53. Breathing The Holy Spirit Series

IN GOD'S IMAGE 53 - BREATHING THE HOLY SPIRIT

This message is part of a series of 90 sermons based on the title, “In God’s Image – God’s Purpose for humanity.” This series of free sermons or the equivalent free book format is designed to take the reader through an amazing process beginning with God in prehistory and finishing with humanity joining God in eternity as His loving sons and daughters. It is at times, a painful yet fascinating story, not only for humanity, but also for God. As the sermons follow a chronological view of the story of salvation, it is highly recommend they be presented in numerical order rather than jumping to the more “interesting” or “controversial” subjects as the material builds on what is presented earlier. We also recommend reading the introduction prior to using the material. The free book version along with any graphics or figures mentioned in this series can be downloaded at www.ingodsimage.site - Gary Regazzoli

Last time we talked about Jesus giving His disciples the promise of the Holy Spirit.

• For the first time God made the promise mankind could enjoy His personal presence individually through the Holy Spirit.

• This was a crucial step in God’s mission of making man in His image.

• The Israelites enjoyed God’s presence in a corporate sense as He dwelt with them in the tabernacle, and later the temple.

• But God had much more in mind than a mere corporate presence. He wanted a personal relationship with each of His people.

• Leviticus 26:12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people.

• Once again we see God taking the initiative. He has been faithful to His people by being their God and making salvation possible for them through the saving work of Jesus Christ.

• Now the emphasis switches to preparing for Himself a holy people.

• But again, this is the work of our faithful God.

The prophets of old, foretold this time when God’s Spirit would be poured out on all flesh.

• Joel 2:28-29 “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. 29 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.”

• Notice the use of individual terms in this verse, sons and daughters, old men, young men, both men and women.

• What was new about this promise was making the Holy Spirit available to individuals.

• Israelites would have associated God working with prophets and priests, but never with the common man.

• The coming of the Spirit would make it possible for individuals to have an intimate personal relationship with their God.

In an earlier session we spoke about the Holy Spirit being associated with new beginnings.

• Genesis 2:7 Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

• As mentioned before, here at the beginning of the physical creation, the spirit of God moved on the face of the water (Genesis 1:2).

• Just as God breathed life into man at the original creation, this same action is now duplicated at the beginning of the spiritual creation when Jesus breathes on his disciples.

• John 20:21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

• We see the work of God the Holy Spirit active at the milestones in God’s plan of salvation, at the beginning of the physical creation, at the creation of man, at Jesus’ birth and baptism, and now at this pivotal point in the birth of the New Testament church.

• The coming of the Holy Spirit is further proof that this is the beginning of the age of the New Creation.

• We saw on the eve of His crucifixion Jesus introducing the New Covenant.

• With His resurrection, we saw the first human pass from mortality to immortality.

• Now we see God through the Spirit coming to take up residence in individual humans.

• We should not underestimate what is happening as far as humanity’s salvation is concerned with God making the Holy Spirit available to mankind.

• This is the time of the new age, the age of the New Creation, the kingdom of God.

• Because of the barrier of sin, God could not pour out His Spirit on all flesh until Jesus had completed His salvation work on behalf of mankind.

• However what we see happening with the giving of the Spirit is recognition by God that He can now accept humanity because of Jesus’ atoning work on our behalf.