Scripture Reading: Ezek. 1:22-25
Ⅰ
"Over the heads of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the sight of awesome crystal, stretched forth over their heads above"—Ezek. 1:22:
A
Over the heads of the four living creatures, there is the firmament, the expanse, which we call the sky.
B
The sky above the living creatures is like a great expanse of crystal, indicating that above them is a clear, open, and expanding heaven:
１
They have a thorough fellowship with the Lord vertically and also a clear fellowship among themselves horizontally; they have a wide and stable span of fellowship—1 John 1:3, 6-7; 1 Cor. 1:9.
２
When we reach the point of having a clear, open, stable, and expanding heaven, there will be nothing between us and God and nothing between us and one another.
C
The kind of sky we have as Christians depends on our conscience; our conscience is connected to our sky—Rom. 9:1; 2 Cor. 1:12:
１
We need to maintain a clear sky with the Lord, that is, have a clear fellowship with Him—1 John 1:3, 6.
２
If we would have a clear sky, we need to deal with any offense or condemnation in our conscience—Acts 24:16.
３
When there is nothing between us and the Lord, our sky will be crystal clear, and we will have not only a good conscience but also a pure conscience—1 Tim. 1:5, 19; 3:9; 2 Tim. 1:3; cf. Matt. 5:8; Prov. 22:11; 2 Tim. 2:22.
Ⅱ
"And under the expanse one pair of their wings went straight out, one toward the other; each had another pair covering their bodies on this side and on that side"—Ezek. 1:23:
A
The four living creatures stretch out two of their wings for coordination; this indicates that if we are under a clear, open, stable, and expanding heaven, we can have a coordination that is altogether straight.
B
The four living creatures use the other two wings to cover themselves; this indicates that in the coordination we need to learn to hide ourselves under the Lord's grace.
Ⅲ
"And I heard the sound of their wings, like the sound of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, as they went; it was the sound of a tumult, like the sound of an army"—v. 24a:
A
The voice is not that of an individual but is like the sound of great waters:
１
The voice comes out of the wings that are joined together.
２
The voice in any local church should be the voice not of an individual believer but the voice of the coordination.
B
The voice of a corporate body becomes the voice of the Almighty, the voice of God Himself.
C
The voice is also the voice of a fighting army.
Ⅳ
"And there was a voice from above the expanse that was over their heads. When they stood still, they dropped their wings"—v. 25:
A
When the living creatures hear a voice out of the clear sky above their heads, they stop and let down their wings:
１
This indicates that they know not only how to speak but also how to listen to God's voice—1 Kings 19:11-12.
２
Whenever they listen to God's voice, they stop moving, stand still, and lower their wings.
３
They know how to give the voice by moving, and they know how to listen to God's voice by stopping.
４
In spiritual things seeing depends on hearing; hearing is deeper than seeing and more intimate then seeing—Rev. 2:7a; 1:10, 12; Isa. 50:4-5; Matt. 18:15-17.
B
A clear and open heaven, speaking for the Lord, and listening to the Lord are all matters of fellowship—1 John 1:7:
１
Genuine fellowship is related to genuine coordination.
２
When we have fellowship with God and with one another, there will be genuine coordination among us; then we can speak for God and also listen quietly to His speaking.