The Dry Dead Bones Our Condition, Gods Solution
The Inevitable
There are only TWO matters that face us today (2020) Temporal and Eternal. God Is waking us up to this reality as we speak. Are we ready for the inevitable?
Ezekiel 37:1-11.
Our Condition – Ezekiel 37:1-3 (Convicted, but in need of Revival).
Gods Solution – Ezekiel 37: 4-11(Converted, A Character Reformed into The Image Of Christ).
True of False
- A dead church is a people who are in the valley of decision even though the path is clear
- A dead church cannot bring life to a dying world.
- A dying world needs a decisive church
- A dying world needs a people who are God's breath – Filled with The Spirit of God
- A dying world needs to see the army of God in action
Only God knows our true condition
Paradox.
One can tell just how soon the return of Jesus is by looking at the state or condition of His people the church
The Dry Dead Bones
Questions To Be Answered.
- Who are The Dead Bones? – A People Dead in Sin and Trespasses
- Why are The Bones in the Valley? – They are indifferent – does not stand for anything – Laodicean
- What resurrects the Bones? - The Prophetic Word, The Word that comes from the life giver
- What is the noise? – A Crying Out, Proclamation, Thundering, Voice
- What is the shaking? – Commotion, trembling, persecution
- What is The Wind and the Four Winds? – The Holy Spirit
The Army of The Lord
Who are The Dead Bones? – A People Dead in Sin and Trespasses, An Unclean People
Matthew 23:25-28.
25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.
26 [Thou] blind Pharisee, cleanse first that [which is] within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.
27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead [men's] bones, and of all uncleanness.
27 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.
Romans 5:12-14, 6:23 (Death came by the sin of one).
12. Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
13(For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Joshua 7:11-13,15 (A dead congregation, no spiritual progress. Why?).
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put [it] even among their own stuff.
12 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, [but] turned [their] backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
13 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, [There is] an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
15...And it shall be, [that] he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
QUOTE
This class is well represented by the valley of dry bones Ezekiel saw in vision. Those who have had committed to them the treasures of truth, and yet who are dead in trespasses and sin, need to be created anew in Christ Jesus. There is so little real vitality in the church at the present time, that it takes constant labor to give men the appearance of life to the professed people of God. {RH, January 17, 1893 par. 10}.
The Dead Bones are represented as:
- The result of harboring sin individually and as a congregation
- Unrighteousness, uncleanness as a member and as a church
- Spiritual lethargy, weakness as a person and as a body
- A people void of the presence of The Holy Spirit
- A sign of separation from The Life Giver
- A people in need of true revival and reformation, a people in need of true conversion
Who are the Dry Dead Bones?
Ezekiel 37:11.
11 Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel:
Why are The Bones in the Valley?
A People that are indecisive– does not stand for anything – Laodicean
Joel 3:13,14
13 Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the vats overflow; for their wickedness [is] great.
14 Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD [is] near in the valley of decision.
Isaiah 40:1-5 (A people in need of comfort and direction).
1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God.
2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain:
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see [it] together: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken [it].
1 Kings 18:21 (stop the hemming and hawing).
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD [be] God, follow him: but if Baal, [then] follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
QUOTE
...The United States is the power represented by the beast with lamblike horns, and . . . this prophecy will be fulfilled when the United States shall enforce Sunday observance, which Rome claims as the special acknowledgment of her supremacy. But in this homage to Papacy the United States will not be alone. The influence of Rome in the countries that once acknowledged her dominion, is still far from being destroyed.
And prophecy foretells a restoration of her power. "I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Revelation 13:3. {FLB 329.3}.
The infliction of the deadly wound points to the downfall of the Papacy in 1798. After this, says the prophet, "His deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast." Paul states plainly that the man of sin will continue until the Second Advent.... In both the Old and the New World, the Papacy will receive homage in the honor paid to the Sunday institution, that rests solely upon the authority of the Roman Church.... {FLB 329.4}.
God's Word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. {FLB 329.5} We should now seek a deep and living experience in the things of God. We have not a moment to lose. {FLB 329.6}.
The bones – The Whole House of SDA’s (more so individually) need to take a stand.
The valley is a place of indecision it’s not a place to linger, it is an eternally dangerous place to waver. How long must we conduct our lives as if undecided and indifferent. When it comes to eternal matters, I/We must decide now!!!
NOTE: Our present situation demands that we make permanent our resolution.
What resurrects the Bones? - The Prophetic Word, The Word that comes from the life giver.
Ezekiel 37:4,7,9,10 – A Closer look.
4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Ezekiel was commanded to Prophesy (Str, H5012) – To speak under Divine Influence, To cause to bubble up, to predict.
He was first commanded to prophesy to the Bones that were:
- Dead in sins and transgression
- Indecisive
- Laodicean
As a result These Bones needed to HEAR (Str, H8085) the Word of The Lord.
To HEAR the Word of the Lord is beyond just listening or hearing. To HEAR is a call for:
- Obedience, willingness to obey and comply
- Consent, agreement
- Understanding
- Granting a request
Ezekiel was commanded to give a prophetic message of revival and reformation and he obeyed, he did as was commanded of him from The Lord.
QUOTE
We are living in a time when men are dead in trespasses and sins. Dead men cannot realize anything. Let us bear a testimony that is in accordance with the truth we believe. Let us be united in cooperation as a living whole. The dry bones need to be breathed upon by the Holy Spirit of God, that they may come into action, as by a resurrection from the dead. {BTS, December 1, 1903 par. 2}.
It is not because of niggardliness on the part of God that there is a dearth of the Holy Spirit in our churches. This dearth, the churches alone can change. God says to His people, "Arouse and create an interest in holy things." Where is our faith? Wherein do we sustain a proper relation to Jesus Christ? Do we follow Him in self-denial and stability? Do we talk the truth with the understanding? When God pours out His Spirit upon the churches, they will bear fruit to His glory. The sword of the Spirit, newly edged with power, will cut both ways. {BTS, December 1, 1903 par. 3}.
The Result of the Prophesying
There was a NOISE that produced or caused a SHAKING which began to unite the bones.
What is the NOISE (Str, H6963).
- Cry Out – Loud Cry – Third Angels Message
- Proclamation - A loud voice as to alarm
- Thundering – Voice of God.
Exodus 20:18-20.
18 And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw [it], they removed, and stood afar off.
19And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die.
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.
QUOTE
In God's vineyard there is earnest work to be done. The third angel's message is to be proclaimed with a loud voice all over the land. Every vestige of business that breeds dishonesty, every thread of selfishness, is to be swept away by the latter rain. All idolatry is to be consumed. Let every altar be thrown down, save the one that sanctifies the gift and the giver,--the cross of Calvary. {BTS, December 1, 1903 par. 4}.
New territory is to be added to God's kingdom. New tracts of moral vineyard are to be cultivated as the garden of the Lord. The honor of the law of God is to be vindicated before the unfallen worlds, before the heavenly universe, and before the fallen world. The bitterest persecution will come, but when Zion arises, and puts on her beautiful garments, she will shine forth in the beauty of holiness. God designs us to have more life and more power, because the glory of God has risen upon the church. If the truth is received, unsightly barrenness will not continue to exist. Christ's word is eternal life to the receiver. {BTS, December 1, 1903 par. 5}
What is the SHAKING (Str, H7494)
- Commotion – uneasiness
- Confusion - unsettling to settle – To awake out of sleep
- Trembling – agonizing – putting away of sin - cleansing
Romans 13:11-14.
11 And that, knowing the time, that now [it is] high time to awake out of sleep: for now [is] our salvation nearer than when we believed.
12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.
13 Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.
14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to [fulfil] the lusts [thereof].
QUOTE
I saw some, with strong faith and agonizing cries, pleading with God. Their countenances were pale and marked with deep anxiety, expressive of their internal struggle. Firmness and great earnestness was expressed in their countenances; large drops of perspiration fell from their foreheads. Now and then their faces would light up with the marks of God's approbation, and again the same solemn, earnest, anxious look would settle upon them. {EW 269.1}.
Evil angels crowded around, pressing darkness upon them to shut out Jesus from their view, that their eyes might be drawn to the darkness that surrounded them, and thus they be led to distrust God and murmur against Him. Their only safety was in keeping their eyes directed upward. Angels of God had charge over His people, and as the poisonous atmosphere of evil angels was pressed around these anxious ones, the heavenly angels were continually wafting their wings over them to scatter the thick darkness. {EW 269.2}
As the praying ones continued their earnest cries, at times a ray of light from Jesus came to them, to encourage their hearts and light up their countenances. Some, I saw, did not participate in this work of agonizing and pleading. They seemed indifferent and careless. They were not resisting the darkness around them, and it shut them in like a thick cloud. The angels of God left these and went to the aid of the earnest, praying ones. I saw angels of God hasten to the assistance of all who were struggling with all their power to resist the evil angels and trying to help themselves by calling upon God with perseverance. But His angels left those who made no effort to help themselves, and I lost sight of them.
I asked the meaning of the shaking I had seen and was shown that it would be caused by the straight testimony called forth by the counsel of the True Witness to the Laodiceans. This will have its effect upon the heart of the receiver, and will lead him to exalt the standard and pour forth the straight truth. Some will not bear this straight testimony. They will rise up against it, and this is what will cause a shaking among God's people. {EW 270.2}..
The Vaccine for Spiritual Healing
The Wind - What is The Wind and the Four Winds?.
To complete the revival process Ezekiel was then commanded to Prophesy to the wind which comes from the four winds.
Ezekiel 37:9.
9 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
WIND (Str, H7307)
- Spirit of God – The Holy Spirit
- Breath of God – reformation of character
- Life from God – empowerment
The Four Winds – Gathering time.
Matthew 24:29-31.
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
NOTE: The winds of strife should let us know that we are in the final gathering and scattering time. We are in the sealing time.
The Four Winds – Gathering time – A call for disassociation with Babylon
Zechariah 2:6-8.
6Ho, ho, [come forth], and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD.
7 Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon.
8 For thus saith the LORD of hosts; After the glory hath he sent me unto the nations which spoiled you: for he that toucheth you toucheth the apple of his eye.
QUOTE
The Lord God is a jealous God; yet He bears long with the sins and transgressions of His people in this generation. If the people of God had walked in His counsel, the work of God would have advanced, the messages of truth would have been borne to all people that dwell on the face of the whole earth. . . .
But because the people are disobedient, unthankful, unholy, as were ancient Israel, time is prolonged that all may hear the last message of mercy proclaimed with a loud voice. The Lord's work has been hindered, the sealing time delayed. Many have not heard the truth. But the Lord will give them a chance to hear and be converted..
What are you doing . . . in the great work of preparation? Those who are uniting with the world are receiving the worldly mold and preparing for the mark of the beast. Those who are distrustful of self, who are humbling themselves before God and purifying their souls by obeying the truth--these are receiving the heavenly mold and preparing for the seal of God in their foreheads..
When the decree goes forth and the stamp is impressed, their character will remain pure and spotless for eternity. Now is the time to prepare. The seal of God will never be placed upon the forehead of an impure man or woman. It will never be placed upon the forehead of the ambitious, world-loving man or woman..
It will never be placed upon the forehead of men or women of false tongues or deceitful hearts. All who receive the seal must be without spot before God-- candidates for heaven. Every individual soul, if he would receive the seal of the living God, must hear the Word of the Lord, and do it with exactitude. There must be no such thing as haphazard religion if men would have a place in the family of God. Now is the time, while the four angels are holding the four winds, to make our calling and election sure..
The Army of The Lord
Ezekiel 37:10.
10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
God's Army Magnifies the Law.
Those who belong to Christ's army must work with concerted action. They cannot be faithful soldiers unless they obey orders. United action is essential. An army in which every part acts without reference to the other parts, has no real strength. In order to add new territory to Christ's kingdom, His soldiers must act in concert. . . . He calls for a united army, which moves steadily forward, not for a company composed of independent atoms. The strength of His army is to be used for one great purpose. Its efforts are to be concentrated upon one great point--the magnifying of the laws of His kingdom before the world, before angels, and before men (MS 82, 1900). {4BC 1146.4}.
A Well-trained Army.--Men and women are not to be spiritually dwarfed by a connection with the church, but strengthened, elevated, ennobled, prepared for the most sacred work ever committed to mortals. It is the Lord's purpose to have a well-trained army, ready to be called into action at a moment's notice. This army will be made up of well-disciplined men and women, who have placed themselves under influences that have prepared them for service.--RH, June 2, 1903.{DG 104.1}.
Ephesians 6:10-17.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places].
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
