November 23-24 – “The Spirit as Breath” – Max Lucado
I. Breath on bones.
“Our bones are dried up, and our hope has gone. We are destroyed.” (Ezekiel 37:11 NCV)
“For here’s what I’m going to do: I’m going to take you out of these countries, gather you from all over, and bring you back to your own land. I’ll pour pure water over you and scrub you clean. I’ll give you a new heart, put a new spirit in you. I’ll remove the stone heart from your body and replace it with a heart that’s God-willed, not self-willed. I’ll put my Spirit in you and make it possible for you to do what I tell you and live by my commands. You’ll once again live in the land I gave your ancestors. You’ll be my people! I’ll be your God!” (Ezekiel 36:26-27 MSG)
Then 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 the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” (Ezekiel 37: 9-10 ESV)
II. “Me? Ezekiel?”
III. He exhaled. They inhaled.
“As the Father sent me, I now send you.” After he said this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20: 21-22 NCV)
