Reading, Reflection & Prayer: Thu, 20 July – Ezekiel 37-42 ~ come alive

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening(Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Reading: Ezekiel 37-42 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

A Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37:11-14 (NLT)Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

Sovereign Lord: You scattered your people among the nations and reduced them to a point of near extinction – hopeless, old dry bones. But you never forgot them; and, in your mercy, you poured out your Spirit and breathed life into them – that they might return home to the land you promised them.

And, in our time, you have done it again with the establishment of the secular state of Israel. Pour out your Spirit and raise up a godly people within that state – that Israel might know that you are the Lord – that they are your people and you are their God.

An Everlasting Covenant

Ezekiel 37:24,26-28 (NLT)“My servant David will be their king, and they will have only one shepherd…. And I will make a covenant of peace with them, an everlasting covenant. I will give them their land and increase their numbers, and I will put my Temple among them forever. I will make my home among them. I will be their God, and they will be my people. And when my Temple is among them forever, the nations will know that I am the Lord, who makes Israel holy.”

Sovereign Lord: You have made a new and everlasting covenant with your church through faith in your Son, Jesus Christ . You have placed your Spirit within her and established Jesus as her Head – the Shepherd King.

+ Rule and reign in the hearts of these your people;

+ Encourage the faithful that they may bear good fruit;

+ Raise the dead that they may return home to you;

+ Protect those who are oppressed and persecuted;

+ Supply all the needs of your people, especially those who are destitute;

+ Make us one in mind and spirit, through faith and baptism; and

+ Establish your presence among us through true, Spirit-filled worship.

Sovereign Lord: Look upon your covenant people, both Jew and Christian, with mercy and love. Pour out your Spirit on us, and breathe life into our dry bones and dead hearts. Raise up an army of believers to face the challenges of our troubled world with faith and trust in you; an army that will show the world that you alone can save. May your Kingdom come and your will be done, through Jesus Christ your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

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“Come Alive” – Lauren Daigle


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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Morning Prayer: Mon, 10 Oct – Psalm 119:57-64; Ezekiel 37:2-4; Romans 8:19-23 ~ come alive!

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Reading: Psalm 119:57-64 (NLT)

Lord, you are mine! I promise to obey your words! With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful as you promised.

I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. I will hurry, without delay, to obey your commands. Evil people try to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your instructions. I rise at midnight to thank you for your just regulations. I am a friend to anyone who fears you—anyone who obeys your commandments.

O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees.

Reading: Ezekiel 37:2-4 (NLT)

“The Vision of The Valley of The Dry Bones”
by Gustave Doré, 1886

He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord!

Reading: Romans 8:19-23 (NLT)

For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

Prayer

The earth is full of Your steadfast love, but now teach me Your commands. It is me that is out of step, out of tune, discordant and jarring.

+ Help me to find my place in Your purpose, O God, may I be receptive and open to Your direction and inspiration.
+ All creation waits in excited expectation for me to assume my destiny, for which I was created, and stand as a “son of God.”

May I hold Him high that all may see the light of Jesus in a son of man.

“Come Alive (Dry Bones)” – Lauren Daigle – Live from the CentricWorship Retreat

Through the eyes of men it seems | There’s so much we have lost | As we look down the road | Where all the prodigals have walked | One by one | The enemy has whispered lies | And led them off as slaves

But we know that you are God | Yours is the victory | We know there is more to come | That we may not yet see | So with the faith you’ve given us | We’ll step into the valley unafraid, yeah

As we call out to dry bones | Come alive, come alive | We call out to dead hearts | Come alive, come alive | Up out of the ashes | Let us see an army rise | We call out to dry bones, come alive

God of endless mercy | God of unrelenting love | Rescue every daughter | Bring us back the wayward son | And By your spirit breathe upon them | Show the world that you alone can save | You alone can save

So breathe, oh breath of God | Now breathe, oh breath of God | Breathe, oh breath of God | Now breathe | Breathe, oh breath of God | Now breathe, oh breath of God | Breathe, oh breath of God, now breathe

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Jesus Christ go with you, wherever He may send you. May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm. May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you. May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!