God often puts us in a hopeless situation like Ezekiel (Ezekiel 37: 1-10). We are put in a situation so bad we feel there is no more hope to change it. But the Lord taught Ezekiel to prophesy using the power of words to change his bad situation. As God gave power in Ezekiel’s words, so God gives the power of believers’ words that can change bad situation he faces.
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones (v. 1).
And after we understand the situation better, we are fully aware that this situation is quite impossible to be changed, the bones are ‘very many’ and ‘very dry’ (v. 2)
And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
But God’s purpose of bringing us into the situation is that we are to change the situation. That is why He said, (v. 3a)
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live?
But because the situation is so impossible, even though we know the Lord have given the task and authority to change the situation to us, we do not know what we should do. So we tend to leave that to God again, that is why we say, (3b)
And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
God wants to change the situation and He has ability, but He needs people. On the other hand, we also want to change the situation, but we have no ability. That’s what often happened, God and we both have the desire to change the situation, but what God needs is in us, and what we need is in God. That’s why we have to collaborate with God to change it, and God gives ‘the way’ to us to change hopeless situations. The way is: prophesy! (vv. 4-6).
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
God only gave one way for Ezekiel to change the valley of bones to become an exceeding great army of God. And God also gives us just one way to change hopeless situations to life. And when Ezekiel prophesied, then something happened immediately (vv. 7-8)
So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
If you’re in a situation like Ezekiel and have tried to do everything but the situation has not changed, you need to learn the way that was taught by God to Ezekiel: Prophesy! You do not need to wait until everyone recognizes that you are a prophet to prophesy, because the only materials needed to prophesy is: the Word of God!
If you have received the Word of God, you have the materials needed to prophesy, and you entitle to prophesy. Even if you are a prophet, you are not entitled to prophesy if you do not receive the Word from God (Jeremiah 14:14)
Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart.
So if you feel you have received the Word of God, God’s promises, you are entitled to prophesy because you have materials to prophesy. God gave His Word to Ezekiel and when Ezekiel prophesied, the bones were immediately reacted as he prophesied. There are a few things you should consider when you prophesy:
1. Prophesy according to the Word of God that you have received.
2. Prophesy to the situation. It’s like you re-create the situation with His Word. Just as God created the earth and everything in it with His word, that’s how you do it. You know what the Lord wants about the situation, create that situation according to what the Lord has said.
So prophesy to the situation, not whining for God to work and help. When God gives His word, it means God gives you that task. When you prophesy with faith, you will see something happens like what God has spoken.
3. Prophesy until the situation becomes like God has said. Do not stop prophesying just because something has happened. If the changes have not been as God has said, continue to prophesy! The first time Ezekiel prophesied, change really happened, the bones moved and coalesced, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them. But no matter how powerful the change was, they were still corpses because they had not breathed.
So Ezekiel prophesied again to breath of life to get into them as the Lord has said, and the breath of life really get into them and they lived again to become an exceeding great army of God (vv. 9-10).
Prophesy diligently, until the situation change as the Lord has said. Do not stop prophesying before everything change like the Word you have received. Because no matter what happens, in the end, it is God’s Word that must happen. There is the power of believers’ words that can change bad situation. So don’t keep silent, prophesy!
Read also: True Christianity.
