Speak to This Young Man

“Then I raised my eyes and looked, and behold, a man with a measuring line in his hand. So I said, ‘Where are you going?’ And he said to me, ‘To measure Jerusalem, to see what is its width and what is its length.’” Zech. 2:1-2.

It is not God’s will that we apply our measuring line to the church in a human way. We need to enter into the depths of the essence of love if we want to understand His work. Eph. 3:18-19.

“Run, speak to this young man, saying: Jerusalem shall be inhabited as towns without walls, because of the multitude of men and livestock in it. ‘For I,’ says the Lord, ‘will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.’” Zech. 2:4-5.

The Lord has chosen Jerusalem as His holy dwelling. “‘Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am com­ing and I will dwell in your midst,’ says the Lord.” Zech. 2:10.

“This is the law of the temple: The whole area surrounding the mountaintop shall be most holy.” Ezek. 43:12.

Paul wrote to Timothy so he might know how to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 1 Tim. 3:15. From this we understand that the church is the house of God, the spiri­tual Jerusalem. And we should also realize that our area there is most holy. It is not fitting to do anything out of personal preference or partiality. Paul exhorts us to “all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.” Eph. 4:2.

In Ezekiel 1:8 we read about the living creatures who had human hands under their wings. We must not stretch out our hands for the things of this earth or use them according to our human understanding. It is preferable that our hands remain hidden under our wings until God works. Even Jesus could do nothing of Himself. He relied on the workings of His Father in His inner being. No human power or strength can accomplish the work of God. When the Lord anoints us by pouring out His Spirit over us, then the body of Christ is built up through grace and truth.

However, a sword against all the talkers! Jer. 50:36. These talkers cause unrest. They do not have a Word of God to bring for the edification of the church; instead, they talk, judge and criticize.

But when we are filled with the Spirit of the Lord, and His Word is on our tongue, we can lift up holy hands for the profit and edification of the church.

Where the Spirit of the Lord is active, zeal urges us on. What we say and do awakens a longing for eternity in others, because they sense the drawing forces that are in God.

There is also a zeal that is not of God. It is profane fire, and we know that God is not pleased with it. We can see this from the incident of Aaron’s sons—Nadab and Abihu—who bore profane fire into the sanctuary. They died before the Lord. Lev. 10:1-2.

“Likewise exhort the young men to be sober-minded, in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doc­trine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an oppo­nent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.” Titus 2:6-8. Paul exhorts the young men to make sure every­thing is in order within their own sphere. This creates confi­dence and gives them strength in their ministry.

“Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you?” 1 Cor. 6:19. If I go outside my mea­sure of faith, the Holy Spirit does not work with me in my ministry, and I use the liberty in the church as an occasion for my flesh. Such a ministry is not edifying! Such a ministry does not bring honor to God, because the one who serves does not serve according to the strength God gives.

When storms blow over the church, those who are genuine are revealed. They have grown in every good works—quietly and peacefully. They are partakers of all spiritual wisdom and understanding and can be strengthened with all might, ac­cording to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering. Col. 1:9-11.

These servants manifest an abun­dance of sincere love. 2 Cor. 8:2. This love profits, helps and edifies the church.