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The first course of this progressive dinner is over and the next course awaits...
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Don't worry, you can go back if you wish, just take a moment to sample the succulent offerings on our next platter...
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You will need that fork with the longer tines on it, the salad fork of last weeks meal will not do here.
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If you've read Ezekiel 37 then you know that after God moves Ezekiel into the valley and tells him to observe the condition of the bones, he puts him to work. Let's take a few moments for reflection on this next chapter in the "Question"...
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G Ezekiel's first call to action was, Thus Says The Lord...
Say to these bones...
If you're like me, you've talked to people in this place before. Some of you reading this may be in this place right now. I have spoke to those who don't want to listen, no matter the topic they are not going to listen, even if it's going to cause them harm. I've seen these people in the youth I've taught, the adults I've preached to and the guy whose hair I comb. All of us at one time or another finds themselves a little dry. Maybe not bleached like these bones in the valley, but nonetheless, not giving your "A" game. Problem one, when man speaks, some listen, but it doesn't make any difference. Mark said it well, "what would it profit a man if he gained the whole world (like having success, popularity, money, whatever) and lose his own soul" (Mark 8:36) Here God speaks, not Ezekiel, he is only the "speaker". I know, I know, not everyone listens when God speaks, but some day all of them will, "every knee will bow, every tongue confess". So the first thought as we put this gourmet morsel on our theological pallet, when God moves, everyone moves, if not immediately, eventually.
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G After God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, the valley
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G After God tells Ezekiel to prophesy to the bones, the valley
starts to rattle...
Your toe bone connected to your foot bone.Your foot bone connected to your ankle bone.Your ankle bone connected to your leg bone.Your leg bone connected to your thigh bone.Your thigh bone connected to your hip bone.Your hip bone connected to your back bone.Your back bone connected to your shoulder bone.Your shoulder bone connected to your neck bone.Your neck bone connected to your head bone.Now hear the word of the Lord. The noise must have been overwhelming and yet, Ezekiel spoke away! Second helping in our tasty meal, God and God alone is the agent of change in a life that's dead, we're only the vessel. No cup ever said to it's owner, here let me go get you some water and you won't be thirsty anymore. It is not the cups prerogative as to what it holds or where it goes to get the life giving fluid.
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G Once the "noise began" God took the assembly and
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G Once the "noise began" God took the assembly and
caused it to be connected...
"And looking I saw that there were muscles on them and flesh came up, and they were covered with skin". (Ezekiel 37:8 BBE). This is an important step, without the "extras" those bones were still dry and not going anywhere, let alone in God's direction. Spoonful number three, when God begins to move, watch his attention to detail. You see, God didn't need Ezekiel to jump in and tape some skin on or sew some tendons into place, he spoke God's word and the power of God made things happen. One last thing before I finish with our dessert for the evening, BE CAREFUL, our tendency here is to say AMEN but put our "take" on this process. I.E. "a true believer will act like...", "if you really love the Lord you'll...", "you don't _______ like you're supposed to...". That's all our denominational takes, not our Saviors ways. Jesus said this, By this it will be clear to all men that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another. (John 13:35 BBE), and then there is the ever poplular words of Jesus to the "religious" of the day, "And he said to him, Have love for the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest rule. And a second like it is this, Have love for your neighbour as for yourself. On these two rules all the law and the prophets are based. (Matthew 22:37-40 BBE) the "have" and "have not" attitudes do not show the world love, but division, a sign of the enemy. A good indication of God moving among us is the prayer Jesus said in John 17, "I pray they will be one as you and I Father are one."
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G Now, the last spoonful of this evening meal, even after all this activity, one phrase says it all... but there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37:8 BBE). You see, all the noise and activity didn't bring life. Remember Elijah... Then he said, Go out and take your place on the mountain before the Lord. Then the Lord went by, and mountains were parted by the force of a great wind, and rocks were broken before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earth-shock, but the Lord was not in the earth-shock. And after the earth-shock a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a soft breath. (1 Kings 19:11-12 BBE). Don't rule out the noise, but don't count on it to be God.
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Well, that should keep you chewing for a while.
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Till Next Time, Happy Smorgasbord.
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G Now, the last spoonful of this evening meal, even after all this activity, one phrase says it all... but there was no breath in them. (Ezekiel 37:8 BBE). You see, all the noise and activity didn't bring life. Remember Elijah... Then he said, Go out and take your place on the mountain before the Lord. Then the Lord went by, and mountains were parted by the force of a great wind, and rocks were broken before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind there was an earth-shock, but the Lord was not in the earth-shock. And after the earth-shock a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire, the sound of a soft breath. (1 Kings 19:11-12 BBE). Don't rule out the noise, but don't count on it to be God.
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Well, that should keep you chewing for a while.
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Till Next Time, Happy Smorgasbord.
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