prayer school series 2010 - part 12 (reviving dead situations)

I taught the following on 22 July 2010.

Scripture reference: Eze 37:1-14, John 11:38-44, Luke 8:49-60, Luke 7:11-17

God's Word can turn seemingly desperate situations around.

God's Word can bring life.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 ... 1 The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 ... and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" So I answered, "O Lord GOD, You know."

(v2) "Very dry" bones imply that there was absolutely no life in that situation for a long time. But Ezekiel was ready to believe and wanted to hear God's view of the situation (v3). Despite the fact that the bones could not hear him, naturally speaking, Ezekiel prophesied life over dry bones because God told him to.

It is the very nature or essence of God to speak life. We should proclaim, by faith, what we hear God saying, and not what we perceive with our senses.

John 11:38-44 ... 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." ... 41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. ... 43 Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth.

This passage can be applied to 'dead situations'. The hopelessness in Lazarus' situation was obvious; there was a "stench" and he had been dead for four days (v38). Jesus remained unmoved by what He saw in the natural, but looked to God (v41). He prophesied life (v43) and resurrected the dead (v44).

Luke 8:49-60 49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher." 50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, "Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well." ... 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, "Do not weep; she is not dead, but sleeping." 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise." 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately.

Jesus spoke out based on what He saw in His Spirit (v50, 52) despite what others saw in the natural (v49), and he was not moved by the ridicule of others (v53). Again, He prophesied life (v54) and resurrected the dead. We can do the same when we see with spiritual eyes, prophesy life, and "only believe" (v50).

(Additional reading: Luke 7:11-17 Jesus Raises the Son of the Widow of Nain)

Listen to what God says about any situation, and do or say what He says. Many times He will tell us what He wants us to proclaim about a matter. Our obedience to speak in accordance with His Word plays a part in bringing life into the situation.

(Prayer time)