WHERE HAVE YOU "GIVEN UP" ON YOUR HOPES, DREAMS,AND UNANSWERED PRAYERS?
GO GET THEM!
“…Jesus said, where have ye laid him?...They said unto him, Lord come and see…” (John 11: 34 KJV).
*
Martha and Mary said: “…If thou hadst
been HERE my brother had NOT died…”
(John 11:21 KJV).
Jesus said: “…I am glad for
your SAKE that I was not THERE …
[when he died]…to the intent that ye may BELIEVE….”
(John 11:15, 25 KJV).
AND “…JESUS SAITH UNTO
HER, THY BROTHER “SHALL” RISE AGAIN …” (John 11:23 KJV). AND “…
"Did
I not say to you that if you believe,
you will see the glory of God?"
(John 11:40 KJV).
“…Jesus said, where have ye laid him?...They said unto him, Lord come and see…” (John 11: 34
KJV). “…when he thus had spoken (prayed), he
cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come forth. And
he that was dead
came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).
“…. Is
there any thing too hard for [God]…?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…the things which are
impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). God “… is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV). “…he
that was dead
came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV).
“I
want to… experience
(in my own life) the mighty power that
raised him from the dead.…” (Philippians
3:10 NLT).
OKAY.“…Jesus said, where have ye laid him? …” (John 11: 34
KJV). OR "... WHERE HAVE YOU LAID THOSE FORGOTTON OR BURIED HOPES, DREAMS, AND UNANSWERED PRAYERS?..."
God is all-knowing. Everything Jesus, THE WORD, did or said, was
for the purpose of those listening and watching. “…I knew that thou hearest me (YOUR
WORD) always:
but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe (MAY DEPEND UPON) that thou (GOD) hast
sent me (YOUR WORD)…”
(John 11:41-42 KJV).
Jesus, THE WORD, asked the
question to DRAW Martha, Mary, the disciples, the Jews, and YOU to BELIEVE AND
DEPEND UPON THE "POWER" OF HIS WORD IN A “deeper” WAY by WITNESSING a MIRACLE THROUGH THE CONFIRMING
WORK OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT. “…that
they may believe (MAY DEPEND UPON) that thou (GOD) hast sent me (YOUR WORD)…”
(John 11:41-42 KJV). “…to the intent that ye may BELIEVE (THAT YOU MAY DEPEND UPON HIS WORD IN A GREATER
WAY)….” (John 11:15 KJV).
“…Whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our
learning…” (Romans 15:4 KJV). “...Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition…” (1 Corinthians 10:11
KJV). “…where have ye
laid him?... …” (John 11: 34
KJV).
Or where have you laid , to rest, your HOPES, DREAMS, AND unanswered PRAYERS?
What makes a person “lay down” their HOPES, DREAMS, and unanswered PRAYERS? Maybe
you had hopes, dreams, and prayers to become a dancer for years and years, but
something happened or didn’t happen and you GAVE IT UP.
Maybe you had hopes,
dreams, and prayers for a happy marriage, but after many years it never came
about so you GAVE IT UP.
Maybe you had hopes, dreams, and prayers of losing
weight for years and years, but you are tired of the constant struggle so
you’ve GIVEN UP.
Maybe you had hopes, dreams, and prayers of having a large
family, but could never have children of your own, so you stopped desiring it
altogether and GAVE UP.
Maybe you had hopes, dreams, and prayers for a love to get healed
from a sickness, but they died anyway. YOU GAVE UP!
What do you do with the hopes, dreams,
and prayers you’ve GIVEN UP on? You bury them along with other DEAD things and
forget ALL about it. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ
that he doesn’t forget! “…If we are faithless, he remains
faithful…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV). “…[God is]
… watching over [his]… word to perform it…” (Jeremiah 1:12
NASB). “…So shall my
word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish
that which I please, and it
shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 KJV). “…As
many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20
NASB). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according
to his will, he heareth us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV). “…You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do
it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything
in my name, and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT). “…Not one of the good
promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).
“…He has granted to [you]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB). SO
“…where have ye
laid him?... …” (John 11: 34
KJV).
“…Delight thy also in the
LORD; and he SHALL “GIVE” thee the DESIRES of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; “TRUST” also in him (depend also upon the POWER of his WORD); and he “SHALL” bring it to pass…”
(Psalm 37:4-5 KJV).
You may be facing or walking
through experiences that have gone on for years and the details or process has been
instrumental in killing off many of your HOPES, DREAMS and unanswered PRAYERS. “…I saw a great
many bones
on the floor of the valley, bones that were
very dry...” (Ezekiel
37:2-3 KJV).
EZEKIEL SAW A “DEAD” SITUATION. As far
as you are concerned your HOPES, DREAMS and unanswered PRAYERS are as DEAD as
the bones in Ezekiel’s valley. “…He (GOD) asked me,
“Son of man, can
these bones live?” I said,
“Sovereign Lord,
you alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:2-3 KJV).
The Bones represent that which is DEAD. “…The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me
out by the
Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of
bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many
bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry…” (Ezekiel
37 NIV). “I want to… experience (in my own life) the mighty power that
raised him from the dead.…” (Philippians
3:10 NLT).
How do
you and will you experience his POWER right now…TODAY? “… The centurion answered and said,
Lord…SPEAK THE WORD ONLY…”
(Matthew 8:5-9 KJV). The WORK of the HOLY SPIRIT is activated and experienced by FAITH or by depending upon the POWER of his HOLY WORD.
FAITH or
dependency upon God, the Holy Spirit to WORK is empowered or activated by HEARING the WORD OF GOD. “…Faith (dependency) cometh by hearing, and hearing by
the word of God” (Roman 10:17 KJV).
“…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto
you, they ARE SPIRIT (Power), and they ARE LIFE (RESTORES)…” (John
6:63 KJV). Along
with HEARING the WORD OF GOD comes empowered FAITH (dependency) and HOPE (expectancy) and the witness of his
presence through HIS goodness. “…you will abound in HOPE by the power of the
Holy Spirit…” (Romans 15:13 NASB). “…I pray
that God, the source of HOPE, will
fill you completely.... Then you will overflow with confident HOPE through the power
of the Holy Spirit…” (Romans 15:13 NLT). “… "Did I not say to you that
if you believe, you
will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV).
HEARING the WORD OF GOD empowers FAITH/dependency and HOPE/expectancy. In addition, it activates the CONFIRMING WORK of God’s POWERFUL HOLY SPIRIT. “I
want to… experience
the mighty power (in my OWN LIFE) that raised him from the dead.…” (Philippians
3:10 NLT).
“…The Holy Spirit (God's Power) gives BIRTH (brings back, restores, produces, etc;) to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT).
In order to HEAR the WORD of God there needs to be a PREACHER.
“…How shall THEY HEAR without a PREACHER?”
(Romans 10:14 KJV).
God choose Ezekiel to PREACH by speaking to the DEAD. “…He said to me, “Prophesy (SPEAK) to these bones and say to them,
‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). These
bones were on the floor of a valley full of bones that had dried up. “…I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones
that were very dry…” (Ezekiel
37 NIV).
Valley points to a place of defeat and dry to a state of hopelessness,
dreamlessness, or prayerlessness. God
plans to get you to the FINISH LINE. You were NEVER meant to ADAPT to DEAD
situations, or GIVE UP on them, and they were “NOT” meant to defeat YOU, but you were meant to
OVERCOME them. “..Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But
take
heart,
because I have (you HAVE) overcome the world…”
(John 16:33 NLT). “…If you listen to these commands of the Lord your
God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the
Lord
will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always
be on top and never at the bottom…”
(Deuteronomy 28:13 NLT).
God told Ezekiel to PREACH by SPEAKING to the
BONES. “…This is what the Sovereign Lord says
to these bones: I will make BREATH (Spirit) enter you, and you will come to
LIFE...” (Ezekiel 37 NIV).
Ezekiel
saw a valley of dry BONES. He was looking at a graveyard or a place for the
DEAD or DEAD THINGS. When something or someone dies you usually accept LIFE has
ended. However, “…He (God) asked [Ezekiel]…, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel
37 NIV).
CAN YOUR "OLD" HOPES, DREAMS, OR UNANSWERED PRAYERS "LIVE" AGAIN? CAN THEY THRIVE AGAIN WITH FAITH AND HOPE IN THE POWER OF GOD'S WORD TO RESURRECT THEM AND GIVE LIFE TO THEM AGAIN?
Jesus asked Martha and Mary: “…where have ye laid him (the dead)?... …” (John 11: 34
KJV).
Martha and Mary did not try to deny WHERE they
had laid the DEAD. “…They said unto him,
Lord come and see…” (John 11: 34
KJV).
When Lazarus died, Martha said: “… As soon as she heard that
Jesus was coming … Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died…
” (John 11:20-22 KJV).
Yet and still, Jesus,
the WORD, wanted to know where the DEAD had been buried. Martha said: “… Lord, by this time, he stinketh: for he hath been
dead for four days …” (John 11:39 KJV).
What is
the condition of some of your "OLD" HOPES, DREAMS, and unanswered PRAYERS? What do
you think about God’s ability to bring the DEAD or long DEAD THINGS back to
life? “…the things which are impossible
with men are
POSSIBLE with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). “…I am
the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing
too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). Can what is DEAD LIVE again?
God asked Ezekiel “…Can these
bones live?” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). Ezekiel answered: “…Sovereign
Lord,
you alone know…” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). Jesus,
the WORD, spoke to Martha and said: “…I am the
resurrection (the one who brings back the dead) and I am the LIFE (the one who
actually restores things to life)…..” (John 11:25 KJV).
QUESTIONS AND ANSWER FOR YOU?
WHERE
HAVE YOU LAID THE DEAD?
1.
What important question did jesus, the word, ask mary
and Martha IN JOHN 11:34? HE ASKED THEM WHERE THEY HAD
LAID THEIR DEAD BROTHER TO REST. Martha and Mary said: “…If thou hadst been HERE my brother had NOT died…” (John 11:21 KJV). Jesus said: “…I am glad for your SAKE that I
was not THERE … [when he died]…to the intent that ye may
BELIEVE….” (John 11:15, 25
KJV). AND “…JESUS SAITH UNTO HER, THY BROTHER “SHALL” RISE
AGAIN …” (John 11:23 KJV). AND “… "Did I not say to you that
if you believe, you
will see the glory of God?" (John 11:40 KJV). “…Jesus said, where have ye
laid him?...They said unto him, Lord come and see…” (John 11: 34
KJV).
WHAT HAPPENED AFTER MARY AND MARTHA
SHOWED JESUS, THE WORD, WHERE THE “DEAD” WAS LAID? THE
“DEAD” WAS RESURRECTED AND RESTORED TO LIFE. “…when he thus had spoken
(prayed), he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.
And he that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV). “…. Is
there any thing too hard for [God]…?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…the things which are
impossible with men are possible with God…” (Luke 18:27 KJV). God “… is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or
think…” (Ephesians 3:20
KJV). “…he that was dead came forth…”
(John 11:42-43 KJV).
WHAT DID THE APOSTLE SAY HE WANTED TO EXPERIENCE IN
PHILIPPIANS 3:10? HE WANTED TO PERSONALLY EXPERIENCE
THE "SAME" POWER OF GOD THAT "RAISED" JESUS FROM THE DEAD. “I
want to… experience (in my own life) the mighty power that
raised him from the dead.…”
(Philippians 3:10 NLT).
HOW WOULD YOU, PERSONALLY, LIKE TO
EXPERIENCE, THE POWER OF GOD IN YOUR OWN LIFE? DISCUSSION
QUESTION ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
WHAT DID JESUS SAY ABOUT GOD
HEARING HIS WORD? HE SAID HE “ALWAYS” HEARS HIS WORD. “…I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of
the people which stand by I said
it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me…”
(John 11:41-42 KJV). “…[God is] … watching over [his]… word to perform it…”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So
shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11
KJV).
JESUS, BEING THE WORD, “KNEW” GOD “ALWAYS” HEARS HIM, PRAYED
FIRST, BEFORE RAISING LAZARUS, FOR WHAT REASON? TO
DEVELOP, GROW, AND EMPOWER A DEEPER FAITH OR DEPENDENCY UPON THE "POWER" OF GOD'S WORD WITHIN Martha, Mary, the disciples, the Jews, YOU, AND ME by ALLOWING US TO
WITNESS a MIRACLE OR DEMONSTRATION OF HIS GOODNESS (PRESENCE).
“…that they may
believe that thou hast sent me…”
(John 11:41-42 KJV). “…to the intent that ye may BELIEVE….”
(John 11:15 KJV). “…For
whatsoever things were written aforetime
were written for our learning…” (Romans 15:4 KJV). “Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples:
and they are written for our admonition…”
(1 Corinthians 10:11 KJV).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
READ THE FOLLOWING PARAGRAPH
BEFORE ANSWERING THE QUESTION: Maybe
you had hopes, dreams, and prayers to become a dancer for years and years, but
something happened or didn’t happen and you gave it up. Maybe you had hopes,
dreams, and prayers for a happy marriage, but after many years it never came
about so you gave up on it. Maybe you had hopes, dreams, and prayers of losing
weight for years and years, but you are tired of the constant struggle so
you’ve given up. Maybe you had hopes, dreams, and prayers of having a large
family, but could never have children of your own, so you stopped desiring it
altogether. Maybe you had hopes, dreams, and prayers for a loved one to get
healed from a sickness, but they died anyway. Where have you
laid DOWN OR BURIED your HOPES, DREAMS, AND unanswered PRAYERS? OPEN
DISCUSSION QUESTION. “…where have ye laid him?... …” (John 11: 34
KJV).
Jesus
SAID IF YOU ASK ANYTHING, “IN” HIS WORD, HE “WILL” DO IT. DOES THAT MEAN,
ACCORDING TO HIS WORD, THAT HE “WILL” FULFILL EVERY GOD-GIVEN HOPE,
DREAM, and unanswered PRAYER? JESUS, THE WORD, SAYS GOD IS FAITHFUL AND WATCHES OVER HIS WORD TO DO EXACTLY WHAT IT SAYS IT WILL DO IN OUR LIVES. “…If we are faithless, he remains faithful…” (2 Timothy 2:13 NIV). “…[God is] … watching over [his]… word to perform it…”
(Jeremiah 1:12 NASB). “…So
shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall
accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11
KJV). “…As many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes …also … Amen …” (2 Corinthians 1:20
NASB). “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according
to his will, he heareth us…” (1 John 5:14 KJV). “…You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do
it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father. Yes, ask me for anything
in my name, and I will do it...” (John 14:12-14 NLT). “…Not one of the good
promises which the Lord had made … failed; all came to pass…” (Joshua 21:45 NASB).
“…He has granted to [you]… His precious and magnificent promises…” (2 Peter 1:4 NASB). SO
“…where have ye
laid him?... …” (John 11: 34
KJV). “…Delight thy also in the
LORD; and he SHALL “GIVE” thee the DESIRES of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; “TRUST” also in him (depend also upon his WORD); and he “SHALL” bring it to pass…”
(Psalm 37:4-5 KJV).
WILL GOD BRING THISE OLD HOPES, DREAMS, OR UNANSWERED PRAYERS TO PASS, EVEN IF IN
YOUR OPINION, ITS TOO LATE? YES.“…Delight thy also in the LORD; and he SHALL “GIVE”
thee the DESIRES of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the
LORD; “TRUST” also in him; and he
“SHALL” bring it to pass…”
(Psalm 37:4-5 KJV).
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. HOW IS IT
POSSIBLE FOR GOD TO RESTORE HOPES, DREAMS, AND UNANSWERED PRAYERS THAT YOU
THINK IS OVER, OR YOU ARE TOO OLD FOR, OR ITS TOO LATE, OR TOO MANY YEARS HAVE
PASSED, OR ITS SIMPLY, HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE. NOTHING IS
IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD AND NOTHING IS TOO HARD. “…The things which are impossible
with men are possible with God…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord,
the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard
for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “…NOW
UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE to do
exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power
that worketh in us…” (Ephesians 3:20 KJV).
WHAT DID EZEKIEL FIND AND DISCOVER ON THE FLOOR OF THE
VALLEY? DRY BONES. “…I saw a great
many bones
on the floor of the valley, bones that were
very dry...” (Ezekiel
37:2-3 KJV).
WHAT DID GOD ASKED EZEKIEL? HE ASKED HIM IF THE BONES COULD LIVE AGAIN. “…He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” ...” (Ezekiel
37:2-3 KJV).
HOW DID EZEKIEL ANSWER? HE SAID HE DIDN’T KNOW, BUT HE “KNEW” GOD DID. “…I said, “Sovereign Lord, you
alone know.” (Ezekiel 37:2-3 KJV).
WERE
THE BONES ALIVE OR DEAD? DEAD. “…The
hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of
the Lord
and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me
back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones
that were very dry…” (Ezekiel
37 NIV).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
5.
WHAT DID THE CENTURION SAY, ABOUT THE WORD, IN MATTHEW 8: 5-9? HE SAID “... SPEAK THE WORD ONLY...” “… The centurion answered and said, Lord…SPEAK THE WORD ONLY…”
(Matthew 8:5-9 KJV).
WHY DID THE CENTURION “SAY” SPEAK
THE WORD OF GOD ONLY? BECAUSE HEARING THE WORD
“EMPOWERS” FAITH OR DEPENDENCY UPON THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD. “…Faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Roman 10:17
KJV).
WHAT DOES SPEAKING GOD’S WORD DO TO
A DEAD SITUATION OR A VALLEY OF DRY BONES? RESTORES
LIFE TO IT OR THEM.“…It is the SPIRIT who “GIVES” LIFE…” (John 6:63
NASB). “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT (Power), and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “I
want to… experience
the mighty power that raised him from the dead.…”
(Philippians 3:10 NLT). “…The Holy Spirit (Power) gives BIRTH (creates, begins,
starts, etc;) to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT).
WHAT
DOES DEAD SITUATIONS OR DRY BONES NEED IN ORDER TO BE RESTORED TO LIFE? A PREACHER OR SOMEONE TO SPEAK THE WORD OVER THE DEAD SITUATION OR
THE DRY BONES. “…How shall THEY
(SITUATIONS, CIRCUMSTANCES, DRY BONES, HOPES, DREAMS, PRAYERS, ETC.) HEAR
without a PREACHER?” (Romans 10:14 KJV).
“…He said to me (EZEKIEL, THE PREACHER, PROPHET),
“Prophesy (SPEAK) to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, HEAR THE WORD of
the Lord!” (Ezekiel
37 NIV). “…This is what the Sovereign Lord says
to these bones: I will make BREATH (Spirit) enter you, and you will come to
LIFE...” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). HE ASKED
EZEKIEL COULD THESE BONES LIVE AND HE ASKED MARY AND MARTHA WHERE HAD THEY LAID
THE DEAD. “…He (God) asked [Ezekiel]…, “Son of man, can these bones live?” (Ezekiel
37 NIV). “…where have ye laid him?... …” (John 11: 34
KJV).
DID MARY AND MARTHA “KNOW” WHERE THEY HAD
BURIED THE DEAD? YES. HOW DO YOU KNOW? BECAUSE THEY TOLD JESUS TO COME AND SEE WHERE THEY HAD BURIED
HIM. “…They said unto him, Lord come
and see…” (John 11: 34
KJV).
WHAT STATEMENT DID MARTHA MAKE TO JESUS,
THE WORD, ABOUT THE DEAD SITUATION IN JOHN 11:39? SHE
SAID THE DEAD SITUATION WAS STINKING. Martha said: “…
Lord, by this
time, he stinketh: for he hath been dead for four days …” (John
11:39 KJV).
WHAT DID, JESUS, THE WORD, KNOW ABOUT THE
SITUATION EVEN THOUGH “IT STINKETH?” JESUS, THE WORD,
“KNEW” NOTHING WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD AND NOTHING WAS
TOO HARD. “…the things which are impossible with men are POSSIBLE with God…” (Luke
18:27 KJV). “…I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there any thing
too hard for me?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
TAKE
THE WORD TO THE PLACE OF THE DEAD
6.
WHAT DID GOD ASKED EZEKIEL ABOUT THE DRY BONES? HE
ASKED HIM COULD THE LIVE. “…Can these
bones live?” (Ezekiel 37 NIV). WHAT DID HE
ANSWERED? HE SAID THAT GOD, THE HOLY SPIRIT, KNEW IF THEY COULD LIVE OR NOT. GOD “KNEW”
WHAT HIS POWER COULD DO. “…Sovereign
Lord,
you alone know…” (Ezekiel 37 NIV).
WHAT DID JESUS REVEAL TO MARY AND MARTHA ABOUT THE CONFIRMING
POWER OF HIS WORD? THAT JESUS, THE WORD, WAS THE
RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE. “…I am the
resurrection and I am the LIFE…..” (John 11:25 KJV). God’s
Word is “…THE
[invisible[… POWER of God unto SALVATION
(RESURRECTION TO SPIRITUAL LIFE) TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH…”
(Romans 1:16 KJV). “…Jesus said…I am the resurrection and I am the LIFE…..”
(John 11:25 KJV).
“…The HOLY
SPIRIT “GIVES” birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT).
WHAT
DID GOD TELL EZEKIEL TO “SPEAK” OVER THE DEAD BONES? HE
TOLD HIM TO SPEAK HIS WORDS.“…Prophesy
(SPEAK) and say to them: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says:
My people …I will put my SPIRIT in you and you will LIVE …Then you will know
that I the Lord
have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN EZEKIEL SPOKE THE WORD
OVER THE DEAD BONES? THEY CAME TO LIFE.
“…I prophesied (spoke) as I was commanded. …and BREATH entered
them; they came to LIFE and stood up on their feet—a vast army…” (Ezekiel
37 NIV).
HOW DID THEY COME
TO LIFE? THE WORD OF GOD ACTIVATED THE CONFIRMING WORK
OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT.“…The HOLY SPIRIT “GIVES” birth to SPIRITUAL
LIFE…” (John 3:6 NLT).
“…[The BONES had]… been born again …through the living and enduring WORD OF GOD…” (1
Peter 1:23 NIV).
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
7.
WHAT ELSE
HAPPENS WHEN THE WORD OF GOD IS “HEARD? FAITH OR
DEPENDENCY UPON THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD IS EMPOWERED!! “…Faith cometh (IS EMPOWERED) by hearing, and hearing by
the WORD OF GOD...” (Roman 10:17 KJV).
WILL
YOU “SEE” WITH YOUR “OWN” EYES THE CONFIRMING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? YES. “…Since the creation of the world God’s
invisible qualities— HIS ETERNAL POWER AND DIVINE NATURE—have been CLEARLY SEEN, being UNDERSTOOD FROM
WHAT HAS BEEN MADE, so that people are without excuse…” (Romans
1:20 NIV).
What did Ezekiel see MADE, WITH HIS “OWN”
EYES, by the CONFIRMING WORK OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT? HE
“SAW” THE BONES COME TO LIFE AGAIN “…As I was prophesying (SPEAKING GOD’S WORD), there was a
noise, a rattling sound, and THE BONES CAME TOGETHER, BONE TO BONE. I LOOKED, and tendons and
flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. …and BREATH ENTERED THEM; they came to LIFE and
STOOD UP on their feet—a vast army...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
8.
The BONES represent "THAT" WHICH IS DEAD. DOES WHAT IS DEAD have any hope for LIFE without being RAISED by the
POWER of God’s WORD? NO, THE WORD IS THE RESURRECTION
FROM THE DEAD AND RESTORER OF LIFE. “…I am the resurrection and I am the LIFE…..”
(John 11:25 KJV). “…BY HIS
POWER God raised the Lord
from the DEAD, and he will raise us also…” (1
Corinthians 6:14 NIV). “…Jesus
said…I am the resurrection and I am the LIFE…..” (John 11:25
KJV). “…THE WORDS THAT I SPEAK unto you, they ARE SPIRIT,
and they ARE LIFE…” (John 6:63 KJV). “…GOD IS SPIRIT…”
(John 4:24 KJV). “…The Lord is that Spirit…” (2 Corinthians 3:17
KJV). “…THERE ARE
THREE that bear record in
heaven, the
Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost (SPIRIT): and THESE THREE ARE ONE.…”
(1 JOHN 5:6-8 KJV). “…The HOLY SPIRIT
“GIVES” birth to SPIRITUAL LIFE…”
(John 3:6 NLT).
JESUS’ QUESTION TO MARY, MARTHA, AND
EZKIEL WAS ONE OF LOVE AND NOT CONDEMNATION. HE TELLS HIS PEOPLE TO COME BOLDLY
TO WHAT? HIS THRONE OF GRACE (UNMERITED FAVOR).“…where have ye laid him?... …” (John 11: 34 KJV). “…There is….no condemnation to
them which are “in” Christ Jesus…” (Romans 8:1 KJV).
Therefore, “..Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find GRACE to help in time of need…”
(Hebrews 4:16 KJV).
IS GOD SYMPATHETIC WITH HIS PEOPLE, EVEN WHEN THEY BURY
THEIR HOPES, DREAMS, AND PRAYERS ALONG WITH FAITH OR DEPENDENCY UPON THE "pOWER" OF HIS WORD? YES, HE IS. “…Jesus wept…”
(John 11:35 KJV). “…we do not have a high
priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15 NASB). “…I will provide for you...”
…he comforted them
and spoke kindly to them.…” (GENESIS
50:15:21).
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9.
WHAT DID JESUS, THE WORD’S, QUESTION PLAN TO “SHOW”
MARY, MARTHA, EZEKIEL? THE GLORY OF GOD OR HIS PRESENCE THROUGH HIS GOODNESS. “…where have ye laid him?.…” (John 11: 34
KJV). “…Can these bones live?...” (Ezekiel
37 NIV). “…Jesus
said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you believe, you
will see the glory of God (THE PRESENCE OF HIS GOODNESS)?"
(John 11:40 KJV).
HOW DID EZEKIEL “SEE” THE GLORY OF GOD OR THE GOODNESS OF GOD THROUGH THE DRY
BONES? HE SAW GOD GRACIOUSLY RESTORE THE DRY BONES TO LIFE AGAIN. “…Can these bones live?” (Ezekiel
37 NIV). “…I said, “Sovereign Lord, you
alone know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these
bones and say to them, ‘dry bones, hear the word of the lord!
….So I prophesied
as I was commanded. And as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling
sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them
and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then …breath entered them; they came to life
and stood up on their feet—a vast army...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
AT ONE TIME JESUS, THE WORD, CAME IN THE
FLESH. DOES JESUS, THE WORD, NEED TO BE THERE PHYSICALLY IN ORDER TO ACTIVATE
THE CONFIRMING WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. NO, ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS SPEAK THE WORD. “…There came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy,
grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am
not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but SPEAK THE WORD ONLY …”
(Matthew 8:5-9 KJV).
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10. THE WORD OF GOD
CAME PHYSICALLY, THROUGH JESUS, TO MARY AND MARTHA’S SITUATION, BUT NOT TO
EZEKIELS. DID THE WORD HAVE THE SAME AFFECT ON BOTH SITUATIONS? YES, IT DID. “I want to …experience the
mighty power
that raised him from the dead.…”
(Philippians 3:10 NLT). “…SPEAK THE WORD ONLY …”
(Matthew 8:5-9 KJV). “….Lazarus, come forth.
…he that was dead came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV). “…dry bones, hear the word of the
lord! ….as I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound,
and the bones came together,
bone to bone. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them
and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. Then …breath entered them; they
came to life...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
IS
THE GRAVE, WHERE DEAD THINGS ARE BURED, ANY PLACE FOR THE GOD-GIVEN HOPES,
DREAMS, AND PRAYERS OF GOD’S PEOPLE? NO.
“…So they rolled the
stone aside…” (John 11:41 NLT). “…‘This
is what the Sovereign Lord says:
My people, I am going to open
your graves… Then you ...will know that I
am the Lord,
when I
open your graves… You[r HOPE, YOUR DREAMS, AND unanswered PRAYERS, ETC.]… will live …Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
HOW DID GOD DEMONSTRATE HE WANTED TO
RESTORE MARY, MARTHA, AND EZEKIEL’S “DEAD” SITUATIONS AND EXPERIENCES? LAZARUS AND THE BONES WERE RESURRECTED AND RESTORED TO LIFE AGAIN.
“…he
that was dead
came forth…” (John 11:42-43 KJV). “…they came to
life...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).
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11. Martha and Mary could not HEAL
Lazarus’ HEALTH. Martha and Mary could not STOP his DEATH. Martha and Mary
could not prevent Jesus’ DELAY. WHAT COULD THEY DO? CONTINUE
TO HAVE FAITH OR DEPEND UPON THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD, EVEN WHEN THE SITUATION LOOKS DEAD.
“Jesus saith…I am the way…”
(John 14:6 KJV). Therefore, “…SPEAK THE WORD ONLY …”
(Matthew 8:5-9 KJV). …Then you
will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord...’”
(Ezekiel 37 NIV).“…the things which are impossible with men ARE
POSSIBLE WITH GOD…”
(Luke 18:27 KJV). “….I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: IS THERE ANY THING TOO HARD FOR ME?”
(Jeremiah 32:27 KJV). “… [GOD]… IS
ABLE to do exceeding abundantly above
all that we ask or THINK…”
(Ephesians 3:20 KJV).Thus, “…Jesus said, where have ye laid him? …” (John 11: 34
KJV).
WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF JESUS, THE WORD,
ASKED YOU: WHERE HAVE YOU LAID OR GIVEN UP ON THOSE BURIED HOPES, DREAMS, AND unanswered
PRAYERS? DISCUSSION QUESTION.
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WHERE HAVE YOU GIVEN UP ON SOMETHING OR SOMEBODY GOD PROMISED YOU WILL BE RESURRECTED AND LIVE?
GO GET THEM AND "SPEAK THE WORD ONLY" OVER THEM AND WATCH WHAT GOD WILL DO!
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