The Living Water – Christ Apostolic Church Daily Devotional Guide
Topic: Thus Says The Lord
Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 – World Day for Audiovisual Heritage
Read: Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ezekiel 37:1-14 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones,
And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry.
And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord GOD, thou knowest.
Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD.
Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:
And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the LORD.
So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone.
And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.
Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.
So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.
Then he said unto me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel: behold, they say, Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost: we are cut off for our parts.
Therefore prophesy and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, O my people, I will open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel.
And ye shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O my people, and brought you up out of your graves,
And shall put my spirit in you, and ye shall live, and I shall place you in your own land: then shall ye know that I the LORD have spoken it, and performed it, saith the LORD.
MEMORISE:
I will hear what God the Lord will speak, for He will speak peace to His people and to His saint (Psalms 85:8)
EXPOSITION
Today is the World Day for Audio-visual Heritage. Let us talk about hearing from God. When the statement, “Thus says the Lord,” is released, it shows that God has given His words expressly and that His messenger has the conviction to speak directly from, and for God. Such words are very powerful and are meant to address particular situation. Can it be manipulated? Yes, some people have used, “Thus says the Lord” when God has not spoken to, and through them. They are termed fake and false prophets and there are punishments for such deception. Whenever God gives His words, it is never for fun or frivolities.
So, the expression is usually an introduction to something powerful, ground-breaking and memorable, leading to revival and restoration or judgment. It occurs 112 times in prophet Ezekiel’s book alone, and each time it addresses dire situations, brought revelations, gave judgments and made the impossible possible!
Man is God’s image (imago dei). He needs to keep constant fellowship with God and His words to be able to fulfil His God-given destiny. Hence the need to hear God speak clearly for direction, instruction, guidance, warning and admonition (2 Tim. 3:16). Ezekiel was privy to information about God’s plan for the house of Israel because He was constantly waiting upon God for relevant information. God is constantly speaking but are we hearing Him? Those who claim they hear from God, how truthful are they? Many “Thus says the Lord” we hear today are nothing but deceit. Some are manipulated from dark coven to mislead the people of God.
The message by the Lord to the house of Israel through Ezekiel brought about revival, restoration, and renewal for the people. The dry bone of any nation, society, individual, economy, marriage, etc. can rise again today, provided the true words of God are heard and spoken on such, not deceitful or manipulative words masterminded for moneymaking, ego, and placement purpose. The admonition today is, let us seek to hear the Lord genuinely for “He shall speak peace unto His people and to His saints; but let them not turn again to folly.”
PRAYER POINTS
1. Open my ears of understanding afresh to hear You, O Lord God, in Jesus’ name.
2. Lord, cause Your Word that generates revival, renewal, and restoration to flood Your Church and every nation of the earth, in Jesus’ name.
3. Lord, quicken, preserve, purify those vessels You have chosen by Your grace and mercy to deliver Your mind, program and whatever You have in Your agenda for Your people.
EXTRA READING FOR TODAY: Jeremiah 8 – 10
Author: C.A.C WORLDWIDE
