There are only a handful of things that are common to every person. We all eat and drink in some way. But we also differ on what, how, when, and with whom we eat. You may eat only vegetables while I eat a hamburger. Another thing that is common to every living person is breathing. Unlike eating, there is little difference in how we breathe. It is so common that we rarely even think about it other than perhaps noticing if someone is winded or panting.
There is a deep Biblical connection between breath and God’s Spirit that starts back at creation. “Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.” (Genesis 2:7, NLT) After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to the disciples. John records, “Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” (John 20:21–22, NLT) Later in Acts, the Holy Spirit would arrive with the sound of a mighty rushing wind.
Paul also points to the commonality of the Spirit as an answer for the division of the Corinthian church. He begins by pointing out how the Spirit reveals God. “That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets.” (1 Corinthians 2:9–10, NLT) None of us has come to faith in Christ without the Spirit of God speaking truth and life to our spirits.
Paul explains, “And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.” (1 Corinthians 2:12–13, NLT) The breath of our faith is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
The Bible does not make any sense without the illumination of the Spirit. Paul said, “But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means.” (1 Corinthians 2:14, NLT) The Holy Spirit binds believers together in faith regardless of our differences and divisions. The Holy Spirit is as common to Christ’s followers as breathing.
Now, we need to address the obvious. Why is the church so divided if the Holy Spirit is common to all believers? There are several factors at work. The sin of pride plays a role. The weeds growing among the wheat have an impact. Traditionalism and tribalism create walls of separation. You see, even though we may have the Holy Spirit, we do not follow or listen to the Holy Spirit perfectly. Most of our divisions were a move of the Spirit for a particular season and place that became frozen in time as the “right way to do things.”
Hear me in this. I’m not saying we should blow up the church and start again with another reformation. No, we need to honor one another’s practices (or lack thereof) as we all seek the voice of the Holy Spirit for the here and now. Instead of focusing on our differences, perhaps we should ask, What has God been speaking to you? How is the Holy Spirit moving you to walk your faith? In some cases, the answer will be common; in others, it will be complementary. But, if we humbly listen to the Spirit, we will find a God-empowered unity that cannot be shaken.
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