Scripture Reading: Ezek. 47:1-12
Ⅰ
The Bible reveals the flowing Triune God—the Father as the fountain of life, the Son as the spring of life, and the Spirit as the river of life flow within us and out of us to issue in God and us being united, mingled, and incorporated together to become God's ultimate building, the New Jerusalem—John 4:14b; 7:37-39; Psa. 36:8-9; 46:4; Rev. 22:1.
Ⅱ
The Bible describes the experience of the living water both before and after the building of the house of God:
A
Before the building of the house of God, the Bible speaks of the bitter waters made sweet, the springs of water (Exo. 15:22-27), the water out of the cleft rock (17:6; Num. 20:11; 1 Cor. 10:4), the water from the well (Num. 21:16-17), and the water from the hollow place (Judg. 15:19).
B
After the building of the house of God, the Bible speaks of the river of God's pleasures (Psa. 36:8b), the river whose streams gladden the city of God (46:4), a fountain coming forth from the house of the Lord (Joel 3:18), living waters going out from Jerusalem (Zech. 14:8), and the living water flowing out of the house of God (Ezek. 47:1-12).
C
Before the building of the house of God, the living water quenches our thirst; after the building of the house of God, the living water not only quenches our thirst but also waters the dry land, produces life, and heals death.
D
In our experience before the building of the house of God, the living water flows instantly and occasionally; after the building of the house of God, the living water flows constantly and eternally—cf. Rev. 22:1.
E
On the one hand, the flow of life produces precious materials for God's building (Gen. 2:9-12; 2:22); on the other hand, the flow of life depends on God's building (Ezek. 47:1a):
１
There can be no flow apart from the genuine building.
２
Wherever a group of believers are built up in oneness as described by Ezekiel, there will be the flowing of the river, the one divine stream of the Lord's move, out of the building—cf. Acts 1:14.
Ⅲ
In order to participate in God's ultimate move, we need to experience the flowing of the living water out of the house of God—Ezek. 47:1-12:
A
God's ultimate move is His move in man to deify man by saturating man with all that He is in His life, nature, element, and essence for the glory, the expression, of God—2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 3:2.
B
The water flows out from under the threshold—Ezek. 47:1:
１
In order for the water to flow, there must be a threshold, an opening—cf. Psa. 81:10.
２
If we draw closer to the Lord and have more contact with Him, there will be an opening which will allow the living water to flow out from the church—Hymns, #846.
C
The flow is toward the east—Ezek. 47:1:
１
The river of God flows in the direction of God's glory—cf. Num. 2:3; Ezek. 43:2.
２
If everyone in the church seeks and cares for God's glory, the living water will flow out from the church—John 7:18; 1 Cor. 10:31.
D
The water flows out from the right side of the house—Ezek. 47:1:
１
In the Bible the right side is the highest position, the first place—cf. Heb. 1:3.
２
The flow of life must have the preeminence within us, becoming the controlling factor in our living and work—Rev. 22:1; Col. 1:18b.
E
The flowing is by the side of the altar, showing that we need the dealing of the cross and a full consecration to enjoy the flow of life—Ezek. 47:1.
F
For the increase of the flow of life, we need to be measured by the Lord as the man of bronze—40:3; 47:2-6; Rev. 1:15; cf. John 7:37-39:
１
To measure is to examine, test, judge, and possess—cf. Isa. 6:1-8; cf. Ezek. 42:20.
２
The four measurings of a thousand cubits, which is a complete unit (cf. Psa. 84:10), indicate that as creatures we need to be thoroughly measured by the Lord so that He may take over and thoroughly possess our entire being—Ezek. 47:2-5.
３
The more we allow the Lord to examine, test, and judge us to possess us, the deeper the flow becomes; the depth of the flow depends on how much we have been measured by the Lord—cf. 1 John 1:5, 7.
４
The more we are measured by the Lord, the more we are restricted and limited by the flowing of the grace of life until eventually we are lost in and carried along by the flowing Triune God as a river in which to swim; in one sense we lose all our freedom, but in another sense we are really free—Ezek. 47:5-6a.
G
The river causes everything to live—v. 9a:
１
Where the river flows, everything shall live and be full of life.
２
The flow of the river produces trees, fish, and cattle—vv. 7, 9b-10, 12.
H
The river waters the desert and heals the Dead Sea—v. 8:
１
The river waters the dry, parched land and heals the death waters.
２
This watering and healing are for the purpose of producing life.
I
The river is unable to heal the marshes—v. 11:
１
A marsh is a neutral place, a halfway place, a place of compromise—cf. Rev. 3:15-16.
２
For the flow of life and for the church life, we need to be absolute.
３
"If you are in the Lord's recovery, be in the recovery absolutely, not halfway….The Lord Jesus desires and requires absoluteness….By being absolute we will be in the flow, and the flow will not be a trickle but a river to swim in. Then everything shall live where the river comes" (Life-study of Ezekiel, pp. 311-312).