John 20:21 – 22 Again Jesus said. “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive ye the Holy Spirit.”

When God made man he gave him dominion over the physical world. That was a blessing. (See Genesis 1:26 – 30) He formed man from the dust of the earth and breathed his breath into his nostrils. That man, Adam, became a living soul and we are his descendants. (Genesis 2:7). Adam sinned and imparted that nature of rebellion to us making us insensitive or dead towards God.

The central core of Christianity is in believing that Jesus is the Son of God. There is blessing in that alone. (John 20:29). It means accepting as truth that he was born of a virgin, lived as man to show us what God is like, died as our Savior, is risen as Lord over everything and is coming back again to establish his kingdom. This is life-giving – the new birth.

After Jesus’ resurrection, he visited with his disciples as they were together in one place. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” – this second breath is life-transforming – giving you and me power to live a God-directed life and have dominion over the enemy.

“The Spirit of the Living God empowers his people to walk in the light of his Word and to use it to subdue the power of the enemy of their souls. It is for those who believe in the Son of God and will submit to his leading in their daily lives. That is my design.”