Called as Cherubim

Inviting the Lord’s Presence and Kingdom

Called as Cherubim

Cherubim mean private servants or special servants. Each one of us could be the Lord’s special servant if we consecrate ourselves; want to know the Lord’s heart and feeling; and want to be continuously trained by the Lord. Cherubim are always in pair. This represents unity, team work, humility, submission, and love. You could be the Lord’s cherubim as in husband and wife, brother and sister, leader and worker, visionary and implementer, friends’ relationships, etc. Cherubim do not always consist of only 2 people but it can be a group of musicians and a group of singers. Yes, the meaning of being called as a cherub is very broad. Everyone should yearn to be cherubim as we can not walk by ourselves, we need brothers and sisters, and we need people around us so together we can accomplish the Lord’s will. Without the ability to love, complement, understanding each other, we will become desolate and are destine to fail in life. The more we grow, the easier it will be for us to understand, complement, help and work with others. There are 4 basic temperaments: melancholy is the thinker, phlegmatic is the peacemaker and usually is a very sweet person, choleric is the visionary hard worker, and sanguine is the cheerful one, the entertainer and everybody’s friend. If we do not understand that we all have different tendencies and natures, we will become judgmental, angry and constantly demanding. The ability to succeed depends on how well we can cooperate. 

Cooperation creates masterpiece

Genesis 11:6 And the Lord said, “Behold, they are one people, and they have all one language, and this is only the beginning of what they will do. And nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them” (English Standard Version 2001).

Truthfully, becoming a cherub holds a huge secret, in that we will succeed in everything that we do. One of the cherubim’s images in praise and worship is the couple dance. A picture of a cherub in the work place is a co-worker, friends, etc. Every cherub will create “dances of life” which means movement, maneuver, formation, breakthrough, masterpiece and conquering the world. In this book, what is referred to as the dance can be the dance itself or the “dance” of our lives.

Uniting Forces

Becoming Cherubim

The Lord had planned cherubim and had poured out His heart to Moses.  

“And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end. Of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another, toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be. There I will meet you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony, I will speak with you about all that I will give you in commandment for the people of Israel."

Exodus 25:18-20,22 (English Standard Version 2001)

That day, the Lord was talking to Moses about The Ark of Covenant which is a covenant and a symbol of His presence among the Israelites. The Ark was made from Acacia wood overlaid with gold. However when the Lord was talking about the cherub, He commanded him to make two cherubs. The Lord was saying that He desires unity in His presence. He also said that the cherub should be made from hammered gold. This means that cherub should be made of pure gold, and not to be mixed with wood or anything else. When the Lord calls us in our dance of life, He desires that every dance is filled with purity as gold and we as His dancers should be ready to be molded with His guidance so that what flows from our dances are the purity and the strength of His wondrous character and passionate love. Gold will become purer when it goes through a burning process, until it reaches a certain boiling point then the gas that contaminates it will evaporate and everything else than gold itself, including silver will start to separate. These impurities mean all the impurities in our heart such as anger, jealousy, competition and selfishness. Let’s ask the Lord to search our lives, does our dance come from our thankful heart, as our praise and love to the Lord or has our dance become a routine where we only dance out of habit and no longer do we dance out of love for Him. Up to a certain point, the Lord will discard all that seems valuable but He dislikes them such as our pride, our human ability. Until that purity has manifested in our lives and we become pure gold that can vividly reflect images. So when we dance, people will see the Lord Himself, His vision, His heart, His desire for the souls, His love and provided salvation, His  majesty and splendor, His holiness and life that flows out of His throne.

Cherubs should also spread both of their wings upward. These days, we are singing “take me flying with your wings of grace; support me to fulfill my destiny.” The Lord sets an amazing destiny in each of our lives and He gives many wings in our lives to care us through completion. There are wings of grace, wings of prayer, wings of faith, wings of righteousness, wings of glory, wings of life and many more that the Lord has provided. Wings are the symbols of strength to fly fulfilling all destinies in acceleration and higher than average. It was said that the wings touched each other which means hard work, teamwork and balance.

Ezekiel 10:5 And the sound of the wings of the cherubim was heard as far as the outer court, like the voice of God Almighty when he speaks. (English Standard Version 2001)

The strength of Cherubim’s wings was said to be like the voice of God Almighty when He speaks. From this verse, we understand that when cherubim move their wings and unite their power it is as if the Lord speaks. When the Lord speaks then everything is created, therefore every time we pray, dance, spread our wings, we are actually preaching the gospel and we believe everything that we dance for; pray for; speak of; and declare in unison will become flesh. It penetrates the spiritual world and becomes flesh.

Flying with His wings of grace

The call to be His cherub is not exclusive to dancers but it is for everyone. Cherub means a special servant or bodyguard. The Lord loves anyone who is willing to consecrate his/her life and become His special servant. When we are ready to go wherever the Lord told us to, then we become His vehicle. The Lord desires to touch His people but often He uses a vehicle or a tool, i.e. man.

Psalm 18:10 He rode on a cherub and flew, he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. (English Standard Version 2001)

Once we are willing, the Lord will use us as His tool to testify, sing, give flower, pray with accuracy until the Lord’s touch, healing, and family reconciliation takes place, and that means we have become His cherubim. Even a very ordinary person will be used by the Lord. A female seamstress who does our dancing robes was moved to pray for a paralyzed person in her neighborhood. In obedience, she went there and anointed the person’s feet. Within one night, that person out of the blue could walk. The Lord likes obedience and accuracy. He loves a person who dares to do anything even though it seems impossible. Let us be simple and always listen, so we can be His vehicle. However, the Lord will not share and talk to us if we do not have the same passion or interest. Sometimes the Lord longs to talk about His visitation, wonder, and miracle but we do not have the faith. Therefore, it is important to prepare our heart to become His speaking partners, the perfect companion for the Lord to pour out His desires and His heart’s contents. Harmonizing our rhythms, passion, beat and our motions with the Lord is very important. Without it we can not be what the psalmist expressed as deep calls unto deep nor can we tell about His visitation, love or anything at all. Sometimes as husband and wife, we do not have the unity of hearts nor the same passion thus cooperation is being blocked. This also applies to leader and subordinate, when they do not have the same passion it will be difficult to run fast. Dance symbolizes working together, a hand in hand cooperation between a leader and the subordinates.

Deep calls unto deep

Exodus 3:24 He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every where to guard the way to the tree of life. (English Standard Version 2001)

The Lord spoke and placed cherubim as guards with a flaming sword. Sometimes, the Lord asks us to be guardians of the city and of others. By praying for one another, declaring, and speaking the Words of God, we can be guard cherubim. Every time when something is going to happen in Bekasi, the Lord will always reveal it beforehand. There was one time where the Lord commanded to build a wall of praise and dance, by proclaiming the Words and lifting praises upon every house. A week later, a tornado suddenly hit several places in Bekasi. A slum housing area was hit; all was destroyed except for the houses of the children of the Lord who built the wall of praise. Their houses stood still even though the surrounding was not. That was the guardian cherubim with flaming sword which is the Word of God.

Psalm 99:1 The Lord is king! Let the nations tremble! He sits on his throne between the cherubim. Let the whole earth quake! (New Living Translation 2001)

The Lord sits enthroned upon the cherubim means when we set our heart in unity as cherubim then the Lord will be present. Unity in worship will invite and bring the Lord’s presence. The elders always throw their crowns in the presence of the Lord. When we worship and surrender our pride, comfort, laziness, achievement that is when we invite the Lord into our lives.

The power of Covenant

Hebrews 9:1-5 Now even the first covenant had regulations for worship and an earthly place of holiness. For a tent was prepared, the first section, in which were the lampstand and the table and the bread of the Presence. It is called the Holy Place. Behind the second curtain was a second section called the Most Holy Place, having the golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all side with gold, in which was a golden urn holding the manna, and Aaron’s staff that budded, and the tablets of the covenant. Above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the mercy seat. Of these things we cannot now speak in detail. (English Standard Version 2001)

Unanimity is the power of agreement and covenant. Because of covenant, Isaac, Jacob even the Israelites remain as God’s chosen people to this day, as the Lord can not break His promise nor abandon a covenant. Especially one consecrated by blood through the sacrificial of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit and strengthened by every Holy Communion, it just can not be cancelled or dishonored.

The cherubim dance represents eternal covenant. It talks about faithfulness, sacrifice, and covenant holding. Do not be afraid because when we are holding the Lord’s covenant we are bound to face many problems in our lives, but remember that we will never be forsaken, His helping hands are never late.

Ezekiel 10:13-14 As for the wheels, they were called as my hearing “the whirling wheels”. And every one had four faces: the first face was the face of the cherub, and the second face was a human face, and the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle. (English Standard Version 2001)

In the prophetic dance, cherubim dance with their wings and when they spin that movement is what is referred to as the whirling wheels. Whirling wheels are the force to clean up all of enemies’ power; a force to clean the atmosphere.

Cherub has 4 faces; they are a cherub, a human, a lion and an eagle. On one side, we as cherubim that cover each other, a faceless generation who worship the Lord and absorb from the Lord in everything that we do. Cherub also has a human face which was created in the Lord’s image that radiates His glory. The lion’s face symbolizes us as cherubim conquering island to island, from nation to nation for the glory of the Lord. Lion roars with strength to conquer his every enemy, to mark his every territory. The last face is the face of an eagle. As cherubim, we fly overcoming every storm. Becoming a cherub is not an easy path for each of us, but if we are willing we can ask for a gentle heart from the Lord and learn from Him. A heart that is able to be taught and molded and allowing His loving hands to carve our character and our wings to enable us to fly stronger and higher.

The Lord Who Takes Pleasures in Dances Very Much

Being called to dance for the Lord is a very precious calling. It can be interpreted as the dance of life or we serve as dancers or even when we dance in our own room for the Lord. It is a calling that can not be replaced by anything else. The Lord really takes pleasures in dances because when we dance, all our cells are moving in a rhythm to worship the Lord and with all of our power we love the Lord. Our every breath, even more our whole heart exalt His majesty, praising Him for His grace, blessing as well as His teaching that carve our lives. Every drop of our sweats become jewels devoted in His presence and brings souls to meet the Lord through every single one of our dance.

Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. (English Standard Version 2001)

The Lord has mood and great passion for dancing. When we dance, we are uniting music, beat, rhythm, body movement, facial expression and hearts. And every dance that is done in faith is a prophetic act from what we sing about. Prophetic act draws all spiritual realms into being. All that the Lord has prepared will soon be reality. We can fight, raid, intercede, and occupy a territory through prophetic dance.

Fighting and Raiding

When we fight through dancing that is accurately in line with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, in the spiritual realm the devil is really defeated and demolished because the Lord is Jehovah Nissi who never lets Himself defeated. It is stated in Song of Songs 6:13 that the Lord really loves the war dance.

Song of Songs 6:13 Return, return, O Shulammite, return, return, that we may look upon you. Why should you look upon the Shulammite, as upon a dance before two armies? (English Standard Version 2001)

In a war, cherubim should have a unity of hearts as Jonathan’s armor bearer.

1 Samuel 14:7 And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” (English Standard Version 2001)

The Lord also takes many pleasures in dances because when we are dancing for the Lord we are exercising our bodies, making our bodies healthy, and caring for our bodies as the Lord’s temple. Through dancing, we exercise every muscle, strength, balance, focus, rhythm, and so on. Let us understand and keep giving the best for the Lord because the Lord also takes pleasure in our training process.

1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (English Standard Version 2001)

Everyone can dance, from a king like David to an old lady like Miriam who danced with a tambourine. Dancing is not restricted to age or gender, we all can offer our dancing before the Lord.

Exodus 15:20 Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women went out after her with tambourines and dancing. (English Standard Version 2001)

2 Samuel 6:5 David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the LORD, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals. (New International Version 1984)

2 Samuel 6:14 And David danced before the LORD with all his might. And David was wearing a linen ephod. (English Standard Version 2001)

2 Samuel 6:16 As the ark of the LORD came into the city of David, Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. (English Standard Version 2001)

2 Samuel 6:21-22 And David said to Michal, “It was before the LORD, who chose me above your father and above all his house, to appoint me as prince over Israel, the people of the LORD – and I will make merry before the LORD I will make myself yet more contemptible than this, and I will be abased in your eyes. But by the female servants of whom you have spoken, with them I will be distinguished.” (English Standard Version 2001)

Whoever we are, we can dance before the Lord. However there is a certain point in time where He would allow us to be purified through fire so we will come out pure as gold. Both Miriam and David danced for the Lord and brought the whole nation to worship the Lord with dancing. It was said that when Miriam danced, all of the Israelites women danced, too. When King David danced then all Israelites also danced in before the Lord. However, it was specified that David danced with all his might and was willing to be more contemptible, and that brought David to the Lord’s favor. David understood what it means to give all, until there is nothing left to give. Let us give our best that touches the Lord’s heart and until we are sealed in His heart, just like David whose name was forever mentioned from generation to generation and from time to time.

Power and Surrender

These days, the Lord desires powerful dancing. The Lord also desires couple dance, it is the dance between a man and a woman to restore the wholeness, the fullness, the unity, and the holiness of men since the first time the Lord created them. When the Lord created man and woman, He desires for the two to become one, without unity it will never reach perfection. Some of the Lord’s natures are embedded in the man and some are imparted in the woman. When they work together, support and compliment each other, they will create explosions of amazing work, power and life. Both man and woman have their own strengths and they both have to unite in holiness, righteousness, rhythm and be submissive towards each other.

The Lord loves cherubim or unity dance. Everything that is beautiful comes from the Lord, and every mighty and glorious thing is born from His heart. The world has corrupted this couple dance but we are called to restore every dance back to the Lord using our body as the instruments of righteousness, and not of wickedness.

Romans 6:13 Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourself to God, as those who had been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. (New International Version 1984)

Some of us are born as dancers with beautiful and flexible body to dance. I, Nike, am not one of them as my body is quite stiff for a dancer. However calling is not only about ability or talent. Calling is also about the heart and the hard work of training oneself. I was called to dance for the Lord when I was in fourth grade. At that time, I did not have the right understanding, but it all just came out of the heart of a 9 year old who was willing to worship and to please the Lord. I kept dancing for the Lord until high school. Then everything stopped when I went to college, joined the workforce and started a family. Since I had stopped dancing, I felt there was something missing in my life. My intimacy with the Lord was going away and everything just became a routine. One morning, when I was about 20 years old, I woke up and all the joints in my legs had swollen and I could not walk at all. The doctor diagnosed me with arthritis and inflammation of the joints. I prayed and was on medication; sometimes it was better and sometimes it got worse. Until 2005 when I started ministering at Mahanaim and I felt the Lord’s great passion and heart for dancing pulled me back to it. Back then, dancing was a big struggle as my legs were still hurting. But I kept on dancing and fighting, I started training every cell of my body to keep dancing and worshiping the Lord in any condition. Without realizing it, my legs were healed and I can dance freely for the Lord. I have really learned that the Lord will do everything to lead us to our destiny. Every cell in our body has a destiny to dance for and to worship the Lord, when it stops all cells in our body will start to get disrupted. But when it returns to its destiny, restoration and double portion strength become ours by His grace and love.

In the couple dance, we cannot train separately and then to pair up at will. We need to synchronize the rhythm, the tempo, the lifting technique of one to another. And especially, we need to pray together. Because prophetic dance is not just about beautiful movement, all of our movements should carry meanings and when we execute it by faith it will accomplish many things in the spiritual realm. Therefore, when we pray and train together it will foster spiritual strength.

Life does not always run well, there are times where we see the strengths of our partner and there are times where we will see his/her weaknesses. Let us seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance in our response to every situation. From the very beginning, we never dance because of man’s idea or desire. We dance because of our obedience to the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Let us respond with the right heart that pleases the Lord. We are in the position of a cherub to become what the Lord wants. Spread our wings of prayer, spread our wings of faith. We exist to complement our brother/sister’s weakness; we exist to lend our shoulders as the foothold for our brother/sister to rise higher. That is why the Word of God says that the cherubim spread out their wings covering the mercy seat and also covering each other. Couple dance also talks about covering and being submissive toward each other.

Covering and being submissive toward each other

The Basic Relationship in Couple Dance

Couple dance is most ideal when performed by husband and wife, brother and sister, friends because the relationship already provides the basis for a more solid understanding in the couple dance. This dance is also a prophetic action from our relationship with the Lord. As cherubim, we are the Lord’s personal representatives and vehicles who are ready to do the Lord’s command. It is also a relationship between the Father and his child, the Father carries His child, lifts us up and takes us flying high, guides and teaches us. The Lord takes us to understand the relationship with Him as the King and His bride in the intimacy dance with passionate love and love in holiness. Our honor and worship as His bride. Also a relationship as working partner such as partners in horse riding to finish a war, partner to enlarge capacity, wisdom and ability to complete a destiny.

Parents sometimes fear that if their children get involved in couple dance, it might lead to courtship or impurity. But actually those who never dance with or touch the opposite sex are more vulnerable to fall into adultery. Couple dance trains and pushes us to focus on training our body; training our spirit, soul and body to be in sync; following the rhythm of the song; moving; all the while capturing the Lord’s heart where His spirit leads us, flowing in the dance. These dancers will unlikely to have impure thoughts during the dance as it will be quite a heavy load for the man to lift the woman while having to keep up with the rhythm or else they would fall. In the meantime the woman has to maintain a correct pose for the lift, because a wrong position will hurt them both. In every training and process the Lord alone will strengthen our body, soul and spirit.

Supporting each other

Father and Son

Couple dance describes our relationship with the Lord as Father and son. The Lord with His strong hands will lift us up when we fall, carry and take us into His perfect plan. The Father who teaches and trains us, and He always pull us up to His standard.

Isaiah 60:4-7 Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall thrill and exult, because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, the wealth of the nations shall come to you. A multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camel of Median and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold and frankincense, and shall bring good news, the praises of the Lord. All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you; the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you, they shall come up with acceptance on my altar, and I will beautify my beautiful house. (English Standard Version 2001)

He is the Father who heals all our wounds and gives us His amazing love. In Isaiah 60:4-7 lies a huge secret about couple dance. It says that your sons shall come from afar and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. When the relationship with the Father in heaven is restored, then the abundance and the wealth of the nations, the souls of Kedar and Nebaioth will all be offered to the Lord.

Because of that, every time we dance the couple dance, do not do it out of routine but out of faith, and believe that every time we dance by faith, we are channeling the spirit of restoring the Father’s heart that will create a path so the wealth and the souls of all nations are drawn into the majestic house of the Lord.

If we are not dancers, we still can ask for and hold on to this promise. Every time we are weak, we can ask to be carried by the Lord. And by faith, we will receive the Father’s love that brings restoration. Remember the story of the prodigal son, both sons were loved.Therefore believe there is a Father who always loves His children.

The supporting love of the Father

The King and His bride

The couple dance describes our honoring God and our love to Him as His bride, i.e. church to the Lord, the King and our Lover. We are like Esther who stood before the king for the salvation of her nation.

Ephesians 5:27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. (English Standard Version 2001)

In it, there is holy romance and harmony. The Lord wants us to experience everything not just based on what other people said or testified. Starting from a very young age, Mrs. Iin Tjipto Purnama had asked to be made in love with only the Lord, to know His passion, His heart, to be in sync with His beat and rhythm. The Lord heard her prayer and answered her by giving many surprises and miraculous gifts. Starting from giving her blue roses and telling other people to send her earrings, necklace, expensive watch and all were intimate and romantic. Ever since she started sharing many of her testimonies, many people have started to pray and many experienced intimacy with the Lord, also amazing experiences from the Lord testifying His love for His bride. Some even dreamed or received a vision of dancing with Jesus our Savior. Yes, His love is amazing.

Song of Songs 8:6 Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the Lord. (English Standard Version 2001)

The King and His bride

Co-worker

Isaiah 21:7,9 When he sees riders, horsemen in pairs, riders on donkeys, riders on camels. Let the watchman be fully alert. And behold, here come riders, horsemen in pairs!” And he answered, “Fallen, fallen is Babylon; and all the carved images of her gods he has shattered to the ground.” (English Standard Version 2001)

The couple dance is like horsemen in pairs as mentioned in the above verse. Chariot is always driven by two people because it is drawn by many horses therefore it cannot be driven by one person only. These two riders will alternately lead and always with one purpose in unison driving this war chariot. This chariot and its riders do not run by itself but it also has to be in unison with the other chariots in the troop. As co-worker, we support, strengthen each other and cover each other weaknesses. And be as it may that in the great army which is the army of the Lord, our chariot is ready in the right position, speed, accuracy and in full power. Also as co-workers we are called to unite our wisdom and abilities to accomplish our duty, our destiny and the calling in our life.

In general, men are more focused so once they love a job they usually will create masterpieces, one of the examples that we can see is many great chefs are men. However management is usually mastered by women. They are born with the ability of multitasking, being thorough and detail oriented. If these abilities are combined, it will amazingly create goodness, power and spectacular things. A man and woman never work nor think the same way but they complement each other. That’s why couple dance teaches tolerance, understanding and getting to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This must be implemented in family, work and ministry.

Completing a duty with full power

Characters that the Lord wants in a Cherub

1.    Strong

In the couple dance there are many lifting techniques. This dance describes how the Lord always supports us, lifts us up with His strong hands and never lets us fall. In this dance, the male dancer must lift the female dancer; during training it is not as easy as it looks. Sometimes hands could be sprained or the female might fall, stepped on the foot, and many other challenges.

Deuteronomy 33:27 The eternal God is your dwelling place, and his everlasting arms are under you. And he thrust out the enemy before you and said, Destroy. (English Standard Version 2001)

In the couple dance, it is not just the physical strength, but the spiritual strength also needs to be improved by praying together.

Zechariah 4:6 Then he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. (English Standard Version 2001)

It is the Lord’s desire for every single one of His children to grow stronger by the day and in every aspects. Great physical strength to minister, great spiritual strength for the battle and in faith. How we can build our strengths, that is through prayers and quiet time, by reading the Word of God, listening to sermon recordings, and having personal experience of walking with the Lord, all in addition to taking care of our physical and spiritual health.

The coming of the Lord is near, but there are still many works to be done. Do not give up and grow weary. Let’s strengthen our hands to work. Strengthen our faith to not give up and keep on believing, even when there is no ground for hoping just as Abraham did, he remained hopeful. Strengthen our love and do not loose heart in this end of times. Strengthen your wings of prayer to breakthrough every impossibilities and fly in wonders.

Strength

2.    Courageous

1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. (English Standard Version 2001)

Following the Lord without boldness, shamelessness, being daring to give even when it hurts, daring to believe, then we will never see miracles nor victory from the Lord. Let’s be courageous to get back up again when we fall.

In couple dance, the courage to try is very important; believe that our partner will do his/her best. Never give up trying new motions or techniques. It only needs training. The more we practice; the easier, quicker and more accurate it will be.

Courage

3.    Balance

In our dance of life, be it as couple dance’s cherubim, or as a worker cherub, or as a praise and worship cherub, balance is very important. There should be a balance between work and rest; love and discipline; praise and correction; work and surrender; wanting to give the best but there is a limit. Without balance things will fall down. Just like an airplane needs balance so does a bird need balance while flying. Many servants fall and families break because of imbalances. We have to learn a lot about balance.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. (English Standard Version 2001)

Balanced in soul, mind and body

4.    Focus

2 Chronicles 20:12b We do not know what to do but our eyes are on You.” (English Standard Version 2001)

If our eyes are not on the Lord then we will be disappointed with the situation, by our cherub’s partner and everything else. This disappointment will make us to give up and leave this calling. Sometimes the devil makes us see and focus on the failure, a situation that makes us disappointed and angry. But let us focus on the Lord who always provides an answer and a way out. The Lord who gives understanding and teaches us in every step of the way so that by grace we can complete and finish strong till the end. Look into His eyes that are full with power, flame and life.

Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. (English Standard Version 2001)

Eyes that are focused on the Lord

5.    Accurate

As a cherub, the Lord desires for us to absorb from Him and do exactly as He commands it.

Genesis 6:22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him. (English Standard Version 2001)

Doing the Lord’s commands at the right time, the right way and the right communication. If we don’t follow His commands, everything could be very dangerous or could bring destruction and failure. Therefore, we need to ask for the spirit of accuracy.

Exodus 36:1 “Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whom the LORD has put skill and intelligence to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary shall work in accordance with all that the LORD has commanded” (English Standard Version 2001)

Accuracy of an arrow

6.    Unity and Unanimity

John 17:21-23 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (English Standard Version 2001)

Unity is not uniformity. If we want the same way of thinking then it is not unity. Unity can be described as eyes and mouth; everything is different but united in one body and under one order from the head. We all are one body and the head is Jesus. Differences always exist and must be brought to Jesus. Unity is differences that complete, it is a mutually benefiting and it brings power. The Bible said that 1 person defeats 1,000 and 2 defeat 10,000. Look at the amazing multiplication once we rightly merge and unite. Husband, wife, child, leader and subordinate will always be different to our expectation. But always remember that their existence is to complete us.

Deuteronomy 32:30 How could one has chased a thousand, and two have put ten thousand to fight, unless their Rock has sold them, And the LORD had given them up? (English Standard Version 2001)

Unanimity

7.    One rhythm

Many people are not in rhythm with the Lord. The Lord wants to stop, he still plays. At night the Lord wants to speak, but we sleep. The Lord wants to run, we are tired. These finally make the Lord deals with other people who are willing to capture His rhythm. Let us learn to capture the Lord’s heart and rhythm. Let every dance of our life and steps follow the desires and the passion of His heart.

Romans 12:16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. (English Standard Version 2001)

In the couple dance it is required to have a heart that is willing to be in one rhythm with the Lord and one another. Setting off all differences to make one beautiful harmony.

1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. (English Standard Version 2001)

One Rhythm

Testimony

Stephen and Nike

The Lord brought us into dance ministry at the very young age. The first time Stephen learned to play the banner was at the age of 9. The same also goes for Nike, she started her tambourine ministry at the age of 9. Our age difference is 15 years. We saw a great destiny that the Lord put in this couple dance. We felt this couple dance is like combining power. We learn to respond in dance, spirit and in the creation according to the Lord’s will. In our cherubim partnering our strongest end is as a visionary and implementer.

For me (Stephen), dance is a way to touch the spiritual and turn it into flesh. I had experienced many lessons, experiences and amazing events through dancing. The most valuable lesson is when I was taught to understand the Lord’s heart and feeling. It was an amazing grace when we knew what our Lord loves and desires. One of the things that the Lord loves is dancing. When I danced wholeheartedly and with all my strength, I experienced many supernatural things. It began with a vision of this huge wings covering me. Then I felt a great power pressing my body until I fell down. However, I also experienced many things in the physical realm. I experienced a continuous flow of the Lord’s favor flooding my life. So many blessings, facilities and goodness from the Lord were experienced by me. There was even a time when God highly elevated me. It was never because of my own goodness or my prowess. But it was solely by His grace and mercy only. Even until today, if the Lord’s heart is still in this dancing and He is pleased with our offering, it still is an amazing grace that the Lord gives to us.

I, Nike, am very grateful for the opportunity given by the Lord and for His heart that is always poured out for us, His dancers. It is a blessing, that makes me keep on giving thanks if I can still dance before the Lord. This calling is very precious for me. Since joining this couple dance, I learned to understand more about the Lord’s mood and feeling. I learned that every person has a different calling and that prophetic action can affect many things. Stephen has a calling as king and he is the symbol to enter the Solomon’s era. And the Lord called me as the daughter of Zion; I had lived in Cirebon for almost 22 years before moving to Bekasi. One day there was a revival service in Cirebon, whose name is now changed to Zion. During our dance rehearsal, we lifted up a flaming cross. That day, Mr. Petrus Agung approached me and said “Be careful when you lift up the cross, lest you might be taken to the cross.”  At that moment, I did not understand what he meant. Not long after we finished our rehearsal, we heard that there were several parties who did not approve of our revival event. Finally, the event was moved to GBI Calvary. The cross that we lifted not at the right time nor the right dance nor with the right person apparently resulted in a horrible event. And the Lord wanted to reveal that not even one detail in the dance routine was a made up one and every dance movement carries something in the spiritual realm. That day, we made a mistake and really repented before the Lord because of the wrong prophetic action. That revival event which should had been an acceleration entrance to David and Solomon’s eras with Stephen as the symbol of Solomon’s era and I who had lived in Cirebon/Zion, we did not stand for that city but instead we did the wrong prophetic action. We are here today because of the Lord’s mercy, covenant and favor. We keep wanting to be cherubim and finish the Lord’s will. We give thanks for the Lord’s love that always supports and guarantees us. Let every dance and prophetic action fulfill the Lord’s desires for the souls and the harvest in Indonesia and in the world. David’s tent will be restored and more dancers will be in one rhythm and beat with the Lord. Finish Strong!

Erick and Kezia

Before joining couple dance, Kezia only danced with a tambourine and other dancing tools; while Erick started as a banner dancer. And it didn’t feel that powerful, because after we tried the couple dance we were able to feel what is a powerful dance and what is not, because there are many challenging and eye catching motions that can affect a dance when we dance as couple. What we learned for the male dancer, I (Erick) have to push my physique to be strong to lift my partner. It is never easy to lift a woman because I often experienced many sprained muscles. Many times I get stepped on the foot, and suffer back pain. So it can be said as very demanding physically. Spiritually, the male dancer describes the Lord who has the power to lift us, control and support our lives, the loving Lord and the Lord that guarantees. As for the female, her waist is often hurt because when she is lifted up her waist has to be tightly gripped to prevent her from falling, her knees bruised, her hands sprained and her feet are stepped on. And when learning new moves, female partner will fall repeatedly. Spiritually, female describes us as man who always will be lifted up, receives love, guarantee and favor. Perhaps for most people, the couple dance is an unholy dance, however if that person has performed the couple dance him/herself, he/she will realize that the male dancer cannot think unholy thoughts because he has to concentrate so he will not drop his partner. As for the female partner, she has to concentrate on lightening her body. As couple dancer, they have to concentrate on the tempo, with blocking, and on accurate dancing according to the Lord’s desire. Actually there are many challenges in the couple dance but we want to bless others through our dancing. We would like to present heavenly dance that is different from the world. We always desire a strong presence of the Lord in every dance of ours; there is no beauty in a dance if it is not in tune with the heart of the King. We pray that there will be as many couple dance as possible in Indonesia and in the world that will color this world with heavenly dances.

Timothy and Sita

Sita:

In the past, I dreamed to study in Australia but after graduating from high school the Lord suddenly asked how about you ministering in tambourine ministry? At that time, I didn’t even know what a tambourine was. So I researched about tambourine and dancing; and I started to join the dance team in a church where I worshiped. Then I took a more serious step in my calling to study tambourine in Malaysia, but when I asked for my parents’ permission, that time my father said he did not have the money and did not really approve of dance ministry. For him, dance school had no future and could not generate anything especially when it was only for ministering in church. Finally he said if I wanted to study then I had to use my own savings. I walked in faith, went alone to Malaysia to study tambourine, lived there with friends from neighboring countries for 3 months with the available money. But the Lord proved that HE is the GOD that provides. After 3 months, I came home and the miracle was my savings remained plentiful. Once there was an event in December in Semarang, our Mahanaim team was asked to dance in the closing service that morning. That day I had a high fever, 38 degree Celsius. That morning I reported to my leader and was prayed for. Actually, she let me decide whether I wanted to rest and not perform the dance. But in my heart, the Holy Spirit told me to complete what needed to be completed. At that time, I decided to keep on dancing with high fever condition because my haemoglobin count had dropped. I only said to the Lord “Lord even if YOU call me home today, at least I am coming home in a position of serving and dancing for YOU.”  And I kept dancing until the end of the service. After the event I was hospitalized with the haemoglobin count of 2.5. However, before the Lord it was my best dance and a sweet offering because I danced not with my power but by the power of the Lord. Dancing could not be exchanged with anything, not even with my own life.

Couple dance multiplied my power because I knew my physical limit and with a medical background of having been healed from thalassemia. Through couple dance, my movement and flexibility have improved. I even become more courageous to try difficult moves that I could not perform before. We were called as rainbow cherubim because every time we spin there is a rainbow or the Lord’s promise that flowed out of our dancing. Our age gap is very big but we try to complement each other. This meant being submissive and complementing each other. My dance partner also increased his strength physically and spiritually to be able to lift me in the difficult dances and motions.

Yudha and Sasa

Before doing the cherubim dance, Sasa danced with the flag and Yudha danced with the banner. We never thought of doing the cherubim dance until there was an event at Mahanaim which required one. At first Yudha was chosen to dance with someone else but there was a change in the pairing that finally put Sasa and Yudha as the cherubim pair. At first there was nothing special and we thought it was difficult, in the past we mainly only kneeled down and did not perform many movements. Until one day, aunt Iin addressed the problem in our existing dance moves. So we trained over times to improve our dancing, little by little. Even to this day, we are still testing new moves. As the time goes by, we were not just training our skill but also our spirits. We also learned what cherubim really are, their functions, and what tools they use. We have different types of cherub. Sasa is a war cherub but Yudha is an authority cherub, but we did not settle for that. We tried to combine the authority cherub and the war cherub; because there lies greater power. We learned that cherubim are not just bringing the Lord’s presence or just standing still next to the throne but cherubim are useful to clear out the atmosphere, and also to symbolize intimacy, cherub can also be used as a vehicle for the Lord. Cherubim are different from seraphim, seraphim has 6 wings. 2 covers the head, 2 covers the feet and 2 are for flying. Actually they are almost similar, the difference is in their function, a cherub is to go down to Earth, while a seraph only stays in Heaven and cannot go down to Earth. Cherub has 4 faces but a seraph’s face is covered by their wings. Aunt Iin said that the Lord loves spinning, so we spin a lot and spinning can clear up the atmosphere, too. It’s been almost 2 years that we have been cherubim and we never grow tired of it. But we keep on trying to improve our skill and to learn more about cherubim. In life, we have become more colorful and are growing in the Lord.

Interviews

Timothy and Gabriel

Gaby:

1. Tell us how did the Lord pull you into the couple dance?

How the Lord led me into dance ministry is actually only by grace, since I was at a very young age I have already loved dancing, even since kindergarten I have participated in dancing competitions. Until the time when there was an extra curriculum in my school. I joined the dance team, I really enjoyed it, and I was very passionate about it. But it was only for regular performance. I did not yet know how to dance for the Lord. Until one day, I started to get involved in a ministry. And I started to learn everything from tambourine, banner, modern dance, etc.  Then I started to dance in services. Then not long after the couple dance was being introduced. I did not choose my partner but it was predetermined at that time. And I just went along. I started to understand what dancing for the Lord is, understand that dancing can actually pleased the Lord’s heart. It can bring the Lord’s presence, even bring a harvest. For me being called as a dancer is really only by God’s grace because I know many other dancers who practice more diligently and have better dancing skill than I do. I am nothing.

2. What experience made you never want to exchange dancing with anything else?

Since joining the dance ministry, I started to get to know the Lord, and for me it is the most precious thing in my life where I could praise, worship, give thanks and enjoy intimacy with the Lord. Nothing is more beautiful than seeing the Lord smiling at every single dance move that I make. The Lord took me to many cities, even overseas and my life has also been greatly blessed through dancing. Through it, I have learned all about prophetic actions and how to turn situations around. For me, I want to take every opportunity and offer it to the Lord. I will never exchange this calling with anything; I will cry really hard if I ever stop dancing. Dancing to a large extent has become my life.

3. Explain to us the price that has to be paid, any story?

The price that I have to pay is constant training!! Hours of training, sometime I have to train until I am all drained out and till my whole body hurts. Sometimes I have to dance in the rain, in the heat of the sun, dance till midnight and being scolded by my parents for coming home late but I have learned to balance everything out. Until now, I have always had good grades in school and still maintains my position in the class top ranks. I am even going to jump grade to a higher level class soon. I do not know how I do it, but with everything that the Lord has given and promised, I just do it all with passion, no burden at all, filled with love and I very much enjoy it all!

4. How is it with couple dance, before and after doing it?

Before the couple dance, I felt that my dancing was just ordinary; my dance moves were limited and I was never being gossiped. But after doing the couple dance, I felt my power was increased, 1 defeats 1,000 and 2 defeats 10,000. Many things can be achieve in the couple dance. For sure, there will be quarrel, incompatibility, disagreement but the more I danced wholeheartedly, the Lord opened up even more understanding. So whenever there was something wrong in my heart, I would repent rightaway because I could not possibly spread around negativity. No matter what, every couple has to have unity because it symbolizes the Lord and His bride. In the beginning I felt weird to do couple dance, how it was going to be, being gossiped of having a relationship, etc.  But after doing the couple dance, I never have feelings toward my partner but more toward caring, supporting and helping each other.

Joshua – Kezia

1. Tell us how did the Lord pull you into the couple dance?

Joshua: Actually, dance ministry was already being done in Bahtera. Since from a very young age, I have learned how to dance with a banner, even though what I did was only a simple dance. Eventually, I was trusted with many things. Because I understand what dancing means and the meaning of every move that I dance. So, I have already started dancing since I was very young.

Kezia: I started dancing since I entered Junior High School at Mahanaim, but I actually had heard about prophetic dancing from sermon tapes. Ever since I heard about it, I have already had a passion there that I insisted to study at Mahanaim’s school just for the sake of joining the dance not for its academic purpose. And to this day the Lord has brought me this far.

2. What experience made you never want to exchange dancing with anything else?

Joshua: Experience???  Hmmm, because I saw how the power of dancing is so real. That makes me never want to exchange this calling with anything else!

Kezia: It could not be said as an experience, honestly if I had left dancing there would have been something missing in my heart. And I honestly know that this is my calling so I will hold on to it till the end, all for the sake of this precious calling.

3. Explain to us the price that has to be paid, any story?

Joshua: Wow so many, especially in couple dance, the prices are muscles pain; practice time runs till very late at night, sleepiness, no off days even during holidays, arranging this and that, being scolded at, stamina, practice lifting your dance partner is painful and exhausting.

Kezia: Need to have understanding and Hineni heart to keep unity. Cannot use feelings because when our partner misbehaves and it makes us angry, that could create misunderstanding and lead to a quarrel. Need to develop a habit of asking the Lord if there is something that annoys us and to let us see it from His point of view, so then we would understand and not hold a grudge anymore.

4. How are things prior and after doing the couple dance?

Joshua: couple dance is more complicated; you will experience being gossiped about, ache all over your body, and have to understand your partner. I learned to be mature and understand woman as my asset if one day I have a wife. It is very complicated, it needs unity and must not hold grudge; if there is a problem, it must be settled that day. But couple dance is fascinating and cool. The good point is we always have a partner wherever we go, there’s always someone who backs up and supports us.

Kezia: Since I danced the couple dance, I have learned many things, got many education, had to understand, had to care, had to have unity and many other important things the Lord had carved me through it. I am deeply grateful that I can be a part of the couple dance.

Finish Strong

Let us finish strong in all of our destinies. We are the last generation, the last relay runner. There were cherubim before us. They were Abraham – Sarah; Moses – Joshua; Barak – Deborah; David – Abigail; Elijah – Elisha; Joseph – Maria; Paul – Silas; and many forerunners who had finished their calling in the dances of life as cherubim. We must run, complete, and finish everything.

Let this book brings understanding and ignites more desire to be the Lord’s cherubim in this end times that please His heart.