just bones. 00:10:18.019 --> 00:10:19.299 They're dry bones. 00:10:19.840 --> 00:10:22.000 Disconnected human dry bones. 00:10:24.519 --> 00:10:27.159 Again, it's impossible to really imagine a situation 00:10:27.159 --> 00:10:30.279 that is more hopeless than this vision. 00:10:30.620 --> 00:10:32.639 And the question that God asks Ezekiel is, 00:10:32.720 --> 00:10:35.340 Ezekiel, can these bones live? 00:10:35.340 --> 00:10:40.560 And in one sense, the obvious answer is, of course not. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.500 Now, okay, that's the vision. 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.300 What's it all about? 00:10:44.620 --> 00:10:46.259 What's the dry bones all about? 00:10:46.340 --> 00:10:52.740 Well, the passage tells us that really it's speaking about the situation of Israel at the time. 00:10:53.680 --> 00:10:55.200 So skip ahead with me, verse 11. 00:10:55.200 --> 00:10:57.200 It says this, 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:58.280 Then he said to me, 00:10:58.600 --> 00:11:01.060 Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. 00:11:01.320 --> 00:11:05.200 They say, our bones are dried up, and our hope is gone. 00:11:06.140 --> 00:11:07.620 We are cut off. 00:11:09.040 --> 00:11:13.940 So the hopelessness of this valley is picturing the hopelessness of Israel at the time. 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:18.160 Now, to understand that, you need to understand something about the history of Israel. 00:11:19.379 --> 00:11:21.980 The Bible tells us that God had chosen Israel. 00:11:22.160 --> 00:11:24.200 God had rescued Israel from Egypt. 00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:27.480 God had done many wonderful things for Israel. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:28.840 God had provided for Israel. 00:11:29.320 --> 00:11:30.920 God had given his word to Israel. 00:11:31.440 --> 00:11:32.720 They had his law. 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:33.800 They had his prophets. 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:40.160 And yet, in spite of all of God's goodness to Israel, again and again, Israel had sinned. 00:11:41.100 --> 00:11:43.580 Again and again, Israel had turned away from the Lord. 00:11:43.700 --> 00:11:45.820 Again and again, they had disobeyed God. 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:48.940 And God would warn them and warn them and warn them. 00:11:48.940 --> 00:11:51.920 But they persisted in sin and sin and sin. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.799 And so God, again, would send judgment. 00:11:56.439 --> 00:11:59.639 And yet, in spite of the judgment, they would continue in sin. 00:12:00.059 --> 00:12:06.519 And so eventually what happens, earlier in the book of Ezekiel, Ezekiel sees a vision of God's glory leaving the temple. 00:12:06.519 --> 00:12:12.120 And yet, even in spite of that, Israel continues to sin. 00:12:12.120 --> 00:12:14.019 And God sends a man called Nebuchadnezzar. 00:12:14.080 --> 00:12:14.919 He's king of Babylon. 00:12:15.179 --> 00:12:18.740 And he comes and he takes some people and he takes them to exile. 00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:19.679 People like Ezekiel. 00:12:19.960 --> 00:12:21.179 And he takes them to Babylon. 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:23.759 And again, it's a warning sign. 00:12:24.299 --> 00:12:25.360 Guys, you need to stop. 00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:27.279 But Israel continues in sin. 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:35.240 All the way to the moment where King Nebuchadnezzar comes and he destroys the temple. 00:12:35.899 --> 00:12:37.639 And he destroys Jerusalem. 00:12:37.639 --> 00:12:40.919 And he carries the people off into exile. 00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:45.399 And now the people of Israel, they're not in their homeland. 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:46.759 They're not in the promised land. 00:12:47.379 --> 00:12:47.879 They're away. 00:12:48.039 --> 00:12:49.580 The temple has been destroyed. 00:12:49.919 --> 00:12:52.019 And they're away in a foreign land. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:59.159 And if you looked at their situation, it looks as if the future of Israel is over. 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:01.539 It's hopeless. 00:13:01.659 --> 00:13:02.100 It's done. 00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:05.120 There were opportunities to turn back. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:07.540 But now, Jerusalem is destroyed. 00:13:07.899 --> 00:13:09.920 God's temple has been utterly destroyed. 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:12.139 The people have been carried off into Babylon. 00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:13.440 Their future is over. 00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:14.019 That's what they say. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:14.540 Verse 11. 00:13:14.840 --> 00:13:16.340 Our hope is cut off. 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:17.879 They are dead. 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:29.019 And if you're wondering what that has to do with us, what it has to do with us is that this isn't just speaking about Israel being dead. 00:13:29.019 --> 00:13:33.679 The Bible actually says that we, by nature, are also dead. 00:13:36.059 --> 00:13:39.899 By nature, naturally, we are actually in a situation where we are hopeless. 00:13:40.620 --> 00:13:42.820 The book of Ephesians, you don't have to turn that. 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.720 I'll read it. 00:13:43.720 --> 00:13:48.920 Ephesians chapter 2, verse 1 to 3, gives us a picture of what we are like. 00:13:49.440 --> 00:13:50.500 And it says this. 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:59.920 As for you, you are dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live, when you followed the ways of this world, 00:14:00.220 --> 00:14:05.700 and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:13.800 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh, and following its desires and thoughts. 00:14:14.080 --> 00:14:18.860 Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:21.720 We are dead. 00:14:23.420 --> 00:14:27.720 As it relates to any hope of life with God, we are hopeless. 00:14:28.500 --> 00:14:31.100 We have no ability to get to God. 00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:34.600 We are, by nature, just like that valley of dry bones. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:37.659 Disconnected, dry bones, hopeless. 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.759 Dead, cannot move, cannot make our way to God. 00:14:42.259 --> 00:14:42.379 Right? 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.920 Cut off from God. 00:14:46.080 --> 00:14:48.580 Christian hope, the hope of the gospel, starts here. 00:14:48.580 --> 00:14:56.320 It starts here with people who realize that no matter what we can do, you know, many of us, we do lots of stuff. 00:14:56.460 --> 00:14:57.460 We go for runs. 00:14:57.540 --> 00:14:58.400 Maybe we exercise. 00:14:58.780 --> 00:15:00.200 We're successful with our jobs. 00:15:00.280 --> 00:15:01.300 We play about with our families. 00:15:01.540 --> 00:15:02.700 We can do all these things. 00:15:02.800 --> 00:15:06.040 But as it relates to life with God, we are dead. 00:15:07.400 --> 00:15:08.100 And hopeless. 00:15:09.660 --> 00:15:13.400 And that's why, actually, you know, there's lots of self-help stuff, right? 00:15:13.399 --> 00:15:18.779 You know, how to improve your life, how to get better, how to, you know, change your habits. 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:20.919 And, you know, some of those things are helpful. 00:15:21.480 --> 00:15:25.679 But self-help, as it relates to life with God, is useless. 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:32.039 What self-help can you give to a valley full of dry bones? 00:15:33.899 --> 00:15:34.100 Right? 00:15:34.559 --> 00:15:35.199 Dry bones. 00:15:35.379 --> 00:15:36.340 Here's some life advice. 00:15:36.439 --> 00:15:38.419 Here's how you can, you know, move on in life. 00:15:38.759 --> 00:15:39.519 They're dead. 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:41.379 Dry bones. 00:15:41.379 --> 00:15:43.500 Can't do anything. 00:15:44.840 --> 00:15:48.039 Self-help, as it relates to our life with God, is useless. 00:15:48.220 --> 00:15:50.340 We are, by nature, dead, dry bones. 00:15:50.620 --> 00:15:51.399 And we begin. 00:15:51.519 --> 00:15:55.120 It's so important that we realize that it begins here. 00:15:56.960 --> 00:16:02.259 The hope of the gospel doesn't begin by saying, you can make it, or you can do it, or things aren't that bad. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:04.200 It begins by saying, things are terrible. 00:16:04.639 --> 00:16:05.019 Awful. 00:16:05.340 --> 00:16:06.340 Worse than you could imagine. 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.659 You're actually hopeless. 00:16:07.659 --> 00:16:12.079 That's where the hope of the gospel begins. 00:16:14.199 --> 00:16:16.000 And so, there's this dry bones. 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:18.759 Dead, dry, very dry bones. 00:16:19.219 --> 00:16:20.159 And yet there's hope. 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:24.059 And the hope is found in God's word. 00:16:25.120 --> 00:16:26.480 Look with me from verse 4. 00:16:26.480 --> 00:16:35.139 Then he said to me, prophesy to these bones and say to them, dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 00:16:35.300 --> 00:16:37.460 This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones. 00:16:38.300 --> 00:16:38.460 Right? 00:16:38.980 --> 00:16:42.279 I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. 00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:46.379 I will attach tendons to you, and make flesh come upon you, and cover you with skin. 00:16:46.620 --> 00:16:48.480 I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:51.080 Then you will know that I am the Lord. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:16:52.600 Verse 4. 00:16:52.840 --> 00:16:59.159 He says, prophesy to these bones and say to them, dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 00:16:59.720 --> 00:17:03.560 So, God speaks, and God says to the dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 00:17:06.120 --> 00:17:08.180 But there's a problem here. 00:17:08.980 --> 00:17:09.900 There's a problem. 00:17:11.240 --> 00:17:21.740 And if this passage doesn't seem weird, or if you don't see the problem here, it's probably because maybe you've heard the passage too many times, or you're just not paying enough attention. 00:17:22.140 --> 00:17:22.900 There's a problem here. 00:17:23.560 --> 00:17:25.440 God tells Ezekiel to speak to dry bones. 00:17:25.519 --> 00:17:26.080 But what's the problem? 00:17:26.160 --> 00:17:30.080 The problem is, dry bones can't hear. 00:17:30.079 --> 00:17:39.220 You don't actually, you know, you don't need to be a doctor to know that dry bones don't have ears. 00:17:40.740 --> 00:17:43.919 So, there's this hope that's found in God speaking, but what's the problem? 00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:46.019 The first problem is, they can't hear. 00:17:46.179 --> 00:17:47.220 The dry bones can't hear. 00:17:48.519 --> 00:17:51.899 This sounds like just an exercise in futility. 00:17:52.480 --> 00:17:56.559 Why is Ezekiel speaking to dry bones that do not have the ability to hear him? 00:17:58.559 --> 00:17:58.559 00:18:00.079 --> 00:18:01.619 It's not just true hair. 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:02.799 It's actually true. 00:18:02.960 --> 00:18:04.980 Throughout the Bible, you see this kind of thing. 00:18:05.599 --> 00:18:11.720 Jesus, when Jesus came and lived on the earth, John 11 tells us that Jesus has a friend called Lazarus. 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:14.839 And this friend Lazarus, he dies. 00:18:16.539 --> 00:18:17.799 And he's been dead. 00:18:17.859 --> 00:18:20.019 And he's not just been dead one day or two days or three days. 00:18:20.039 --> 00:18:21.339 He's been dead four days. 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:25.399 And so Jesus goes, and he goes to the place where Lazarus is buried. 00:18:25.939 --> 00:18:29.119 And Jesus does the most just bizarre thing. 00:18:29.119 --> 00:18:31.719 Jesus speaks to Lazarus. 00:18:33.779 --> 00:18:35.439 He speaks to Lazarus. 00:18:35.959 --> 00:18:36.879 But what's the problem? 00:18:36.959 --> 00:18:37.679 It's the same problem. 00:18:37.879 --> 00:18:38.839 Lazarus is dead. 00:18:39.459 --> 00:18:40.799 Here's a fun fact about dead people. 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.500 Dead people cannot hear. 00:18:44.039 --> 00:18:44.259 Right? 00:18:44.759 --> 00:18:45.379 This doesn't make sense. 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:50.259 Jesus, surely you have to raise Lazarus or do something to Lazarus first. 00:18:50.579 --> 00:18:52.479 And then you can speak to Lazarus. 00:18:53.439 --> 00:18:55.319 Surely when Ezekiel is with his valley of dry bones, 00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:57.099 he has to do something to do dry bones, 00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:59.539 and then maybe he can speak to the dry bones. 00:18:59.759 --> 00:19:03.339 But Jesus speaks to a person that cannot hear him. 00:19:06.859 --> 00:19:10.799 And Ezekiel speaks to a valley of dry bones that cannot, 00:19:10.980 --> 00:19:12.700 do not have the ability to hear him. 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.960 And yet, here's the amazing thing. 00:19:14.960 --> 00:19:17.819 Ezekiel speaks God's word. 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:22.000 And dead, dry bones hear God's word. 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:24.900 They hear and respond to God's word. 00:19:25.120 --> 00:19:25.620 Verse 7. 00:19:27.279 --> 00:19:28.960 So I prophesied as I was commanded. 00:19:29.259 --> 00:19:30.420 And as I was prophesying, 00:19:30.620 --> 00:19:32.740 there was a noise, a rustling sound, 00:19:32.940 --> 00:19:34.740 and the bones came together, bone to bone. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:37.759 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them, 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:39.860 and skin covered them. 00:19:39.859 --> 00:19:44.679 Here's the point, and it's an amazing point. 00:19:45.759 --> 00:19:49.079 God's word has the ability to give, 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:53.359 is able to give us the ability to hear. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:00.519 God's word is able to give us the ability to hear. 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:05.219 So when Jesus speaks to Lazarus, 00:20:06.459 --> 00:20:07.899 there's an amazing miracle. 00:20:07.900 --> 00:20:10.560 The amazing miracle is that Lazarus comes back to life. 00:20:10.880 --> 00:20:12.640 But before that miracle, there's another miracle. 00:20:13.080 --> 00:20:14.800 As Jesus speaks to Lazarus, 00:20:15.259 --> 00:20:18.759 the word itself gives Lazarus the ability to hear Jesus. 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:22.019 Somehow Lazarus hears Jesus. 00:20:22.860 --> 00:20:24.100 A dead person hears. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:26.160 And it's the same thing right here, right? 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:28.460 These dead, dry bones that naturally 00:20:28.460 --> 00:20:29.800 don't have the ability to hear, 00:20:30.180 --> 00:20:32.440 somehow, as the word is spoken, 00:20:32.940 --> 00:20:35.400 they gain the ability to hear, to respond. 00:20:37.900 --> 00:20:40.300 And the reason why that's amazing is this. 00:20:41.100 --> 00:20:45.740 God's word needs nothing from us to work. 00:20:47.220 --> 00:20:47.519 Right? 00:20:47.780 --> 00:20:48.740 It doesn't need, 00:20:49.019 --> 00:20:50.400 there doesn't have to be anything 00:20:50.400 --> 00:20:52.580 for God's word to take effect. 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:55.519 God can speak to bones that cannot hear, 00:20:55.880 --> 00:20:57.759 and grant the very ability to hear. 00:20:58.560 --> 00:21:00.960 God can speak to Lazarus, who's dead, 00:21:00.960 --> 00:21:05.140 and grant, the word itself can grant the ability to hear, 00:21:05.779 --> 00:21:07.319 and to respond, right? 00:21:07.579 --> 00:21:10.759 God's word has the ability to give us the ability to hear. 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:12.600 And it's the same thing that you see 00:21:12.600 --> 00:21:14.700 right at the beginning of our Bible, 00:21:14.819 --> 00:21:15.900 the beginning of our world, 00:21:16.120 --> 00:21:18.299 there's nothing, absolutely nothing. 00:21:18.680 --> 00:21:19.680 And what does God do? 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:20.620 God speaks. 00:21:20.619 --> 00:21:23.679 And God says, let there be light. 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.379 And there was nothing. 00:21:24.479 --> 00:21:25.219 And all of a sudden, 00:21:25.479 --> 00:21:27.779 because God's word has life-giving power, 00:21:27.959 --> 00:21:29.279 light just comes out. 00:21:30.219 --> 00:21:31.699 Because God's word has the ability 00:21:31.699 --> 00:21:33.279 to do that kind of thing. 00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.719 Again, you look at the Gospels. 00:21:37.779 --> 00:21:39.139 That's why Jesus goes around, 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.939 and he tells people to do things 00:21:40.939 --> 00:21:42.199 they cannot do. 00:21:43.739 --> 00:21:43.859 Right? 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:46.619 One time, Jesus sees a lame man, 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:47.619 and you know what he tells the lame man? 00:21:47.619 --> 00:21:50.259 He says, get up, take your mat, and walk. 00:21:50.619 --> 00:21:53.879 Jesus, he's lame. 00:21:54.879 --> 00:21:56.019 He can't walk. 00:21:56.959 --> 00:21:59.019 Why do you tell him to get up and walk? 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.179 Right? 00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:02.219 Or Jesus sees a man with a withered hand, 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.379 and he tells him, stretch out your hand. 00:22:05.000 --> 00:22:08.759 And it's like, well, his hand's withered. 00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.639 Obviously, he can't stretch out his hand. 00:22:12.339 --> 00:22:14.779 But Jesus says, he tells them, 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:16.279 he says, get up and walk. 00:22:16.279 --> 00:22:17.699 He tells the man, stretch out your hand. 00:22:17.939 --> 00:22:19.039 And the amazing thing happens, 00:22:19.039 --> 00:22:21.500 that as Jesus' word goes to them, 00:22:22.059 --> 00:22:24.339 the word grants the ability to respond. 00:22:25.259 --> 00:22:27.099 So as Jesus tells this lame man 00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.460 to get up and walk, 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:30.619 through his word, somehow strength 00:22:30.619 --> 00:22:32.139 gets into this man's legs. 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:35.059 And he's able to actually get up and walk. 00:22:36.059 --> 00:22:37.799 And somehow, as Jesus tells this man 00:22:37.799 --> 00:22:38.379 with a withered hand, 00:22:38.519 --> 00:22:39.519 to stretch out your hand, 00:22:39.940 --> 00:22:42.220 the word itself carries this power, 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:44.019 and it grants the ability for this man 00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.839 to actually stretch out his hand. 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:49.079 God's word, it meets nothing. 00:22:49.299 --> 00:22:50.639 It meets hopelessness. 00:22:50.639 --> 00:22:52.059 It meets deadness. 00:22:52.400 --> 00:22:53.559 And it grants life. 00:22:54.740 --> 00:22:57.160 It grants the ability to respond. 00:22:58.920 --> 00:23:00.940 And if you're here today, you're a Christian, 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:02.639 that's the same thing that happened to you. 00:23:03.799 --> 00:23:05.599 Ephesians 2, you are dead in sins, 00:23:05.720 --> 00:23:06.480 far from God. 00:23:06.920 --> 00:23:08.980 You didn't have an ability to respond to God. 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.720 But guess what? 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:12.019 The gospel is the power of God for salvation. 00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:14.600 And so when the gospel was preached to you, 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:16.420 that gospel came with power. 00:23:17.100 --> 00:23:18.839 And you heard God. 00:23:19.539 --> 00:23:21.259 And you were able to respond to God 00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.360 because God's word has power. 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:25.319 And that's what happens to us 00:23:25.319 --> 00:23:26.539 and that's what happened to Israel. 00:23:27.319 --> 00:23:30.019 Israel's hope was through God's words. 00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:32.200 Verse 11, again. 00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:35.019 He said to me, 00:23:35.059 --> 00:23:37.019 Son of man, these bones are the people of Israel. 00:23:37.140 --> 00:23:38.640 They say, our bones are dried up 00:23:38.640 --> 00:23:39.579 and our hope is gone. 00:23:39.579 --> 00:23:40.419 We are cut off. 00:23:40.839 --> 00:23:42.359 Therefore, prophesy and say to them, 00:23:42.439 --> 00:23:43.819 this is what the sovereign Lord says. 00:23:44.179 --> 00:23:46.079 My people, I'm going to open your graves 00:23:46.079 --> 00:23:47.419 and bring you up from them. 00:23:47.659 --> 00:23:49.480 I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 00:23:49.819 --> 00:23:51.980 Then you, my people, will know that I am the Lord 00:23:51.980 --> 00:23:52.980 when I open your graves 00:23:52.980 --> 00:23:54.379 and bring you up from them. 00:23:55.859 --> 00:23:57.659 Israel, in a far off country, 00:23:58.119 --> 00:23:59.379 the temple was destroyed, 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:00.679 Jerusalem was burnt, 00:24:01.099 --> 00:24:02.079 the hope was cut off. 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.099 But you know what God did? 00:24:03.199 --> 00:24:03.839 God spoke. 00:24:05.699 --> 00:24:06.759 God gave promises 00:24:06.759 --> 00:24:08.419 and those promises had life. 00:24:08.420 --> 00:24:09.759 And you know what happened? 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:13.300 God actually brought Israelites back into the land. 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:16.300 And the gates that were destroyed were rebuilt. 00:24:16.620 --> 00:24:18.160 And the temple was rebuilt. 00:24:18.660 --> 00:24:19.720 How did that happen? 00:24:20.200 --> 00:24:21.779 It happened because God spoke. 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:25.720 And it wasn't because the situation wasn't that bad. 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:27.279 The situation was hopeless. 00:24:28.420 --> 00:24:29.500 Israel was about to be like, 00:24:29.559 --> 00:24:30.879 just like all the other nations 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:32.740 which had been exiled and forgotten 00:24:32.740 --> 00:24:34.299 to be remembered no more. 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:35.639 But God spoke. 00:24:35.859 --> 00:24:36.960 And as soon as God spoke, 00:24:37.039 --> 00:24:37.680 there was hope. 00:24:39.279 --> 00:24:41.079 And that's the same thing that God does 00:24:41.079 --> 00:24:42.279 with us today. 00:24:42.660 --> 00:24:43.599 God speaks. 00:24:45.160 --> 00:24:48.059 And God's word needs nothing to work. 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:50.960 Because God's word has life in and of itself. 00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.399 And you would think, 00:24:53.839 --> 00:24:55.220 if you're reading through this, 00:24:55.220 --> 00:24:57.519 this valley of dry bones, 00:24:57.619 --> 00:25:00.399 you would think that that would be the end of the thing. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:03.799 Dead, God speaks, life, end of story. 00:25:03.940 --> 00:25:06.399 But there's still a problem here. 00:25:07.299 --> 00:25:08.579 Look at me again at verse 7. 00:25:08.579 --> 00:25:11.919 So I prophesied as I was commanded. 00:25:12.339 --> 00:25:13.319 And I was prophesying. 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:17.099 There was a noise, a rustling sound. 00:25:17.179 --> 00:25:18.899 And the bones came together, bone to bone. 00:25:19.279 --> 00:25:21.699 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them. 00:25:21.960 --> 00:25:23.079 And skin covered them. 00:25:23.519 --> 00:25:26.759 But there was no breath in them. 00:25:30.119 --> 00:25:31.500 So the bones have come together. 00:25:31.759 --> 00:25:33.179 There's skin, there's flesh. 00:25:33.319 --> 00:25:34.419 But there's no breath in them. 00:25:35.420 --> 00:25:37.120 Now, in order to understand this, 00:25:37.340 --> 00:25:38.779 in order to understand what's going on, 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:40.400 you need to understand, 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:42.160 there's a kind of a word play here. 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.700 The word breath, 00:25:43.940 --> 00:25:45.019 it's written in Hebrew, 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:46.019 is the same word for spirit. 00:25:46.100 --> 00:25:46.580 You'll see that. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.960 There's a footnote in verse 5, 00:25:48.360 --> 00:25:49.100 in your Bibles, 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:51.420 and that tells you that the word for breath 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:52.779 is the same as the word for spirit. 00:25:55.820 --> 00:25:57.560 The reason why the bones come together 00:25:57.560 --> 00:25:58.440 and the flesh come together, 00:25:58.519 --> 00:25:59.200 but there's no life, 00:25:59.300 --> 00:26:00.940 is that there's no spirit. 00:26:00.940 --> 00:26:04.180 They need, 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.460 if there is to be life, 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:08.340 they need the spirit. 00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:12.080 God needs to give his spirit. 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:14.080 Again, look at me at verse 9. 00:26:13.940 --> 00:26:15.940 He said to me, 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.120 prophesy to the breath, 00:26:17.440 --> 00:26:18.660 prophesy, son of man, 00:26:18.720 --> 00:26:19.420 and say to it, 00:26:19.620 --> 00:26:21.039 this is what the sovereign Lord says, 00:26:21.160 --> 00:26:23.000 come breath from the full wind 00:26:23.000 --> 00:26:24.940 and breathe into these slain 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.080 that they may live. 00:26:26.480 --> 00:26:28.460 So I prophesied as he commanded me, 00:26:28.620 --> 00:26:29.940 and breath entered them. 00:26:29.940 --> 00:26:31.120 They came to life 00:26:31.120 --> 00:26:32.500 and stood up on their feet, 00:26:32.860 --> 00:26:34.140 a vast army. 00:26:34.279 --> 00:26:35.400 And then skip down to verse 14, 00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:36.039 the interpretation. 00:26:36.640 --> 00:26:38.120 I will put my spirit in you, 00:26:38.220 --> 00:26:39.240 and you will live, 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:41.680 and I will settle you in your own land. 00:26:42.059 --> 00:26:43.340 Then you will know that I, 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:43.799 the Lord, 00:26:43.860 --> 00:26:45.400 have spoken and have done it, 00:26:45.820 --> 00:26:47.059 declares the Lord. 00:26:47.820 --> 00:26:49.100 The point of this is, 00:26:49.559 --> 00:26:50.600 if there will be life, 00:26:50.700 --> 00:26:51.640 if there's going to be hope, 00:26:51.779 --> 00:26:53.059 we need God's word, 00:26:53.160 --> 00:26:55.120 and we need God's spirit. 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.580 That's the point. 00:26:57.939 --> 00:26:58.879 We need God's word, 00:26:58.960 --> 00:27:00.079 and we need God's spirit. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.659 The point here isn't, 00:27:03.159 --> 00:27:03.639 you know, 00:27:03.699 --> 00:27:04.720 the word does a little bit, 00:27:04.799 --> 00:27:06.059 and then the spirit does a little bit. 00:27:06.179 --> 00:27:06.699 That's not the point. 00:27:06.879 --> 00:27:07.379 The point is, 00:27:07.460 --> 00:27:08.659 unless we have God's word, 00:27:08.740 --> 00:27:09.659 and we have God's spirit, 00:27:09.960 --> 00:27:11.559 there will be no life. 00:27:13.220 --> 00:27:14.199 For there to be life, 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.960 for there to be hope, 00:27:15.059 --> 00:27:15.899 we need God's word, 00:27:15.980 --> 00:27:17.799 and we need God's spirit. 00:27:18.039 --> 00:27:19.759 This is emphasizing for us, 00:27:19.819 --> 00:27:21.480 our need for God's spirit. 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:25.019 And that's important, 00:27:25.120 --> 00:27:26.400 because one of the things it teaches us, 00:27:26.460 --> 00:27:26.799 is that, 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.599 when it comes to this life, 00:27:29.220 --> 00:27:30.180 God is sovereign. 00:27:32.299 --> 00:27:32.980 In other words, 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:34.400 we can preach the word, 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.380 we can hear the word, 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:37.200 we can read the word ourselves, 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:39.240 but unless God gives his spirit, 00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:40.579 there will be no life. 00:27:42.440 --> 00:27:43.039 That's why, 00:27:43.140 --> 00:27:44.240 when we preach in churches, 00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.079 we pray, 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.740 we pray. 00:27:46.059 --> 00:27:46.940 Because it doesn't matter, 00:27:47.059 --> 00:27:47.940 how well Steve preaches. 00:27:48.640 --> 00:27:49.640 He could preach, 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.259 and preach, 00:27:50.400 --> 00:27:50.900 and preach, 00:27:51.019 --> 00:27:52.180 and make it clear, 00:27:52.359 --> 00:27:52.539 and so, 00:27:52.700 --> 00:27:53.380 but guess what? 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:54.700 Unless God gives his spirit, 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:56.160 there will be no life. 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.160 That's why, 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:00.500 when we're reading our Bible at home, 00:28:00.680 --> 00:28:01.720 we don't just read our Bible, 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.380 we pray, 00:28:02.480 --> 00:28:03.400 we ask for God's help, 00:28:03.460 --> 00:28:04.700 because apart from God's help, 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.539 by his spirit, 00:28:05.859 --> 00:28:07.220 there will be no life. 00:28:07.579 --> 00:28:07.819 Yes, 00:28:07.859 --> 00:28:08.700 we need God's word. 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:10.140 God's word brings life, 00:28:10.140 --> 00:28:11.200 but it brings life, 00:28:11.759 --> 00:28:12.920 through his spirit. 00:28:12.920 --> 00:28:16.180 Nothing happens, 00:28:16.279 --> 00:28:17.240 nothing happens, 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:18.720 unless God in his grace, 00:28:19.060 --> 00:28:20.200 gives us of his spirit. 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:20.820 That's why, 00:28:21.100 --> 00:28:21.500 you know, 00:28:21.539 --> 00:28:22.759 we're getting ready to come to church. 00:28:23.080 --> 00:28:23.880 We ought to be praying, 00:28:24.000 --> 00:28:24.140 God, 00:28:24.279 --> 00:28:25.640 give us of your spirit. 00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.600 Because it's the spirit that gives life. 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:33.380 We need the help of God's spirit. 00:28:33.779 --> 00:28:34.019 And yet, 00:28:34.100 --> 00:28:35.900 when God's word is given, 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:38.240 and God pours out his spirit, 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.420 very dry, 00:28:40.620 --> 00:28:41.320 dead bones, 00:28:41.700 --> 00:28:42.320 come to life. 00:28:42.920 --> 00:28:44.460 Hope, 00:28:45.039 --> 00:28:47.039 emerges from hopelessness. 00:28:47.640 --> 00:28:48.759 And all that is needed, 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.680 is God's word, 00:28:49.900 --> 00:28:50.460 and God's spirit. 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.300 Okay, 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:53.360 that's lots of stuff. 00:28:53.400 --> 00:28:54.019 What does that mean? 00:28:54.360 --> 00:28:55.360 Three things for us, 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.200 if you're here today, 00:28:56.259 --> 00:28:56.779 you're a believer, 00:28:57.279 --> 00:28:57.980 there's three things, 00:28:58.039 --> 00:28:59.560 I want you to take away from this. 00:29:00.060 --> 00:29:00.880 And if you're here today, 00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.580 you're not a believer, 00:29:01.640 --> 00:29:02.519 you're not trusting in Jesus, 00:29:02.880 --> 00:29:03.680 there's one thing, 00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:05.700 I want you to take away from this. 00:29:06.080 --> 00:29:06.500 So first, 00:29:06.560 --> 00:29:06.940 if you're here, 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:07.400 you're a believer, 00:29:07.400 --> 00:29:07.860 three things. 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.400 First thing, 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.080 this means, 00:29:10.840 --> 00:29:12.500 is that you ought to praise Jesus. 00:29:13.880 --> 00:29:15.300 You ought to praise Jesus. 00:29:15.640 --> 00:29:16.720 I say that because, 00:29:16.880 --> 00:29:18.340 this passage ought to remind you, 00:29:18.900 --> 00:29:20.140 that you were, 00:29:20.759 --> 00:29:21.080 dead, 00:29:21.480 --> 00:29:22.519 dry bones. 00:29:24.400 --> 00:29:25.440 You were, 00:29:25.560 --> 00:29:26.360 hopeless. 00:29:27.420 --> 00:29:28.980 You were dead in your sin. 00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:31.600 You had no hope, 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.800 of life with God. 00:29:32.799 --> 00:29:35.419 You had no relationship with God. 00:29:36.240 --> 00:29:36.500 You, 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:38.359 you weren't on your way to God. 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:40.200 You were as far away from God, 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.619 as could possibly be. 00:29:42.279 --> 00:29:43.500 And there was no way, 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:45.559 you could have ever made your way to him. 00:29:46.519 --> 00:29:47.799 You were lost. 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:50.200 And you were dead. 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:52.399 And yet, 00:29:52.859 --> 00:29:54.379 God had mercy on you. 00:29:55.639 --> 00:29:57.079 God had mercy on you. 00:29:57.079 --> 00:29:57.299 We, 00:29:57.299 --> 00:29:57.399 we, 00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.759 we started by singing, 00:29:58.960 --> 00:29:59.939 his mercy is more. 00:30:00.199 --> 00:30:01.319 God had mercy on you. 00:30:01.619 --> 00:30:03.199 Jesus had mercy on you. 00:30:03.799 --> 00:30:04.019 And so, 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:04.539 you know what he did? 00:30:04.619 --> 00:30:04.839 You, 00:30:04.919 --> 00:30:05.079 you, 00:30:05.139 --> 00:30:05.679 you were dead, 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.399 dry bones. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:07.939 You were a valley full of dead, 00:30:08.039 --> 00:30:08.319 dry bones. 00:30:08.379 --> 00:30:09.199 That's who you were. 00:30:10.199 --> 00:30:10.480 And yet, 00:30:10.500 --> 00:30:11.919 Jesus loved you so much. 00:30:11.980 --> 00:30:12.039 So, 00:30:12.059 --> 00:30:12.720 you know what Jesus did? 00:30:12.859 --> 00:30:15.539 He entered into your valley of dry bones. 00:30:16.460 --> 00:30:16.619 He, 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:18.139 he entered into our deadness. 00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:19.039 He, 00:30:19.099 --> 00:30:21.839 he came and he lived and he was beaten for us. 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.939 And he was bruised for us. 00:30:23.319 --> 00:30:23.899 More than that, 00:30:23.980 --> 00:30:25.119 he died for us. 00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:26.459 Our death, 00:30:26.539 --> 00:30:27.699 he took it upon himself. 00:30:28.419 --> 00:30:28.639 He, 00:30:28.679 --> 00:30:29.579 he did that for you. 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:30.099 Your hair, 00:30:30.359 --> 00:30:31.239 you're trusting in Jesus Christ. 00:30:31.319 --> 00:30:32.279 He did that for you. 00:30:32.859 --> 00:30:33.719 He died for you. 00:30:33.919 --> 00:30:35.059 And not only did he die for you, 00:30:35.099 --> 00:30:35.619 but praise God, 00:30:35.659 --> 00:30:36.839 he was raised for you. 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:39.359 He came back to life for you. 00:30:39.439 --> 00:30:41.519 And then he ascended to heaven for you. 00:30:41.959 --> 00:30:42.479 And again, 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:43.879 all of that would be amazing. 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:46.259 That would be more than enough reason to praise God. 00:30:46.399 --> 00:30:46.639 But, 00:30:46.719 --> 00:30:47.500 but more than that, 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.000 more than that, 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:49.719 he spoke his word to you. 00:30:50.919 --> 00:30:51.459 Your hair, 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:51.679 your, 00:30:51.719 --> 00:30:52.519 your trusting in Jesus. 00:30:52.659 --> 00:30:55.059 It's because Jesus made sure that someone, 00:30:55.119 --> 00:30:56.500 God spoke the gospel to you. 00:30:57.839 --> 00:30:58.439 You were dead, 00:30:58.479 --> 00:31:00.439 but he made sure he spoke the word to you. 00:31:00.579 --> 00:31:02.079 And he didn't just give you his word, 00:31:02.279 --> 00:31:04.119 but he poured out his spirit upon you. 00:31:05.899 --> 00:31:08.079 The reason you're here today and you are saying, 00:31:08.299 --> 00:31:08.919 you know, 00:31:08.939 --> 00:31:09.399 you can say, 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.559 I trust Jesus Christ. 00:31:10.639 --> 00:31:11.459 I believe Jesus Christ. 00:31:11.579 --> 00:31:14.939 It's because Jesus loved you so much that he died for you. 00:31:15.000 --> 00:31:16.379 And he spoke his word to you. 00:31:16.379 --> 00:31:20.159 And he poured out his spirit upon you so that you might have hope in him. 00:31:20.160 --> 00:31:23.080 And if all of that is true, 00:31:23.140 --> 00:31:24.500 you ought to praise Jesus. 00:31:25.720 --> 00:31:26.940 You want not to be, 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:32.620 shouldn't have to convince you or work hard to push you to praise Jesus. 00:31:32.779 --> 00:31:37.660 Cause you were dead and you were hopeless and you had nothing. 00:31:37.660 --> 00:31:39.960 And Jesus had mercy on you. 00:31:40.540 --> 00:31:44.840 And he gave you his spirit and he spoke his word and you have life. 00:31:45.040 --> 00:31:47.200 And now you come to church and you praise God. 00:31:47.380 --> 00:31:48.779 You didn't care about God before. 00:31:49.320 --> 00:31:51.100 You didn't want anything to do with God, 00:31:51.320 --> 00:31:52.840 but he had mercy on you. 00:31:52.880 --> 00:31:53.900 And so praise him. 00:31:55.900 --> 00:31:58.480 Spent all of your life praising Jesus. 00:31:59.060 --> 00:32:01.140 Because you were dead and he had mercy. 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.000 That's the first thing. 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.500 But secondly, 00:32:03.580 --> 00:32:04.400 secondly, 00:32:04.600 --> 00:32:05.360 believe Jesus. 00:32:05.359 --> 00:32:07.639 Believe Jesus. 00:32:08.899 --> 00:32:13.959 This passage reminds us that Jesus has the keys to death and Hades. 00:32:14.139 --> 00:32:16.919 Jesus is in the business of resurrecting. 00:32:17.199 --> 00:32:17.979 And you know what that means? 00:32:18.059 --> 00:32:20.159 That means he can do anything. 00:32:21.819 --> 00:32:22.879 So believe him. 00:32:25.559 --> 00:32:26.819 Now often as Christians, 00:32:27.219 --> 00:32:32.759 we get into situations in our lives where we think, 00:32:33.259 --> 00:32:33.399 ah, 00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.279 this is just hopeless. 00:32:35.819 --> 00:32:39.859 Maybe it's a sin that you've been kind of wrestling through for like many years. 00:32:40.059 --> 00:32:41.959 And you've tried, 00:32:42.079 --> 00:32:42.439 you've tried, 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:42.979 you've tried. 00:32:43.099 --> 00:32:44.259 And you're at that point where you think, 00:32:44.319 --> 00:32:44.719 you know what? 00:32:44.799 --> 00:32:45.119 Maybe, 00:32:45.899 --> 00:32:47.959 maybe I just won't ever be, 00:32:48.059 --> 00:32:48.279 you know, 00:32:48.339 --> 00:32:48.759 kill this. 00:32:48.859 --> 00:32:51.459 And maybe this will just be the thing I wrestle with through. 00:32:51.539 --> 00:32:53.519 Maybe it's just not possible for me to deal with it. 00:32:54.779 --> 00:32:55.939 Maybe it's a prayer request. 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:57.240 Maybe it's something you're praying for. 00:32:57.240 --> 00:32:57.660 And it's like, 00:32:57.720 --> 00:32:58.099 you know what? 00:32:58.160 --> 00:32:59.839 Maybe it's just not possible. 00:32:59.980 --> 00:33:01.259 Maybe it just can't happen. 00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:04.140 And if that's a question that you ask, 00:33:04.160 --> 00:33:04.920 and I think all Christians, 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:07.120 we get to situations where we ask this kind of question. 00:33:07.460 --> 00:33:10.059 It's very similar to the question that God asked Ezekiel. 00:33:10.059 --> 00:33:11.819 Can these dry bones live? 00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:15.500 And you know what the answer is? 00:33:15.799 --> 00:33:16.299 Yes, 00:33:16.919 --> 00:33:17.639 they can. 00:33:17.759 --> 00:33:19.679 Because our God is in the business of resurrection. 00:33:19.680 --> 00:33:24.759 You cannot be in a situation more hopeless than dead, 00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.519 dry bones. 00:33:26.299 --> 00:33:28.180 And as hopeless as that was, 00:33:28.779 --> 00:33:30.019 God raised you. 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.880 If that's true, 00:33:32.240 --> 00:33:33.759 there's nothing that God cannot do. 00:33:35.660 --> 00:33:38.039 There's no sin that God cannot break. 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:41.240 There's no prayer request that God cannot meet. 00:33:42.080 --> 00:33:43.480 If God did this, 00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:45.840 if God raised you from the dead, 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.960 if God did that, 00:33:47.279 --> 00:33:49.640 there is nothing in your life that he cannot do. 00:33:50.640 --> 00:33:51.039 Right? 00:33:51.259 --> 00:33:54.299 If you're in a moment where you're despairing that sin, 00:33:54.460 --> 00:33:54.620 you've, 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:56.120 I just can't do it. 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:56.820 I can't do it. 00:33:56.860 --> 00:33:58.060 There's no way I can change. 00:33:58.120 --> 00:33:59.060 I can't be any better. 00:33:59.500 --> 00:33:59.840 Good. 00:34:00.480 --> 00:34:01.620 That's a good place to be. 00:34:02.600 --> 00:34:03.960 That's where this passage starts. 00:34:04.220 --> 00:34:05.320 But that's not the end. 00:34:05.360 --> 00:34:05.840 Because when, 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:06.380 you know, 00:34:06.460 --> 00:34:07.519 when our hope ends, 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:08.720 God's hope begins. 00:34:10.500 --> 00:34:11.820 God can do anything. 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:13.880 Let me put it differently. 00:34:14.240 --> 00:34:18.639 The miracle behind you is far greater than the miracle ahead of you. 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:22.420 What God has already done in raising you, 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:26.359 that's way more impossible than anything you're asking God to do now. 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:31.039 You ought to look back so that you could have faith and look forward. 00:34:31.039 --> 00:34:35.320 I know that the God who raised you from the dead is able to kill sin. 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:37.320 And he's able to answer prayer. 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.980 We want not to be Christians who, 00:34:39.099 --> 00:34:39.320 you know, 00:34:39.599 --> 00:34:40.800 you know, 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:42.159 this will never happen or this will never, 00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:44.659 we serve a God who raises dead people. 00:34:44.659 --> 00:34:48.339 And so believe Jesus, 00:34:48.539 --> 00:34:49.779 trust Jesus. 00:34:50.940 --> 00:34:51.359 Thirdly, 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.460 lastly for you, 00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:52.899 if you're here, 00:34:53.139 --> 00:34:54.299 you're trusting in Jesus, 00:34:55.819 --> 00:34:56.739 speak Jesus. 00:34:58.319 --> 00:34:59.079 Speak Jesus. 00:34:59.079 --> 00:35:00.679 When you read through this, 00:35:00.679 --> 00:35:01.199 this, 00:35:01.199 --> 00:35:04.019 this account of the Valley of dry bones, 00:35:04.500 --> 00:35:07.299 you ought not to underestimate the role of Ezekiel. 00:35:08.559 --> 00:35:11.159 God doesn't just do this just by himself. 00:35:11.259 --> 00:35:11.840 Of course he could. 00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.380 He doesn't. 00:35:13.159 --> 00:35:13.739 He doesn't. 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:14.460 He, 00:35:14.519 --> 00:35:15.819 he uses Ezekiel. 00:35:16.199 --> 00:35:20.199 This amazing thing happens as Ezekiel speaks God's word. 00:35:20.199 --> 00:35:20.279 God. 00:35:22.460 --> 00:35:24.139 And I say that to say this, 00:35:24.339 --> 00:35:27.199 we're here, 00:35:27.460 --> 00:35:28.359 we're trusting in Jesus. 00:35:28.799 --> 00:35:33.659 And yet there are people in our lives who we know are not trusting in Jesus. 00:35:34.659 --> 00:35:35.779 There's maybe friends, 00:35:35.919 --> 00:35:38.439 there's family that we know are not trusting Jesus. 00:35:39.119 --> 00:35:40.299 And some of them, 00:35:41.039 --> 00:35:43.179 they just seem so far from God. 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:46.919 It feels like they're just so far away from the gospel. 00:35:47.500 --> 00:35:50.039 I can't even imagine this person coming to faith. 00:35:50.039 --> 00:35:51.360 Like I can't even imagine. 00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:52.860 You know what? 00:35:52.900 --> 00:35:53.940 I'm still praying for them. 00:35:54.019 --> 00:35:54.820 They're still on my prayer list. 00:35:54.900 --> 00:35:55.960 Cause you know, 00:35:56.000 --> 00:35:56.119 it's, 00:35:56.159 --> 00:35:57.000 it's a good thing to do, 00:35:57.099 --> 00:36:00.840 but I don't actually think that God can raise this person. 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:05.759 I don't actually think that this person could become a Christian because they just seem so far. 00:36:06.199 --> 00:36:07.539 They don't seem responsive. 00:36:09.000 --> 00:36:10.880 Here's the beautiful thing about this passage. 00:36:11.800 --> 00:36:14.659 God's word gives the ability to respond. 00:36:16.460 --> 00:36:19.019 What that means is your friend, 00:36:19.019 --> 00:36:19.960 your family member, 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:23.860 they don't have to be interested in Jesus for Jesus to give them life. 00:36:24.800 --> 00:36:27.920 They don't have to seem close to Jesus for Jesus to give them life. 00:36:28.139 --> 00:36:29.739 There was a valley full of dry bones. 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:31.639 And Ezekiel spoke God's word. 00:36:31.800 --> 00:36:32.920 And God gave life. 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:36.519 Our responsibility is to teach the gospel. 00:36:36.619 --> 00:36:37.599 We share the gospel. 00:36:37.920 --> 00:36:40.059 And the gospel is the power of God to save. 00:36:40.059 --> 00:36:43.039 And so God meets people who are not looking for him. 00:36:43.259 --> 00:36:46.320 God meets people who are dead in their sin and God gives them life. 00:36:46.940 --> 00:36:48.259 It doesn't matter how, 00:36:48.619 --> 00:36:48.880 you know, 00:36:48.960 --> 00:36:50.460 against the gospel they are. 00:36:50.860 --> 00:36:54.380 Keep seeking opportunities to share the gospel with them. 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:56.139 I know that as you preach the gospel, 00:36:56.559 --> 00:36:57.659 God gives his spirit. 00:36:57.940 --> 00:36:59.159 And as God gives his spirit, 00:36:59.579 --> 00:37:00.900 dead people come to life. 00:37:02.420 --> 00:37:02.579 You know, 00:37:02.639 --> 00:37:03.440 there's a guy called Saul. 00:37:04.220 --> 00:37:07.559 The Bible says that God saved him when he was on his road to Damascus. 00:37:08.179 --> 00:37:09.260 Why was he going to Damascus? 00:37:09.420 --> 00:37:11.880 He was trying to find ways to persecute Christians, 00:37:12.240 --> 00:37:13.119 to kill Christians. 00:37:13.440 --> 00:37:13.840 In other words, 00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:14.860 Saul was on his, 00:37:14.900 --> 00:37:15.900 he wasn't looking for God. 00:37:15.960 --> 00:37:16.920 He wasn't looking for Jesus. 00:37:17.900 --> 00:37:20.480 But Jesus met him and saved him. 00:37:21.139 --> 00:37:23.519 And God can save your friend. 00:37:23.519 --> 00:37:25.220 God can save your spouse. 00:37:25.380 --> 00:37:26.720 God can save your mom. 00:37:27.019 --> 00:37:28.019 God can save your dad. 00:37:28.139 --> 00:37:29.179 God can save your colleague. 00:37:29.599 --> 00:37:30.380 Speak the word. 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:31.260 Speak Jesus. 00:37:31.260 --> 00:37:33.620 Leave the resurrection to him. 00:37:34.740 --> 00:37:38.080 But speak Jesus and trust that God will do that work. 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:39.300 And if you're here today, 00:37:39.400 --> 00:37:39.780 finally, 00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:42.280 and you're not trusting in Jesus, 00:37:43.680 --> 00:37:45.660 really there's two parts to this. 00:37:45.700 --> 00:37:46.700 The first part of this is, 00:37:47.100 --> 00:37:47.820 you're dead. 00:37:49.420 --> 00:37:51.100 That's what Ezekiel 37 says. 00:37:52.440 --> 00:37:53.200 You're dead. 00:37:55.760 --> 00:37:57.660 You don't have a relationship with God. 00:37:57.659 --> 00:38:01.480 And you don't actually even have the ability to respond to God. 00:38:04.440 --> 00:38:06.299 You don't have the ability to hear. 00:38:06.980 --> 00:38:08.359 So obviously you can hear, right? 00:38:08.480 --> 00:38:09.739 Physically, you can hear what I'm saying. 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.839 But you cannot truly hear God. 00:38:11.960 --> 00:38:13.019 You're dead in sin. 00:38:13.139 --> 00:38:14.239 You don't have that ability. 00:38:15.819 --> 00:38:17.319 It may be that you think, 00:38:17.779 --> 00:38:18.119 you know, 00:38:18.159 --> 00:38:19.559 I've heard all this stuff about Jesus. 00:38:19.859 --> 00:38:19.960 And, 00:38:20.460 --> 00:38:20.819 you know, 00:38:20.940 --> 00:38:21.719 I know, 00:38:21.859 --> 00:38:22.239 and I've thought, 00:38:22.299 --> 00:38:22.859 and I've decided, 00:38:22.980 --> 00:38:23.519 and I've rejected. 00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.280 But the reality is, 00:38:24.320 --> 00:38:25.980 you've never really heard it. 00:38:26.719 --> 00:38:27.579 Because by nature, 00:38:27.699 --> 00:38:28.960 we don't have the ability to hear. 00:38:31.599 --> 00:38:32.800 That's the first part of it. 00:38:33.199 --> 00:38:35.400 But the second part of it is hope. 00:38:36.480 --> 00:38:38.000 Because though you are dead, 00:38:38.119 --> 00:38:39.139 and though you cannot hear, 00:38:40.300 --> 00:38:43.539 our God is in the business of raising dead people to life. 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:48.340 And it could be that even as I've been preaching, 00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:52.019 you for the first time this morning, 00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.259 you can hear. 00:38:54.699 --> 00:38:56.639 You might have heard the gospel many times, 00:38:56.860 --> 00:38:57.920 but for the first time, 00:38:58.059 --> 00:38:59.179 you've heard, 00:39:00.099 --> 00:39:02.659 you've heard that Jesus died for you. 00:39:03.340 --> 00:39:05.920 He went to the cross for your sins. 00:39:06.500 --> 00:39:08.980 And that he offers his life to you. 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:10.460 And you've heard it many times, 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:11.400 but this time you can, 00:39:11.539 --> 00:39:12.219 you hear it. 00:39:12.219 --> 00:39:13.959 This time you see it. 00:39:14.039 --> 00:39:16.939 This time you see the beauty of God, 00:39:17.019 --> 00:39:18.980 the beauty of the God who would love you this way. 00:39:21.199 --> 00:39:22.000 This time, 00:39:22.219 --> 00:39:22.500 God, 00:39:22.779 --> 00:39:23.579 by his spirit, 00:39:23.859 --> 00:39:25.139 has given you life, 00:39:25.219 --> 00:39:25.859 and you see it. 00:39:26.519 --> 00:39:28.199 My only ask for you today, 00:39:28.339 --> 00:39:29.259 if that's you today, 00:39:30.119 --> 00:39:31.459 is to come and put your faith in Jesus. 00:39:34.119 --> 00:39:34.879 Don't delay, 00:39:35.139 --> 00:39:36.000 don't put it off. 00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:37.399 If today, 00:39:37.939 --> 00:39:39.859 God has given you the ability to hear, 00:39:39.860 --> 00:39:42.140 if today, 00:39:42.599 --> 00:39:43.820 you see Jesus, 00:39:44.599 --> 00:39:46.260 speak to Steve, 00:39:46.400 --> 00:39:47.720 speak to one of the church leaders, 00:39:47.980 --> 00:39:49.559 and come and put your faith in him. 00:39:49.559 --> 00:39:52.539 By nature, 00:39:52.719 --> 00:39:57.099 all of us are in a situation that is as hopeless as this valley of dry bones. 00:39:58.380 --> 00:39:59.679 And yet we have hope, 00:40:00.340 --> 00:40:02.860 because our God is in the business of resurrecting. 00:40:03.539 --> 00:40:04.059 Let's pray. 00:40:05.719 --> 00:40:06.420 Heavenly Father, 00:40:06.500 --> 00:40:08.619 we thank you for this passage. 00:40:08.759 --> 00:40:10.659 We thank you for your word. 00:40:10.659 --> 00:40:11.399 Lord, 00:40:11.399 --> 00:40:12.039 and I pray, 00:40:12.539 --> 00:40:14.319 that even this morning, 00:40:15.399 --> 00:40:17.519 people who are dead, 00:40:17.980 --> 00:40:19.659 who have no relationship with you, 00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:22.000 you would give them life, 00:40:22.159 --> 00:40:22.899 through your word, 00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:23.679 and through your spirit. 00:40:25.879 --> 00:40:26.319 Lord, 00:40:26.399 --> 00:40:26.899 I pray, 00:40:27.279 --> 00:40:29.579 I pray that you would have mercy, 00:40:30.779 --> 00:40:31.839 and that in your kindness, 00:40:32.019 --> 00:40:33.199 you would raise people today. 00:40:33.199 --> 00:40:35.980 And I pray for those of us here, 00:40:36.039 --> 00:40:37.199 who are trusting in you, 00:40:38.319 --> 00:40:42.199 that you would fill us with just amazement, 00:40:43.719 --> 00:40:46.559 that we too are once dead, 00:40:46.619 --> 00:40:47.239 dry bones. 00:40:48.419 --> 00:40:49.359 And yet in your mercy, 00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:50.359 you raised us, 00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:52.339 so that we have life with you. 00:40:53.279 --> 00:40:54.919 We ask all these things in Jesus' name. 00:40:55.639 --> 00:40:55.899 Amen. 00:40:55.899 --> 00:40:56.000 Amen. 00:40:56.000 --> 00:40:56.599 Amen. 00:40:56.599 --> 00:40:56.799 Amen. 00:40:56.799 --> 00:40:56.899 Amen.