Fear – My Deliverer

Ezekiel 37:1-6

37 The hand of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. ²He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. ³He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

I said, “Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

⁴Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! ⁵This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. ⁶I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Evaporation

[Narrative]

Visionary fragments release from your core like dust in the wind. Dreams, purpose, intentions, and goals flutter from your consciousness into the atmosphere of apathy. Depression, stress, pride, and control assemble a Goliath right before your eyes.

~His sword represents your failure.

~His shield represents your hopelessness.

~His armor represents your fear.

The collective laughter from even the godly suffocate the still small voice from above. The world entraps you by clinging to your ankle reinforcing your lack of faith. You feel as though there is no way out. You instinctively sense pieces of your character departing your reality until emotional and spiritual weakness ensue.

Your Goliath laughs before the battle even starts. You appear paralyzed by the weight of this world. Agonal breaths evaporate from the caves of your suffering. Your bones become brittle with exhaustion…[pause]…your last utterance announces surrender.

Defeat is imminent!

You sink into the valley of dry bones believing hope is lost. The enemy’s victory table is assembled over the dry bones reinforcing the crushing defeat. However, a rushing wind can be heard traveling over the hills. The Lord calls out, “Hear the word of the Lord!” The Lord’s announcement brings fear to the fallen angels. Trembling replaces gloating tongue. As the word of the Lord stretches over the valley, breath reenters, and life is renewed. Tendons and flesh reappear with reinforced strength from the Almighty.

With reverence, stones appear in the hand of the refreshed. The Holy Spirit guides the charge while stones soar to met their rightful place – the forehead of your Goliath. The giant falls and is extinguished from the battlefield. The chains of depression, fear, and covetous heart fall from your shoulders. Victory replaces the field where dry bones littered God’s promised land. The lies of the enemy are revealed and truth unmasks evil intentions to destroy you. Faith wins!

Challenge: Ask God to breathe life into your dry bones.

Questions: What is holding you down? What/Who is your Goliath?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Masks

~Ashamed NOW Alive

~Worried NOW Worthy

~Insecure NOW Inviting

~Fearful NOW Free

~Bitter NOW Believer

~Stressed NOW Sanctified

~Jealous NOW Joyous

~Cheated NOW Child of the KING!

We all have them. Some are worn, tired, and discolored. Others are adorned with such creativity, beauty, and mystery — MASKS. In full disclosure, it would be a lot easier to talk about the literal interpretation of why people wear physical masks such as for entertainment, protection, performance, or disguise. However, that is not the topic for today’s message. No, we sadly collect and decide to keep emotional masks that are created to hold us down instead of protecting us – key theme in Satan’s deception.

Be empowered by this passage above. God created us for His greater purpose, uniquely. We will never be perfect by human standards (i.e., Who creates those standards in the first place?). Society appears to dictate who is capable of doing great and mighty things. Yet, God makes it very clear that each believer possess the Holy Spirit. The same God that raised Jesus from the grave living in you and me…that makes us MIGHTY…not by our own right but by the virtue of Jesus in us.

You might not be as articulate as a famed orator…neither was Moses.

You might not be mighty in stature and command a room…neither was David.

You might not have the best reputation or clean past…neither did Rahab.

The truth is God can use ALL of us if we simply “get out of His way.” There is no weakness in Father God; therefore, you my dear friend are fearfully and wonderfully made. It’s time to cast your masks into the fire. My new favorite song is most certainly “Fear Is a Liar” by Zach Williams. I strongly encourage you to listen prayerfully and cast your fears into the fire.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta