In the creation account in Genesis, the climax of God’s creative work was His extraordinary creation of man. Genesis 2:7 says “then 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.”
We can identify 2 things that was done by the Almighty God in his creation of man. He formed him from the dust of the ground, and secondly He breathed His own breath into the nostrils of his creation, Adam. This is what distinguishes man from all other creatures.
1. WHAT IS THE BREATH OF LIFE?
Genesis 2:7 contains three significant facts about man’s creation.
A. God and God alone created man
We did not evolve from any other creature , nor did any other forces create man, but God himself formed and created man. The word “formed” is a translation of the Hebrew ‘yatsar’, which means “to mold, shape, or form.” We can compare this to a potter who has the intelligence and the power to create and form his creation. God is the master potter who had the image of man within His mind and who possesses the power and the intelligence to bring that image to life. God has both the omniscience (all-knowledge) and omnipotence (all-power) to do exactly as he wishes.
B. God breathed His own breath of life into man
We need to understand that man is more than “dust” or physical substance. Man has a spirit. When God had just formed Adams body from the dust of the earth, it was a lifeless human body lying on the ground. Then God “breathed” His own “breath of life” into Adams nostrils. God is the ultimate source of life and he directly placed life within man. We can see another example of this in John 20:22 “And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” We see here that Jesus imparts new life to His disciples.
C. Man became a living soul
Genesis 2:7 tells us that man became a living soul (KJV). The word soul in Hebrew is ‘nephesh’, meaning an animated breathing, conscious and living being. Man did not become a living soul until God breathed life into him. As a physical, rationale and spiritual being, man is unique among all living things upon the earth.
So the “breath of life” is the life and power of God, given to man to animate him. The Hebrew word for spirit is ‘ruach’, which means “wind, breath, air, spirit.” The life of God lives on and on; the immaterial part of man was designed to live eternally. The only questions is where will we live?
2. HOW MUST WE LIVE BY THE BREATH OF GOD?
Living by the breath of God means to, have communication with God (critical and necessary), prayer is like our spiritual breath, we listen to God, we hear from God, we speak to God and we speak for God – the breath of life.
Ezekiel 37 :1-14(The valley of dry bones) gives us a good example of how to live by the breath of God. This chapter is primarily a prophecy concerning the restoration of Israel, but we can also apply it to our lives in this instance.
Let us focus on some of the things we can do to live by the breath of God.
A. Breathe in God: Apart from God there is no life
We see in Genesis 2:7, that God breathed the breath of life. From that time on life came into the body of Adam and breathing was natural. In a similar fashion we must ensure that God becomes as natural as breathing. Doing this is not a great strain or effort, If we’ll stay fully connected to Jesus. Jesus says in John 15:5-7 “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers, and the branches are gathered , thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”
It is important to understand that living with God is more than just being born again. As Christians, we have a connection to Jesus. We must allow the word to abide in us. Apart from Him we can do nothing, so it is vitally important that we breathe him, breathe his word and then we will see the fruits of the life within us.
Job 32:8 says “But it is a spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding”.
Job 33: 4 says “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.”
The same breath of the Almighty given to Adam is also in us. The breath gives us confidence, hope and understanding that we are God’s children, and that we are able to speak with authority because the breath of the Almighty in us. Job has identified 2 key points here. These are the two key things we all need. One, is renewed life in Jesus Christ and secondly, the understanding of the word of God.
By breathing in God, we are opening our lives to Him and allowing Him to enter us, to use us according to His will and purposes. We are submitting ourselves completely to Him.
Ezekiel 37:1-3 says “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them and behold there were very many among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold there were very dry.”
Once we breathe in God, he allows us to see our life, truly as it is. We allow God to take us to the valleys of our life, full of bones. He shows us all the dry places. Breathing in God, is allowing him to come into the dead places of our life. Those places that have tormented us, the places that have kept us in addiction, the secretive areas of our lives. Breathing in God, He comes in to change all that. He is about to do a new thing. First he shows us the dead and dry places of our life.
B. We must Prophesy: Speak life words/Words of blessings/Healing
We must prophesy by speaking salvation to the dry, dead places: living water not sewage brings life. John 7:38 says “Whoever believe in me, as the Scriptures has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” This living water must enter the dry places of our life first, then it must flow out.
What we say, matters to God. God asks, Can they live? Ezekiel 37:3 says “And he said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord GOD, you know.”
What is your response when God asks, Is there hope for your life? Can the dry valley sprout with life again? Can the dead bones live? Can I break free from this addiction? The Lord knows that there can be life again, because you have breathed in God, who is life. You must say Lord you know the situation of my life, and I know that you have a solution for my needs.
Ezekiel 37:4 says “Again he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”‘” So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. Indeed as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.” Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”‘”. So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, and exceedingly great army.”
I tell you, as Ezekiel was told to prophesy to the bones he did exactly as he was told to do. Notice, he prophesied saying, “O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!” The word of the Lord is power. The word of the Lord is life. The word of the Lord has authority and that same word is the Bible. So prophecy just as Ezekiel was told to do. Be obedient like him. Use the word of God in your situation. For example, some of the Words of God are:
1. Deuteronomy 28:7 “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.”
2. Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
3. Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
4. Psalm 56:3-4 “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?”
and many many more…..
C. Breathing out God: God calls us to speak for Him:
We must breathe out God, by the word of our testimony. Revelation 12:11 says “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.” It is not only a good sermon that changes lives, but it is the personal testimony of a believer of what Christ did and is currently doing in your life. Testify, about your healing, about a miracle God has done, about what He has done for your family, about what He is doing in your workplace through you. Testify brother and sister in Christ, that the world may know that the breath of life is in us and we have breathed in the living God.
Not only through the word of our testimony, but we must also do this by our actions. Our focus should no longer be inward looking, but outward looking. Streams of living water must flow out from you.
Raise your voice! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Psalm 150:1-2 says “Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!”
From today, start to breathe in life. Breathe in God everyday, prophesy to your situation, breathe out God and by the word of your testimony through the fulfillment of prophesy through Gods Word, be a blessing to someone.
Dead bones will become a great army when we speak the breath of God!
If you have never known Jesus and can feel that he is speaking to you today, and you would like to allow God to come into your life and change you forever, say this prayer out aloud and accept Jesus Christ as your personal savior. You will be a new creation from this moment on:
“God I know that I am a sinner. I know that I deserve the consequences of my sin. However I am trusting in Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe that His death and resurrection provided for my forgiveness. I trust in Jesus and Jesus alone as my personal Lord and Savior. Thank you Lord, for saving me and forgiving me. Amen.”
