“The Locked Garden vs. the Shut-Up Well and Sealed Fountain”

 

“The Locked Garden vs. the Shut-Up Well and Sealed Fountain”

Song of Solomon 4:12-13: "My sister and my bride are a locked garden, a closed well, a sealed spring; the sprout you planted has become a garden of pomegranates, bearing beautiful fruit..."

Aspect	Locked Garden	Shut-Up Well & Sealed Fountain
Meaning	The believer wholly separated and reserved for Christ, not open to the public; spiritual beauty is for Christ alone.	Well = the Spirit as life supply; fountain = God as the source. Being shut/ sealed means these experiences are exclusively for Christ.
Symbolism	A garden for beauty and enjoyment, not a public park. Symbolizes a life seeking Christ’s pleasure, not man’s applause.	The well and fountain represent the inner supply and source of life. Their being closed shows a hidden, intimate enjoyment with Christ.
Reason	A deep spiritual life requires inward separation, not openness to worldly influence; avoiding defilement (Num. 19:15).	If the well/fountain is public, the inner supply is misused. True delight and satisfaction must be preserved for Christ’s private enjoyment.
Distinction	Emphasizes the “whole living” being locked for Christ.	Emphasizes the “inner source and supply” being shut and sealed.
Explanation	The garden is private; the believer’s beauty, fruit, and fragrance are not for display.	The fountain (God as the source) and the well (Spirit’s supply) are deep inward experiences kept private for Christ.
Examples	• A life not showing off spirituality. • Private fellowship with Christ not displayed to others.	• Deep enjoyment of God in prayer without publicizing it. • Spiritual experiences first being reserved for the Lord.
Application	• Practice hiddenness and quietness. • Serve without seeking praise or outward attention.	• Do not display spiritual experiences. • Keep inward enjoyment for the Lord; avoid using them to attract people.
Inner Relationship	The locked garden is the believer’s outward living being sealed.	The shut-up well and sealed fountain are the inner source being sealed. → Together they form a complete “hidden and deep” spiritual life.
Burden (Ministry)	The church lacks deep, hidden living; believers are often too exposed. Need deeper rooting and inner dealings.	The Lord desires believers who reserve their deepest enjoyment for Him alone.
Prophetic Speaking Guidance	• Encourage exclusive living unto Christ. • Speak on separation and inward purity.	• Emphasize Christ as the fountain and source. • Encourage more secret, personal fellowship with the Lord.
Conclusion	Represents a believer wholly for Christ—hidden, deep, exclusive.	Represents the inner life-supply and enjoyment exclusively for Christ; brings satisfaction and rest to the Lord.
Expanded Scriptures	Numbers 19:15: "Every open vessel, without a lid, is unclean." Song of Solomon 1:16b: "We have made green grass our couch." (Foreshadowing the Lord and His beloved enjoying each other's company and rest.)	Revelation 22:1: "He showed me a river of living water, clear as crystal, flowing out of the throne of God and of the Lamb." (The Spring)  John 4:14: "The water I will give you...will become in him a spring of water..." (The Well) Matthew 6:6: The Father who is in darkness will repay (hidden life).

  

Key Points Summary:

1.         Locked Garden = the believer wholly reserved for Christ; a hidden, separated, inward life.

2.         Shut-Up Well / Sealed Fountain = deep spiritual source and enjoyment reserved only for Christ.

3.         True spiritual beauty is for Christ alone, not for display.

4.         Inner supply and spiritual satisfaction must remain hidden for Christ’s enjoyment.

5.         Deep spiritual life requires inward sealing, separation, and avoidance of outward display.

6.         Christ finds rest and satisfaction in such believers.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training: General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7 - Extremely Important Aspects - Week 5: The Kingdom's People Have Personal Prayer Experiences, Contacting Their Heavenly Father in Secret, and Experiencing the Secret Enjoyment of the Father.

 

“Those Who Cover the Root, God Protects VS Those Who Expose the Root, God Does Not Protect”

 

“Those Who Cover the Root, God Protects VS Those Who Expose the Root, God Does Not Protect”

Mark 1:44 “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest…”

Mark 5:19 “Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He had mercy on you.”

Mark 5:43 “He strictly charged them that no one should know this…” 

Category	Those Who Cover the Root  — God Protects	Those Who Expose the Root  — God Does Not Protect
Meaning	Keeping spiritual experiences, power, revelation, and hidden life with God inwardly; preserving the spiritual root.	Making spiritual experiences, revelations, and abilities public prematurely; exposing the root.
Reason	God protects what is hidden in Him—real spiritual roots and inner life. Covering prevents satanic touch.	Exposure invites pride, the flesh, and satanic attacks, producing dryness and loss of protection.
Distinction	Covering = preserving depth; sharing only under God’s leading.	Exposing = sharing for self-glory, curiosity, or without divine guidance.
Explanation	- Paul hid his heavenly vision for 14 years and only spoke “out of necessity” (2 Cor 12:1). - Hiddenness produces depth; the deeper the root, the safer the life.	- Exposure turns testimony into “news,” losing the treasure (Nee). - The more one exposes, the more death enters the work.
Examples  (Biblical)	- Paul: 14-year vision hidden until necessary (2 Cor 12:1,5). - Jesus repeatedly charged those healed not to tell others (Mk 1:44; 5:43; 7:36).	- David numbered the people, exposing self-strength; plague came (2 Sam 24). - People testify to glorify their own “faith,” losing healing (Nee).
Examples  (Spiritual Lessons)	- True roots are always hidden before God (Watchman Nee).	- Using experiences as advertisement brings spiritual death (Nee).
Application	- Guard inward experiences; share only for others’ benefit. - Maintain hidden life in secret with the Father (Matt 6:6).	- Avoid boasting or publicizing spiritual achievements. - Never share everything—only what God allows.
Interrelationship	Covering → Protection → Deeper Life → Effective Testimony	Exposure → Attack → Dryness → Death in the Work
Burden	Preserve hidden life so God can continually work in us.	Warning: Exposure opens doors to satanic attacks and loss.
Prophetic Speaking Guidance	- Speak from spirit, not from self-promotion. - Testify only for building others.	- Avoid turning testimony into performance. - Never use God’s work as advertisement.
Scripture  References	2 Corinthians 12:1 “It is necessary to boast, though it is not profitable; but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 12:5 “Of such a one I will boast, but of myself I will not boast, except in my weaknesses.” Mark 7:36 “The more He charged them, the more widely they proclaimed it.” 2 Samuel 24 (Summary) David numbered the people; judgment came upon Israel and seventy thousand died. Matthew 6:6 “When you pray, enter into your inner room… your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”

Key Points Summary:

1.      True spiritual “roots” must remain hidden.

2.      Testimony is proper only under God’s leading.

3.      Exposure invites satanic attacks.

4.      Hiddenness preserves life, depth, and divine protection.

5.      God protects those who hide themselves in Him.

 

Conclusion: 

Covering is divine protection; hiddenness preserves life and depth in God.

Exposure removes protection; the root becomes vulnerable and attacked.

  

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training: General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7 - Extremely Important Aspects - Week 5: The Kingdom's People Have Personal Prayer Experiences, Contacting Their Heavenly Father in Secret, and Experiencing the Secret Enjoyment of the Father.

“Hidden Life vs. Manifest Life”

 

“Hidden Life vs. Manifest Life”  

Matt 6:1 – Do not practice righteousness before men to be seen by them.
Matt 6:3–4 – Give in secret; the Father who sees in secret will reward.
Matt 6:6 – Pray in your inner room; the Father sees in secret. 

Aspect	Hidden Life	Manifest Life
Meaning	A life cultivated before God in secret—praying, giving, fellowshipping, and growing inwardly without seeking human attention.	A life displayed openly to gain human approval or glory through outward religious acts.
Reason	God’s life is essentially hidden (Col 3:3). True growth occurs only when the self and flesh are dealt with in secret (Matt 6:4, 6, 18).	The natural life loves recognition. The self seeks glory from people (John 5:44), and the flesh desires to be noticed (Matt 6:1–2).
Distinction	God-centered, inward, rooted in reality, unseen by people.	Human-centered, outward, focused on appearance and public display.
Explanation	Secret prayer, giving, and fasting kill the self and the flesh. Hidden dealings with God produce genuine spiritual growth.	Displaying righteous acts feeds the ego and stops spiritual development.
Purpose	To grow in divine life and express the Father’s hidden nature.	To receive praise from people, satisfy the ego, and seek honor.
Examples	• Praying in secret (Matt 6:6) • Giving privately (Matt 6:3–4) • Fasting without outward display (Matt 6:17–18) • Believers whose hidden works were revealed only after death	• Giving with trumpet-blowing (Matt 6:2) • Praying on street corners (Matt 6:5) • Fasting with a gloomy appearance (Matt 6:16) • Boasting of spiritual activity
Application	• Practice prayer, giving, and serving in hiddenness. • Allow inward reality to exceed outward display. • Do works “in secret” for spiritual health.	• Avoid boasting or showcasing spiritual practices. • Examine motives—are they to be seen by men? • Guard against seeking human praise.
Interrelationship	Hidden life is the true expression of divine life. The more hidden the inner reality, the purer the outward expression.	Manifest life is the expression of the natural life—self and flesh. The more outward the display, the less inner substance.
Burden	• Lead believers to pursue inward growth. • Expose the subtlety of the self and the flesh. • Help saints live according to the Father’s hidden nature.	• Warn against displaying righteousness. • Reveal the danger of outward show that halts inner growth.
Prophetic Fellowship	• Encourage saints to gain hidden experiences of Christ. • Emphasize inward reality over outward form. • Point out motives and direct believers to seek the Father in secret.	• Expose hypocrisy and the self’s desire for recognition. • Call saints back to secret practices before the Father.
Conclusion	Hidden life is the normal life of kingdom people. It is the nature of the divine life. Real growth happens only in secret before God.	Manifest life belongs to the natural man. It brings no growth, causes loss of reward, and produces hypocrisy.
Scripture References	Matt 6:16–18 – Fasting should not be outwardly visible. Col 3:3 – “Your life is hidden with Christ in God.” John 5:44 – Seeking glory from one another prevents believing.	Matt 6:2 – Hypocrites give to be honored by men. Matt 6:5 – They pray to be seen by men. Matt 6:16 – They make their faces gloomy to show they are fasting. Matt 23:5 – “All their works they do to be seen by men.”

 

Core Summary:

Hidden life is the divine way of spiritual growth—secret prayer, hidden giving, and inward dealings with the self and flesh.
Manifest life is the natural, fleshly expression that seeks glory from men and hinders true growth.
Kingdom people must live according to the Father’s hidden life, not the natural life that desires display.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training: General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7 - Extremely Important Aspects - Week 5: The Kingdom's People Have Personal Prayer Experiences, Contacting Their Heavenly Father in Secret, and Experiencing the Secret Enjoyment of the Father.