Audio Download

“Journey Through the Kingdom to God’s Throne” – Part 6

The Throne Above the Mercy Seat – God’s Presence

[Study Aired Dec 10, 2024]

Introduction

In our journey through the kingdom, from the outer courts through the temple and beyond the veil, we arrive at the ultimate destination: the throne above the mercy seat. Here, the physical pattern reveals how God establishes His authority. As Moses recorded, “And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony” (Exodus 25:22).

This pattern points to a profound spiritual reality. Just as God’s presence dwelt between the cherubim, His authority now works through Christ within His people. The prophet Zechariah saw this: “he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne” (Zechariah 6:13). Solomon recognized the magnitude of this truth when he prayed, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?” (1 Kings 8:27).

Christ Manifesting God’s Authority

God’s authority manifests through Christ in several key ways. First, it changes our understanding of authority itself. Instead of external command, we experience internal life. King David captured this reality: “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). The prophet Micah saw this power: “But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin” (Micah 3:8).

Second, it establishes truth within us. The prophet Isaiah described this: “And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner anymore, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:20-21).

Third, it empowers us from within. The prophet Jeremiah revealed this internal work: “After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me” (Jeremiah 31:33-34). Through this internal operation, God produces what external law could never accomplish.

Fourth, it establishes a new relationship with God. The psalmist experienced this: “When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek” (Psalm 27:8). This direct communion flows from God’s spirit, leading Asaph to declare: “Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee” (Psalm 73:25).

The prophets foresaw this new relationship. Through Isaiah, God declared: “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). Through Ezekiel He promised: “And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes” (Ezekiel 36:27). These promises reveal how God would manifest His authority through a direct, living relationship with His people.

This new expression of God’s authority brings wisdom and understanding that natural ability cannot achieve. Solomon described this wisdom: “When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee” (Proverbs 2:10-11). This wisdom comes through knowing God’s mind and ways through His spirit working in us. This wisdom leads us to surrender to His authority.

Authority Through Surrender

The yielding of our will to God’s authority comes through His causing us to submit. The prophet Jeremiah understood this when he prayed: “Turn thou me, and I shall be turned; for thou art the LORD my God. Surely after that I was turned, I repented” (Jeremiah 31:18-19). This shows that even our turning to God comes through His work.

King Nebuchadnezzar learned this lesson of surrender through God’s humbling: “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth forever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?” (Daniel 4:34-35).

The prophet Isaiah saw how God works this surrender: “O LORD our God, other lords beside thee have had dominion over us: but by thee only will we make mention of thy name” (Isaiah 26:13). King David experienced this same work: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power” (Psalm 110:1-3).

This surrender comes not through our own strength but through God’s spirit working in us. The prophet Ezekiel revealed this truth: “And I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within you; and I will take the stony heart out of their flesh, and will give them a heart of flesh: That they may walk in my statutes, and keep mine ordinances, and do them: and they shall be my people, and I will be their God” (Ezekiel 11:19-20).

Through this work of surrender, we begin to experience the practical outworking of God’s authority in our daily lives. As the prophet Hosea declared, “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:3).

Living Under God’s Authority Through Christ

The practical outworking of God’s authority affects every aspect of our lives. The prophet Hosea captured this all-encompassing influence: “Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth” (Hosea 6:3). King David testified to this experiential reality: “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).

Through His spirit, God produces specific fruit in our lives. The prophet Isaiah described this work: “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD” (Isaiah 11:2). Solomon observed this provision: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous; he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Proverbs 2:6-7).

God’s authority transforms our vision. The psalmist understood this changed sight: “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalm 119:18). Elisha’s servant experienced this transformed vision: “And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha” (2 Kings 6:17).

Authority Through Testing

God establishes His authority through testing and trials that reveal our dependence on Him. Abraham experienced this when God commanded: “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of” (Genesis 22:2). Through such tests, we learn complete reliance on God’s authority.

Joseph’s testing in Egypt reveals how God works through difficult circumstances: “Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him” (Psalm 105:19). Through years of slavery and imprisonment, Joseph learned submission to God’s authority, eventually declaring to his brothers: “ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Genesis 50:20).

King Hezekiah’s experience shows how God proves His authority in our lives: “Howbeit in the business of the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, who sent unto him to enquire of the wonder that was done in the land, God left him, to try him, that he might know all that was in his heart” (2 Chronicles 32:31). Such testing reveals what truly rules our hearts.

The prophet Zechariah saw how this refining process works: “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God” (Zechariah 13:9). Through testing, God establishes His authority in ways that prosperity never could. Once proven through testing, this authority begins to manifest both inwardly and outwardly.

Manifesting His Authority

God’s authority shows itself publicly through those who have been proven through testing. The prophet Samuel demonstrated this: “And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD” (1 Samuel 3:20-21).

Just as Moses’ face shone after being with God, His authority radiates through tested vessels: “And Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him” (Exodus 34:29-30). This outward manifestation flows naturally from submission to God’s authority.

The prophet Daniel exemplified how God’s authority becomes evident even to unbelievers: “Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm” (Daniel 6:3). Like Joseph in Egypt, Daniel’s submission to God’s authority was recognized even by those who didn’t know God.

This manifestation brings both blessing and opposition. Queen Esther faced this reality when declaring, “and if I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Through yielding to God’s authority, salvation came to His people. Similarly, Nehemiah encountered resistance while rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls, yet declared “The God of heaven, he will prosper us; therefore we his servants will arise and build” (Nehemiah 2:20).

Walking Daily Under God’s Authority

Learning to walk under God’s authority requires specific practices that flow from His spirit. The book of Job shows us this daily dependence: “My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food” (Job 23:11-12). King David sought this constant relationship: “My soul followeth hard after thee: thy right hand upholdeth me” (Psalm 63:8).

Our relationship with Scripture deepens through God’s spirit. The prophet Amos foresaw a time when spiritual hunger would surpass physical needs: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord GOD, that I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD” (Amos 8:11). The psalmist experienced this hunger: “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:10-11).

Prayer flows naturally as we submit to God’s authority. Hannah demonstrated this heart communion: “for I have poured out my soul before the LORD” (1 Samuel 1:15). The prophet Isaiah described this intimate fellowship: “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” (Isaiah 65:24).

Making decisions under God’s authority means depending on His wisdom. Solomon understood this: “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). The prophet Isaiah described this guidance: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left” (Isaiah 30:21). This daily walk leads to deeper awareness of His presence.

Living in God’s Presence

The practical implications of God’s authority profoundly affect our daily experience. Moses understood this reality when he declared, “For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?” (Deuteronomy 4:7). The psalmist Asaph captured this intimacy: “Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory” (Psalm 73:23-24).

From this place of intimacy, we learn God’s ways and purposes. The prophet Samuel demonstrated this learning process: “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19). King Solomon described this growing wisdom: “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly” (Proverbs 2:6-7).

Understanding our position under God’s authority changes how we function in daily life. The prophet Habakkuk expressed this transformed perspective: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places” (Habakkuk 3:18-19). This elevation above circumstances comes as we submit to His authority.

Regular communion with God transforms how we view all situations. Job learned this truth through trials: “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee” (Job 42:5). The psalmist described this changed perception: “In thy light shall we see light” (Psalm 36:9). Through His spirit, we gain God’s perspective on every circumstance. This awareness of His presence naturally leads to deeper communion.

Talking with God Through His Spirit

Understanding how we commune with God through His spirit transforms our concept of prayer. The prophet Samuel’s mother Hannah demonstrated this heart communion: “Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard” (1 Samuel 1:13). This internal communion surpasses external forms of prayer.

The spirit’s intercession flows from our union with Christ. King David experienced this intimate fellowship: “My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise” (Psalm 57:7). The prophet Isaiah described this direct access: “Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am” (Isaiah 58:9).

Our communication becomes natural and continuous as we yield to His authority. The prophet Jeremiah revealed this constant dialogue: “Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3). The psalmist lived in this continuous awareness: “Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice” (Psalm 55:17).

True prayer flows from Christ’s mind operating within us. The prophet Zephaniah foresaw this pure communion: “For then will I turn to the people a pure language, that they may all call upon the name of the LORD, to serve him with one consent” (Zephaniah 3:9). This purity of communion leads to deeper transformation through His authority.

Transformation Through God’s Authority

This walk under God’s authority produces deep internal transformation. The prophet Ezekiel saw this change: “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26). The psalmist spoke of this internal work: “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10).

Our old nature gives way to Christ’s nature as we are caused to yield to His indwelling life. The prophet Isaiah described this exchange: “To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah 61:3). Job witnessed this transformation: “But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).

The spirit’s work aligns our will with God’s purposes. Samuel captured this alignment when he declared, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22). The prophet Micah understood this internal reality: “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” (Micah 6:8).

This transformation affects how we relate to others. King Solomon described this changed perspective: “The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD” (Proverbs 16:1). The prophet Malachi saw how true relationship flows from God’s life within: “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name” (Malachi 3:16).

Conclusion

The throne above the mercy seat reveals God’s authority now manifested through Christ’s indwelling presence. The prophet Haggai foresaw this greater glory: “The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the LORD of hosts: and in this place will I give peace” (Haggai 2:9). This reality fulfills what the physical pattern foreshadowed – God dwelling with and in His people.

Living under God’s authority means yielding to Christ’s life within us. The prophet Isaiah captured this yielded life: “But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand” (Isaiah 64:8). This internal work surpasses external religious observance, as Hosea declared: “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).

The practical outworking of this authority touches every aspect of our lives. King David understood this complete influence: “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). The prophet Jeremiah experienced this internal guidance: “Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones” (Jeremiah 20:9).

As we conclude this study on God’s authority through Christ’s indwelling, let us remember the prophet Zechariah’s vision: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Looking ahead to our next study on “The Living Temple – Christ in You,” we anticipate discovering deeper dimensions of this reality, for as Solomon declared, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee” (1 Kings 8:27).

May we, like the prophet Isaiah, respond to this indwelling presence: “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me” (Isaiah 6:8). For in Christ, this reality of God’s authority expressed through His indwelling presence has become our daily experience and eternal privilege.

Next Study

Having explored God’s authority manifested through Christ’s indwelling presence, we next turn to examine an even deeper reality – that we are now God’s living temple. As Paul declares, “know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

Part 7, “The Living Temple – Christ in You,” will explore how the physical temple pattern finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ dwelling in His people. We’ll study how believers are “living stones, are built up a spiritual house” (1 Peter 2:5), and what it means that “Christ in you, [is] the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).

Join us as we discover how God’s promise “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (2 Corinthians 6:16) becomes living reality through Christ’s indwelling life. We’ll examine not only our individual experience as temples of God but also our corporate reality as “builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22).