The following sermon was presented by the Reverend John W. Howe, Rector of Truro Episcopal Church in Fairfax, Virginia, on December 6, 1987. The title is, Breathe on Me, Breath of God. 

Perhaps you know the story of the young man who was called to be Rector of an Episcopal Church, and everybody, of course, turned out to hear his first sermon. That's a very exciting beginning, and he did splendidly. He just gave a marvelous sermon, and afterward all the vestry were complimenting each other on their great wisdom and having called him.

Everyone wondered what he would do the following week as a sort of a follow-up, and as soon as he began, heads began to turn and people cast glances to each side because it sounded terribly familiar, and indeed it was exactly the same sermon. And at coffee hour afterward, folks were chatting about that, and most people figured he probably was just still very nervous at a new beginning, and he picked up the wrong sermon notes and didn't even realize where he was. But you can bet that the third week, they were alert.

And sure enough, the same sermon, word for word. There was an emergency meeting of the vestry right after the service, and they sent the wardens to see him, and the senior warden came in and said, that really was a wonderful sermon, but you realize it was the same one you gave us last week and the week before. And the new rector said yes, and as soon as you begin to respond to it, I'll give you another.

the theme this morning is repentance that's been before us for the last several weeks hasn't it partly because this is the season a season of repentance the message of advent is repent get your lives in order get ready the king is coming but also because the Lord has been speaking that word to us in a very insistent, very urgent way it's not just a seasonal reminder that is what he's been saying to this parish and to us individually and so the word repentance is before us yet again I want to think with you about the breath of God we sing about that We pray about God breathing His Spirit or the wind of God. It's the same word. We sing little choruses about the Spirit of God, don't we?

There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place and I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord. Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me.

Mold me. Fill me. Use me.

Spirit of the living God. fall afresh on me wind wind blow on me wind wind set me free wind wind the Father sent the blessed Holy Spirit breathe on me breath of God fill me with life anew that I may love what thou dost love and do what thou wouldst do there is a sweet healing loving caring gentle refreshing comforting empowering embrace of the Spirit of God He does come like a like a lilting sea breeze bringing cool and refreshment but there's also a hot consuming blast from the nostrils of God. A voice says, cry.

And I said, what shall I cry? And the answer was, all flesh is grass. Its beauty is like the flower of the field.

The grass withers, the flower fades, when the hot breath of the Lord blows upon it, surely the people is grass. You've seen a field scorched by the sun in late August. It's something like that.

The hot breath of God sometimes comes when we pray, breathe on me. Publish glad tidings. Tidings of peace, tidings of Jesus, redemption and release.

Yes, there is release, but it's not only or even primarily from external circumstances, it's release from those internal things that hold us in bondage and hurt and compromise and hinder and block our relationship with God. You want to be released from those things? It's released from bondage and addiction.

It's released from alcoholism and adultery. From materialism and greed. From pride and self-importance.

From jealousy and judgmentalism. From complacency and casual commitment. You want the Spirit of God to breathe into your life?

Then you better be prepared to have Him deal with all those things that hinder your relationship with God. That's what it's about. There are some folks sitting in this room right now who are involved in sexual relationships outside of their marriage commitment.

I know that. I know who some of you are. God knows who all of you are.

You want the Spirit of God to breathe into your life, To blow into your life? He's going to blow that out of your life, one way or another. Pray for the Spirit of God to come into your life.

You better duck. There's some seated here who have never technically violated their marriage vows, not physically, but you're committing a kind of spiritual adultery with a special friend. and it's devastating your marriage, isn't it?

I know what it costs to deal with that. I know that personally. You better deal with it or else don't let the Spirit of God get near you because He will.

There's some among us who are absolutely sold out to the God of success. You are worshiping Him. with all your heart and mind and soul and strength.

You really want the real God to come into your life? There's going to be a battle. He tells us, I am a jealous God.

You're going to be the battlefield. There's some of us who are offering our children as living sacrifices on the altar of our career. there are lots of us who have just grown cold haven't denied the Lord it's just that he's sort of peripheral you want the spirit of God to blow into your life he's going to warm you up again if you've gotten cold to him breathe on me breath of God it's sometimes a hot painful purging cleansing process I want to tell you what scripture says about the breath of God 2 Samuel 22 the foundations of the world were laid bare at the rebuke of the Lord at the blast of the breath of his nostrils Isaiah 30 afar burning with his anger and in thick rising smoke his lips are full of indignation his tongue is like a devouring fire his breath is like an overflowing stream that reaches up to the neck a burning place has been prepared the breath of the lord like a stream of brimstone kindles it second thessalonians 2 says the lord jesus himself will slay the lawless one with the breath of his mouth.

The book of Hebrews says it's a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Our God is a consuming fire. And 1 Peter says the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God.

That's where it begins. Always that's where it begins. With the household of God.

I believe it's begun. Revelations of scandal and impropriety and Highest circles of Christian leadership have rocked the church and it's still rocking. Financial crisis in virtually every ministry I know of.

I get letters every day. Ministries saying that unless we have such and such by the end of the month, we're going to shut down, don't you? Virtually every parish that I know of is in financial crisis, including this one.

The word repentance is being uttered by God's prophets to God's people everywhere. I don't know what that means to you. I'm trying hard enough to sort out what it means to me.

I'm taking a hard look at my priorities. I've canceled everything outside the parish between now and next summer. I have resigned from every board on which I sit.

I think the Lord wants me to get quiet. Get to know Him. And get to know you.

All over again. Get to know my kids. That's a little piece of it.

God's agenda today is to clean up His church. And His agenda for us is to get our lives in order. That's all the word repentance means.

That's all it means. You don't repent in order to get right with God. Repentance is getting right with God.

There isn't any other way. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But according to His promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth.

in which righteousness dwells. You might ask, where's the good news in all of that? The good news is that God loves you enough that He's not going to settle for second best.

Aren't you glad? He wants to heal us so that He can use us. He wants to cleanse us so that He can bless us.

He wants to purify us so we can stand having him flood our whole being with himself. He wants to make right whatever is wrong in our lives so that he can make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us and grant us his peace and then use us for his purposes. The trouble with most sermons on repentance is that they just talk about it.

I want us to do something about it. I want to invite you to do something that in one sense we do every time we come to the Lord's table, but in another sense, maybe you've never done it this way. And I ask you, please don't do this simply because I said so, but if the Lord is speaking to you, if there's some area in your life that needs to be converted, If you'd like to make a fresh commitment to him, I want to invite you to come and come right inside the communion rail and come and lay your hands on the altar of God as an expression of committing your life to him.

It's okay if just one person comes. If so many come that you can't get close, Just get as close as you can and lay your hands on those who have laid their hands on those who have laid their hands on the altar of God. Let it be an expression of, if it is, your desire to have Him blow His Spirit into your life and clean it up.

Burn out doesn't belong there. Let's not try to move on to something else until we've dealt with this. Pray with me.

Lord Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ thank you for loving me thank you for loving me thank you for laying down your life for me thank you for taking my sins upon yourself thank you for taking my sins upon yourself Lord Jesus, I confess to you that my response in so many ways has been so shallow. Forgive me, Lord. Lord, send your Spirit into my life.

Come, Holy Spirit. Breathe on me breath of God. Purge me of all those things that hurt you.

Cleanse me, Lord. I want to live for you. I can't do that except by your Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit. Come, Holy Spirit. the Lord is putting something specific on your heart I invite you to mention it to him just in your own heart just quietly Lord I repent of Lord, I am. Amen. Fall afresh on me Spirit of the living God Fall afresh on me Let me call me Tell me your grace Spirit of the living world Fall afresh on me Almighty God, have mercy on you.

Forgive you all your sins through our Lord Jesus Christ. Strengthen you in all goodness. By the power of the Holy Spirit, keep you in eternal life.

Amen. Amen.