Life Through The Spirit
Sermon March 22, 2026, Ezekiel 37:1-14
Life Through The Spirit
Reverend Fred Okello
Have you ever felt empty inside, even when everything around you looks fine? You are going through the motions. You show up. You do what you are supposed to do. However, deep down, something feels missing. No energy. No passion. No hope.
That is exactly where Israel was in this passage, Ezekiel 37:1-14. They said, "Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we are cut off." In other words: "We're done. There's nothing left."
God gives Ezekiel a picture of that condition, a valley full of dry bones. Not just bones, but very dry bones. Completely dead. No life at all. And then God asks a question: "Can these bones live?" As we go further into the scripture, I want us to think about God's question in our context.
Ezekiel is placed right in the middle of the valley. God makes him walk through it. Why? Because before God changes anything, He shows us the truth. Sometimes we do not realize how dry we have become. But we have learned how to hide it:
1. We have stopped praying like we used to
2. We do not feel close to God anymore
3. We have lost joy, peace, or direction
The passage reminds us that wecan look fine on the outside and still be dry on the inside. God confronts Ezekiel with the bones and says, "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel responds wisely. He says, "Lord, You know." Faith. Not pretending to know. Trusting God even when it seems impossible. God says to Ezekiel: "Speak to the bones." That sounds weird. Why would you speak to dead things? Because God's Word has power, even over dead situations. Ezekiel speaks and
1. The bones come together
2. Flesh grows on them
3. Skin covers them
Everything starts coming back into place. But here is the important part: They still were not alive. They looked like bodies, but there was no breath in them. Sometimes we can fix our habits, our schedule, even our behavior…and still not feel alive inside.
People do this all the time:
1. "I will go back to church."
2. "I will read my Bible again."
3. "I will get my life together."
Moreover, those things matter, but they are not enough by themselves. We need God's Spirit to live truly!
Then God tells Ezekiel: "Call on the breath." The breath represents God's Spirit. When the breath comes:
1. The bodies come to life
2. They stand up
3. They become a strong army
Listen, the Word of God organizes, but the Spirit of God gives life. You must have both. If you do not have the Word of God, your life is in disarray. If you do not have the Spirit of God, your life is powerless. That is why so many feel hopeless. They are striving, but they are empty. Real life comes when God breathes into us again.
God explains the vision: "These bones are My people… they say their hope is gone." But then God makes a promise:
1. "I will open your graves."
2. "I will bring you back."
3. "I will put My Spirit in you, and you will live."
Notice something: God did not say, "Fix yourself." He said, "I will do it." This is not about what we can do; it is about what God can do. Even when:
1. You feel too far gone
2. You have been stuck for too long
3. You have lost hope
God says, "I can still bring you back to life."
In Conclusion,be honest about where you are. Do not ignore the dryness. Listen to God's Word, let Him begin rebuilding your life, and ask for His Spirit, because only God can bring real life back.