Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:9, 11-14; Rom. 12:4-5
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—vv. 5, 10, 12, 20, 26.
Ⅱ
The coordination of the four living creatures is in the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine supply because the eagle's wings are the means by which they are coordinated and move as one—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.
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.
C
In the church service we all need to learn not only how to walk straight forward but also how to walk backwards 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.
D
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.
E
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—Ezek. 1:13:
１
The sanctifying fire becomes the sanctifying light:
ａ
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—cf. Isa. 6:1, 5-8.
ｂ
In the proper church life, there should be nothing of darkness among the brothers and sisters; all should be thoroughly enlightened.
２
The fire is not static but always moving—Heb. 12:29:
ａ
There is fire with the living creatures because in their fellowship they allow God to move freely among them.
ｂ
The appearance of the living creatures being like burning fire indicates that they have the appearance of the sanctifying God.
３
The fire being bright indicates that the living creatures manifest a glorious and majestic condition—Ezek. 1:13.
４
Whereas the brightness is usual, the flashing of lightning is special, indicating that at special times there may be a special light that flashes suddenly and causes others to be astonished—cf. Matt. 24:27.
５
The living creatures run because they have the power and impact—Ezek. 1:14.