Breathe on Me, Breath of God
John 20:21-23
Intro
Among the good gifts that the heavenly Father bestows upon his children, there is none greater than the Holy Spirit. Jesus told his disciples to expect the Holy Spirit to render unto them the personal ministries he had given while he was visibly present with them.
Edwin Hatch felt a deep inward need for the ministries that the Holy Spirit is able to render in the heart of the believer, and the put his prayer in song. Lets sing of the many gifts of the Holy Spirit that we find listed in his prayer hymn “Breathe on Me, Breath of God.”
I. “Breathe on me, breath of God (Stanza 1)
a. “Fill me with life anew” (Luke 24:49)
“And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high”
b. “That I may love what you dost love” (Gal. 5:22)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”
c. “And do what you wouldst do” (Gal 5:16)
“But I say, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”
II. “Breathe on me, breath of God (Stanza 2)
a. “Until my heart is pure” (Matt. 5:8)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
b. “Until with Thee I will Thy will” (Rom. 12:1)
“Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God. Which is your spiritual service of worship.”
c. “To do and to endure” (Gal. 5:17-18)
“For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; fro these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.
III. Breathe on me, breath of God” (Stanza 3)
a. “Till I am wholly Thine” (1 Cor. 6:19)
“Or do you not know that you body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own.”
b. “Till all this earthly part of me” (1 Cor. 6:20)
“For you have been bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body.”
c. “Glows with Thy fire divine” (Acts 7:55)
“But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God;”
Closing
The prayer of Edwin Hatch for the ministry of the Holy Spirit glows with an expression of joy and praise as he anticipates the perfect harmony and holiness of living with God throughout eternity. By responding in faith and obedience to the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we can know the joy of eternal life in the present. As we close in prayer let us ask the heavenly Father to bestow upon us these gracious ministries of the Holy Spirit.
