Crystallization-Study of Exodus (4)
Message Four
The Coordination of the Four Living Creatures
Opening Word of the Prophesying Meeting
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
Their wings were joined one to another; they did not turn as they went; each went straight forward—Ezek. 1:9.
…And their wings were spread out upward; two wings of each were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And each went straight forward; wherever the Spirit was to go, they went; they did not turn as they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches…—vv. 11-13.
Word of Appetizer
What is the central point in Ezekiel 1 and what is the key to understanding the vision in Ezekiel 1?
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; coordination is the key to understanding the vision in Ezekiel 1.
Spiritual Burden
God needs a group of living creatures who can coordinate together as one corporate entity, the corporate Christ, for His expression, move, and administration; their coordination is not in themselves but in God and by the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine grace.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
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; coordination is the key to understanding the vision in Ezekiel 1.
The coordination of the four living creatures is not in themselves but in God and by the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine grace, because the eagle’s wings are the means by which they are coordinated and move as one.
Ezekiel 1:9 and 11b-12 present a beautiful picture of the coordination that we need in the church life.
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.
The Experience of Life
The wings of an eagle are not only for moving but also for protection; we are under the overshadowing, the covering, of the Lord’s grace and the Lord’s power.
In coordination there is no freedom or convenience; Before doing anything, we need to stop to fellowship and coordinate with those who serve with us; Fellowship blends us, mingles us, adjusts us, tempers us, harmonizes us, limits us, protects us, supplies us, and blesses us.
Practice and Application
In the church service we all need to learn not only how to walk straight forward but also how to walk backward and sideways.
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; we need to walk by the Spirit and according to the spirit.
Using Key Verses to Have a Bird’s-Eye View over the Whole Outline
Key Verses (1)
Their wings were joined one to another; they did not turn as they went; each went straight forward—Ezek. 1:9.
…And their wings were spread out upward; two wings of each were joined one to another, and two covered their bodies—v. 11.
God needs a group of living creatures who can coordinate together as one corporate entity
Eagle’s wings—the means by which they are coordinated and move as one
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; coordination is the key to understanding the vision in Ezekiel 1.
II. The coordination of the four living creatures is not in themselves but in God and by the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine grace, because the eagle’s wings are the means by which they are coordinated and move as one.
• God Himself is the coordinating factor that enables all the parts of the divine building to be one.
• The wings of an eagle are not only for moving but also for protection; whatever we do and whatever we are must be by the grace of the Lord and the power of the Lord.
•The living creatures look like a man, but they move like an eagle.
Key Verses (2)
And each went straight forward; wherever the Spirit was to go, they went; they did not turn as they went—Ezek. 1:12.
As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches…—Ezek. 1:13.
A beautiful picture of the coordination;
The result of the coordination of the living creatures
III. Ezekiel 1:9 and 11b-12 present a beautiful picture of the coordination that we need in the church life:
•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.
•This is a beautiful picture of the coordination in the church as the Body of Christ, in which each member has his particular position and function, or ministry.
•In the church service we all need to learn not only how to walk straight forward but also how to walk backward and sideways. We should apply this matter of coordination not only in a particular local church but also among the churches.
IV. The result of the coordination of the living creatures is that they become burning coalsand burning torches; the more we coordinate together, the more we burn one another; The coals are for burning, and the torches are for enlightening.
Key Verses (3)
Yet those who wait on Jehovah will renew their strength; / They will mount up with wings like eagles; / They will run and will not faint; / They will walk and will not become weary—Isa. 40:31.
And each went straight forward; wherever the Spirit was to go, they went; they did not turn as they went—Ezek. 1:12.
But if I, by the Spirit of God, cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you—Matt. 12:28.
Deny our self, experiencing the dealing of the cross, by the eagle’s wings;
The living creatures follow the Spirit;
Be one with the coordinating Triune God
V. 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..
VI. The living creatures follow the Spirit, indicating that in order to coordinate with others in the Body of Christ, we need to walk by the Spirit and according to the spirit..
VII. In order to coordinate with others, we need to be one with the coordinating Triune God. The move of the Divine Trinity with the divine coordination in Matthew 12:28 is an excellent and beautiful example for us to follow.
Prophesying Topics—Twelve Topics per Week
D1
T1 Coordination is the key to understanding the vision in Ezekiel 1 (Ezek. 1:5, 10, 12, 20, 26)
(Please explain that the four living creatures with their four faces signify a coordinated, corporate entity, the corporate Christ.)
T2 The eagle’s wings are the means by which the living creatures coordinated one another (Ezek. 1:11)
(Please explain that the coordination of the living creatures is not in themselves but in God and the divine grace.)
D2
T1 Every one of the living creatures goes straight forward, they do not turn (Ezek. 1:12)
(Please explain how the four living creatures coordinate.) (Refer to Outlines III. A-D)
T2 Everyone functions properly in coordination (1 Cor. 12:14-30)
(Why do certain brothers and sisters cannot tolerate being coordinated together?)
D3
T1 Learn to fellowship (1 Cor. 12:24)
(Please use experience to explain that in our coordination we all have to learn not to do anything without fellowship.)
T2 To walk backward and sideways is to say Amen to another’s function (Rom. 12:4) (Refer to Outlines III. F)
(Please use experience to explain that we need to learn how to move straight forward, how to walk backward and how to walk sideway.)
D4
T1 The result of the coordination is that they become burning coals and burning torches (Ezek. 1:13)
(What are the three things that the burning of the coals does at least?)
T2 The sanctifying fire becomes the sanctifying light (Ezek. 1:13)
(Please explain that in the proper church life there should be nothing of darkness among the brothers and sisters.)
D5
T1 The likeness of God is burning fire, and the likeness of the four living creatures also is burning fire (Ezek. 1:27, 13-14)
(Please explain that the more we are burned and enlightened, the more we have God’s likeness and express Him.)
T2 “And the fire was bright; and out of the fire went forth lightning” (Ezek. 1:13)
(Please explain the spiritual significances of brightness and the flashing of lightning.)
D6
T1 Coordinate and move in oneness (John 17:23) (Refer to Outlines V)
(Please use experience to explain that 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.)
T2 In order to coordinate with others, we need to be one with the coordinating Triune God (Matt. 12:28) (Refer to Outlines VII)
(Please explain that Christ is a good pattern for our coordination in Matthew 12:28.)
