Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:9, 11-14; Rom. 12:4-5
Ⅰ
In order to coordinate with others, we need to learn how to move straight forward and also how to accommodate others, 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.
Ⅱ
In order to coordinate with others, we need to deny our self, experiencing the dealing of the cross, and live and act by God's grace and God's power, signified by the eagle's wings—Ezek. 1:9, 11; Isa. 40:31:
A
We must not act or do anything to express our self; rather, we must do things in the Father's life with the Father's nature to express the Father; this is glory, and it is in this glory that we all are one—John 17:22-24.
B
The type of the cleansing of leprosy, with the leper having to shave off all his hair, shows our continuous and thorough dealing with the problems of our own self through the application of the cross by the Spirit—Lev. 14:9:
１
The glory of man, signified by the hair of the head, needs to be dealt with by the cross, for Christ to be our glory—Col. 1:27.
２
The honor of man, signified by the beard, needs to be dealt with by the cross, for Christ to be our honor—Rom. 9:21, 23; Judg. 9:9; cf. John 21:15.
３
The beauty of man, signified by the eyebrows, needs to be dealt with by the cross, for Christ to be our beauty—Exo. 28:2; Psa. 27:4, 8.
４
The natural strength of man, signified by the hair of the whole body, needs to be dealt with by the cross, for Christ to be our strength—2 Cor. 12:9-10; Phil. 4:12-13.
C
In order to coordinate with others, we need to take the forgiving Lord as our forgiving life to forgive others and seek to be forgiven, letting the peace of Christ arbitrate in our hearts—Col. 3:12-15.
D
In order to coordinate with others, we need to deal with the idols in our heart, counting all things as loss on account of Christ and counting them as refuse that we may gain Christ—Ezek. 14:3-5; Phil. 3:7-8, 12-14.
E
If we abide in God, rely on God, and express God, we can coordinate together in God—John 15:5, 7; 8:31; Phil. 1:20; 1 Cor. 10:31.
F
Our coordination is not based on our ability or talent but on our dwelling in God and depending on God—Psa. 90:1; 26:1; 31:20; 91:1, 9, 14; John 14:21, 23; 2 Cor. 1:8; Psa. 25:1; Jer. 17:5-7.
Ⅲ
In order to coordinate with others in the Body of Christ, we need to walk according to the spirit—Ezek. 1:20; Gal. 5:16, 25; Rom. 8:4:
A
Our spirit is universally spacious; God dwells in our spirit, and our spirit is today's Jerusalem—Eph. 2:22; Num. 16:22; Heb. 12:9:
１
When the Bible speaks of "your spirit," it includes the spirits of all the saints—Gal. 6:18; Phil. 4:23; 2 Tim. 4:22; 1 Cor. 6:17.
２
"The words "our spirit" [in Romans 8:16] include Paul's spirit, Martin Luther's spirit, John Wesley's spirit, Brother Nee's spirit, your spirit, and my spirit"—Life-study of Ephesians, p. 213.
B
The book of Ephesians reveals that we need to be in the mingled spirit to be in the blending for the reality of the Body of Christ—cf. Lev. 2:4; 1 Cor. 12:24:
１
Ephesians 1:17 shows that we need to pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation to fully know Christ and God's economy.
２
Ephesians 2:22 says that all the believers are being built together into a dwelling place of God in spirit.
３
Ephesians 3:5 says that the mystery of Christ has been revealed to His holy apostles and prophets in spirit.
４
Ephesians 3:16 shows that we need to pray to be strengthened into the inner man, which is our regenerated spirit with God's life as its life.
５
Ephesians 4:23 tells us to be renewed in the spirit of our mind.
６
Ephesians 5:18 tells us to be filled in spirit.
７
Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray at every time in spirit.
Ⅳ
In order to coordinate with others, we need to be one with the coordinating Triune God:
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:
１
The way the Lord cast out demons, by another One and for another One, showed that He did not act individualistically but with humility and selflessness.
２
The Son as the center of the Divine Trinity was altogether not by Himself, for Himself, or to Himself; whatever He did was by the Spirit of God and for the kingdom of God the Father.
３
This shows us the harmony, beauty, and excellency in the Divine Trinity.
４
Today in the church life, the Body of Christ has not been built up adequately because of the shortage of the proper coordination.
５
We may do something according to the will of God, but what we do should not be by ourselves but by some others; furthermore, what we do should not be for ourselves but for the interest, the right, of God on this earth.
B
Every day we need to move out of ourselves and into the coinhering and coordinating Triune God—2 Thes. 3:5; Jude 19-21; John 17:17.