LIFE-STUDY OF EZEKIEL
Read and pray: “For just as in one body we have many members, and all the members do not have the same function, so we who are many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another,” (Rom. 12:4,5)
Ezekiel 1:11b-14 reveals a very clear picture of coordination. There are no other verses in the Bible that present the matter of coordination in such a definite and practical way. In this message, we will begin to consider the coordination of the four living beings described in this portion of Ezekiel 1.
COORDINATION IN THE DIVINE POWER, STRENGTH, AND SUPPLY
Ezekiel 1:11b says, “Each one had two wings; two were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies.” Here we see that two of their wings were for moving, and this moving was in coordination. Through two of their wings they were joined to one another, and in this way they were coordinated.
As we have seen, the living beings used the other two wings to cover themselves. We have also seen that in the Old Testament the eagle’s wings typify divine power, strength, and supply. This indicates that the coordination of the living beings was not in themselves.
In themselves they had no ability to coordinate. Their coordination was in the divine power, strength, and supply, because the eagle’s wings were the means by which they coordinated with one another.
Thus, their coordination did not depend on themselves; it did not depend on what they were or what they could do. Their coordination depended on the eagle’s wings. The eagle’s wings were the means by which they coordinated and moved as one. God Himself is the power and strength, and it was by this divine power and strength that they were coordinated.
The same principle can be seen in the tabernacle. The tabernacle was built with forty-eight boards coordinated into one entity. These boards were coordinated into one building not by themselves, but by the overlaying of gold (Exo. 26:29-30). All the boards were overlaid with gold.
Upon the overlaying of gold were the gold rings, and through the gold rings passed the gold bars. The gold, therefore, coordinated all forty-eight boards into one entity. The overlaying of gold typifies the divine nature and indicates that God Himself is the coordinating factor that enables all the parts of the divine building to be one.
In themselves the living beings are separate and are individuals, but with the eagle’s wings they are coordinated as one Body. This indicates that the coordination among us Christians is not something of ourselves. What we have in ourselves does not coordinate—it divides.
Everything we are in ourselves, everything we have in ourselves, and everything we do in ourselves results not in coordination but in division and separation. However, we have the eagle’s wings, and with the eagle’s wings we can be one and can be coordinated.
FOR THE LORD’S EXPRESSION, MOVE, AND ADMINISTRATION
It is important to realize why we need to be coordinated. We must be coordinated like the living beings so that Christ may be expressed and manifested. Furthermore, the coordination of the living beings is for the Lord’s move.
The Lord moves in the center of the coordination of the living beings. Moreover, the coordination is the divine administration, the divine government. The throne upon which the Lord is seated—the throne for God’s administration—is in the center of this coordination. Thus, the coordination of the living beings is for the Lord’s expression and manifestation, for the Lord’s move, and for the divine government.
THE WAY OF COORDINATION
Now we need to see how the four living beings are coordinated. Each of the living beings faces a direction, looking respectively toward the north, south, east, and west. As they face these four directions, two of their wings are extended and touch the wings of the adjacent beings, forming a square.
Each of the living beings uses two of its wings to join with the other living beings. Ezekiel 1:12 says, “And each went straight forward; wherever the Spirit was to go, they went; they did not turn when they went.”
Here we see that each of the living beings goes straight forward. They do not turn, although some turn in the sense of moving backward. For example, while one of the living beings is moving toward the north, the living being facing the south must turn by moving backward.
Thus, one goes forward while the opposite being moves backward. At the same time, the other two living beings must move laterally. One moves laterally to the left and the other laterally to the right. No matter in which direction the living beings are moving, there is no need for any of them to make a turn.
One simply goes forward; another returns by moving backward; and the others move laterally. This is a beautiful picture of the coordination we need in the church life.
Some brothers and sisters do not tolerate being coordinated with others. Instead, they prefer to remain isolated and do things individually. As long as they are separated, there is no suffering. Once they are coordinated, there is a kind of suffering, because in coordination there is no freedom or convenience.
Coordination keeps us from making turns. If someone moves by himself, he may first move north, then turn and go east. Later he may turn again and go south, and finally turn once more and go west.
He moves in various directions, making many turns. In the Lord’s ministry, however, there are no such turns. Instead, if one moves forward, those who coordinate with him move either backward or sideways.
If someone acts without coordination in the church service, doing things individually, he will make a series of turns. If he functions by doing many different things individually, many turns will be necessary.
In the church service, however, there is no need for turns. Each one has his function and position. He can simply go forward in his function and position. If there is a need to move in another direction, others can take care of that. There is no need for anyone to turn.
In the church life we all need to learn not only how to go forward, but also how to go backward (that is, to return) and how to move sideways. Although this may seem very strange, we all need to learn this lesson. Otherwise, we cannot be coordinated.
One problem is that some brothers and sisters want to do everything or do nothing. Those who want to do everything want to be able to move in all directions. If they are asked to move in a specific direction, they also want to move in other directions. This means they want to make many turns. No matter which direction is needed in the church service, they want to be able to walk in that direction.
In proper coordination there are no turns. You go forward, or you return by going backward, or you move sideways. Particularly, it is difficult to move sideways, and many brothers and sisters are unable to do this.
We need proper coordination in the local churches. In some churches certain brothers and sisters are very capable and make many turns. Others are not very capable, so they do nothing. As a result, there is no coordination. If we want to have coordination in the church life, we all need to learn to go forward, to go backward, and to move sideways.
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