Why would a church become like the 'Dead Sea', full of salt, if there is no flow of water?

 

Why would a church become like the 'Dead Sea', full of salt, if there is no flow of water?

 

Ezekiel 47:12 And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.

Revelation 3:15-16 I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.

Ezekiel 47:11 But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt.

 

Item	Content
Reason	1. Lack of flow and renewal of life 2. Loss of connection to the source of God's life 3. Spiritual compromise and uncertainty
Description	1. Without the flow of life from God, the church becomes rigid and lifeless, like the Dead Sea full of salt 2. The water of life symbolizes God's life and power, representing the work of the Holy Spirit and the constant supply of God's life 3. The "Dead Sea" metaphor emphasizes the severe consequences of lacking life flow
Explanation	1. The flow of life represents God's life and power. Without this flow, the church loses vitality and becomes formalistic and rigid 2. Just as plants need water to grow and bear fruit, the church needs spiritual supply to thrive 3. The "marshy places" represent a state of spiritual compromise, considered the most difficult to change 4. Taking an absolute stance means fully committing to God's will, which is key to maintaining spiritual vitality
Examples	1. The church of Laodicea: lukewarm, in a state of compromise, rebuked by the Lord 2. Trees bearing new fruit every month: symbolizing that the church should continually renew and bear fruit 3. "Marshy places": an intermediate state of neither completely away from God nor fully immersed in God's life
Related Scriptures	1. Ezekiel 47:12 "And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fail, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing." 2. Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth." 3. Ezekiel 47:11 "But its swamps and marshes will not become fresh; they are to be left for salt."

 

This table analyzes the question "Why would a church become like the 'Dead Sea', full of salt, if there is no flow of water?" It provides reasons, descriptions, explanations, examples, and related scriptures to illustrate the importance of maintaining spiritual vitality in the church through a constant flow of God's life.

 

*Please refer to the 2024 Memorial Day Conference - The Christian Life, Week 5: Enjoying the Flow of Life with the Supply of Life, out of and for God's House of Rest, to Live the Christian Life