JOEL'S ARMY
JOEL’S ARMY
Sunday, October 30, 2016, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Arise army of God. Our time has come! Joel 2:11: “And the LORD shall utter His voice before His army; for His camp is very great…”
Who will abide the Day of the Lord? He will---in His people!
Ps. 15:1: “Lord who shall abide in your tabernacle? Who shall dwell in your holy hill (of Zion)?
Joel 2:1: “Blow ye the trumpet in Zion…”
Trumpets are calling us to the place of consecration, to return to the high calling. Only the priest can blow the trumpet. Men and women of prayer, praise and worship are sounding this message. Only those who can show mercy will proclaim Zion’s call.
There is a “high calling.” Zion constitutes the highest place in the heavenlies and it is to be manifestly expressed as a people in the earth, as His corporate overcomer is describe in the Book of Joel as the Lord’s army.
Real prophets are not intimidated by controversy or the faces of men (Jer. 1: 8, 17). Those of us who have heard His voice out of Zion have become His corporate trumpet in the earth.
Every dimension of present truth requires a trumpet; a clear prophetic voice among the people of God that articulates His heart.
We must continue to dare to blow the trumpet, to awaken Zion to the original purpose and call of God, “Persuading them concerning Jesus.” (Acts 28:23)
There is a people in the earth who are different from others, and never seemed to fit in. The “high calling” harnesses us to His predetermined purpose. This heavenly summons, this upward call keeps us ever moving by the Holy Spirit.
In chapter one of the Book of Joel, an invading swarm of locusts had completely devastated the land of Judah. Their blight, accompanied by drought and famine, had withered every aspect of Judah’s national existence-economically, socially, and religiously.
Joel 2:25: “And I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten…”
The locusts provide a picture of the idolatrous, humanistic distortion on many levels:
- Man made ideas present another image instead of the image of Jesus Christ.
- Religious traditions preach another gospel instead of the gospel of the Kingdom
- The spirit of antichrist is any other image than the image of Jesus Christ.
Anything outside of the Christ nature, the new nature of the new creation man (2 Cor. 5:17), is a lying vanity.
Away with the cowardice of being “politically correct” spiritually speaking! Let us burn the soft pews of seeker-sensitive comfortableness and run to the rugged Pauline altar of full surrender, of being completely crucified with Christ. The Day of the Lord has dawned. Every city and tower that men have built in His name that He did not tell them to build will be burned with fire!
The Day of the Lord has dawned and the Lord is revealing the hearts of men. The lid is coming off everything in the Day of the Lord.
1 Cor. 3:13¨”Every man’s work shall be made manifest; for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.”
Zion is again beginning to stir. The alarm has sounded. Across America and throughout the nations, there is an army coming forth aware of their high calling in God.
These called-out ones now rouse themselves with new courage, for we are one among a thousand---few there be who find the pathway of light and life.
Joel’s army now arises with new perspective as we press on toward the mark of the high calling.
Maps point to where God used to be, but the high calling requires a compass. It directs us to where God is, and to where He is leading. We are being called into unchartered territory to the fullness of Zion.
No man or woman has walked into all that has been prepared for us in the unexplored realms of the Holy Spirit. There are fresh levels of worship, service, and commitment.
Joel is one of the 12 Minor Prophets. This is the Book of the Day of the Lord written by Joel, who ministered to the city of Jerusalem and the House of Judah. The key phrase is “the day of the Lord.”
Joel 2:11: The LORD shall utter his voice before his army; for his camp is very great; for he is strong that executes his word; for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible and who can abide it?”
The trumpet has blown in Zion. The army of the LORD is a consecrated army who have repented, committed to the Lord and are returning to the high calling.
The Day of the Lord is a day of darkness to the wicked, to those who are walking after the flesh. The Kingdom of God is a Kingdom of light, in stark contrast to the kingdom of darkness. To the wicked, God’s day is marked by “gloominess”.
The “Day” of the Lord is “day” and not night! It is as the “morning” or the “dawn.”
The morning of this new Day is “spread” broken up and spread out upon the mountains. Joel’s army of prayer warriors have been broken and sent throughout the nations. This also can represent the spreading of the wings of the corporate Eagle Company or the spreading of the wings of the cherubim in the Most Holy Place.
Joel 2:2: “A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains; a great people and a strong; there has not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it even, to the years of many generations.”
Joel’s overcoming army is “great” and “strong.” As with David, this host of God grows in number “day by day.”
Joel 2:3: “A fire devours before them; and behind them a flame burns; the land is as the Garden of Eden before them…”
Jer. 23:29: “Is not My word like a fire?”
Heb. 12:29: “For our God is a consuming fire.”
Every overcomer has been in the fire. Until we have been through the fire, we will not become fire carriers. Our face has become one with His face. The fiery passion of the LORD Himself goes before us.
The earth is before us. The earth does not belong to the devil and his crowd. It rightfully belongs to Jesus Christ. The seed of Abraham are heirs of the “world.”
Isa. 51:3: “For the Lord shall comfort Zion; he will comfort all her waste places; and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord.”
The essential spiritual meaning of “Eden” is clear. Eden is Paradise, the Kingdom of God on earth, the original dream and vision of the Father.
Joel 2:4: “The appearance of them is as the appearance of horses…”Jer. 4:13: “In that day shall there be upon the bells of the horses, Holiness Unto The Lord…”
Throughout the bible, the “horse” (warhorse or chariot horse) is a picture of the overcomer. The only ones who are able to walk through the desolation of Joel chapter one are those who have been harnessed by the Lord; whose mouths have been bridled by His righteousness.
The Lord Jesus Christ, the head of the Church, is Heaven’s fearless Warhorse. He is the beloved Son, the Firstborn among many brethren, the consummate overcomer.
Jesus’ armies are clothed with righteousness (Rev. 19:8, 14). We have heard the trumpet blast and have caught the scent of battle. We have obeyed the shout of our Captain (Heb. 2:10). We have heard the battle cry!
Jer. 12:5: “If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, wherein you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the swelling of Jordan?”
The Kingdom of God is not for half-hearted people. It is time to run with the horses, for the Jordan is swelled and overflowing in the day of harvest. It is time to cross over.
The “horse” is a rich and vast subject of study; the characteristics of this animal are given throughout Scriptures.
Joel. 2:4: “…and as horsemen, so shall they run.”
Rv. 9:7 “The shapes of the locust were like unto horses prepared unto battle.”
Job 39: 19-25: “In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds. At the blast of the trumpet he snorts, “Aha!” He catches the scent of battle from afar, the shout of commanders and the battle cry.”
A plague of locusts had devastated the land in Joel’s day. The prophet uses the description of that invading army to illustrate the Host of the Lord.
Joel 2:5: “Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap…”
These chariots are moving on the “tops” or “heads” of the mountains. We are moving about on the heads of kingdoms, and will bring the Word of the Lord to heads of state.
Joel’s army of consecrated ones is sent forth to minister His “anger” and “rebuke” upon the “refuge of lies.” We are horses that “leap,” stamp, spring about.
Joel 2:5: “…like the noise of a flame of fire that devours the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.”
This is an ordered and disciplined people ready for the “battle.”
2:6: “Before their face the people shall be much pained; all faces shall gather blackness.”
Joel’s army will restore the fear of the Lord to the Church.
Joel 2:7: “They shall run like mighty men…”
This is the word “gibbowr” (Strong’s 1368). It means powerful, warrior, tyrant, strong man, brace man. It is also rendered as champion, chief, and valiant man. This is a warrior who prevails.
The gibbowr is a proven warrior, a hero, the elite military corps. These were mighty men of valor. The “mighty men” who suffered with the renegade David in the caves later reigned with King David in the palaces of Zion.
Joel 2:7: “…they shall climb the wall like men of war…”
The overcomers are Special Forces. These men/women are notable men of high degree. They are expert climbers, able to scale any obstacle. To “climb” is to ascend, go up; be high; mount; grow up or go over; to excel, to be superior to; to be exalted. It aptly applies to those apprehended for the “high (upward) calling.”
Joel’s army are climbers by virtue of their inward nature. There are creeping vines and there are climbing vines. Like Joseph we innately reach for the highest realm by virtue of Him who lives within. No box can contain us. No wall can withstand us.
Walls can speak of unholy alliances, confederacies, conspiracies, and/or blockages between the Kingdom of God and evil.
God is at war with every man-made wall. Jesus rent the veil and destroyed the “middle wall of partition” at the Cross. He now sends His prophets to progressively “mop up” the operation. Prophet Ezekiel dug through the wall. Prophet Daniel read words of judgment on the wall. Joel’s prophetic army climbed over the wall. Prophet David leaped over the wall. Finally Prophet Joshua shouted and the wall fell.
Joel 2”7: “…and they shall march every one on his ways, and they shall not break their ranks.”
The Army of God is disciplined, well-trained, and devoted to one another. They each “march” “on his ways.”
When we follow His footsteps, we will not “break” our ranks. We refuse to use or abuse one another, especially in the area of finances. Joel’s army is made of honest folks, men and women of great integrity and reliability.
The name of “Gad” means, “a troop cometh.” There is a company of men and women sprinkled throughout the nations who are all walking the same upward “path” to Zion! Jesus is the “strong man” and we are running His “race.”
The well-worn path laid out by Abraham, Paul and others is the ascended life. This way of life is above to the wise. We are now coming forth, every man in his own order.
Joel 2:8: “Neither shall one thrust another; they shall walk every one in his path…”
Mature believers do not “thrust”, press, crowd, push, entangle or oppress one another. By love we prefer and serve each other. In the previous verse, we walk in “His” ways. Here we walk in “His” path.
Joel’s army is the Firstfruits Company (Rev. 14: 1-5) that goes before the people of God to prepare the highway.
Joel 2:8: “…and when they fall upon the sword, they shall not be wounded.”
Nothing can stop or hinder this army. They are never offended by the “sword” of His Word. They are not easily offended or wounded.
We walk in spiritual immunity having been given “power” over all the “power” of the enemy. We have nothing to fear. The enemy is afraid of us.
Joel 2:9: “They shall run to and fro in the city; they shall run upon the wall, they shall climb upon the houses; they shall enter in at the windows like a thief.”
Note the progressive motion of Joel’s host. They march upon the city, then scale the wall, then climb upon the houses, and then enter the windows. God is relentless in His righteous judgments.
Joel 2:10: “The earth shall quake before them; the heavens shall tremble…”
To be continued next week.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V.
I entered into the labors of Rev. Kelley Varner (1949-2009) – Sound The Alarm