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Breath of Life
Breath and breathing is very important – You can run out of breath, be short of breath, need to catch your breath, breath of life, breath fire, morning breath, ragged breath, gentle breath, rasping breath, deep breath, breath your last, first breath. The concept of breath is used to describe life, death, health and emotional state. Hard to escape the importance of breath!
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
We are in a ‘Season of Worship’ – Heaven commands all living things to praise God.
Illus: Newly married on honeymoon – don’t want new partner to experience your 'morning breath' – run to bathroom to brush – always stay fresh – after few years/ months stop bothering – take for granted – familiarity.
When you are close enough to share someone’s breath – tremendous intimacy. Children lying very close to you, husband wife. When sleeping next to Cathy I can tell by her breathing how deeply she is asleep, I can gauge emotions by her breathing and even her health. Breathing tells you a lot.
1/ God's Breath Gives Life Illus: Breath of Life - learn to do rescue breathing to save a life
Genesis 2:7 the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
Without God we are just a creative pile of chemicals (dust) [The Hebrew for [ man ] [adam] sounds like and may be related to the Hebrew for ground ( adamah )]
So we are literally ‘the children of the earth’. As well as being children of the breath of God. Life appears to be an ongoing conflict between these two natures.
Many encouragements in scripture to overcome our earthly nature…through the Spirit….spirit and breath are connected words and somewhat interchangeable. According to Holmans Bible Dictionary
Two Hebrew terms are translated, “breath.” Generally neshamah is used in a milder manner to refer to the fact of breath in all forms of life. It is concerned with the physiological concept of breath with a primary emphasis on breath as a principle of life. By contrast, Ruach refers more to the psychological idea of breath by relating it to one's own will or purpose. This is in keeping with its primary meaning of spirit, which either refers to the inner force of a person or the essential nature of God. Ruach describes the more intensified aspects of breath. It refers to God providing human life in the same manner as neshamah (Genesis 6:17). By breathing out speech, He created the heavens (Psalms 33:6). His breath also sustains life (Job 12:10; Psalms 104:29). By His breath He even restores life (Ezekiel 37:5-10). Repeatedly in Ezekiel 37:5-10 the term ruach occurs in word plays on its meanings as breaths wind, and spirit. It is used to affirm the possibility of giving life to the dry bones. In a unique way, ruach is used to demonstrate how God monitors life. Breath is regarded as a sign of life (Genesis 7:15). It is also an indication that God is always watching our lives (Job 9:18). This became frustrating to Job because he wanted to be free from the pressure of knowing that God knew everything about him. God even knew the strained relationship between Job and his wife who came to detest Job's breath (Job 19:17).[i]
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 27:3 …as long as I have life within me, the breath of God in my nostrils, Job 32:8 But it is the spirit [1] in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
Declare: If God’s breath gave us life – what would happen if he withdrew his breath? [i] Holman Bible Dictionary, 1991, Broadman & Holman, [online] accessed 17 July 2004, available from http://www.studylight.org/dic/hbd/view.cgi?number=T1043
2/ You Can't Live Without Breath
Illus: How long can you hold your breath? A Hippo can usually remain submerged for 3-5 minutes, though their gigantic lungs can hold enough air to stay below for up to 30 minutes. [i] Challenge 4 volunteers in congregation - who can hold breath longest.
Psalm 104:29 When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust.
Bible often refers to someone dying as ‘they breathed their last’
Illus: Children who try and hold their breath - A breath-holding spell A breath-holding spell is when your child holds his breath when he is suddenly injured, frustrated, angry, or frightened. Breath-holding spells begin between the ages of 6 months and 2 years. They occur only while the child is awake. During a breath-holding spell: ·Your child may make 1 or 2 cries and then hold his breath in expiration until he becomes blue around the lips and passes out. ·Your child may stiffen and may have a few twitches or muscle jerks. ·Your child will breathe normally again and become fully alert in less than 1 minute.[ii]
Children’s condition holding breath – some children (approx) 5% can hold breath long enough to pass out. Doesn’t harm child – as soon as unconscious – reflexes take over and normal breathing resumes. But we humans stop breathing long enough….we will return to the dust we were made of…die... Your were designed to breath continually.
To live apart from God (Holding your breath) is foolishness. Should God claim that breath back you would be dead.
Psalm 84:2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD ; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Declare: When you stay in intimate relationship with God…you are breathing….don’t hold your breath. [i] http://www.jackhanna.com/askjack/askjack12-30-00.html [ii] http://www.med.umich.edu/1libr/pa/pa_bbreath_hhg.htm
3/ You Can Get a Second Breath
Ezekiel 37:1-14 …"Prophesy to these bones and say to them, 'Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD ! 5 This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: I will make breath [1] enter you, and you will come to life. 6 I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD …. I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them. 9 Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe into these slain, that they may live.' " 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them; they came to life and stood up on their feet-a vast army. 11 Then he said to me: "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They say, 'Our bones are dried up and our hope is gone; we are cut off.' 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign 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 land of Israel. 13 Then you, my people, will know that I am the LORD , when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 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 .' "
Acts 2:1-4 1When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[1] as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 4:31 31After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.
Acts 9:17 Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord–Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here–has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit."
John 20:21 Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 22And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit.
Illus: Maori people of New Zealand don’t offer a kiss for a greeting but rather the ‘hongi’. Two foreheads are pressed together until the noses seem to touch – and breath is shared.
God expects us to be filled with His breath of Life / filled with His Spirit to do what He requires of you.
In worship we take the opportunity to draw near to God in an intimate way. Worship brings you near to God.
Hebrews 10:22-23 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Worship allows an opportunity for us to take a deep breath - and for allows an opportunity for God to breath on us – LIFE. I don’t care if you are a loud or soft worshipper, whether you like your music slow or fast, I don’t mind if you are demonstrative or private…God commands you, if you have breath, to praise him.
Declare: If it has been awhile since you felt his breath, you could start by getting close to Him.
Psalm 150:6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD.
Suggested cell or personal study questions. 1/ What is you favorite worship song / activity and why? 2/ Describe a time when you sensed God very close to you. 3/ Describe the difference between church, small group and individual worship. 4/ If we have moved away from nearness to God we must make a decision to draw closer – How could you draw closer to God?
©
2002-2006 John
B. N. Banton
All rights
reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible
Society.
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