When the heavens are brass

• Deu 28:23 The sky over your head will be Deu 28:23 The sky over your head will be bronze, the ground beneath you iron. bronze, the ground beneath you iron.

• 2 Chron 7:14 2 Chron 7:14 if my peopleif my people, who are , who are called by called by my namemy name, will , will humble themselves humble themselves and and pray pray and and seek my face seek my face and and turn from their wicked turn from their wicked waysways, then will I , then will I hear from heaven hear from heaven and will and will forgiveforgive their sin and will their sin and will healheal their land. their land.

What about “My people”?

• Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, Eze 37:1 The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, bones. 2 He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, valley, bones that were very dry. 3 He asked me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O "Son of man, can these bones live?" I said, "O Sovereign LORD, you alone know."Sovereign LORD, you alone know."

What about “My people”?

• 11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the 11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israelwhole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up . They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves LORD says: O my people, I am going to open your graves and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the and bring you up from them; I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up am the LORD, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in youI will put my Spirit in you and you will live… and you will live…

Dry Bones• The bones are very dry: The bones are very dry: • Structure is still there, but life is no moreStructure is still there, but life is no more• We may still do all the “right things” but lost the passion of We may still do all the “right things” but lost the passion of

fellowship with God, the fire of worship, the deep love and fellowship with God, the fire of worship, the deep love and devotion, the eagerness to serve and sacrifice devotion, the eagerness to serve and sacrifice

• Without the protection of a life abiding in God, the bones dry Without the protection of a life abiding in God, the bones dry quickly under the elements, sun and windquickly under the elements, sun and wind

• Modern life takes its toll: 9-5 drudgery, relentless pressure Modern life takes its toll: 9-5 drudgery, relentless pressure from the world’s philosophies…from the world’s philosophies…

Dry Bones• We become dry bones when:We become dry bones when:• We want stirrings without changeWe want stirrings without change• We want good doctrine without complianceWe want good doctrine without compliance• Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or Philippians 4:9 Whatever you have learned or received or

heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.of peace will be with you.

• We want it told like it is, but live like it isn't;We want it told like it is, but live like it isn't;• We want Salvation, but not give it all in our witnessWe want Salvation, but not give it all in our witness• We want to be God’s special people, but live like the worldWe want to be God’s special people, but live like the world

Dry Bones• We become dry bones when:We become dry bones when:• We want to experience without commitment:We want to experience without commitment:

– A. Committed Hands to Work in the Vineyard.A. Committed Hands to Work in the Vineyard.– B. Committed Hearts to Worship in Victory.B. Committed Hearts to Worship in Victory.– C. Committed Home to live the Way of Christ; a vital part.C. Committed Home to live the Way of Christ; a vital part.

• We want to be blessed without being a blessingWe want to be blessed without being a blessing• We want to be spectators and not partakersWe want to be spectators and not partakers

What must we do?• Psalm 51:16,17, "You, O Lord, do not delight in sacrifice or I Psalm 51:16,17, "You, O Lord, do not delight in sacrifice or I

would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart..."heart..."

• Neh 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Neh 9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and having dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had having dust on their heads. 2 Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their places and confessed their sins and the wickedness of their fathers.fathers.

Humble Yourself…• Jonah 3: 4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and Jonah 3: 4 Then Jonah began to go through the city one day's walk; and he cried out and

said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." 5Then the people of Nineveh believed said, "Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." 5Then the people of Nineveh believed in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth in God; and they called a fast and put on sackcloth from the greatest to the least of themfrom the greatest to the least of them. . 6When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe 6When the word reached the king of Nineveh, he arose from his throne, laid aside his robe from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7He issued a proclamation from him, covered himself with sackcloth and sat on the ashes. 7He issued a proclamation and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, and it said, "In Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles: Do not let man, beast, herd, or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.or flock taste a thing. Do not let them eat or drink water.

• 8"But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men (H)call on God 8"But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men (H)call on God earnestly that each may (I)turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his earnestly that each may (I)turn from his wicked way and from the violence which is in his hands.hands.

• 9"(J)Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will 9"(J)Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish."not perish."

Pray, seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways

8"But both man and beast must be covered with 8"But both man and beast must be covered with sackcloth; and let men sackcloth; and let men call on God earnestly call on God earnestly that each that each may may turn from his wicked way turn from his wicked way and from the and from the violence violence which is in his hands. 9 "Who knows, God may turn which is in his hands. 9 "Who knows, God may turn and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we and relent and withdraw His burning anger so that we will not perish.“will not perish.“

Pray, seek God’s face and turn from our wicked ways

Isaiah 55:6,7, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; Isaiah 55:6,7, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him for he will freely LORD, and he will have mercy on him for he will freely pardon." pardon."

Psalm 66:18, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord Psalm 66:18, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."would not have listened."