Vital Signs – Ezekiel 37 9/25/94
Read scripture, Ezekiel 37
Recount history of Israel, leading to this point of spiritual death
Turned away from God
Taken into captivity
Temple destroyed
Potential fear of all Christians & all churches
Having once been thriving, we now find ourselves struggling, dead
Been to mall for health check up?
If church went, how would heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol be [too much fat?]
Worried about this, churches try to have revivals – signs outside, meetings at night\
This is not a revival, life doesn’t come from programs
Revival as seen in Ezekiel 37…spirit of god blows in
God doesn’t take sides, he takes over
souls of men & women begin to yearn for the things of God
people are saved outside the church, there is a massive transfusion of desire
life/vitality doesn’t spring from commitment, commitment springs from vitality
Illustration of marriage
You will be asked to make commitments, to as what is vital…
Remembering the cross, considering the future
Praying…spiritual life
Gifts…finances, not just for $ sake, but in that we fund life
Service…committing time to participate in ministry
Act on belief that we can live again, beyond the subsistence level
Here’s a story about north Missouri…many churches…all with bells
The bells are silent, they don’t ring anymore
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