The Breath of God.

[Carl Emerson]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

 

[topher694]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

I've never heard of this.

However, the greek word for spirit is pneuma and one of it's translations in addition to "spirit" is "breath". Additionally God "breathed" into Adam and he became a living being. So clearly there is some connection with breath and spirit. All that being said, it is unsurprising that some would take that to an unhealthy extreme... it happens with everything.

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

The Holy Spirit is a Spirit and baptism with the Spirit involves the combination of the Spirit with our spirit. It has nothing to do with respiration. Once cannot "breathe in" the Holy Spirit, because He is already dwelling in our spirit. He is beyond the reach of our five senses, therefore we cannot fellowship with Him through them, as some think they can.

The only way that we can fellowship with the Holy Spirit is through faith. This cuts out dreams, visions, voices, feelings, emotions, physical manifestations such as jerking, shaking, or falling down. All these involve the five senses of the flesh.

I viewed a post where someone claimed to have smelled the "fragrance" of the Spirit. Others have said they felt the "presence" of the Spirit. All these are of the flesh, because they involve the senses.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the time is coming when believers will worship God in spirit and in truth. The only way to do that is by faith in what the Holy Spirit has inspired in the written Scriptures. The Scripture says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If we want to hear the Word of God, we can hear it being preached, exposited, or even reading to one's self out loud!

Sure, when the Gospel is preached to the unconverted, there are visible signs and wonders, for example, Paul, after being shipwrecked on Malta, healed the head man of dysentery, and many others of their diseases. These healings, along with Paul being bitten by a venonous snake with no ill effects, were the signs and wonders that confirmed that the Gospel Paul preached was the truth and that unconverted people could have confidence in it. But these visible signs and wonders were for the unconverted, who were totally in the flesh so the Holy Spirit got to them through the visible signs and wonders.

But Christian believers have the Holy Spirit within them, therefore they don't need the five senses of the flesh to maintain their faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit does that from within their spirit, reminding them of God's promises in His Word.

 

[Mr. M]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

Here is something that might be related to what you are discussing.
Insufflation - Wikipedia

I have never heard of this being taught as a religious practice.
If someone told me that they like to use breathe control during quiet,
private time of praising His name, or blessing in His name, I would say,
more power to you, far be it for me to impinge on another's liberty.
If it is done by a congregation as part of their services, I would not be
surprised if they were quickly labeled a cult. Once again, this is not something
I make a practice of; labeling cults or condemning practices.
I have heard of someone blowing on another after praying for them.
Apparently, imitating Christ here:
John 20:
21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me,
I also send you.”
22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit."

Personally, I would prefer that someone pray for me without blowing their breathe,
or their spittle for that matter.

 

[Mr. M]

So clearly there is some connection with breath and spirit. All that being said,

Yes, the relationship between breathe and spirit is in speaking, singing, shouting, etc...
If we speak under the inspiration of the spirit, we speak words that are spiritual.
The word inspiration means "God breathed (exhaled)" [G2315] theopneustos
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God....
Your preferred commentaries should speak on this in reference to this verse.
G2315 - theopneustos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

 

[topher694]

Yes, the relationship between breathe and spirit is in speaking, singing, shouting, etc...
If we speak under the inspiration of the spirit, we speak words that are spiritual.
The word inspiration means "God breathed (exhaled)" [G2315] theopneustos
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God....
Your preferred commentaries should speak on this in reference to this verse.
G2315 - theopneustos - Strong's Greek Lexicon (kjv)

That's a good way of explaining it.

 

[topher694]

The Holy Spirit is a Spirit and baptism with the Spirit involves the combination of the Spirit with our spirit. It has nothing to do with respiration. Once cannot "breathe in" the Holy Spirit, because He is already dwelling in our spirit. He is beyond the reach of our five senses, therefore we cannot fellowship with Him through them, as some think they can.

The only way that we can fellowship with the Holy Spirit is through faith. This cuts out dreams, visions, voices, feelings, emotions, physical manifestations such as jerking, shaking, or falling down. All these involve the five senses of the flesh.

I viewed a post where someone claimed to have smelled the "fragrance" of the Spirit. Others have said they felt the "presence" of the Spirit. All these are of the flesh, because they involve the senses.

Jesus told the Samaritan woman that the time is coming when believers will worship God in spirit and in truth. The only way to do that is by faith in what the Holy Spirit has inspired in the written Scriptures. The Scripture says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If we want to hear the Word of God, we can hear it being preached, exposited, or even reading to one's self out loud!

Sure, when the Gospel is preached to the unconverted, there are visible signs and wonders, for example, Paul, after being shipwrecked on Malta, healed the head man of dysentery, and many others of their diseases. These healings, along with Paul being bitten by a venonous snake with no ill effects, were the signs and wonders that confirmed that the Gospel Paul preached was the truth and that unconverted people could have confidence in it. But these visible signs and wonders were for the unconverted, who were totally in the flesh so the Holy Spirit got to them through the visible signs and wonders.

But Christian believers have the Holy Spirit within them, therefore they don't need the five senses of the flesh to maintain their faith in Christ. The Holy Spirit does that from within their spirit, reminding them of God's promises in His Word.

I understand what you are getting at, and I agree with the core principle. However, I do believe spiritual things can, at times, have a physical impact we can perceive with our senses. The best example would be seeing angels. Clearly that's in the Bible and it is perceiving something spiritual with our natural senses. That being said it is not a direct, every single time relationship, and it starts - as you said - with faith. What is most important to keep in mind is: it is the spiritual occasionally impacting our senses, not our senses dictating what is spiritual. When people go seeking after natural experiences to validate the presence of God they are already missing it.

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

I hear ya! But, the breath IS the life of every living thing on earth. I am a retired obstetrics nurse, and I came to understand some things about life. Have you ever heard the word plexus? There is an area of the human body called the solar plexus. It is the area not quite in the chest, but not quite in the abdomen either. It is plexus, neither here nor there but it is vital. Working with pregnant women, started me to think on these things. A baby in the womb is considered to be alive as long as the heart beats. But, how can this be? If the baby is born but it does not breathe, it is stillborn. But the heart was beating prior to birth. Well, in the womb it was plexus, neither alive nor dead, but in a vital state to be fully realized at birth when the breath(spirit) enters the body.
Genesis 2:7
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 soul.

I think we miss this because we lack understanding. In the fall, we do not understand how our Father preserved us.We are to be made sons of God. Do you realize this? It is hard for me to wrap my mind around this truth also. Man(Adam) was the son of God. Well, what happened? Man was perfect, the very image of God. But when man(Adam) chose sin, he lost that image of God and became tainted with sin (This is how I understand what happened), he lost his holiness, he lost his immortality(death entered), the curse of death entered all of creation,it was just a big mess made. But God, knowing all things had a plan, which the devil did not know. Well now, the devil thought he had destroyed the son of God by placing the sin nature in him, now all mankind would be tainted by sin (it is an inherited trait).
Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and
after his image; and called his name Seth:

So you see how it went down. We all understand this I think. But then there was plexus. .

I hope you have understood what plexus means. It is neither here nor there. Even the devil did not understand what God had done. But God told him that the seed of the woman was going to crush his head. Wait God... You said that man would die on the DAY he ate from the tree/ What is this seed?

Well, the plan of redemption was on God's mind from the foundation of the world. Adam's sin did not catch God by surprise. So God made provision.(1) place man in a plexus state until the seed is come. (2)Conquer death through the seed. (3) conquer the devil by the seed.(4) restore the image of God through faith in the seed.

Isn't that good! Hallelujah!

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
1 Corinthians 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

So unbelievers are in a plexus state. Dead (essentially) in trespasses and sin. But they breathe(have spirit). So you can say they are neither alive, nor are they dead. They are not alive until the Spirit of God indwells them.

John 14: 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

 

[dqhall]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

Not sure what the question is, but I read that deep breathing exercises may lower blood pressure and reduce heart attack risk.

5-Minute Breathing Exercises Can Lower BP, Heart Attack Risk

 

[Presbyterian Continuist]

I understand what you are getting at, and I agree with the core principle. However, I do believe spiritual things can, at times, have a physical impact we can perceive with our senses. The best example would be seeing angels. Clearly that's in the Bible and it is perceiving something spiritual with our natural senses. That being said it is not a direct, every single time relationship, and it starts - as you said - with faith. What is most important to keep in mind is: it is the spiritual occasionally impacting our senses, not our senses dictating what is spiritual. When people go seeking after natural experiences to validate the presence of God they are already missing it.

The same can be said when we see people healed instantly and people set free from demons. I have a friend from Zimbabwe who witnessed the healing of a totally crippled girl when after prayer he saw and heard her bones move in her body as they went back to their proper places and she was totally healed within minutes. This is in terms with Jesus saying of the Holy Spirit, that the wind blows where it chooses, and no one know where it came from or where it went, but we see the effects of it. Also, we see in the account of the young man with Elisha being fearful of the vast Syrian army who had come to arrest Elisha, and Elisha showing the young man all the heavenly host surrounding him and the young man. Another account where the Israelites were to attack an enemy who vastly outnumbered them. The Lord said, "When you hear the rustling in the tree tops, then that is the time to attack". Jesus told the disciples of John the baptizer, "You can see the sick being healed, lepers cleansed, the dead raised, and the good news is being preached", in order to show John that He is really the Messiah.

But the work of the Holy Spirit within us is beyond our five senses. The communication between the Holy Spirit, our spirit, and our mind, is by way of enlightenment and intuition. These are not included in our five senses. It is a type of "sixth sense" that causes a newly converted believer to be able to see what the Bible is really saying when he couldn't see the wood for the tree previously. It is when a verse of the Bible jumps out of the page to us that absolutely answers a question that we have, or when we read a devotional book, a sentence or paragraph stands out and is sometimes a life changer for us.

What happened to me in 1969, when I got out in the middle of a park in the dead of night, lifted my eyes to the sky and introduced myself to the Lord, was that one second I was in total darkness as far as my direct knowledge of God was, and the next I felt all lit up inside and knew beyond a doubt that God was real and that I was in fellowship with Him. I felt no emotion, but it was a sudden knowledge that came to me that God was very real and very present with me.

I saw an episode of Star Trek when Spock had his brain stolen. It was retrieved and Dr McKoy had to reinsert it back into Spock's head; but he didn't know how. Then an alien machine was produced that when McKoy put his hands into it, he suddenly had the knowledge to do it, but it was to last just 20 minutes. So one second the doctor didn't have the knowledge to reinsert Spock's brain, and the next second after activating the machine, he did. This had nothing to do with his five senses. The knowledge was imparted to him by the alien machine.

So, given certain circumstances, according to the plans and purposes of God, the Holy Spirit can impart knowledge that we didn't have before. I was a school dropout with no real chance at being able to successfully complete a university degree. Then in my 30s, I was given the opportunity to go to university. Somehow, I received the ability to gain my degree without failing a paper with a grade average of B+, when at high school I was a D grade student. I believe that it was according to God's plan for me to gain an undergraduate degree, plus two graduate degrees, in English and Divinity, and the Holy Spirit gave me the ability to do them. I completed my M.div degree with an A average. I rarely got below 95% for my written assignment and research paper. I wrote the essays in one draft and got those high marks. How did that happen? The Holy Spirit enabled me to write them.

It's like giving a prophecy in church. We do it in complete faith, often feeling nervous and fearful that we might be getting it wrong. Then to our amazement, the prophecy turns out to be totally accurate. Exercising faith can be contrary to our emotions and feelings, and be quite contrary to our logical thinking, but when the Holy Spirit is involved, those things are set aside and it is His ministry through our faith that makes it a success.

 

[topher694]

The same can be said when we see people healed instantly and people set free from demons. I have a friend from Zimbabwe who witnessed the healing of a totally crippled girl when after prayer he saw and heard her bones move in her body as they went back to their proper places and she was totally healed within minutes. This is in terms with Jesus saying of the Holy Spirit, that the wind blows where it chooses, and no one know where it came from or where it went, but we see the effects of it. Also, we see in the account of the young man with Elisha being fearful of the vast Syrian army who had come to arrest Elisha, and Elisha showing the young man all the heavenly host surrounding him and the young man. Another account where the Israelites were to attack an enemy who vastly outnumbered them. The Lord said, "When you hear the rustling in the tree tops, then that is the time to attack". Jesus told the disciples of John the baptizer, "You can see the sick being healed, lepers cleansed, the dead raised, and the good news is being preached", in order to show John that He is really the Messiah.

But the work of the Holy Spirit within us is beyond our five senses. The communication between the Holy Spirit, our spirit, and our mind, is by way of enlightenment and intuition. These are not included in our five senses. It is a type of "sixth sense" that causes a newly converted believer to be able to see what the Bible is really saying when he couldn't see the wood for the tree previously. It is when a verse of the Bible jumps out of the page to us that absolutely answers a question that we have, or when we read a devotional book, a sentence or paragraph stands out and is sometimes a life changer for us.

What happened to me in 1969, when I got out in the middle of a park in the dead of night, lifted my eyes to the sky and introduced myself to the Lord, was that one second I was in total darkness as far as my direct knowledge of God was, and the next I felt all lit up inside and knew beyond a doubt that God was real and that I was in fellowship with Him. I felt no emotion, but it was a sudden knowledge that came to me that God was very real and very present with me.

I saw an episode of Star Trek when Spock had his brain stolen. It was retrieved and Dr McKoy had to reinsert it back into Spock's head; but he didn't know how. Then an alien machine was produced that when McKoy put his hands into it, he suddenly had the knowledge to do it, but it was to last just 20 minutes. So one second the doctor didn't have the knowledge to reinsert Spock's brain, and the next second after activating the machine, he did. This had nothing to do with his five senses. The knowledge was imparted to him by the alien machine.

So, given certain circumstances, according to the plans and purposes of God, the Holy Spirit can impart knowledge that we didn't have before. I was a school dropout with no real chance at being able to successfully complete a university degree. Then in my 30s, I was given the opportunity to go to university. Somehow, I received the ability to gain my degree without failing a paper with a grade average of B+, when at high school I was a D grade student. I believe that it was according to God's plan for me to gain an undergraduate degree, plus two graduate degrees, in English and Divinity, and the Holy Spirit gave me the ability to do them. I completed my M.div degree with an A average. I rarely got below 95% for my written assignment and research paper. I wrote the essays in one draft and got those high marks. How did that happen? The Holy Spirit enabled me to write them.

It's like giving a prophecy in church. We do it in complete faith, often feeling nervous and fearful that we might be getting it wrong. Then to our amazement, the prophecy turns out to be totally accurate. Exercising faith can be contrary to our emotions and feelings, and be quite contrary to our logical thinking, but when the Holy Spirit is involved, those things are set aside and it is His ministry through our faith that makes it a success.

I agree.

On a side note, did you know scientists pretty universally agree that there are actually at a bare minimum 9 natural senses, not 5, with some believing there are 35 or more. Sense of hot/cold being an example... not that any of that makes any difference here.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Luke 24:32
They said to one another, “Were our hearts not burning within us when He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”

 

[Carl Emerson]

John 14:27
Peace I leave you, My peace I give you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, nor fearful.

 

[Carl Emerson]

Thanks for the comments so far...

The issue of the Spirit of God imparting feelings is another topic.

But for the record, when He switches on the gift of the Discernment of Spirits in my life, I can not only sense the demonic but am guided directly to it's source to deal with it...

 

[Maria Billingsley]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

The breath of life is the Holy Spirit. God breathed in Adam and Jesus Christ of Nazareth breathed upon His Apostles. Both the Holy Spirit.
My take anyway.....
Blessings.

 

[eleos1954]

There seems to be a modern theology that equates our human breathing (inhale, exhale) with the Name of God 'Yah-weh' as if God's Spirit and mans breath are somehow one.

I am weary of this 'pop-theology'

The gift of life was given so that a person could breathe.

The breath of a person is not the life, the spirit of a person is.

Discussion on this appreciated.

Ecclesiastes 3:19-21

For what happens to the children of man and what happens to the beasts is the same; as one dies, so dies the other. They all have the same breath, and man has no advantage over the beasts, for all is vanity. All go to one place. All are from the dust, and to dust all return. Who knows whether the spirit (breath of life) of man goes upward and the spirit (breath of life) of the beast goes down into the earth?

Do animals have immortal souls? Any references of animals in heaven (where Jesus is now)?

Best way to look at it ... is .... creation in reverse.

Only God is immortal ... so He says.

1 Timothly 6:16
Berean Study Bible
He alone is immortal and dwells in unapproachable light. No one has ever seen Him, nor can anyone see Him. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen.

John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Above ... true or false? TRUE

Those who believe in a "immortal soul", are doing away with the resurrections.

and we get new bodies.

 

[Carl Emerson]

I hear ya! But, the breath IS the life of every living thing on earth. I am a retired obstetrics nurse, and I came to understand some things about life. Have you ever heard the word plexus? There is an area of the human body called the solar plexus. It is the area not quite in the chest, but not quite in the abdomen either. It is plexus, neither here nor there but it is vital. Working with pregnant women, started me to think on these things. A baby in the womb is considered to be alive as long as the heart beats. But, how can this be? If the baby is born but it does not breathe, it is stillborn. But the heart was beating prior to birth. Well, in the womb it was plexus, neither alive nor dead, but in a vital state to be fully realized at birth when the breath(spirit) enters the body.
Genesis 2:7
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 soul.

I think we miss this because we lack understanding. In the fall, we do not understand how our Father preserved us.We are to be made sons of God. Do you realize this? It is hard for me to wrap my mind around this truth also. Man(Adam) was the son of God. Well, what happened? Man was perfect, the very image of God. But when man(Adam) chose sin, he lost that image of God and became tainted with sin (This is how I understand what happened), he lost his holiness, he lost his immortality(death entered), the curse of death entered all of creation,it was just a big mess made. But God, knowing all things had a plan, which the devil did not know. Well now, the devil thought he had destroyed the son of God by placing the sin nature in him, now all mankind would be tainted by sin (it is an inherited trait).
Luke 3:38 Which was the son of Enos, which was the son of Seth, which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God.
Genesis 1:27 So God created man in His own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Genesis 5:3 And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and
after his image; and called his name Seth:

So you see how it went down. We all understand this I think. But then there was plexus. .

I hope you have understood what plexus means. It is neither here nor there. Even the devil did not understand what God had done. But God told him that the seed of the woman was going to crush his head. Wait God... You said that man would die on the DAY he ate from the tree/ What is this seed?

Well, the plan of redemption was on God's mind from the foundation of the world. Adam's sin did not catch God by surprise. So God made provision.(1) place man in a plexus state until the seed is come. (2)Conquer death through the seed. (3) conquer the devil by the seed.(4) restore the image of God through faith in the seed.

Isn't that good! Hallelujah!

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Romans 5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.
1 Corinthians 15:27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

So unbelievers are in a plexus state. Dead (essentially) in trespasses and sin. But they breathe(have spirit). So you can say they are neither alive, nor are they dead. They are not alive until the Spirit of God indwells them.

John 14: 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Yes - some good insight - My wife majored in Midwifery.

However I think we need to be careful not to equate physical breath with the human spirit and certainly not with the Holy Spirit.

There are also living creatures that don't breathe at all...

But good insights thanks.

 

[Carl Emerson]

The breath of life is the Holy Spirit. God breathed in Adam and Jesus Christ of Nazareth breathed upon His Apostles. Both the Holy Spirit.
My take anyway.....
Blessings.

Interesting thought - do you believe Adam was indwelled with the Holy Spirit?

 

[Handmaid for Jesus]

However I think we need to be careful not to equate physical breath with the human spirit and certainly not with the Holy Spirit.

I agree. But we know the body is the temple that the Holy Spirit indwells. So I asked myself where in our body does the Holy Spirit dwell? Scripture says the Holy Spirit helps our human spirit. So, where in the body dwells our human spirit? The Greek for spirit is pneuma from which we get pneumonia which is a lung sickness that interferes with physical breathing. So doesn't it make sense that the spirit resides in the lungs? I am just asking. What do you think?

 

[eleos1954]

Interesting thought - do you believe Adam was indwelled with the Holy Spirit?

Sure ... but the Holy Spirit belongs to God .... not to humans. It is HIS spirit working in the hearts of mankind ... and always has been ... will always be until His return ... or until a person's earthly death .... because the dead know nothing.

The breath of life ... is simply that allows us earthly life as long as we have it. If not, then wall go to the grave and sleep a dormant sleep and will rise either in the 1st or 2nd resurrection.

The Holy Spirit is of God and works in the heart until the breath of life leaves us (earthly death) ... or one chooses to totally ignore it. His Spirit is active, unless He decides to remove it .... one way or another.