EZEKIEL 37: 1-14 A CHARISMATIC VISION

INTRODUCTION

Ezekiel was the LORD’S messenger to His people languishing under the judgement of God for their on-going, persistent rebellion.  In Babylon they were totally demoralised and devastated.  They had lost everything: hope was dead.

To such a people, Ezekiel is given this wonderful vision containing the promise of restoration and hope.  The vision speaks to us in our day as well as to them, of God’s gracious restoration of our lives from deadness to life by His word and through His Spirit.

37.1-3 THE VALLEY FULL OF DRY BONES:

• How powerful is the picture presented to Ezekiel in this vision?  In what ways does it enforce the extremity of the people’s spiritual state?
• How does the vision speak to you?  Does it strike any chords in your heart?  Does it bear resemblance to any experience you’ve known?
• What causes such distressing spiritual dryness?  (What caused it for them?  What can cause it for us?)
• How challenging a question was it to Ezekiel: “Son of Man, can these bones live?” What do you make of Ezekiel’s reply?

- How hard is it for us when desperately dry spiritually to envisage being revived?

37.4-8 THE DRY BONES AND THE WORD OF GOD:

• What exactly took place when Ezekiel spoke ‘the word of the LORD’ over the dry bones?
• Try to understand how ‘the word of God’ plays such an important part in the process of bringing life to dry, dead lives.  What part did  it play in Ezekiel’s vision?
• Talk about the power and effect of ‘the word of God’ (the Scriptures) on our spiritual lives.  (Any testimonies about how the Bible has affected your life?)

37.9-14 THE DRY BONES AND THE SPIRIT OF GOD:

(In the Hebrew language the word for ‘breath’ ‘wind’ and ‘Spirit’ is the same.  As verse 14 makes clear, what is happening here is that the LORD promises to put His own Holy Spirit in His people and transform their lives)

• What exactly is the result of the Spirit-wind coming on the lifeless corpses?
• What is the impact and practical effect of the Holy Spirit upon Christians’ lives and upon the Christian Church?  Do we see it among us? How and where?

(Any personal experiences?)

• ‘Dry bones’ (verse1) to a ‘vast army’ (verse 10).  Which best describes the Church in our day?  Is there anything we can do about it?
• Ezekiel ‘called to the wind/spirit’.  How can we summon the Holy Spirit?

CONCLUSION:

A vision to hold on to – and to pray over.  And to pray into being.