Wednesday, Jul 22, 2009

7-22 Out of the Graveyard of Nations

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I find it difficult to balance my busy life, how about you? What bothers me is that sometimes my busyness gets in the way of God’s business. I have commitments that I must keep; Weddings, funerals, Bible Studies, Sermons, phone calls, counseling appointments, missionaries... and there’s more… renter problems, clogged drains, remodels and the like. And then there is the family… those wonderful grandkids… kids programs, camping and the like. I don’t feel like I ever get enough time with the grandkids: I’m forever wanting to have more. We are busy people. Have you ever looked into someone’s eyes and heard yourself think, “I just don’t have time to have a long discussion about Spiritual things… or I just don’t have time to help them out today!” Hey! That can’t be right, can it? Ever felt the guilt that came as a result of busyness? What? You’ve never been there? Maybe we need to pray the prayer of the busy man, “Slow me down Lord, so I can serve you!”

Today's Scripture reading is 1 Kings 6:1-18; Zechariah 6; Luke 13
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Today’s thought comes from Ezekiel 37:7 “So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. 9 Also He said to me, "Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live."’" 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. 11 Then He said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 "Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: "Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 "Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 "I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it," says the LORD.’"

Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones! Now hear the Word of the Lord. For over a thousand years Israel was buried in the graveyard of ancient nations. They were extinct. Anyone who has seen the sickening scene of the huge pits full of emaciated, skeletal remains of victims of the Nazi death camps can imagine that this might have formed part of the vision that the prophet saw twenty-five centuries ago. Then in one day they became a nation again! “Who has ever seen or heard of anything as strange as this? Has a nation ever been born in a single day?” (Isaiah 66:8-9) …that was the prophetic promise and fulfillment to Israel. There is a “two stage” resurrection occurring in Ezekiel 37. Stage one: Verses 8-10. Ezekiel prophesied and the bones came together and flesh came upon them… but they were still cadavers because they were non-breathing individuals. Stage two: Verses 9-10. Ezekiel prophesied again and breath came into them and they came alive. So what are these two stages? God explained them to the prophet in verses 12-14. Explanation for Stage one “I will cause you to come out of your graves and bring you into the land of Israel.” The nation was dead! They believed that they were “cut off” from the promises of God. But the people began to return! And in 1948, in one day, many of those dry bones were back in the land to see the rebirth of the nation of Israel. Explanation for Stage two. “I will put my spirit into you and you shall live.” Stage one has occurred, but stage two is yet awaiting fulfillment! This is the “New heart and new spirit” of Ezekiel 36:26-28… “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.” One day “all Israel shall be saved!” If stage one has been fulfilled, can stage two be far behind?

Dear Father. Thank you for prophecy fulfilled! It is truly amazing! Thank you for prophecy future. I look forward to the day when all is fulfilled and I am in your presence. What a promise! That you would put your spirit in your people Israel! I want that for my life as well. Fill me up with your spirit and help me to live life to the full.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Posted by Dennis Kreiss at 7:23 PM |  MAKE A COMMENT  

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