DRY BONES SHALL LIVE
Updated: Mar 11
It was during Paul Wilbur's visit to Abundant Grace this past Sunday that united voices passionately sang "Live Again!" from Paul Wilbur's "Song of Ezekiel". It was a powerful declaration in alignment with the Lord's command to Ezekiel when He commanded him to prophesy to the dry bones to live. [1]
Ezekiel 37:3–4 (NKJV) — And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!
Ezekiel was the son of Buzi and was among the citizens of Judah taken captive to Babylon when King Nebuchadnezzar invaded Jerusalem in 598/597 BC.[2] Ezekiel was given an important message of judgment before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 BC. However, the Lord's message through him became a message of hope after Jerusalem was in exile.
God told them He would...
Regather His people.[3]
Bring them back to their land and cleanse them from defilement.[4]
Give His people a new heart and a new spirit so they might walk in His ways. [5]
Restore the Davidic dynasty. [6]
Bless Israel with unprecedented prosperity and security in their land.[7]
Establish His permanent residence in the midst of Israel.[8]
What does this all mean, and why is this such an important message for the Abundant Grace Church family? Well, the answer is too extensive to cover in this writing, but I believe the Lord is encouraging us to understand that we are not to be conformed to the hopelessness that seems to abound.
It may seem like our part of the world is moving further and further away from God, and many of our friends and family think us strange for passionately following Jesus and His teachings. But like Ezekiel, I believe God is asking us if we believe dry bones can live. God told Ezekiel to speak life where there was death and hope where it looked hopeless. God is telling us the very same thing at this hour!
I believe God wants Abundant Grace and all of His Church, to be encouraged, that hopeless situations must obey His grace-filled Word, that no situation is ever too late, and that God uses His called people to release His power through His Word! God is calling us to believe that we shall see the greatest move of God take place upon the earth no matter how bad anything may get. God is calling us to declare "live again" to hopeless things. God, as He did with Abraham, is looking for His Bride to agree with Him to fulfill His work upon the earth.
God is cultivating us to be used for His glory! As we heard this Sunday, the Lord is launching us, and He is calling us to speak to "dry bones" and to release His life in our land! How do we do it? We hear, receive, believe, speak, and act upon His Word! [10]
This is a time for us to be excited and to remain bowed to the Lord's will. Do not despair for anything! The Lord is with you, and you are a part of a Church family that loves you and desires to walk hand-in-hand with you on your faith journey.
We are together for such a time as this! We must stand together and never allow the enemy to divide us. Our calling is too great, and the mission of our Lord Jesus is too important! I thank God that I witnessed you passionately singing "live again", and I am persuaded that God will do exceedingly and abundantly more than we can ask or think.[11]
Christianity is more than an individual walk. It is about living as a divine community in the midst of the Holy Spirit. If you are looking for a home church for you and your family we invite you to learn more! Join our current teaching series entitled, "The Jesus Image Series" and learn how to be conformed to Jesus' image! It is going to make all the difference in the days ahead for greater things are yet to come!
About Abundant Grace
Abundant Grace is a local church being patterned in the way of Christ & His Apostles. This means we value the traditions and patterns found in the Bible concerning who the church is and what it is called to do. We believe the church is the household of God[12] and the pillar and ground of truth.[13]
Abundant Grace is an apostolic family of believers who value worship, prayer, community, and the study of the scriptures.[14] Our church is part of the church network, Christ Covenant Coalition, overseen by Bishop Joseph Mattera.
Get ready for you and your family to be blessed at our Sunday Morning services filled with powerful worship, the presence of God, and rich teaching from scripture. Grow you faith in our School of Discipleship, our weekly house-church meetings, and more! Learn More HERE.
About Steve Hannett
Steve was miraculously healed of cancer during a supernatural encounter with God. This encounter with Jesus Christ forever changed the course of Steve's life and created a God-breathed passion for seeing the healing power of Jesus touch all.
Steve Hannett hosts the Be Healed Podcast hosted by Charisma Media, reaching more than 152 nations and The Miraculous Life, a TV program reaching more than 180 nations.
Steve is the author of three books, the Founder of the Gospel Mission Network, and the Senior Pastor of Abundant Grace Church located in Rutherford, NJ. He leads an accredited School of Leadership and is married to Pastor Kate Hannett with three beautiful children. Learn More HERE.
ENDNOTES
[1]: See Ezekiel 37:1-14
[2]: See 2 Kings 24:10-17
[3]: See Ezekiel 11:16-17; 16:1-63; 20:41; 34:11-13; 36:24; 37:21
[4]: See Ezekiel 11:17-18; 20:42; 34:13-15; 36:24; 37:21
[5]: See Ezekiel 11:19-20; 16:62; 34:30-31; 36:25-28; 37:23-24.
[6]: See Ezekiel 34:23-24; 37:22-25
[7]: See Ezekiel 34:25-29; 36:29-30; 37:26
[8]: See Ezekiel 37:26-28; 40:1–48:35
[9]: See Ezekiel 37:3
[10]: See Ezekiel 37:4
[11]: See Ephesians 3:20
[12]: See Ephesians 2:19-22
[13]: See 1 Timothy 3:15
[14]: See Acts 2:42
ABUNDANT GRACE WELCOME PARTY
12/4 @ 1 pm - 3 pm
Stay connected with us! Check out for more of our upcoming Events & Updates by clicking below!