Ever feel deflated? Not like Tom Brady’s football, but simply worn out? Recently while I was on a hill operating a backhoe and turning with a full load the front right tire deflated. The tire popped off the rim and the air rushed out making an obvious loud hissing sound. I managed to put the tire back on the rim, attach a ratchet strap around it to cinch the tire tight around the rim, and refill it with air (there’s an alternative way that involves fire but for safety’s sake we won’t go there). With the help of a good friend and his air compressor the problem was solved and the backhoe was back in business. A deflated tire makes steering and operating the backhoe almost impossible. Everything comes to a standstill till the tire is repaired. That’s how life gets sometimes. You can get under such pressure that you “deflate” and everything around you comes to a halt. Being “deflated” isn’t fun. You know the feeling – when you’re exhausted and discouraged to the point of letting out a big sigh of frustration and weariness. I’ve been there. What you need is God to breath into your life physically and but, more importantly, spiritually. The physical refreshing is temporary but the spiritual refreshing is eternal.

There is a great Biblical truth of God breathing physical life into mankind (Genesis 2:7). He alone is the Creator. But He also breathes new life into people by the work He did on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:17). Physical and spiritual life are exclusively found in Jesus the Creator and Redeemer. He alone is the “Breath of Life” (Lamentations 4:20, Ezekiel 37:8). Genesis 2:7 reads, “God breathed life into Adam and he became a living being (soul)”. Also, Jesus, being fully human and divine, gave up His last breath at Calvary for the redemption and salvation of mankind (Mark 15:37). Job 33:4 reminds us, “The Spirit of God has made me and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” He will put His Spirit (breath) in us and make us brand new (Ezekiel 36:26-28). Consistently human life is referred to in Scripture as the “breath of life” that originates from God (Genesis 6:17, 7:15, Psalm 104:29). In fact the very breath He gives us should be the breath we use to praise Him with and for our lives: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord (Psalm 150:6)!” If you feel like “the wind has left your sails” or “the wind has been knocked out of you” Jesus can not only restore it physically as the Creator but more importantly also redeem it spiritually as the Redeemer! It is His Spirit breathing into us like CPR spiritually that resurrects our dry and weary bones giving them life (Ezekiel 37:1-14).

John 20:21-22 is fascinating and as Jesus appeared to His disciples and said, “‘Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, so I also send you.’ When He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit'”. The word for Spirit is the same used for breath or wind. It is remarkable that Jesus correlates the imagery of breathing physical life into mankind at Creation with His breathing Spiritual life into the disciples! It is truly, “He who gives to all people life and breath and all things” (Acts 17:25). It is God alone who gives us life and breath physically and it is He as well that gives us new life and the breath of the Holy Spirit! Without His breath at Creation we would have never been born physically but more importantly without His Breath (Holy Spirit) that comes at Salvation we would never have been reborn (John 3) spiritually! Don’t just seek Him for temporal physical replenishment but more importantly eternal spiritual renewal! Jesus truly fills our lives with His Holy Spirit! Breathe on me, breath of God!

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.