The Divine Breath of God

Acts 2:1–2 NRSV

1 When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

2WHEN THE DAY OF PENTECOST HAD COME, THEY WERE ALL TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE. 2 AND SUDDENLY FROM HEAVEN THERE CAME A SOUND LIKE THE RUSH OF A VIOLENT WIND, AND IT FILLED THE ENTIRE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING. [1]

THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD

I GREET YOU THIS MORNING MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE NAME OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS THE CHRIST.

ON THIS DAY OF PENTECOST, THE DAY THAT WE RECOGNIZE AS THE ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL THAT OCCURS SEVEN WEEKS AFTER THE PASSOVER AND MEANING THE NUMBER FIFTIETH

….IS ALSO THE DAY THAT WE AS CHRISTIANS OBSERVE AS THE DAY THAT GOD POUR OUT HIS HOLY SPIRIT UPON THE JERUSALEM CHURCH.

IN OUR TEXT THIS MORNING……THE BIBLE TELLS US THAT THEY WERE ALL GATHERED TOGETHER IN ONE PLACE……AND SUDDENLY FROM HEAVEN THERE CAME A SOUND LIKE THE RUSH OF A VIOLENT WIND AND IT FILLED THE ENTIRE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING.

THE BIBLE ALSO TELLS US IN ACTS 2:4 THAT ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK IN OTHER LANGUAGES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM ABILITY. [2]

ALL OF THEM WERE FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND BEGAN TO SPEAK IN OTHER LANGUAGES, AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM ABILITY. THE WORD FOR “WIND” AND “SPIRIT” IN OUR TEXT AND IN VERSE 4 ARE ALSO THE MAIN WORDS TRANSLATED IN HEBREW AND GREEK FOR THE WORD “BREATH”

…….THE HEBREW WORD BEING “RUAH” AND THE GREEK WORD MEANING “PNUEMA”.

THE WIND IS A SIGN OF GOD’S BREATH…..AND IT HAS A MIRACULOUS POWER…..AND DIVINE CAPABILITY.

IT HAS GLORIOUS POWER THAT CAN BRING ABOUT CHANGE…….

ON THIS DAY OF PENTECOST……WE SEE A NEW MODEL OF DIVINE REDEMPTION AS THE BREATH OF GOD…….BLEW LIKE A VIOLENT WIND ……..AND EVERYONE WAS CHANGED FROM THAT DAY FORTH………

THE IMAGERY OF GOD’S BREATH IS OFTEN USED TO CONVEY THE SPIRITUAL ESSENCE AND POWER OF GOD…….ALTHOUGH IT’S UNSEEN…..THE EFFECTS OF GOD’S BREATH IS DIVINE…..GLORIOUS AND LIFE CHANGING.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS…….WE NEED GOD TO BREATHE HIS SPIRIT UPON OUR NATION RIGHT NOW.

I DON’T HAVE TO TELL YOU THIS MORNING THAT HEARTS ARE NOT HEAVY……..

I DON’T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT MANY OF US……ARE ANGRY………OR FRUSTRATED THIS MORNING.

I DON’T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT ……MANY IN THIS NATION HAVE CRIED TEARS OVER THESE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS BECAUSE OF THE DISHEARTENING NEWS OF THE SHOOTINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED OVER THE PAST WEEKS….

SEVERAL CITIES ARE IN TURMOIL THIS MORNING….AND OUR NATION IS DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF GUN VIOLENCE …..

RACISM HAS ONCE AGAIN REARED IT’S UGLY HEAD…..TEN AFRICAN AMERICANS…..HUNTED DOWN AND SHOT IN COLD BLOOD…WHILE SHOPPING IN BUFFALO NY

….AND THEN IN UVALDE TX 19 INNOCENT CHILDREN AND TWO TEACHERS ….WHO WERE GUNNED DOWN.

JUST THIS PAST WEEK A DR AND THREE OTHERS KILLED AT A MEDICAL BUILDING IN TULSA

…..AND IN AMES IOWA TWO WOMEN KILLED AT A CHURCH AND THE GUNMAN TOOK HIS OWN LIFE

WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD TO HEAL OUR NATION……..BECAUSE OUR HEARTS ARE HEAVY AND WE ARE SICK AND TIRED…OF HAVING TO GRIEVE THE LOSS OF SO MANY BECAUSE OF GUN VIOLENCE.

YES SAINTS WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD TO BREATHE ON OUR NATION TODAY…….WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO FALL FRESH ON OUR NATION TODAY……..

I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS POWER IN THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD THAT WE NEED TO HELP US………DURING THIS UNREST

I BELIEVE WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD….THAT CAN BRING……LIFE………EMPOWERS US…….REGENERATION……. AS WE FACE THESE TROUBLING TIMES IN OUR NATION.

IT IS THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD……THAT GIVES ALL OF US LIFE. IT IS WITH HIS BREATH THAT WE HAVE EXISTENCE AND WITH HIS BREATH ….THAT WE CAN LIVE. IN THE BOOK OF GENESIS… WE SEE THAT HUMAN LIFE WAS BROUGHT INTO EXISTENCE WITH THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD…….

GENESIS 2 AND 7 TELLS US….. 7 THEN THE LORD GOD FORMED MAN FROM THE DUST OF THE GROUND, AND BREATHED INTO HIS NOSTRILS THE BREATH OF LIFE; AND THE MAN BECAME A LIVING BEING.[3]

THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD GIVES US LIFE…….

WHAT WAS ONCE DUST OF THE GROUND…….WHAT WAS ONCE LIFELESS…….WAS GIVEN LIFE BY THE VERY BREATH OF GOD.

WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD TO GIVE US LIFE….

A LIFE THAT WE CAN LIVE AND HAVE WITHOUT IT BEING TAKEN FROM OF US BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF OUR SKIN…..

BREATHE ON THIS NATION LORD…….GIVE US LIFE…….A LIFE THAT AFRICAN AMERICAN MOTHERS DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID TO LET THEIR SONS LEAVE THEIR HOMES……

BREATHE ON THIS NATION LORD……..GIVE US LIFE……SO THAT WE ARE SEEN AS HUMANS…..THAT YOU CREATED IN YOUR OWN IMAGE……..AND NOT ONLY SEEN BY THE HUE OF OUR SKIN………….

BREATHE ON THIS NATION LORD…… GIVE US LIFE….

SO THAT THESE VIOLENT MASS SHOOTINGS CEASE….

THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD GIVES US POWER……….

ACTS 1 AND 8 SAYS….. BUT YOU WILL RECEIVE POWER WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS COME UPON YOU; AND YOU WILL BE MY WITNESSES IN JERUSALEM, IN ALL JUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH.”[4]

WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE POWER TO WITNESS…….TO SPREAD THE GOSPEL…….THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST……. WE HAVE THE POWER OF GOD DWELLING IN US… TO SHARE THE LOVE OF JESUS CHRIST

JESUS SAID IN JOHN 20:21-23…….“PEACE BE WITH YOU. AS THE FATHER HAS SENT ME, SO I SEND YOU.” 22 WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID TO THEM, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. 23 IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM; IF YOU RETAIN THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE RETAINED.” [5]

THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD WILL GIVE US POWER………

BUT LOOK AT THIS………LOOK AT WHAT JESUS SAYS IN VERSE 22…………IT SAYS……. WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE BREATHED ON THEM AND SAID TO THEM, “RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT.

IMMEDIATELY AFTER JESUS BREATHED ON THEM……AND THEY RECEIVED THE HOLY SPIRIT……. HE SAYS…..

23 IF YOU FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE FORGIVEN THEM; IF YOU RETAIN THE SINS OF ANY, THEY ARE RETAINED.” [6]

THE HOLY SPIRIT NOT ONLY GIVES US THE POWER TO WITNESS……..BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATHE OF GOD TO GIVE US THE POWER TO FORGIVE THE SINS OF ANY…….

GIVEN THE SITUATION OF OUR NATION RIGHT NOW………..THE PROBLEM OF THESE MASS SHOOTINGS……..THE SYSTEMIC RACISM THAT RESULTS IN THE LIVES OF OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS BEING LOST………TRUTH BE TOLD……ITS HARD TO THINK ABOUT FORGIVING ………IT’S HARD TO THINK OF FORGIVING THOSE WHO OPPRESS US………IT’S HARD TO THINK ABOUT FORGIVING THOSE WHO MURDER OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN COLD BLOOD……

THAT’S A HARD PILL TO SWALLOW…….BECAUSE WE WANT TO LET OUR FLESH RESPOND……….AND IF I CAN BE REAL WITH YOU……WE WANT TO DO SOME THINGS …..THAT WE USE TO DO……….WE WANT TO RETALIATE…..

THAT’S WHY WE WERE GIVEN THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT……. TO HELP US TO FORGIVE……….

THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD WILL REGENERATE US…….

IT WILL GIVE US NEW LIFE…….. THE BREATH OF GOD……HAS THE POWER TO RESTORE US……..

EZEKIEL 37:4-10 SAYS……

THEN HE SAID TO ME, “PROPHESY TO THESE BONES, AND SAY TO THEM: O DRY BONES, HEAR THE WORD OF THE LORD. 5 THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD TO THESE BONES: I WILL CAUSE BREATH TO ENTER YOU, AND YOU SHALL LIVE. 6 I WILL LAY SINEWS ON YOU, AND WILL CAUSE FLESH TO COME UPON YOU, AND COVER YOU WITH SKIN, AND PUT BREATH IN YOU, AND YOU SHALL LIVE; AND YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD.”

7 SO I PROPHESIED AS I HAD BEEN COMMANDED; AND AS I PROPHESIED, SUDDENLY THERE WAS A NOISE, A RATTLING, AND THE BONES CAME TOGETHER, BONE TO ITS BONE. 8 I LOOKED, AND THERE WERE SINEWS ON THEM, AND FLESH HAD COME UPON THEM, AND SKIN HAD COVERED THEM; BUT THERE WAS NO BREATH IN THEM. 9 THEN HE SAID TO ME, “PROPHESY TO THE BREATH, PROPHESY, MORTAL, AND SAY TO THE BREATH: THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD: COME FROM THE FOUR WINDS, O BREATH, AND BREATHE UPON THESE SLAIN, THAT THEY MAY LIVE.” 10 I PROPHESIED AS HE COMMANDED ME, AND THE BREATH CAME INTO THEM, AND THEY LIVED, AND STOOD ON THEIR FEET, A VAST MULTITUDE. [7]

WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD……TO RESTORE US……TO GIVE US A NEW HOPE FOR LIFE……..TO HELP US TO RECOVER…….TO HELP US BUILD UP…………TO HELP US RECOVER FROM THE PLIGHT WE ARE FACING IN OUR NATION……… WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD……….. TO HELP US……REBUILD OUR NATION……..TO HELP US…..REVIVE AS AFRICAN AMERICAN PEOPLE……….TO HELP US……REVITALIZE THE COMMUNITIES…..THAT ARE HEART BROKEN ………. WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD …….TO REPAIR OUR HEARTS THAT HAVE BEEN BROKEN……… WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD……..TO RESCUE US FROM THE POISON OF RACISM……AND GUN VIOLNCE

HE HELPED MOSES TO FREE HIS PEOPLE FROM THE HANDS OF THE EGYPTIANS……AND I KNOW HE CAN RESCUE US FROM THIS RACISM……. WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD…..TO REFRESH US………BECAUSE WE ARE WEARY…………WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD……..TO REJUVENATE US……….BECAUSE WE ARE TIRED……..WE NEED THE DIVINE BREATH OF GOD…..

[1] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 2:1–2). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [2] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 2:4). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [3] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ge 2:7). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [4] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Ac 1:8). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [5] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Jn 20:21–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [6] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Jn 20:21–23). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers. [7] The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version. (1989). (Eze 37:4–10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.