The Power Of Redemption
Even the greatest sinners have potential to become the greatest saints
God commanded Ezekiel to prophesy to a valley of dry bones, very dry bones.
After Ezekiel prophesies what the Lord commanded him, the bones rattled and came together and tendons and flesh came over them.
But there was still no life in them, for they did not yet have breath.
After this, the Lord commanded Ezekiel to prophesy that breath would enter into them. Ezekiel did as he was told, and suddenly life entered them.
Dead, dry bones suddenly turned into an exceeding great army.
This is a beautiful picture of the redemptive character of God.
Our God does the impossible, bringing to life what was dead
A lot of times, our situations seem hopeless. We feel so trapped in our pain, and the constant attack of discouragement tries so desperately to chain us.
But God makes beauty from ashes. He makes dry bones live again.
It’s easy to judge people and write them off as "dead, dry bones" because of their behavior and how things appear on the outside.
But we were all a heap of dusty, dry bones at one time. We needed the resurrection power of the cross to raise us to life again.
Jesus sacrificed everything for our sake, so…
Who are we to think that anyone is beyond redemption?
If we have been set free from the shackles of sin through Christ's blood, then it is our responsibility to bring deliverance to those still held in bondage.
It’s not right to stand outside someone's prison cell and point a finger at their condition and boast about how free we are while making fun of their captivity.
We are sent to set the captives free and bring liberty to the oppressed.
We are sent to break the chains off others so they can enjoy the freedom that is available to them through the power of the cross.
Examples of God’s redemptive love
Apostle Paul
Paul hunted down Christians to arrest and kill them.
After his encounter with Jesus, Paul would go on to write most of the New Testament and labored faithfully amid harsh persecution for the sake of the gospel.
Apostle Peter
Peter struck a man's ear with a sword out of hatred and rage.
He infamously denied Jesus three times for fear of getting arrested though hours earlier, he had sworn to the Lord to never deny or forsake Him.
Peter would go on to preach to thousands of people about the resurrection of Christ on the day of Pentecost. He also worked with the Lord by healing many through his shadow and saw entire cities turned to the Lord through his demonstration of the power of God.
Sinful woman
A woman who lived a sinful life poured an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume on Jesus. She stood at His feet weeping and wiped her tears with her hair.
A Pharisee, who had invited Jesus to his home, scoffed at the fact that Jesus would allow a sinful woman to pour out such love upon Him. The Pharisee thought surely the Lord would reject her and scorn her for her evil ways.
Jesus knew what the Pharisee was thinking, and illustrated this point…
“Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven - for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”
This sinful woman loved much because she knew she had been forgiven much, and she could not contain her gratitude for such mercy.
Those who appear to be dust and ashes, just a bunch of dry, dead, dusty bones lying on the ground, have the potential to become the greatest warriors in God's kingdom.
Through the redemptive power and love of God, they can become an exceeding great army that wreaks havoc on the enemy.
God makes dry bones live again.
Ezekial 37:4-6