Can these bones live?

Ezekiel 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.

In a vision, God took Ezekiel to a valley filled with the bones of many people whose remains lay there. The Bible says that the valley was “Filled” with bones. This conjures up a vision of mighty armies in battle falling there by the thousands. The vision God gave him was nothing to do with fallen army however. It was a fallen people. It was the house of Israel, God said in subsequent verses that their bones are dried and their hope is lost!

Sometimes in life we may find ourselves feeling like we are dried up and without hope spiritually. One may think first that he or she must have done something wrong and that God has turned His back on them. In all truth that could be the case. Maybe sin is involved, and as scriptures tell us, God cannot look on sin. On the other hand, testing may be involved. You may say, does God do that? Well I don’t believe that God tests us because Scripture says so. He can however allow it.

“No one undergoing a trial should say, “I am being tempted by God.” For God is not tempted by evil, and He Himself doesn’t tempt anyone”. James 1:13

There can be a situation where you are tested though. The enemy wants to destroy you and to make you look bad to God. He knows that if we sin, we cannot be in the same full relation with God we have when sin is not a factor. Unconfessed sin is a relationship killer with regard to our relationship with God. So where does testing come from? Well it can come as a result of sin in our lives, but then there is another possibility.

There is another story in the Word about testing in Job chapter 1. In verse 8 God asked the enemy a question:

“The LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job? For there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil.”

In response to that question, the enemy said back to God basically this, “He is serving you because you are blessing him so much”. In other words he is saying that the only reason Job is serving you is because you do so much for him. Take that away and he will curse you! If you read the book you will find out that a test ensued. In the end, Job passed the test. Did God not love Job when he allowed the test? Had Job done something wrong to cause the test? No indeed! In fact God was bragging on him for how righteous he was. Testing came to prove Job, not to God, but to the world.

In the end “the test became a testimony”. Job passed the test! God knew that he would. Everyone had seen Job’s loss and how that He ultimately was the recipient of a double blessing! Those who had criticized him and told him that the reason he was being tested was because he had sinned were in the end shamed. God knew otherwise and they were ultimately embarrassed and asked Job to pray for them. But then, there ARE times when testing comes in reaction to sin. When you find yourself in a trial, cry out to God and make sure that your heart is right with Him. If it is sin, He will reveal that to you. If it is not He will reveal that as well.

Sometimes these tests come in the form of a dry season. What this means is that you find yourself in a state where you cannot feel the working of the Spirit like you once did. These are lonely times. You know you love God but for some reason God seems to be a million miles away! Your pray and the answer seems to never come. You seek God for restoration and it seems that your prayers are falling on deaf ears? You feel spiritually dead. You feel like you are nothing but dry bones! You may ask the question, “Will I ever live again?”

God told Ezekiel to prophecy to the bones and say to them, “Hear the Word of the Lord”. I would say to you to “Hear the Word of the Lord”. When you feel like you are spiritually dry, go to the living water…the water of the Word. Drink the living water made alive to you by the Holy Spirit. When you do, things will begin to change.

I’ve never been in a dry situation that did not come alive when I would immerse myself in the Word of God!. It may take a while, but things will change. If you will read and obey the Word things WILL change and you will change. The word of God is an agent of change. It is all about change. It changes us from what we are to what God wants us to be! God doesn’t change because He does not need to. We are the ones who need change. Don’t ignore the prompting of the Spirit when you read the Word as it is God trying to lead you to the place you need to be, in your relationship with Him. Remember this… Though your “Spiritual Bones” may seem to be dry, bleached bones, They CAN live again. Water them with the Word and “Hear the Word of the Lord”.

Try it! It works! Read the Word, Believe the Word, and Confess the Word! Infuse the Word into your life and you will be changed. You will be closer to God? How do I know? The Bible tells me so: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded”. James 4:8

Want to have God draw close to you? Draw close to Him and the Dry Bones Will Live Again!

Blessings!

Bro. Tommy