sermon from Umina, can be heard here:
https://soundcloud.com/patty-lawrence/2017-12-10-sermon
here is the pre-written version
The passage we have just heard, tells us some of the visions that Ezekiel had.
https://soundcloud.com/patty-lawrence/2017-12-10-sermon
here is the pre-written version
The passage we have just heard, tells us some of the visions that Ezekiel had.
Remember,
the nation of Israel had been defeated, humiliated, and is now in exile. They
wondered what the future held. For people at this time God was tied tightly to
the land that they lived in, so being outside of their land meant that they
were distant from their God. Each country had their own god, or gods. How would
they worship and stay connected with their God, now they are in exile?
Then
we read of the vision of a valley full of dry bones: sun-bleached, dried-out
bones, with no signs of life in them.
In
this vision Ezekiel speaks and the bones come rattling together to form a
skeleton, and then he sees the sinews and muscles; and bodies where once there
were bones. But there is still no life.
And
God calls for the wind to blow breath into the bodies, and they come to life.
God
acts in the vison given to Ezekiel, both through spoken word and breath. We
have seen this before in the creation stories. In Genesis one, God speaks the
creation into being, one day at a time. In Genesis 2, God forms people from the
dust of the earth and breaths into their nostrils, giving them life.
The
word of God and breath of God are considered powerful.
Ezekiel
spoke of a valley of dry bones in his vision; but he was referring to the dry
bones of the faith of the people of Israel. “They complain that they are dried up and
that they have no hope for the future.” Then God says:
“My Spirit will give you breath, and you will live
again. I will bring you home, and you will know that I have kept my promise. I,
the Lord, have spoken.”
This
passage is for people who are living in despair, who have no hope. This passage
is for all who need to hear that God has not, and will not, forget them.
This passage is a promise of new life, not the old reinstated, but a new and transformed way of living.
This passage is a promise of new life, not the old reinstated, but a new and transformed way of living.
At
times I hear that the church is in decline, often from people are part of the
church!
It
does appear that the church is in decline:
worship attendance is falling,
many people don’t know anything about Christianity and
we live in a multi-faith and a no-faith society.
worship attendance is falling,
many people don’t know anything about Christianity and
we live in a multi-faith and a no-faith society.
And
the church does not have the power it used to have.
It
is easy for us to feel like we are part of a dying group, to join with the
Israelites in saying: our hope is dried up.
And
I know some of you feel like that in your own life, not just the life of the
church,
There
are times when we feel like we have no hope.
If
we are looking for the return of the ‘good old days’, we will be disappointed.
God
has never promised a return to what was,
the promise is always for life,
new life,
transformation.
the promise is always for life,
new life,
transformation.
As
individuals and a community of faith, we are sustained by the word of God and the
breath of God. [i]
When
we have no hope, we hear the promise made to the people in exile: My Spirit will give you
breath, and you will live again.
What
helps you to know the breath of God and the word of God in your life?
