BREATHE ON US
I am a father of four beautiful children. I remember the moment that each one of my children took their first breath. I was right there waiting with expectation for this important moment of life. My last two children are twin girls. It was amazing to experience the incredible miracle of their first breaths one right after the other. It was almost more than I could take in!
I often wonder what it was like for God after He made His creation. He made the sun, the moon, the stars, the oceans, the trees, the vegetation, the beasts...all living things. All of His creation happened through the power of His Word. However, when He created man something was different. The rest of creation was created by the power of His words but man received His breath. The Bible says that “He breathed into . . .”
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
It is from the very breath of God that we actually receive our life. Understanding the linkage of how we were created opens my heart to receive the great love of God.
I can imagine the pure delight God must have felt as the breath of His life began to flow through man. To see His image, His delight, His passion in front of Him with His breath inside of mankind was to see His beloved creation move beyond a vision to reality.
In the New Testament, Jesus ascends to heaven and leaves the disciples in a place of wonder trying to figure out how they are going to continue the mission of preaching the gospel to all the world. The answer comes when God sends the Holy Spirit to breathe upon them. In the Gospel of John Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit to the disciples in the same manner that God gave life to humankind. Scripture tells us that Jesus breathed on them and they received the Holy Spirit.
“Peace to you! As the Father sent me, I also send you.’ And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’”
His very breath was breathed upon them and later in Acts was poured out through the Spirit of God. As believers we live as part of a greater Kingdom. There are realities that exist for us that seem contrary to the things we see. His breath is that which brings life.
My children are a little older now and way past the first breath stage. A lot has changed for Lydia and I as parents! Our current challenge? Keeping the kids out of the pantry and fridge! You see, they have figured out that the pantry and refrigerator that belongs to me also belongs to them. For some crazy reason my kids think that because they are my children, and they are living in my house, that my food is their food! They do not think twice about drinking the milk or making a sandwich. They do not question whether they are entitled to it or not. They do not come to me and say, “Dad I wasn’t so good this morning so I don’t think I should be able to eat of your food today.” Even if the kids acted horribly earlier in the day they still come to me in freedom and with boldness. Why? Because they know who they are and what is theirs. They know their first breath marked them as my children. The truth is, I love giving to them and I love providing for them!
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
Jesus' instructions to “ask, seek, and knock” contain a combination which is intended to unlock the shackles of hopelessness.
When you know who you are and what Kingdom you belong to you have no problem asking. It is not difficult to worship God when you know that the very breath within you is His breath. It is not hard to seek and knock when you know that your Father delights to give you good things.
I once heard Pastor Jack Hayford say regarding the Holy Spirit, “Without me, you cannot. But without you, I will not.” He chooses to use us. We will accomplish the impossible things, and even menial things set before us, because the breath of God is our source.
A great place to start is by asking God for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. Then, draw from the power of the Holy Spirit within you to go beyond anything we can pray on our own. We need the breath of God in order to live life to the fullest and to walk in a supernatural element. The breath of the Almighty God is what empowers us to move from the natural to the supernatural.
Ask, seek, and you will find the promise of God. May the reality of the breath of God in you move you to purpose and lift you higher.
Blessings,
Scott