P R E S E N T E D T O N O R T O N E M M A N U E L U M C

Text: Ezekiel 37:1-14, Matthew 12:34b, Hebrews 12:28 and 29.

Norton UMC Spiritual Formation Week2 November 2015

THEME: USHERED INTO THE PRESENCE OF GOD

BY PASTOR TAURAI EMMANUEL MAFORO

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Hebrews 12:29 says “For our God is a consuming fire”The Greek term for consume in Hebrews 12:29 is

different from that of Luke 15 – the prodigal son. In Luke 15 the term used for consume is ANALISKO –

which means consumption in the negative sense, while in Hebrews is KATANALISKO – which speaks of the

gravity/intensity of the consumption – totally wiping out as what the fire does – DESTROYING THE SNAKE, ITS

EGGS AND ITS HABITATIONTo Ninevah the prophet Nahum 1:6 says; “Who may

keep his place before his wrath? And who may undergo the heat of his passion? His wrath is let loose like fire

and the rocks are broken by him”This therefore is no cheap theme considering the Hebrew community was going through trials and

tribulations due to persecution and in 13:14 the writer talks about seeking for a city beyond the present.

Our God will totally wipe out any image of persecution and the power of the oppressor – O the DEVIL IS A

LIAR.

THEME INTRO2 0 1 5 / 1 1 / 2

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HYMN 2017 – NGANDITUNGAMIRE MWARIAt any kind of gathering there is a special group of

people that we sometimes ignore their worth – ushers. At every entry point you meet them. In the walk ways

and isles they tread up and down. Their eyes are always set at people coming into the building and find an

appropriate position for the visitor. Their intention is to make sure you have all the comfort for you to

experience the goings-on in the theatre or auditorium.As we begin this SPIRITUAL FORMATION WEEK, I

thought it very appropriate for me to speak of being ushered into the presence of God.

INTRODUCTION

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God set up a grand scene for Ezekiel to be ushered into. The stage was all set. BUT! On the stage were lifeless bones. A scene that is different from that of Michael

Jackson, where people would sway, drop and cry at every moon-walking move. In many people’s lives that have come for this revival the scenes in their lives are dead

and lifeless.• Marriage is lifeless

• Future is hopeless and many other circumstancesAt this powerful revival you will indeed be ushered into

the presence of God to experience wonders. Just get yourself ready. Our God who is a consuming fire will deal

with the rest.

INTRODUCTION

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Jerome calls the book a labyrinth of the mysteries of God and it is for this reason that Jews forbade anyone to read this book until he had attained the age of thirty due to its language and symbols. But today we are not limited to the

Jewish perceptions of the book; instead we will venture into it and come out with the divine revelations of God for

this generation.The Book of Ezekiel has three groups of prophecies;

a. Prophetic utterances of denunciation against the Jews

b. Prophecies against surrounding nationsc. Prophecies after the destruction of Jerusalem of

which today’s text follows

EXEGESIS

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The vision in Ezekiel 37 and I repeat the vision. This is a spiritual message

not to be taken literally but understand and appreciate that God has a special

message of restoration to the desponding Jews by predicting both

their restoration after the captivity and also their recovery from their present

and long standing dispersion.

EXEGESIS

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The valley of dry bones represents a state of hopelessness and helplessness because;

• Life had come and gone• The smelling had come and gone

• The vultures had taken all they needed and had gone

• The worms had gone into the deeper parts to take away the bone marrow

• The weather conditions – rains, sun, hail storms, powerful winds

• The bones were no longer held together and were dispersed.

EXEGESIS

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It was indeed a clear intimation of the resurrection of the dead and further represents the power and grace of God in the conversion of

the most hopeless sinner to himself.

EXEGESIS

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Ezekiel as the Prophet of Yahweh through his prophetic book we come across a number of times where the hand of

God is set upon him before some major prophetic utterances.

The hand of God represents power and directionFor us to deal with life’s threatening circumstances we must

not go in our own charisma without the leading of God.Many have taken huge leaps in life and fell hard for the

hand of God was nowhere?• Before you think of dealing with marriage

problems – you need God’s lead• Before you make a decision to jump ship and

get a new job – you need God’s lead

CARRIED BY THE HAND OF GOD

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In this generation we have listened to the preaching of a gospel that makes people live in their zones of imaginations and far away

from reality. Today we must come face to face with our realities.

CARRIED BY THE HAND OF GOD

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“I know not the way God leads me, but well

I know my guide”RUKARIRO URWU

RWANGU

MARTIN LUTHER QUOTE

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In Ezekiel 37 the spirit of God takes Ezekiel to a place that we would rather avoid, a place we would rather not talk about, places you would rather have people never know about like many people would

say;“I don’t want to talk about my failures in life”

“I don’t want to talk about my troubled marriage”“I will never want to hear anyone talk about my

broken and hurting past”“I don’t want to meet the father of my children”

“I don’t want to see them again”

CARRIED BY THE HAND OF GOD

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Instead of avoidance, the Spirit takes Ezekiel and walks him through the valley of dry bones and his findings were sad – “lo, they were

very dry”. You can only be able to deal with your situation

when you faithfully and honestly assess the present condition.

Allow the spirit of God this evening to walk you through your; hurts, bitterness, terrible memories, sad past, bleeding heart.

CARRIED BY THE HAND OF GOD

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Ezekiel is met with a tough question: “…Son of man, can these bones live?” and this is a question that linger in many of our

minds and for that reason we sing – NDIMI ISHE WEMBA INO;Can I ever get another job after the mistake I made last time?Can this child ever succeed in life considering how many times

they have failed? Can I ever find trust in this marriage due to unfaithfulness? Can I ever be trusted by my parents after letting them down

many times? Can the moral standards of our country be restored when

shameful Nude Carnivals are celebrated in the spirit of tourism? Can Zimbabwe’s economy recover?

THE POWER OF THE PROPHETIC WORD

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Our response to these mind boggling questions should be that of trust in the

Almighty and say “Ö, Lord thou knowest”The next step God instructs Ezekiel himself

to speak life to the bones.But for us to be able to prophesy to our

situations it is the content of our hearts that matters, else we speak and speak without

anything happening.

THE POWER OF THE PROPHETIC WORD

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The word prophet has come from the Hebrew root: nabi – which means to bubble forth like from a fountain and therefor if there is no water in the

fountain, there is nothing to speak. We therefore need the abundance of the word of God

in order to realise an overflow of prophetic utterances.

The text we read from Matthew 12:34b says “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth

speaketh”. Jesus was speaking to the Pharisees and says “A good man out of the treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things…”

POWER OF THE PROPHETIC WORD

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When we prophesy the following happens;a. The dry bones will hear the word

– “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” – Rom 10:17b. There is movement – the bones

started shaking and bones came together to their original place.

c. Joining of all the parts and covering

d. The breath of God – Life restored

GOD’S RESTORATION

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When God brings restoration to our present circumstances we will walk in the power of resurrection. Where there was no life we

begin to celebrate life. Great armies of God will be raised and the

devil will not stretch his hand upon us for we have on our side the God who is a consuming

fire.Katanalisko – will be the clarion call in the

face of all of life’s challenges

GOD’S RESTORATION

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Let me encourage you brethren by restating the theme scripture;“Wherefore we have received a

kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and

godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire”

Hebrews 12:28-29.

CLOSING SCRIPTURE

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I urge you therefore this evening as we get into prayer to come before

the Lord;• Asking the leading hand of God,

• Speaking life to your dead situations,

• And pleading for the restoration of God.

CONCLUSION

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