Sunday September 7, 2025

Sermon Title: Come to Life! Regeneration by the Spirit

Series Big Idea: Capturing the urgency and clarity of the prophets’ messages in turbulent times

Sermon Big Idea: God alone gives life by His Word and Spirit

Introduction

Ezekiel 37 begins in a valley filled with dry bones, a haunting picture of hopelessness and spiritual death. In this vision, God reveals that true life can only begin when He speaks and ultimately, when His Spirit moves.

(Ezekiel 37:1-14 CSB)

The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by his Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them. There were a great many of them on the surface of the valley, and they were very dry. Then he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I replied, “Lord God, only you know.” He said to me, “Prophesy concerning these bones and say to them: Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord God says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put tendons on you, make flesh grow on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you so that you come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.” So I prophesied as I had been commanded. While I was prophesying, there was a noise, a rattling sound, and the bones came together, bone to bone. As I looked, tendons appeared on them, flesh grew, and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man. Say to it: This is what the Lord God says: Breath, come from the four winds and breathe into these slain so that they may live!” So I prophesied as he commanded me; the breath entered them, and they came to life and stood on their feet, a vast army. Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Look, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up, and our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ Therefore, prophesy and say to them, ‘This is what the Lord God says: I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them, my people, and lead you into the land of Israel. You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the Lord.’” 

Outward Change is not Regeneration (1-8)  

God’s Word brings scattered things together and gives order and form, just as in creation and in every heart that hears the gospel. Yet, Ezekiel discovers that even remarkable outward change means nothing unless God’s Spirit brings true life.

Only God’s Spirit Gives New Life (9-14)  

When God commands the breath to enter the bodies, new life begins because only the Spirit can awaken what is dead. The vision illustrates that genuine transformation is not mere external renewal, but a supernatural work of the Spirit fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion

This vision reminds us that routines, rituals, or moral effort cannot bring true spiritual life. We desperately need the Spirit of God. The ultimate hope for every soul is found in Christ, who gives life by His Word and Spirit.

Ezekiel 37:1-14 Bibliography

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Victor Books, 1985.

Rydelnik, Michael A., and Michael Vanlaningham, editors. The Moody Bible Commentary. Moody Publishers, 2014.

Carson, D. A., et al., editors. New Bible Commentary: 21st Century Edition. 4th ed., Inter-Varsity Press, 1994.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

Cabal, Ted, et al. The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith. Holman Bible Publishers, 2007.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, editors. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Barry, John D., et al. Faithlife Study Bible. Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Spurgeon. The Spurgeon Study Bible: Notes. Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Hendrickson Publishers, 2007.

Bell, James Stuart, editor. Ancient Faith Study Bible. Holman Bibles, 2019.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. Electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991.

Brooks, Keith. Summarized Bible: Complete Summary of the Old Testament. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2009.

Easley, Kendell H. Holman QuickSource Guide to Understanding the Bible. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2002.

George, Jim. The Basic Bible Pocket Guide: *Book by Book Summaries *Key Verses *Life Applications *Life Applications. Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2016.

Butler, John G. Isaiah to Ezekiel. Vol. 8. Analytical Bible Expositor. Clinton, IA: LBC Publications, 2013.

Dowden, Landon. Exalting Jesus in Ezekiel. Holman Reference, 2015.

Rooker, Mark. Ezekiel. Edited by Max Anders, vol. 17, Holman Reference, 2005.

Thompson, David L., and Eugene Carpenter. Cornerstone Biblical Commentary: Ezekiel & Daniel. Edited by Philip W. Comfort, vol. 9, Tyndale House Publishers, 2010.

Taylor, John B. Ezekiel: An Introduction and Commentary. InterVarsity Press, 1969.

Chisholm, Robert B., Jr. Handbook on the Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel, Minor Prophets. Baker Academic, 2002.

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