Agree // Dead Places: Part 1.

Read time: 6 mins

There’s a story tucked away  in Ezekiel 37 that really blessed me…

The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

Ezekiel 37:1-14

You may feel like your situation is dead. You may feel like your situation is broken and there is no life. You may feel like your situation is over, but when God speaks something it comes true. The God who science jumped to obey, is the same God who calls you to live a life of greater. The God who causes kings to rise and fall is the same God calling you to live a life of influence that will point others to Him. I think we all may hear stuff like this but it is hard for us to actually accept it. You may have lost your spark. You may have lost the drive you had as a kid. You may have lost your faith, but the God of greater still wants to use you. 

Ezekiel has found himself in exile with Israel. Israel has been captured and taken far away from the glory of their past. God takes Ezekiel away to show him a vision of encouragement. Israel is dead. It looks over. If these were bodies that had simply passed out we could revive them. If these were sleeping bodies we could wake them up. But these are bones. Dry, old, lifeless bones. And God asks if these remnants of former health can live. Ezekiel says the right thing, “only you know”. But then God says something interesting. He says to speak to them… speak to the dead bones…

In the gospel of John, Jesus makes a claim that He is the light of the world. He meets opposition from the religious leaders but Jesus says something interesting, “your own law says that if two people agree about something their witness is accepted as fact. I am one witness and my father who sent me is the other (John 8:17-18).”

Jesus makes a claim about who He is called to be. And when questioned He doesn’t try to explain Himself to the people who have already made up their minds about Him. He simply says that if He and His Father agree, it is fact. Now what does this have to do with this story in Ezekiel? When God speaks, things happen. No one can stop the will of God. Except maybe you. What do I mean? God gives us free will. That’s the whole point of love. It has to be a choice. God calls us to greatness, but you can say no. You can say no to God's greater and He will respect that. He won't force you to follow Him. God can ask if you want deliverance and you don't have to accept it. God can ask if you want greater and you can pass on it. God could have told Ezekiel to speak to the dead parts and Ezekiel could’ve been like “nah im good.” I believe God asked Ezekiel to speak His word to the bones so that Ezekiel would have to make the choice on if he agrees with God or not. You have to make that decision too. 

So that is the first idea I want to bring to you. You may need God to restore the years wasted. You may need God to restore the brokenness and heal the trauma affected areas of your life. You may need Him to alleviate fear and doubt. But it will only happen if you trust Him enough to let Him do it. Speak to your situation. Believe. If God called you to it, you can believe for it. You are the head and not the tail. Your relationship with your mother will be healed. You will come out of that addiction. You will break out of that cycle of family trauma. You will be an influential person in the story others tell of them experiencing the love of Jesus. All if you believe enough to follow what God is saying and walk in it. 

I’m not saying to just make things up. This isn’t magic. It's belief. Ezekiel repeated what God said. And you need to do the same thing. Your mind is powerful. God gave you the choice on if you want greater or not. We need to agree with what God is saying to us. If He says you will love the wife you’re losing passion for, believe it. If He says your husband will come around, keep believing. If He says your children will make it home, believe it. If He says you will graduate, believe it. Speak the promises of God over your life. I don’t know the specifics of your journey but I know that Jesus has already said you are a masterpiece, He created you anew to do the good works He planned a long time ago for you (Ephesians 2). You can have greater if you just believe what God is saying. These dry bones can live. You can break out of fear because perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). You don't have to be bound to that addiction because Jesus came to liberate the bound (Luke 4:18)! You don't have to live in death because Jesus came so that you would have life! And your life doesn’t have to be mediocre because He said that life would be abundant (John 10:10). You can have peace because that is a fruit of His Spirit. You can have love because that is a fruit of His Spirit. You can have joy because that is a fruit of His Spirit. His presence is better. A moment in His presence is better than a thousand days elsewhere. 

I don't care how afraid you are, what has God spoken over you? I want to be clear. This isn't a prosperity gospel or me telling you to name it and claim it. I’m telling you to agree. If God told you that you are valued and you disagree, are you calling the creator of the universe a liar? What did He say? The Bible says Jesus came to give life. Jesus says Jesus came to give life. So why are dry bones still dry bones? I wanna write a whole new devotional on this part but Ezekiel didn't even have to give the bones life. The Spirit of the Lord produced and sustained life. God was breathed into the lifeless parts. Ezekiel didn’t have to figure it out on his own, he just had to trust. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is victory. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is peace. You can have better. You can have the faith and optimism of a kid again. Things may take time. There’s a process. But I want you to trust Him. He loves you. He chose you. He valued you. And you need to believe Him.

_________________________________________________

Thank you so much for supporting. Please subscribe by texting “thoughts” to (844) 750 0137 or through the subscribe link on the site!

you can also support financially through the giving portal or through CashApp $ThoughtsByPace