Message Eight—The Burning in the Proper Coordination Producing the Power and Impact of the Church

THE FOURTH PART: THE PATHWAY OF THE LORD’S RECOVERY

God-ordained Way Message Eight—The Burning in the Proper Coordination Producing the Power and Impact of the Church

Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:5, 9-14, 26; Heb. 21:29; Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:14-30; John 17:17

I. The central point in Ezekiel 1 is the revelation that God needs a group of living creatures who can coordinate together as one corporate entity, the corporate Christ, for His expression, move, and administration; coordination is the key to understanding the vision in Ezekiel 1—vv. 5, 10, 12, 20, 26.

II. The eagle’s wings are the means by which the four living creatures are coordinated and move as one; this signifies that our coordination is not in ourselves but in God and by the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine grace—vv. 9, 11; Exo. 19:4; Isa. 40:31; 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 15:10:

A. God Himself is the coordinating factor that enables all the parts of the divine building to be one—Exo. 26:29-30; cf. 1 John 4:8; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; 1 Cor. 12:31; 13:5, 7.

B. Whatever we are in ourselves, have in ourselves, and do in ourselves results not in coordination but in division and separation—cf. Phil. 3:3; Rom. 8:16.

C. The wings of an eagle are not only for moving but also for protection; whatever we do and whatever we are must be by the grace of the Lord and the power of the Lord—1 Cor. 15:10; 2 Cor. 1:12; 4:7.

III. Ezekiel 1:9 and 11b-12 presents a beautiful picture of the coordination we need in the church life:

A. Each of the living creatures faces one direction (respectively facing north, south, east, and west), and two of their wings spread out and touch the adjacent creatures’ wings, forming a square.

B. No matter in which direction the living creatures are moving, there is no need for any of them to turn; one simply goes straight forward; one returns, moving backward; and the other sides move sideways—v. 9.

C. This is a beautiful picture of the coordination in the church as the Body of Christ, in which each member has his particular position and function, or ministry— Rom. 12:4-8; 1 Cor. 12:14-30; Eph. 4:7-16; 2 Tim. 4:5; Gal. 4:17.

D. When one member functions, he moves “straight forward” to fulfill his function, and the other members accommodate him by moving in the same direction, with some moving “backward” and others moving “sideways;” fellowship means doing everything through the cross and by the Spirit to dispense Christ into others for the sake of His Body—Ezek. 1:9, 11b-12; 1 Cor. 12:14-30.

E. In the church service we all need to learn not only how to walk “straight forward” but also how to walk “backward” and “sideways”:

1. In coordination there is no freedom or convenience; coordination keeps us from making turns—cf. Eph. 3:18.

2. Before doing anything, we need to stop to fellowship and coordinate with those who serve with us.

3. Fellowship blends us, mingles us, adjusts us, tempers us, harmonizes us, limits us, protects us, supplies us, and blesses us; the Body is in the fellowship—cf. Eph. 4:4; 2 Cor. 13:14.

F. If brothers with different functions do not know to coordinate, they will compete and even strive against each other, which could result in division— cf. Phil. 1:17; 2:2; Gal. 5:25-26:

1. When a brother who is burdened for the gospel is functioning, moving straight forward, the brother who is burdened for shepherding should learn to walk backward; the other saints should follow these two, walking sideways.

2. To walk backward and sideways is to say “Amen” to another’s ministry, function, and burden—Rom. 12:4; cf. 1 Cor. 14:29-31.

3. If we care only for our particular service and do not have these four kinds of walk, eventually we will become a problem in the church—cf. 3 John 9.

4. The one who is walking straight forward has the responsibility of following the Spirit—Ezek. 1:12; cf. Acts 2:14; 16:6-10.

G. We should apply this matter of coordination not only in a particular local church but also among the churches; this means that we are followers of the churches—1 Thes. 2:14.

IV. The result of the coordination of the living creatures is that they become burning coals and burning torches; the more we coordinate together, the more we burn one another—Ezek. 1:13:

A. The burning of the coals does at least three things:

1. Anything that does not correspond to God and to the nature of God will be burned out by the sanctifying and purifying fire of the burning coals, and only what is of God will remain.

2. The burning in the coordination makes us fervent, intensely hot—Rev. 4:5; Rom. 12:11; 2 Tim. 1:6-7; Rev. 3:15-16.

3. The burning in the coordination produces the power and impact of the church—Acts 1:14.

B. The coals are for burning, and the torches are for enlightening, the sanctifying fire becomes the sanctifying light—Ezek. 1:13:

1. The areas in which we have been burned by the sanctifying fire spontaneously become the areas in which we are enlightened and can enlighten others.

2. The fire is not static but always moving; there is fire with the living creatures, the living creatures run because they have the power and impact—Heb. 12:29.

C. The result of the coordination of the living creatures is that they become burning coals; because they are coordinated ones, God comes in as fire, and each of them becomes a burning coal—Ezek. 1:13-14:

1. If a church is normal in its condition, it will be full of burning coals and enlightening torches; instead of coldness and lukewarmness, everyone will be burned and burning; there should be nothing of darkness among the brothers and sisters; every corner should be thoroughly enlightened.

2. The overcomers, the vital groups, are today’s Zion; we also need to make a thorough consecration of ourselves; in order to be vital persons and have the vital groups—Rev. 14:1.

V. In order to coordinate with others, we need to be one with the coordinating Triune God—2 Thes. 3:5; John. 17:17:

A. The move of the Divine Trinity with the divine coordination in Matthew 12:28 is an excellent and beautiful example for us to follow; this is a good pattern our Head has set up for our coordination as members of His Body.

B. Every day we need to move out of ourselves and into the coinhering and coordinating Triune God—2 Thes. 3:5; John 17:17.

VI. “We need to march on as one with the energizing God! In Him! With Him! By Him! And for Him! We need to be vital, living, and active!” (Life-study of Joshua, p. 4).

Ministry Excerpts:

THE ISSUE OF COORDINATION

At this point we need to consider the issue, the result, of the coordination of the four living creatures—the burning coals and the burning torches. We all need to bear the likeness of living creatures, the likeness of a man, and the likeness of burning coals and burning torches.

BECOMING BURNING COALS

Ezekiel 1:13 says, “As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, and like the appearance of lamps: it went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.” Here we see that the result of the coordination of the living creatures is that they become burning coals. There is a fire among them and within them. Because they are coordinated ones, God comes in as fire, and each of them becomes a burning coal.

How can we know whether or not there is the proper coordination in a particular local church? We know this by the presence of the burning coals. If there are no burning coals in a certain church, there is no coordination there. Where there is coordination, there will surely be the burning coals.

In the coordination we burn one another. You burn me, and I burn you. However, if we are isolated from the saints and do not attend the meetings, we will not be burning coals. Instead, we will be cold, black coals. The spiritual principle is that we burn one another. From experience we can testify that the more we coordinate together, the more we burn one another. The issue, the result, of coordination is that we all become burning coals.

BURNING OUT THE NEGATIVE THINGS

The burning of the coals does at least three things. First, it burns out everything that is negative. If something is put upon a heap of burning coals, that thing will be burned. If there is proper coordination in the church, there will be a burning to burn away such things as worldliness, the flesh, self-aims, self-goals, pride, opinions, and boasting. All kinds of negative things will be burned away by the coordination. Anything that does not correspond to God and to the nature of God will be burned out by the sanctifying and purifying fire of the burning coals, and only what is of God will remain. This is the proper condition of the church life.

MAKING US FERVENT

Second, the burning of the coordination will make us fervent, intensely hot. Instead of coldness and lukewarmness, everyone will be burned and burning. When others come to the church, they will realize that they cannot stay unless they are willing to be burned. Coordination brings in a real burning, a genuine fervency. This burning will not allow you to be like the church in Laodicea, which was lukewarm, having no fervency, no burning.

PRODUCING POWER

Third, the burning in the coordination produces the power and impact of the church. The impact in a local church comes out of the burning. This power is internal and mysterious because it comes from the burning. If you want to have impact, you must be coordinated, and in this coordination you will become burning. Then out of this burning will be the impact and the power. The negative things will be consumed, you will be set on fire, and you will have power and impact.

BECOMING BURNING TORCHES

The four living creatures look not only like burning coals but also like burning torches. Whereas the coals are for burning, the torches are for enlightening. From the proper coordination in a local church, there will not only be burning but also enlightening and shining. If a church is normal in its condition, it will be full of burning coals and enlightening torches.

THE SANCTIFYING FIRE
BECOMING THE SANCTIFYING LIGHT

Whenever the coals are burning, the torches will be shining. This means that the sanctifying fire becomes the sanctifying light. The more the fire burns, the more the light enlightens. If the fire burns us thoroughly, we will be enlightened thoroughly. However, if we do not allow the sanctifying fire to burn us in a certain matter, we will not be enlightened regarding this matter. The areas in which we have been burned by the sanctifying fire spontaneously become the areas in which we are enlightened and concerning which we can enlighten others. If a particular aspect of your character has been burned by the sanctifying fire, in this matter you will be enlightened, and thus you will be able to enlighten others in this matter. The more intensely the fire burns in the church, the brighter will be the shining in that church. Everything negative will be exposed and burned. In the proper church life there should be nothing of darkness among the brothers and sisters. Every corner should be thoroughly enlightened. However, it may be that when you visit a certain local church, you have the sense that that church is in darkness. Nothing is clear, and nothing is in the light; rather, everything is dark, and every part is under darkness. There is darkness because the church is divided and does not have the proper coordination. If the church has the proper coordination, everything will be under the light.

HAVING A FIRE GOING UP AND DOWN

Among the coordinated living creatures, who are burning coals and burning torches, there is the fire going up and down. This indicates that the fire is not static but is always moving, because the fire is God Himself. Whenever the church is properly coordinated, burning as coals and enlightening as torches, there will be the divine fire going up and down. The fire among the living creatures has its source in God’s burning fire. God’s fire is not next to the living creatures; it is above them. There is fire with the living creatures because in their fellowship they allow God to move freely among them. Thus, the fire in their fellowship is the likeness of God’s fire.

On the one hand, Ezekiel 1 shows us that God is a burning fire. On the other hand, this chapter shows us that there is a burning fire among the four living creatures. The likeness of God is burning fire, and the likeness of the four living creatures also is burning fire. This indicates that the living creatures have the likeness of God’s sanctification. They are like God in sanctification. From this we see that the more we are burned and enlightened, the more we have God’s likeness and express Him. If we are fervent and bright, we will be full of God and will express God.

THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE FIRE
AND THE LIGHTNING IN THE FIRE

Ezekiel 1:13b says, “The fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning.” The fact that the fire was bright indicates that the living creatures manifested a glorious and majestic condition. This should be the condition in the church life today. If this is the situation in the church, there will be no discord. On the contrary, the younger ones will obey the older ones, and the older ones will serve the younger ones. Such a situation is beautiful and radiant. If we want this to be the condition of the church, we must be thoroughly burned and enlightened. The more we are burned and enlightened, the more others will see the brightness of God’s glory, beauty, and majesty.

In the fire there is not only brightness but also the flashing of lightning. Whereas the brightness is usual, the flashing of lightning is special, as it is often related to storms and darkness. Ordinarily, the church should be full of God’s enlightening with its brightness. However, at special times—in an emergency or in a crisis—there may be the flashing of lightning. This means that at special times there may be a special light that flashes suddenly and causes others to be astonished.

NOT WALKING BUT RUNNING

Verse 14 says, “And the living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning.” This indicates that the living creatures, having such a coordination, being the burning coals and the burning torches, and having the fire going up and down, will not walk but run. They run because they have the power and the impact.

In some churches, however, there is no running. Instead, there is fighting. In other churches the saints are either sitting or squatting. In still other churches they may be crawling. A proper church is a church that runs.

The church runs because in that church there is the proper coordination. The church runs like lightning, and as the church runs it gives light to others. This is the coordination, and this is the proper move of a local church. Every local church should be like this. Since the coordination is for the move and the move is in the coordination, with such a coordination there is the move of a local church.

These verses in Ezekiel 1 show us how to have the proper coordination. We have seen that if we would have this kind of coordination, we need to have four kinds of walk: the straight forward walk, the backward walk, the sideways walk to the right, and the sideways walk to the left. This will give us a good coordination. As a result of this coordination, we will become burning coals and shining and enlightening torches, and we will have God as the divine fire among us going up and coming down. This will become our power and our impact. Others will see the light in our running. Wherever we go and whatever we do, we will manifest the lightning. With us there will be the flashing of light, causing others to be enlightened. This moving is the proper church life. Such a coordination will bring in the Lord’s presence and blessing, and it will keep the church in a proper balance, preventing it from going to extremes.

We should apply this matter of coordination not only in a particular local church but also among the churches. This means that we should be followers of the churches (1 Thes. 2:14). We are one Body in one move of the Lord. When one church takes the lead in a definite direction under the leading of the Holy Spirit, we all should walk backward and sideways to follow. (Life-Study of Ezekiel, msg. 7)

MARCHING ON AS ONE WITH THE ENERGIZING GOD

We all will see and realize that our living, our daily walk, our schooling, our job, and our business must be a part of God’s history in His marvelous and excellent move on the earth today. To be a normal Christian, to be today’s overcomers, to answer the Lord’s present calling, and to meet the Lord’s present need in His recovery, it is altogether not sufficient simply to be a so-called good brother or good sister, attending the church meetings regularly, behaving rightly, and living a life which is somewhat perfect in the eyes of men. We need to be one with God in His history, moving, and energizing in His loving overcomers; that is, we need to be one with God in life, in living, and in our entire doing today on this earth! We need to write God’s today’s history! We need to march on as one with the energizing God! In Him! With Him! By Him! And for Him! We need to be vital, living, and active! We need to be today’s Joshuas and Calebs to take possession of the God-promised land for Christ that we may become His possession. We need to be today’s Ruths to turn to God’s economy, to enter into the land of Immanuel, and to marry ourselves to Christ that we may bring forth Christ to meet the need of men today. (Life-Study of Joshua, msg. 7)