DON'T HOLD YOUR BREATH

Ezekiel 37:8 I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.


Spiritually speaking so many Christians are out of breath.

I used to play squash and I would start off quite well only to find myself halfway through the matches running out of breath. From there, it was all down-hill. This is a picture of many Christians who start off well but finish poorly because they are running out of breath.

In verse 9 it says, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to it, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, breath, from the four winds and breathe into these slain, that they may live’”.

The word "breath" in Hebrew is “ruah” meaning wind, or spirit. What it is referring to is the Spirit of God filling these newly formed bodies. When God first made Adam, He formed him out of the ground and then filled him with breath (the Spirit of God).

In verseb10 it says ,“So I prophesied as I was commanded, and breath entered them, they came to life and stood up on their feet – a vast army”.

This vast army is a prophetic picture of the church. A glorious, redeemed church filled with the power and breath of the Holy Spirit!

A key to being filled with the Spirit and not running out of breath – is praying in the Holy Spirit, or “Tongues”.

1 Corinthians 14:14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

And a simple reason why so many Christians are running out of breath is that they are not praying in this heavenly gift. They are going from Sunday to Sunday holding their breath.

The truth is, you are weakening your faith!

Jude 1:20 "But you dear friends, build yourselves up on your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit”.

Every day I pray in the Holy Spirit and every day it builds me up body, soul, and spirit. It's not just spiritual, it's body, soul, and spirit.

If you are feeling emotionally drained or just physically tired from a hectic week, begin to pray in tongues and allow the Holy Spirit to edify you. God’s Spirit in you knows exactly what you need and will rest and recharge you—spirit, soul, and body—as you yield to Him and pray in tongues.

So let me encourage you to be praying with your spirit on a daily basis. There is no specific time limit assigned to it – just pray until you feel edified and built up!

Pastor Wayne Simpson


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Praying in the Holy Spirit builds up your body, soul and spirit.