Kingdom People

“Receive the Holy Spirit.”
- the Risen Jesus, to the disciples (John 20:22)

Birds flapped their wings. Fish filled the seas. Animals roamed the land. The freshly created dry ground was sprouting the first signs of green life. The sun, moon and stars had just announced the arrival of a new day. The world was now ready for God’s crowning achievement – the creation of the human being in His image.

God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground, but the man’s body remained only a lifeless form, until the crucial moment when God breathed into Adam’s nostrils “the breath of life.” At once, the human race was born! The breath of God brought Adam to life and enabled him to begin fulfilling the purposes that God gave him in the world that he inhabited.

In the evening of the first day of the week, the Risen Jesus met with His disciples behind closed doors. It was the first day of the New Creation – the day of Resurrection, when death was defeated and the universe, on its road towards utter darkness, suddenly turned the corner towards the light. The Risen Jesus met with His startled and confused disciples and commanded them to take His message to the world. But how could the frightened disciples fulfill God’s plan for His world? Where would they find the power to proclaim Jesus as Lord?

The Apostle John tells us that after Jesus commissioned the disciples, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This is the birth of a new human race - a new humanity that includes all who have been “born again” and have received the life-giving Breath of God (His Spirit), the One who enables us to spread the news of Jesus Christ.

Often, we feel powerless to live the Christian life and to be part of God’s saving plan for His world. In those moments of discouragement, we take heart in knowing that God has chosen us, has given us His Spirit to guide and empower us, and that we too, are part of His new creation.

written by Trevin Wax  © 2008 Kingdom People blog