Sermon notes: The dry bones and you.

The dry bones and you

Ezekiel 37:1-10

Dry Bones
If something consists of only dry bones what is it? Dead.
1st Corinthians 15:22    "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Someday if Christ does not return before, you will die, I will die, why is this so? Romans 6:23 Wages of sin, well what is sin?
1st John 5:17a    "All unrighteousness is sin:..." James 4:17   "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Romans 3:23 all have sinned.

So I'm a sinner, why does that matter? Ephesians 2:1    "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;" your sin matters because there is a real Hell "Luke 16:23-31".

2. What do I do then?
In verse 3 Ezekiel says "Oh Lord God, thou knowest." The first step to being saved from our sins is coming to the realization that there is a righteous God Creator of all, who we have to give account to, we must realize and admit that only God knows how to wash away our sin, only God can save us! Titus 3:5    "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;" You and I cannot reach Heaven except through Gods way, John 14:6

3. Hear God's Word.
Ezekiel 37:4 I'm not just talking about listening to a preacher, or going to service, you need to really hear Gods word, Psalm 119:9,  Romans 10:13-14 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14    How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?"
1st Corinthians 1:18,23. Is the preaching of Jesus Christ foolishness to you? It is the method God has chosen to get His gospel to those who need it, the entire world.

4. Accepting Christ as savior.
Just as it took God sending His breath into the dry bones for them to receive new life, Jesus Christ tells us in John 3:5-7 that we "must be born again." When you ask Jesus Christ to save your soul, when you it your faith in Him, Gods Spirit will come in and guide and strengthen and seal your soul. Romans 8:9-11.

5. Now I am saved, what do I do?
Ezekiel 37:8 The dry bones were given skin and flesh by God, skins main function in your body is protection, the Christian has been commanded to put on our own set of protection from God. Ephesians 6:10-18 The armour of God.

6. God sends the wind.
Ezekiel 37:9-10a Just as God moved wind upon these Bones after the had received flesh and skin, God through His Word and His Holy Spirit will guide the Christian who is standing in Gods armour ready to fight.

John 16:13    "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." Romans 8:1,4

Some will say, "I know that I'm saved but God doesn't seem to speak to me, I don't understand His word, etc, are you wearing your armour? God is not going to give His child marching battle orders if your not wearing your armour.

7. Join the Army
Ezekiel 37:10 if your a saved blood bought born again child of God, your job as described by Christ Himself in Mark 16:15 is to preach the gospel,      1st Corinthian 6:19-20    "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20    For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

If more Christians would get in the fight, and would live righteously not as hypocrites, but seek to glorify God, we would be in a much better situation, over 3 billion people still have no bible in their language. Hundreds of entire countries have no missionaries, and do your peers know Christ?

The question is, what stage are you at? If you have not passed stage 4 and accepted Christ, you need to desperately.