Old Dog V
The Vision Of The Valley Of Ashes
Bob Neumann, April 1997
Sunday Morning near end of worship
Before was a great expanse, dark and dreary. Scattered around where bond fires producing little light but great amounts of smoke. Yet the smell of incense filled the air – not the smoke of burning refuse or garbage.
*1 As I walked my feet penetrated a layer of fine ash – two to three inches deep. There was no breeze. There was no horizon line.
*2 Slowly all around me people slowly began to rise up out of the ashes. Very few came to their feet quickly. Some would remain on all fours taking long-slow-breaths. Others would get up to one knee and stop. All seemed to be struggling against the weight of gravity. Many staggered once they got to their feet. Many stood hunched over, hands on thighs. Like runners after the last lap and final kick to reach the finish line, fighting for “breath.”
*3 In my Spirit the breath of God began to churn and I began to hear a song come forth from my belly, a song in the Spirit – The Song of the Lamb.
*4 As the Song came forward all those who had stood began to lift their heads – sensing the move of the Holy Spirit. Some raised their hands, but most did not. But all were aware of the Song – none now struggled to breath. As the Song became louder I realized the people were attempting to sing along. Yet few could keep up with the melody, but all had a part. Most were off key, many were flat. Some only had one note.
Separately there was only pointless sounds and noises. But taken together it was sweet and tender. And sensing this the people began to move slowly forward until they were standing literally shoulder to shoulder. They were of all sizes, all ages, all shapes, all races. Yet they all were covered with ashes and they all were part of the Song. As one they turned toward me and began to march. Very slowly they began arms linked as many struggled to walk. But the group went only as fast as the slowest. There was a purpose – but their was no hurry. Now that they were assembled, they would move together. As the strong held up the weak, they moved.
As the weak strengthened they all began to move faster. And as the group strengthened the Song became more intense and more expansive.
(at this point the “Army” came up to me and I turned 180 degrees and we began the last march through the valley.)
INTERPRETATION:
After the vision Pastor Kevin spoke about shepherds and the Valley of the Shadow of Death. At that point the Holy Spirit began to show me things about the vision. The two prophetic Words and the testimony spoke about what the focus of the Holy Spirit wanted us as a body to receive.
Yet the vision was not for CFWC as a body. While many individual are, as a body it is not. On the other hand I was not released to speak. And when Chaplain Bob Herteg spoke I knew that the “Word” was for the CMA- not only those who joined us on Sunday.
During Pastor Kevin’s sermon which must have been good I kept falling both in and out of the Spirit, and in and out of sleep. How I did not fall out of the chair I do not know.
*1) The Vision takes place in the Valley of Vision, *1, The Valley of Decision. *2 The fires that are seen are the fires of God. The fire of cleansing, the fire of testing, the fire of purification. The Gorge of God as He created the weapons and tools of the Kingdom. *3
*2) The entire vision takes place looking into the Valley and ends as we prepare to leave. The ashes are the ashes of past lives and works that were wood, hay, stubble, consumed in the fire of the Holy Spirit. The smell of incense speaks of the prayers of saints for those who have came through the fire. Both the smoke and incense rise upward – an acceptable sacrifice before the Lord.
*3) Those who stand in this valley have done so against great opposition. They have overcome many curses and much bondage. Yet even after being able to stand, they continue to struggle.
*4) They will continue to struggle until they breath in the Holy Spirit and breath out the Song of the Lamb, according to the measure that they are given. The power of the Song is in the joining of these people together to be one in the Song-one in the Spirit.
—–The “Army” of God that rises from their ashes shall be like the men who came to David in the wilderness. But, their battle will be like Gideon’s. —-