Day #118 - Breathe
The Presence - A Devotional for living in Thanksgiving, Worship and Wonder
Again 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 NIV
What room in history would you most liked to have been in?
Maybe some of you would pick the signing of the Declaration of Independence or the Constitution. Or maybe you would have liked to been in the room when Moses told Pharaoh to let God’s people go. What would it have been like to be in the room during a famous speech or the production of one of the greatest films of all times? I know there are some music studios I would like to have been in while some amazing records were being captured. No doubt there are many moments in history from which to choose.
Jesus appearing to His disciples for the first time after His resurrection must have been one of the greatest moments in a room in human history. It appears that Jesus simply appears in the room with the disciples. But this is more than simple, its profound. He conquered death and now they knew He was unstoppable. He has to tell them to be at peace. It must have been disturbing for them to be closed into this room and Jesus just appears out of nowhere, like He just walked through the wall. His first order of business shows how important it was that the disciples received the Holy Spirit.
Jesus told the disciples that the same way He was sent by the Father, He was sending them. How was Jesus sent into ministry? In the power of the Holy Spirit. So Jesus breathed on His closest followers and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This was one of many Holy Spirit encounters the disciples would experience. I believe if Jesus breathed on them and said receive the Spirit, they received the Spirit.
The power of Jesus life and ministry was to be the same power for the disciples life and ministry. This is the same for us. We need the Holy Spirit. Our heart’s cry should be, “breathe on me Jesus” and “I need you Holy Spirit.” We don’t just need teaching or knowledge about the Holy Spirit, we need an encounter with the Holy Spirit.
Every room that the Holy Spirit is working in today has the same significance because He is the same Holy Spirit today as He was then. We receive the same Spirit through Christ. The blessing of Christ is in Him breathing upon your life.
Lord Jesus breathe on me, I need the Holy Spirit. I don’t want to do this life in my own strength I want the breath of God. I want to be sent like Jesus. I want to be sent like the disciples. I long for more encounters with the Holy Spirit. I not only want understanding and knowledge, I want You! There is no one like you. In Your name, amen!
I would like to have been in this room: ❤ Luke 2: 25-32 "The Holy Spirit was upon him (Simeon) 26 and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. 27 That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, 28 Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
29
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
30
I have seen your salvation,
31
which you have prepared for all people.
32
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!” --Holy Spirit, be upon us and lead us, as You led Simeon to Jesus! ❤🕊💖
Yes Lord… I want YOU!!! 🙏🏻♥️