“Without the oil of the Spirit, we are just dry bones, we are virgins without oil – our lamps are dark.”

“Without the oil of the Spirit, we are just dry bones, we are virgins without oil – our lamps are dark.”

TEXT:

Chapter 17, Page 168 –

Look at Ezekiel 37, a story that I know you’re familiar with. In this chapter God tells Ezekiel about Israel (the People of God) who are to deliver the gospel to the world, but in the vision, Ezekiel sees them as a valley of dry bones. Ezekiel is told to prophecy (speak for God), and as he does, the bones come together, the muscles and organs appear on them. Skin covers them and they stand up. But there is no breath in them. Like the virgins, they are asleep and not even breathing.

In verse 9, God tells Ezekiel to “Prophecy to the breath [rauch = spirit, breath] . . . [to] breathe on these slain, that they come to life.” When Ezekiel does so, “the breath came into them and they came to life and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.”

Now look at verse 11 where God explains the vision: “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, ‘Our bones are dried up and our hope has perished. We are completely cut off.’” But in verse 12 God says to them: “Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves.” What does God mean by this “resurrection,” this “coming to life?” (If you remember our conversation in Chapter 6, you know already.) In verse 14, God through Ezekiel says to the exiles in Babylon – and to us – who are not physically dead but are spiritually and emotionally dead: “I will put my Spirit within you and you will come to life” (compare with Romans 8:11)

The gospel is Spirit-given and Spirit-driven. Without the oil of the Spirit, we are just dry bones, we are virgins without oil. Our lamps are dark. We have no power to share the gospel.