Breathe Again
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | March 22, 2026
Click here to listen to the service
Read Ezekiel 37:1 – 14 (NIV)
Depending on which version of the Bible you are using, this 37th chapter of Ezekiel could come under the heading, “The Valley of the Dry Bones.” However, with your permission this morning, I would like to invite us to focus on the subject: BREATHE AGAIN.
Now, in the opening verses of this passage, we find the Prophet Ezekiel operating under God’s direction to prophesy to a bunch of dry lifeless bones so that tendons and flesh and skin will cover the bones, so the bones will live again.
However, it would appear that by verse 8 of the text... the Prophet Ezekiel has realized that while there is indeed flesh and bone and skin as well as tendons... there is no breath... and consequently there is no life.
So, the Lord instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath that it might enter in and bring the once dry, lifeless bones back to life again. And that is what he did.
It reminds me of an old poster I saw some years ago that said, “Those who don’t believe the dead come back to life should be here around quittin’ time.”
It is actually rather fitting that our text for this morning would invite our attention to the subject of the dead coming back to life... given that this is the fifth Sunday of the Lenten Season... and we are quickly approaching the celebration of Easter Sunday or what some would refer to as Resurrection Sunday.
This is the time in the liturgical calendar when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with great joy and thanksgiving... rejoicing for the gift of the One who achieved the ultimate victory over death and the grave.
But sadly, the circumstances that we are witnessing around us could cause us to lose sight of the promise we have received because of Jesus’ resurrection. It can be all too easy for us to find ourselves living as though we, too, like the children of Israel are without hope and have been completely cut off from God’s promises.
And while we are not actually told how the bones that Ezekiel prophesied to came to be in that particular valley... dry and lifeless as they were... what we do know is that God’s desire was for them to live again... for them essentially, to BREATHE AGAIN.
Now, the Hebrew word for breath and spirit are the same... it is the word “ruach.” And in English, one of the synonyms for breathing is the word, respiration, which comes from the root word spirit.
And what we need to know today... is what the Prophet Ezekiel knew way back when... as long as there is breath... as long as there is spirit... there is life.
However, there is a tendency for some people to count others out... particularly our seniors... based on the false belief that they have outlived their usefulness... they are frequently written off as being “too old” or “too lifeless” to be of any significant value to society.
Yet if we were to look at Grandma Moses, one of America’s most renowned folk artists... we might be surprised to learn that she was 78 years young before she was discovered and sold her first paintings... even more amazingly, she went on to live to 101. And her legacy lives on in her paintings as a testament to the fact that there is life after 40!
However, not only do we count people out, like our seniors... we tend to discount the value of old things and cast them off in favor of new and improved models with all the fancy bells and whistles.
Call me old fashioned... but I often wonder how we came to the conclusion that a cellphone needs to take pictures, show videos, access the Internet and send emails all at the same time.
Can anybody tell me what is so wrong with just using a telephone to make a phone call?
All of these technological advances with this artificial intelligence have us living in what I like to call the microwave generation. We want what we want when we want it... and 99 times out of 100 we want it right now.
Many folks have lost sight of the concept of what it means to sacrifice and save to achieve our dreams.
We live lives that stretch far beyond our means in order to reach what is becoming a more and more unachievable and unsustainable “American dream.” And yet if we would just hold out until we could actually afford whatever it is we are looking at... one of two things would potentially happen.
We would either get the thing that we have worked and saved for without going deeper into debt or we would realize that we really didn’t need it or want it in the first place.
People have become so consumed with not missing out on what everybody else has... that we have come to find ourselves living in a society that is plagued by bankruptcies and foreclosures. They even have a term... it is called FOMO which stands for “Fear of Missing Out.”
Meanwhile, people are living life as if there is no tomorrow to look forward to... no future ahead for our dreams to come to fruition... which means each passing moment brings with it the potential for our hopes and dreams to dry up.
But I am here to tell you, there is still hope and we can BREATHE AGAIN!
When Ezekiel prophesied to the bones that now had the tendons and flesh and skin attached... God told him that the bones were really the house of Israel... the ones who felt their hope had been lost and that they had been completely cut off.
And sadly, many of us find ourselves living that way today.
We are living in a day and time when wars and rumors of war keep coming to pass... whether sanctioned or otherwise.
We are living in a time when it feels like rage and violence are the acceptable answers to people’s problems... when kindness and compassion are seen as signs of weakness.
But we cannot afford to live as a people with no hope. The Lord told Ezekiel what to say to the house of Israel and it is a promise that still holds true for us.
He said in verse 14, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’
The Israelites had been living in captivity like many of us are doing today. Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Pastor, what are you talking about? I am not living in captivity…”
But if any of us are living without hope... we are essentially living in captivity.
Quoting from Isaiah (61:1 – 2), Jesus said in Luke 4:18 - 19 that:
Read Ezekiel 37:1 – 14 (NIV)
Depending on which version of the Bible you are using, this 37th chapter of Ezekiel could come under the heading, “The Valley of the Dry Bones.” However, with your permission this morning, I would like to invite us to focus on the subject: BREATHE AGAIN.
Now, in the opening verses of this passage, we find the Prophet Ezekiel operating under God’s direction to prophesy to a bunch of dry lifeless bones so that tendons and flesh and skin will cover the bones, so the bones will live again.
However, it would appear that by verse 8 of the text... the Prophet Ezekiel has realized that while there is indeed flesh and bone and skin as well as tendons... there is no breath... and consequently there is no life.
So, the Lord instructed Ezekiel to prophesy to the breath that it might enter in and bring the once dry, lifeless bones back to life again. And that is what he did.
It reminds me of an old poster I saw some years ago that said, “Those who don’t believe the dead come back to life should be here around quittin’ time.”
It is actually rather fitting that our text for this morning would invite our attention to the subject of the dead coming back to life... given that this is the fifth Sunday of the Lenten Season... and we are quickly approaching the celebration of Easter Sunday or what some would refer to as Resurrection Sunday.
This is the time in the liturgical calendar when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, with great joy and thanksgiving... rejoicing for the gift of the One who achieved the ultimate victory over death and the grave.
But sadly, the circumstances that we are witnessing around us could cause us to lose sight of the promise we have received because of Jesus’ resurrection. It can be all too easy for us to find ourselves living as though we, too, like the children of Israel are without hope and have been completely cut off from God’s promises.
And while we are not actually told how the bones that Ezekiel prophesied to came to be in that particular valley... dry and lifeless as they were... what we do know is that God’s desire was for them to live again... for them essentially, to BREATHE AGAIN.
Now, the Hebrew word for breath and spirit are the same... it is the word “ruach.” And in English, one of the synonyms for breathing is the word, respiration, which comes from the root word spirit.
And what we need to know today... is what the Prophet Ezekiel knew way back when... as long as there is breath... as long as there is spirit... there is life.
However, there is a tendency for some people to count others out... particularly our seniors... based on the false belief that they have outlived their usefulness... they are frequently written off as being “too old” or “too lifeless” to be of any significant value to society.
Yet if we were to look at Grandma Moses, one of America’s most renowned folk artists... we might be surprised to learn that she was 78 years young before she was discovered and sold her first paintings... even more amazingly, she went on to live to 101. And her legacy lives on in her paintings as a testament to the fact that there is life after 40!
However, not only do we count people out, like our seniors... we tend to discount the value of old things and cast them off in favor of new and improved models with all the fancy bells and whistles.
Call me old fashioned... but I often wonder how we came to the conclusion that a cellphone needs to take pictures, show videos, access the Internet and send emails all at the same time.
Can anybody tell me what is so wrong with just using a telephone to make a phone call?
All of these technological advances with this artificial intelligence have us living in what I like to call the microwave generation. We want what we want when we want it... and 99 times out of 100 we want it right now.
Many folks have lost sight of the concept of what it means to sacrifice and save to achieve our dreams.
We live lives that stretch far beyond our means in order to reach what is becoming a more and more unachievable and unsustainable “American dream.” And yet if we would just hold out until we could actually afford whatever it is we are looking at... one of two things would potentially happen.
We would either get the thing that we have worked and saved for without going deeper into debt or we would realize that we really didn’t need it or want it in the first place.
People have become so consumed with not missing out on what everybody else has... that we have come to find ourselves living in a society that is plagued by bankruptcies and foreclosures. They even have a term... it is called FOMO which stands for “Fear of Missing Out.”
Meanwhile, people are living life as if there is no tomorrow to look forward to... no future ahead for our dreams to come to fruition... which means each passing moment brings with it the potential for our hopes and dreams to dry up.
But I am here to tell you, there is still hope and we can BREATHE AGAIN!
When Ezekiel prophesied to the bones that now had the tendons and flesh and skin attached... God told him that the bones were really the house of Israel... the ones who felt their hope had been lost and that they had been completely cut off.
And sadly, many of us find ourselves living that way today.
We are living in a day and time when wars and rumors of war keep coming to pass... whether sanctioned or otherwise.
We are living in a time when it feels like rage and violence are the acceptable answers to people’s problems... when kindness and compassion are seen as signs of weakness.
But we cannot afford to live as a people with no hope. The Lord told Ezekiel what to say to the house of Israel and it is a promise that still holds true for us.
He said in verse 14, “I will put my Spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I the Lord have spoken, and I have done it, declares the Lord.’
The Israelites had been living in captivity like many of us are doing today. Now, you may be saying to yourself, “Pastor, what are you talking about? I am not living in captivity…”
But if any of us are living without hope... we are essentially living in captivity.
Quoting from Isaiah (61:1 – 2), Jesus said in Luke 4:18 - 19 that:
The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.
God’s desire is not for us to live in captivity as hopeless and oppressed people but to live as a people who have been set free from all that would keep us bound.
People who are free from all the things that keep us bound up and in chains... things like addictions to drugs, alcohol, or pornography... like greed and gluttony... like bitterness, rage, and anger.
Jesus gave His life for us so that we would be set free from all of that and be able to BREATHE AGAIN.
Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
While Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
We can BREATHE AGAIN and live as a people freed to have hope because God’s Spirit dwells in us.
Some of you may know that I like reading and sharing various quotes and I came across one some time ago that said, “Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have.”
And as most of you probably know, I have worked for Reserve Care (formerly Hospice of the Western Reserve) for almost two decades. People have often asked how I can do what I do... working with people who are dying.
The reality is that what I really have is not the challenge of working with the dying... but the privilege of being with the living. Working in hospice care gives us a sacred opportunity to be with people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness... which can also bring with it the hope of eternal life.
Granted, not everyone comes with the same set of beliefs about dying... but realistically speaking... everyone believes in something. And whether we realize it or not, we were all born with a terminal illness... it is called life. From the moment we are born, we are one step closer to dying.
But for believers, that is not necessarily a bad thing. When we have faith in God’s Word and His promise of eternal life, we are able to live in hope.
It has been said that faith is the willingness to put into action the confidence that we have about God.
Ezekiel had faith and he had confidence in God and in His Word. He was able to put that confidence into action and prophesy to the dry bones so they could BREATHE AGAIN.
Romans 10:17 reminds us that “...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Like Ezekiel, we need to have faith... because without it, it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6).
And one of the things that pleases God is when we are transformed and are no longer conformed to the pattern of this world (see Romans 12:2). But what is the pattern of this world, you may ask?
Take a look at the news and social media and you will see the pattern... it is a pattern of greed, lust, lies and violence.
But God is calling us to live a better way. We ought to live in such a way that when the time comes, our epitaph will read “No regrets…”
We ought to make our lives a sermon that we would be proud to preach before the Lord.
I have a book of inspirational quotes that was given to me by my friend Tanya who passed away many years ago. And since you know, I love to share quotes... with your indulgence, I would like to share just a couple more that I hope will inspire you as much as they have inspired me.
The first quote is this: “The biggest challenge we ever face is living up to our potential.”
That quote ought to be a reminder that God sees more in us than we see in ourselves. We are able to climb to higher heights because of God who gives us the very breath we need to breathe in order to climb as high as we possibly can.
The second quote is this: “The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
Too often we waste our lives on things that are temporary, things that leave no lasting legacy.
There was an email that circulated several years ago about what God won’t ask you on Judgment Day.
God won’t ask what kind of car you drove but rather how many people you gave a ride to.
God won’t ask how many square feet your house was but instead will ask how many people you invited in and offered hospitality.
God won’t ask how many clothes were in your closet, but He will ask how many people you helped clothe.
Simply put, we ought to spend our lives on a legacy that will outlive us and that will breathe life into someone else.
The last quote I want to share is this: “Remember that when you take inventory of the things you treasure most, none of them will have been purchased with money.”
We are what Jesus treasures most... and throughout this Lenten season... we are reminded that we were bought with a price. But there is no monetary figure that could ever equate to the price Jesus paid for you and me. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could BREATHE AGAIN.
And in response, we are called to live our lives so that Jesus’ sacrifice will not have been in vain.
I believe that Jesus is calling each of us to BREATHE AGAIN as individuals... so that collectively, we can continue to breathe life into the church and the communities in which we serve.
It is all about our spirits being filled with the breath of God that comes when we saturate ourselves in God’s word... so that we can love who and what God loves... and we can do what God would do.
God has given us the great commandment so that we can fulfill the great commission. He has called us to love Him with every ounce of our being... with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our mind... and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:36 – 40).
And when that love for God, for people and for ourselves is flowing in our hearts... we will be empowered to go and make disciples of all nations... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them everything that Jesus has taught us (see Matthew 28:19 – 20).
And that is how we will breathe life again into the church... not just Ledgewood Christian Church... but Christ’s Church, the body of believers here and beyond.
So, if you have a desire for God to breathe on you so that you can BREATHE AGAIN and continue to breathe life into the body of believers... I want to invite you to join with me now in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: Breathe on Me, O Breath of God #254.
Amen.
Back
People who are free from all the things that keep us bound up and in chains... things like addictions to drugs, alcohol, or pornography... like greed and gluttony... like bitterness, rage, and anger.
Jesus gave His life for us so that we would be set free from all of that and be able to BREATHE AGAIN.
Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
While Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.”
We can BREATHE AGAIN and live as a people freed to have hope because God’s Spirit dwells in us.
Some of you may know that I like reading and sharing various quotes and I came across one some time ago that said, “Never deprive someone of hope, it might be all they have.”
And as most of you probably know, I have worked for Reserve Care (formerly Hospice of the Western Reserve) for almost two decades. People have often asked how I can do what I do... working with people who are dying.
The reality is that what I really have is not the challenge of working with the dying... but the privilege of being with the living. Working in hospice care gives us a sacred opportunity to be with people who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness... which can also bring with it the hope of eternal life.
Granted, not everyone comes with the same set of beliefs about dying... but realistically speaking... everyone believes in something. And whether we realize it or not, we were all born with a terminal illness... it is called life. From the moment we are born, we are one step closer to dying.
But for believers, that is not necessarily a bad thing. When we have faith in God’s Word and His promise of eternal life, we are able to live in hope.
It has been said that faith is the willingness to put into action the confidence that we have about God.
Ezekiel had faith and he had confidence in God and in His Word. He was able to put that confidence into action and prophesy to the dry bones so they could BREATHE AGAIN.
Romans 10:17 reminds us that “...faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” Like Ezekiel, we need to have faith... because without it, it is impossible to please God (see Hebrews 11:6).
And one of the things that pleases God is when we are transformed and are no longer conformed to the pattern of this world (see Romans 12:2). But what is the pattern of this world, you may ask?
Take a look at the news and social media and you will see the pattern... it is a pattern of greed, lust, lies and violence.
But God is calling us to live a better way. We ought to live in such a way that when the time comes, our epitaph will read “No regrets…”
We ought to make our lives a sermon that we would be proud to preach before the Lord.
I have a book of inspirational quotes that was given to me by my friend Tanya who passed away many years ago. And since you know, I love to share quotes... with your indulgence, I would like to share just a couple more that I hope will inspire you as much as they have inspired me.
The first quote is this: “The biggest challenge we ever face is living up to our potential.”
That quote ought to be a reminder that God sees more in us than we see in ourselves. We are able to climb to higher heights because of God who gives us the very breath we need to breathe in order to climb as high as we possibly can.
The second quote is this: “The greatest use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
Too often we waste our lives on things that are temporary, things that leave no lasting legacy.
There was an email that circulated several years ago about what God won’t ask you on Judgment Day.
God won’t ask what kind of car you drove but rather how many people you gave a ride to.
God won’t ask how many square feet your house was but instead will ask how many people you invited in and offered hospitality.
God won’t ask how many clothes were in your closet, but He will ask how many people you helped clothe.
Simply put, we ought to spend our lives on a legacy that will outlive us and that will breathe life into someone else.
The last quote I want to share is this: “Remember that when you take inventory of the things you treasure most, none of them will have been purchased with money.”
We are what Jesus treasures most... and throughout this Lenten season... we are reminded that we were bought with a price. But there is no monetary figure that could ever equate to the price Jesus paid for you and me. Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice so that we could BREATHE AGAIN.
And in response, we are called to live our lives so that Jesus’ sacrifice will not have been in vain.
I believe that Jesus is calling each of us to BREATHE AGAIN as individuals... so that collectively, we can continue to breathe life into the church and the communities in which we serve.
It is all about our spirits being filled with the breath of God that comes when we saturate ourselves in God’s word... so that we can love who and what God loves... and we can do what God would do.
God has given us the great commandment so that we can fulfill the great commission. He has called us to love Him with every ounce of our being... with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our mind... and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves (see Matthew 22:36 – 40).
And when that love for God, for people and for ourselves is flowing in our hearts... we will be empowered to go and make disciples of all nations... baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them everything that Jesus has taught us (see Matthew 28:19 – 20).
And that is how we will breathe life again into the church... not just Ledgewood Christian Church... but Christ’s Church, the body of believers here and beyond.
So, if you have a desire for God to breathe on you so that you can BREATHE AGAIN and continue to breathe life into the body of believers... I want to invite you to join with me now in singing our Hymn of Discipleship: Breathe on Me, O Breath of God #254.
Amen.
