To Live the Christian Life we need to Enjoy the Flow of Life out of the House of God

In order for us to live the Christian life, we need to enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God, giving the flow of life the preeminence in all things and doing all things for God’s glory so that we may have the flow of the living water. Amen!

This week in our morning revival we come to the topic of, Living the Christian Life by Enjoying the Flow of Life with the Ministry of Life out of and for the Magnificent House of God. Now that is what I call a Christian life! Amen!

If we were to think and figure out by ourselves what is the Christian life, we would never come up with such a wonderful description.

We have seen that the Christian life is to do all things in the person of Christ, in the face of Christ, and to walk worthily of the calling with which we were called.

Furthermore, to live the Christian life is to accept the discipline of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit is working throughout our entire life toward one goal.

For us to live a proper Christian life we need to realize that God desires to be one with us and make us one with Him.

Oh, the Christian life is so wonderful, for things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard and which have not come up to man’s heart are the things which God has prepared and ordained for those who love Him (1 Cor. 2:9)! Amen!

The Christian life is a matter one hundred percent in the mingled spirit and it is a matter of the Spirit.

We can live the Christian life in the Spirit with our spirit. Hallelujah, we are branches in Christ, the vine, and we simply need to abide in Him.

To abide in the Lord is to be one spirit with the Lord; our spirit with the Lord as the Spirit are one spirit, and we need to live here, in the organic union of God and man. Amen!

May we all have a spirit of wisdom and revelation from the Lord, having the eyes of our heart enlightened so that we would see the hope of His calling and live a proper Christian life by living in the mingled spirit. Amen!

This week we come to a particular aspect of the Christian life which relates to the flow of life with the ministry of life out of and for the magnificent house of God, the church.

This aspect is from Ezek. 47:1-12, where we see that out from the house of God flows a river of water of life, bringing life wherever it goes.

There are many aspects of this flow of life, and this week we will prayerfully consider how we can have the flow of life with the ministry of life out of and for the magnificent house of God. Amen!

To Live the Christian Life we need to Enjoy the Flow of Life out of the House of God

According to Ezek. 47:1-12, for us to live the Christian life, we need to enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God. Amen!

The flow of life is not just from God but even more, it is out of the house of God. It is not just in the house or for the house; it is out of the house.

God has a move, and His ultimate move is His move in man to deify man by saturating man with all that God is in His life, nature, element, and essence for the glory, the expression of God (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 John 3:2). Amen!

Athanasius – one of the early church fathers – said concerning Christ that He was made man that we might be made God.

He also said that the Word was made flesh that we, partaking of His Spirit, might be deified.

This is what God is after today; this is His ultimate move.

God’s intention and desire is ultimately to make man the same as He is in life and nature.

To live the Christian life, we need to enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God; this flow of life is the flow of the divine life, flowing into us and flowing us all the way into the New Jerusalem to make us the same as God in every possible way. Amen!

In the house of God, the water flows from under the threshold (see Ezek. 47:1).

In Ezek. 47 we have a picture of the temple and God’s house; coming from the threshold, there is a river that flows out.

This picture is important because we see it also in Rev. 22; in the New Jerusalem we see the throne, and out of the throne proceeds a river of water of life, bright as crystal, in the middle of the street (Rev. 22:1).

This river flows and waters the New Jerusalem, then it flows out through the gates to water the whole universe.

God’s intention is somehow related to this flow of life out of the house of God, for it appears both in Ezek. 47 and in Rev. 22.

If we look at the history of the children of Israel, in particular their history of drinking, we will be quite impressed.

They had a particular history of drinking before God’s building and a different history after the building of God’s house.

Before God’s building, there is the smitten rock for the people to drink (Num. 20), the springs in Elim (Exo. 15), and then there’s the digging of the spring in Num. 21.

We also have the case of Samson in Judge 15, who was thirsty and called on the Lord, and He provided him with water.

After the building of God’s house, we see how God’s people drank.

For example, Psa. 36 says that they will be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of God’s house, and God will cause them to drink the river of His pleasures.

In Psa. 46 there is a river whose streams gladden the city of God.

In Joel 3:18 we see that there’s a fountain going forth from the house of God. In Zech. 14 says that living water will go forth from Jerusalem.

We can testify from our experience that, when we first touched the Lord and were saved, there was a flow of life, and it was so real; we tasted the living water for the first time.

But after some time, because we got involved in things of the world or in religious activities without contacting the Lord, this flow of life seemed to stop, or at least it waned.

But then one day we entered into a meeting of a local church, and we were met by a river – the flow of life out of the house of God.

And there were waters to swim in, there was the abundance of God, the fatness of God’s riches, the river of living water! Amen!

And these living waters have carried us until this day!

This is what God wants us to enjoy and experience: the flow of life out of the house of God.

This fountain is God Himself, who flows Himself in Christ as the Spirit, and this flow is in and for the house of God, the building of God.

On the one hand, when we touch Christ, He quenches our thirst; on the other hand, when we meet with the saints in the church life, we enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God.

And this flow is so rich, so full, and so enjoyable!

For us to have the flow of life, we need to have a good relationship with God’s house, with the saints in the church life as the members of the Body of Christ.

Wherever there’s the proper building, there’s a flow of life! Amen!

In order for the water to flow, there must be a threshold, an opening (Psa. 81:10).

We must open our mouths wide and the Lord will fill us; He will fill us not only inwardly but also outwardly, filling us to the brim until He overflows through us as rivers of living water.

We need to simply enjoy the Lord and draw near to Him, have more contact with Him, and there will be an opening that will allow the living water to flow out from the church! Amen!

When we have more contact with the Lord and are open to Him, our spirit will flow; all the obstacles will be exposed and we will deal with them in the Lord’s light.

For the building up of the church and for the flow of life from the house of God, we need to deal with anything that hinders the flow, and we need to have an opening toward the Lord. Amen!

Lord Jesus, we want to live the Christian life by enjoying the flow of life out of the house of God. Hallelujah, our God is a flowing Triune God, and He flows not only into us individually but also flows out of the house of God! Praise the Lord, we have the flow of life! Thank You, dear Lord, for coming into us as the river of living water. Thank You for bringing us into the church life so that we may enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God! How rich is the flow of living water, the river of water of life flowing out of the house of God! Amen, Lord, we open to You! We draw closer to You. We want to have more contact with You throughout the day so that there may be an opening that will allow the living water to flow out from the church! Grant us all to open to You more and to deal with any obstacles to the flow of life. Oh, may our spirit flow! May our spirit mingled with Your Spirit flow out so that the church may be built and others may be quenched in their thirst!

Enjoy the Flow of Life by Seeking God’s Glory, Giving the Flow the Preeminence, and having a Full Consecration

Ezek. 47:1 points out that the flow of life out of the house of God is toward the east; the east is the direction of God’s glory (Num. 2:3; Ezek. 43:2).

This indicates that the river of God will always flow in the direction of God’s glory; this river cares for God’s glory, and only when we seek God’s glory can we have this flow of life out of the house of God.

The house of God has an opening which faces the east, toward the sun, where God’s glory is.

If we all in the church life seek and care for God’s glory, the living water will flow out from the church (John 7:18; 1 Cor. 10:31).

Whether we eat or drink, or whatever we do, we need to do all things for the glory of God.

In our speaking, our attitude, and in all the things we say and do, God needs to gain His glory.

We may speak something to others about the Lord or we may just have a conversation with someone; in all things, we need to be for God’s glory, for Him to gain all the glory.

Our intention needs to be that God gains all the glory.

When we preach the gospel, we need to seek God’s glory; if we don’t care for God’s glory but just want to do a work or gain a following, the flow of life will stop and be limited.

If everyone in the church life seeks and cares for the glory of God, the living water will flow out from the church.

The water of life flows out from the right side of the house; this right side is the south side, the south of the altar.

In the Bible the right side is the highest position, the first place (see Heb. 1:3); the Lord sat down at the right hand of God, in a place of preeminence.

We need to give the Lord the preeminence in all things.

The flow of life out of the house of God needs to have the preeminence within us; it needs to become the controlling factor in our living and work (Rev. 22:1; Col. 1:18).

On one hand, the Lord needs to have the first place; on the other hand, the practical way we give Him the first place is by giving the flow of life the first place.

The flow of life out of the house of God needs to be the deciding factor of everything, controlling our living and work.

Before we speak, before we do anything, and before we go anywhere, we need to check with the Lord and have the sweet flow of life.

However, it is so easy to lose the flow of life or hinder the flow of living water.

We may have a good time with the Lord in the morning, drinking deeply from the living water, and then our spouse may say something or we may react to something that happens at work, and the flow of life is hindered. Oh, Lord!

If we give the flow of life the preeminence in our life and work, we will enjoy the rich flow of life.

The apostle Paul gave the flow the preeminence.

He wanted to preach the gospel in Asia Minor, but he said in Acts 16 that the Spirit of Jesus did not allow Him.

In 2 Cor. 2 he says that he went to Troas to preach the gospel, and a door was open to him in the Lord, but he had no rest in his spirit, so he did not go.

Paul was not guided by the outward environment or positive welcoming of the people around him, nor did he let the need govern him; he was governed by the flow of life. He gave flow of life the preeminence.

The flowing is by the side of the altar, showing that we need the dealing of the cross and a full consecration in order to enjoy the flow of life.

If there’s no cross, there’s no flow of life. The altar and the flow are connected.

When we lay our all on the altar, when we give the Lord the first place and allow His cross to operate in us, we have the flow of life.

In our family life we many times “push the button” of our spouse or children, or others step on our toes; in these times, we need to learn to give the flow of life the preeminence and allow the cross to operate in us.

When we do this, we enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God.

We need to remember never to miss the flow of living water, the flow of life, for when we’re in the flow, everything is alright, regardless of the situation we’re in.

May we lay our all on the altar and allow the Lord to flow in us.

May we have a full consecration to enjoy the flow of life, consecrating everything we have and are to the Lord.

Lord Jesus, we want to do all things for Your glory, not seeking our own glory but the glory of God. Amen, Lord, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, we want to do all things to the glory of God. May God gain all the glory in our daily life and in all we do and say! May all the saints in the church seek and care for God’s glory so that the living water may flow out from the church! Amen, Lord, we give You the preeminence in all things. We give the flow of life out of the house of God the preeminence. May the controlling factor in our living and work be the flow of life. Flow in us, Lord, and flow among us. May we be governed not just by outward circumstances or by the need; may we allow the flow of life to govern us and control us. We want to deal with all hindrances and obstacles to the flow of life. Keep us coming back to You, contacting You and remaining in the flow of life! Amen, Lord, may there be a rich flow of life out of the house of God!

References and Hymns on this Topic

• Inspiration for this article/sharing comes from the Word of God, the enjoyment in the ministry, a sharing by brother Ricky Acosta in the message for this week, Life-study of Ezekiel, msg. 26 (by Witness Lee), as quoted in the Holy Word for Morning Revival on, The Christian Life (2024 Memorial Day Blending Conference), week 5, Living the Christian Life by Enjoying the Flow of Life with the Ministry of Life out of and for the Magnificent House of God.
• Similar articles on this topic:
  – The fellowship of life being the flow of life within us, a portion from, Practical Lessons on the Experience of Life, Chapter 4, by Witness Lee.
  – Our Spiritual Remedy: The Spirit as an All-Inclusive Dose, via, Bibles for America blog.
  – 7 – The Ministry Bearing the Mark of Death and Resurrection (1), via, Shepherding Words.
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  – Opening Word – Living the Christian Life by Enjoying the Flow of Life with the Ministry of Life out of and for the Magnificent House of God, via, The Church in New York City.
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• Hymns on this topic:
  – Oh, may my spirit flow, / Oh, may it flow! / Now I beseech Thee, Lord / Oh, may it flow! / My past I would forsake, / The iron walls would break, / My spirit free would make; / Oh, may it flow! / Oh, may my spirit flow, / Oh, may it flow! / Now I implore Thee, Lord, / Oh, may it flow! / No more self-satisfied, / No more in self-bound pride, / No more my spirit tied; / Oh, may it flow! (Hymns #846 stanzas 2-3)
  – From my spirit within flows a fountain of life— / The Triune God flowing in me; / God the Father’s the source, Christ the Son is the course, / And the Spirit imparts life to me. / Lord, I treasure the sweet flow of life, / And my soul-life at last I lay down; / O Lord, deepen the pure flow of life; / At Your coming may life be my crown. (Hymns #1191 stanza 1 and chorus)
  – We have come, we have come to the house of God; / We have come to the house, whence outflows the flood. / On the right, day and night, constant is its flow, / Watering us and causing fruits of life to grow. / From the house, from the house flows this living stream, / From the house, to the earth, with the life supreme. / Yet more deep, Lord, we seek that the flow may be; / Thus we must be measured and possessed by Thee. (Hymns #1115 stanzas 1-2)