Scripture Reading: Deut. 32:13; Ezek. 34:13-16; 20:40-42; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1-2
Ⅰ
It is crucial for us all to see a vision concerning the all-inclusiveness of Christ—Col. 2:16-17; 3:10-11:
A
As the embodiment of the Triune God, Christ is the reality of every positive thing in the universe—2:16-17.
B
God's intention in His economy is that Christ be everything; therefore, it is crucial for us to see that God wants nothing but Christ and that in the eyes of God nothing counts except Christ—3:10-11.
Ⅱ
The good land enjoyed by the children of Israel is the ultimate type of Christ found in the Scriptures; it is a complete and all-inclusive type of Christ—Deut. 8:7-10; Col. 1:12:
A
Christ is not only our life; He is also our territory, our realm, our sphere, in which we walk—2:6.
B
Christ is our good land, but we do not yet experience and enjoy Him in full as this land; thus far, our partaking of the unsearchable riches of Christ has been very limited—Eph. 3:8.
C
We need to know in detail how Christ is typified by all the items mentioned in Deuteronomy 8:7-10.
Ⅲ
The high, mountainous land of Canaan typifies the resurrected and ascended Christ—Christ in His ascendancy—Deut. 32:13; Ezek. 34:13-16; 20:40-42; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1:
A
As the One who has resurrected and ascended on high, Christ is the high mountain—Acts 2:32-33; Eph. 1:19-20; 4:8, 10; Heb. 1:3; 7:26.
B
In Christ in His ascendancy, we experience Christ's shepherding—Ezek. 34:13-16; 20:40-42; 37:22; Heb. 13:20:
１
As a Shepherd the ascended Christ seeks out His flock, delivers His sheep from the places where they are scattered, and brings them back to their own land—Ezek. 34:12-13.
２
As our Shepherd the ascended Christ brings us back to the high mountains, back to the experience of the resurrected and ascended Christ—vv. 13-14.
３
As our Shepherd the ascended Christ brings us back to the streams, back to the Spirit of life, who flows forth from Christ in His resurrection and ascension—v. 13.
４
As our Shepherd the ascended Christ feeds us by the steams and brings us back to the good and fat pasture—vv. 13-14.
５
As our Shepherd the ascended Christ causes us to lie down and rest—v. 15.
６
As our Shepherd the ascended Christ binds up that which was broken and strengthens that which was sick—v. 16.
C
In Christ in His ascendancy, we are enabled to serve the Lord; here on the high mountain we are accepted by Him and have excellent fellowship with Him—20:40-42.
D
In Christ in His ascendancy, we receive the revelation of God's New Testament economy—Matt. 5:1; 17:1; 24:3; 28:16:
１
The constitution of the kingdom of the heavens was decreed on a mountain—5:1.
２
The transfiguration of the heavenly King took place on a high mountain—17:1-2.
３
The prophecy concerning this age was given on a mountain—24:3.
４
The great commission of Christ in resurrection was given on a mountain—28:16-20.
E
In Christ in His ascendancy, we engage in spiritual warfare—Eph. 2:6; 6:10-20; S. S. 4:8:
１
The spiritual warfare in Ephesians 6:10-20 is based on the position of ascension in 2:6; in order to prevail in the spiritual warfare, we must know and keep the position of ascension.
２
In Christ's ascension there are the positive peaks of reality (Amana), victory (Senir), and the destruction of the enemy (Hermon)—S. S. 4:8.
F
In Christ in His ascendancy, we see and become the New Jerusalem, which is a golden mountain—Rev. 21:10-11, 16, 18b, 21b, 23; 22:1:
１
To see God's dwelling place for the fulfilling of His eternal purpose, we need to be lifted up to "a great and high mountain"—21:10.
２
The New Jerusalem is a mountain of gold, which signifies the divine nature; we become part of this golden mountain by partaking of the divine nature—vv. 16, 18b; 2 Pet. 1:4.
３
As a mountain of gold, the New Jerusalem is "pure gold, like clear glass," and its street is "pure gold, like transparent glass"; we become part of this transparent mountain of gold by becoming transparent in the divine nature and by the flowing of the "river of water of life, bright as crystal"—Rev. 21:18b, 21b; 22:1.
４
As a mountain of gold, the New Jerusalem is the ultimate, unique, and eternal golden lampstand, the aggregate of all the golden lampstands; we become part of this golden mountain by living in and being part of the church as the golden lampstand today—21:23; 1:20.
G
In order to experience Christ in His ascendancy, we need to see that we are in Christ, we need to set our mind on the things above, and we need to exercise both our spirit and our faith—1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 2:6; Col. 3:1-2; Heb. 4:12; 11:6.