The Triune Nature Of God

Transcription

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2 The Triune Nature Of God Bible Study Copyright by Life Purpose Books. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law. Book design copyright by Life Purpose Books. All rights reserved. Interior design by Life Purpose Books Published in the United States of America Disclaimer: The information contained herein is offered in good faith. However the author takes no responsibility for the results obtained. Everyone is different and reacts to information according to their personal situation and understanding. Therefore, any and all results can vary. 2 P a g e

3 Table Of Contents Lesson 1: The Plural Oneness Of God...4 Lesson 2: The Function Of The Father...12 Lesson 3: The Function Of Jesus Christ..27 Lesson 4: The Function Of The Holy Spirit..33 Thankfulness: Closing Prayer P a g e

4 Lesson1.) The Plural Oneness Of God Foundation Scripture For The Study Joshua 1:9 (NIV)...Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) 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. God has amazing plans for you! But because many Christians are either sin conscious or feel inadequate when they think about God 4 P a g e

5 using them, they can t believe the love and desire God has to work with them in a specific way. Some people believe that because they have a past that was ungodly it s not possible for God to even love them, let alone use them. Other people believe they re too old or too young to work with God and perhaps start over in life in a new direction. But God s thoughts are not the same as worldly thoughts and He uses people in ways they would never imagine. When God is able to work through His people by the Holy Spirit, people who are ready to receive God s Word will listen and fall in love with God and His ways! Not only that, we don t always have to speak the Word for the Holy Spirit to work through us and for us. We can be at home, in the workplace or anywhere and if we ve yielded to Him, great things can be accomplished through us for the Gospel, to help others and in our business endeavors. It s my hope that this short study will help you better understand who God really is, how to work with Him and how to yield yourself to God for His gifts to work through you for spiritual growth, general living and even business. The United Oneness Of God We need to know how to scripturally function in life and carry that through to ministry, everyday life and the business world. If we don t understand how to work with God daily, all or parts of our lives will mirror the ways of the world, so we need to keep God involved in every part our lives 24/7, not just on Sundays. While the ways of the world can lead us to financial wealth, fame and power, it can simultaneously lead us to spiritual emptiness or death (separation from God). Therefore, our goal should be to seek after God s Kingdom first (Matthew 6:33) and by faith know that all things will be given to us by our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ His Son. We can t do that if we don t trust God and we can t trust God if we don t understand Who He is or how He works. So let s understand the 5 P a g e

6 united oneness of God rather than a numerical oneness or one dimensional character many Christians give God. Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB), Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! The word in the Hebrew for one is Echad. The word Echad denotes a collective oneness. This means a united oneness rather than a numerical oneness. Looking at the word Echad is helpful in our understanding that the oneness of God is not in reference to a numerical oneness, such as 1 2 3, but rather a unified oneness, thus, the Trinity. You can grasp a better understanding of this oneness by visualizing one entity that is divided into three parts which are joined together, but have separate tasks. If you were told that the trinity or tri-unity of God is a mystery, it s not! It s been clearly revealed throughout various scripture which I will be sharing with you. God is not hiding His nature from us. He desires that we love Him; so how can that happen if we don t know Him? Once you complete this part of the study, the veil of mystery concerning this aspect of God will be gone. Please keep an open and prayerful heart if the following information goes against what you may have already learned or how you have seen successful Christian men and women operate in their lives concerning their Christian walk, how they do business and how they treat their families. I grew up with relatives who were considered highly successful by community and church. They had important leadership positions in our church, yet their business motto went as follows: There is business and there is church on Sundays and the two should never meet! Those two people had the greatest effect upon my life because I made the declaration as a child that whatever they were, I would never be! The stronger worldly characteristics become within a church, the less ability it gives the Holy Spirit to work within each service and the persons attending. Over time my relatives developed into abusive and 6 P a g e

7 violent people, but they got away with it within the church because they were rich and powerful. There were others like them who bullied and pushed people around according to man-made doctrines, but because they had money they were respected. While the church received their money, they lost the Holy Spirit. Many of the younger people of the church desired the Holy Spirit, but they only way they could experience Him fully was to leave. How this hurts the Body of Christ! We need to attend churches where the Oneness of God can work in and through God s people and touch those who need to receive salvation. We should give our hearts to the Lord and allow Him to use our lives to bless others and the best way to do that is to work with the Trinity. When we do, we ll become empowered, enlightened and anointed. Man Is A 3-Part Being Our greatest success in life and with God lies with our Heavenly Father. If you desire to be a success in life, then you must learn to be a success with God. To know God is to know how He created you! But first you need to know the measure of how God thinks and acts. God thoughts and actions are higher than your thoughts and actions to deal with anything. Look at Isaiah 55:8-9. God tells us that His thoughts and ways are higher than our ways: Isaiah 55:8-9 (NASB) 8 For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Let s look at ourselves according to scripture to better understand the triune nature of God. First, in Genesis 1:26, God said, Let us 7 P a g e

8 make man in our image, after our likeness. Who is the US God is referring to? God is in the process of creating mankind here. He is saying that He is going to create man in His triune image. While we can t be the same as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we were created as a 3-part being to be in harmony with the Trinity as we grow in Christ through the Word and by faith. According to scripture, man is a spirit (the heart - not the physical organ) who has a soul (mind, emotions, intellect, senses and character) and who lives in a body (the flesh). God made us a three-part being that can be harmoniously brought into subjection of His will by the Word of God. Knowing this truth will give you the faith to work with the Trinity. This truth gives you the faith to know who you are in Christ and that you can live what Christ has done for you. We are made in God s image! The following two verses give scriptural evidence of the spiritual fact that man is a triune being composed of spirit, soul, and body: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 (ESV) Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Hebrews 4:12 (NET) For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any double-edged sword, piercing even to the point of dividing soul from spirit, and joints from marrow; it is able to judge the desires and thoughts of the heart. God s Word embodies the Trinity. It enables us to live in harmony with God as we put it into our hearts or spirits to transform our minds (our thought processes) and act upon it with our bodies and souls to conform to the Word of God. This process is essential for Christian growth, personal growth and business growth! 8 P a g e

9 Working with God is a process that builds first from within our hearts. As you ve seen in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 and Hebrews 4:12, God made man a three part being. John 1:1-14 explains that the Trinity is the Word. Another way to put it is that the Word is life God s life or deity. This knowledge builds faith in our ability to follow God and work harmoniously with the triune nature of God for success in whatever we do. It also helps us to understand more clearly that although we receive help and guidance from each part of the Trinity, we are still working with, and in tune with the Godhead. I realize that you may be reading this study at a time in your life when you re already so busy it might seem as if this lesson is going to put you over the top on your things to do list. However, once you understand the message and get it into your heart, it s actually going to make your life easier and give you more productive time. Looking to the Trinity for guidance and help will keep you from making the time consuming mistakes many people make because they allow themselves to be rushed, pressured or act upon wrong information. God will teach you to be at peace when decision making and He will help you to remain focused upon the correct elements of every situation to make the right choices. And of course, He will always lead you to live your life with integrity. I often read John 1:10-14 to remind myself of the The Trinity at work in my life through the Word as I meditate upon scriptures. It greatly empowers me to know that the Word elevates me to God s thoughts and ways! It will help you to do the same consistently to achieve business success God s way. Please read the following verses three or four times to get the impact of the Word at Work in your life through the Trinity: John 1:1-14 (NIV) 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2. He was with God in the beginning. 3. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4. In him was life, and that life was 9 P a g e

10 the light of all mankind. 5. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. 9. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God 13. children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband s will, but born of God. 14. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. Get A Clear Picture Of The Trinity Before I continue with the specifics about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost), I want to make sure that you have a clear understanding of what the Hebrew word, Echad means to you. If you remember, I told you earlier in this lesson that it denotes a collective oneness or united oneness. If you re having a problem understanding the united Oneness of God, I ll share scripture that sheds more light on the subject. The first scripture is 1 Corinthians 12:12 which discuss the body of Christ. Paul describes the body of Christ by saying that it has many members but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12, For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. As Christians we are all together spiritually as one to form the Body of Christ, with Christ being the Head. We see in this verse the plural nature of the body of Christ, and we also see the unity of one. I think this is the best example for understanding the plural nature of God, but I have other examples. 10 P a g e

11 In John 17:11, Jesus prayed that we may be one even as He and the Father are one. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one, as we are. Jesus was referring to this same oneness regarding the unity between the Father, Himself and each of us, His children. Jesus also mentions the unity between us, the Father and the Son in John 17:21. That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. John 17:22-23 also mentions Jesus desire for this unity. Verse 22, And the glory thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: and Verse 23: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one. Jesus desires that we are made perfect in one or the triune nature of God. As Christians, we should all be in unity in the Body of Christ, but we re not seeing this yet with so many man-made doctrines, however, this is what Jesus desires. Daily we should look to Jesus as our example in church, life and business. We should look to Him as the Head of The Body of Christ. By each of us working to help fulfill this desire of Jesus, we will be building a strong foundation from within our hearts of the living Word of God. We will also be making the Body of Christ stronger. I think this last example about marriage that Jesus discusses in Matthew 19:5 brings clarity to the spiritual plural of oneness: And the twain shall be one flesh, Matthew 19:5. We see two people when we look at a husband (man) and wife (woman), yet before God they are one flesh. As you learn to work with God through His plural oneness or triune nature, you ll gain greater clarity on the subject and how to work with God. 11 P a g e

12 Lesson 2.) The Function Of The Father Looking At God The Father Within The Trinity People get confused about God and His Son Jesus Christ by not understanding who to refer to when they pray or need spiritual help or guidance. So before I discuss the function of God, The Father, I ll share a little about the difference between God, Jesus Christ, the Son and the Holy Spirit to reinforce the plural oneness. Mark 1:10 says, And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the Heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him. Verse 11 says, And there came a voice from Heaven, saying Thou art my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. Mark 1:10 makes clear that God and Jesus are distinctly different and are not a numerical oneness. We clearly see a difference between The Father who states in Mark 1:11 that Jesus is His beloved Son in Whom He is well pleased. We also see in verse 10 the (Holy) Spirit descending upon Christ. If Jesus were the numerical one, then He was speaking to Himself from Heaven and descending upon Himself. What we see is: God speaking from heaven that He is well pleased with His Son Jesus being baptized by John The Baptist and The Holy Spirit descending upon Christ like a dove from the Heavens 12 P a g e

13 Acts 7:55 But He, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. We get a clear distinction of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in Acts 7:55. Stephen was full of the Holy Ghost and as he looked up into Heaven he saw God the Father with Jesus standing at His right hand. The noun "God" in scriptures is most usually a reference to the Father, and "Lord" is usually a reference to Christ. As Stephen is being stoned, he clearly sees by the Holy Spirit God the Father and Jesus Christ, His Son, in Heaven as separate and distinct. In John 16:7 Jesus gives us an important message that empowers every Christian and also shows the separate operation or administration of Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I often read this verse to remind myself that I have the Holy Spirit with me at all times to help, guide and encourage me throughout each day. John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. The remainder of this study will define how we are to work with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our daily lives for Christian growth ministry, daily living and business. I encourage you to spend time looking through the New Testament for scripture which proves the triune nature of God. The more you understand the plural oneness of God, the more you ll be enabled to function properly within the Body of Christ. Now let s examine the separate function of The Father. 13 P a g e

14 The Father Because some Christians don t always spend enough time in the Word, they can be easily led astray or have a worldly image of God. It s my hope that after this lesson, you ll have scriptural knowledge of God s triune nature as well as His specific function within the Trinity. Because of many worldly beliefs based upon a variety of reasons, Christians can learn scripture out of context or not study the Bible at all which will keep them from knowing the very Biblical truths that will solve their problems, given them comfort or help them take control over their lives for success. Without Biblical truths we re left to try and figure out the things of God by our own reasoning. It s not possible to understand God from human reasoning, someone else s experience or from the many personal growth gurus who fill the book stores with their claims that it s the universe and not God who blesses people. When we listen to man over God s Word, we ll always be led astray concerning God and Christianity. And, no one can understand God without Jesus. Jesus leads the path to our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit gives us the guidance we need to remain strong in Christ. So whatever ideas you may have about God, always be willing to change them if they don t match what scripture says. Let s proceed to the scriptures to learn of God The Father. 1 Corinthians 12: Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all, 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 makes it clear that there are different administrations or diverse operations of God but He is the same God or Heavenly Father who works all things in all. This is what Christians need to understand. God is not divided within the world to be all things to all people. And He is not to be called different names other than God the Father or the other many names He is called in the Bible. 14 P a g e

15 For instance He is not to be called the universe or in reference to a deity, whatever we desire or need to believe He is. Worse, God cannot be replaced. Many people today have replaced God with the people, things or activities they love the most by silently looking to everything first in life but God. Just the other day a man who claimed to be a Christian shared that He also believes that it isn t God who blesses us but ourselves by looking to the universe. He asked me to watch a short video which I did out of politeness because I thought he had created a video for his business and wanted me to give him a critique since I do video creation. However, the video was created by an organization working to gain membership into their cult. The video began with beautiful music and images that were inspiring, but then the narration, given by a popular comic/movie star, began to shift the direction of the viewer to look within and believe that they could have whatever they desire by looking to the universe. So where do we look; within or without? Just like so many of these universe messages, they take a part of what the Bible says and then blend it with their own confusing message because they know that people can be like sheep. Most people are not spiritually grounded in Christ, not even most Christians, so they don t understand the fullness of the triune nature of God. Therefore, they can easily be led astray by the hope of having whatever they want, even if it s not good for them. By looking to the universe over the creator of the universe a Christian will be limited in prayer and whatever they choose to do as a Christian, because everything is done by the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ, not by the universe. GOD CREATED THE UNIVERSE! The universe is not our creator. If you want to do things God s way, then you need to know Who He is according to scripture. He created all things! See God As Your Heavenly Father Who Loves You 15 P a g e

16 We each need to realize how amazing it is to have a Heavenly Father Who loves us, Who takes care of us and blesses us in all things and ways. The greatest impact of God s love for us comes when we see Him as our own father or daddy. Whether we had a caring father or not, we all grew up with the idea of what daddy should be to his children. It s a name symbolic of someone who greatly loves their child or children, who cares about how their lives progress and who is their greatest protector and hero. This is Who the Creator, God the Father should be in our lives. I learned at a very young age where to turn when there was no one to look to for help. I came to see God as my Father or Daddy and protector Who would never let me down and Who would always keep me safe. If you re not able to see God in this way, you can very easily by just talking to talk with Him. You do that by talking as if you re having a chat with someone. Don t feel silly talking to God. You could only feel that way if you regard yourself too important to converse with God because you can t see Him and you re too intellectual to act upon what you can t see. With God we don t see to believe, we believe because our faith is the evidence of what is not visually apparent. If you re too high-minded to have faith then you ll never be able to reach God with conversation because Jesus said to approach God as a little child. Children have blind faith in their parents; we need that faith in God. There is no place in the Bible where it says to approach God as a scientist or a highly respected person touched by fame and great accomplishments. I greatly admire so many people who have taken their God-given dreams to great levels of achievement, some to benefit the world, but that s not what God is looking for in order to make contact with people. All He desires is a sincere (not perfect), heart toward Him. You can be sincere in your desire to learn of God and talk with Him about your problems. You can let Him know when you re disappointed, afraid or if you ve hit a snag in your latest invention and need help, for example. All you need to do is see God as your Heavenly Father who loves and adores you. You have a Father who craves to have a conversation with you. I found this out quite young in life. 16 P a g e

17 About four times a year my sisters and I as children were forced to visit with abusive cousins that were much older than we were. There were 4 boys and one girl who was just as strong and mean as her brothers. They lived on a farm which gave them the opportunity to physically torture us without anyone hearing what was happening, not that our parents cared to help us when we told them about our ordeal. At times, I received the worst treatment because I had developed a stoic demeanor as a means of emotional survival against the abuse I had received from other relatives. It was my form of control. No matter what anyone did to me, I was committed to never show emotion. However, this made my cousins so angry at times that they brutalized me more to get me to cry. Sometimes they put us into their bull pen with an angry bull that charged at us while we screamed to be let out. They held us while we dangled over a rickety fence. I did scream when it came to the bull torture until they pulled us out of the pen at the last minute before the bull was about a foot away from us, but I didn t cry so they kept hanging me over the fence until they got bored. At other times they would hold us down and throw things at us. One time they held me down while one of the brothers let their wood swing hit me at full speed at the top of my nose. All the while they were laughing and calling us names. My mother seemed upset about it, but acted as if it were my fault that I let them hurt me so badly I needed special attention for a deviated septum. When I was about seven the meanest brother took me up a high mountain by horse. At some point he got off the horse, took off my shoes and socks and then forced me off the horse while he got back up and rode ahead of me. He made me walk down the steep mountain barefoot laughing as I stepped on rocks and burrs along the path back to their house. It was painful, but I never said a word or cried. I told my mother, but she told me to be quiet. No one cared and no one intercepted. I felt alone and afraid with each visit until something stirred my heart one night when we were sleeping in the bunk house with our cousins. I slipped out into the 17 P a g e

18 night for safety and hid on the roof of the house that was flat and easily accessible by a ladder they had left on the back wall. The city was lit by the stars and the crickets filled the night air with gentle summer sounds that seemed to welcome and soothe me. I knew that God was right there in my presence. I shared my heart and soul with God as my Daddy and I spoke with Jesus as my friend. I talked in whispers for what seemed like hours. It was one of the most beautiful times of my life because I felt God s protective hands around me for the first time. Also, in the mist of this experience He showed me a glimpse of my future and it gave me great hope. I received assurance of God s love and care for me and it made all the darkness disappear. That love helped me to overcome the pain of knowing that at that time there was no one to rescue me. I came to believe that God would not only protect me, but He would see me through my life and help me live it. Those beginning talks with God helped me to overcome the damage done to my life later as an adult. As I studied scripture I came to realize that the child-like faith I used that night on the roof was the kind of Biblical faith God requires of us as adults to answer our prayers and fulfill our every need and desire. I had believed as a child that my sisters and I would never return to that house of horrors ever again as helpless children and we never did. From that time on our visits to my aunt and uncle s home were pleasant. Our cousins never apologized, but they never hurt us again. I made friends with the youngest brother who had developed a kind demeanor. We had many adventures together around their ranch with the animals, building a tree house and his helping me with math that was difficult for me to understand. My visits became something I could look forward to rather than be frightened to face and it was all because I took God s love and protection to heart with a child s faith. Later in my life there were many times when I had forgotten about my childhood faith and my life suffered. But as I learned to be consistent with trusting God I realized success over anything that tried to come against me and that still holds true at this writing. 18 P a g e

19 You can remember how to keep your faith simple by keeping your communication with God open through prayer or just talking with Him possessing a child s faith that he s with you and listening to every word you speak. Maybe you don t listen that well to others, but God hangs on every word you speak so that He can give you whatever it is you need or keep you from whatever it is that might hurt you. Matthew 18:2-4 (ASV) 2 And he called to him a little child, and set him in the midst of them, 3 and said, Verily I say unto you, except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. The more we communicate with God and read the living Word, our Heavenly Father comes alive within us and empowers us to overcome our enemies in life through Jesus Christ and by the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Our enemies come in many forms than just human so we need to weed out those things which we put before God. Maybe you like to shop for clothes a lot. That s just fine, but don t let it keep you from God and His Word. Don t let anyone or anything come before God. Keep talking and spending time with God and you ll always come out on top in life. When you do, you ll have more time to live your God-ordained destiny. Our communication with God opens the door for the Trinity to work on our behalf for our personal lives, ministry work and business! We don t need to be afraid of those who wish to destroy our lives or businesses or try to steal from our hard work. The list goes on for what we can be afraid of, but to simplify it, we can say that we don t have to be afraid of anything because we re never alone! God also helps us to overcome the harm done to us from our pasts that can keep us from achieving success in the future. This has much to do why some people just can t seem to get past a specific point in 19 P a g e

20 their lives to move forward. People keep living with the failure mentality they were given as children believing they re stupid, hopelessly flawed or unforgiven for mistakes they ve made. However, God s Word releases us from that bondage to attain His success because scripture is God alive within our lives as we get it into our hearts. I was blessed to turn to God from an early age, but it took many years for me to learn how to understand that I needed to get the Word within my heart and act upon it. But praise God it s never too late with Him. Begin speaking with Him today and see Him as your Father even if you grew up with the greatest parents in the world and feel that you don t need to fill that void. God is to be the Father or Parent to be in love with first and foremost even above great parents or guardians! Give respect to those who love you, but give your ultimate love and respect to your Heavenly Father! Who is God to you? Do you know that He loves you just as you are at this moment? He even has a great plan for you to fulfill! Whatever you know about God at this moment, I believe this lesson is going to change how you understand God and yourself because now I m going to define the Deity of God as infinite love, compassion, grace and mercy. He is going to help you build your life, ministry and business upon a strong foundation of Jesus Christ as the Head of Operations within the Trinity. Understanding God Through His Operations Now that I ve shown you that you can have a personal relationship with the Father by speaking to Him as your Dad, I m going to define the operations of the Father by getting back to 1 Corinthians 12:4-6. Please read the verses once again to understand God s complete nature. Just as most fathers are employed or own businesses, God s job is to be the head of all that happens within the Trinity and the universe. 1 Corinthians 12: P a g e

21 4. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. The above verse is good for meditation. In time it will give you the clarity that there is a separation of operations, administrations and duties within the Trinity just as there is in business. I will break down these verses for better understanding. Verse 4 says, Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. This is a reference to the Holy Spirit. Verse 5, And there are different administrations, but the same Lord. This is a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 6, And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. This is a reference to God The Father. Verses 4, 5, and 6 show the different administrations of the Godhead. There is: 1. Spiritual gifts by the Holy Spirit 2. administrations by Jesus Christ 3. and operations by God the Father. We need to understand the operations of the Father in order to grow spiritually, to live His will for our lives and to know how to work with Him correctly and efficiently for business knowledge and ethics. Knowing that He loves us is imperative for having a deep relationship with Him, but it s not enough for operating successfully in the world on a day to day basis and in business. As we learn more about God through scripture, we also gain better understanding about how His love benefits our lives for sharing the Word through our relationships, ministry endeavors and business dealings. 21 P a g e

22 Here is a short list of some of the names of God. You can do a specific study of the many names of God, but here I ll share only a few that are relevant to our everyday living. Get to know these names and believe in them. They tell you Who God is. Jah - the sacred name, most reverent Anonay - the Lord most sovereign Jehovah - the self-existent or eternal, the Lord Jehovah Jireh - Jehovah will provide Jehovah Nissi - my banner Jehovah Tsidkenu our righteousness Jehovah Shalom - Jehovah is peace Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there Jehovah Rapha - The Lord Who Heals This short list shows us that God is all things to His children. He is the provider of whatever we could want or need. Before I continue, I want to state that the name of Jesus Christ is the only name whereby we can receive our salvation or anything from the Father. Many people erroneously think that because they believe in God or any god, they re saved. God s ultimate operation to sacrifice His Son to redeem the world of sin made Jesus the only means by which we can be saved or receive anything from the Father. It also shows us that God is in charge of the Trinity. Knowing this information opens the door for answered prayer. The Operations Of God The Father God, The Father, carries out all chief operations in the universe. His commands are administered by Jesus Christ. John 1:3 (ASV) All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. 22 P a g e

23 The Father is called the Father of Lights by the Apostle James. James 1:17 says, Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James says that every good gift and every perfect gift comes from God The Father. He is the giver of all good things. His best gift is that of salvation which we can only receive through Jesus Christ. When Jesus prayed, He didn t pray to Himself, He prayed to the Father. When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, He gave them this prayer: Our Father, which art in Heaven, giving us the example that good things come from the Father and also telling us that we open our prayers with Dear Father, Father, Father God or Dear God for example. We can just simply open our prayer with Father. and then continue. There are two things important here. Make sure to open your prayer with Father and say it with the understanding that you are praying to the Father Who carries out all chief operations in the universe (remember, He is the creator of the universe. The universe did not create God). In Matthew 6:9-13 Jesus teaches how to pray scripturally. 9. After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11. Give us this day our daily bread. 12. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. Of course today we must pray through Jesus Christ and end our prayers in His Name because He is no longer with us. There was no need to do this when Jesus was on earth. However, the major point here is that Matthew 6:9-13 helps us to better understand the Father by the way Jesus prayed. He taught that we should begin our prayer 23 P a g e

24 by talking to the Father saying Our Father, or whichever way we wish to acknowledge Him as Father. Then Jesus says, Thy will be done making it clear that we are to follow God s will and not our own. Jesus also says that it s the Father Who forgives, provides, leads us away from the temptations of the world and delivers us from evil. Jesus continues, For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. At the end of the prayer we learn that God is everything good, powerful and glorious for all eternity and that His Kingdom will last forever. He is the One Who gives us all things according to His Word. Jesus gave another example of praying to the Father in John 6:38. He prayed, For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me In this prayer we learn exactly what obedience to God means to us because of the example of the Son. Jesus says, not my will, but the will of Him Who sent Me. We are told in the Bible to follow Jesus and be like Him. As we make Him our example, we will also carry out the will of the Father. Jesus said that it was His purpose to come down from Heaven and be on earth to do the Father s will not His own will. Doing the Father s will is our commitment as well if we choose to follow Jesus because we are to be like Him. We are to live the purpose God has ordained for each of us. We must look to the Father as our ultimate source of whatever we do or have as Jesus did. We need to make Him the Chief of Operations in our lives, families, church endeavors, businesses or employment, and work with Him through the Son, Jesus Christ. For more clarity, get it into your heart that it s through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can do the Father s will. But we re able to do it by the administration of Christ (through Him) and it s by the operation of the Father. 24 P a g e

25 To be even more clear I ll breakdown what I ve just stated because I want to make sure that you understand from your heart the difference function of each so that it will transform your mind. 1. It s through the power of the Holy Spirit we are able to do the Father s will 2. We can do it by the administration of Christ (because of His work on the cross) 3. We must do the operations of The Father or His will which is what He wants us to do by obeying His Word or guidance. The Father is good and therefore His will is good. As business owners or employees we re to do the will of God just as in our personal lives by abiding in His Word. In ministry and church endeavors we re not to follow our own path or what God has chosen for others, but the path or destiny God has given us. However, just as in business, we must work up to the positions within or outside the church God has given us to share His Word, so we wait upon Him and allow Him to prepare and perfect us. 1 Peter 5:6 (ASV) 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time; We can do all things the Words says through Jesus Christ (administration), and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can carry out God s will (operation of God) with supernatural ability to accomplish what we cannot do on our own or by the flesh. But as we consider 1 Peter 5:6, we see that it s important to override human nature to desire getting ahead in life by our ability and desire personal greatness. Instead we humble ourselves before God as Jesus did and work with God s will and timing to assist Him in His plans, pursuits and purposes. 25 P a g e

26 When we look closer at the oneness of the Trinity, we also see a pattern or strategy of how to do business God s way for success. Business or career success is important to God, but we need to be careful how we regard our success and how to achieve it. Again, we need to regard the Word in all that we do and continue to look to Jesus as our role model. As we develop patience in God we ll be able to easily wait upon Him for growth and promotion. God will become real to you as you continually speak with Him and tell yourself that He is good and He is love. According to 1 John 4:8 the Father cares and sends good and perfect gifts to us, and we are blessed beyond measure to be His children. Keep telling yourself God loves you through His Son immeasurably and sees you as He sees Jesus, as the RIGHTEOUNESS OF GOD. 26 P a g e

27 Lesson 3.) The Function Of Jesus Christ The Son, Jesus Christ Jesus Christ is the only name under heaven by which men can be saved. Acts 4:10-12 (KJV) be saved. 10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must Jesus Christ is the second person of the Godhead. He is Deity. The scriptures say, Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, Philippians 2:6. Thomas, upon discovering that Jesus indeed was resurrected, said, My Lord and my God, John 20:28. In Matthew 1:23, Jesus is called Emmanuel, meaning God with us. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh and the Word is God. John 1:1, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 27 P a g e

28 Jesus is God Who came to earth to save mankind. He said, Before Abraham was, I AM, John 8:58. There are many scriptural confirmations that Jesus Christ is God and God is the Son, but they have different functions. Jesus is The Administrator. Jesus Christ The Administrator Jesus Christ, the Son of God is The Administrator. He is in submission to the Father. In 1 Corinthians 11:3, Paul says, But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. He is speaking about man being the head of the woman. The Father is the head of Christ, even so Christ is the head of man and man is the head of the woman. We again see a distinction between the Father and the Son. Jesus Christ is also our friend. John 15:14, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. He is close to us and understands our infirmities and is touched by them. You can see His love as our friend in Hebrews 4:15, For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. I went to the Collins English Dictionary online through to give you a good understanding of what infirmities means from the English language for more clarity. Isaiah 53:4-5 tells us that Jesus took our infirmities for us so we need to know what we no longer have to suffer from because of Him. It states: 1. a. The condition of being infirm, often as associated with old age; weakness or frailty: the infirmity brought on by the disease. b. A bodily ailment or weakness: complained about his infirmities. 2. a. Weakness of resolution or character: the infirmity inherent in human nature. 28 P a g e

29 b. A moral failing or defect in character: the infirmities and depravities of corrupt nobles. Infirmities means sickness, disease, moral weakness (criminal, addictions, etc.), character flaws and the debilitation of old age. Hebrews 4:15 says that even though Jesus was not weak in body as well as soul and spirit, He was still tempted as we are, but never sinned or gave in to temptation. As the Administrator of God s operations, He was perfect to carry them out in His life while here on earth. His perfection made us perfect through Him to overcome those things which make us weak whether it is age, disease, or a corrupt nature. Because of His perfection on earth, He was able to redeem mankind from all the ailments of life and the world to be perfected in Him. We can look a little deeper into the word infirmities by reading Romans 15:1. Then look at the Greek translation of what it means. We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. Infirmity asthenema akin to astheneia, is found in the plural in Romans 15:1, "infirmities," i.e., those scruples which arise through weakness of faith. The strong must support the infirmities of the weak (adunatos) by submitting to self-restraint. Strong's Concordance #769: astheneia (pronounced as-then'-iah) from 772; feebleness (of mind or body); by implication, malady; morally, frailty:--disease, infirmity, sickness, weakness. We see how following the operations of God to do His will by the administration of the Son will empower us to become strong in body, mind and spirit to help the weak within the Body of Christ and to help bring salvation to the lost persons around us. The Holy Spirit empowers us to heal ourselves, become strong and supernaturally 29 P a g e

30 help others according to their ability to understand or receive God s truth in Christ. It will be helpful to meditate upon the spiritual truth that Jesus did not succumb to inner weakness that would lead Him to giving into the temptations of sin in the world just as He was able to overcome sickness and disease. Knowing this makes our walk with Jesus more dynamic and it gives us a better understanding about Who Jesus was on earth and still is today. By following Jesus we can look to Him to overcome temptation in our lives and we can overcome the infirmities of life. Develop A Better Understanding Of Jesus God came in the form of man to redeem him. Jesus Christ is God taking on the form of human flesh. The Word of God says that He was in all points tempted as we are. In other words, He knows what you and I are going through. He is someone we can talk to. So when we re told that we can be like Jesus in everyday life, with our families, in church and in business, WE CAN! And when we feel tempted, tired or discouraged, we can go to Him and find victory by looking to our redemption and knowing what Jesus has done for us and what He will do for our problems. Looking to the blood of Jesus Christ always empowers us to live the Word and to receive answered prayer. He wasn t supernatural as a man, He was a man of flesh and blood as we are today. Everything supernatural He accomplished in the earth realm, He accomplished by faith in the Father. We can do today what He did on the earth. Jesus said in John 14:12, Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. We can do the same works that Jesus did on earth. He said so! But He said that they will be greater works because there are more of us now than when He walked the earth within His ministry in the company of His disciples. We can t do anything supernatural on our own, but through Jesus and in His Name we can do anything! We go 30 P a g e

31 through Jesus, our mediator, to the Father and He will do whatever we ask that is in the Word. When we have a need, we go to the Father in Jesus Name, and the Father will answer us, but when we need a friend we can talk to Jesus. We can share our burdens with Him. However, our friendship will only become real to us if we let our relationship with Him grow, just as we do with our friends and family members. Isaiah 53:4-5 makes clear how much Jesus loves us. I love to say this verse to myself for a reminder of how much Jesus loves me and the world. Isaiah 53:4-5 He carried our burdens, sorrows, sicknesses and infirmities. Isaiah 53:4-5, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Jesus knows what it's like to be on earth living within the restrictions of a physical body and without supernatural empowerment. Yes, Jesus performed miracles, but He did so according to His faith that the Father would accomplish His Word for healing, well-being, forgiveness, mercy and love. We can do what Jesus did because He told us that we can in John 14:12. Jesus is the Son of God and He carried out the will of the Father. God the Father can t lie or be deceitful, therefore we can trust whatever Jesus tells us in the Word. Jesus didn t experience the failures we do, but He knows what it s like to be human. We can talk with Him about what we're going through and by the Holy Spirit, He comforts us. The Holy Spirit is in submission to Jesus Christ and proceeds both from the Father and the Son. John 15:26, But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me. 31 P a g e

32 More About What Jesus Is Doing For You Jesus Christ came with the ministry of reconciliation. Colossians 1:20 says, And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. Jesus came to set us free from the power of the devil. 1 John 3:8. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, the he might destroy the works of the devil, He is the only one who can break the seal in Chapter 5 of the book of Revelation. It s through Jesus that we gain access to the Father. John 14:6, Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Many Christians end their prayer with Amen only, but we must go through Jesus when we pray. We end our prayer in Jesus Name in order to communicate with the Father. Even though Jesus is God, only the Father knows the times and the seasons, not the Son. However, Jesus informs us about the Father. Matthew 24:36, "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." It is His book in Heaven in which our names are written (when we receive Him) which will determine whether we have eternal life. Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Jesus is the Savior of the world, the Lamb of God. Blessed be His name forever and ever! Make Jesus your friend! You need His presence in your life, your family, in business and to live God s destiny for your life! 32 P a g e

33 4.) The Function Of The Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit Our Comforter John 14:16 (ASV) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. Jesus prayed that we would have the Comforter and that He would abide with us forever. Does He abide with you? Actually the Holy Spirit is with all Christians all of the time, but we pretty much kick Him to the curb every day. Jesus left the Holy Spirit to help us so that we would be empowered every day, but many Christians don t pay much attention to Him. For the Holy Spirit, it s like having a friend who you know needs your help and you approach him or her every day to give them your assistance, but they either look right past you or they tell you to leave them alone, even though you can see that they are making mistakes that will cause them needless problems. Imagine the frustration we give the Holy Spirit! He desires to help us move in the right direction because that s a part of His function, but we continue moving in the wrong direction that might lead us into trouble, even though the Holy Spirit can help us avoid being led astray. This last part of the lesson concerning the Trinity is going to help you work with the Holy Spirit so that you never have to feel alone concerning any part of your life or to make decisions that will prosper your life, your family and others. You ll be able to consult with God and 33 P a g e

34 receive guidance by the Holy Spirit before making major decisions and even small ones. Once you know that you have a Helper in life Who is there for you 24/7, you can receive His comfort and direction for God s will in your life and all aspects of living day to day. The Meaning Of Comforter The Greek word for Comforter is Parakletos. This is a singular name which means many things; our teacher, our guide, our comforter and our helper. We receive His comfort on Christ's behalf during difficult times, trials and tribulations. When we re not understood by people, we can count upon Him to understand us. He sees our hurts and comes to us, but in a supernatural way. The Holy Spirit is called the Comforter in John 14:16, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. He is also our teacher who leads us into all truth. John 16:13, "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come." He provides the anointing that teaches us, 1 John 2:27, "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him." He illuminates and enlightens us as we see in Ephesians 1:18, "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" He reveals all truth to believers who trust in the work of Jesus Christ as opposed to their own works. If we want the Holy Spirit to work in our lives we can t look to ourselves for success! Look to Jesus and the Holy Spirit will enlighten you. If you feel as if you just don t know what to do about life issues or business 34 P a g e

35 at times, all you have to do is shift to Jesus and the Holy Spirit will guide you. He guides us by revealing God's will to us, giving us the plan for our lives and revealing to us the timing in which we are to initiate it. He guides us into God's blessings for not only ourselves but also those to whom we are called to minister. The Holy Spirit also helps us in the endeavors, plans and responsibilities that God is leading us toward. He helps us with His power, He helps us with one of the seven anointings that He carries. The seven anointings of the Holy Spirit are the seven eyes of the Lamb which are listed in Isaiah 11:1-3 and they are as follows: the spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and quick understanding in the fear of the Lord (meaning quick understanding as a result of, or the awareness of and respect for, the Lord). In other words, a healthy fear and respect for God will help one to abide with humility in the Lord, helping to unlock the virtue of the Holy Spirit through their life. The supernatural comfort of the Holy Spirit is incomparable and cannot be duplicated by any natural source such as drugs or other substitute counterfeits that Satan would try to give to mankind in place of the genuine comfort and peace of God. Philippians 4:7, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. He is there beside us and in us at all times. He is abiding with us. John 14:16, And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever. When we accept forgiveness in Christ and are washed by the blood of Christ, the Holy Spirit performs an operation on us. Colossians 2:11, In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without 35 P a g e

36 hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ. He is the Living Waters, John 7:38-39, "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified, He is the well springing up. John 4:14, But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. He is the one that gives us the living waters and gives the fulfillment to the desire we each have to live a special life purpose designed specifically for us by the Father. It s the life we long for and crave until we receive it, then we take great joy in fulfilling it! It s in this purpose where our greatest success lies. He helps us to understand that it doesn t matter about the mistakes we ve made. For instance, to the woman at the well, Jesus said that if she knew Who it was Who talked with her, she would ask Him to give her a drink of water so that she would never thirst again. John 4:10, Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. It doesn t matter what you ve done or what your limitations, God has a purpose for you to fulfill and will help you accomplish it by the Holy Spirit. In John 4:10, Jesus was referring to the Holy Spirit. Inside of every man and woman there is a hunger for an infilling of love that can only be given by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit teaches us and guides us through God's word. The Holy Spirit is also our teacher. John 14:26, But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you, 1 John 2:27, But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all 36 P a g e

37 things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him, and Luke 12:12, For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. We can talk to the Holy Spirit about guidance, where we should go and what we should do, asking for an inward witness concerning different matters. He is with us 24/7 helping us to accomplish the administrations of Jesus Christ which are the operations of the Father. So don t wait! Turn your life, family, ministry endeavors and business over to God if you haven t already and become active with Him through Jesus Christ. As a result you ll become empowered by the Holy Spirit. Study the Word, practice listening and acting upon what you hear by the Holy Spirit and you ll see a difference in every area of your life. By becoming consistently active with God, you ll grow in Him and His ways. Once one is filled with the Spirit of God, nothing else will do, everything else is inferior. To those who are filled with God's Spirit, it s baffling to the understanding to see people carrying out their lives without Christ, missing out on the beauty of knowing God and being filled with the Holy Spirit. Luke 11:13: If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? It s the Holy Spirit that gives us dunamis (miraculous) power, Acts 1:8, But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The Holy Spirit enables us to perform miracles, signs and wonders. This miraculous power includes the nine gifts of the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ASV), But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; 37 P a g e

38 to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues, We also have the nine fruits of the Spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 (ASV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance, operate from the Holy Spirit. Practice the fruits of the Holy Spirit within your spirit and you ll become like Christ in the way you treat people, the way you deal with your family and business and the way you react to whatever comes against you. The fruits of the spirit work together for success in your spiritual life for inner growth patterned after God s Word. The gifts of the Spirit work to help us succeed in ministry, business and daily living. 38 P a g e

39 Ending Prayer and Praise As The Author Of All Good Things Give Thanks To God For His Great Blessings Always Let s Pray: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for guiding me daily. I now understand how to more effectively receive Your guidance and carry it out by Your Triune Nature in my life, my family, when sharing the Gospel and as I do business. I thank You and praise You in the Name of Jesus Christ for Your love and great blessings. I know that all good things are of You and that You can only lead me to righteousness which I desire. I thank You that I can talk to You whenever I have the need and that You are my Dad, my Protector, my Salvation, my Friend, my Strength, my Rock, my Guide and my Comforter as I look to each part of Your loving nature. I am committed to Your will for my life purpose. In Jesus Name, Amen. 39 P a g e

40 Thank You For Joining My Bible Study! In Christ, Margaret Lukasik Hello! I hope this study was a blessing to you! I pray your life, ministry, business or employment is the success that God has planned for you and that you understand how to work with God through the plural oneness of His nature. Pray daily to keep yourself in line with God's Word, His will for your life and His guidance. He will never let you down and will always be there to help you make successful decisions and to enjoy your life by working with each function of the Trinity. marglukasik@gmail.com P a g e

41 Follow Abraham From The Old Testament To Learn How To Live Your Kingdom Blessings and To Become A Good Steward For God! - Special Offer - Click Here For More Information 41 P a g e