Deiknuo’s blog – the reflections of David Lewis

Do we long for evangelical renewal in our towns and cities, in our land; for a new work of God? The great prophets and pioneers of evangelical renewal stressed that renewal could only come through a strategy of spiritual revitalisation combined with doctrinal and structural reformation. What is needed for renewal is both revival and reformation. We need to look at the way we organise ourselves, we need to ensure that our doctrine is truly scriptural, but we need, too, a movement of the Holy Spirit.

One of my favourite passages from the Scriptures is the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. Here is God at work in a mighty way – bringing these dry bones and knitting them together, putting flesh on them and covering them with skin. But, we are told, there was still no breath in them. So the Lord has Ezekiel prophesy, and God’s breath entered them, and they become a vast army.

Here is a sovereign work of God; humanly speaking we could not breathe life into dead bones. Yet, at the same time, God, in an amazing way, uses us to accomplish his purposes. Ezekiel, through the words of prophecy which God gives to him, plays his part in bringing God’s purposes into being. And God uses us, as well!