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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6; Life-Study of Ezekiel, msg. 8)
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: (2010 WT, msg. 2)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2010 WT, msg. 2)
III. Ezekiel 1:9 and 11b-12 presents a beautiful picture of the coordination we need in the church life: (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2006 MDC, msg. 2)
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. (2006 MDC, msg. 2; 2008 WT, msg. 4)
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”: (2008 WT, msg. 4)
1. In coordination there is no freedom or convenience; coordination keeps us from making turns—cf. Eph. 3:18. (2008 WT, msg. 4)
2. Before doing anything, we need to stop to fellowship and coordinate with those who serve with us. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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: (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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: (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
A. The burning of the coals does at least three things: (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
3. The burning in the coordination produces the power and impact of the church—Acts 1:14. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
B. The coals are for burning, and the torches are for enlightening, the sanctifying fire becomes the sanctifying light—Ezek. 1:13: (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 6)
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: (Life-Study of Ezekiel, msg. 7)
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. (Life-Study of Ezekiel, msg. 7)
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. (Practical Points Concerning Blending, msg. 2; 1993 Blending Conference Messages concerning the Lord’s Recovery and Our Present Need, msg. 7)
V. In order to coordinate with others, we need to be one with the coordinating Triune God—2 Thes. 3:5; John. 17:17: (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 7)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 7)
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. (2001 FTTA-Fall, msg. 7)
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). (2006 MDC, msg. 4)