The Breath of Our Prayers
Posted: July 19th, 2008, 2:14 am
HEALING SHELTER MINISTRIES #125b Written 18JUL08 http://groups.msn.com/AHealingShelter/welcome.msnw
Spiritual Survival: Part Two—The Breath of Our Prayers
by rev dave c
'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live"' (Ez 37:9; NKJV). As an introduction to this series, Part One briefly discussed the metaphoric correlation between the four most essential elements for physical survival and those required for the spiritual. Just as we must have air, water, rest, and food in order to sustain physical life at its most fundamental level of existence, we must pray, read Scripture, attend Church, and fellowship with believers. First on the list of physilogical needs, and the most immediate, is the requirement to continuously breathe ‘good’ air. In Genesis 2:7 we are told that God breathed into the man’s nostrils the breath of life (neshamah chay), and the man became a living being (nephesh chay; that is, “a living soul”). Simply put, this is life that exhibits the sentient principle (the ability to apprehend) which includes human beings and all animals capable of environmental awareness. In our case, we possess five senses as the ability to see, to hear, to touch, to smell, and to taste—as well as the ability to interpret information gathered through those senses.
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding (Job 32:8; NIV). In this verse from Job, however, we are told that God also breathed into mankind the neshamah shaddai, or the breath of the Almighty. Herein lies God’s exclusive gift of the sapient principle (the ability to comprehend) to His human creatures. Evidence of the difference between humanity and lower animal life is to be found in verses such as Psalm 32:9 where God tells us, Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you (NIV). Of all the creatures, only Adam and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God (Ge 1:26). Only their offspring have a measure of free will that permits their choosing to accept the Lord’s proffered mercy and grace, or to reject it. Only God’s children are able to speak freely and continuously with their Abba, Father (Ro 8:15). Only we can pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ep 6:18; NIV).
The goal of breathing is to bring a requisite amount of usable oxygen into our lungs, and then remove the spent oxygen, that is, carbon dioxide, to be released into the atmosphere through exhalation. In the same fashion we praise our Creator, we worship Him, and we pray to our Sustainer for the daily blessings of supplied needs as we “exhale” our requests for forgiveness when we fall short of His righteousness. Good, or clean air that is free from harmful pollutants such as poisonous particles and gases is absolutely necessary. In the spiritual realm, “bad/unclean air” amounts to sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (Ga 5:19-21; NIV). To our shame, this bad air is often the result of our willfully placing ourselves into the unwholesome atmospheres of the world and of the flesh. With a decrease in useable air, or with stress and physical exertion, our respiration rate increases to accommodate an increased need for the amount of oxygen required throughout our bodies. Spiritually this corresponds to our increased need for conscious prayer as we pass through the trials and tribulations that beset us—whatever their cause.
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1Th 5:16-18; NASV). In First Thessalonians 5:17 the Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing; that is, communicate (talk) with God continually. We begin breathing soon after birth and rhythmically maintain it throughout our life times. With Christian rebirth, we begin to pray not just to God, but to our Abba Father...a practice to be maintained into eternity. Like our cardio-vascular system, the act of breathing is, for the most part, an involuntary act. Unlike the heart, however, we can exercise some control over the rate and depth of respiration. Once we accept Christ’s offer of salvation, the act of speaking with God may be regulated to some extent by our choice, but the channel of communications, the Holy Spirit, remains. It is interesting that in both the Old and New Testaments the words we translate “spirit” and “Holy Spirit” mean breath, or wind (ruach in Hebrew, and pneuma in Greek). Romans 8:26 states, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
While we are able to hold our breath for short periods of time, a temptation to panic begins for most people within 60 seconds of oxygen deprivation. It is the same when we choose to refrain from constant, and consistent prayer. Our lives very quickly degrade inwardly, if not outwardly, as we interrupt communication with our Heavenly Father. ...Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21&22). Within six minutes without oxygen, there is probable brain damage, and death then follows rapidly from asphyxiation if we are unable to take a deep breath and resume normal respiration. Even when we choose to turn away from Him, whether for a moment or for a decade, as His beloved children God the Father may allow us to suffer the consequences of our actions in this life, but the gift of the Holy Spirit (literally, the Divine Breath) intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express as He strives to keep us from the second death, a spiritual death that is eternal. Thank You, Jesus, and amen.
Spiritual Survival: Part Two—The Breath of Our Prayers
by rev dave c
'Thus says the Lord GOD: "Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live"' (Ez 37:9; NKJV). As an introduction to this series, Part One briefly discussed the metaphoric correlation between the four most essential elements for physical survival and those required for the spiritual. Just as we must have air, water, rest, and food in order to sustain physical life at its most fundamental level of existence, we must pray, read Scripture, attend Church, and fellowship with believers. First on the list of physilogical needs, and the most immediate, is the requirement to continuously breathe ‘good’ air. In Genesis 2:7 we are told that God breathed into the man’s nostrils the breath of life (neshamah chay), and the man became a living being (nephesh chay; that is, “a living soul”). Simply put, this is life that exhibits the sentient principle (the ability to apprehend) which includes human beings and all animals capable of environmental awareness. In our case, we possess five senses as the ability to see, to hear, to touch, to smell, and to taste—as well as the ability to interpret information gathered through those senses.
But it is the spirit in a man, the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding (Job 32:8; NIV). In this verse from Job, however, we are told that God also breathed into mankind the neshamah shaddai, or the breath of the Almighty. Herein lies God’s exclusive gift of the sapient principle (the ability to comprehend) to His human creatures. Evidence of the difference between humanity and lower animal life is to be found in verses such as Psalm 32:9 where God tells us, Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you (NIV). Of all the creatures, only Adam and Eve were created in the image and likeness of God (Ge 1:26). Only their offspring have a measure of free will that permits their choosing to accept the Lord’s proffered mercy and grace, or to reject it. Only God’s children are able to speak freely and continuously with their Abba, Father (Ro 8:15). Only we can pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests (Ep 6:18; NIV).
The goal of breathing is to bring a requisite amount of usable oxygen into our lungs, and then remove the spent oxygen, that is, carbon dioxide, to be released into the atmosphere through exhalation. In the same fashion we praise our Creator, we worship Him, and we pray to our Sustainer for the daily blessings of supplied needs as we “exhale” our requests for forgiveness when we fall short of His righteousness. Good, or clean air that is free from harmful pollutants such as poisonous particles and gases is absolutely necessary. In the spiritual realm, “bad/unclean air” amounts to sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like (Ga 5:19-21; NIV). To our shame, this bad air is often the result of our willfully placing ourselves into the unwholesome atmospheres of the world and of the flesh. With a decrease in useable air, or with stress and physical exertion, our respiration rate increases to accommodate an increased need for the amount of oxygen required throughout our bodies. Spiritually this corresponds to our increased need for conscious prayer as we pass through the trials and tribulations that beset us—whatever their cause.
Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus (1Th 5:16-18; NASV). In First Thessalonians 5:17 the Apostle Paul tells us to pray without ceasing; that is, communicate (talk) with God continually. We begin breathing soon after birth and rhythmically maintain it throughout our life times. With Christian rebirth, we begin to pray not just to God, but to our Abba Father...a practice to be maintained into eternity. Like our cardio-vascular system, the act of breathing is, for the most part, an involuntary act. Unlike the heart, however, we can exercise some control over the rate and depth of respiration. Once we accept Christ’s offer of salvation, the act of speaking with God may be regulated to some extent by our choice, but the channel of communications, the Holy Spirit, remains. It is interesting that in both the Old and New Testaments the words we translate “spirit” and “Holy Spirit” mean breath, or wind (ruach in Hebrew, and pneuma in Greek). Romans 8:26 states, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.
While we are able to hold our breath for short periods of time, a temptation to panic begins for most people within 60 seconds of oxygen deprivation. It is the same when we choose to refrain from constant, and consistent prayer. Our lives very quickly degrade inwardly, if not outwardly, as we interrupt communication with our Heavenly Father. ...Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:21&22). Within six minutes without oxygen, there is probable brain damage, and death then follows rapidly from asphyxiation if we are unable to take a deep breath and resume normal respiration. Even when we choose to turn away from Him, whether for a moment or for a decade, as His beloved children God the Father may allow us to suffer the consequences of our actions in this life, but the gift of the Holy Spirit (literally, the Divine Breath) intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express as He strives to keep us from the second death, a spiritual death that is eternal. Thank You, Jesus, and amen.