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ABOUT
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Three Dimensonal

THREE DIMENSIONAL

 

Have you ever noticed or wondered why we see so many matters in the Bible, come in THREE?

 

"THREE" is common in designating significant lengths of time.  In all of this the conventional understanding of the number three need not be set aside.

First, It must be noted that a great many things were certainly said to have happened when the number three was utilized, whether it is three days, three months, three years, people, events, times or people.  There are too many examples to say it is mere coincidence.

(Three days, three weeks, three months or three years (Gen. 40:12f., 18; Ex. 2:2; 10:22; 2 S. 24:13; Isa. 20:3; Jonah 1:17; Mt. 15:32; Lk. 2:46; 3:7; Acts 9:9; 2 Cor. 12:8).”)

 

And, within this mystery, lies a secret.  A secret to living life as God purposes you to live.

Let's start with a few, of the hundreds, examples of "THREE" 

 

Next, we will move to the "secret within" and it application.

 

  • There is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Philippians 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3–4).

(Go to Chapter 2)

ABOUT
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Three Dimensonal

THREE DIMENSIONAL

Let's start with a few of the hundreds of examples of THREE, then we will move to the "secret within" and it application.

 

  • There is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct Persons. The Bible speaks of the Father as God (Philippians 1:2), Jesus as God (Titus 2:13), and the Holy Spirit as God (Acts 5:3–4).

  • Noah had three sons (Gen 6:10)

  • Job had three daughters (Job 1:2; cf. 42:13);

  • The Ark of the Covenant contained three sacred objects ‘The gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded, and the stone tablets of the covenant” (Heb. 9:4).

  • Solomon’s Palace of the Forest of Lebanon was designed with windows “placed high in sets of three facing each other. All the doorways had rectangular frames; they were in the front part in sets of three, facing each other” (1 Kgs 7:4-5).21

  • John’s vision a triple entrance way marked all four sides of the city of the New Jerusalem (Rev 21:13).

  • David “bowed down before Jonathan three times, with his face to the ground” (1 Sam 20:41) and

  • Daniel regularly prayed three times a day giving thanks to God (Dan 6:10, 13).

  • Israelite men were required to appear before the Lord three times in a year: “Three times a year all your men must appear before the LORD your God at the place he will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Tabernacles” (Deut 16:16).

  • Jesus answered Satan’s threefold temptation by citing three scriptural passages Matt 4:1-11).

  • Paul experienced three shipwrecks (2 Cor 11:28) and

  • Paul prayed three times to the Lord for the removal of his “thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor 12:7-8).

 

The number three appears often in measurements of time as well. For example,

  • Moses and Aaron petitioned Pharaoh, “Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God” (Exod 5:3; cf. Exod 3:18; 8:27).22

  • The fleeing Hebrews went three days without finding water in the Desert of Shur (Exod 15:22).

  • The Hebrews had traveled from Mount Sinai for three days, the people began to complain (Num 10:33-11:1).

  • When the Hebrews neared the Jordan River they were informed, “three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own” (Josh 1:11; cf. 3:1-4).

  • The men of Timnah were stumped by Samson’s riddle for three days (Judg 14:14) and King Rehoboam gave Jeroboam and the delegation of Israelites a three day waiting period as he considered their petition for less stringent royal demands (1 Kgs 12:5; cf. 12:12).23

  • In the New Testament Jesus told the Jewish populace at the Temple, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:16), a fact that his disciples later recalled (v. 22).

 

A three-month period also figures in some matters.

  • Moses’ mother was able to conceal her baby for three months (Exod 2:3; cf. Acts 7:20; Heb 11:23) and

  • The ark remained at the house of Obed-Edom for three months (1 Chron 13:14).

 

In keeping with this the third month is often mentioned as one in which some significant action or event took place. Thus

  • three months after Judah visited the supposed shrine prostitute, he learned that she was really his daughter-in-law Tamar who was pregnant with his child (Gen 38:24).

  • Asa’s reforms were celebrated in Jerusalem in the third month of his fifteenth year of reign (2 Chron 15:10).

  • Support for the priests of Hezekiah’s day was gained by means of a tithe which began “in the third month and finished in the seventh month” (2 Chron 31:7).

  • Ezekiel received a message from the Lord concerning the fate of Egypt in the third month of the eleventh year of his exile (Ezek 31:1) and

  • The Lord revealed through Amos, “I also withheld rain from you when the harvest was still three months away” (Amos 4:7).

In the New Testament record

  • Jesus’ mother Mary visited Elizabeth, Zechariah’s wife, and stayed for three months (Luke 1:56).

  • Paul stayed in Ephesus for three months and “spoke boldly” in the synagogue there (Acts 19:8),

  • and subsequently stayed three months in Greece (Acts 20:3).

  • Still later after the ship that was carrying him to Rome to stand trial was wrecked in a storm, he and his captives stayed on the island of Malta for three months (Acts 28:11).

 

A period of three years can be noted in the accounts of several biblical texts. In fact, Beyse suggests that “three years … play a more important role” than a period of three months.

  • A three year period figures in the instructions to the Hebrews concerning their conduct after they enter the Promised Land: “When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regards its fruit as forbidden. For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten” (Lev 19:23).

  • As part of the Levitical stipulations with regard to the year of Jubilee the Hebrews were forbidden to sow or reap, to plant, reap or harvest in the fiftieth year for it was to be a holy year for them. In compensation the Lord promises “I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years” (Lev 25:21).

  • After the slaying of his brother, “Absalom fled and went to Geshur, he stayed there three years” (2 Sam 13:38).

  • During David’s reign a three-year famine caused the king to seek “the face of the LORD” (2 Sam 21:1).

  • David’s adversary Shimei (2 Sam 16:5-14) was spared by Solomon on condition that he was permanently confined to the city of Jerusalem (1 Kgs 2:36-38). Shimei obeyed this restriction for three years, but when two of his slaves fled from him, he left the city to retrieve them, an action that was to cost him his life (vv. 39-46).

  • Every three years King Solomon’s trading fleet returned “carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons” (1 Kgs 10:22).

  • Isaiah prophesied that “within three years … Moab’s splendor and all her many people will be despised, and her survivors will be very few and feeble” (Isa 16:14).

  • Isaiah himself went “stripped and barefoot for three years, as a sign and portent against Egypt and Cush” (Isa 20:3).

  • Daniel and his three friends were schooled for three years with regard to the language and literature of the Babylonians (Dan 1:3-5).

 

A three-year period appears in some of the accounts of the New Testament as well.

  • It figures in Jesus’ parable of the unproductive fig tree (Luke 13:7).

  • The Apostle Paul spent three years in Arabia apparently to commune with the Lord and receive instruction from him before going to acquaint himself with Peter (Gal 1:18).

 

Appropriately, the third year is also singled out for special mention.

  • The third year was special in that it was the “year of the tithe” (Deut 14:28; cf. Amos 4:4), which was to be collected for the needs of the Levites and the underprivileged members of society such as the alien, the widow, and the poor (Deut 26:12).25

  • During the reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah because “his heart was devoted to the ways of the LORD,” in his third year of reign he sent officials to “teach in the towns of Judah” (2 Chron 17:6-7).

  • The third year was also the year that Jehoshaphat went to meet King Ahab of Israel with regard to their joining forces in an effort to regain Ramoth Gilead from the Arameans (1 Kgs 22:1-5).

  • Still later, during the Assyrian siege of Jerusalem God gave to Hezekiah a sign of deliverance and renewed activity (2 Kgs 19:29; cf. Isa 37:30). “For the third year … there was a direct divine command: ‘Sow and reap, plant vineyards and eat fruit.’ Here was direct assurance that the people might resume normal agricultural activities with full expectation of eating the fruits of their labor.

  • When in the harvest of the third year the people ate in abundance, they would know assuredly that God had been in the entire crisis.”26

And there are more examples of THREE.  Many, many more.

(Go to Chapter 3)

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Chaper 2
ABOUT
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Three Dimensonal
 
"A Metaphor"

THREE DIMENSIONAL

"A Metaphor"

A child was watching his father get a glass of water from the faucet in the sink and he asked his father, "Where does that water come from?"

The father thought a second and replied, "First from the sky and then from deep within the earth."

 

So it is with men and women.  The things that are visible come from the things which are not visible and then, from deep within.

God created us in His image - "THREE".

 

1.  PNEUMA = SPIRIT (The heart or the core of one's being)

2.  PSUCHE = SOUL (The mind, will and emotions)

3.  SOMA = BODY (The physical and observable)

 

Jesus often spoke in parables.  The disciples even remarked on one occasion,  “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you." John 16:29-30

 

Here is one of those examples which can fit this teaching:  Jesus said, “So the last shall be first, and the first last.”  Matthew20:16

 

 

The first things we see about a person, the manifestation or behaviors of a person, is 'what is done in view'.   Behavior is the result of how we think in our physical mind.  The Bible tells us this is so.

 

How we think and act is taught and influenced by our psyche, our soul.  That is, from our mind, will and emotions.  Our mind, will and emotions are taught by our 'core beliefs', that is our heart or our spirit.

So, you see, all the issues of life, how we think, feel, what we determine to be right and how we act on these things, begin deep within us, in our spirit and wells upward, working its way through our soul and springs out through our mind and actions.

 

Our spirit is either dead to God or made alive by God which is why the Bible teaches us to, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the issues of life."  Proverbs 4:23

 

For those who choose a life with meaning and purpose are those who choose to know God, and then it is true, "First from above and then from deep within."

 

Here are some Biblical examples on the next page.

Go to Chapter 4

Chapter 3
ABOUT
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Three Dimensonal
 
"Inside-Out"
( Deep from Within )

THREE DIMENSIONAL

INSIDE OUT - DEEP FROM WITHIN

Our spirit is either dead to God or made alive by God which is why the Bible teaches us to, "Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the issues of life."  Proverbs 4:23

 

For those who choose a life with meaning and purpose are those who choose to know God, and then it is true, "First from above and then from deep within."

Here are some Biblical descriptions and examples of  "As within - So it shall be with you".

Our innermost part is our spirit - whether dead or alive to God.  The Biblical Greek word is PNEUMA.  Here are examples of the work of the Spirit of God on our spirit - made alive.

PNEUMA:  31And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

 

PNEUMA:   12At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.

 

WELLING UP INTO OUR SOUL

Our soul either learns from the spirit of man (death) or the Spirit of God (live).  The Biblical Greek word for soul is PSUCHE.  Here a some examples of the work of the Spirit on our spirit and soul.

PNEUMA / PSUCHE:  22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

      25If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

PSUCHE:  :  Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

      8Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

 

 

FROM OUR SOUL - TO OUR MIND

Our cognitive mind is taught and must obey our soul  which is our mind, will and emotions.  Our outer experience is found in our natural body and our natural mind.