KNOWING THE LORD BY HIS VOICE

BOB JONES & PAUL KEITH DAVIS

February 2001

Like many of Bob’s prophetic experiences, the following is another allegorical encounter continuing to convey important principles essential for our development and training for the soon coming Spiritual releases from Heaven. In it, much prophetic symbolism is utilized to communicate prominent spiritual truths essential to enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord for spiritual service or ministry. As is our custom, we do not attempt to define all meaning that can be derived from these experiences. Rather, we hope to accurately share the vision and its scriptural and historical foundation and ask the Holy Spirit to lead each reader to greater depths of understanding unique to their specific circumstances and level of maturity.

KNOWING HIS VOICE

In this experience, Bob was taken to a temple in which a highest form of praise was taking place. In the midst of this high level praise, an old man walked into the service in a very unkempt manner. In fact, his hair was long and stringy covering not only His head but also his face. He had somewhat stooped shoulders and acted frail and confused by external demeanor. He looked like a very old wilderness sage.  Most who saw this seemingly ancient looking man simply assumed he was a confused elderly man and gave him little attention. As he moved through the crowd in this physical condition, he inquired of the people asking, A “Do you know me? Do you know me?” As He did so, most did not even acknowledge his presence nor did they recognize his voice. However, immediately upon hearing this old man=s voice Bob instantly recognized that it was the Lord, although the outward appearance was strange and unique. He identified Him by His voice.

The very One the congregation was in the temple worshiping moved in among the people, yet in a different form.

After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. (Mark 16:12) 

In the vision, He was not easily recognizable externally, yet those who were intimately acquainted with Him could straightaway discern His voice.

Bob was then asked, do you know Me more intimately than your own wife? The Lord is requiring in this hour an even more affectionate relationship with us than we have with our spouse. Even among a crowd of people or in a completely dark circumstance, we can clearly and easily recognize the voice of our spouse. We are being challenged in this hour to be still more intimately acquainted with the Lord than our own spouse and know more distinctly His Voice than any other. In this manner, no matter the form in which He comes, we can recognize Him because His Voice designates His presence.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know (become intimately acquainted with) them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. (John 10:27-28)

JEHOVAH SHAMMAH THE LORD WHO IS PRESENT

When Bob recognized the Voice of the One with whom he was speaking, he knew intuitively it was the Lord Himself. Immediately, he found himself expressing with great fervency all of the divine titles that were quickened to his spirit. You are the Lion of Judah, the Lord of Lords, the anointed Son, Christ– Son of the Living God. You are the one who is and who was and who is to come, the Branch and Captain of the Hosts. These were only a few of the many divine attributes and titles that emanated from his spirit upon acknowledging this old man was literally the Lord Himself in another form.

When the Lord is fully manifested, He brings with Him all of His redemptive attributes. All that the Father is was expressed in the Person of Jesus Christ. Through the Spirit, all that the Lord Jesus is will be depicted through the Bride, the Body of Christ. This will give expression to the full array of redemptive qualities resident in the Lord and purchased for man through the cross.

SEALED FOR SERVICE

After hearing the expression of His divine titles, the Lord acknowledged that He is indeed all of those things and if a person can recognize His Voice in such a manner, he then qualifies to be given the opportunity to be sealed for divine service. After saying this, the Lord approached with both of His hands and placed them under Bob’s left shoulder in the gesture of a covenant. He then said, If you know Me, and you know Me intimately along with My love and fulfill the law through love, then I will seal you for service in a covenant relationship.

Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:10)

Bob was then commissioned to do likewise to others willing to make this commitment and entreat them to readily recognize His Voice so they too can be sealed for service in the endeavors about to be released in the earth. The scriptures declare that He who establishes us in Christ and anoints us is God is the One who also seals us and gives the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge or covenant. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.” (2 Timothy 2:19)

FULFILLING OUR PROMISES

With the commission to go to the church with the purpose of sealing others for service, the Lord gave this additional admonition. He stressed the importance of these purposes and acknowledged this was no small matter. The days in which we are entering are of utmost importance as it relates to kingdom purposes. The events in the earth are about to become so significant and even traumatic, that this relationship with the Lord is of paramount importance if we are to survive and even thrive. We cannot enter in to covenant relationship with the Lord carelessly nor presumptuously. To make a vow or promise to the Lord is a serious matter requiring resolute determination to fulfill our spiritual obligations. Our constant cry should be for the grace and spiritual provision to faithfully fulfill our promises to the Lord in this covenant commitment.

When you make a vow to God, do not be late in paying it; for He takes no delight in fools. Pay what you vow! It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. (Ecclesiastes 5:4-5)

In the book of Acts we also discover the apostle Paul fulfilling his obligation to the Lord made as a vow of service.

Along with this commission there will be a strong impartation of intercessory prayer to those sealed in this manner. Like the beloved apostle John, many will be allowed to lay their head upon the breast of God to hear His heartbeat and express back to Him through prayer the kingdom designs He desires to achieve in this hour. This will also result in a death to self as described in Galatians 2:20.

HIS JEALOUSY

To those who are sealed, the Lord promises to be a jealous caretaker and husbandman. Love is as strong as death. He is an all consuming fire as it relates to His jealousy, for He will not be willing to share with another those who have entered into this covenant relationship with Him. He will not share the allegiance and devotion of their spirits with the spirit of this world nor the religious structures having a form of godliness yet denying the power thereof. Though in the world, not of the world.

Put me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, jealousy is as severe as Sheol; its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the LORD. (Song of Solomon 8:6)

We cannot mutually partake of the Lord=s table and the spirit of this world nor embrace the doctrines of demons taught for truth. We will no longer be allowed to partake of the earthy, sensual manna and must hold out for heavenly manna reserved for this hour in which we are living. The Lord is beginning to separate the precious from the profane. Those who stand before Him as His spokesman must experience this separation and He will be to them as a fortified wall of bronze. Though the enemy contends with them, he will not prevail over them for the Lord will be present to save and deliver.

You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? We are not stronger than He, are we? (1 Corinthians 10:21-22)

We are not to enter into this relationship presumptuously without extended seasons of prayer and preparation. It must be with a consecrated heart and determined will before taking this significant step in relationship with the Lord. This will be the baptism of fire that will turn to ashes all that is not of Him.

LIKE THE GADDITES

Finally in the vision, upon closer observation, Bob could see through the white hair that rested over the Lord’s face and was able to distinguish that He was coming with the facial features of a Lion. He will represent Himself through this company of sealed servants/friends as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah and impart a warlike Spirit to those of His people willing to enter into covenant relationship with Him. His face resembled the features of a lion, yet His eyes were like flaming fires.

The following is a portion of the prophetic word released in the 1998 Shepherd’s Rod:

The color for this year is orange. During the course of this vision the Lord was surrounded in a background of the color orange. In scripture we realize that the jacinth was the first stone in the third row of the breastplate of Aaron. Scholars tell us that it was of an orange nature and was representative of the tribe of Gad. This symbolism verifies the invitation the Lord is extending to us for intimate relationship as the scriptures tell us that Gad is representative of companionship. Gad is also a reference to those with a high spirit and valor that characterized the descendants of Gad. In the blessing of Moses, (Deuteronomy 33:20) AND OF GAD HE SAID ,”BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO ENLARGES GAD; WHO LIES DOWN AS A LION AND TEARS THE ARM ALSO THE CROWN OF THE HEAD. (I CHRONICLES 12:8) AND FROM THE GADITES THAT CAME OVER TO DAVID IN THE STRONGHOLD IN THE WILDERNESS, MIGHTY MEN OF VALOR, MEN TRAINED FOR WAR, WHO COULD HANDLE SHIELD AND SPEAR, AND WHOSE FACES WERE LIKE THE FACES OF LIONS, AND THEY WERE AS SWIFT AS THE GAZELLES ON THE MOUNTAINS. These references are to the dread champions that will begin to emerge during the course of this season. These will be fearless warriors who have been with the Lord and are steadfast in their convictions. From this intimate companionship shall emerge a mighty army of fearless warriors that will begin to lead the church into deliverance and salvation . The disciple John felt uninhibited to lay his head upon the very breast of God because of intimate fellowship and companionship that he had with the Lord. This is an example of the relationships that some will establish with the Lord during the course of this spiritual season.

————–END SHEPHERD’S ROD QUOTE—————

Those who are sealed will begin to be groomed as warring commanders like the tribe of Gad. Some will be leaders of hundreds and others leaders of thousands. This distinguished group will be those who cross over during times of trouble. The Gaddites crossed the Jordan during flood season suggesting a season of trouble. This company will be determined warriors well equipped who will not retreat in battle; Nor will they be denied victory and will put to flight all that stands between them and the divine purposes for which they are commissioned. Although it will be during seasons of distress in the world, these commissioned warriors will march tirelessly with resolute determination, resting assuredly in their covenant relationship with the Lord.

These were from the sons of Gad, captains of the army; the least was over a hundred, and the greatest was over a thousand. These are the ones who crossed the Jordan in the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks; and they put to flight all those in the valleys, to the east and to the west. (1 Chronicles 12:14-15)

LET US PRESS ON

Presently, there will be a release of the Spirit for leadership to begin to seal for service those who are willing to make this commitment. With it will come significant advances in intimate relationship with the Lord and notable increases in power. They will be as a spiritual troop of Gadites equipped and prepared for the divine purposes about to be released. However, the warning continues to echo that it is no small thing to enter into a covenant relationship with the Lord if the intent is not there to wholeheartedly fulfill it.