The Holy Spirit – Midwife of God’s New Creation • Teaching on Holy Spirit in Creation | Jesus

In a recent teaching at Founded in Truth Fellowship, the focus was on the profound and multifaceted role of the Holy Spirit, particularly as understood through the lens of the entire Bible, leading up to the person of Jesus, whom the community calls Yeshua. The speaker, likely Matthew Vander Els, began by highlighting the upcoming observance of Pentecost, or Shavuot, which naturally directs attention to the Holy Spirit. The teaching explored how the ancient biblical authors sought to understand and articulate the life-giving, creative force they experienced in the world around them.

Observing the fundamental role of breath in sustaining life and its cessation leading to death and return to dust, these authors chose the Hebrew word ruach to encapsulate this invisible force. Ruach, the speaker explained, means wind, breath, and spirit, all interwoven concepts. In Genesis 1, we see the Spirit of God as an active aspect of God in creation, bringing forth life and abundance, described metaphorically as God’s paintbrush. This same Ruach was understood to be breathed into humanity, giving them life.

The teaching further elaborated that because this Spirit resides in humanity, individuals possess divine breath and speech, and being imbued with God’s creativity, they become creative beings themselves. The presence of Ruach was also discerned in exceptional skills and attributes observed in people. Examples such as Joseph’s righteous rule over Egypt and Bezalel’s mastery in crafting gold and metal were attributed to the Spirit of God within them. While acknowledging the importance of honed skills, the speaker emphasized that the Spirit of God fuels all creative endeavors in humanity, whether in poetry, artistry, or craftsmanship, ultimately sourced in God. This led to the understanding that any beauty seen in another person was ultimately a credit to God’s creative work through them, a universal concept applicable to everyone. Each individual uniquely expresses this life-giving Spirit, the breath and wind of God within, with intentionality and purpose within creation, reflecting God’s love for beauty and its association with life-giving creativity.

However, the Bible also reveals that humans possess their own spirit, also referred to as ruach, encompassing their intentions, will, and mind. Psalm 51, David’s lament after his sin, illustrates this distinction. His plea to “renew a steadfast spirit in me” alongside his request not to have God’s Holy Spirit taken from him shows the interplay between the individual spirit and God’s Spirit. The speaker clarified that God’s Ruach is the life-giving force for all beings, while the human ruach pertains to personal will and emotions, which can be influenced by God’s Spirit. Adding another layer, the word ruach was also used to describe the “cool of the day” in Genesis 3, highlighting its broader association with intangible forces. Throughout the Old Testament, the speaker noted, God’s Ruach would come upon individuals, empowering them beyond their natural abilities or influencing their minds and wills, as seen in the prophets of Israel (Micah 3:8), leaders, and judges like Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson.

The teaching then transitioned to the overarching narrative of the Bible, viewing it as a story of God’s mission to humanity. Initially, mankind was filled with God’s Spirit and given authority to rule and be co-creators, reflecting God’s Ruach as image bearers. However, humanity’s disobedience and pursuit of selfish power led to widespread violence, culminating in the flood narrative and the Tower of Babel. God’s rescue mission began anew with Abraham in Genesis 12, with the promise that all nations would be blessed through him. This promise, according to Paul, is the very essence of the gospel, a grander narrative of God’s reign engulfing all humanity and restoring intimacy with God. Israel was chosen to be the vehicle of this blessing, called to be holy and reflect God’s Ruach to the nations. However, Israel failed in this mission, mirroring the very nations they were called to be distinct from, leading to God’s judgment and exile.

Despite this failure, the prophets like Isaiah and Ezekiel spoke of a future restoration, a time when God would complete his mission. Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones (Ezekiel 37) served as a powerful metaphor for God’s promise to breathe his Ruach into his seemingly defeated people, bringing them back to life and the land. This vision also included the promise of a righteous king, a covenant of shalom, and the fulfillment of Israel’s mission to be a light to the nations (Ezekiel 37:28). The prophecy extended to a transformation of the heart and the giving of a new spirit (Ruach), enabling them to live in accordance with God’s ways. Isaiah echoed this with the vision of a new heavens and a new earth (Isaiah 65:17). This new creation would be instigated by a servant anointed with God’s Ruach (Isaiah 61).

The climax of this teaching came with the account of Jesus (Yeshua) in Luke 4. In a synagogue in Nazareth, Jesus read from the scroll of Isaiah 61, declaring, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” By this declaration, Jesus announced that he was the one anointed by the Ruach, the one who had come to bring the promised new creation. The presence of the one anointed with God’s Ruach signified that the Ruach was present, hovering over the metaphorical waters of brokenness, ready to bring forth new life. Jesus, the speaker emphasized, is the one who gives the same life-giving Spirit to those who believe in him – a spirit of life, beauty, peace, healing, and reconciliation. This was the fulfillment of the promises God made, and it continues to work in the world and in individuals today. The upcoming Pentecost is a reminder of this gift of the Spirit. The speaker concluded by inviting those burdened by the world to come forward, to leave their burdens behind, and to ask God for a new heart and a new spirit in the name of Yeshua, empowered by His Ruach.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Recognize the divine breath within you: Understand that the life you possess is a gift from God’s Spirit.
• Embrace your creativity: See your creative abilities, in whatever form they take, as being fueled by the Spirit of God within you.
• Seek to live in tune with God’s Spirit: Just as the Old Testament figures were empowered by the Ruach, seek God’s influence on your thoughts, intentions, and will.
• Acknowledge God as the source of beauty and talent: When you see admirable qualities in others, recognize them as reflections of God’s Spirit at work.
• Find hope in God’s promises of renewal: Just as God promised to restore Israel, believe in His power to bring new life and healing to your brokenness.
• Embrace the reality of the “today” in Christ: Like those who heard Jesus in the synagogue, recognize that the promises of God are fulfilled in Him and are available to you now.
• Ask for a new heart and a new spirit: If you feel weighed down by the burdens of life, follow the invitation to seek transformation and renewal through God’s Spirit.
• Participate in God’s mission of blessing: As those who have received God’s Spirit, strive to be a source of blessing, justice, mercy, and grace to those around you.
• Depend on God’s faithfulness: Remember that God keeps His promises, even when circumstances seem hopeless.
• Seek peace, life, love, wholeness, and healing from God: These are the fruits of God’s Spirit and are available to those who ask.