Surprised By Life

 

Pastor Jerry shared a personal story before he read from Ezekiel 37: 1-14

He admitted that he enjoyed Mystery stories, both books and TV series.  He likes the surprise ending that will amaze the reader or viewer.

Thousands of years ago there was a mystery that Ezekiel viewed in a vision.  He was shown a valley of dry bones and God asked him, “Can these bones live?”  Ezekiel answered, “O Lord God You know.”

Ezekiel 37:4-6  Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵ Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. ⁶ I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”

There are times we may feel dry, parched, beaten and our world has turned upside down, but God is there to revive, refresh and bring back life to our flesh.  All hope is gone but God says to prophesy to bring life where there is only dry bones.

Pastor shared how several years ago, he and his wife Dixie were moving to Chico, and on the way she suffered a stroke and died a few days later.  His then known world was turned upside down and he was at a loss.

Ginger and her husband were traveling to Oregon to a conference for their denomination, when suddenly her husband dropped dead of a heart attack, and her world was turned upside down.

A few years later as Life is full of surprises - -Pastor Jerry met Ginger, and the two became friends; soon after, they were married.

The children of Israel were warned to serve God and Him only but they were rebellious and made graven images and served heathen gods.  The wrath of God was apparent and the Babylon army carried them away captive.  Oh how depressed they were.

From one blip to another life can be turned upside down.

Who would have thought that Oregon would suffer such a devastating mud slide, or that an airplane could disappear with many passengers on board?

If we are not careful we can slide into a deluge of lost hope.

We look around our world and view the homeless and realize we have a lot to be thankful for.

In our city we have active places of Hope for those in need, both religious groups and government assistance.

We can be surprised by life.

Solomon’s great temple was destroyed and hope was lost as the children of Israel were taken to Babylon were beaten down.  They had rejected God’s covenant and fell back into idolatry.

Can these bones live again?  There is power in God’s words, both spoken and read. 

Have you been surprised by life?  Begin to prophesy over your circumstances, and speak life by commanding those dry bones to live again. 

You can speak to a flat tire, but action is required and energy must be expanded.  There is energy in God’s Word.

In 1985 Terry Anderson was a hostage in Lebanon, housed in underground cells and treated inhumanely.  While in the prison he had a Bible with him that he read at least 52 times.  Today he is free, as life with its surprises brought him release.

God gives blessings that often we do not deserve, but he is full of mercy and surprises.

There are many hopeless situations, and only God can bring back life to dead conditions.

What God did for Ezekiel he can and will bring blessings to those who serve Him. 

That we might be surprised by life.