The Breath of God: Ruach (רוח)

   11/30/25

Hodgdon UMC

< What breath we need >

Dear our beloved Houlton, Hodgdon, Mars Hill, and Patten church families. I am so thankful we can celebrate our Thanksgiving and the first Advent all together in Hodgdon UMC today. On Thanksgiving Day, we played a gratitude relay game with the children. We took turns to say one of our gratitude in 2025. One of my answers was “Breath”.  I felt thankful simply because I could breathe. Breath is so important. The very first thing a newborn baby must do is breathe. And if they don’t breathe right away, the nurse gives a gentle tap so that life may begin.

We must even learn how to breathe. When we swim, we breathe with our mouths. When we run, we breathe in through the nose and out through the mouth so we don’t hurt our throat. Breathing is important. How we breathe is important. And what breath we live by is even more important.

Some of us may be sighing today. Some may feel like the breath in our hearts is weak, tired, or heavy. When we heard that our beloved Mellonie Willson’s early breath turned into heavenly breath on Thanksgiving Day, our hearts were so heavy. However, God has a Word for us today through her breath transition. He wants to give us His breath.

 

< Ruach at the Beginning >  

Genesis begins with the Spirit of God moving over the darkness. The Spirit mentioned here is the Hebrew word Ruach (רוּחַ), which means breath, spirit, or wind. [1] In Genesis 1:2, the Ruach of God hovered over the waters. This means God’s Spirit was already moving, already breathing life into creation.

Daniel Migliore explains that the Spirit is never secondary in God’s saving work. The Spirit is active from the beginning—guiding, empowering, and giving life.[2]

That same Spirit created the heavens and the earth, and then formed humanity from the dust of the ground and breathed the breath of life (Ruach) into their nostrils, and they became a living being ($\text{Gen 2:7}$). By breathing the Ruach into us, God transformed us from dirty, weak, and insignificant dust into spiritual beings capable of experiencing His presence. The beginning of the world and the beginning of every person were both initiated by Ruach (the Spirit).

 

< Ruach in the Dry Bones>

In Ezekiel 37, God shows the prophet a valley full of dry bones. They are dead, scattered, and without hope—just like people who feel tired, discouraged, or forgotten. But God commands Ezekiel: “Prophesy to the breath… say to the Ruach, ‘Come and breathe on these slain.’" And the bones rise. Life returns. The Spirit moves. They become a mighty army!

Thomas Oden writes that real ministry is never human-powered. It is always the Spirit who restores life where ministry seems dried up. Pastors and churches participate, but the Spirit leads.[3]

<Ruach in Isaiah>

In the book of Isaiah, the Ruach, the Spirit and breath of God, is frequently mentioned, carrying a strong promise of new governance and salvation that God will accomplish in desperate circumstances.

Isaiah 9 prophesies the birth of Jesus as the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

• Wonderful Counselor – wisdom breathed by the Spirit
• Mighty God – power breathed by the Spirit
• Everlasting Father – care breathed by the Spirit
• Prince of Peace – shalom breathed by the Spirit

Verse 7 concludes with the assurance: "The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." This Zeal of the Lord is deeply connected with the Ruach (Spirit), clearly establishing God as the subject of all salvation history. Furthermore, Isaiah 11:2, 32:15, and 42:1 all speak of the Ruach (the Spirit of the LORD) resting on the Messiah, prophesying the restoration of God’s kingdom through Jesus' birth, suffering, death, and resurrection. [4]

< Ruach at Jesus’ Baptism and Pentecost >

When Jesus was baptized, the Spirit descended like a dove. From that moment, Jesus’ ministry was led by the Spirit, empowered by the Spirit, and guided by the Spirit.

Then at Pentecost, the Spirit came like a mighty wind—again, the word is Ruach—and the breath of heaven filled the disciples. The church started with Ruach, and the Spirit forms the church as a witnessing community that God’s breath into the world. [5]

This is still happening today. The last breath of Jesus on the cross becomes the first breath of the church through the Spirit. The earthly breath ends… but the Spirit-breath begins.

 

< Ruach in Our Ministry > How God Led Us Through the Churches

Eleven years ago, God breathed His Ruach and sent our family to Houlton. Then Hodgdon. Then Mars Hill. And this year, Patten. We didn't plan it, and we didn't initiate it. However, Ruach initiated this four-church ministry in one journey.

For our churches—Houlton, Hodgdon, Mars Hill, and Patten—there were dry seasons too. Times after denominational conflict, times when it felt like we could not keep going, times when membership aged, and times without pastors. It seemed like just darkness, dirt, and dry bones. But God breathed His Ruach again.

Each church shines in its own way.

• Ruach is in Houlton church through Backpack for Kids ministry for four schools, senior meals for over 70 families, small groups, and hosting many ministries, including the community choir, community handbells, and Together Tuesday.
• Ruach is in Hodgdon church through Lend a Hand, small groups, yard sales, public suppers, the free library, and the food pantry.
• Ruach is in Mars Hill church through lively small groups, caring for each other and the community, and monthly mission projects.
• Ruach is in Patten church through the hands and feet of everyone, the food pantry for over 200 families, the Bread of Life, prayer chain, prayer shawls, and hosting many community activities (AA, Exercise, and board games).

Praise the Lord for showing us how Ruach started all these ministries through His body and restored us from death to life!

We can even see a more beautiful unity beyond each church’s shining fruits. Ruach is active in our four churches through VBS, Women’s retreat, Combined Bible study, public suppers, the fifth Sunday Combined service, and the Laos Mission.

• Through VBS offerings ($350) and UWF ($500) in Patten, we helped 85 children receive backpacks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and school supplies. What was a small seed has grown to bless 1,300 children today. This is Ruach—breath that multiplies.
• Through cluster ministries, we held a beautiful musical worship service. Small churches could now do all kinds of ministries together: Brazil missions, St. Apolonia Christmas Tree, and more. This is Ruach—breath that unites and sends.

 

< Ruach in our Advent>

Ruach is here and now. Ruach created the world and our lives. Ruach restored dry bones to life. Ruach prophesied through Isaiah about the Messiah, Ruach started Jesus’ ministry, Ruach gave birth to the church, and the same Ruach is with us today!

We are not the starter. We are not the primary actor. Our mission is never our project. It is Ruach’s mission. We simply join what God is already breathing into the world.

The ministry God calls us to is Ruach-ministry.

So today, take a deep breath. Not just with your lungs. With your heart. If you are tired, may God breathe Ruach into you. If you feel like dry bones, may God breathe life again. If you feel like you lost your breath, may the Prince of Peace breathe hope into you.

God began His salvation with Ruach. God continues His salvation with Ruach. And one day, when our last earthly breath stops, the Spirit will give us a new breath—the breath of eternity.

Jesus comes with the breath of God. Jesus brings the life of God. Jesus breathes peace into His disciples. This Advent, we pray God will breathe again. Ruach! Amen.

 

Let’s pray. Holy God, breathe Your Ruach, Your holy breath, into us today. Fill our tired hearts with new life. Shine Your light in our dark places. Help us follow Jesus with joy and peace. Make our church one family, alive with Your Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit, breathe in us, breathe through us, and lead us every day. Amen.

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[1] Lesslie Newbigin), The Open Secret)

[2] Daniel Migliore, Faith Seeking Understanding

[3] Thomas Oden, Pastoral Theology

[4] Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the Lord (Ruach) shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Isaiah 42:1 "Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit (Ruach) on him, and he will bring justice to the nations."

Isaiah 32:15 Until the Spirit (Ruach) is poured out on us from on high, and the desert becomes a fertile field, and the fertile field seems like a forest.

[5] Stanley Grenz, Theology for the Community of God