MOUNT HOREB DECEMBER RETREAT 2014
WATCHMAN CATHOLIC CHARISMATIC RENEWAL MOVEMENT
(Evangelistic arm of the Voice of the Last Days Ministry)
9500 Annapolis Road Suite A5
Lanham MD 20706
(301) 474-1944
THEME: THERE IS YET A THRONE
TEXT: Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9; Psalm 11:4; 47:8; Isaiah 6:1-5; 66:1 Hebrews 4:14-16; 8:1; 12:2; Revelation 4:2-11
This end-of-the-year retreat theme, “THERE IS YET A THRONE”, is one that should suggest before anything is said about it, that no one among us should be dismayed, discouraged, frustrated or back out despite whatever it is that may befall anyone. This is because, THERE IS A THRONE FROM WHERE ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE ARE CONTROLLED; A THRONE WHICH IS CONCERNED ABOUT US.
It therefore follows that we must all look away from whatever problems that may have assailed us hitherto; whatever gene issues may have refused to leave us; whatever psychological conditions we may have been into all this while; whatever disappointments we may have suffered hitherto; or whatever health, economic, spiritual, relationship and/or otherwise conditions we may have been grappling with. We must at this time and henceforth instead LOOK TO THAT THRONE THAT CONTROLS ALL THINGS (Hebrews 4:14-16).
Now, let us launch our nets into the deep for a great haul (Luke 5:4-5). We shall first look back to the Old Testament and then come forward to the New.
1) THERE WAS A THRONE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE WILDERNESS (Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9)
Before proceeding to x-ray the THRONE that was for the church in the wilderness (Israel on their way through the wilderness to Canaan land), let us first acquaint ourselves with the meaning of the THRONE we are talking about here.
The THRONE in the context of this message means “The abode of God Almighty in the Third Heavens”. HERE HE SITS ON HIS SOVEREIGN SEAT ETERNALLY, AND FROM WHERE HE RULES, REIGNS AND CONTROLS ALL THINGS VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE (Psalm 11:4; 47:8; Isaiah 6:1-5). Now, to the THRONE that was in the wilderness.
a) THE THRONE IN THE WILDERNESS (Exodus 25:10-22; 37:1-9).
The THRONE which God caused the children of Israel to set up in the wilderness was to service them, being the church in the wilderness.
It was an integral part of a rectangular wooden box made with shittim wood, called the Ark of the Covenant. This shittim wood box was 5 feet, 2½ inches long; 3 feet, 1½ inches wide and 3 feet, 1½ inches deep (high), having its four sides, a bottom and a top. All the sides and the bottom of this box were plated (overlayed) with pure gold internally and externally. But the top (lid or cover), measuring 5 feet, 2½ inches long by 3 feet, 1½ inches wide was made wholly (not plated) with pure gold. It was the CENTER of this lid (the cover) that constituted the THRONE, also called THE MERCY SEAT. On both ends of this lid were installed statues of Angels called Cherub, each facing the other, as well as the center of the lid (the MERCY SEAT or THRONE). The cherubs were made having their wings raised to overshadow (or cover) the MERCY SEAT or THE THRONE.
There was nothing at all at this center point or throne or mercy seat. However that was the place where the God of heaven and earth resided (as it were) on earth in the wilderness for the benefit of the children of Israel (Exodus 25:21-22).
b) THE PURPOSE/ROLE OF THE THRONE IN THE WILDERNESS (Exodus 25:21-22)
It was from this Throne (or mercy seat) that the Lord spoke to guide and direct the children of Israel through the man of God in their midst, Moses. (Exodus 25:21-22). As long as they kept to God’s guidance as to when to move or stop, what to do and what not to do, they remained baptized to their God and to Moses, and every necessity of their lives were guaranteed. In other words, as long as they obeyed God’s word through Moses, their daily food was guaranteed. Their divine protection, healing and health were guaranteed. Their clothing and foot wears were prevented from being worn and their feet from being hurt (Nehemiah 9:15, 19-21). However, they unfortunately did not always obey and were the worse for so doing (Psalm 78:6-72 ).
Apart from the above, which bordered on the physical well-being of the people, their souls’ well being was provided for also at the Throne. Once a year, the high priest (and he only) would enter the Holy of Holies (the apartment which was created by running a curtain (veil) through the whole width of the Sanctuary), where the ARK OF THE COVENANT with its MERCY SEAT or THRONE was kept. He went in there (once a year) to sprinkle (on the MERCY SEAT) the blood of animals which had been sacrificed for the sins of the people to obtain forgiveness of their sins and coverage of same (Leviticus 16).
2) THERE IS A THRONE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD (Hebrews 4:14-16; 9:11-12; 10:19-23)
The THRONE that is now available for the church in the world which we are talking about here is that which was in existence before and during the period of the ONE set up for the church in the wilderness, and which will ever be. This is that REAL ABODE (RESIDENCE or ROOM) of God Almighty in the third heavens, where He has ever sat in His sovereign seat from all eternity, and from where He rules, reigns and controls all things visible and invisible. This THRONE, though existent during the period of the church in the wilderness, was not accessible to them because they were a symbol. So, a SYMBOLIC THRONE was made for them to approach/come to, howbeit, only by the high priest once every year. THIS IS THE VERY THRONE WE HAVE BEEN ENJOINED/COMMANDED TO COME TO (Hebrews 4:14-16; 10:19-22; Ephesians 2:18; 3:12).
THE ROLE OF THIS THRONE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD
Let us open our discourse on the above point with this remark: When a people are ignorant of what has been kept for them to benefit from, they pay dearly for their ignorance.
The Lord God said concerning Israel; AMy people are destroyed for lack of knowledge@ (Hosea 4:6; Isaiah 5:13). The Lord Jesus said to a notable Jewish sect, Aye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God@ (Matthew 22:29).
Now, for us to boldly, zealously and with hearts filled with faith come to the THRONE AVAILABLE FOR THE CHURCH IN THE WORLD, to have our needs met now, henceforth and always, we must at this time be thoroughly furnished with information on WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CROSS AND ON THE THRONE 2000 + YEARS AGO.
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CROSS AND ON THE THRONE 2000 + YEARS AGO
On the cross of Calvary 2000 + years ago, Jesus Christ, the begotten Son of God (Mathews 8:28-29; 16:15-16; 27:43; Mark 1:1; Hebrews 1:2; 4:14), the Word of God made flesh (Revelation 19:11-13; John 1:1; 1John 5:7 and John 1:14) and the Seed of the woman (Eve, through blessed Mary, a daughter of Eve) (referred to by God in the very beginning) (Genesis 3:15), was put to death after an unparallel agony through torture on a cross (the death meant for criminals) (Matthew 27:1-2,26-50). At the point of drawing His last breath and giving up the ghost, it is certain that THERE WAS AN OUTBURST OF REACTIONS ON THE THRONE AND IN HEAVEN GENERALLY. It is evident that the Lord God rose and exclaimed in an outburst of emotions (as it were) as follows: “The deed is done; my long-term recovery plan is accomplished” (Genesis 3:15, John 19:30; Colossians 2:14-15); the throne is now accessible for every matter that pertains to my children on earth (Hebrews 9:6-12; Matthew 27:51a); the sins of the church in the wilderness, hitherto only covered through the shedding of the blood of those animals are now blotted out and cannot be remembered anymore (Hebrews 9:15; Romans 3:25); my children in paradise below, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Joshua, Caleb, Samuel, Deborah, Ruth, David, the Prophets and the rest will now come home shortly (Matthew 27:51(a) ). Besides, it is also evident that at that point there was jubilation by all the Spirit beings that live in the THRONE ROOM, and in heaven generally.
It is possible that some uninformed, light minded or natural person may ask, what is the evidence? How do we know? The answer as to how we know is found in the following truths:- (i) God is an influence-able being and can be influenced into actions or reactions (Genesis 4:3-7 8:20-22 22:1-18; I Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 27-36). (ii) God has feelings and expresses same when occasions demand so (Genesis 4:3-7; 8:20-22 22:1-18; I Samuel 2:12-17, 22-25, 27-36) (iii) If there was an outburst of reactions on earth, like the 3-hour intense darkness (12.00B3.00pm) enveloping the region just before the D-hour, the veil that separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies being rent from top to bottom, the earth quaking, the rocks quaking and falling apart, the saints in paradise beneath getting signal and getting ready to come out and go to heaven (Mathews 27:46, 50-53), how then could there be no reactions on the THRONE and in heaven? Recall that when Stephen, filled with the Holy Ghost finished chronicling the truth to his persecutors and was about to die a martyr, Jesus reacted by standing up to receive Stephen=s-spirit (Acts 7:55-56).
Now that we have seen the horrendous thing that happened at the cross and the awesome thing that took place on the throne, what manner of joyous, zealous, emboldened, assured and faith-filled people ought we to be as we come to the THRONE OF GRACE ( the throne now available to the church in the world) to obtain our needs at such times of need like the times in which we live? (Hebrews 4:14-16; Ephesians 3:12; Heb. 10:19, 21-22).
OUR NEEDS IN SUCH TIMES LIKE THESE
It is appropriate that our discourse/treatise on the above point/on our needs in times like these be begun by reminding us of what the times in which we live have for us, and what the Lord informs/says OUR NEEDS are.
The times in which we live (as before stated/articulated) are saturated with destabilizing, discouraging and demoralizing things designed solely to rubbish and remove from our hearts those glorious things which our incomparable Christian faith is teaching us to hold fast and practice. The language of these times; the loose lifestyle and freedom to sin in the villages, towns and cities of this world; the pornography; the absurd entertainment programs; the killer fashion on display; the messed up marriage institution through divorce and remarriage, unmarried partnership and gay marriage; the friendlessness and insensitivity to others= plight; the indifference to anything God; the lesbianism and homosexuality; the promiscuous sexual behavior; the tribal or racial discrimination and it=s associated hatred; the tribal/racial or nation-to-nation conflicts; the science and technology and their gadgets; the AChristian@ religious doctrines of non-consciousness of sin and eternal security; the delusions of pseudo-Spirit charism, prayer ministries and the attendant manifestations; the motivational (only) sermons, though effective but unwholesome (I Timothy 6:3-5); the uncontrolled and careless AChristian@ life style; the manifestation of power without purity; etc, —– ALL seek daily to force us to abandon what the OLD PATH and the Ministry (Watchman Catholic Charismatic Renewal Movement) want us to cherish and hold fast.
In contrast to all the above the Lord insists and informs that OUR NEED in these same times is to turn and retain a people individually and collectively to make the rapture and become exemplary to others (Romans 1:8; I Thessalonians 1:5-8; II Thessalonians 3:9; I Timothy 4:12; Titus 2:7), and engaged in the business of making others to be raptured (Isaiah 49:5-6; Luke 2:32). And this happens to be the man of God=s Mountain that he has asked from the Lord, which He has promised to grant/give him (Joshua 14:6-7, 12-14). Remember, the Lord does not (and will not) demand a thing from His people which is not possible/tenable/feasible (James 1:13). Therefore it is 100% possible for us to be what God has declared/commanded that we should be.
Now, the question is, how does the Lord want to meet OUR NEEDS, that is, achieve what He has designed that we be? The arrangement is to pass us through ISAIAH=S EXPERIENCE AT THE THRONE this time around (Isaiah 6:1-5).