b'By Apostle Lawrence E &over the deep, dark waters, preparing to bringAtPentecost,whentheLordsenthisHoly Dr. Sandra Powell forth creation. Spirit upon the church, the scene is described like this:and suddenly there came from heav-Weshouldpicture"apowerfulwind"here, J esus rose from the deadan amazing featblowing over the raging waves of a mighty ocean,en a noise like a Mighty Rushing Wind, and it in its own rightand then did somethingas the waters were for ancient Israel a picture offilled the whole house where [the apostles] were really weird!The resurrected King walked rightprehistoric chaos and disorder! sitting! (Acts 2:2). Saints, the Wind of God up to his frightened disciples and breathed onstillcomesuponhispeople,andwearefilled them! (John 20:22). The Spirit was waiting, hovering, and readywith His very Spirit!!What is going on in this moment?Just think:to receive the incoming Word of God:Let there if someone walked up to you and breathed inbe!WhenGodspoke,TheSpiritpartedGet \'INSPIRED\'.your face, youd be like, brother, what are youthewaters,carvingairandWeare,quiteliterally,in-doing?!Butactually,inthiscasewithJesus,drylandfromchaos!Thespired!Thewordinspira-something POWERFUL is happening here WindofGodrushedinliketioncomesfromthelatin ahurricane,pushingbacktermsinandspirare(com-WhenJesusbreathesonthem,hesays,tidal waves to make space forbining the roots for in and receive the Holy Spirit! heaven and earth!! spirit),meaningtobe The image shows up in the book of GenesisThatphrasehoveroverbreathed into or filled with. as well, during the flood when Noah sent outis interesting.It can also beHumansareen-spirit-a dovefluttering above the deepuntil theused to describe a bird, as itedbeings,animatedbythe waters parted and New Creation emerged! did when God was comparedBreath of God!BreathisasignificantimageforGodsto an eagle that hovers overThechallenge,ofcourse, Spirit in the bible!In both hebrew (Ruach) andits young! (Deut. 32:11). isthathumanityinessence greek (Pneuma), the word for Spirit can also beTheimageshowsupinexpiredorbreathedout translated as Breath or Wind. Genesisaswell,duringthethatlife-givingforceGod Lets take a closer look at where Gods Breathflood when noah sent out aBreathedintoAdam!Our and Wind show up in the bible and how theydoveflutteringabovetherejectionofandrebellion canhelpusgainagreaterunderstandingofdeepuntil the waters part- against our creator alienated "Gods Spirit:" ed and new creation emerged!Lawrence & Sandra Powell us from the one for whom we (Deut. 8:6-12). were madethe very source Sustaining Power The same picture was usedof our being!And so, apart The Spirit is the Life-Giver!When creatingagain at Jesus Baptism, when he emerged fromfrom Jesus and the indwelling presence of the man in Genesis 2, God first formed Adams bodythe Jordan to see The Spirit of God descendingHolySpirit,weliveadeflatedexistence,like from earth, sculpting our ancestor as an exclu- as a dove and lighting on him! (Matt. 3:16). apuncturedtirebumpingalongtheroador sivemasterpiece!ThehumanphysiquewasIn every instance, the Wind of God\'s Spiritaleakyballoongraduallydescendingtothe majestic, but lifeless and limp hovered over the waters like a bird to identifyground!!SoGodadministereddivinecpr,fillinghisand bring forth new creation! GodinHisGracecontinuestoupholdall lungswithTheBreathofLife!(Gen2:7).At a crucial moment in Exodus, God\'s Windofhumanity,thoughinchoosingtolivesepa-Adamseyesblinkedopen,andhebeheldthepushed back the waters once more!His peoplerate from Him, we set ourselves on a trajectory face of his maker!!! werestuckattheedgeoftheRedSeainthetoward death!!!So, yes!God Breathed His Breath, His verydarknessofnight,abouttobecrushedbyThisiswhytheimageof"theResurrected Spirit, into Adam!Its the same image as thePharaohs army.But God swept the sea backJesus" breathing his life upon the disciples is so one used in John 20.As was true of the firstby a strong east wind [Ruach] (ex. 14:21).Justpowerful!!man, our existence is upheld by the very pres- as in Genesis 1, God divided the waters withThe Risen King Breathes into his people and ence of God!Through His Spirit, we have nota mighty wind, dry land emerged to walk on,pours his Spirit into all those who become citi-only form but fullness, not only limbs but life!and light broke forth!God delivered his peoplezens of His Kingdom!!!Our breath hangs on Gods Breath! from the forces of chaos, and they made theirHeallowedhimselftobedeflated,punc-When life gets overwhelming, lets take a deepway toward the promised land!! tured by the nails of our sin, to \'exhale His final breath and remind ourselves of Gods sovereignBeloveds, this is our story, too; God\'s wind isbreath from the cross and descend lifeless and presence upholding our existence, His Breathfor us today!!He parts the Waters of Sin andlimp into the grave!!sustaining ours!!! Death and raises us to new life in His Spirit!Neverforgetit:Heboreourdeathinorder (Rom. 6:4) The same Spirit Jesus compared The Wind to a Wind that brings life and direction to histoRiseAgaininVictoryandBreathethe Now lets look at Wind.In Genesis 1, Ruachpeople!!! (John 3:8). Powerful,Life-Giving,RushingWindofGod ElohimTheSpiritofGodwashoveringback into our lungs!!!2 MAY 2023 BOCNEWS.com'