Creating a Mercy Seat

by Paul Bishop | Jul 21, 2019

The mercy seat

Exodus 25:17-22 NKJV [17] “You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold; two and a half cubits shall be its length and a cubit and a half its width. [18] And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work you shall make them at the two ends of the mercy seat. [19] Make one cherub at one end, and the other cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim at the two ends of it of one piece with the mercy seat. [20] And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. [21] You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you. [22] And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.

Diversity- celebrated; Comparison- denied

2 Corinthians 10:12 NKJV [12] For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

The power of two

Ezekiel 37:1-14 NKJV

[1] The hand of the LORD came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. [2] Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. [3] And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.”

[4] Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD! [5] Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live.

[6] I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the LORD.”‘” [7] So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to his bone.

[8] Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them. [9] Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”‘” [10] So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army. [11] Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’

[12] Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. [13] Then you shall know that I am the LORD, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. [14] I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the LORD, have spoken it and performed it,” says the LORD.'”

God doesn’t breathe life into disconnected bones.

“I ran out of that grave”

If God can change a person, He can change a church.

You will not change the world, we will.

The New Testament is written to US.

I’m calling on us to change our language to WE and US.

Check your joints.

Grease the joints. (Alemite)

Quit telling the I Am, I’m NOT.

John 11:38-44 NKJV

[38] Then Jesus, again groaning in Himself, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. [39] Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” [40] Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” [41] Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. [42] And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” [43] Now when He had said these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” [44] And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes, and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him, and let him go.”

IF YOU CAN’T RAISE THE DEAD YOU CAN ROLL A STONE

IF YOU CAN’T RAISE THE DEAD YOU CAN REMOVE GRAVE CLOTHES

ARC

The River CAN offer marriage mentoring.

The River CAN offer discipleship.

The River CAN teach youth on Wednesday night.

The River CAN teach children on Sunday.

The River CAN pray for and correspond to the incarcerated church.

The River CAN provide helpful services with parking attendants and nursery staff and greeters.

A professional can clean the church.

A millionaire can clean a toilet.

WWJD