Rekindle the Fire
Ezekiel was a priest, later called by God to be a prophet. His ministry began toward the end of the time period of history we commonly refer to as "Judah Alone." From such passages as 2 Kings 24:14-17, we learn that Ezekiel was deported, along with Judah, to Babylonia in about 597 B.C. It wasn't until about five years later that he began to prophesy (Ezek. 1:2). During the time in which Ezekiel was prophesying Nebuchadnezzar took the city of Jerusalem, destroying it in 586 B.C. Shortly following this event (565 B.C.) Ezekiel penned the words found in Ezekiel 37:1-14.
God's people, because of their own rebellion, are now in captivity. Their capital and the temple were destroyed, and as a people they had no independence. Up to this point in Ezekiel, the prophet had been speaking the words of destruction and judgment. Now, he is going to share with them a message of hope. It is a message of restoration and revival.
God sent to Ezekiel a vision. He was put in a valley among countless numbers of dry bones. It was as if he was in the midst of an ancient battlefield. It is quiet. There are no vultures, no wolves, just thousands of sun-bleached bones. Can you imagine the scene (no sound, the picture of desolation)? Then, a voice breaks the silence, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
We learn of Ezekiel’s faith in this passage. He did not play the role of a skeptic, he simply said, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest" then he obeyed the voice of the Lord. As a result, the bones lived again.
What a wonderful passage of restoration and revival. Revival is the process of bringing to life that which was previously alive, but is now at the point of death. By way of this essay, I want to ask a question. Can God make us live again? Can the fire in our bones once again be rekindled?
The fire needs to be rekindled
Robert Robinson, in 1758, wrote the song "O Thou Fount of Every Blessing." He later fell from the faith. He met a young lady singing his song. She, noting his sadness, wanted to share the lyrics with him. Robinson responded, "Madam, I wrote the song and I'd give a thousand worlds to have that feeling once again."
The fire within our bones needs rekindling because of a number of reasons. Such as: 1) we are not as evangelistic as we once were; 2) our youth are in trouble; 3) a great wave of worldliness is sweeping through the world and the church like a cyclone; 4) we are no longer people of the Word; 5) spiritual conversation embarrasses us; 6) we rationalize for sin; 7) we attend services, but it doesn’t make a difference in our lives; 8) money dominates our lives; 9) it does not bother us that others are in misery and spiritually lost.
How to rekindle the fire
Negligence is sin. Jeremiah said, "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully [negligently],..." (Jer. 48:10). When I have become slothful and negligent in the Lord's service, I must repent.
Only when I stand justified in the sight of God, will I be ready and able to praise Him and serve Him. Case in point: Nehemiah for the people, "Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned" (Neh. 1:6).
The results of rekindling the fire
Churches will have a passion for seeking the lost to save. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10).
Christians will be committed to keeping the commandments of the Lord, thus demonstrating their love for Him. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15).
Broken marriages will be repaired and estranged families will reunite. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord...Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:22-25; cf. Lk. 15:11-32).
Individuals will be more holy in their thinking process. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
Congregations will be transformed into what God wants them to be. "...Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rm. 12:2).
Sources:
Steven Guy, Revival.
MSOP Lectures, Ezekiel and Lamentations.Johnny Ramsey, Practical Bible Studies, Vol. 2.
God's people, because of their own rebellion, are now in captivity. Their capital and the temple were destroyed, and as a people they had no independence. Up to this point in Ezekiel, the prophet had been speaking the words of destruction and judgment. Now, he is going to share with them a message of hope. It is a message of restoration and revival.
God sent to Ezekiel a vision. He was put in a valley among countless numbers of dry bones. It was as if he was in the midst of an ancient battlefield. It is quiet. There are no vultures, no wolves, just thousands of sun-bleached bones. Can you imagine the scene (no sound, the picture of desolation)? Then, a voice breaks the silence, "Son of man, can these bones live?"
We learn of Ezekiel’s faith in this passage. He did not play the role of a skeptic, he simply said, "O Lord GOD, thou knowest" then he obeyed the voice of the Lord. As a result, the bones lived again.
What a wonderful passage of restoration and revival. Revival is the process of bringing to life that which was previously alive, but is now at the point of death. By way of this essay, I want to ask a question. Can God make us live again? Can the fire in our bones once again be rekindled?
The fire needs to be rekindled
Robert Robinson, in 1758, wrote the song "O Thou Fount of Every Blessing." He later fell from the faith. He met a young lady singing his song. She, noting his sadness, wanted to share the lyrics with him. Robinson responded, "Madam, I wrote the song and I'd give a thousand worlds to have that feeling once again."
The fire within our bones needs rekindling because of a number of reasons. Such as: 1) we are not as evangelistic as we once were; 2) our youth are in trouble; 3) a great wave of worldliness is sweeping through the world and the church like a cyclone; 4) we are no longer people of the Word; 5) spiritual conversation embarrasses us; 6) we rationalize for sin; 7) we attend services, but it doesn’t make a difference in our lives; 8) money dominates our lives; 9) it does not bother us that others are in misery and spiritually lost.
How to rekindle the fire
Negligence is sin. Jeremiah said, "Cursed be he that doeth the work of the LORD deceitfully [negligently],..." (Jer. 48:10). When I have become slothful and negligent in the Lord's service, I must repent.
Only when I stand justified in the sight of God, will I be ready and able to praise Him and serve Him. Case in point: Nehemiah for the people, "Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned" (Neh. 1:6).
The results of rekindling the fire
Churches will have a passion for seeking the lost to save. "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Lk. 19:10).
Christians will be committed to keeping the commandments of the Lord, thus demonstrating their love for Him. "If ye love me, keep my commandments" (Jn. 14:15).
Broken marriages will be repaired and estranged families will reunite. "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord...Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:22-25; cf. Lk. 15:11-32).
Individuals will be more holy in their thinking process. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Phil. 4:8).
Congregations will be transformed into what God wants them to be. "...Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rm. 12:2).
Sources:
Steven Guy, Revival.
MSOP Lectures, Ezekiel and Lamentations.Johnny Ramsey, Practical Bible Studies, Vol. 2.
posted by Neil Richey @ 6:01 AM
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