There are several accounts in scripture of God’s breath bringing life. The word for ‘breath’, ‘wind’ and ‘spirit’ are the same in the Old Testament, ruach and pneuma in the New.

It began in the garden, when God created Adam:

Then the LORD God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Genesis 2:7

Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:26-27

God’s breath is what sets you apart from all of creation – you are a reflection of His image, whether male or female. It’s what gives you an eternal soul, the ability to reason, the desire for order, love, and freewill to choose. Animals don’t carry the same characteristics. They are God’s creation, but they don’t carry God’s image in their DNA, bestowed through this divine breath. Don’t ever let someone tell you, you came from animals – it’s impossible! You have been given life and set apart by the very breath of the living God!

If we fast forward to Pentecost where we see God’s breath again, falling on a room full of disciples as tongues of fire.

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:1-4

We see man being filled with God’s glory once again in the form of the Holy Spirit. That which had been lost in the garden during the fall was restored. We have the ability once again to be filled with God’s presence!

But we aren’t left with just the Spirit alone, as we see God’s breath again.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 1 Timothy 3:16-17

This breath gives us the Word of life! “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is the only book ever written that is living – it’s alive and always active. You could study it for the entirety of your life without mining all its treasure. But the precious jewels you do find will be yours into all of eternity. How deep you choose to dig and mine is for you to decide.

It’s the only book that can be used as a holy and spiritual weapon effectively. Why else do you think the enemy seeks so diligently to keep it out of the hands of God’s beloved? Why does he seek to stop up our ears and blind our eyes to its treasures? Perhaps it could be because it’s the weapon God has given us to knock him down.

The Bible is also a precise surgical scalpel, ‘dividing soul and spirit’ (Heb 4:12). It divides and reveals that which comes from our own soul and the power of His Spirit. We can do many good things in our own strength and soul power, but the things that will be eternal come from the power of His Spirit. The Bible helps us to distinguish the two.

And there is another breath of God to come:
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming.” I Thess 2:8

This one gets me the most excited. Picture it with me, Jesus returning triumphantly from heaven on His white horse and overthrowing satan with a mere breath and ultimately destroying him by the glory of His splendor. God’s breath, the very breath that lives in us, has the power to overthrow the wiles of the enemy.

God’s breath gave us life, it gives us His power upon salvation, offers us a living guide book and weapon, and ultimately the power to overcome our adversary. Ah, saint, rest in the power of God’s breath today.

“Lord, it’s Your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to You only!” Great are You Lord, by All sons and Daughters