Old Dog I
Back to: Armies of God 7 – The Servants of the Great Father
Armies of God 8 – The Faceless And The Nameless
Bob Neumann, 1998
THE FACELESS AND THE NAMELESS
For a very long time the disparity of what the Church should be and the way it presents itself has grieved and shocked me. Like the lone Japanese soldiers found in deep and impenetrable jungles or on long forgotten islands long after their war was over. What is ‘real’ today has nothing that resembles the bits and pieces of memory or dreams that they held on to for so long. Of such is this image of the ARMY OF GOD. On the simple bible software the entire old testament has but seven verses where the terms GOD and army appear together. And in none does GOD speak of the army as HIS. In the new testament the term army only appears three times. The first time is in Acts and is a Roman soldier describing the rescue/arrest of Paul. The last two mentions are in Revelations, first chapter 9, the army of the King’s of the east which numbers 200,000,000. Then in Rev 19 we finally find GOD has an army for John uses a third person personal pronoun: “HIS army”. Therefore it is safe to surmise that the only actual army THE CAPTAIN OF THE HOSTS OF HEAVEN actually acknowledges as “HIS” are those who follow HIM in HIS RETURN to make war with the beast. Yet in verse 14 it says “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.” That one little ‘s’ speaks of more than one army, yet outside of the angelic legions you wonder why we are so jubilantly militant in our praise and worship while our sessions for early morning prayer and “intercession” are few and far between.
In the body of the new testament, “soldier” appears five times, and two of those times Paul is speaking to Timothy. Now the term ‘‘soldiers’’ appears 23 times and refers to Roman soldiers only. Likewise the “term” warrior appears once in the whole bible, Isaiah 9:4. Maybe if anyone would read this one verse and the context it is given the reality and scope of a warrior of THE MOST HIGH GOD would lose it’s romantic luster very quickly. The term “warriors” does not appear in the new testament and the two references in the old testament deal with the same group of Benjaminites. Not “GOD’S got an army” types by a long shot. So where has all this “stuff” come from?
Well we could say it all came from “inspiration”, “revelation”, or “indoctrination”. But a little LOGOS is needed to fill those claims. Remember that Paul who had a close relationship with many of Rome’s finest being in tight proximity told us that there is no place for vain and empty words:
Ephesians 5:6-7
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. (KJV)
Likewise Peter taught that “20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.” So what do we do with all the hoopla we have raised in this area? All the books sold, seminars staged, and ministries erected without a firm scriptural anchor? Well first each of us is accountable for our own actions. And in the long run obedience wins over sacrifice hands down. So let a little discernment and Wisdom guide you. In a real pinch simple common sense will keep your feet firmly planted. Case in point there is a well known ‘‘prophetic/prayer/intercession ministry’’ that declares that all in it bears the rank of “general”. It is the name of their ministry. Cute. Reminds me of the story of too many chiefs and not enough indians. No army in history survived where everyone was giving orders and no one was taking them. I wonder whether anyone is cognizant that all of these images which ‘sound’ good in many aspects fail to get us any farther than where we already are?
Within our ‘music’, ‘artwork’, and our ‘preaching’ certain images have been portrayed about warriors and soldiers. These images are derived by our remembrance of images experienced in our youth. Too often these images come from things not quite biblical.
Often we have a graphic visual image of a lone warrior with a banner lifted up. Dressed in shinny armor with a large red cross emblazoned on the Breast Plate. This image has been around a long time now. A more recent image is “THE BRAVEHEART” image of rough dressed men standing together for a common cause. If you saw the movie you may have noticed that the ones wearing shinny armor with crosses on their armor and their banners were the villains. Selah.
So you may think my purpose is to ‘come against’ the stirrings in your heart for you have “seen” the “Great End Times Army”. No I am not. What I am called to do is to take those Hollywood DREAMS and TV VISIONS and to stand them up against THE LORD OF HOSTS and HIS WORD. If your dreams vanish or your visions fade alongside HIS TRUTH be thankful now. For if they cannot take light evaluation in the time of peace which shortly wanes, where would you be when the battle rages? Behold a scripture verse to validate this ‘point of view’!
Jeremiah 12:1-7
1 Righteous art thou, O LORD, when I plead with thee: yet let me talk with thee of thy judgments: Wherefore doth the way of the wicked prosper? wherefore are all they happy that deal very treacherously?
2 Thou hast planted them, yea, they have taken root: they grow, yea, they bring forth fruit: thou art near in their mouth, and far from their reins.
3 But thou, O LORD, knowest me: thou hast seen me, and tried mine heart toward thee: pull them out like sheep for the slaughter, and prepare them for the day of slaughter.
(This “day of slaughter” is a lesser used term for THE END TIMES/THE DAY OF THE LORD)
4 How long shall the land mourn, and the herbs of every field wither, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein? the beasts are consumed, and the birds; because they said, He shall not see our last end.
5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
(Too many of our ‘prayer warriors’ have been wearied and wounded in a ‘time of peace’ that precedes the ‘main event’. Please read all of chapter 12 to understand why GOD is preparing to “JUDGE HIS PEOPLE”)
6 For even thy brethren, and the house of thy father, even they have dealt treacherously with thee; yea, they have called a multitude after thee: believe them not, though they speak fair words unto thee.
7 I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies. (KJV)
(Yet is this not the world we are in (verse6) and the JUDGEMENT the prophets of today have continuously warned about (verse 7) ????)
If your dreams and visions of GOD’S ARMY do not line up with any LOGOS image I assure you there will come images, most unwanted. One such image is the statement of a Union General during the U.S. Civil WAR. He simply responded to a question about a battle won with three simple words; “WAR IS HELL”. He gave no room for the poetic or romantic in the ‘line of battle’. Yet we have had a strange evolution on how the ‘average Christian’ views spiritual warfare and it does not encompass what the intercessors have travailed through over the years. Simply put this is error. Go a little deeper and you may find deception.
There is an END TIME ARMY loyal and obedient to THE LORD GOD OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, and JACOB. Many have been called to it and have been given glimpses of it over the years. Throughout the Scriptures there are images and shadows that have preceded it. Each adding to the full picture. Yet many ministries will see a scriptural image and take one small aspect of it and begin to build ministries. If THE HOLY ONE of ISRAEL blesses this ministry, keep on keeping on. But if it has run itself into the ground and there is only grief and weakness where PEACE and STRENGTH should be then reassess your position and march on.
Seven times this series was directed to bring forth an image and an attribute buried and ‘lost’ in the HEART of HIS WORD that should shape together a scriptural image of the END TIMES ARMY. Now it is time to bring forth this image in it’s simple TRUTH and it’s PROPHETIC implications that destroy the schemes and works of the enemy.
THE ARMIES OF GOD/ part 8 THE FACELESS AND THE NAMELESS, in other words the army no one recognizes and no one notices, nothing to brag about. Absolutely nothing to build on for your own profit, recognition, or edification. Yet that is all we have seen over the years. SO after an introduction that the lukewarm and the ‘offended children’ would have decided not to persevere through here is THE ARMY OF THE LORD. THE PROPHETIC COMPANY THAT STANDS AGAINST THE DARKNESS …. EVEN IN THE MIDST OF DEEP DARKNESS.
This Army is wrapped about images that play out as we speak. In reality the story literally begins when man perverts a GODLY ANOINTING and the TRUE END TIME BATTLE is seen. So we see the confrontation between the Son of Disobedience, and THE FAITHFUL SERVANT.…
1 Samuel 16:13-15.
13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
(now we have often read this verse but please notice what immediately occurred when a ‘new anointed one’ is created)
14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.
15 And Saul’s servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
(immediately GOD withdraws HIS MOST HOLY SPIRIT and something most foul is quick to fill the gap. And no one had any doubt what old Saul was troubled with. But to make things more interesting can i point something interesting out? THE LAW of FIRST Mention places GOD SENDING an EVIL SPIRIT against a “ruler over Israel”. In fact the situation is mentioned in
Judges 9:22-23.
22 When Abimelech had reigned three years over Israel,
23 Then God sent an evil spirit between Abimelech and the men of Shechem; and the men of Shechem dealt treacherously with Abimelech: (KJV)
GOD seems to create patterns and follows them even today. Maybe this might shed a new light on Ephesians 6:12. (I pray it does)
So the Faithful SERVANT returns home to Ramah and is forgotten, for a season. But that ‘evil spirit’ has been given time to grow and to fester, and according to nature and to the WORD strikes out to destroy David/Beloved. THE ANOINTED ONE. In these end times there is only one place to flee. Let’s look at it in KING JAMES.
1 Samuel 19:18-24
18 So David fled, and escaped, and came to Samuel to Ramah, and told him all that Saul had done to him. And he and Samuel went and dwelt in Naioth.
19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night.
Wherefore they say, is Saul also among the prophets? (KJV)
You can say this is all a nice story. True but it is THE WORD and you need to allow deep to call to deep. Let’s look at Saul in his present state and an image he is playing out for us. THEN, Please allow me to translate this literally.
Saul is a King ruled by an EVIL SPIRIT that seeks to destroy GOD’S ANOINTED / BELOVED. ANY resemblance to Daniel’s and John’s description of THE BEAST / ANTI-CHRIST is not a coincidence. We have been warned that THIS MAN OF SIN would not only arise but to make war upon THE SAINTS. Daniel gives a time scale to this persecution, but few will ever teach on it. THE PROPHETIC INSTRUCTION IN THIS SHORT PASSAGE POINTS US TO THE PLACE OF SAFETY IN THE TIMES OF JACOBS TROUBLES. BUT IT SHOWS HOW TO HOLD THE BEAST AT BAY.
1 Samuel 19:18-24
18 So BELOVED/ANOINTED fled, and escaped, and came to GOD HEARS to THE HIGH PLACE , and told him all that DEMAND had done to him. And he and GOD HEARS went and dwelt in THE PLACE OF BEAUTY /CELEBRATION /REST.
19 And it was told DEMAND, saying, Behold, GOD’S BELOVED is at THE PLACE OF BEAUTY/CELEBRATION/GOD’S PRESENCE in THE HIGH PLACE OF GOD.
20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
(By this time you understand what the names of these places really mean. Now look at what the WORD says. Saul’s messengers run into a ‘company’ , it is only once used as company according to Dr Strong’s Concordance. It comes from an unused root meaning “no’’ as in negation of something. Now look at how Samuel is described as ‘standing’. Here Dr Strong states to abide/stand/appoint. Now try to think of a military unit under command. Stationed and ready for the battle that lays ahead. AND THE BATTLE DOES COME…IN THREE WAVES)
21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
(We often hear the old cliché ‘the third time is a charm’, but not for Saul and he has to go to Ramah himself. But the battle does not change.)
22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.
23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? (KJV)
I can assure you that King Saul had no intention to do like Balaam and to prophecy the WORDS GOD’S SPIRIT put in his mouth. Likewise Saul never expected to strip himself naked before the old PROPHET and JUDGE. BUT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS “I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN. I WILL BE EXALTED UPON THE EARTH.”
There is a funny thing about Ramah. According to some scholars it sat on a hill just to the north of the city of the JEBUSITES. Even today we call it MOUNT ZION. And Naioth was somewhere there. Makes it easy to understand why David chose to capture JERUSALEM, to make it HIS CITY, to erect THE TABERNACLE on ZION and the TEMPLE on MORIAH. The place where MELCHIZEDEK ruled over Salem. WHERE ABRAHAM saw THE RAM. SELAH.
But the main issue is of this company of unnamed and unknown prophets who speak the WORDS of GOD that demolishes the plans of the enemy. Reminds me of the 70 JESUS sent out as HE did the 12. No one knows there names. No one sees there faces. Just servants/soldiers doing their job. And this is the final page in this story.
The Weapons of our Warfare are mighty. Yet they only have one purpose.
The SWORD of THE SPIRIT is THE RHEMA WORD OF GOD lifted in prayer against the powers of this world/present age so “that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”
BUT LIKE UNDER SAMUEL THE “COMPANY” DOES NOT FIGHT FOR ITSELF, BUT FOR A KING WHO IS CONCERNED FOR HIS “SHEEP”.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,
20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
The ARMY OF GOD are the prophets who stand in THE DEEP DARKNESS of Isaiah 60 and let their LIGHT SHINE. SPEAKING/DECLARING GOD’S WILL IN THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY TO FULFILL Isaiah 61. The WATCHMEN GOD PLACED ON THE WALLS to intercede unto HIM on behalf of HIS PEOPLE as declared in Isaiah 62 that prepare the highway to ZION. They are not the watchmen chosen by a rebellious people that spurned GOD and HIS PROPHET in Ezekiel 33. Yes we hear it all the time from the pulpits across America and the WORLD. Yet no one discerns that GOD places on man appointed hirelings the same level of accountability as HIS OWN PROPHETS carry. They just have no anointing and move entirely in the flesh.
In the scope of these now eight images a solid image and description of GOD’S ARMY has been placed before you.
The first image is of ceaseless DETERMINATION. Look at Caleb.
The second image is uncompromising DISCIPLINE. Look at THE 300.
The third image is DIVINELY DRAFTED. Look at ‘young’ Saul.
The fourth image is an intimate DEVOTION. Look at Abishai and the men of valor.
The fifth image is a DISCERNMENT OF GOD’S WILL. Look at Ittai and those that stayed with GOD’S BELOVED/ANOINTED.
The sixth image is DUTY, plain and simple. Look at Shamgar.
The seventh image is GOD’S DEPLOYMENT OF HIS SERVANTS. Look at the 318.
This final image combines all seven to create a “new thing’’ in the land. The image of the DESTRUCTION of BABYLON and all that stands against the GLORY OF GOD.
THIS IS NOT A GENERAL CALLING TO A REBELLIOUS PEOPLE, BUT A WORD OF CONFIRMATION TO THOSE THE CAPTAIN HAS CALLED. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. HE WHO CALLED YOU, CHOSE YOU, ANOINTED YOU SHALL SHORTLY PLACE AND EMPOWER YOU TO PERFORM THAT WHICH YOU HAVE BEEN PREPARED TO DO.
SELAH
BOB IN MIAMI