Entering the Dialogue – Pt. 2

What’s Already Going On ~

When I enter into dialogue with God and occupy the fourth chair, I enter an active fellowship where Father, Son and Spirit commune. This place is akin to Jesus analogy of the vine and the branch found in the 15th chapter of John. The Father is the vinedresser. Jesus is the vine. I am the branch. And the nutrients that sustain me, that flow thru the vine, are not unlike the Spirit of God who fills me. It’s a glorious picture of the integral, harmonious cooperation within The Trinity. It also depicts the enormous sustaining influence for the child of God in His company.

It’s overwhelming when you begin to examine The Word for evidence of interaction between Father, Son and Spirit. Overwhelming because there is passage after passage that speaks to it. Because of the frequency of this distinction, the temptation is to forget that God is one being, communing within Himself. The book of Genesis introduces the paradox with three references to God as an “Us” (Gen. 1:26; 3:22; 11:7).

Here are a few passages depicting the distinction:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Matthew 28:19

And because you are sons,
God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts,
crying, “Abba! Father!”
Galatians 4:6

And the angel answered her,
“The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born
will be called holy—the Son of God.
Luke 1:35

And the Holy Spirit descended on him
in bodily form, like a dove;
and a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
Luke 3:22

~

More on point are the following references that speak to actual conversations taking place within The Trinity. They are happening as I draw into His company. They are very personal, and they are about His children.

• Romans 8 reveals The Spirit is interceding, praying prayers that are perfectly aligned with the will of The Father.
• John 15 and 16 reveal that The Spirit bears witness about Jesus, guides the child of God in all truth, and that what He hears He will speak.
• Hebrews 7 speaks of Jesus who is “always ready to make intercession” for us.

And so I come and occupy the fourth chair, entering the dialogue that has, is, and will always be taking place. Without doubt, some of that dialogue is about me. God is conversing about me, articulating need and presenting it in alignment with the Father’s perfect will. I try to imagine the implications of where I sit, and what I am privy to. I try to imagine what on earth I could ever say or do that would in any measure enhance that company.

The invitation is real. God invites, and while it may seem inconceivable, I run to occupy my place. I never want to leave and I never have to. But in that seat, I ask this question: “What does it mean that I’m invited in?” I ask because I know for certain there is nothing arbitrary about my presence there.