Petoskey United Methodist Church
Weekly Devotional

April 9, 2008
By Jane Andrews

GOD’S BREATH

We’ve recently celebrated Easter – the most holy Christian time of the year. On Good Friday a community service was held at the Presbyterian Church. Several pastors, including James Mitchum, took part in the very meaningful service and Tom Rellinger gave the message of the day. He spoke about the fact that every time God breathes, something happens. He centered on what happened when Jesus took His last breath upon the cross.

As I pondered his message in the days that followed, I began searching the Scriptures to find more information about God’s breath.

1. Genesis 2:7 God breathed life into Adam.

2. Exodus 15:8 At the blast of Your breath the waters piled up! The surging waters stood straight like a wall; in the heart of the sea the deep waters became hard.
    

3. Mark 15: 37 Jesus gave a thunderous shout and breathed His last breath. And the curtain in the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom.
    

4. Matthew 27:50 & 53 Then Jesus shouted out again and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
    

5. John 20:22 As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord! Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you. Then he breathed on His disciples and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Just as Isaiah spoke about the Holy Spirit being poured out on Israel and their descendants, Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit into every heart who receives Him. And when He does, something happens! We have His power to think, worship and live differently. We have His power to overcome sin in our lives. We have His power to encourage others and share the Good News about Jesus. We have His power to revive our souls.

When Jesus breathes, something happens. We have the opportunity as children of God to gather together for four consecutive days from May 4 – 7 to experience God breathing on us. We’ll hear about how much He loves us and how to strengthen our relationship with Him and those about us.

Come, and let God breathe on you and see what happens!

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