The God Who Gives Life to the Dead-Scott Volk
Scroll to read a recap of Scott Volk’s sermon from February 1, 2026
Let’s Break it Down
God specializes in bringing life to dead situations when all hope seems lost.
Key Takeaways
God specializes in bringing life to dead situations and is attracted to barren places where human resources have run dry
We believe in the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist
God's pattern throughout Scripture is death to life - He works through impossible circumstances to display His glory
Like Abraham, we must be 'fully assured' that what God has promised, He is able to perform, regardless of how impossible it seems
True faith grows stronger when we contemplate God's faithfulness rather than focusing on our limitations or circumstances
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5-Day Devotional
Day 1: When Hope Runs Dry
Devotional
Have you ever stood in a place where everything felt completely hopeless? Where the dreams you once held seemed like distant memories, and the promises God whispered to your heart felt like they belonged to someone else's story? You're not alone in that valley. Life has a way of bringing us to places where our own resources, abilities, and strength simply aren't enough. These moments can feel devastating, but they're actually sacred ground. When we reach the end of ourselves, we discover something beautiful about God's character - He specializes in impossible situations. God doesn't wait for us to have it all figured out before He moves. He doesn't require us to manufacture hope or conjure up faith from our own willpower. Instead, He meets us in our emptiness and breathes life into what appears dead. The very place where you feel most defeated might be exactly where God wants to demonstrate His power. Today, if you're in a season where hope feels distant, remember that God sees you. He knows your situation intimately, and He hasn't forgotten the promises He's made to you. Your current circumstances don't determine your future - God's faithfulness does.
Bible Verse
'As it is written: "I have made you a father of many nations." He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.' - Romans 4:17
Reflection Question
What area of your life feels completely hopeless right now, and how might God be preparing to demonstrate His life-giving power in that very place?
Quote
Typically, we give up hope when our resources run dry. That's when we lose hope, when we can't do anything in and of ourselves to find a solution. But that's when God wants to breathe hope into us. Because it's not our ability that produces resurrection, it's only God's.
Prayer
Father, I confess that I sometimes lose hope when I can't see a way forward. Help me to trust in Your character rather than my circumstances. Breathe hope into the dry places of my life and remind me that You specialize in bringing life from death. Amen.
Day 2: The Valley of Dry Bones
Devotional
Picture this: a valley filled with bones so dry they've been bleached white by the sun. Not just dead - very dry, scattered, disconnected. If you stumbled upon such a scene, the last thing you'd think about is resurrection. Yet this is exactly where God chose to demonstrate His power. The vision God gave Ezekiel wasn't about a recent battlefield or a fresh tragedy. These bones represented something that had been dead for a very long time - beyond any natural hope of recovery. But God asked Ezekiel a profound question: "Can these bones live?" Ezekiel's response was perfect: "You alone know, Lord." Sometimes we're so focused on how dead our situation looks that we forget who we're dealing with. The same God who spoke the universe into existence isn't intimidated by your dried-up dreams, your broken relationships, or your seemingly impossible circumstances. What looks like a graveyard to you looks like an opportunity to Him. When Ezekiel prophesied to those bones, something miraculous happened. They came together, flesh appeared, and finally, breath entered them. What was once a valley of death became an army of life. God doesn't just restore - He transforms what was dead into something powerful and purposeful.
Bible Verse
'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.' - Ezekiel 37:1
Reflection Question
What 'dry bones' in your life - those situations that seem beyond hope - might God be preparing to breathe new life into?
Quote
Have you ever heard a story of bones, very dry bones, coming back to life? I mean, that's Beyond, Beyond.
Prayer
Lord, like Ezekiel, I acknowledge that You alone know what can live again. I place my dry bones before You - my broken dreams, failed relationships, and impossible situations. Speak life into them according to Your will and for Your glory. Amen.
Day 3: God's Attraction to Barren Places
Devotional
There's something counterintuitive about God's methods. While we're drawn to success, abundance, and places where things are already working, God is attracted to barren places. He gravitates toward the empty wombs, the dried-up wells, the broken dreams, and the impossible situations. We spend so much energy trying to hide our barrenness, don't we? We put on brave faces, post our best moments on social media, and work overtime to appear like we have it all together. But what if the very thing we're trying to hide is exactly what God wants to use? Barrenness isn't a disqualification in God's kingdom - it's an invitation. It's an opportunity for Him to demonstrate that His power isn't dependent on our circumstances or abilities. When we stop trying to cover up our empty places and instead offer them to God, we create space for miracles. Think about the most powerful testimonies you've heard. They rarely come from people who had everything figured out. They come from those who encountered God in their wilderness, in their valley, in their season of lack. Your barren place isn't a dead end - it's a setup for God's glory to be revealed.
Bible Verse
'Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive.' - Genesis 11:30
Reflection Question
Instead of hiding your areas of barrenness or struggle, how might you invite God to work powerfully in those very places?
Quote
God is attracted to barren places. We try to cover our barrenness, but God is attracted to it.
Prayer
God, I confess that I often try to hide my barren places from You and others. Help me to see that You're not repelled by my emptiness but attracted to it. Use my areas of lack to display Your abundance and power. Amen.
Day 4: Faith Against All Hope
Devotional
Abraham was 99 years old. Sarah was 89. Medically speaking, they were both "as good as dead" when it came to having children. Yet God promised them a son, and not just any son - the beginning of a nation that would bless all the earth. Humanly impossible? Absolutely. But Abraham didn't focus on the impossibility. Here's what's remarkable about Abraham's faith: he didn't ignore reality, but he chose to focus on God's character rather than his circumstances. He knew his body was old and Sarah's womb was barren, but he also knew that God gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't exist. Faith isn't about pretending problems don't exist or manufacturing positive feelings. True faith acknowledges the impossibility while choosing to trust in God's ability to do what He has promised. Abraham grew strong in faith not by denying his circumstances but by focusing on God's faithfulness. When God makes a promise, He's not limited by our age, our resources, our past failures, or our current circumstances. The same resurrection power that brought Isaac into the world, that brought Israel back to their land after 2,000 years, is available for your impossible situation today.
Bible Verse
'Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."' - Romans 4:18
Reflection Question
What promise from God are you struggling to believe because of your current circumstances, and how can you shift your focus from the impossibility to God's faithfulness?
Quote
When we believe and trust in God who gives life to the dead, there are no roadblocks too big. None.
Prayer
Father, like Abraham, I want to grow strong in faith. Help me to focus not on my limitations or circumstances, but on Your character and promises. Give me the courage to hope against hope, trusting in Your power to bring life from death. Amen.
Day 5: The Sound of Laughter Returns
Devotional
When Isaac was finally born, Sarah laughed - but this time it wasn't the bitter laughter of disbelief she had expressed earlier. This was the deep, joyful laughter of someone who had witnessed the impossible become reality. The name Isaac literally means "laughter," a permanent reminder of God's faithfulness to do what He promises. For years, Sarah had carried the pain of barrenness. Every month brought disappointment. Every baby dedication at the temple was a reminder of what she didn't have. The promise of a son seemed like a cruel joke. But God's timing is perfect, and His promises never expire. When God finally moved, it wasn't just about giving Abraham and Sarah a child. It was about demonstrating His character to all generations. Through Isaac came the lineage that would eventually lead to Jesus - the ultimate expression of God bringing life from death, hope from despair. Perhaps you've been waiting so long for God to move that you've forgotten how to laugh with joy. Maybe the promises He's whispered to your heart feel like distant memories. But remember Sarah's story. God's delays are not His denials. When He finally acts, the laughter that returns will be deeper and more meaningful because of the wait.
Bible Verse
'Sarah became pregnant and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised him.' - Genesis 21:2
Reflection Question
What would it look like for God to restore the sound of joyful laughter in the areas of your life where you've experienced disappointment and delay?
Quote
I believe God wants to restore that kind of laughter in this church.
Prayer
Lord, I long for the day when I can laugh with the joy of seeing Your promises fulfilled. Help me to trust Your timing and remember that Your delays are not denials. Restore hope and anticipation in my heart as I wait for You to move. Amen.