DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH

DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THE BIRTH OF THE CHURCH

"When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:1-2)

It was the sound of wind that came first, then the fiery tongues. Whoosh!!!! This was the birth of the Church of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to me – this sound of wind. Not necessarily that there was a stiff breeze that filled the house, but it was the sound of wind.

The wind is symbolic of the Holy Spirit, and when He came, there was a great sound like a tornado. The word translated "spirit" is ruah in the Hebrew, and in the Greek, it is pneuma. These are corresponding words in Hebrew and Greek and they both mean "wind, breath, or spirit." This has interesting connotations.

In Creation, the Spirit (ruah) of God was hovering or moving over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2). When Adam was created, God breathed into Him the breath of life (Genesis 2:7), although the Hebrew uses different words for breathe and breath. When Jesus was conceived in Mary, it was by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit (pneuma) (Luke 1:35). After His resurrection, Jesus breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit (pneuma)" (John 20:22). Jesus explained the new birth to Nicodemus with an analogy of the spirit and wind. "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit (pneumatos), he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit (pneumatos) is spirit (pneuma). Do not marvel that I said to you, "You must be born again." The wind (pneuma) blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit (pneumatos)' " (John 3:5-8).

The Spirit (the ruah or the pneumatos or pneuma) is associated with beginnings or creation, with birth, with new life. On the Day of Pentecost, God was creating a new thing – the Church. He was breathing life into His Church so that they could live out in the flesh His desired plan. Without the wind or breath of the Holy Spirit, the Church is just a dead organization. But with the breath of the Spirit, it is a living and dynamic organism. Breathe on us afresh, O Holy Spirit.

Love, Dad