Category Archives: “Triune Life”

THE MALACHI CURSE – MAN FORGETTING HIS TRINITARIAN ROOTS, BY KIANG P LEE

1 Reply

Greetings Again Friends,

Whenever the name of God is mentioned, it always means “Triune” for He is Trinitarian by nature in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The name of God never means “solitary,” or existing in isolation without His Threeness which makes Him who He IS, and unique among deities. Man is solitary, God is Triune. Man essentially became solitary when Adam rebelled in Eden and took mankind down the self-centered (solitary) path of life. But, in essence, man is a Triune being who bears the Trinitarian image of the Creator God, made in His likeness so fellowship with Him has always been man’s destiny. This Trinitarian roots will never be lost to man, for it is planted deep in the soul of human consciousness replicated in the image if the Triune God. (Gen.1:26-27)

File:Holy Trinity Icon.jpg

Rublev’s Famous Icon of Holy Trinity (Wiki Commons)

The Malachi Curse

There is a powerful and compelling prophecy in Malachi which speaks of an Elijah to come whose work will be to “turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers.” Then God warns why Elijah’s work is so gripping as it is decisively critical for mankind, “Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse” (Mal.4:6). That surely is a dire warning we must all pay attention as to what Elijah’s work truly means. Here is a curse God will inflict upon man, it behooves us to listen and understand.

Whenever a relationship is mentioned, like father and son, or father and children, that is basically a Trinitarian statement. Jesus speaks of His relationship as the Son, with God as His Father, saying, “I and My Father are ONE” (John 10:30). That’s a Trinitarian statement. So, the statement “turn the hearts of the father to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers,” is fundamentally a Trinitarian statement. Recall Jesus parting words to His disciples: “Go and tell the world about this wonderful Gospel, and unify (baptize) them into the name of the (Triune God) Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” (Matt.28:19, emphasis mine). Baptism inaugurates man into the Triune family of God.

Jesus’ final prayer with His disciples to the Father before He was crucified, was framed in God’s Trinitarian reality:  “That they may be one even as We are one, as You Father, are in Me…”(John 1:7). He inhabits eternity in His Triune Being, and is the Source of the Love which envelopes all of creation, and is expressed to man in His 3-dimensional reality – as a Loving Father, a Son who gives His life to save us, and a friend and advocate in the Spirit. Man has been living in his 1-dimensional reality by the deception the devil placed on him since Adam. But our true potential is to live as “Triune beings” in the Father, Jesus and the Spirit

“I do not pray for these (disciples) alone, but also those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be ONE, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be ONE in Us, that the world may believe that You have sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be ONE just as We are ONE: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in ONE” (John 17: 20-23, emphasis added). Jesus told His disciples, “On that day you will realize that I am in the Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). Every word is uttered in its Trinitarian context in who God is in His Triune nature of Love.

Obviously, His prayer was intended to enlighten both the disciples and His followers about His mission, and to bring to reality the will of the Father in Jesus’ purpose in the Gospel. That is, to do the work of the prophesied Immanuel – “God with us”: to join man to the Triune God, so man can himself be Triune with the Father through Christ. (Isa.7:14; Matt.1:23) In true Triune expression, Jesus lived the Triune Life, saying: “I can of Myself do nothing” (John 5:30). And so must we as we also live the “Triune Life” in Jesus. Someone may say he or she is doing something unselfishly, say, for family or community, and even country. But it is still solitarily and self-centered because it’s for his family, his community, his country. Everything about “self” deflects the “Triune Life.” Living the “Triune Life” means the total giving of self to God and His Christ, and thus be empowered in the Spirit in all his activities. Triune means it is for Triune Love and Triune Love alone. It is not for any motive whatsoever that’s outside the ambit of the Trinitarian Love existence of the Father, Son, and Spirit. This takes life back prior to any human motive or desires into preexistence when there was nothing but the Love of the Father and the Son from eternity, and their Love in the Spirit has always been the spring from which all lifeforms, both spirit and material, has originate. (John 17:23-24)  Triune living is devotion to this Source of life and motivation.

File:Gezi2.jpg

God’s Spirit (Love-Rom.5:5) comes to Man in the Gentleness of a Dove

Our relationship with our fellow humans is not determined by how we perceive and determine the acts ought to be, that would be self-righteous, and God calls “filthy rags” (Isa.64:6). But it is by the very move of the Spirit in us, as it was with Jesus when He walked this earth, and as it was and is in the very life of the Father and the Son from eternity. (Acts 10:38; John 17:24b) Remember what He said, “I can of Myself do nothing,” so the Spirit’s move was the move of the Father’s Love in His life from eternity, and made one with us through Him. (John 17:21-22)

Also notice, God’s manifested glory become man’s glory when he is unified to God’s Triune Life in Christ. Primarily, His glory is manifested in the miraculous life we are privileged to live in the power of the Spirit, who is given to be with us “forever.” (John 14:16; 17:5,10-11) This is what brings power to the Christian life, but for most, the Christian life is without the miraculous life or glory that comes from the Triune life of God. Are Christians living “solitary” lives? Is this why they live powerless lives?

“Solitary” One-ness or “Triune” One-ness

It is entirely feasible for man to take this “unity prayer” of Jesus from John 17 and apply it to his “solitary” human perspective toward life. He can use this “unified stance” with a “solitary” foundation to broad-brush everything he does with his family, his community, his nation, and still miss the point of Jesus’ meaning and purpose in His Trinitarian prayer. A father and son relationship can either be lived on a fleshly “solitary” mode, or a divine “Trinitarian” mode. Think of a statement like “unity in diversity” – if it is not lived in the Triune Being of God, it is still a philosophy birthed out of man’s “solitary” thoughts in his fallen, depraved state of being, which inevitably ends in failure and death. The “solitary” life which exists outside without God’s divine goodness is of itself a curse. Human goodness, God calls, “filthy rags” (Isa.64:6). Jesus, in the very depth of His Triune Being with His Father, could not have prayed any other way but in who He IS in His Trinitarian Oneness with His Father.

Though He took our humanity upon Himself, it was not a prayer He prayed through the human 1-dimensional “solitary” worldview, but the 3-dimensional Trinitarian unified worldview with and in His Father and the Spirit as ONE indivisible Triune God. That is the reality Jesus wanted the disciples and His followers to have with the Father, through and in Him. You see, once Jesus has taken man beyond and into the veil and man is made to sit with Him in His “Triune” Being-ness with the Father and the Spirit, everything we see and understand about the world around us changes from a “solitary” view to a Trinitarian divine view. That’s why Jesus had to come. That’s why the Father sent Him. That’s why Paul tells us, “You are complete in Him (Jesus)” (Col.2:10, emphasis added).

So the father and children relationships in Malachi are pictures framed primarily in the Triune relationship of God, before it extends to mankind when we accept this reality in Jesus by the power of the Spirit. The work of the coming Elijah is to stop the curse from befalling man. His work will primarily be unifying of man to God through Christ so man can become a “unified being” (as opposed to a “solitary being”), from a 1-dimensional being, to a 3-dimensional being, in the very heart of the Trinitarian life of God. From this Trinitarian vantage point, man can now extend a hand of relationship to his fellowman, in his relationship with his children, his neighbors, his village, his city, in the Triune way of life in Christ by the Spirit’s move. I shall continue with this theme in the next segment.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.

Blessing:

Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you always. May the Spirit enliven you and make all things concerning you possible in Triune Living as a Bulamanriver.*

Kiang,                                                                                                                                                                  (Your Servant in Christ)          

* Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. To read the many facets of life of the Bulamanriver, go to my website www.bulamanriver.com where you can order a copy of my Book.

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

Note: Any information obtained from this website that is used for publication should be acknowledged by citing the website address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship. For general guidelines regarding web citations see The Guide for Citing Electronic Information.

“DELIGHTING IN THE TRINITY” – BOOK REVIEW

22 Replies

Greetings friends!

In my blog #18 more than a year ago I introduced the online “Bulamanriver Trinitarian Book Center.” I have encountered many hurdles as I thought of the best and most economical way of doing this, realizing our limited resources. I am happy to start this with the introduction of a “Book Review” post, where I will present a book for your viewing. As I stated I will attempt to bring books which promote the “Triune Life” which I have advocated in my book, “Bulamanriver, The Miracle of Triune Living,” and through my blog posts. Why so? Because it is by living the “Triune Life” that we will experience the ongoing miraculous life God intended for man to have from the beginning. I am sure you will find this book most beneficial as I did.

In this lively book by Michael Reeves, we find an introduction to Christianity and the “Triune Life” that is from start to finish rooted in our Triune God – the Father, Son, and Spirit. Not only do we understand the Person and work of Christ through the Trinity, but also prayer, the Church and every aspect of Christian faith. The book is a good introduction to the “Triune Life” I have often advocated.

The books that really sell like hot cakes are the “how to” books where it gives you something to do. To the “how to” junkies, the thought of reading a book about the Trinity is something hard going and pointless. Yet Christianity is not so much about lifestyle change as it is about knowing who God IS. For in getting to know God better we would make more profound change living the “Triune Life” than we would otherwise. As Reeves aptly says, “No exaggeration: the knowledge of this (Triune) God turns lives around.”

The book is available from Amazon for $13.37 (paperback), and as an ebook for $9.39. I am sure you will agree that’s a modest investment in exchange for a treasure trove of insights in its pages which will enrich you immensely. Please click on the underlined phrase above and/or product image below and you will be taken to the Amazon site to complete your purchase.

Please remember, as I said in my post, all proceeds from the book sale will go towards furthering the Lord’s work of promoting the collaborative “Triune Life” to all peoples. Until we meet in my next book review, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic creative “Triune Living” as a Bula man-river.*

Kiang,                                                                                                                                                          (Your Servant in Christ)

*The “Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. Man is the “riverbed” and the Spirit is the “living waters” that cover him and flows to all in his valley (destiny). (John 7:37-39)

 

ONLINE GIVING – AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE, BY KIANG P LEE

17 Replies

Greetings friends around the world!

You may have noticed a change on my blog site – there’s now a navigation menu at the top of the page. For reasons unbeknownst to me this was completely omitted from my blog site. My sincere apology to you all for this oversight. I encourage you to navigate the menu and obtain more information about who we are and what we do. I would like to draw your attention to a vital matter on the menu, that is, the “Donate” button.

The “Donate” Button

In the “Donate” button I am requesting your assistance to voluntarily give online for the advancement of the Lord’s work throughout the world. It’s an open invitation to participate in the “Triune Life” with God through your active donation in His Work. I have often wrote about the “Triune Life” which is a participatory life with The Father, our Savior, Jesus, and our Friendship with the Spirit. You can read about our Mission, Vision, and Value statements by clicking the “Mission” button on the navigation menu.

Living The Triune Inclusive Life

The Bulamanriver Trinitarian Ministry promotes the participatory “Triune Life” to all peoples. Readers of this blog will know that this participatory focus is the foundation of this Ministry. Through the “Triune Life” we experience the miraculous life God intended for man to live from the beginning. The last thing on my mind is the Lord’s work is done disingenuously to the Trinitarian essence which is the underlying motivation of the Spirit’s miraculous movement in human life.

Open to All

God’s work is open to all peoples, without favor as to race, religion, culture, nationality, or one’s station in life – only then we can remain true to His Trinitarian nature of inclusiveness and oneness. It is a truthful saying that you cannot plow a field by turning it over in your mind, but by actually putting your hands to the plow for real. (Luk.9:62) There are ways you can do this, and your participation in the Lord’s work through the Bulamanriver Trinitarian Ministry makes it possible.

This work will only be as effectual as our participation in it – in union with the Tri-Personal God. God has not given us ‘solitary’ herculean abilities to do His work. No, His work is a Triune participatory labor of Love. Only God has super abilities to do this work single-handedly, but He has chosen not to, because in His Tri-Personal Being He Himself lives the participatory life, and calls upon us to share in His Triune Loving nature.

“He Doesn’t Miss A Thing”

The Lord invites you, as do I, to participate as partners in His work to bring light to the spiritually poor and needy in this world. They too are in dire need to receive and experience His miraculous activity in their lives. (John 14:12-14) It is truly a worthy cause to invest in, as He reminds us through Paul’s words, “God is not unjust. He doesn’t miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the Love you’ve shown Him by helping the needy, and that you keep at it.” (Heb.6:10-11) The Bible says there is a beneficial follow-on effect in the good you do, especially when you do good for God’s Loving purpose. God says He remembers, He never forgets!

Thank YOU!

Your participation in the “Triune Life” comes with our heartfelt thanks. The Lord will bless you for your giving as He spontaneously blesses all who helps the cause of the needy. (Prov.19:7; 11:24-25; 22:9)

Please click the Donate button above and follow the prompts to complete your online giving.

We also ask you to participate with me in your prayers that the Spirit will give us all the strength to be faithful stewards of the work He has given us to do.

Blessing

Until my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic Triune Living.

Kiang – Your Servant in the Lord                                                                                                                                                                     

BULA MAN-RIVER* MEANS THE RIVERBED (MAN) EXISTS FOR THE “LIVING WATERS” (SPIRIT) BY KIANG P LEE

20 Replies

Greetings friends!

I would like to elaborate on why I call a true follower of Jesus a “Bula man-river.”*

Man is the riverbed, and the Holy Spirit is “Living Waters,” hence the Bula man-river. (John 7:38) Like a glove to a hand, there is a natural fit between the riverbed (man) and the “living waters” ( Holy Spirit). They exist for each other. They exist as one so that the Bula man-river’s* existence is codependent upon the other. Neither one can act in “solitary mode” without the other being affected. They exist to live in the “Triune mode” for the Spirit brings man to the Father through the Son. Together they live as unified being with the Spirit bringing man into the “Triune Life” of God in heaven. If we remember that, we will understand the “living waters” is all man need because the riverbed exists to be filled and completed by it. There is no other purpose for the riverbed (you), except to be filled with the “living waters” (Spirit). In that condition, man’s response is to follow the lead of the Spirit if the “living water” is to continue unabated and be filled to the river’s banks. It takes effort in our participation to “carry our cross” daily and follow Jesus and stay hidden in Him, as the waters cover the riverbed. We keep the Spirit “unquenched” and flowing in the Bula man-river (2 Tim. 1:6). The Spirit helps to keep the riverbed filled and buried in the watery cover of Jesus’ Word of power. This is the life of miracles in the Spirit.

Mountain Landscape with River Valley and the Prophet Hosea, By Flemish Painter Gillis van Coninxloo (1544-1607)

‘Flow’ to Others

“Flow” or hydrology is the central driving force of a river’s ecology. “Flow” means movement and life. It’s the opposite of inactivity and morbidity. “Flow” does not stop or get bottled up in us but overflows to others – “to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere” (2 Cor. 2:14-16). To “flow” means to be missional in our outlook to life. It is to live a life of purpose in Jesus, who “flows” in man into the valleys and communities every day. As we experience this joyful Triune Life in Jesus, we are to seek and share this awesome life with others. With the conviction of Jesus’ mediatory work (“flow”), we now look to Him and follow His example of doing good to all in the valleys we will course through  (Acts 10:38; 2 Cor. 2:14-15).

God has made us “unified beings” joined to Him as He is in His Son by the Spirit’s power. This life is all conveyed in the metaphor of the river, the riverbed (man) and the “living waters” (Spirit). A unified being is a universal being, not a “solitary being.” God seeks relationships with other human beings as naturally as He loves us individually. Whether we realize it or not, we are all river-dwellers, and we all live downstream from one another. We benefit from the generosity of other people as we live like rivers, “flowing” into the lives of people in our valleys and communities. The interaction of life experiences of other people with ours, all happening in one common water source of Jesus Himself. Certainly, no man can live to himself, and no man dies to himself (Rom. 14:7).

Perhaps no other human endeavor forces us to apply so many disciplines to harness the power and miracle of the river and its waters. Its dynamism connects to so many economic, social, and environmental concerns on which we find common ground for relationships through its generous free-flowing waterways. This is a powerful metaphor, but it is spiritually real. It is God’s reality for man to become Bula man-rivers* that never stop flowing to others (John 7:38).

Dualism

The Greek philosophy of dualism has dominated modern thinking in religion and education: life is compartmentalized into two worlds man lives. There is the spiritual world, and there’s the physical/material one, and never the twain shall meet, let alone agree. This veil of blindness has hindered man from experiencing the three-dimensional Triune Life in Jesus. G.K. Chesterton said that men are incomplete thinkers. “We want things in fragments, that way we do not have to think about our inconsistencies. That way, we do not mind when our work contradicts our ideals (or principles), or when our politics contradicts our faith, and we keep each thing in its watertight compartment.” (The Apostle of Common Sense, p. 19) Even in our laws, there is a separation of church and state. One is spiritual and the other is secular. Coupled with the unproved theory of evolution, we live life unsure if we are instinctive beasts or transcendent beings.

We live this dualistic persona, taking our spiritual life to “church” on Sunday mornings and subsisting like evolutionary beasts the rest of the week. However, the river never gives a picture of such a life lived in dualism – the supernatural and the physical/secular is one expression of life. There is only one life and lived as one. The spiritual and the temporal are fused together into one single expression of life – Christ and the Bula man-river* flowing as one “unified being.” The first movement of the Bula man-river* is to live as a “unified being” in relationship with the people in his valley. Paul, by stating, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me,” proves the fusion of both the physical and spiritual life into ONE in Jesus and the Spirit before the Father (Gal. 2:20).

The valley is the world, not only in all its beauty, but its ugliness as well. The river never differentiates or discriminates; it waters all in its path. It is man’s dualistic thought that makes him live a life of contradictions and opposing values. We can’t live as Bula man-rivers* of God with generosity on the spiritual side and self-centeredness on the physical/material side. The Love of God waters all and accepts all, and that is why Paul said “there is no law against love” (Gal. 5:23b, 22-23).

The Oxbow,  Connecticut River Valley, by Thomas Cole (1836)

The Bula man-river* receives the whole of Christ in the “living waters” – both His divinity and glorified humanity. This means Jesus is with you in all your activities – in your place of work, in your hobby, when you are at a wedding, or watching a favorite sport, and in all circumstance of life. The river teaches us that Christ is ever present with us, in our brokenness and our good times, in our struggles and our peace, in our joy and our sadness. He is part of our every experience as a human. Nevertheless, when we compartmentalize our lives, we suffer from the disorientation of trying to live in two worlds with contradictory posture to each other. We live in the presence of God all the time, and Jesus is in us all of the time. In the movie Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell said, “Yes, God called me to be a missionary, but He also made me fast.” Either way, whether Liddell is performing missionary work or running in the Olympics, Jesus is fully and completely in his life. We have that freedom to be what we are gifted as a person. When you are at a baseball game, He is immersed in the game also. This is the vicarious humanity of Jesus living in us. This is Trinitarian living being experienced as the Bula man-river.*

Blessing:

Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic creative “Triune Living” as a Bula man-river.*

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.

Kiang                                                                                                                                                            (Your Servant in Christ)  

*The “Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. Man is the “riverbed” and the Spirit is the “living waters” that cover him and flows to all in his valley (destiny). (John 7:37-39)

NOTE: All information from this website is copyrighted. Any use of its content should be acknowledged by citing the website, address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship.

INCARNATION – TRANSFORMING LIVES! BY KIANG P LEE

9 Replies

Greetings again friends!

It was a beautiful morning in Honolulu, Hawaii. I was taking a morning walk and praying when I felt an ache in my heart. I told God, “I’m so sorry I couldn’t love You more than I would have liked, and it pains me in my heart.” Herald, the name I affectionately call the Holy Spirit, had brought me to a place in my life where I saw that no matter what I did it would never be enough to express my love for God. In an instant, as if from nowhere, He answered me in my heart and said, “Even though you couldn’t do it, Jesus is the one who can love Me perfectly in your place.” The ache in my heart disappeared. Tears welled into my eyes. I can’t explain this except to say that this is the pattern of the miraculous life we are promised in His Son. The joy that entered my heart was inexpressible.

Here is the question: did I feel like living my life the way I wanted, independently, apart from Him? No, if anything the experience drew me closer to Him than ever, and living my life in Him was now my consuming desire. It made me desire all the more to please Him. Never for a moment did the word obedience enter my mind. Disobedience could not enter that environment. With such inexplicable joy overwhelming me, the last thing that crossed my mind was obedience. Obedience was irrelevant, but love was all that mattered. I wanted only to please Him. The life of miracles is not a transaction to be negotiated in exchange for obedience. It is a relationship to be tasted, enjoyed, and reciprocated in love. Did I become perfect and sinless from that time onwards? No, I’m still human, but it made me see I can love God perfectly through Jesus, by faith (1 Cor. 1:30-31; Rom. 10:4; Col. 2:10). “It is because Christ Jesus who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lords.” I was connected to the reality I have in Jesus, confident about His mediatory role in liberating me from all my imperfections. I wanted all the more to follow Him.

Obedience makes you think of sin and how to manage it on a constant basis, whereas our minds rightly should be immersed in the ocean of His love. Our minds are to focus on Christ, not sin (Isa. 26:3). Through the fall of man sin entered the world and man’s spirituality became defined by the law (Rom. 5:12). However, the law became the very power of sin itself, which grips us in its tentacles (1 Cor. 15:56; Rom. 4:15). The law was a temporary measure until the Spirit came and replaced it (Gal. 3:19). Our obedience to the law will not save us, because the law, like a merry-go-round, keeps us in remembrance of our condition and keeps on condemning us. It was given to lead man to Christ, where we are taken from the “sin condition” in the law to the “saved condition” in Jesus (Rom. 3:20; John 16:9). This is what the life of the Bula man-river brings.

New Life in Christ – Incarnation!

Living this “Triune Life” with and in God is as natural as He is love – it is not a forced obedience. God accepts His Son in our place, as our vicarious defense against the law which defines sin and demands our life. So when Christ died as our perfect human atonement, we died in Him (Rom. 7:4-6). When He was resurrected, we were lifted with Him. When He ascended to heaven, we relocated in Him (Eph. 2:4-6). The covenant promise God makes with man in His Son removes the heart-of-stone and replaces it with the heart-of-flesh. This is our new life in Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension (Heb. 8:6-11). The heart of fear dies and reincarnates into a heart of love (God). This is the miraculous life we have been called to live, for nothing but a miracle can make it happen. Paul said, “For the Kingdom of God is not in word but in power.” (1 Cor.4:20)

A word about reverse incarnation. When Paul said, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Gal.2:20), he was speaking of the incarnation of Christ that now takes an about turn where humans are conformed to Jesus’ divine heritage. (Rom.8:29) Paul is speaking of God’s act of the ‘reverse incarnation’ of man whereby he takes on the “image” of God. Just as Jesus’ incarnation from the Triune Godhead and taking upon our humanity through Mary by the Spirit’s power, so we are made to conform to Jesus’ divine likeness in a ‘reverse incarnation’ through the Spirit’s power in us. Paul told the Romans, “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be CONFORMED TO THE IMAGE OF HIS SON (REVERSE INCARNATION), that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Rom.8:29). Jesus spoke about this ‘reverse incarnation’ when He said, “You must be born again.” (John 3:7). To be “born again” means the death of the fallen “old self” on His cross, and the birth of the “new self” through His resurrection. It means the ‘reverse incarnation’ of humanity. The Father’s purpose was for Jesus to enter our sinful humanity and make the ‘reverse incarnation’ a reality for mankind.

Thomas F Torrance, the eminent theologian, said this, “We stand before God as flesh of sin under God’s judgement, and it is into this concrete form of our sin-laden, corruptible and mortal humanity in which we are damned and lost that Christ came, without ceasing to be the holy Son of God. He entered into complete solidarity with us in our sinful existence in order to save us, without becoming Himself a sinner” (Incarnation, pp. 61, 62). (1 Cor.1:30; Eph.1:6-7)

The depth and wisdom of God as witnessed in His astounding Love to unite man to Himself as His own children through Jesus His Son is beyond human comprehension and shows the brilliance of His immeasurable Love in its most inspiring manifestation. Now the two, God and man, can walk together in a journey to the same destination (Amos 3:3). The amazing thing is that this relationship becomes an eternal, everlasting one. For through faith in Jesus God gives man the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of man’s immortality (Eph. 2:13-14; 2 Cor. 1:21-22; Luk.24:49). This is unbound grace poured upon man – the gospel made manifest in the life of the Bula man-river.*

“The Adoration of the Shepherds,” (Bartolomé Esteban Murillo Sevilla, 1617- April 3 de 1682,Wiki Commons)

Blessing:

Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic creative Triune Living as a Bula man-river.*

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.

Kiang                                                                                                                                                            (Your Servant in Christ)

*The “Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life”** – the source of the miraculous life in man. Man is the “riverbed” and the Spirit is the “living waters” that cover him and flows to all in his valley (destiny). (John 7:37-39)

**Triune Life or Triune Love: The “Triune Life” is a way of life. Its foundational tenet is based upon the Love of God, because Love is the nature of God. (1 John 4:8; Rom.5:5) I had coined the term “Triune Love” and “Triune Life,” to refer to a person who lives the three-dimensional life within the Tri-Personal Godhead of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In the three-dimensional life, the human experience of God’s Love is always moving in an inward, outward, and upward motion where all the three Persons of the Godhead are in relational oneness with humanity. (2 Cor.13:14; 1 Pet.1:1-2)

Man’s union with the Triune God, or “Triune Living (Loving),” is made possible by Jesus, who Himself, is one in substance and reality with the Triune Godhead. (John 1:1-2) He took our humanity into the very Being of the Triune Godhead by cleansing it of all sin and rebellion. To live the “Triune Love (Life)” is the miraculous expression of the Spirit (Love) in humans. (Rom.5:5) The miraculous life is the promise of the New Covenant, “I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My ordinances, and do them” (Ezek.36:27) The three-dimensional Triune Life/Love is opposed to living the one-dimensional solitary life of the fallen humanity inherited from Satan through Adam’s rebellion. You can read more at: http://bulamanriver.net/?p=8036. Also at: http://bulamanriver.net/9092.  

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

NOTE: All information from this website is copyrighted. Any use of its content should be acknowledged by citing the website, address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship.

LIFE IN THE TRINITY – 6 LOVE ETIQUETTES, PART 2, BY KIANG P LEE

9 Replies

Greetings once more friends the world over!

Let’s see how we ended in Part 1 of this series: Communication is prayer; boundary is the Bible; sacrifice is obedience and fasting; goal is our calling and meditation, leadership is vision; and encouragement is praise. Let me elaborate on these six Love “etiquettes” we bring into our relationship with the Triune God.

File:Gezi2.jpg

Dove – Symbol of Divine Love (Wiki Commons)

Prayer/Communication

It is clear from the Bible that God wants to be addressed in a loving Fatherly way where we call Him “Abba, Father.” It’s an endearing term like “Dad,” “Papa,” or whatever manner we address fathers in our various customs and cultures. “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” (Rom.8:15)  When we communicate with our biological fathers, there is no legalistic rules which says you can speak to him only three times a day, like its commonly taught in Christianity to pray. Paul tells us to be constant in prayer or communication. (Col.4:2) He said be faithful in communicating (praying) to God. (Rom12:12) It means we can approach God at any time of day or night and He is always attentive to what we have to say. He doesn’t get tired of hearing from us. Of course, we ought always to be reverent in our attitude.

How to Pray

Not being disingenuous in any way, humans don’t know how to pray (communicate) with God because He is holy and humans exist in a fallen state of existence that’s in total conflict with Him. He exists in a glorified state of His consummate Love that humans don’t have it in them to approach such a holy God. To be blunt, the radiance of His righteous glory would annihilate us because of our depraved state of being. But He made us in His image, and has made a way in His Son who glorified our humanity through and in Himself, by His life, death, resurrection, and ascension, so we can communicate freely through Him. And God had this planned from the beginning that this was the only way sinful humans could communicate with Him directly – through a Mediator who is a permanent Savior for humanity.

Hence, the Bible tells us Christ prays for us. “Christ Jesus who died–more than that, who was raised to life–is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.” (Rom.8:34) So does the Holy Spirit. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Rom.8:6) These two verses from the same chapter in Romans tells how God receives our prayer. Paul says, “Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication.” (Eph.6:18) The Spirit has been given to be the believer’s sponsor before God “forever” – “And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever.” (John 14:16) The Spirit constantly takes our communication (prayers) to Jesus who presents our utterances perfect before the Father. That is the only way God can open the channel of communication with Him in His Son and through the Spirit who lives in us. Prayer is not a chore, it is an act of Love.

And remember this, this mediation principle by Jesus in the Spirit’s power applies to the remaining Love “etiquettes” below.

The Bible/Family Rules and Customs

Just as the family rules and customs are not unknown to each member of the human family, so it ought to be in the family of God. Peter says, “We study to show ourselves approve unto God.” (2 Tim.2:15, KJV) We read and study our Bibles when necessary to know what the proper form of behavior in God’s family. Paul told Timothy, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Tim.3:16) If we don’t, how do we know how to behave in an acceptable way before the members of the family who are knowledgeable about the rules and customs. If we are left out of the loop, our actions would cause acrimony and division. Even in the arena of sports, the objective of a game is governed by the rules on how to attain the game’s objective. Without rules, there is no game. Rules exist to ensure the objectives are achieved within the bounds set for it, so fair play governs the game. Without rules there would be chaos and disorder. It is because we understand this underlying reason that we get to know about the rules.This is no different with God and His relationship with His family.

Jesus is the Personified Word of God. It is Herald the Spirit who makes Christ relevant in the way we think and act within the bounds of the “Triune Life.” (John 16:13-15)

Obedience/Sacrifice

They say rules are made to be broken. Consequently, sacrifice is something we give so co-equality is the condition that can be sensed by all in the family environment. As in all human societies, there are people who flaunt rules rather than make sacrifices to obey them. There are times when rules don’t concur with our plans. It happens. This is when we are called upon to let go of our personal desires for the greater good of all in the family. In God’s family, our Father has given us the promised Spirit to help us make the sacrifices and be obedient to the rule of Love which makes us co-equal. Obedience is not something legalistic, but we do out of self-giving, self-sacrificing, Love because we are contributing to the family’s greater good. God our Father has not asked us to sacrifice for His family without stepping on the plate and be the first to do so by sacrificing His Son for us. (John 3:16-17)

Jesus is the only human who obeyed God perfectly, and it is through His life that we live vicariously and appear before the Father. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin.” (Heb.4:15)

Goal/Mission

The purpose of rules and obedience is so discipline can be inculcated in members of the family. This discipline extends to how a person conducts himself and becomes part of a responsible citizenry. But in a personal sense, this exercise of one’s self-will in a responsible manner extends to each person’s development, especially in the area of education. The purpose of education is to help one make right and responsible decisions in life. Education is the vehicle by which members of the family discover their gifts and vocations to live purposely lives. This is the same in the family of God. God has gifted us all differently so we can have purpose and meaning in life.

Jesus is giver of all gifts because He is the repository of all Godly wisdom from which destinies originate: “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Col.2:3; Eph.4:8)

Rublev’s famous icon of Holy Trinity

Leadership/Vision

Without loving leadership in the family, all of the above will amount to nothing. Leadership in the family falls squarely upon the shoulders of the parents, chiefly the father. The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Pro.29:18) Leadership starts the communication, it sets the rules for the family, and ensures all members of the family obey them, and make sacrifices where and when necessary and by whom. Most of all, leadership provides a common vision where all members of the family can feel part of, and are co-equal beneficiaries through their individual calling and purpose. Leadership provides a way for all who are gifted differently to express their talents and arrive at the common objective. The family of God works the same way: our heavenly Father provides the loving leadership in an environment with co-equal vision and objectives.

Jesus is the head and leader of the family called the church: “And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way. ” (Eph.1:22-23; 4:7-8)

Encouragement/Praise

In life, as in any endeavor, setbacks are a fact of life. There will be discouraging episodes when giving up seems like the only option. That is when leadership steps in to encourage members of the family to hang in there. Good leadership praise and reward people for their industry and loyalty. The Bible tells us, “All things work together for good,” even the bad episodes. Joseph told his brothers who had sold him at the age of seventeen to the slave market, “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done.” (Gen.50:20) Too many times we interpret the present negative circumstance in isolation from the bigger picture. Every experience, be it a good or bad, is like a piece of the jig-saw puzzle forming the picture we see on the box (vision/gift). Obviously, any single piece of the puzzle of itself cannot tell us how the whole picture will turn out. That’s why it’s called a puzzle. And life can be puzzling at times. Proper leadership and vision encourages the family to stay the course till the desired goal is reached.

God has the power to create circumstances to make all things work in your favor. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Cor 9:8) Also, “For He has said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.” So that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my Helper,” and I will not fear what man shall do to me.” (Heb.13:5-6)

These are the six “etiquettes” we bring into the “Triune Life” in our relationship with the family of God. I hope it has been helpful.

Blessing:

Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic creative Triune Living as a Bula man-river.*

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.

Kiang                                                                                                                                                           (Your Servant in Christ)

*The “Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. Man is the “riverbed” and the Spirit is the “living waters” that cover him and flows to all in his valley (destiny). (John 7:37-39)

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

NOTE: All information from this website is copyrighted. Any use of its content should be acknowledged by citing the website, address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship.

LIFE IN THE TRINITY – 6 LOVE ETIQUETTES! PART 1, BY KIANG P LEE

12 Replies

Greeting once more friends!

People have come to know about God’s Triune nature through this Bulamanriver blog posts. Others have come to the knowledge of God by other means – through the Bible, through people, through books, through a local church, other media forms, and so forth. But how many know how to relate with the God of the Bible? He seeks to relate with man, but how do we relate with Him? We relate with people in different ways, depending upon our affiliation and the kind of bond we have with them. We do not relate with people the same way. There is a way we relate within those in the circle of one’s family. Then, within the family there’s even sub-relational bond like spousal, children, the extended family, and so forth. Outside the home, we have professional relationship at work. Then there’s another we develop in society that’s social in nature. We have friends that’s different and special to our relationships. There’s a relationship we develop with our immediate neighbors, and the community at large. Then it extends to the very nation of which we are all citizens, whatever the country may be. In other words, you form relationship ‘protocols’ for different associations with people. There is one underlying motivation which ought to govern all our relationships however different they may be. And there is a way to relate with God. That’s what I will share in this post.

Rublev’s famous icon of Holy Trinity (Wiki Commons)

God Is Trinitarian

Readers of this blog will know by now how I have attempted to explain the nature of God in my blog posts. This is important because a right relationship with God can’t be formed until we have a true and proper understanding of His nature. I will not explain the nature of God at much length except to refer you to my past blogs where I have dealt with this topic at some length. (“Life Begins Where Our Concept of God Takes Root,” Parts 1-3, May 2013) In short, God is Trinitarian, not “solitary.” God is therefore Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He is Three yet hypostatically One. God is Love by hypostasis making three separate Persons relationally and indivisibly One. (1 John 4:8) What I share in this blog is the relational ‘etiquette’ we bring into our relationship in His Triune Being.

Friendship!

Relating with God is like relating with a very close intimate friend. When we treasure a person’s friendship we do everything to keep and grow the bond of that friendship. You would go to extra length to find out all you can about him or her. You find out your friend’s likes and dislikes, so you’ll not do anything to hurt, but cultivate and make the relationship flourish. You find out about the person’s family and friends and get to know them better. In a way, you form a ‘friendship etiquette’ or protocol that’s reserved only for that friend, which you do not extend to others. The Bible says, “There’s a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” (Pro. 18:24b) So, sometimes friendship can be closer than family. Friends are important relationships to a person. But more than friends, God goes a step further and regard us as family as well. He Loves us dearly and would not spare any pains to form a lasting family relationship with us.

First Things First  

When it comes to our relationship with God, the first observation is that relationship begins with Him – He existed in relationship as the Father, Son, and Spirit, and extends the hand of relationship to humans – not the other way round! The Bible tells us that He first Loved us which makes it possible to Love Him in return. (1 John 4:19)  That’s the first ‘protocol’ to observe. That’s obvious because He is Creator, and He made man in His image so He can develop a relationship with humans. This relationship He desires with man is the same kind of relationship God has from eternity in His Triune existence as Father, Son, and Spirit. Every human being derives his personality from the Triune Being of God in the Persona of the Tri-Personal God. They exist as Three free Persons who choose to be One in the bond of Love, and desires to have the same kind of existence with humans. (Gen.1:26-27)

Man Just Doesn’t Have It!

Here is man’s predicament in this relationship with God. God’s holiness in His unfeigned Love is what man in his sinfulness is incapable of responding because he does not have the same divine Love. Man just does not have the equivalent Love to relate with God. So there is this unbridgeable chasm which exists between man and God which prevents a relationship from being forged. It’s not as if God did not offer it to man, it was offered to him in Eden, but man rejected it for a life of fear instead of His Love by rebelling. And fear has been the dominant factor in man’s life he inherited since Adam’s eviction from Eden because of his sin.

“I am the Way…”

God’s answer to restoring the relationship, and the only way, is through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, His Son. All humans find themselves in this spiritual bondage which he cannot extricate himself. Jesus, who is Himself God as the Father and the Spirit, and who possesses the same divine Love, is the Person God gives man to restore the relationship. Thus, He is qualified to mediate and represent man in making man’s union and relationship possible. Jesus, by taking upon Himself His human body and our humanity, effectually joined mankind to the divine Godhead in substance and reality. Jesus took our humanity through His human body into a glorified state by His perfect life, sacrificial death, His glorious resurrection and ascension into heaven, and becomes our Mediator in His High Priestly role. Man can now Lovingly relate with God on equal terms in and through Jesus. That’s how God extends His hand of relationship with all humans, and by which man responds with the same Love protocol back to God. This is the only way, and this is the plan of God for man to enter into a relationship with Him. In this regard, Paul speaks of “putting on Jesus” as if being ‘cloaked’ in His very glorified humanity thus enabling man to enter and live this Triune existence of Love with the Trinitarian God (Gal. 3:27).

Intimacy In The Triune Life

The nearest human institution that can compare to living the Trinitarian life is the family and the home. In reality, the family was originally given at creation to forever remind humanity of the Life of the Tri-Personal existence of God, after whom the marriage institution received its legitimacy. Recall that the institution of marriage was given to man before Adam’s fall. It’s the only relationship given to man to reflect Himself in His Triune Being, when man was at One with God before Adam’s eviction from Eden. So, marriage and home is the byproduct of the Trinity. Paul said, “I kneel before the Father from whom every family in heaven and earth derives its name.” (Eph.3:14-15) Of course, the modern family is far removed from the model God has set for it from the beginning, nevertheless, it is through life in the Trinity that we will begin to taste God’s plan for the family He ordained and made for humanity. The home is a place where Love and intimacy is the glue which holds together all the persons who make up the home. It is not an institution like that of a business where the people relate through functions and as associates. In the home, the human ‘personhood’ is of paramount importance for it reflects the Tri-Personal Being of God. This should be the case with every other non-familial institutions, for what occurs in the home ought to be replicated in all of life’s expression.

File:Gezi2.jpg

Dove – Symbol of Divine Love (Wiki Commons)

Love is Key

In the Trinity, as it should in the human home, the relationship of the personalities in the family works optimally only when Love is given and received. Love is the ingredient which engenders a healthy and generous relationship within the home. Love is what makes the marriage more than an institution – it makes marriage a home. The home is a world where privacy, security, and Love is dispensed, and where one is protected from the machination of a malevolent world. When a believer lives the “Triune Life” he or she is at home because of God’s Love – for “God is Love.” (1 John 4:8)

Christ  and The Church (You)!

Paul tells us that marriage is like the relationship between Christ and the church. (Eph.5:25) Just as Love and intimacy is the bond of marriage, so it is with our relationship with the Triune God through Christ. Just as the marriage commitment (covenant) protects the private intimacy between two people, so it is with a person’s relationship with God. The marriage of the church to Christ is protected by the New Covenant agreement. (Heb.8:7-13) The church is not a building, but comprises of people – you and me! In it, God makes certain promises, and, they involve God’s “heart.” He says He will give us a heart to Love Him faithfully. (Heb.8:10) When the heart is involved intimacy comes with it. We don’t give our hearts to someone without intimacy being central to its expression. Entering the “Triune Life” means we have given our hearts for intimate relationship with God. Intimacy is the expression of the inner sanctum of a person’s heart – the most private and ‘secret’ shared with another only in a marriage. Intimacy is not ordinary relationship, but it is protected through restricted access, hence, the Love-bond through the marriage covenant.

Ulterior and self-centered motives harm the relationship, and ultimately destroys the marriage and home if not remedied. Idolatry, considered “playing the harlot” in the Bible, destroys intimacy with God because intimacy is shared with other gods. It is spiritual adultery. (Exo.34:15-16; Deut.31:16-17) Peter said, “You have tasted the kindness of the Lord.” (1Pet.2:3) The Psalmist declares, “O taste and see that the Lord is good.” (Psa.34:8) God has been intimate with us in His unconditional Love for us. When we have tasted His Love, it is only natural to reciprocate in equal intimate response. We have the ability to be intimate, because He has been intimate with us first, and intimacy is the prototypical model found only in the Trinity. (1 John 4:19) The Spirit gives us the heart to be filled with gratitude for what He has done. His first act of Love from which the Father will display His creative powers in human life thereafter, is to not withold His Son, but freely sacrifice Him for man so the relationship can be restored. Love is self-sacrifice, and it is in this intimate environment of Love that we joyfully enter and live the “Triune Life” through Christ.   

The 6 ‘Etiquettes’

How does a family remains strong, stable, and secure, where all members of the family can find meaning, purpose, strength, and happiness within the home and outside of the home? A family exist to fulfill the needs of all members of the family in self-giving Love. How each family member is nurtured most effectively depends upon its structure. There are six Love-motivations that form a healthy family structure. Let’s call them Love ‘etiquettes.’ They are 1) communication, 2) boundaries or rules, 3) self-sacrifice, 4) goals, 5) leadership, and 6) encouragement. Everyone who makes up the family has to have a clear understanding how each play a role, and gives himself or herself to that role, in these 6 areas which form the family home structure.

There is transparency governed by open communication with each member of the family. Each is knowledgeable of the boundaries for family practices and customs. There are times when family members are called upon to make sacrifices for the family. Each member has to have a worthwhile goal to achieve a life that’s suited to the person’s gift and purpose. Of course, all these cannot happen unless there is leadership and encouragement provided in the family by the parents, in particular, the father. 

In the exact fashion, the Triune God is a family of three members, and extends a hand to man to join in and participate in their Life. Our relationship with the members of the Triune Family is no different. It is too bad that we have turned the family motivations and ‘etiquettes’ mentioned above into practices that have become overly religious and legalistic, that it has lost all its meaning and impact. We need to refer to them as terms of endearment, because these are Love ‘etiquettes’ we display in the “Triune Life.” What are these?…Note their counterparts: Communication is prayer; boundary is the Bible; sacrifice is obedience and fasting; goal is our calling and meditation, leadership is vision; and encouragement is praise. These everyday common sense functions have been cloaked in religious terms for the legalist’s own ends. When we put them side by side like that, we can unwrap the religious and legalistic undertones they convey. Some have even call them “disciplines.” When we regard them as “disciplines” they are viewed as something forced upon us. No, these are Love “etiquettes” accepted by all as something we joyfully participate because Love is central in the relationship. We Love being part of the home because we see what Love does to all concerned. When all is said and done, there is no place like home, and we would gladly give our life to this relationship.

In my next installment I will get into the details of the 6 Love ‘etiquettes’ of life in the Trinity.

Blessings:

Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic creative Triune Living as a Bula man-river.*

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.

Kiang                                                                                                                                                                  (Your Servant in Christ) 

*The “Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. Man is the “riverbed” and the Spirit is the “living waters” that cover him and flows to all in his valley (destiny). (John 7:37-39)

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

NOTE: All information from this website is copyrighted. Any use of its content should be acknowledged by citing the website, address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship.

“THY WILL BE DONE”… BY KIANG P LEE

18 Replies

Greetings friends the world over! Is God overbearing and arrogant when He desires we pray that His will be done in our lives? It may surprise you that God’s will is more about your overall well being and welfare, than it is about His own self-glorification. In this post, I want to show you that’s indeed the case when Jesus taught us to pray “Thy Will be Done.” (Matt.6:10; Vs. 5-13) 

Two Perspective to Life – “Solitary” and “Triune”

There are two ways to look at this prayer: we can look at it from a “solitary” perspective and conclude God is a solitary Being who is self-obsessed, insensitive, self-loving, and concerned only about Himself in His egocentric world. On the other hand, we can view it through the prism of His Trinitarian nature of Love, through the “Triune” perspective and ask, why is it that He desires His will to be influential in all we do? Two different perspectives, with two different conclusions – obviously! “God is Love,” (1John 4:8) so it’s impossible for God to be self-serving and self-loving, because Love is outgoing, self-giving, and wants the best for others. He is Love because He is “Triune” and not “solitary” in His existence as God. From eternity the Father, Son, and Spirit have treasured their relationship in self-giving, self-sacrificing Love for each other that they are considered One in substance of Love, not three. Stephen Seamonds says this in his book, Ministry in the Image of God, “The Trinity find their unique identities by focusing not on themselves, but on one another.”  That, in a nutshell, is a peek into God’s will for each of us.

File:Bom Jesus do Monte (6103767739).jpg

God Reveals His Love for Mankind by Sacrificing the Son He Loved from Eternity – Bom Jesus do Monte, Portugal, (Wiki Commons)

“Thy will be done” is quoted from the prayer Jesus taught His disciples known as the “Lord’s Prayer.” If there’s anything impossible for humans, it would be adopting and living by these four powerful words. Why, because of the energy of the human will. Since his fall from Adam, man has been a “solitary” being, and his energy is always self-centered. God is a “Triune” Being, and His energy is motivated by self-giving Love. So naturally, man’s will and God’s will  will always be at odds with each other. Man was not made to exist in “solitary” existence, but God exist as a “Triune” Being. (Gen.1:26-27) Adam had sold man to this way of life that has brought all the heartaches, suffering and deprivation.

With God All Things Are Possible

Nevertheless, Jesus utters these encouraging words, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matt.19:26) The context in which these words were spoken refers to Jesus’ encounter with a rich man and the supposed impossibility of the rich entering God’s Kingdom. However, the principle applies in every facet of living and life itself, including God’s will, not just idolized materialism. Those who find the secret of living by these words, “Thy Will be done,” will find rest, peace, joy, purpose, and success in this life and the life of eternity to come. For by having the Father’s divine will accomplished is really the lavishing of His Love upon us. His will will always be His Love. Paul revealed the secret: “And I have been crucified with The Messiah, and from then on I myself have not been living, but The Messiah is living in me, and this that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of The Son of God, he who has loved us and has given himself for us.” (Gal. 2:20, Aramaic Bible) What has been crucified is our “solitary life” and given up for dead for a life of faith. The human body is now the “temple” for the Spirit in which to exercise the Love and faith of Jesus in the “Triune Life.” (1Cor.3:16; 6:19) There is nothing wrong with the ‘human body’ of itself, it is the engine which runs it, be it the “solitary life” or the “Triune Life,” which determines how the body lives and functions. Jesus glorified our humanity, or human body, making it immortal, in His resurrection. (1 Cor.15:42-44) And if it is Jesus who lives in us, then the life we live is most assuredly the “Triune Life” of God, for Jesus is no less Triune God as the Father and the Spirit. Jesus, the second Adam, is the One who makes all things possible for and in man.

The secret of Paul tells us how God’s “Triune” collaborative Loving way works: He gives us His Son who came as the prophesied Immanuel, lived, died as our Savior, was resurrected, and ascended to heaven, so that we can live vicariously in His now perfect glorious life (both God and deified human) for our salvation in this life, and the one to come in His spiritual realm. God accepts this substitutionary reality in His Son which makes it possible for man to do His will. There is no other way! This is the “Triune Life!”

License to Sin?

Does this mean we can do no wrong? Does this give us the license to live in careless abandon? No, our human body still exists in its fallen state from Adam and will trespass, but we don’t have a rebellious but a compliant heart. (Rom. 7:18-25). In Christ we exist in the “saved condition” in the Spirit’s power, not the “sin condition.” Now we are living the “Triune Life” in Christ, not the “solitary life” in ourselves, for the old self is crucified and “dead” remember. Man’s propensity to sin is no excuse to live licentiously, but to enlighten man of his need for a permanent Mediator in Christ. Jesus cleanses our hearts in the washing of the water of His Word that flows in us. (John 7:38-39) That’s why in the same Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to pray for forgiveness daily – “forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.” (Matt.6:12, NASB) It is a process that will take a lifetime.

File:Saint Josaphat Catholic Church (Detroit, MI) - mural, Adam and Eve expelled from Eden.jpg

God’s Will is that We Should Return To Eden. St Josaphat Catholic Church (Detrit, MI), Adam & Eve Expelled from Eden. (Wiki Commons)

“For I Know The Plans I Have For You…”

Our “solitary” perspective of Him is unfounded. When He commands us to do His will for our lives, He has more than our best interest in mind. To prove it, He did not spare His Son to make His Loving will for us possible. And our best life comes because His Love motivates all our thoughts and deeds. The prophet Jeremiah quotes God’s attitude toward us in this fashion, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jer.29:11) Again, I realize these words were spoken in the context of Israel’s captivity, but that’s how God’s Love always is to anyone who desires to do His will, not just for Israel!

Life of Needs

When we think about what “His plans are to prosper us,” we often don’t regard this as “His will” being done in our lives. We think in a “solitary” mode that He is trying to withhold something from us, perhaps our freedom of expression. If we fail to see life through the prism of the “Triune” nature of God’s Tri-Personal Love, we will be imprisoned in our “solitary” ways that’s driven by “fear” and “need” – not Love and abundance. Our choices in life will always depend upon how we define freedom for ourselves, isn’t it? All our life-choices is about being free from the problems and trials of life, that’s why we “need” this and that stuff. And we don’t want God’s will impinging upon us. So we are always thinking about what we “need,” or our perceived “need,” that will give us freedom and peace of mind. But the very act of resisting God’s will which will produce the true freedom we seek, we have defied at our own expense. Our “needs” can be material things, money, or whatever it may be. Money is a big dynamic in attaining economic and social freedoms. However, material stuff and money will not free us completely because they don’t give us true authentic freedom. Only God’s Love expressed in the “Triune” life can deliver true freedom. Man’s fear expressed in his “solitary” ways enslaves him.

Destiny and Gifts

With the “Triune Life” comes gifts and blessings. God has endowed each and every one of us with a calling to live out our destiny in His Love. To achieve that, He has given us gifts to realize and reach our destinies. But we must be careful not to convert our God-given “life gift” into a “life of needs” for our own selfish objectives. Never turn your gift into an ATM machine for your own “needs,” but rather to the service of God. When it comes to gifts, many people forget God is the sovereign Giver of gifts. “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us.” (Rom.12:6a; see also Luk.11:13; Jam.1:17) We have taken life and our inborn abilities for granted, our faith is entirely humanistic and earth-bound. The believer must resign himself to this fact about the origin of our talents and abilities. When we surrender our gifts to Jesus, as Abraham did with Isaac, He will hand our gifts back to us consecrated, so we will prosper fittingly in His Love – as “Triune” persons, not “solitary” individuals.

Our gifts, like God’s Love, is for the purpose of enriching others, not ourselves through our “needs.” Have you ever seen a tree feeding on its own fruits, cannibalizing itself? No, fruits are for others to come and enjoy and glorify the Gardener who planted it. So it is with our providential gifts and destinies. The Bible says, “Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.” (Prov.11.25, ESV)  Jesus said, “I am the Vine (tree) and you are the branches, and My Father is the Gardener.” (John 15:5,1) The Spirit is the sap which flows through the tree to the branches which produce “good” fruits. This story of the vine and the branches Jesus told his disciples before His crucifixion is the depiction of the “Triune” life we have in Him.

Jesus further said this about human “needs,” “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?… So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (the “Triune” life)), and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt.6:25-34, emphasis added) Jesus is differentiating the “Triune Life” from the “solitary life.”

The “life-gift” we have comes through the flow of the Holy Spirit who has been given as the primary gift to be with us “forever.” (John 14:15-18). He is the deposit of God’s Love in the believer. (Rom. 5:5) He is the “creative life” (gift and calling) of Jesus in us empowering us to live the “Triune” life. Man’s only connection to Jesus is through his God-given “life-gift” (creative life) which is based on love, not on needs which are fear-based.

Life of “Needs” or Life of “Gifts”

The “life-gift” we have in and through the flow of the Spirit will always be the “creative life” (miraculous life) in Jesus from the Father. One (“Triune” life) is empowering while the other (“solitary” life) is disempowering. One is superabundance while the other is lack and deprivation. No matter how “good” our intentions, how noble our acts, it is our will which determines its foregone conclusion – whether it’s abundance or want. Many times it’s just a vicious cycle formed out of repetition which becomes habit. Each time you face a need and let fear instead of Love dominate the situation, fear becomes the dominant force in your life. Fear finds strength in the self-will of the “solitary” life. God’s will always summon Love into the life of the believer to look to Him for answers. (Psa.37:5) And the answers will always be out of His abundance, not your need. Love is another word for abundance. Fear is another word for need and deprivation.

File:Makingpottery.jpg

We All Have Been Given Gifts to Live Meaningful Lives, Shaping Pottery (Wiki Commons)

Our “Thought-Life”

Just as we compensate for gravity to live on this earth, so must we compensate for God’s Love in our thought-life, to live in His Love-based will, and not our fear-based human will. (read my post “It’s The Thought That Counts” posted 03/18/2014) It has been scientifically proven that our thinking transmit thought waves which radiates energy, both good and bad, depending upon one’s thoughts. Before science discovered this, Paul made reference to it calling the devil the “prince of the power in the air.” (Eph.2:2) He uses the ‘airwaves’ to broadcast his attitudes (thoughts) to unsuspecting humans. But the Spirit lives in us to control our thoughts and the impulses from the world around us.

There are only two forms of energy we can radiate out from us: Love and fear. When it is Love, we attract God in our petitions. When it is Fear, we repel Him and the enemy steps into our lives. CS Lewis said, “We all want progress, but if you’re on the wrong road, progress means doing an about turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive.”

Fear will respond to a need and say: “I must have it.” “I can’t live without it.” “I’m addicted to it.”

On the other hand, Love will respond to Love and say, “I can live without it.” “I never feel, ‘I must have it.’” “I’m not addicted to it.”

Love has no needs! Love is abundance!

Love (God) responds to Love, not need. Abundance responds to Love, not fear. Fear is lack and is founded upon man’s self-will. Love is another word for superabundance. Fear is another word for utter deprivation. Of course, we are talking of a holistic abundance which embraces both the physical and spiritual realms. So, do you see now why Jesus wants the Father’s His will to be done in our lives?

God tells us this through wise King Solomon, “Commit to the Lord (Love) whatever you do (your will for His), and He will establish your plans. The Lord works out everything to its proper end- even the wicked (fearful) for a day of disaster.” (Prov.16:3-4, emphasis added)

Blessing

Until we meet again in my next post, may the blessing of the God who ceaselessly expresses Himself in His dependable Triune Love, be with you today and give you strength for authentic creative Triune Living as a Bula man-river.*

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to write me in the space provided below, or email me on bulamanriver@gmail.com.

Kiang                                                                                                                                                          (Your Servant in Christ) 

* The “Bulamanriver” is the metaphor describing the union of man with the Love of the Triune God flowing in humans, making possible the “Triune Life” – the source of the miraculous life in man. To read the many facets of life of the Bula man-river, go to my website www.bulamanriver.com where you can order a copy of my Book. 

 

** The Bulu man-river is metaphor for a non-believer. Bulu is Fijian word which means “burial” or “death.” This river produces want and death in the person. Bulu man-river is the union of man with his fallen, unsaved self who lives under the deception and sway of the devil.

All scriptures are taken from the NIV Version 2011, unless stated otherwise.

NOTE: All information from this website is copyrighted. Any use of its content should be acknowledged by citing the website, address, date of acquisition and information pertinent to original authorship.