Connected and Content in a Chaotic World
CONNECTED AND CONTENT IN A CHAOTIC WORLD – EZE.L 37:1-14
MT. CALVARY AND NEW LIGHT MISSION – WED. AUG. 29, 2007
INTRO: WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DISCONNECT ALTHOUGH WE ARE MORE CONNECTED THAN EVER BEFORE. TECHNOLOGY HAS PROVIDED FOR US CELL PHONES, FAX MACHINES, EMAIL, SATELLITE RADIO AND DIGITAL TELEVISION, PDA’S AND I-PHONES, BLACKBERRIES. WE ARE MORE CONNECTED THAN EVER BEFORE AS WE CAN LINK TRAINS, PLANES AND CARS WITH TECH. TO FORM A GLOBAL VILLAGE. WE ARE MORE CONNECTED BUT WE MUST DEAL WITH THE OLD INFRASTRURE OF DAYS GONE BY IN ORDER TO UNDERSTAND OUR FUTURE.
DISCONNECT MAY RESULT FROM A BREACH OR A BREAK; A CUT OR A CLOG; BREAK IN THE LINE, CUT IN THE LINE, A CLOG IN THE LINE.
THIS PAST MONTH AFTER RETURNING HOME FROM WEEK AWAY; WE DISCOVERED WE HAD NO HOT WATER…THERE WAS A DISCONNECT…BETWEEN GAS AND THE PILOT LIGHT. THE LIGHT WOULDN’T STAY ON SO THE WATER DIDN’T GET HOT. AFTER SEVERAL FUTILE ATTEMPTS, I CALLED THE PLUMBER, WHO REPLACED ONE PART, THEN ANOTHER. AFTER REPLACING THE VALVE, STILL NO LIGHT. AND THE QUESTION CAME, DID YOU PAY THE GAS BILL? FINALLY WE DISCOVERED THAT THE INCOMING GAS LINE WAS CLOG, WHICH PREVENTED PROPER GAS FLOW, WHICH PREVENTED THE CONNECTION BETWEEN GAS THE PILOT LIGHT. THE PGW HAD TO COME OUT, BREAK UP, DIG UP AND REPLACE THE OLD LINE AND GIVE ME A NEW LINE SO THAT CONNECTION BETWEEN GAS AND HEATER COULD TAKE PLACE..AND WE COULD MOVE FROM COLD SHOWERS TO A NICE HOT SHOWER. DISCONNECT MAYBE THE RESULT OF A BREACH OR A BREAK, A CUT OR A CLOG IN THE SYSTEM OR THE LINE OR IN THE ENVIRONMENT.
MORE SERIOUS THAN A GAS PROBLEM THERE IS A DISCONNECT IN OUR CULTURE AS WELL AS IN OUR CHURCHES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT DISCONNECT LEADS US TO BEING DISTANCED; DISTANCE THEN FOSTERS DISOBEDIENCE; DISOBEDIENCE LEADS TO DESPAIR; WHICH LEADS TO DISCIPLINE WHICH CAN LEAD TO DEATH.
EXPL: IN THE TEXT WE WITNESS THE DISCONNECT BETWEEN GOD AND THE PEOPLE OF GOD. ISRAEL HAS STEEPED IN IDOLATRY AND GOD RAISED UP A PROPHET NAMED EZEKIEL..WHO’S NAME MEANS, “STRENGTHENED BY GOD” TO CALL ISRAEL TO REPENTANCE AND RETURN TO YAHWEH. YOU WILL RECALL THIS BOOK AS OUR FOREFATHER AND MOTHERS SANG THE OLD NEGRO SPIRITUAL…EZEKIEL SAW THE WHEEL WAY UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE AIR.
EZEKIEL PRIEST AND PROPHET HAD A STRANGE MINISTRY;
HE PROCLAIMED…AND PLAYED OUT
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON JERUSALEM
GOD’S JUDGMENT ON THE NATIONS
GOD’S RESTORATION OF THE JEWS
HIS MINISTRY WAS VERBAL AND VISUAL TO GET ISRAEL ATTENTION.
CALLED SON OF MAN …HE DID SOME STRANGE STUFF…TO GET THE PEOPLE’S ATTENTION.
HE ATE A SCROLL
HE WENT TO LIE DOWN ON HIS SIDE FOR 360 DAYS
HE PLAYED AT WAR
HE SHAVED HIS HEAD AND BEARD
HE WARMED HIS FOOD ON COW DUNG
HE RATIONED OUT HIS BREAD AND WATER
HE WASN’T ALLOWED TO WEEP IN THE PASSING OF HIS WIFE.
IN THE TEXT…
WE FIND EZEKIEL TAKEN BY THE HAND AND SPIRIT OF GOD INTO THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES. WHERE THERE IS ICABOD, THERE IS DISCONNECT; WHERE THE GLORY HAS DEPARTED THERE IS DEATH; WHERE THE GLORY HAS BEEN REMOVED THERE IS DESPAIR.
WE FIND ISRAEL IS CAPTIVE; BABYLON HAS COME IN LIKE A FLOOD AND APPLE OF GOD’S EYE HAS BEEN RUINED; ASSYRIA HAS SCATTERED ISRAEL..JUST LIKE ISAIAH AND JEREMIAH PREDICTED. BUT EZEKIEL GOES A BIT FARTHER AND GIVES US HOPE IN THAT DESPITE…
THE RUIN
THERE’D BE A RETURN
THERE’D BE A REVIVAL
THERE’D BE A REUNITING
THERE’D BE REJOICING
WE FIND THIS PICTURE OF THE JEWS, ALIVE BUT LIVING APART FROM JESUS AS MESSIAH.
THIS IS PICTURE OF
DEATH
DEFEAT
AS WE SEE THE BODIES
BLEACHED AND
UNBURIED
THAT ONE DAY THEY WILL WAKE UP…SPIRITUALLY AND SEE AND KNOW THAT YAWH IS GOD.
WE FIND OURSELVES LIVING IN A WORLD OF DRY BONES; DISCONNECTED PEOPLE, LIVING LIVES VOID OF VICTORY, LIVING LIVES VOID OF THE POWER OF GOD.
PROP: THE WORD OF GOD KEEPS US CONNECTED AND CONTENT
INTER: WHAT CAN WE DISCOVER ABOUT THE VALLEY OF DRY BONES TO ENCOURAGE OUR HEARTS AND MINDS
TS: AS WE LOOK AT THIS FAMILIAR PASSAGE WE WILL COME AWAY CONNECTED AND CONTENT IN CHRIST.
I. THE WORD OF GOD HAS POWER OVER THE “LIFELESS”; OVER THE DEAD V.1-8
PREACH TO THE BONES – WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DRY BONES; PEOPLE WHOSE LIVES ARE SCATTERED AND SHATTERED; PEOPLE WHO TRAVEL THROUGH THE VALLEY OF LIFE…CHARACTERIZED BY THE VALLEY OF BACA, THE VALLEY OF WEEPING…OUR DAY IS FULL OF BONES, DRY, VERY DRY BONES OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SPIRITUALLY DEAD, DRY AND DISJOINTED.
PREACH TO THE BROKEN – PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD; THIS IS NOT THE NAME IT AND CLAIM IS ACT OF PROPHESY WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO FIND FIVE DOLLARS IN AN OLD PURSE IN THE BACK OF THE CLOSET. OR SOME WORD OF FAITH THAT IS SO GENERAL AND VAGUE TO GET YOUR MONEY. PUT PROCLAMATION UNDER THE DIVINE UNCTION OF THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THIS PREACHING AND PROCLAMATION BRINGS LIFE.
IMP. JUST LIKE DISOBEDIENCE TO THE WORD BROUGHT DISCONNECT AND DEATH; OBEDIENCE TO THE WORD OF GOD BRINGS LIFE.
TEXT: DAVID SAID, THEY WORD HAVE I HID IN MY HEART THAT I MIGHT NOT SIN AGAINST THEE
MT. 4:4 MAN DOES NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE, BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT COMES OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.
MT 13:22 IN THE STORY OF THE SOWER AND THE SOIL, NOW HE WHO RECEIVED THE SEED AMONG THE THORNS IS HE WHO HEARS THE WORD, AND THE CARES OF THIS WORLD AND THE DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES CHOKE THE WORD, AND HE BECOMES UNFAITHFUL.
JOHN 5:24 “WHOEVER HEARS MY WORD AND BELIEVES IN HIM WHO SENT ME HAS ETERNAL LIFE AND WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED; HE HAS CROSSED OVER FROM DEATH TO LIFE.
APP: THERE IS POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD; IT CAN TAKE A SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE SITUATION AND BRING ABOUT RENEWAL.
ILL; BONES IN THE CHURCH; WISHBONES, JAWBONES, FUNNY BONES, DRY BONES AND BACK BONES
II. THE WORD OF GOD HAS POWER OVER THE BREATHLESS; OVER THOSE APPEARING DEAD V.9-10
PREACH TO THE WIND – PROPHESY TO THE WIND…COMMAND THE WIND TO BLOW ON TE BODIES
AND WHEN THE WINDS FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE EARTH COME; THEY BECOME NOT ONLY ALIVE, BUT A MIGHTY ARMY. BODY WITHOUT BREATH IS BREATHLESS – ALIVE BUT NOT ACTIVE; FORM BUT NO FUNCTION. A BODY WITH BREATH = GREAT ARMY AND POINTS TO THE FUTURE DESTINY OF ISRAEL.
IMP. DECLARATION OF THE WORD OF GOD - THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT, IT’S FULLNESS AND FORCE… OF GOD AND BE AN UPLIFTING EXPERIENCE.
GOD FILLS US WITH HIS SPIRIT AND WE COME ALIVE TO GOD AND THE THINGS OF GOD. AND BECAUSE WE NEED HIS BREATH …IT SPEAKS OF OUR LIVES IN TOTAL DEPENDENCE ON GOD.
AND IDOLS…WHICH TO ISRAEL IN TROUBLE, AND GET US IN TROUBLE ARE BREATHLESS, AND WITHOUT LIFE; THEY HAVE EYES, BUT DON’T SEE
THEY HAVE EARS, BUT DON’T HEAR
THEY HAVE HANDS, BUT CAN’T FEEL
THEY HAVE FEET, BUT CAN’T WALK
GOD RECREATES LIVE BY GIVING HIS BREATH / W/ QUICKENS US
TEXT: WHEN JESUS APPEARED BEFORE HIS DISCIPLES…HE BREATH ON THEM AND SAID, RECEIVE YE THE HOLY SPIRIT.
APPL: LET HIM BREATH ON ME…LET THE BREATH OF THE LORD BREATH ON ME.
FLESHLY LIVING IS FUTILE..CARNALLY MINDED MEANS DEATH..BUT SPIRITUALLY MINDED IS LIFE AND PEACE..
WE MUST BE…
BORN OF THE SPIRIT
WALK IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD
LIVE BY THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
ILL: FAMILIAR WITH AIR-BONE DISEASE, RECENTLY A MAN WITH TB WAS ON AN AIRLINE FLIGHT THAT CAUSED A MAJOR UPROAR HERE AND ABROAD. IN S. AMERICA THE WIND FROM THE MARSHES …COMES CHARGED WITH GERMS OF INTERMITTENT FEVER AND CHOLERA CAN ACCOMPANY THE STILLNESS OF THE ATMOSPHERE. A STORM IS THE BEST PURIFIER…FOR STILLNESS AND INACTIVITY AND DO NOTHINGNESS WILL FOSTER THE DISEASE OF DOUBT. THE BLESSING OF THAT MIGHT RUSHING WIND, IS THAT IS STIRRED UP AND PURIFIED THE ATMOSPHERE OF LIFE
III. THE WORD OF GOD HAS POWER OVER THE “HOPELESS”, OVER THE DEPRESSED V.11-14
PREACH TO THE HOPELESS – THE PASSAGE SPEAKS OF POLITICAL AND NATIONAL REVIVAL AND RESTORATION OF ISRAEL; IT SPEAKS OF FUTURE RESURRECTION FROM THE GRAVES ..REMOVING THEIR SHAME AND LIFTING THEM UP. BONES DRY, HOPE LOST AND CUT OF SPEAKS OF A LOST OF VITALITY.
IMP. IN PREACHING TO THE HOPELESS…EZEKIEL PREACHES THE PROMISES OF GOD; THE PROMISE OF REDEMPTION AND RESURRECTION. WE ARE REMINDED …IN HIS DAY THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME UPON A PERSON, BUT FOR US ON THIS SIDE OF THE CROSS, THE HOLY SPIRIT FILLS US.
TEXT: I WILL DO A NEW THING, SAITH THE LORD…I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT, NOT ON..BUT IN YOU…
APPL: THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE IN THE PRESENCE OF GOD; AS LONG AS THERE IS GOD AND AS LONG AS WE HAVE BREATH THERE IS HOPE. HOPE FOR OUR LOVED ONE’S WHO DON’T KNOW GOD; HOPE FOR OUR BRO. AND SIS. IN CHRIST WHO ARE ALIVE BUT NOT ACTIVE. WE HAVE HOPE …BECAUSE PAUL SAYS IT IS CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY.
ILL: HE ACTED AS A CONDUIT SO THAT LINE WOULD REMAIN UNBROKEN.
CLOSE: WE LIVE IN A WORLD OF DISCONNECT IF WE STAND APART FROM CHRIST. FOR CHRIST WAS HUNG ON A HILL CALLED CALVARY…AND HE HUNG BETWEEN TWO THIEVES. HE WAS SUSPENDED BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HEARTH; HE WAS HUNG AND BECAME A CURSE ON OUR BEHALF THAT WE MIGHT BE BLESSED OF GOD. HE BECAME OUR MEDIATOR OUR GO-BETWEEN; HE STOOD IN THE GAP AS OUR HIGH PRIEST
…THAT
WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE THROUGH THE
WORD OF GOD
BREATH OF GOD
SPIRIT OF GOD
POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD KEEPS US CONNECTED
THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD, THE WORD MADE FLESH, CONNECTS US TO THE
HAND OF GOD TO HOLD US
SPIRIT OF GOD TO FILL US
ONLY CHRIST CAN KEEP US CONNECTED, COMMITTED AND CONTENT.