Driven By The Breath of God

Waves hitting the Twelve Apostles Coast, Melbourne

"People will respect the name of the Lord … for He will come like a raging flood tide driven by the breath of the Lord." Isaiah 59:19

We envision that God will speak to us in a still small voice. He often does but there will be times when God can be relentless, coming at us with power and emphasis like the waves of the ocean crashing upon the rocks. The Bible clearly informs that 'the Breath of God' will be driving us towards God's purposes: What has it done and what will it do?  

The breath of God informs, instructs and commands. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote, 

"Is not my word like fire declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks a rock to pieces". Jer. 23:29. 

A friend shared this verse nearly 50 years ago and it has left a very lasting impression on me. My friend said to me that sometimes when reading God's Word, he would have a headache because it would be repeated again and again in his mind. Paul wrote that 

“All scripture is breathed out by God” (2 Timothy 3:16). 

This remarkable phrase about the breath of God gives us a look into the intertwining relationship between God and Scripture. Therefore, bible reading and study should not be trivialised because the Bible will open up to us the lessons of life. 

The breath of God creates life. There is a special relationship, an affinity, between God and Man.

 

"The Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and the man became a living creature" Gen 2:7.

God breathed into man and gave him life. Man was formed in the image of God. This relationship is priceless and described elsewhere in the Bible as a 'Pearl of Great Price'. However when man rebelled against God and sinned, this relationship was broken, the pearl was lost. The broken connection was restored when we become Christians and now we must live as if we are reflections of God's image.

The breath of God lifts up the Church. Ezekiel painted a dramatic picture of raising an army from lifeless and dry bones in the desert. 

"I will make breath enter you and you will come to life. Come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe on these slain, that they will come to life. I will put My Spirit within you and you will come to life, and I will place you on your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord have spoken and done it." Ezekiel 37:5,9,14

Like a mighty army moves the church of God. God is spurring us on as a church in triumph. But the lively and triumphant church begins with the single person who has the Holy Spirit in him. The Holy Spirit can empower the Christian to accomplish God's purposes. 

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to begin God's great work in us: 'Breathe on Me, Breath of God.'

1. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   Fill me with life anew,
   That I may love what Thou dost love,
   And do what Thou wouldst do.
2. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   Until my heart is pure,
   Until with Thee I will one will,
   To do and to endure.
3. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   Till I am wholly Thine,
   Until this earthly part of me
   Glows with Thy fire divine.
4. Breathe on me, Breath of God,
   So shall I never die,
   But live with Thee the perfect life
   Of Thine eternity.

Lionel

Updated 1st published 29 Dec 2019

On Fire For Jesus

 

'Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.' Hebrews 12:28-29

A fire gutted St Barnabas Church in Sydney several years ago. Bad news for St Barnabas but over time, the church was able to find the finances to rebuild. The new church building at the same location was completed some years later. One can say that St Barnabas rose out of the ashes of the fire. I took the photograph outside the church a year after the fire; St Barnabas is still on fire! This is good Christian witness!

Still burning for Jesus speaks of Revivals. One such revival started recently in Asbury Kentucky USA on the 8 February 2023. The Asbury Revival started when students of Asbury University, a Christian university, spontaneously continued to stay behind in the Hughes Auditorium after a regular chapel service. Many others joined them in worship that seemed never to end. The President of the university, Kevin Brown sent out an email, "There's worship happening in Hughes. You're welcome to join." The news spread like wild fire and soon many descended onto the auditorium joining in worship, many from the surrounding cities and universities. The video below are testimonies of witnesses to the revival

A Christian revival is the work of the Holy Spirit, who touches the hearts and spirits of individuals, churches and communities in a most inexplicable and unexpected manner, stirring them towards piety, worship and commitment. “We want to be true to how the Holy Spirit showed up with our students,” said Baldwin, the vice president of student life. “We experienced joy. We experienced love. We experienced peace. There was lots of singing and testimonies. Those became our signposts. This is how, in front of our eyes, we are seeing the Holy Spirit come upon our students, and we want to honor that.”

Revival occurs when a Christian community undergoes revitalisation. It is a religious awakening, a renewed interest in the spiritual and a strengthening of faith. In words of the St Barnabas Church of Sydney, "On fire for Jesus."

We acknowledge that God moves in mysterious ways. Jesus said

'The Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can't tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can't explain how people are born of the Spirit.' John 3:6b and 8 (NLT). 

Jesus tells us that the Spirit blows where it wills (John 3:8). And sometimes God does what Jonathan Edwards called “surprising work” and John Wesley referred to an “extraordinary” ministry. 

The university is named after Francis Asbury, an early Methodist Bishop, who himself experienced many revivals. The Methodist Church has a long tradition of how to to nurture an outpouring of the Holy Spirit, a theology that teaches us to wait and watch for a divine wind to blow, a movement of the Holy Spirit. 

When the emotions subside, the music fade and the praise and worship cease, what will remain is the longer term impact of this movement of the Holy Spirit. Revival will

• Restore our relationship with God
• Humble us in the presence, glory and majesty of God
• Turn us to obeying God
• Turn us away from sin
• Lead us to find God's will 
• Improve our relationship with others
• Imbue us with a sense of mission, service and discipleship

The Church needs an awakening and reawakening from time to time. We need to be on fire with God and not turn lukewarm like the church in Laodicea.

"I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other. But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. 

You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' But you don't realise that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked." Revelations 3:3:15-17

So let us 'Catch the Fire!'

Won't You, Lord, take a look at our hands

Everything we have, use it for your plan

Won't You, Lord, take a look at our hearts

Mold it, refine it as You set us apart

We want to run to the altar and catch the fire

To stand in the gap between the living and the dead

Give us a heart of compassion for a world without vision

We will make a difference bringing hope to our land

We will answer the call to build this church without walls

Let Your glory be shown, bring salvation to the lost

To the lost.

Lionel

Seeing Through The Mist

Seeing Through The Mist, Snowy Mountains Australia

'Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see as if face to face. Now I know of life, in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known by God.'  1 Corinthian 13:12 

The morning was enveloped with a thick mist as I walked alone on a lonely country road in the Snowy Mountains region in Jindabyne, Australia. The fresh air laden with dew was cold on my face but I did not mind; walking alone that morning brought serenity and solace. These lonely moments are hard to find.

The road before me was obscured by fog but it was sufficiently visible to ascertain the direction of my path. I realised that the ability to see through the mist, even with some degree of uncertainty, is exactly how I have obtained guidance from God throughout life. My limited vision and mind cannot completely comprehend God nor let me view life with definite clarity.

Fogginess can be a natural aspect of life. When we try to perceive life, we must be prepared to peer through the mist and accept some mystery. Calvin Miller (Ref 1) said "Mystical is that wonderful word we apply to things that have ultimate meaning but elude our understanding." He advocated that Christians need not always perceive life cognitively. We should lose the desire to always want to be in control. This is what I have also learnt especially since that I started meditation from April 2021.

With solitary walks or with meditation, we learn to drop false pragmatism and embrace the practical reality that the Holy Spirit like the wind brings some uncertainty. We can sense its presence but will be uncertain where it comes from and whither it will go.

But we are not left alone groping. That morning when I walked through the mist I was not alone. I prayed and sang as though God walked with me and indeed He did. Although, we see through tinted glasses of our own inadequacies and sinfulness, there is comfort in the Christian understanding and experience that God is close at hand.

There is silence but the walk is not solitary. Two songs accompanied me.

• Walk With Me in which I felt the Presence of God 
• I'm Not Alone in which I sensed the Leading of God. 

Walk with me through the long and lonely night

Walk with me and my world is filled with light

Here I stand feeling lost and so alone

Take my hand don't desert me now

Please don't hurt me now

If you walk with me though I know the road is long

I'll get by with your love to make me strong

More by far than a guiding star above

I long for you

Walk with me oh my love

Somewhere the sunbirds fly

In a clear blue sky

Only you and I there together

Love me now and for ever

Walk with me through the long and lonely night

Walk with me and my world is filled with light

Here I stand feeling lost and so alone

Take my hand don't desert me now

Please don't hurt me now

If you walk with me though I know the road is long

I'll get by with your love to make me strong

More by far than a guiding star above

I long for you

Walk with me oh my love

I long for you

Walk with me oh my love

I'm not alone while walking o'er life's journey.

I have a friend who walks along with me.

I'm not alone although I'm often lonely.

My saviour God is by me constantly.

So when the storms of life assail me

and earthly friendships fail me,

I'll sing and smile o'er every mile

till I reach my heavenly home.

St Paul wrote in 1 Cor 13:12, 

Now we see but a poor reflection of life and it's journey as in a mirror; then we shall see distinctly as if face to face. Now I know of life, in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known by God (italics mine).

Lionel

Updated 1st published 9 Oct 2008

1. Calvin Miller “Into the Depths of God” Bethany House, 2000

The River Of Life

Niagara Falls

'Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb.' Revelation 22:1

Anyone who visits the Niagara Falls will be overwhelmed by the immense, never ending stream of overflowing water. Long before one reaches the falls, one will become soaked by the heavy mist that arises from the force of the waters spilling over the banks of the Niagara river at the border between Canada and the United States. Visiting the falls for the very first time in 1991, I was so overcome by the sight and sound that copious tears swelled up in my eyes. Some say that it was a natural response to the presence of God in nature.

On 10 May 2020, in a comment on this blog, Lee Soon Ghee shared his inspiration at reading Ezekiel 47: 1, 3-5. 

'I saw water coming out from under the threshold of the temple toward the the east.....As the man went eastward with a measuring line in his hand, he measured off a thousand cubits, and then led me through water that was ankle deep. he measured off another thousand cubits and led through water that was knee deep. He measured off another thousand cubits and led me through water that was up to the waist . He measured off another thousand, but now it was a river that I could not cross, but now the water had risen and was deep enough to swim in - a river that no one could cross.' 

In this bible passage, Ezekiel saw streams of water coming out from the threshold of the temple. But the streams soon became a gush, then a flood and finally a deluge. The sight facing Ezekiel was of the increasing and overwhelming amount of water with depths at first ankle deep, then knee deep, waist deep and finally over the head requiring the prophet to swim.

Lee Soon Ghee wrote, "This speaks to me about our relationship with the Holy Spirit. It gets deeper and deeper as one matures in the faith. It talks about the need for us to interact with the Holy Spirit in increasing intensity and immersion; being overwhelmed such that we can wade but be carried away by the current/strength of the movement of the river simultaneously. Finally, it talks about letting oneself be carried by the river, swimming along with the Holy Spirit, and perhaps not knowing where it will lead one to, but always trusting and believing."

What a lovely understanding of a life filled with the Spirit. Such waters represent the Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ said,

'Whoever believes in me, as Scriptures has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him will later to receive.' John 7: 38-39

The Holy Spirit comes on us like a river, purifying and cleansing us. Grace flows to and through us who believe in Jesus as Lord and Saviour. That water is

• Life Saving 
• Life Sustaining 
• Life Empowering

John Wimber, a charismatic preacher and pastor, wrote an excellent song, the 'Spirit Song' about this grace and experience.  In a very gentle and refreshing tune and manner, this song describes the relationship between the Triune God and us. It highlights a certain gentleness in that relationship, a sweet surrender to God. As one listens to the gentle flow of the music, like the gentle flow of water, one becomes immersed in the saving, sustaining and empowering grace of the Holy Spirit.

Oh let the Son of God enfold you

With His Spirit and His love

Let Him fill your heart and satisfy your soul

Oh let Him have the things that hold you

And His Spirit like a dove

Will descend upon your life and make you whole

Jesus, oh Jesus

Come and fill Your lambs

Jesus, oh Jesus

Come and fill Your lambs

Oh come and sing this song with gladness

As your hearts are filled with joy

Lift your hands in sweet surrender to His name

Oh give Him all your tears and sadness

Give Him all your years of pain

And you'll enter into life in Jesus' name

Lionel

The Beauty of Holiness

Wakatipu Lake South Island New Zealand

'Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.' Psalms 29:2

Rev Tan-Yeo Lay Suan in a sermon given on the 27 May 2007 at Charis Methodist posited that a person who is Spirit-filled will manifest the Beauty of Holiness. 

This is a distinctive thought or lesson so different from the usual ones we would associate with sermons on the Holy Spirit. Often ‘Holy Spirit’ sermons will emphasize the external display of spectacular gifts; such gifts can then be utilized for evangelism and mission e.g. the gifts of miracles and healing. But  Rev Yeo expounded on an inner gift, an inner beauty, arguing that such a gift will attract others to Jesus. 

Rev Yeo told the story of a Christian businessman who ran a holiday centre, a ranch, for tourists. He also wanted to witness and evangelize the gospel to his tourist guests without being too direct and intrusive. His method was to recruit the hospitality staff at his centre by asking 3 questions: Do you like work? Do you like life? Do you love Jesus? Depending on their answers he would engage the staff for this enterprise.  

Soon his guests began asking him how he managed to get so many attractive staff. The guests noted certain qualities in the attitude of the staff; the way they carried out their work, their zest for life. These became evidence of a rich Christian witness at the centre. The guests became so attracted by the life-style Christianity of the staff that they were eager to know about Jesus

The Bishop of Winchester in a sermon 16 Jul 2006 stated, 'There is a fundamental beauty of holiness; which is the holy life, obedient to the truth of God in Jesus, humbly and penitently expectant of his changing us into his likeness from glory to glory so that we embody and express the love of Jesus in every aspect of our lives.' 

It is thus not surprising that Rev Yeo should preach that the key to a Spirit-filled Life lies in the transformation from within and not the display of the external. This transformation occurs as we bear the fruit of the Spirit in our character

'But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance. kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control.' Galatian 5:22-23a

The Spirit-filled person receives the beauty of holiness not by acquiring, as in religious practices or religious education, but by gazing upon the beauty of the Lord, that is, by seeking God.

“One thing I asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek Him in His temple. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in His dwelling: He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”  Psalms 27:4-5

What does it mean to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and seek His presence? To gaze at the Lord, is to become contemplative, to spend time in God's presence and to meditate. 

I wrote in my journal in May 2004 after reading Psalms 27,

 

'If you dwell in His shelter which is staying faithful in the Lord and within His protection; and gaze upon his beauty thus being able to is appreciate worship and the beauty of God’s holiness; then you should realise how fortunate you are to have gained this gift of insight. Seek after Him, yearn for this meaningful relationship with God. He will do three things for you. 

• He will keep you safe - He will be with you in times of trouble and keep you from harm and danger. 
• He will shelter you – not only your physical self but also your thoughts and feelings, from the emotional storms that may beset you in this world. 
• You will be set upon a rock - that is He shall lift you high so that you can see far ahead and have a good perspective of life - a personal spiritual vision. 

However, it will be very tragic, having received our blessings and realising our fortune, that we stay still within our safe comfort zones. Instead girded by such promises of security and safety we should go out, reach out and touch somebody.'

When we possess the Spirit-filled qualities, we become attractive people, not by external physical attraction but by the winsomeness of an inner character. We become influential people. 

Should we desire to have that winsomeness, the beauty of holiness? Man has the ability to discern beauty when it is really there. Beauty attracts us like bees to honey. 

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in you!

Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me

All His wonderful passion and purity

O, Thou, Spirit divine, all my nature refine

Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me

 

Let my wonderful Saviour be seen in me

His amazing compassion and constancy

His great love is my goal, by His Spirit’s control

Till my wonderful Saviour be seen in me

 

Let the fruit of the Spirit be seen in me

Grant me grace all sufficient that I may be

True and faithful each day, ev’ry step of the way

Pointing souls to the Saviour on Calvary

Psalms 29:2. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness does not just mean in the settings of nature or in churches and cathedrals but also in the beauty of our characters.

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 27 May 2007