Dry Bones Live!

Z-37!
Z-37!
Set!
Hut, hut!

Sounds like a quarterback giving calls?? Pretty close but not quite! Instead of hearing the quarterback's command, it's time to hear God calling the plays.

Funny how we have football stadiums filled with 50+ thousands of screaming, NFL jersey clad, beer guzzling, hotdog chomping fans, especially on Sundays! Parking lots are full and they even pay $5-10 to get in and park! There are tailgaters arriving early in the morning for a pre-game cookout. It doesn't matter how the weather is whether its minus 5 degrees or raining, the fans will be there! I don't think anyone will sleep during any games!! They wouldn't miss this for the world!

But in the church, the very church that Jesus died for, pews aren't filled to the edge. Parking lots aren't normally filled. Over there, we got pew-warmers. Over here, we got one that sleeps six people. If the weather is good, they'll be there. If it's cold outside, they won't, even though the church building adjusted the temperature to a nice, balmy 70 degrees. The church would barely keep their eyes (ears) open to hear the life changing message of God. Most of them actually feel that it's the preacher speaking, not God. Not so! And God is, of course, concerned about His children.

Yes.. It's pretty sad. Today, we live in a world where we can compare the difference between church and entertainment. That's why churches all over are struggling to compete or keep up with the entertainment world. Churches are dying everywhere. People are looking for things that will add spice to their life. They want to leave feeling entertained and feeling good. Churches are changing trends from "What can you do for the church?" to "What can the church do for you?" OUCH!

During the days of Ezekiel, the nation of Israel was gone! No government. No religion. No temple. No people. No recognition. Zip, gone, zilch! Or in other words, D-E-A-D! And God showed Ezekiel his people.. He asked one simple question:

"Son of man, can these bones live?" Ezekiel 37:3a (niv)

Ezekiel answered, "O Sovereign Lord, you alone know." Ezekiel 37:3b (niv)

Amen, Ezekiel. It's not a "man's" job to bring life in dead and relationship-severed people. It's God. Only God knows. That's His business.

What happened next? God gave Ezekiel a command. I know this may sound silly but... Ezekiel did as God told him to do.

It wasn't adding music to wake up dead souls.
It wasn't doing a church-makeover to attract dead Christians.
It wasn't to add a bass-shaker (vibrate chairs) to keep pew-sleepers from sleeping.

Ezekiel did the same old method that we should all do today, Preach The Word!

The Word went into dead souls (whom have forgotten their first love, whom have led themselves astray from the truth, whom have been deceived, blinded and confused, whom followed their own heart instead of followed the command of the Lord) and the Lord breath His Spirit into them. Then they returned to life.

This Sunday, we'll learn more about Z37, where do we stand before God right at the moment and how do we return to God and stay with God!?

Wherever you are, may the Lord be praised!