Ezekiel 37:1-14
Historical Context of Ezekiel 37:
Judah (southern kingdom) captured by Babylonians
Sent into exile just before and after 600BC
Literary Context of Ezekiel 37:
chapters 1-32 = Judgment; chapters 33-48 = Hope
1. Dry and Dead apart from God’s Word and Spirit
(Ephesians 2:1-10)
2. God gives Life through His Word and Spirit
(Gen. 1:1-2; Luke 4:18; John 4:23-24; Acts 1:15-16; 1 Cor. 2:4-5)
Danger #1- Word without Spirit
Danger #2- Spirit without Word
What does this have to do with church music in the 21st century? Everything!
A. Singing must be based on God’s Word
B. Singing must be empowered by God’s Spirit
C. Singing and Preaching aren’t separate/competing parts of “Worship”
3. God gives Life so we will live UP, IN, OUT
*Each of these can only happen through Word and Spirit
UP = Know and Worship Him
-Am I “dry” because I’ve been rejecting God’s Word and Spirit?
-Do God’s Word and Spirit empower me to focus my life on Him?
IN = Be Transformed as part of His People
-Is my life being changed through God’s Word and Spirit?
-Am I connected with a group of people committed to Word and Spirit?
OUT = Make His Greatness Known to All People
-Do I make known God’s Word and Spirit to those around me?
-Do I trust God’s Word and Spirit to transform a person’s life?