Being Measured by God's Building

You, O son of man, describe the house to the house of Israel, that they may feel humiliated because of their iniquities, and let them measure the pattern. And if they feel humiliated because of all that they have done, make known to them the design of the house, the arrangement, its exits, its entrances, its whole design, and all its statutes — indeed its whole design and all its laws; and write them down in their sight, that they may keep its whole design and all its statutes, and do them. This is the law of the house: Its entire area on the top of and all around the mountain shall be most holy. Indeed this is the law of the house. Ezekiel 43:10-12 

In our recently concluded training for the full timers in India, one particular message touched my inward being so deeply: Being Measured by God's Building. Though I heard this term before, never I did I get the revelation nor the experience as deeply as this time. The Lord instructed Ezekiel to describe God's hours to God's people. For what? So that they would be measured by God's house and be ashamed of their iniquities. The house of God has always been God's desire from eternity past to eternity future. All that matters to God is His house. Today we are His household members, and as such, we must be fit in into His house, His building. 

Since we are God's house, our living must match God's house; God's house is holy, so must we be. Spirituality in all its genuineness is the fitting into God's house. What God cares for is not spirituality nor morality, but His own house. When we are measured by and fit into God's house, we definitely will be spiritual and moral, and much more, be builded up and fitly framed in the Body. In the house of God, no one members stands out, much less, stand alone; all members are rightly fitted-in in their own position and in their own rightful function as ordained by God who owns the house. 

To the top of the entrance, both in the inner house and outside. And on all the walls all around inside and outside, by measurement, Were both carved cherubim and palm trees. And a palm tree was between two cherubim, and every cherub had two faces.Ezekiel 41:17, 18 

In the house of God we are the "wood" that are fitly framed. But not a mere wood as it is; it is a "carved wood," not a plain smooth wood. This wood signifies the humanity of the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Christ who is now in us, the members of the house of God, as our life and hope of glory. We must indeed be "carved" and experience the Lord's crucifixion through various trials and testings to be transformed and bear God's glory, as signified by the cherubim, and also bear Christ's victory, as signified by the palm trees. To be thus carved is not an easy lesson to learn, but the grace of God is sufficient to enable to go through all necessary dealings and bear God's glory and victory in humanity.

For such necessary experiences, one must be in the Body life; the Body life is the greatest test of spirituality. Our spirituality is tested in its genuineness by the Body life. Therefore, as members fitted in the Body, we need to be Body-conscious, to care for the felling and peace of the Body. In all functions, we must function within our measure and never go beyond it, and function in mutuality and interdependence, caring for the growth and building up of the Body. As such we can become overcomers; the overcomers see the Body, know the Body, care for the Body, honor the Body, and do the work of the Body; they keep every principle of the Body of Christ.

in my experiences these days, the lord is sovereignly measuring me by His house. It is no longer, "Thus spake the Lord!" but, "Thus spake the Lord through the Body!" It is also no longer my own spirituality, but spirituality in the Body for the Body. It is no longer my own victory, but the victory in the Body, with the Body, through the Body, and for the Body. It is no longer my own glory, for I have none; but the glory in the Body, with the Body, through the Body, and for the Body.

Lord, measure me by Your building, and make be Your overcomer; who see the Body, know the Body, care for the Body, honor the Body, and do the work of the Body, and keep every principle of the Body of Christ. Amen.