“Prophesy over these bones, and tell them: ʻDry bones, hear the word of the Lord. This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath into you and you will live.’” (Ezekiel 37:4-5)
Several African pastors prayed with me to cordon off a meeting area in the middle of a village suffering from demonic attacks. We challenged the tribals, “Burn your implements of witchcraft and see what God will do inside of one week.”
As we preached from the Bible against charms and fetishes, I spied the chief slipping off his amulet. We then cleaned the village through prayer.
Within a day, God answered. The attacks ceased.
We could have made silent prayers from the safety of the mission station, but God took Ezekiel to the valley and told him to prophesy so the bones would come to life. Just so, we needed to go and speak the words of God inside that village. Our Father in heaven waits to work through the humble prayer warrior.
I get the false idea that prophecy is for guys with wild hair, who foretell the future. In reality, to prophesy simply means to proclaim the truth of God against the dysfunction of the world. Every babe in Christ is called to that ministry.
Where there is pain, we are to lay hands on dry bones and pray for life. Where there is bitterness, we are to proclaim the opportunity for repentance, forgiveness, and peace. We are the prophets who call into existence the eternal healing that Jesus died to give.
God could do this work alone—after all, it’s his power that’s needed. Instead, by a great mystery, he waits for us to extend a hand, raise our voice, and proclaim, “Hear the word of the LORD. I am about to infuse breath into you, and you will live.”
Prayer: Holy Spirit, show me to whom I am to prophesy today.