And He said unto me, son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest. Again He said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the Word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I AM the LORD. (Ezekiel 37:3-6)
Ezekiel is taken up to a valley of dry bones in a vision. The bones represent the scattered nation of Israel. The Jews are dispersed in all directions and away from their land. They seem, in this world, to be without hope or future, and GOD asks Ezekiel if the 'bones' can yet live. It is a rhetorical question, for with GOD all things are possible. GOD is telling the Jews that they indeed will return to the land, and they will be a nation again, and eventually, in GOD's timing, they will not only be animated, but live and know GOD as Lord and Messiah.
When Jesus came unto His own, after the fashion of a man He was a Jew, they were in the land of Israel, but they rejected their Messiah. GOD had His perfect timing, and the bones will yet live. When this prophecy is finally fulfilled, Israel will indeed be in the land and as a nation will be hated by the entire world, but GOD will raise up this final nation to be a shining light and will protect it from all those that oppose Israel and GOD.
Until that day, the Church as the Body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of GOD is to be His witnesses to this lost and dying world. The Church does not replace Israel, for it has its part to play in GOD's timeline, but during this time of the Gentiles, we are to be salt and light here in this dark world. We are to shine the Word of GOD into the darkness, and flood our communities with the Living Water of the Good News that Jesus is the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, who became a man and willingly and humbly went to the Cross of Calvary for our sIn.
Those that believe His Word and receive Him by Faith in His finished work on that Cross are forgiven and born again, those that reject Christ and refuse to surrender to Him on His terms stand separated from GOD already condemned for their sIn. But, GOD is not willing that you should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth. The Truth that Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Repent, that is, turn away from your sIn, and turn to a Holy and Righteous GOD, and let Him give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship that is abundant and everlasting. It is your choice, there is no middle ground or neutrality. Remain as you are, or choose Life in, through, and with GOD.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
When Jesus came unto His own, after the fashion of a man He was a Jew, they were in the land of Israel, but they rejected their Messiah. GOD had His perfect timing, and the bones will yet live. When this prophecy is finally fulfilled, Israel will indeed be in the land and as a nation will be hated by the entire world, but GOD will raise up this final nation to be a shining light and will protect it from all those that oppose Israel and GOD.
Until that day, the Church as the Body of Christ, filled with the Spirit of GOD is to be His witnesses to this lost and dying world. The Church does not replace Israel, for it has its part to play in GOD's timeline, but during this time of the Gentiles, we are to be salt and light here in this dark world. We are to shine the Word of GOD into the darkness, and flood our communities with the Living Water of the Good News that Jesus is the Son of GOD who is GOD the Son, who became a man and willingly and humbly went to the Cross of Calvary for our sIn.
Those that believe His Word and receive Him by Faith in His finished work on that Cross are forgiven and born again, those that reject Christ and refuse to surrender to Him on His terms stand separated from GOD already condemned for their sIn. But, GOD is not willing that you should perish, but wants you to come to the knowledge of the Truth. The Truth that Jesus loves you and wants to establish a covenant relationship with you that is real and personal. Repent, that is, turn away from your sIn, and turn to a Holy and Righteous GOD, and let Him give you a brand new life of discipleship and fellowship that is abundant and everlasting. It is your choice, there is no middle ground or neutrality. Remain as you are, or choose Life in, through, and with GOD.
In Christ,
Jefferson Sweet
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