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Today, we are examining something that is very brief but very deep in relevance. We are considering: The Breath Of The Almighty God, and I want us to go to the book of Isaiah chapter 42 and we will start our reading from verse 5 as the Holy Spirit guides us.
“Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,”
And I want us to note every word that we hear. “Thus says God the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out.” So, there is no ambiguity about the origin, the author, the creator and the maker of the heavens. It is very clear that the heavens did not evolve accidentally or a product of some scientific concoction. The heavens were made deliberately by God and for a purpose. Bible says “God stretched the heavens.” And so, let us continue with the reading. “Who spread forth the earth.” So, He does not leave the earth that we live behind. He didn’t just make the heavens and allow the earth to just evolved by itself as some might want us to think. The heaven is not a product of man, neither is it a product of events. It was God who deliberately spread out the earth and that which comes from it.
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“Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,”
So, everything that we can find on the earth is not an accidental or a sudden occurrence. Nothing on the earth that we can see happen like that. Everything was made by God. Let us continue the reading:
“Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:”
This is going to be the beginning of our discussion tonight. We have been introduced to the Lord God who created the heavens and stretch them out. He also stretch out the earth and gave breath. And the Bible didn’t even say “gave”, so that we won’t be tempted to think it was a decision or an action that was done in the past, which is perhaps having some effect today without God necessarily doing anything. The Bible didn’t say “Who gave“, but it says “Who gives.” For those of us who understands English a bit, we know that when we see such kind of words; it means He was the one who gave, and He is still in the business of giving, and He will still continue to give.
When I was meditating on this verse, and if we could break that phrase into two: “Who gives breath“; that is one thing. Another thing is “The People on it.” There is a people on it, He gives breath to them. Do we see that? So, the people on the earth are those who have been given breath by the Almighty God. So, our focus tonight is on The Breath of the Almighty God, Who gives spirit to those who walk on it. There is the spirit and then there is those who walk on it. So, I want us to also see that two angles: those who walk on it because, we must know that there is a possibility for a people to walk on the earth without that spirit. The Bible says “He gives breath to the people on it.”
So, now, let us go quickly to the book of Genesis chapter 2 and then see a few things about how God began it in the beginning. We have been made to see that God gives breath to the people on the earth and He gives spirits to those who walk in it. Genesis 2:7, the Bible says:
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
Now, this Scripture could also be divided into two. “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground” That is a phase and a segment, it is like this is a possibility; a man formed. And Bible says “God breathed into his nostrils, the breath of life.” So, if God had stopped at the other level without getting to the point of releasing His breath into the nostrils of that formed man, the man will still be a formed man, but not a living being. And, before we get carried away with the meaning of being a living being, to the point that we assume that everybody on the earth is a living being, we must understand that some people are just existing beings, not necessarily living.
The true attributes of living is not visible in the life of everyone even though it is expected for everyone to be a living being. Very soon, we will still an instance that shows us that somebody could still be on this earth, walking up and down but does not have the breath of the Almighty. That is why we are looking at The breath of the Almighty, what is the importance of that to me as a person and to you?
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” And we know that the process of anything becoming takes time. When we talk about process, there is always this element of time in it. God breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and that man who receive the breath of life became a different being entirely. He was a creature that was formed, but as soon as the breath of life entered into him, he became a living being. The capacity that was released and built with him, the capacity that was dormant in him got activated and became effective.
Even though it appears as if we all have mouth, we don’t all have the power of the mouth. Even though it appears as if we all have our minds, it is not all of us that demonstrates the power of the mind. It is not enough for a man to have a dormant or a latent capacity, it is important for such capacity to have life in it. Many people have eyes, but not everyone see. There are many instances where people are looking, but they cannot actually comprehend what they are beholding. So, it is beyond having the natural attributes of seeing. There is something else required of that natural attribute to have a real effectiveness in your life.
What is the difference between Nebuchadnezzar that God punished and the Nebuchadnezzar that God showed mercy? The two were both called Nebuchadnezzar. Nebuchadnezzar in a phase and Nebuchadnezzar in another phase. Nebuchadnezzar did not become a different physical attribute when he was punished by God. It was the same Nebuchadnezzar but there was a different expression. So, what God created naturally and God designed to function by His breath, the moment the breath of God was withdrawn, even though the thing still remained there; ceases to function.
So, there is difference between a man who has the natural talents, attributes and a man who possesses the breath of God. Nebuchadnezzar felt by his strength, he has built a great kingdom and he was carried away by this pride and then there was a judgment of God upon which drove him into the bush. He started eating grasses, his body started changing. See that Scripture, the Bible says “As soon as God released His breath into his nostrils, man became a living being.” So, Nebuchadnezzar, as soon as that breath of life departed from him, he was not dead. This is what we are talking about, because each time we talk about breath, we always take it to mean just the breathing alone. So, we are not talking about that breath that you think you are aware of.
We are talking about something that is from God. The moment it was withdrawn from Nebuchadnezzar, just like Adam that became a living being; Nebuchadnezzar became a different being simply by the withdrawal of that breath. Samson did not die. The same Samson that was in authority was the same physical same that was a slave. The same Samson, he did not become thinner, No! Something simply left him and that is the focus of our discussion, the breath of the Almighty God. The Bible says he shook himself just like the other times but did not know that the Spirit of God had departed from him. So the same man who was breathing, who was walking and doing things with the Holy Spirit, thought he could do it without the Holy Spirit , eventually realising that the other times that he has been breaking chains with his hands, he has not been doing it by his physical attributes alone, but has been doing it by the breath of the Almighty God imparting his physical attribute.
See a life, whose eyes is imparted by the Holy Spirit, imagine a mouth that the Holy Spirit is upon, just imagine. Imagine hands, normal human hands, imagine the Holy Spirit upon those hands, what do you witness? Now imagine that hand, that eyes, that mouth, and everything without the Hole Spirit? What do you see, nothing. That is why we must still go back to that Isaiah 42, because when we were reading it, some of us were assuming that isn’t it a normal thing? People on earth naturally. Isaiah 42 verse 5 again, the Bible says:
Thus says God the Lord,
Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it,
Who gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:
The one who gives breath to the people is able to withdraw breath from the people. They may not die physically, but once His breath is withdrawn from them, something is taking from them. Now, let us see it. It says:
“He gives breath to the people on it,
And spirit to those who walk on it:”
If He is able to give them spirit and breath, then He is able to withdraw the same. What is the worth of a life who walks on the earth without the spirit that God gives? What is the essence of a person on earth who lacks the breath of the Almighty? Just as the man became a living being simply by the breath, any life can experience a radical change by the presence of that breath in his or her life. Whether the man is young or old, any life can be turned around just by introducing that breath into such life. You see mad people everywhere, if only you can just inject that breath into that mad man or mad woman, there will be a sudden change.
The man is living, and he has latent capacities formed by God. That is why the Bible says “And God formed the man.” That man is formed, although he is mad, but he is formed. He has brain just like everyone else. But that brain lacks the breath. so, when you see a man in a situation that needs divine help, know that what is missing is divine breath. Let us quickly go to the book of Luke, we will see a Scripture there and then in John. Luke 24:49, the Bible says:
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
Please, were men not alive and living before Jesus came to Israel? They were even getting married and having children. So, the breath we are talking about is not this one, the one that doctor gives, the oxygen, No! People were getting married and doing all manner of things before Jesus came. But He said to them, in this passage above, that “Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.“
Those who know power knows that without it, there could be desires, but there is no ability to do anything. Nothing can get done without a power. Now, there is light in this auditorium because there is a power behind it. There are facilities here capable of giving light, but if you withdraw the power behind them, they would just be there looking at us without lighting anything. SO, don’t just look at that handsome man or that beautiful woman, if they lack the breath of the Almighty God, you have just met another ‘Mumu‘ (‘ignorant fool’). We will soon see why I said so.
Don’t forget, we all have brains. God created us with heart that is pumping blood inside of us. So, that great man, that nobody, they both have the same physical attributes. What is the difference? there are times you see certain people and you simply want to be just like them. Maybe they are even ministers of the Gospel and you just desire to be where they are right now. You have head, they have head, you have legs, they also have it, what is lacking is the breath of the Almighty God upon your life. You cannot desire this and that, if you lack the power to do it, it will only remain at the level of wishes. That is why Jesus said tarry, I will send the promise from my Father. I am not talking about the oxygen that you breath in, I am talking about God’s breath. I will send it, and you will be endued with power because when He comes, He will quicken your mortal bodies.
When Samson was to carry the gates, he used his hands. But why didn’t his friends used their own hands too to carry the same gate? It is because something was definitely missing in them. But the people must be yearning enough to long for the breath that God gives. Don’t be satisfied with the fact that you are just alive, and paying your bills; that is not enough. You are paying your bills, but the witches and wizards have not left you alone, that is not enough. You cannot say a thing and it will be established, that is not enough. You cannot even tell people that you are coming and you will come, that is not enough. You have mouth to promise, but the challenge is in you fulfilling the promise, that is not enough.
Apostle Paul said there is a law working within my members, he said he has a will to do, but doesn’t have the ability to do it. But he said thanks be to Jesus. So, he had a desire to do something but there was a missing power. But Jesus came to give him that power. The people on the earth must not be comfortable paying their bills and getting married, that is not the pick of life. There is a realm of life that is beyond all there elementary things. Have you considered the animals, they are not dead though, but they cannot boast of the breath of the Almighty God. But there is something they don’t have that is available for us.
A man who lacks what the animals lacks is not different from them. I don’t know if it has ever happened before that you pick a chicken, a hen, you want to consume it, and it tells you no. Has it ever happened before? So, that chicken is a prey to you, the mighty one. Imagine you being the prey to another human being? Imagine you being the prey to a witch or a demon? Brother Abiola said it when he was praying that angels are ministering spirits sent to minister to the heirs of salvation. Those who have been sent to minister to you, imagine a fallen one for that matter, now dominating you? Can you just imagine it? This is what they call aberration. It is not supposed to be.
An angel that is in the perfect will of God has been sent to serve you. The one that is not in the perfect will of God, who is a rebellion, can he even be more powerful than the one who is in sync with the will of God? The one that is in the will of God is to serve you, how come the one that is in disobedient to the will of God mastering you? What is missing in your life is the breath of the Almighty God. Let us quickly go to the book of John 20, we will read verse 21-23. The Bible says:
“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”
As the Father as empowered me, I also empowered you. As the Father believe in me, I also believe in you. As the Father as delegated responsibility to me, I also delegate responsibility to you. But you know, you can’t do it in your strength. These your physical attributes, they have little or nothing to do to the work of the Father. You have legs, you can walk from Jerusalem to Judea, but it is not enough. See how Jesus said it.
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”
Were they dead before he breath on them? When He did it, did they come back to life, as in, physically? This experience is the meaning of the breath of the Almighty God, because somebody may be wondering, what is even the breath of the Almighty God? Bible says He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive.” That is to show the link between His breath and the Holy Spirit. Let Him quicken your mortal body, let him quicken your brain, your eyes, your nose that cannot smell evil when it is coming. It says to them, receive the Holy Spirit, receive your power to do great things in my name. receive the enablement to please me and to serve.
The Father has sent me to serve, and I am sending you also to do same, however, receive the Holy Spirit. If you go with hunger and passion to serve without receiving the Holy Spirit, it would be a fruitless effort. Apostle Paul in the book of Romans 10, he said something that we must never disregard. Romans chapter 10, from verse 1-2. It says:
“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.”
They have the skill and the burden to serve God, but they lack the Spirit that can get it done. Let us quickly go to Job chapter 32 verse 8 so that we can see, don’t forget they have zeal, they lack knowledge. Let us see Job 32:8, it is a Scripture that many of us are familiar with. The Bible says:
“But there is a spirit in man,
And the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.”
The people of Israel have zeal, but they lack knowledge. God said “My people perish for lack of knowledge.” And Job said, “But there is a Spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.” So, he doesn’t just have a burden, he understands the need to fulfilling the burden. He doesn’t just have a tongue, he knows how to use his tongue. He does not just have physical strength but he knows how to deploy it towards executing the will of God. They physical attributes of his life are not hidden from him, the relevance and “the how to use them” are not hidden from him.
The Bible says again that you have the anointing of the holy one, you know all things. You need no man to teach you, the same anointing teaches you all things. The same anointing, the breath. If you read the story of Nebuchadnezzar, you will see how he became an animal and you will see how he later became a man. Bible says he said “My understanding was returned to me” and even my dignity and authority came back to me. Why? Because the breath of the Almighty came back to me. The things that God created me with became functional once again. I stopped carrying titles, I started performing the tasks.
The anointing teaches you all things, it teaches you how to use your tongue, how to use your head, how to season your words with grace. It teaches me how to use your hand and your body, it teaches you all things. I don’t just speak, I don’t just look, it teaches me how to use my eyes, it teaches me how to write. David even acknowledged how God has taught his hands for war. God taught his hands. You also have hands, if you have lived in the time of David, you would have been wondering how he uses his hands. He was taught by the Lord. God can teach you how to use what He has created you with.
The man was formed, everything he needs to function was there, but dormant, and in that state of dormancy, no celebration. Nobody would say sister God bless you, I was blessed by your dormancy, your inactivity. You are such a great blessing. You doing nothing and saying nothing has blessed my life, nobody would tell you that. It is when you begin to engage your mortal bodies, engage your members with productive activities that men are wowed. People will bless you, why? Because you are already a blessing. You can’t be a blessing if you lack life for effectiveness and for function.
If you must know how to use your arsenals, beginning from your head to your toe, then you must engage the Holy Spirit. Bible says He gives breath to the people in the earth and life to those who walk on it. You lack the Spirit, you lack the breath, you lack power. You become what they say that empty barrel makes the loudest noise. There is a burden for us and I pray that God will lift the burden in Jesus’ name!
Source: Centre for New Dimension Leadership
