LIFE-STUDY OF EZEKIEL
Message 17
THE RESTORATION OF GOD BY LIFE
WEEK 7 - FRIDAY
Scripture Reading: Ezek. 34:15-16, 25-31
Read and pray: “And I will raise up for them a memorable plantation, and they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land, nor bear the reproach of the Gentiles anymore.” (Ezek. 34:29)
Dwelling in Peace and Security
Finally, the Lord promised that all those who are in His restoration would dwell in peace and security. Verse 25b says, “They shall dwell securely in the wilderness and sleep in the woods”; verse 27b says, “And they shall be secure in their land”; and verse 28b says, “And they shall dwell securely, and none shall make them afraid.” This indicates that we will dwell safely and peacefully in Christ, without any fear. In Christ we have peace.
In verse 15 we have the phrase rest, and in verse 25, the word sleep. Under the shepherding of the Lord, it is safe to sleep, even in the forest. In the Lord’s restoration, there is no need for us to be afraid of anything.
If you go to a local church where you must be careful because the situation is delicate and you are fearful, that should not be a proper local church in the Lord’s restoration. In the proper church life in the Lord’s restoration, there is nothing to fear. In such a church, we have the sense of security. In every aspect of the church life, we should feel secure.
There should never be a situation in the church life that makes you afraid. For example, you should never be afraid to speak with an elder or with an older sister. Some have asked me why I can be so frank when speaking for the Lord. I can be frank because in the Lord’s restoration we have peace and security; therefore, I am not afraid of anything.
Making Them a Blessing
Ezekiel 34:26 says, “And I will make them and the places around My hill a blessing; and I will cause the rain to come down in its season; there shall be showers of blessing.” Here the Lord promised not only that His people would receive His blessing, but also that He would make them a blessing.
If there is peace, the peace of the covenant, the Lord’s blessing will follow. First, we ourselves will enjoy the Lord’s blessing, and then He will lead us to become a source of blessing to others so that they may be supplied. We need a brief comment on the five aspects of this blessing.
Rain in Its Season
God will cause the rain of blessing to come down in its season. This means that its coming will be timely. There will be timely rain. When we are abiding in Christ, the rain, the Holy Spirit, will often come upon us.
Showers of Blessing
The Lord promises that there will be “showers of blessing.” There will be no lack of water, for there will be not only rivers but also showers. Many times, in the meetings of the local churches, we sense that something is not only flowing but also coming down like a shower.
Sometimes even at home after the meeting, we have the sense that the showers of blessing are still falling upon us. This is the strongest sign that the Lord’s blessing is upon the local church. He sends us showers of blessing in their season, at the proper time.
The Tree of the Field Will Yield Its Fruit
and the Earth Will Yield Its Produce
Verse 27 tells us that the tree of the field will yield its fruit and that the earth will yield its produce. The rains will cause the trees to bear their fruit and will cause the earth to produce its rich yield. This indicates that there will be an abundance of spiritual food, not only for us to enjoy ourselves but also to supply others.
Because the local churches are rich in spiritual food, in the Lord’s restoration there is no more hunger nor shortage of food. At the beginning of a meeting, it may seem that there are only five small loaves, but after the meeting, we have twelve baskets full left over. This is a real blessing.
Up to this point, we have seen that there are three signs that the local churches are under the Lord’s blessing: the rains in season, the trees bearing fruit, and the abundance of produce from the good land. We should never have the feeling that the meetings of the local church are lacking food. If we are lacking food, we are wrong. If we, in the Lord’s restoration, are under His blessing, we will be rich in food.
The Lord Is a Memorable Plantation
Ezekiel 34:29a says, “And I will raise up for them a memorable plantation.” Here the Lord promised to raise up a memorable plantation, whose fruit would be for the enjoyment of His restored people. Once again, this plant is Christ as the source of rich food. Whatever need we may have and whatever difficulty we may face, He will give us a rich supply.
No Longer Consumed by Hunger in the Land
Finally, verse 29b says, “And they shall no longer be consumed with hunger in the land.” Instead of spiritual hunger, there will be a rich supply of food.
God Is Their God, and They Are His People
Verses 30 and 31 conclude, “Thus they shall know that I, the Lord their God, am with them, and that they, the house of Israel, are My people, says the Lord God. You are My flock, the flock of My pasture; you are men, but I am your God, says the Lord God.”
Here the Lord promised that He would be with them, that they would be His people, and that He would be their God. They have the presence of God, God is in their midst, and they are before God. This is the perfect fellowship with God, the fellowship in oneness ─ the genuine restoration.
In the Lord’s restoration we have the presence of God. God is with us. We are His people, and He is our God. We are His, and He is ours. We have such fellowship, this oneness, for we are one with God, and God is one with us. This is the restoration of the church life ─ the real mingling of God and man.
From this we see that the restoration of the church life is not a matter of teachings or gifts, but a matter of the presence of the Lord. We are here on earth to enjoy this oneness and to be mingled with the Lord. This is the Lord’s restoration by life.
🌿Enjoy more:
Hymn: Fullness of the Spirit - “The Baptism”
No comments:
Post a Comment