Infinite Fellowship Ministries

The Intricacy Of The Confederate Man On The Throne Of His Corporate Element – Part 2: Sermon By Bishop Gobanga

Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year, in the fourth month, on the fifth day of the month, as I was among the captives by the River Chebar, that the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God. On the fifth day of the month, which was in the fifth year of King Jehoiachin’s captivity, the word of the Lord came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the River Chebar; and the hand of the Lord was upon him there.

Then I looked, and behold, a whirlwind was coming out of the north, a great cloud with raging fire engulfing itself; and brightness was all around it and radiating out of its midst like the color of amber, out of the midst of the fire. Also from within it came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings. Their legs were straight, and the soles of their feet were like the soles of calves’ feet. They sparkled like the color of burnished bronze. The hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides; and each of the four had faces and wings. Their wings touched one another. The creatures did not turn when they went, but each one went straight forward.

As for the likeness of their faces, each had the face of a man; each of the four had the face of a lion on the right side, each of the four had the face of an ox on the left side, and each of the four had the face of an eagle. Thus were their faces. Their wings stretched upward; two wings of each one touched one another, and two covered their bodies. And each one went straight forward; they went wherever the spirit wanted to go, and they did not turn when they went. As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches going back and forth among the living creatures. The fire was bright, and out of the fire went lightning. And the living creatures ran back and forth, in appearance like a flash of lightning.

Now as I looked at the living creatures, behold, a wheel was on the earth beside each living creature with its four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their workings was like the color of beryl, and all four had the same likeness. The appearance of their workings was, as it were, a wheel in the middle of a wheel. When they moved, they went toward any one of four directions; they did not turn aside when they went. As for their rims, they were so high they were awesome; and their rims were full of eyes, all around the four of them. When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. Wherever the spirit wanted to go, they went, because there the spirit went; and the wheels were lifted together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels. When those went, these went; when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up together with them, for the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.

The likeness of the firmament above the heads of the living creatures was like the color of an awesome crystal, stretched out over their heads. And under the firmament their wings spread out straight, one toward another. Each one had two which covered one side, and each one had two which covered the other side of the body. When they went, I heard the noise of their wings, like the noise of many waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a tumult like the noise of an army; and when they stood still, they let down their wings. A voice came from above the firmament that was over their heads; whenever they stood, they let down their wings.

And above the firmament over their heads was the likeness of a throne, in appearance like a sapphire stone; on the likeness of the throne was a likeness with the appearance of a man high above it. Also from the appearance of His waist and upward I saw, as it were, the color of amber with the appearance of fire all around within it; and from the appearance of His waist and downward I saw, as it were, the appearance of fire with brightness all around. Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. So when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of One speaking.

Ezekiel 1:1-28 (NKJV)

God is not singular. The confederate man on the throne of God is the actualization of the corporate expression of God. God has always desired to fraternize with man to ensure the fullness of His manifestation finds expression on earth.

The vision that Ezekiel had is in a figurative form of language. God uses apocalyptic language to show that He is superlative and omniscient in nature. He knows the most consummate way of communicating Himself. God communicates how He does to conceal certain things from those that are proud.

Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have established strength because of Your foes, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger. 

Psalm 8:2 (AMPC)

The 4 living creatures are a corporate rendition of the confederate man on the throne.

We should not be caught up in the means that God uses to communicate but rather be caught up in what the Lord communicates.

We shouldn’t be caught up in revelatory streams that God reveals otherwise we will miss out on relationship with God.

A time will come, however, indeed it is already here, when the true (genuine) worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth (reality); for the Father is seeking just such people as these as His worshipers.God is a Spirit (a spiritual Being) and those who worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth (reality).

John 4:23-24 (AMPC)

God is spirit and certain human terms cannot fully convey His glory.

The account of prophet Ezekiel is not a fairy tale. Ezekiel was a real man who existed in his time as a descendant of the Aaronic priesthood. Ezekiel was not out of his mind.

Walking in the dimension of vision and dreams is a reality in the Kingdom of God. Ezekiel was being raised as God’s communication agent to convey God’s heart and mind to His generation.

In prophetic lingo, whenever there is fire, cloud or a whirlwind, it typifies the glory of God and His presence.

According to Scripture, the North depicted the aboard of God cf. Isaiah 13. But it is important to note that heaven is a progression of revelation within the context of divine consciousness in so far as eternal purpose is concerned. The 24 elders continually bow and adore the Father in His progressive revelation of Himself.

Heaven is not a physical location. Heaven is heaven because of the divine.

God revealed Himself to Ezekiel as He was visiting His people to mete judgement to them for apostasy. The living creatures were not fictitious creatures. These were real beings. They are creatures with a unique appearance to display attributes of the Divine.

The 4 living creature had 4 appearances. One was a human appearance. The other 3 appearances were of the face of a lion, eagle and ox to denote other expressions that man is to have.

The creatures were to represent the confederate man on the throne of his corporate element. These living creatures were not men but had the physical appearance of a man. God is one and has revealed Himself in 3 persons. The creatures communicated something about God as they had the appearance of a man. God also has a physical form.

The four faces capture the appearance of one being with four different expressions; capturing the diversity of God’s creation.

The 4 living creatures in the vision kept to their course. There was nothing erratic or chaotic about them. Likewise, we are to be diverse and unique but there should be no confusion.

In the same way, God will always be moving forward and never backward no matter what confusion or challenges we go through. Not everything is demonic. There are challenges that are divine.

God always has the end in mind. He allows challenges because He is moving forward and never backward.

Do not conform to what everyone else is doing. What works for another may not work for you. We may not understand things the same way but it does not mean we are enemies. It is diversity.

The enemy has used our diversity to divide the Church. God wants us to embrace our diversity as individuals.

The 4 living creatures may have looked the same but each face was facing a different direction. They were in essence distinct. They were all positioned differently but in the same formation around the throne.

We are at different levels of maturity in the Body of Christ, which doesn’t mean that anyone is better than another.

The spirit of the creatures was hidden within the wheel. It is important to understand that the movement the 4 living creatures represents the Divinity of the person of the Holy Ghost. The living creatures moved according to the Holy Spirit’s will. We have a body but it shouldn’t strive with our spirit man. It is possible to bring your flesh under the obedience of Christ and defeat your carnal nature. As long as we move by the will of the Holy Spirit, there will be no confusion.

The 4 faces of the living creatures symbolize the Sovereignty of God over all creation. God has complete control over all the works of creation. He has oversight in happenings in the North, South, East and West. No matter what is taking place in our country or in the global scene, God remains sovereign. God’s sovereignty isn’t diluted by events that happen that may be negative.

The movement of these creatures demonstrates the divinity of the person of the Holy Ghost. They did not move out of their own will but that of God. We should each flow in the direction that the Holy Spirit is flowing. When you walk with God, you may not be understood by others. Sometimes God will give you certain revelation regarding your life and not even a pastor can confirm.

As much as the 4 living creatures were moving fast, there was no confusion. At times, the Lord takes us at lightning speed. Other times, the Lord is slow with us. Ours is to keep in step with what the Holy Spirit is doing in our lives.

Transition can be painful, hasty and confusing. Many times, opposition precedes transition. If it is of God, it will land you on the right place when you obey. Your transition will suffice you and the generation God is calling you to. 

Paul and Barnabas fell out because of John Mark who was a cousin to Barnabas.  Barnabas brought up John Mark. In the fall out, God dealt with the 3 individuals separately and much later, Paul appreciated John Mark’s ministry. God is Sovereign. He may want to separate individuals by bringing enmity between them so that He can work on the individuals. It is important to appreciate each other and give each other the benefit of doubt when you don’t understand each other as brethren. 

In Ezekiel’s vision, there were eyes that appeared in the wheel within the wheel, not on the living creatures denoting divine intelligence as well as great knowledge.

In the Body of Christ, we all know in part. No single person knows everything. God never gave the whole of Himself to a single individual. The epitome of revelation is hidden in Christ and not in individual persons.

It is for this reason that we need to embrace the Body of Christ. It is the vehicle that can handle the fullness of the glory of God. 

May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]. 

[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]. 

Ephesians 3:16-20 (AMPC)

We need to understand times and seasons as revelation changes per time and season. The movement of the living creatures was according to God’s purpose and will. When God calls you and begins to raise you, He expects you to move according to His will for your life in so far as time and season is concerned. A sermon preached in a year to come would have a different revelation to meet the needs of the people in that season.

The living creatures were moving in accordance with the purpose that God gave them. The spirit of the creature was in the wheel. As a believer, when God calls you He expects you to flow in concert with what He has ordained. One ought to know what strategy and pattern God has ordained in a particular season.

You shouldn’t create a monument over the pattern God has revealed in a previous season. God defines things differently in different seasons. God gives a proceeding word applicable in a particular season. The proceeding word is the ignition and essence of God for a set time and season. Because we prophesy in part, we should submit ourselves one to another to reinforce certain things about purpose.

The 4 living creatures were positioned on a moving chariot symbolizing the purpose of God and the executions of His governmental dealings on earth.

The movement of the 4 living creatures was to fulfill God’s will. When it comes to God’s purpose, obedience is key.

Each creature was connected to a particular wheel. There is a specific mode of transport and mode of speed insofar as the will of God is concerned.

In Ezekiel’s vision, there was the appearance of a throne and a man (the confederate man or Christ). God the Son has always had a physical form before time. This appearance was celestial appearing like He was on fire to denote a Holy God. God dwells in unapproachable light. He is a consuming fire.

Christ had to manifest as a man to Ezekiel because as human beings, we are finite beings. In the vision, God was depicted as having a physical form for Ezekiel to know who he was dealing with. If God appears in certain forms, we may be frightened because of our finite nature.

We should not get caught up in visions but in the applicability of what God communicates through the vision.