I.　Three chapters in the book of Ezekiel occupy a special position in the Bible and can each be represented by a single word: chapter one—fire; chapter thirty-seven—breath; and chapter forty-seven—water.

II.　Ezekiel 37 reveals how God's Spirit comes into us in order to enliven us that we may become a corporate body formed into an army and also built up as God's dwelling place:

A.　In Ezekiel 37 the wind is the breath, and the breath is the Spirit—vv. 9, 14; John 20:22; 3:8:

1.　We can breathe in the Lord by calling on His name—Lam. 3:55-56.

2.　We can breathe in the Lord by opening ourselves to Him in our conversing with Him in prayer—Hymns, #255.

3.　We can breathe in the Lord by pray-reading His Word—2 Tim. 3:16; John 6:63; Eph. 6:17-18.

B.　Ezekiel 37 reveals that we were not only dead but also dry bones—vv. 1-2:

1.　God's salvation is not only for those who are sinful but also for those who are dead—vv. 11-14; John 5:25.

2.　The dry bones are scattered, independent, and separate.

C.　The Lord comes in to rescue and recover His people through the prophesying of His word:

1.　As Ezekiel prophesied to the bones, they came together with noise and shaking, and the sinews, the flesh, and the skin covered them—vv. 7-8; Psa. 95:1-2.

2.　When Ezekiel prophesied again to the wind (v. 9), "the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceedingly great army" (v. 10).

3.　When Ezekiel prophesied, God blew the wind, the people received the breath, and the breath became the Spirit.

4.　This picture shows us that the Lord comes to revive His dead and scattered people and make them one through prophesying:

a.　Prophesying is to speak for the Lord, to speak forth the Lord, to speak the Lord into others for the organic building up of the church—1 Cor. 14:4b, 12, 36, 31; Num. 11:29.

b.　We prophesy by speaking what we see with the living words of this life under the inspiration of the Spirit and with His enlightenment—Acts 5:20.

c.　In order to speak for the Lord, we must live a prophesying life:

(1).　By being revived every morning—Prov. 4:18; Lam. 3:22-24; Psa. 119:147-148; 2 Cor. 4:16.

(2).　By living an overcoming life every day—1 Cor. 2:9-10; Rom. 8:4; Phil. 3:8-10, 12-14; 2 Tim. 3:16; 4:2.

D.　Through the breathing of the Spirit, God's people become the army and the house to fulfill God's twofold purpose to deal with His enemy and express Him in His image—Ezek. 37:10, 26-28; 2 Thes. 2:8; Gen. 1:26.