Why Are You Here?
Sermon Blog (3/10/25) - Rev. Rema Duncan
Have you ever felt like you were in a valley of dry bones? A place where hope seems lost, dreams appear shattered, and the future looks bleak? Perhaps you're there right now, wondering if anything good can come from your current situation. Take heart, for there is a powerful message of hope and restoration waiting to breathe new life into your circumstances.
The story of the valley of dry bones from Ezekiel 37 paints a vivid picture of God's ability to resurrect what appears dead and breathe life into seemingly hopeless situations. In this narrative, the prophet Ezekiel is carried by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with dry, scattered bones. These bones represent the remnants of what was once a great army, now reduced to lifeless fragments.
God challenges Ezekiel with a profound question: "Can these bones live?" It's a question that resonates with many of us today. Can our broken relationships be mended? Can our failed ventures be revived? Can our lost dreams be resurrected? In the natural, the answer might seem to be a resounding "no." But God specializes in the supernatural.
The Lord instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, to speak life and restoration over what appears dead and beyond hope. As Ezekiel obeys, a miraculous transformation occurs. The bones come together, forming skeletons. Tendons, flesh, and skin cover the bones. Finally, the breath of life enters these reconstituted bodies, and they stand – a vast army brought back from the brink of oblivion.
This powerful imagery serves as a reminder that God is not limited by our current circumstances or past failures. He sees beyond what is to what can be. When we align our vision with His, we open ourselves to the miraculous potential He sees in us.
But why does God allow us to experience these "valley" moments in the first place? Sometimes, it's to break us out of our comfort zones and challenge our limited perspectives. Consider the story of Elijah, a mighty prophet who, after a great victory, found himself hiding in a cave, discouraged and fearful. God's response to Elijah's self-pity is both challenging and enlightening: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
It's a question we might need to ask ourselves. Are we camping out in places of discouragement or fear when God is calling us to greater things? Are we allowing the negative words or actions of others to dictate our destiny? God's call to Elijah was clear – get up, get out, and get busy anointing others for the work of the kingdom.
This brings us to another powerful biblical narrative – the story of Lazarus. Jesus, upon hearing of His friend's illness, deliberately delays His arrival, allowing Lazarus to die. When He finally comes, Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. The situation seems hopeless, but Jesus is about to demonstrate that nothing is beyond His power to restore.
Standing before the sealed tomb, Jesus commands, "Lazarus, come out!" And to the amazement of all present, Lazarus emerges, still bound in grave clothes but very much alive. This miracle serves as a powerful reminder that even when things appear to be at their worst – when dreams have died and hope has been buried – Jesus has the power to call forth life.
These stories challenge us to examine our own lives. Where are we allowing a "grave" mentality to hold us back? What dreams or callings have we buried, thinking they're beyond resurrection? It's time to roll away the stone of doubt, fear, and past disappointments, and allow the life-giving power of God's Word to breathe new life into our situations.
But here's the crucial part – we're not just called to experience resurrection in our own lives. We're called to be agents of resurrection for others. Just as God instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, and just as He sent Elijah to anoint others, we too are commissioned to speak life, hope, and destiny over the people and situations around us.
Imagine the impact we could have if we truly embraced this calling. What if, instead of focusing on our limitations or past failures, we began to see ourselves and others through God's eyes of possibility? What if we started speaking words of life and destiny over our families, our workplaces, our communities?
The truth is, we serve a God who specializes in bringing life out of death, hope out of despair, and beauty out of ashes. He's not intimidated by our current circumstances or limited by our past mistakes. He's looking for people who will partner with Him in His redemptive work – people who will dare to believe that dry bones can live again, that sealed tombs can be opened, and that those hiding in caves of fear can be called out to anoint kings.
So, wherever you find yourself today – whether in a valley of dry bones, sealed in a tomb of disappointment, or hiding in a cave of fear – know that God sees you, and He has a greater purpose for your life. It's time to lift your eyes, open your ears to His voice, and allow His Word to resurrect your dreams and destiny.
But don't stop there. Look around you. Who needs to hear words of life and hope? Who needs to be "anointed" – encouraged and empowered to step into their God-given calling? You have the power to be an agent of resurrection in someone else's life today.
Remember, the God who breathed life into dry bones, who called Lazarus out of the tomb, and who sent Elijah out of the cave to anoint others, is the same God who is working in and through you today. It's time to arise, shake off the dust of past disappointments, and step into the fullness of what God has called you to be and do.
Your valley of dry bones? It's not a dead end. It's the starting point of a new beginning. Your sealed tomb? It's about to become the stage for a miracle. Your cave of fear? It's the launching pad for a ministry that will impact nations.
Believe it. Speak it. Live it. The best is yet to come.
Have you ever felt like you were in a valley of dry bones? A place where hope seems lost, dreams appear shattered, and the future looks bleak? Perhaps you're there right now, wondering if anything good can come from your current situation. Take heart, for there is a powerful message of hope and restoration waiting to breathe new life into your circumstances.
The story of the valley of dry bones from Ezekiel 37 paints a vivid picture of God's ability to resurrect what appears dead and breathe life into seemingly hopeless situations. In this narrative, the prophet Ezekiel is carried by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with dry, scattered bones. These bones represent the remnants of what was once a great army, now reduced to lifeless fragments.
God challenges Ezekiel with a profound question: "Can these bones live?" It's a question that resonates with many of us today. Can our broken relationships be mended? Can our failed ventures be revived? Can our lost dreams be resurrected? In the natural, the answer might seem to be a resounding "no." But God specializes in the supernatural.
The Lord instructs Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, to speak life and restoration over what appears dead and beyond hope. As Ezekiel obeys, a miraculous transformation occurs. The bones come together, forming skeletons. Tendons, flesh, and skin cover the bones. Finally, the breath of life enters these reconstituted bodies, and they stand – a vast army brought back from the brink of oblivion.
This powerful imagery serves as a reminder that God is not limited by our current circumstances or past failures. He sees beyond what is to what can be. When we align our vision with His, we open ourselves to the miraculous potential He sees in us.
But why does God allow us to experience these "valley" moments in the first place? Sometimes, it's to break us out of our comfort zones and challenge our limited perspectives. Consider the story of Elijah, a mighty prophet who, after a great victory, found himself hiding in a cave, discouraged and fearful. God's response to Elijah's self-pity is both challenging and enlightening: "What are you doing here, Elijah?"
It's a question we might need to ask ourselves. Are we camping out in places of discouragement or fear when God is calling us to greater things? Are we allowing the negative words or actions of others to dictate our destiny? God's call to Elijah was clear – get up, get out, and get busy anointing others for the work of the kingdom.
This brings us to another powerful biblical narrative – the story of Lazarus. Jesus, upon hearing of His friend's illness, deliberately delays His arrival, allowing Lazarus to die. When He finally comes, Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. The situation seems hopeless, but Jesus is about to demonstrate that nothing is beyond His power to restore.
Standing before the sealed tomb, Jesus commands, "Lazarus, come out!" And to the amazement of all present, Lazarus emerges, still bound in grave clothes but very much alive. This miracle serves as a powerful reminder that even when things appear to be at their worst – when dreams have died and hope has been buried – Jesus has the power to call forth life.
These stories challenge us to examine our own lives. Where are we allowing a "grave" mentality to hold us back? What dreams or callings have we buried, thinking they're beyond resurrection? It's time to roll away the stone of doubt, fear, and past disappointments, and allow the life-giving power of God's Word to breathe new life into our situations.
But here's the crucial part – we're not just called to experience resurrection in our own lives. We're called to be agents of resurrection for others. Just as God instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, and just as He sent Elijah to anoint others, we too are commissioned to speak life, hope, and destiny over the people and situations around us.
Imagine the impact we could have if we truly embraced this calling. What if, instead of focusing on our limitations or past failures, we began to see ourselves and others through God's eyes of possibility? What if we started speaking words of life and destiny over our families, our workplaces, our communities?
The truth is, we serve a God who specializes in bringing life out of death, hope out of despair, and beauty out of ashes. He's not intimidated by our current circumstances or limited by our past mistakes. He's looking for people who will partner with Him in His redemptive work – people who will dare to believe that dry bones can live again, that sealed tombs can be opened, and that those hiding in caves of fear can be called out to anoint kings.
So, wherever you find yourself today – whether in a valley of dry bones, sealed in a tomb of disappointment, or hiding in a cave of fear – know that God sees you, and He has a greater purpose for your life. It's time to lift your eyes, open your ears to His voice, and allow His Word to resurrect your dreams and destiny.
But don't stop there. Look around you. Who needs to hear words of life and hope? Who needs to be "anointed" – encouraged and empowered to step into their God-given calling? You have the power to be an agent of resurrection in someone else's life today.
Remember, the God who breathed life into dry bones, who called Lazarus out of the tomb, and who sent Elijah out of the cave to anoint others, is the same God who is working in and through you today. It's time to arise, shake off the dust of past disappointments, and step into the fullness of what God has called you to be and do.
Your valley of dry bones? It's not a dead end. It's the starting point of a new beginning. Your sealed tomb? It's about to become the stage for a miracle. Your cave of fear? It's the launching pad for a ministry that will impact nations.
Believe it. Speak it. Live it. The best is yet to come.
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