07-03-22 This message may be viewed live streaming video at youtube.com and tabernacleofmoses.org today Sunday at 11:00 am, and repeated 24/7 thereafter. The video, audio, and study notes are archived.

Commentary: Have you been converted (awakened) from being a natural man (a caterpillar) into becoming a spiritual man (a butterfly) by enlisting into the army of God?

TWO VERSIONS OF AN ENLISTMENT CONTRACT WITH GOD

(Acts 2:38) Then Peter said unto them, Repent [Gk: to think differently, reconsider], and be baptized [be immersed (fully wet) in the “water by the word” Eph 5:26] every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission [Gk: forgiveness] of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

(Rom 10:9,10) That if thou shalt confess [Gk: to assent, acknowledge] with thy mouth the Lord [Gk: supreme in authority] Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart [Gk: the thoughts or feelings (mind)] that God hath raised him from the dead [i.e., resurrected Him], thou shalt be saved [Gk: “safe”; delivered, protected: healed, preserved, made whole]. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto [“confirms” Amplified Bible] salvation [i.e., seals an oral contract with God]. 

YOU ARE NOW A SOLDIER IN THE ARMY OF GOD. THESE ARE YOUR INITIAL ORDERS UPON ENTERING BOOT CAMP FOR BASIC SPIRITUAL TRAINING

(2 Tim 2:1-4) Thou therefore, my son, be strong [Gk: empowered] [“strengthened inwardly” Amplified Bible] in the grace [Gk: the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude] [“spiritual blessing” Amplif.] that is in Christ Jesus. And the things [“instructions” Amplif.] [of God] that thou hast heard of [from] me among many witnesses, the same commit thou [“transmit and entrust” Amplif.] to faithful [Gk: trustworthy: believing] men, who shall be able [“competent and qualified” Amplif.] to teach others also. Thou therefore endure hardness [Gk: undergo hardships: endure afflictions, suffer trouble], as a good [“first class” Amplif.] soldier [Gk: a warrior /// (an army; as encamped); fig. the angels] of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth [Gk: serves in a military campaign: goes to war] entangleth himself [Gk: entwines (himself); fig. involves (himself)] with the affairs [“in the enterprises” Amplif.] of this life; that he may please him [Jesus Christ] who hath chosen him [Gk: enlisted him in the army] to be a soldier. 

ADVANCED SPIRITUAL TRAINING

Commentary: understanding the kingdom of God/Heaven (Matt 19:23,24) through a type and shadow, through an example of heavenly reality. (We are that type and shadow).

(Matt 8:5-8) And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum [a city located on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee], there came unto him a centurion [Gk: a Roman military captain of one hundred men], beseeching [pleading, begging: praying unto] him [Jesus], And saying, Lord [Gk: supreme in authority], my servant [Gk: slave: young boy] lieth at home sick of the palsy [Gk: paralyzed], grievously [Gk: terribly, excessively: vehemently] tormented [Gk: tortured: in pain, tossed, vexed] [i.e., who is unable to come to you (to Jesus)]. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him [versus “I will come and pray for him”]. The centurion answered and said, Lord [Gk: supreme in authority], I am not worthy [Gk: fit (in character): good (enough)] that thou shouldest come under my roof [under my hospitality, be subservient (submissive) to my command]: but speak [i.e., send] the word [Gk: logos] only [(send your angels, your soldiers, your words)], and my servant shall be healed [Gk: cured: made whole]. 

GRADUATION: THE UNDERSTANDING

(Matt 8:9-13) For I [“also” Luke 7:8] am a man under authority [“subject to authority” Amplif.], having soldiers under me [“subject to me” Amplif.] [thereby describing a hierarchy of authority (syn: ladder, grading, pecking order, a chain of command)]: and I say [command] to this man, Go, and he goeth [obeys]; and to another, Come, and he cometh [obeys]; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it [obeys] [likewise, You (Jesus Christ) command Your angels, Your soldiers, Your words, and they obey You]. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled [Gk: wondered; by implic. admired: have in admiration] [Jesus admired the faith of the centurion built upon correct understanding of doctrines, i.e., Bible messages (angels)], and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith [Gk: belief] [built upon correct understanding], no, not in [all] Israel. And I say unto you, That many [spiritually matured adult saints] shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob [as Friends of God], in the kingdom of heaven. But the [unsaved] children [“son and heirs” Amplif.] of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed [i.e., understood correctly], so be it done unto thee. And his [the centurion’s] servant was healed [Gk: made whole] in the selfsame hour [for the centurion had correctly “believed”]. 

Commentary: like the centurion in command of 100 soldiers, we are chosen soldiers, types and shadows of a hierarchy of angels in the army of God. And how many angels (words of God) are destined to be at your command? Well, that depends on how many angels (words of God) you have received and are now rooted and dwelling inside your spirit, under your command, be it a small Squad of 10 soldiers up to perhaps a large Corps of 100,000 soldiers, or more. Read the whole Bible, i.e., read (take in) all the angels (Heb: messages) of God, and receive your place within the hierarchy of the angels that God has sent to you, some to govern over you and some to serve beneath you, like the centurion.

THE HOLY SPIRIT, OUR ARMOR BEARER, SHALL DRESS YOU FOR WAR

YOUR FINAL ORDERS ARE TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD

(Eph 6:10-20) Finally, my brethren, be strong [Gk: empowered] [“strengthened inwardly” Amplif.] in the Lord [“through your union with Him” Amplif.], and in the power of his [“boundless” Amplif.] might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against [“Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7a] the wiles [Gk: trickery: lie in wait] [deceits, traps and ambushes] of the devil. For we wrestle [struggle (war) for victory] not against flesh and blood, but against principalities [Gk: magistrates] [judges, courts, law lords, officials], against powers, against [“the master spirits who are” Amplif.] the rulers of the darkness [Heb: “fig. misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness” (Gen 1:2)] of this world [Gk: aion], against spiritual [Gk: demonic] wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand [Gk: stand against (evil)] in the evil day, and having done all [“the crisis demands” Amplif.], to stand [“firmly in your place” Amplif.]. Stand therefore [“hold your ground” Amplif.], having your loins [Gk: hip: procreative power] [i.e., the thoughts and deeds that you generate] girt about with truth [“having tightened the belt of truth about your loins” Amplif.], and having on the breastplate of righteousness [“of integrity and of moral rectitude” Amplif.] [syn: goodness, correctness, decency, uprightness]; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace [i.e., walk in the two shoes of the Old Testament and the New Testament] [1]; Above all, taking the [covering] shield of faith [Gk: belief], wherewith ye shall be able to quench [Gk: to extinguish: put out] all the fiery darts [“flaming missiles” Amplif.] [in word and deed] of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation [protecting and covering your thoughts], and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always [“Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thes 5:17] with all prayer [Gk: worship] and supplication [Gk: petition] in the Spirit, and watching [Gk: be sleepless, keep awake] thereunto with all perseverance [Gk: persistency] and supplication [Gk: petition] for all saints; And for me [the Apostle Paul, and me], that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery [Gk: the secrets] [the revelations] of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. 

1.    (Isa 52:7) How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! 

Amen