PERMISSION TO START OVERThe Spirit who creates – and re-creates

THE SPIRIT WHO CREATES…

•Gen 1:2: “…the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters”•Deut 32:11: Same Hebrew verb

•Ps 33:6 “By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host”

•Gen 2:7: “Then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life…”

…AND RE-CREATES• Gen 8:1 “And God made a wind blow over the earth, and the waters subsided”•Gen 1:2 echo•God refuses to give up on his world•He is beginning his world again

• Lk 1:35 “The Holy Spirit will come upon you…”•Gen 1:2 echo – again •A Messiah for Israel•A new beginning for the world•Artist’s view:•Dove & olive branch•Recalls Genesis 8

• The dove at Jesus’ baptism•He emerges from the water• The Spirit-dove descends•Gen 8:12 replay• The Spirit who re-creates!

• The Spirit at Pentecost•Acts 2:2 “…a mighty rushing wind…”•Gen 1:2 revisit• The Spirit who re-creates•Power for the church•A new beginning for the world

•Q: What if we mess up?• Ex 32 Covenant failure: the golden calf• Is this the “end”?• Ex 33:13: Moses intercedes

• Ex 33:14 “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest”• Ex 40:38 “For the cloud of the LORD was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night…throughout all their journeys”

•What if we mess up?•Covenant failure•Denying the Lord• Is this the “end”?

• John 20:21-22 “Peace be with you…And…he breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit’”•Gen 2:7 replay• The Spirit who re-creates

•Why all this matters:•God – by the Spirit – creates•He alone is entitled to define us•God refuses to give up on his world•Because of Christ and the Spirit, our past need not determine our future