And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
PRAYER PROMPT FOR TUESDAY; PRAY FOR THOSE THAT HELP YOU FIND YOUR WAY, PASTOR’S AND TEACHERS AND THE LIKE
We hear so much about breathing lately. It seems that either covid-19, the mask we wear to protect from covid-19, or a police officer is trying to take our breath! Of course we know breath is vital to our physical life. Ever try holding your breath for an extended period of time? As a kid, on any boring summer day, my friend would say ‘let’s see who can hold our breath the longest.’ You count to 3, take a deep breath, then look at each other to see who will give up first. I always did! My head would get dizzy, my eyes would bulge, my lungs would be screaming for oxygen! Gulp! Always 1 nanosecond later, she gulped. It was fun, not really to dangerous, and it kept us busy…for a couple minutes.
How long can we really live without a breath of oxygen? Experts tell us that when your brain is deprived of oxygen for 4-6 minutes, you will experience ‘brain damage.’ An infant will hold their breath when something scares them, but after about 10 seconds without intervention, they will pass out, take a breath and regain consciousness. It’s our own ‘self-preservation’ method. Of course, there is no fail safe when you are held underwater or held in a choke hold!
Spiritually speaking, how long can we go without the ‘breath of Heaven?’ That answer varies. Some people live all their lives without the breath of the Holy Spirit within them. Some cannot go 10 seconds before passing out and becoming weak!
I believe when you go all your lives without the breath of the Holy Spirit giving you His pure oxygen, you are in a deficient condition. Let me explain. When the Resurrected Jesus came and spoke to the disciples in John 20, He Commissioned them. He ‘enlisted’ them into the Lord’s Army. He said; ‘as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.’ When He said this He breathed on them and said to them, ‘receive the Holy Spirit.’ The personality of the Holy Spirit is to convict of sin, and draw people to Jesus. With the ‘breath’ of the Holy Spirit within us, we have that power as well.
Allow me to explain. Ever walk into a room and the conversation stops? A convicted hush falls over the group as you sit and ask; ‘what were you all talking about?’ The talker turns red and says, ‘oh, nothing you would be interested in. Conviction! How about this one. A friend needs to talk to you because they have questions about Jesus. After you explain Jesus to them, they give their life to Him. Drawing power of the Holy Spirit.
I feel sorry for people who do not have that breath from Heaven in them. Since they have never had it, they don’t know what they are missing! Yet, they are missing a great deal, and you have it to share.
So ask yourself. How long can YOU be effective in your Christianity without the breath of the Holy Spirit?
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