The Church International Body of Christ

Luke 18:27

But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”

Luke 1:37

For with God nothing will be impossible.”

The phrase “Nothing is impossible with God” is a common expression of faith, often associated with the Christian belief in God’s omnipotence and ability to intervene in human affairs. It is based on biblical verses, such as Luke 1:37, which states, “For with God nothing shall be impossible.” This phrase emphasizes the boundless power and potential of God, suggesting that even seemingly impossible situations can be overcome through divine intervention. 

Biblical Basis:

Luke 1:37:

This verse, often cited in discussions about God’s power, is part of the angel Gabriel’s announcement to Mary about the birth of Jesus. 

Other verses:

Other passages like Genesis 18:14 and Job 42:2 also affirm God’s limitless power and ability to accomplish His purposes. 

Meaning and Interpretation:

God’s Omnipotence:

The phrase underscores the belief that God possesses infinite power and can do anything. 

Hope and Faith:

It offers hope and encouragement to those facing difficult or impossible situations, reminding them that God’s power can intervene. 

Trust in God:

It implies a call to trust in God’s will and abilities, even when circumstances seem bleak. 

God’s Word:

Some interpretations emphasize that God’s word is powerful and effective, making anything possible when spoken or decreed by Him. 

Human Limitations:

It contrasts God’s power with human limitations, highlighting that what is impossible for humans may be possible for God. 

Ezekiel, a priest and prophet of ancient Israel, lived during the Babylonian exile. He was taken to Babylon in 597 BC, where he received visions and prophecies, including those about the destruction of Jerusalem and the future restoration of Israel. His ministry focused on delivering messages of both judgment for sin and hope for the future to the exiled people. 

Here’s a more detailed look at his life:

Early Life and Exile:

• Ezekiel was born in Jerusalem around 623 BC, into a priestly family. 
• He was likely educated for the priesthood, but before he could begin his duties, he was deported to Babylon in 597 BC with other Jewish exiles. 
• The exile took place during the reign of King Jehoiachin of Judah and was part of the Babylonian conquest under Nebuchadnezzar II. 
• Ezekiel and his wife lived in a settlement called Tel-abib by the Chebar Canal in Babylon. 
• Prophetic Ministry:
  Ezekiel’s prophetic ministry began in his 30th year, around 593 BC, with a powerful vision of God and a call to prophesy. 
  His prophecies focused on both judgment for Israel’s sins and the future restoration of God’s people. 
  He used symbolic actions, like not mourning his wife’s death as a sign to the people, to convey his messages. 
  He prophesied against Jerusalem and other nations, emphasizing God’s sovereignty and the consequences of disobedience. 
  He also spoke of a future restoration of Israel, including the rebuilding of the Temple and the reestablishment of God’s covenant with his people. 

U ISRAEL IBA YIZWE NGOKUSEMTHETHWENI NGO MAY 1948
Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1–14) came to him after God had directed him to prophesy the rebirth of Israel in chapter 36. God announced, through the prophet, that Israel will be restored to her land in blessing under the leadership of “David, My servant [who] shall be king over them” (Ezekiel 37:24), clearly a reference to the future under Jesus Christ the Messiah, descendant of David (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6–7; Luke 1:31–33). However, this promise seemed impossible in light of Israel’s present condition. She was “dead” as a nation, deprived of her land, her king, and her temple. She had been divided and dispersed for so long that unification and restoration seemed impossible. So God gave Ezekiel the vision of the dry bones as sign.

Key Themes in Ezekiel’s Prophecies:

• Judgment for sin:Ezekiel emphasized the seriousness of Israel’s idolatry and other sins, highlighting the need for repentance and obedience to God. 
• God’s sovereignty:He stressed that God is the supreme ruler over all nations, using Babylon as an instrument to carry out his purposes. 
• Hope for restoration:Despite the pronouncements of judgment, Ezekiel also offered hope for a future restoration of Israel, including a rebuilt Temple and a renewed relationship with God. 
• Individual responsibility:He emphasized that individuals are accountable for their own actions and that God judges them accordingly. 
• The importance of holiness:As a priest, Ezekiel was concerned with restoring God’s people to holiness and emphasized the need for proper worship and obedience to God’s laws. 

Ezekiel’s legacy:

• Ezekiel’s prophecies have had a profound influence on Jewish thought and practice, particularly in the post-exilic period. 
• His visions of the Divine Chariot, the Valley of Dry Bones, and the Third Temple are among the most well-known and studied passages in the Old Testament. 
• His message of judgment and hope continues to resonate with people today, reminding them of the consequences of sin and the promise of redemption.

God transported Ezekiel—probably not literally, but in a vision—to a valley full of dry bones and directed him to speak to the bones. Ezekiel was to tell the bones that God would make breath enter the bones and they would come to life, just as in the creation of man when He breathed life into Adam (Genesis 2:7). Ezekiel obeyed, the bones came together, flesh developed, skin covered the flesh, breath entered the bodies, and they stood up in a vast army. This vision symbolized the whole house of Israel that was then in captivity. Like unburied skeletons, the people were in a state of living death, pining away with no end to their judgment in sight. They thought their hope was gone and they were cut off forever. The surviving Israelites felt their national hopes had been dashed and the nation had died in the flames of Babylon’s attack with no hope of resurrection.

The reviving of the dry bones signified God’s plan for Israel’s future national restoration. The vision also, and most importantly, showed that Israel’s new life depended on God’s power and not the circumstances of the people. Putting “breath” by God’s Spirit into the bones showed that God would not only restore them physically but also spiritually. The Israelites residing in the Holy Land today are not the fulfillment of this prophecy. It will be fulfilled when God re-gathers believing Israelites to the land (Jeremiah 31:33; 33:14–16) and Christ returns to establish His Millennial Kingdom (Matthew 24:30–31).Study

Questions about Ezekiel