Joel’s Army
(week 05/06)
Olubi Johnson
Joel 2:1-3 NKJV: Blow the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in My holy mountain! Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble; for the day of the LORD is coming, For it is at hand: 2 A day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, like the morning clouds spread over the mountains. A people come, great and strong, the like of whom has never been; Nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations. 3 A fire devours before them, and behind them a flame burns; the land is like the Garden of Eden before them, And behind them a desolate wilderness; surely nothing shall escape them.
This scripture speaks prophetically of a spiritual army God is raising up right now as we speak.
It is an army that is responding to the prophetic trumpet call (Is. 58.1) to spiritual warfare and battle (1 Cor. 14.8) to perfect the love of God in these last days.
We know this because they are in unity formation and are invincible:
Joel 2:7-8 NKJV: They run like mighty men, they climb the wall like men of war; Every one marches in formation, and they do not break ranks. 8 They do not push one another; every one marches in his own column.Though they lunge between the weapons, they are not cut down.
Galatians 5:13-15 NKJV: For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
1 John 4:17-18 NIV: In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
2 Corinthians 13:11 NKJV: Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
1 John 5:18 NKJV: We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.
Jude 20-22 NKJV: But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God,looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
God is raising up this army now so it can manifest the glory of God that will bring the fire of judgement to the rebellious church characterized by Saul and the fire of refinement for honour and blessing to the obedient church characterized by David.
Malachi 4:1-4 NIV: Surely the day is coming; it will burn like a furnace. All the arrogant and every evildoer will be stubble, and that day that is coming will set them on fire,” says the LORD Almighty. “Not a root or a branch will be left to them. 2 But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall. 3 Then you will trample down the wicked; they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day when I do these things,” says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 3:1-4 NIV: “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness, 4 and the offerings of Judah and Jerusalem will be acceptable to the LORD, as in days gone by, as in former years.
What then is the difference between Saul and David?
Saul is not willing to do all of the will of God: he is stubborn and rebellious; he only does the will of God that is convenient for his pride and comfort.
1 Samuel 15:18-23 NKJV: Now the LORD sent you on a mission, and said, ‘Go, and utterly destroy the sinners, the Amalekites, and fight against them until they are consumed.’ 19 “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” 20 And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. 21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and oxen, the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, to sacrifice to the LORD your God in Gilgal.” 22 Then Samuel said: “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
David is willing to do all of the will of God: whether convenient or not.
Acts 13:22 NKJV: He raised up for them David as king, to whom also He gave testimony and said, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.’
So, now turn to the Lord in repentance from a Saul heart attitude to a David heart attitude:
Joel 2:11-14 NKJV: The LORD gives voice before His army, For His camp is very great; For strong is the One who executes His word. For the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; Who can endure it? 12 “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, With fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” 13 So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the LORD your God, For He is gracious and merciful,Slow to anger, and of great kindness; And He relents from doing harm.
Any Christian can be in Joel’s army: you simply need to respond to the present day prophetic trumpet call to develop and so bring to perfection or maturity the love of God by learning obedience.
