In
the Bible, the number three is very important. Jesus raised three people from
the dead: Jairus’
daughter (Mark 5:22-24, 35-42), Lazarus (John 11:38-44), and the widow’s son
(Luke 7:12- 15).
On
the Cross, the sign above Jesus’ head (naming the “offense” he was guilty of)
was
written in
three languages (John 19:19-20), indicating the fullness of man’s rejection of
the Messiah. Jesus
was raised on the third day (Luke 13:32).
As
members of the human race, created in the image of God, we have three
dimensions: the
spirit (God-consciousness), the soul (self consciousness), and the body (world
consciousness), in
1 Thessalonians 5:23. Together, these three dimensions form the instrument
through which
Jesus performs it all (1 Thessalonians 5:24).
Everyone
has problems. Yet, a person who is always worn down by problems often lives in only
two dimensions—the soul and the body in his relationship with God. The human
spirit, which
is the God-conscious dimension, is designed to bring in light from the Word of
God through
the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit (Psalm 119:130). If we are not functioning
in the truth
of the Word of God stored in the human spirit, God’s light will not enter in,
no matter how
much we go to church. There two kinds of Christians around today: those who do
not see heat when it comes and those who do not see good when it comes
(Jeremiah 17:5-8). We are talking about positive Spirit-filled Christians
versus negative thinkers. The difference is that when the Word of God enters into
Spirit-filled believers, they experience divine good and do not see the “heat”
of adversity.
They
allow the Word of God to quicken their human spirit, engaging the third
dimension
of
Christian living. How can you live in the third dimension and go from being a
person who doesn’t see good when it comes to a person who doesn’t see heat when
it comes? This booklet will show you how.
THE
SPIRIT BEARS WITNESS
“Thus
saith the LORD; Cursed be the
man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and
whose heart departed from the LORD.
“For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and
shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the
wilderness, in a salt
land and not inhabited. “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD,
and whose hope the LORD is. “For he
shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by
the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and
shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding
fruit” (Jeremiah 17:5-9). “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to
fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father.
“The
Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God”
(Romans 8:14-16).
Two dimensions cannot describe an object that has substance. Two lines cannot
enclose a figure or form. Three lines—marking the dimensions of length,
breadth, and depth—are necessary. The number “three” stands for things that are
substantial, complete, entire, and necessary.
In
the natural realm, objects are divided into three kingdoms: the plant kingdom,
the mineral kingdom,
and the animal kingdom. In the spiritual realm, we have body, soul, and spirit (1
Thessalonians 5:23).
But
until a person is saved, his human spirit is inactive because of Adam’s sin
(Romans 5:12). Once
he is born again by receiving Christ as his Savior, he has the opportunity to
choose life continually (Romans 5:21). That keeps him “seated above” in his
experience—living in three dimensions of Christian life. Three distinct Persons
who have absolute oneness make up the Trinity. God the Father is sovereign;
Jesus Christ the Son is our Redeemer; and the Holy Spirit, co-equal with God
and Jesus Christ, glorifies Jesus Christ in us (John 8:16:14) and also guides
us as adopted children.
If
the third Person, the Holy Spirit, is not allowed to have His way in us, we are
never guided into God’s truth. We may be sincere, but we are not led in divine
guidance. We need to have this third dimension at work in us. Only the Spirit
can bring this divine dimension to life. It is important that we learn
three-dimensional praying. Discover the Father’s plan, experience Christ’s
execution of that plan, and witness the Holy Spirit’s power and revelation of
Christ’s availability—three dimensions in action.
Tender Mercies in Action
“To
the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him,
after he
had gone in to Bathsheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy
lovingkindness: according
unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions” (Psalm
51:1).
“Tender
mercies.” I recently learned something brand-new about this. It means that God makes
an unconditional commitment regardless of us. It is God committing us to the
Finished Work
of Christ, to the sealing of the Holy Spirit, to eternal life that we can never
lose. God has committed
us to sonship forever. This is exactly the picture that is expressed in this
verse.
These
tender mercies come toward us. For this reason, David will be prince in the
Millennial Reign
in spite of the sinful things that he did in his life. In God’s mind, David
never turned aside
(1 Kings 15:5). The Word of God tells us that we have the sure mercies of David
(Isaiah 55:3;
Acts 13:34).
When
we understand this, we will see God move as we have never seen before.
The Power of Expectation
My
soul waits only upon God. My expectation is from Him (Psalm 62:5), and this
expectation shall
not be cut off (Proverbs 23:18, Proverbs4:14). In entering into the third
dimension, we enter
into a phase of consistency. The Resurrection is over and the Ascension is
ours. The power
of God is now available for three-dimensional friendships, three-dimensional
relationships, and
three-dimensional marriages. Though we are saved and the Trinity dwells in us,
if the Spirit is grieved, then we do not have the life of three-dimensional
Christianity.
We
are powerless. Christ is not glorified in the details of life.The most
beautiful thing is three—God’s number of fullness. There is the principle of being
filled with the fullness of the Godhead bodily
(Ephesians 3:19). There is the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:13, Colossians
2:9). When
I operate in the third dimension, my marriage becomes amazing. The third
dimension brings
in abundant life. It brings in absolute forgiveness. It brings in the tender
mercies of God.
A man who had some very serious health problems was healed recently. He was
even healed
of a herniated disk. Three-dimensional praying brought in a wonderful healing,
praise God.
We have many documented reports of healing as the direct result of prayer.
Overcome Strife
“Thou
hast delivered me from the strivings of the people; and thou hast made me the
head of
the heathen: a people whom I have not known shall serve me” (Psalm 18:43).
David
praised God for delivering him from the strivings of the people. Oh, I know a
lot of precious
people who strive nonetheless. A striving person comes out of experiencing a
problem about
six times a week, only to go right back into another one. Thank God that all of
us can be delivered from that kind of lifestyle. If we understand that Jesus’
tomb is empty, then striving will go away. We won’t see the heat when it comes
because we know that nothing is impossible with God. God Almighty is on our
side. Beyond that, He is in us. The power of the Holy Spirit is in us.
