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Steve Durham—September 12, 2026
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Welcome to the Feast of Trumpets 2026. You know, the Feast of Trumpets is an exciting day. It’s a very special day. It is critical and it is pivotal in the Plan of God for mankind. Very necessary as well for mankind.
Without this day, the Plan of God, cannot continue. It foreshadows Christ the King, the King of kings, returning to the earth to establish the Kingdom of God with His saints, and the restitution of all things. He returns with His saints who have been on the Sea of Glass, learning, being further instructed in the responsibilities and the duties that they’re going to have, and that will face them as they come to the earth and assist Christ in this day of the Feast of Trumpets, as well as Atonement in the Last Great Day and the Millennial setting of the Feast of Tabernacles.
Before this can be done Christ has to remove Satan and His system, Babylon the Great, and remove all the wicked and idolatrous individuals that will not repent before God’s Plan can continue. All of this is done on the Feast of Trumpets, a very special day, very important.
Let’s go to Lev. 23, because we do this each year. This is where all the Holy Days are set, and they’re listed. The interesting thing about this is that they are all commanded You can’t understand the Plan of God IF you don’t keep them! IF you don’t keep them, the understanding goes away! For example, the Sabbath!
You start keeping it, and you begin to understand. After a while, God opens up more. Of course, you have to have God’s Holy Spirit working with you, but the fact that IF they don’t keep them when they’re commanded, they can’t understand!
Leviticus 23:2: “‘Speak to the children of Israel and say to them, “Concerning the appointed Feasts of the LORD...”—they are God’s Feasts. They don’t belong to man:
you can’t move them around
you can’t change them
you can’t add to or take away from them
“...which you shall proclaim to be Holy convocations, even these are My appointed Feasts” (v 2).
the Sabbath
Passover
Unleavened Bread
Pentecost
Trumpets
Atonement
Feast of Tabernacles
the Last Great Day
A marvelous teaching tool for us to understand what God is doing on the earth today.
Verse 23: “And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to the children of Israel saying, “In the seventh month, in the first day of the month... [we know exactly when we are to do this] ...you shall have a Sabbath, a memorial of blowing of ram’s horns...” (vs 23-24).
It’s a day of horn blowing all day long, continuously from the beginning to the end. This is many trumpets. This is announcing a war! It’s a Holy convocation, a Sabbath Day! It’s very important, and in addition to that:
Verse 25—God says: “You shall do no servile work therein but you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.”
As we do on every Holy Day—on the Feast of Trumpets, as well—we give an offering on this day! We give it as we are able. We have to think about that, and understand how God has blessed us each individually. As we do every Holy Day, let’s take a break and take up the offering.
(pause for the offering)
I’d like you to turn to Rev. 19:14. I said this is very exciting. I was reading through this and something jumped off the page at me. I just wanted to make this a little different Feast of Trumpets message.
Generally, we spend time thinking about or talking about all the gloom and doom of war and the trumpet plagues and the vial plagues and the things that happen and the fighting; the 200 million-man army coming.
But something jumped off the page at me and I’d like to talk about that today. It caught my attention. It’s personal, and it applies to each of us. I thought you might enjoy talking about this a little bit today and seeing how it relates to the Feast of Trumpets. Again, today is a War Feast. This Feast of Trumpets pictures a War Feast in the future.
The 144,000 enumerable multitude do repent, but the rest won’t do that. It’s necessary to bring about this war and this punishment in order to bring in the Kingdom of God and the restitution of all things.
Revelation 19:14: “ And the armies in heaven were following Him on white horses... [I have a mental picture that it just brings a chill to me] ...and they were clothed in fine linen, white and pure.”
I can present a study on that to show you how fine linen, white and pure refers to the saints and righteousness.
Today I’d like to focus on the Army of God, who it is, and what it takes to be part of that army! We know when it’s going to happen on the Feast of Trumpets. But there’s an Army of God now! The very first question we have to ask is:
Who’s commanding this army?
Where would you go for that?
There are many references to Christ being the Commander, or being in charge and in authority. But we’re going to see in:
Joshua 5:13—Joshua is standing on the hillside, overlooking Jericho. “And it came to pass, when Joshua was beside Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked. And, behold, there stood a Man in front of him with His sword drawn in His hand.... [got his attention] ...And Joshua went to Him and said to Him, ‘Are You for us or for our foes?’” Joshua was trying to make a decision: What do I do here?
Verse 14: “And He said, ‘No... [interesting answer] ...but I have come as the Commander of the army of the LORD.’....” He wasn’t for him or against him!
What side are you going to be on?
Are you going to be on Christ’s side?
“...And Joshua fell on his face to the earth. And he worshiped and said to Him, ‘What does my Lord say to His servant?’” (v 14) What do you want me to do?
Verse 15: “And the Commander of the LORD’S army said to Joshua, ‘Take your shoes off your feet for the place on which you stand is Holy.’ And Joshua did so.”
The same individual said that to Moses at the ‘burning bush.’ Holy ground, standing on Holy ground, that makes this Commander Holy, as well.
You know, worshiping this individual is something that you do only to God. You don’t worship a man! Joshua is saying ‘there’s a man standing in front of me. Now he realizes that it’s Christ! Christ accepted the worship from Joshua.
That would have been inappropriate if it was an angel, because even a righteous angel would say, ‘No, don’t do that.’ But God allowed Joshua to worship Him!
In Hebrews, it talks about the worship of angels, not doing that. It was, they were, they were doing that. Paul told them, no.
We see a place where John was going to worship this angel, and the angel said, ‘No.’
Revelation 19:10: “And I [John] fell at his [an angel] feet to worship him. Then he said to me, ‘See that you do not do this! I am a fellow servant of yours, and of your brethren, who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.’”
Let’s look at Who Jesus is. It’s kind of a no-brainer. Col. 1:16-17 sets the stage as to Who Christ is and why He is to be worshipped. Why am I talking about that on the Feast of Trumpets? Because this is very important!
With the Army of God, a soldier gives his allegiance to:
the Commander
to the army
to the mission
to everything about that army
The Leader is looking to those who worships Him. We will see that that is what we do. We worship our Commander!
Colossians 1:6: “Because by Him were all things created, the things in heaven and the things on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all, and by Him all things subsist” (vs 6-7).
WOW! I mean, obviously, this is Someone—and Joshua knew this—that you would, on your face, worship Him and say:
What do you want me to do?
What should I do?
Joshua 5:15: “And the Commander of the LORD’S army said to Joshua, ‘Take your shoes off your feet for the place on which you stand is Holy.’ That implied that the captain of the Lord of Hosts was used to commanding!
He had an army. Everything was done decently in an order and people obeyed. That’s why he (Peter?) would marvel with Cornelius. He said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like this in Israel.’
In Amos 4:13: “...the LORD...[the God of the Old Testament] ...the God of hosts, is His name.
We see that He has an army. He’s the Commander and He has an army: the host of heaven. They are loyal to Him and they are committed and they worship Him.
Who are those troops?
Who is the army? The army is composed of troops!
Who are they?
I’ve mentioned that, you probably guessed, they’re the host of heaven or the heavenly host! They are the righteous angels! One is Michael vs a fallen angel Satan, fight. We know they know how to fight.
Revelation 12:7: “And there was war in heaven; Michael and his angels...”
Michael has angels, he’s over some angels. That shows us there’s a ranking system within that military host of heaven.
“...warred against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels warred. But they did not prevail, neither was their place found any more in heaven” (vs 7-8). Michael won that fight and Satan was cast out of heaven.
Michael also was very humbled. He did not presume to announce a railing accusation or judgment against Satan. It says that in Jude 9, when they were talking and they were disputing. Michael wouldn’t do that.
He deferred to the Commander, to Christ, to his King! He was loyal and obedient! That’s a trait for the host of heaven, the Army of God!
Another example is Elisha. There are several very interesting examples in the Old Testament about angels and their fighting for Israel and the people of God. Elisha and the army of Syria is the stage:
2-Kings 6:15: “And the servant of the man of God arose early and went out. And, behold, an army surrounded the city... [they’re probably up on a ridge] ...and horses and chariots...” [that indicates there’s a battle that’s going to happen] ...And his servant said to him, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ And he answered, ‘Do not fear, for those with us are more than those with them’” (vs 15-16).
There’s another Scripture in the New Testament that the power that’s within us when we have God’s Holy Spirit and we’re called and we are begotten is stronger or more powerful than that power that is outside. It’s kind of similar to this:
1-John 4:4: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because greater is He Who is in you than the one who is in the world.”
2-Kings 6:17: “And Elisha prayed and said, ‘I pray You, LORD, open his eyes so that he may see.’ And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.”
I mean, the spirit army, the host of heaven have horses and fiery chariots. These are fiery chariots around Elisha. It was a spiritual army! That fire suggests spiritual, spiritual chariots and horses.
Remember that chariots are an instrument of war and that the armies around had chariots, and the spiritual armies had chariots, too! How many chariots are in the Army of God?
Psalm 68:17: “The chariots of God are myriads, thousands upon thousands...”
The Lord is among them in Sinai and in this Holy place. WOW! Myriads, “...thousands upon thousands...”!
How do you number that? You can’t number them! Those are the Army of God, the host of heaven! It only takes one angel to destroy an army.
Revelation 5:11: And I saw and I heard the voices of many angels around the Throne...”—myriads upon myriads, referring to the angels! God’s army is a very, very large army!
2-Kings 19—this is an example that one angel did! It describes the angel of the Lord striking down 185 Assyrian soldiers in one night. During that night during the reign of Hezekiah of Judah, the Syrian army led by King Sennacherib besieged Jerusalem.
2-Kings 19:35: “And it came to pass that night, the angel of the LORD went out and struck a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the camp of the Assyrians....” The king was left and he went back and his sons killed him!
The angelic hosts, the righteous angels, have other roles as well, other than military. But it shows that they are a heavenly host, a celestial army, and they worship God.
‘Holy, Holy, Holy,’ it says in Isa. 6. The angels say, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy,’ and they cry this all day long. Around God’s Throne they do that, as well.
they worship
they fight
they’re messengers of God’s will
Gabriel with Mary
they’re ministering servants to God’s people
They have many roles, just like you would have many things, many different jobs in an army, in the United States Army. You’d have:
a motor pool
an administration
project people who take care of different aspects that are civilian aspects
but they’re in the army! You have many other things that you’re learning as a soldier of God! Many people have said:
I don’t know what I’m going to do. I don’t have any special skills. Why did God call me?
Everything you’re learning right now can be transferred to the spirit world, to a job. We’ll see that it’s not the skill necessarily, the physical skill or the hands-on skill. It’s more than that, that you’re learning, that God takes and translates or transfers to the spirit, and now it becomes very valuable.
These angels are given to God’s elect, or are they are to take care of God’s elect and protect them. It says that ‘the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him.’
Psa. 91:11[transcriber’s correction]is a protection Psalm: “For He shall give His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways. They shall bear you up in their hands, lest you dash your foot against a stone” (vs 11-12).
Satan quoted that Scripture to Christ during the temptation!
They are to watch over us and care for us and care for God’s army, His saints! That’s going to answer the next question. They are more than just the horde of hosts and the host of heaven. They are the begotten called out sons of God—to be sons of God—US, the saints!
Heb. 1:14—another job that they do. This is a very interesting job, because I’m sure we all can think about things that have happened in our lives where:
miraculously something moved, or got out of the way
or we went right through it
or something like that happened
or someone came and then they disappeared and they weren’t there anymore
Hebrews 1:14: “Are they not all ministering spirits, being sent forth to minister to those who are about to inherit salvation?”
Who would that be? That would be US! It shows that we also are part of the Army of God!
Christ the Commander
the host of heaven
the saints of God
That’s very exciting to me. We’re going to see on the Feast of Trumpets how that army helps and is there with Christ, and comes back. I don’t think He has to have an army IF one angel can handle 185,000, I’m sure Christ Who created everything can handle it!
But He works differently than that. There’s a reason why He wants an army. He wants a family. He wants us there with Him. It’s very exciting, very personal!
The remainder of that army are the saints of God, begotten saints of God, who will be resurrected at Pentecost and go to the Sea of Glass. We are in training right now. When we’re changed and go to the Sea of Glass, we’re going to learn even more. We’re going to be even trained more. As part of the Army of God on the Feast of Trumpets in the future, we are learning to assist Christ!
The destruction of Babylon the Great, the 200 million-man army[transcriber’s correction], removing Satan. But I believe that’s pretty much a done deal. We’re going to continue to assist Christ during the Millennium to establish the Kingdom of God! To use the things we’ve learned in a spirit sense, as spirit beings, to help the physical people in the Millennium. We’re learning that right now. We’re learning that right now, hands-on, physical.
But there’s a spiritual application to it that is so much more far-reaching much more valuable than being a good craftsman and doing something; making a pretty carving or a painting. There’s more to it. There’s a spiritual aspect to it!
we are being led and guided and taught
we will lead, guide, and teach those in the Millennium
We’ll learn a lot of that now and on the Sea of Glass. We’ll put it into application. That’s a big job. Then think about the Last Great Day. All those who have lived again have the opportunity for eternal life.
Our calling is to be part of that army, that family, in addition to being sons and daughters of God. Do you think that’s exciting? I think it’s very exciting! The Feast of Trumpets pictures the Army of God. It mentions the Army of God, and that Army of God exists right now!
it’s there
it’s been from the beginning
it’s been in the hearts and minds of:
all whom God has called and given His Holy Spirit to
all He has worked with and brought them to perfection,
To the point where they’re in the grave, and the next moment they’ll know they are spirit, incorruptible spirit!
That training continues. What Christ can learn, we will continue to learn! Being a part of the army is exciting, it really is. We’re going to receive more training, instruction. I can think of all these different things:
working with our hands
administration
managing projects and people
skills in building trades
restoration of the earth world
landscaping and gardening
All the different things that we learn! These skills are transferable when we become spirit. We have God’s Holy Spirit now, we’re joined in that. We love it. I love to see those things. I see God and Christ in it, in all that we do!
Colossians 3:12: “Put on then, as the elect of God, Holy and beloved, deep inner affections...”
This is part of our training as part of the army, soldiers, if you will. This is different than the world. But I’ll show you that it’s similar.
The United States Army is starting to teach some of this, in addition to all the other skills.
Verse 12: “Put on then, as the elect of God, Holy and beloved, deep inner affections, kindness, humility, meekness and long-suffering.”
Christ the King, the Captain of the Armies of God, was tender and lowly (Matt. 11:28-30). Not what we think today of a fighting man! He had all power and created all things.
Verse 13: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so also you should forgive.” We follow by example our Commander!
Verse 14: “And above all these things put on love...
You wouldn’t think of a soldier putting on love. That makes us:
powerful
submissive
yielding
contrite
humble
That’s strength! Paul said, ‘I’m strong when I’m weak; because:
he’s in Christ
he’s trusting Christ
he’s allowing God, the Commander of all things, to work in Him
he’s walking by the Spirit
Verse 14: “And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you were called into one Body, and be thankful” (vs 14-15). We’ll talk about the unity of an army!
Verse 16: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Verse 17: “And in everything—whatever you do in word or in deed—do all in the name of the Lord Jesus...”—the Commander of God’s Army, of which you are part!
we’re going to go to the Sea of Glass upon the resurrection on Pentecost
there are white robes, spiritual clothing.
we’re going to be given new names, new language
we’re going to learn to play the lyre
we’re going to learn to ride the spiritual white horse
maybe we get to ride in a chariot
we will be given our assignments and shown what to do in preparation
before we install and help install the Government of God!
we’ll receive our reward
The reward that we receive is eternal life! It’s a gift. It’s given to us!
we’re going to prepare to marry Christ
we’ll be at the marriage supper of the Lamb
THEN we’re going to return with Christ after watching on the Sea of Glass the vials poured out. Probably watching with the host of heaven, God’s Army. I’m sure they’re there. I’m sure they’re watching. I’m sure they’re with there. We’re all, we’re all getting ready. That last vial is poured out. There’s probably going to be an announcement made: Follow Me! It’s time!
Revelation 16:1: “Then I heard a loud voice from the temple say to the seven angels, ‘Go and pour out the vials of the wrath of God onto the earth’”—before the saints, along with the God and the heavenly host! We’re watching from the Sea of Glass!
Revelation 15:2: “And I saw a Sea of Glass mingled with fire, and those who had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, standing on the Sea of Glass, having the lyres of God.”
Who would that be? The saints, the righteous saints, the Army of God!
Verse 3: “And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb. saying, ‘Great and awesome are Your works, Lord God Almighty; righteous and true are Your ways, King of the saints.” That’s Who commands the army!
Aren’t we glad?
Aren’t we happy?
Isn’t this exciting?
But you know, we’ve got to get there first We’ve got to get to the Sea of Glass. We still live in this flesh. There have been many that have lived and are awaiting the change from physical to spiritual, that graduation day. They can continue their studies and training as a spirit member of the Family and God’s Army on the Sea of Glass. I’m sure there is so much to learn. Don’t you have a lot of questions to ask?
Wouldn’t you love, I think when he plugs in our spirit body and mind, we’re going to understand a lot of that. But I think I’m going to have a lot of questions and I’m going to have to learn how to handle that and do that. All the different things we learn. It’s more than what we listed.
At that time, from being soldiers on the physical, with the Spirit of God, we are changed to spirit, and we’re going to learn to become an elite soldier, a member of the special forces of God, of God’s Army.
Isn’t that amazing? But now we’re in the flesh. We’re called Christian soldiers; we are God’s soldiers. God gives us the tools to make it. He doesn’t want anyone to perish or not make it to perfection.
We’re preparing now and learning to be better soldiers every day. He gives us those tools and He gives us the skills. We are to develop those through:
the Holy Spirit
prayer
study
fasting
thinking and meditating on the Word of God
living by every Word
The instructions are in the Word of God and how they apply to us! We need to act on those to understand it! That’s the only way we understand it!
We learn to grow in grace and knowledge and the love of God and the knowledge of God Loving God and others with our entire heart and mind, growing to the measure, the stature, the fullness of Christ! Having Christ’s mind and thinking with it and growing in wisdom, making wise decisions with it. Learning to be a better soldier daily, every day, to the point where we didn’t really get the training and now we’re really able to help. I think we can continue to learn things. We’re trainees. What do they call them? Grunts! Rookies learning the ropes of how to be a better soldier!
Timothy had been trained by his family, his mom and his grandma. We’ve got a lot to learn, just like Timothy did. We’re going to come on the Feast of Trumpets to help bring the Kingdom of God. We have to learn a lot of things and we have to learn through hardships and trials and suffering and difficulties. We must learn to endure them as Christ did and become steadfast and unmovable.
2-Timothy 2:3: “You [Timothy] therefore, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one who is serving as a soldier becomes involved in civilian pursuits, so that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (vs 3-4).
We are enlisted in the Army of God. God the Father begins to draw us and Christ then chooses us! But notice:
Verse 4: “No one who is serving as a soldier becomes involved in civilian pursuits...”—because:
you won’t please God
you won’t please our Commander.
We are soldiers of Jesus Christ enduring hardships!
As soldiers in God’s army, we’re going to learn to be strengthened. We’re going to be stronger daily IF we allow God’s Holy Spirit and the experiences God gives us to teach us and to prepare us. As the soldiers do, they go through that basic training. They run the courses and they go jump over walls and swing over the ropes and they fall in the water and they go on 25 mile hikes, and they’re becoming strong and their endurance is growing.
We’ll know the enemy well. We learn the wiles of Satan while we’re here and we’re really going to learn them on the Feast of Trumpets in the future face to face. But we have to learn to battle him now in the flesh. Christ came in the flesh to show us the way. He gave us an example that we’re to follow.
Ephesians 6:10: “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord... [not in yourself] ...and in the might of His strength.”
We saw what power He has in the angels. He created them and He has all power. Everything’s possible with Christ! We have to know our enemy
Verse 11: “Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
Be able to stand. It doesn’t say physically go after him and fight and pick up this weapon and pick up that weapon. But we have them internalized. Christ is in that armor and Christ is in us and we’re walking in the spirit and we stand and we put our trust in the Commander!
The wiles of the devil are what we’re watching out for!
Verse 12: “Because we are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities and against powers, against the world rulers of the darkness of this age, against the spiritual power of wickedness in high places.... [WOW! That’s our enemy!] ... Therefore, take up the whole armor of God...” (vs 12-13).
The armor of God is literal Roman soldier gear. Paul uses the armor of God to mirror the equipment of a Roman centurion or a legionnaire.
THE BELT OF TRUTH
It’s like a soldier’s belt holding weapons and it symbolizes Truth as the foundation of a believer’s life! Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life! He’s our foundation. He’s our Rock.
THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
It protects the vital organs spiritually. It guards the heart and the mind from outside. Guard the door of your mind from immoral and spiritual attacks from Satan who is ‘the prince of the power of the air’ and these fiery darts he throws at us.
SHOES OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
Providing readiness and stability enabling the believer to stand. You know, one of the things that Roman soldiers had, they had to have good boots because that was a vulnerable spot.
THE GOSPEL OF PEACE
A SHIELD OF FAITH
Extinguishes those flaming arrows and evil representing trust and God’s protection, and the angels are able to protect us.
THE HELMET OF SALVATION
That protects the mind and it helps us to be assured that God is going to make sure we make it. But it protects the mind. The helmet! Very, very important to keep. That was another vulnerable spot.
THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT
The Word of God! The only offensive weapon in the spiritual warfare It works both ways. It’s a two-edge.
We’re trusting God and we’re leaning on Him! That’s what the whole point is. Be defensive, but be in the arena and be there and God will take care of you. Stay within that bubble of peace. ‘I’ve got you. I’ll take care of you.’ We’re learning that now as soldiers. Look what we’ll have in the future. WOW!
This fight’s not against man, it’s against Satan and his demons. That is the only way we can stay strong and firm and steadfast, using the armor of God!
You’ll want to know how we got here. We voluntarily accepted the enlistment into the Army of God. We answered the Father’s call Who was drawing us to Him. At our calling and baptism, receiving the Holy Spirit, we figuratively signed the papers to join. We made a covenant. We made a contract to join.
Our enlistment, or ‘the hitch,’ they call it the enlistment, is for life. You don’t get four years or two years. This is a lifetime project. Lifetime calling and mission. The Father and Christ personally called us and chose to enlist us! God the Father drew us and Christ personally chose us.
John 15:16: “You yourselves did not choose Me, but I have personally chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go forth and bear fruit... [that you should grow in the understanding of the soldier] ... and that your fruit should remain; so that whatever you shall ask the Father in My name, He may give you.”
Now you’re in the army and we’ve got you as willing recruits! Christ gives us His character. We have that character and then one of the most important parts of that character, of course, you have the fruits of the Spirit. They’re all there. We’ve been given gifts to prepare for this journey.
the gift of eternal life at its completion
the gift of repentance along the way
the gift of forgiveness
the gift of justification
the gift of faith
the gift of love
the gift of hope
the gift of belief and faith
This is very important in this calling and in Christ and its purpose and its Divine leadership and God the Father. Faith along with other fruits or characteristics of Christ are very important in the development of the soldier of Christ in preparation for the Feast of Trumpets in the future.
They are the most important tools or weapons that a soldier must possess and grow in, and become proficient in using them.
They’re not physical things we use, are they? Proficient in loving your neighbor and loving God and not backbiting, not gossiping, not doing the things that are developing envy and jealousy and bitterness. We stay away from that. We let it go!
We put ourselves in God’s hands! That’s being proficient in the tools and the weapons that God gives to us to fight the evil one. We’re in the flesh but we’re fighting a spiritual fight and we’ll continue to learn different things when we are spirit. At baptism our covenantal pledge to live or die for this cause is made! We have faith in Christ. We have that Commander-in-Chief!
Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ, yet, I live. Indeed, it is no longer I; but Christ lives in me. For the life that I am now living in the flesh, I live by faith—that very faith of the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me”—willingly gave Himself!
Greater love has no man that he lays down his life! That’s what our Commander did. That’s what the Commander of the armies of heaven, the Host of heaven did for us! He laid down His life for us. He gives us His character, the fruits of the spirit, agape love, faith, hope, and all those fruits you can find in Gal. 5: joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, meekness, self-control.
God gives His soldiers special training now as begotten sons and daughters. We’re going to get more as spirit beings. There’s a parallel. I said that the U.S. Army, it’s kind of interesting because I looked something up and I found this.
They endeavor to teach the same attitudes and skills to the soldiers These that are important in a spiritual sense, but they also teach them skills to be combat soldiers in the army, of course, hand-to-hand combat, becoming a good marksman with different lethal weapons. All attitudes and mindsets that a soldier must have to stay alive, but not a soldier of Christ!
They learn not to hesitate to kill or be killed. We don’t do that, but we are soldiers. But now they have endeavored to teach other skills and those that God’s Army—the true army—needs. We’re going to look at that. This is really interesting. It’s a parallel for us. This is an article:
How Do The Seven Army Values Align With Christian Values? by Russell Gehrlein; Oct. 19, 2020
https://institutefc.org/how-do-the-seven-army-values-align-with-christian-values/
{Transcriber’s note: the following articles is copied as is. Scriptures are quoted from unknown Bible translation}
I’m not saying that the army is a Christian organization. All I’m saying is that it is not too difficult to find Scriptures that reinforce each one of these army values. They call them army values. It’s interesting that they’re God’s values. The army has said, maybe these things are working.
Loyalty: “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful... [loyalty] ...with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’” (Matt. 25:21)
Duty: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Col. 3:23)
Respect: “Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers... [the brotherhood] ...fear God, honor the emperor.” (1 Pet. 2:17)
Selfless Service: “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13)
Honor: “As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” (Eph. 4:1)
Integrity: “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.” (Prov. 10:9)
Personal Courage: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Josh. 1:9)
These values that every soldier must learn, especially those entering the army, these new recruits, new enlistees, need to learn these and grow in grace and knowledge. Grow in proficiency, using these weapons against evil, learning to do those things. There are many, many more. I thought they pretty well aligned with, you know, what a soldier in the army of God must learn and apply. We’ve got an Instruction manual, the Bible! God’s Word!
When you sign up in the U.S. government, you sign the papers to join the cause, you know you’re no longer your own. The U.S. Government calls it “government issue,” or GI: Government issue.
It says that you are not your own in 1 Cor. You were bought with a price. Glorify God in your body and your spirit, which are already God’s! Know also that you are not alone. We have others in the army that have been enlisted along with us, aren’t they? We call them brothers. We call them family.
When we respond to that call, we find ourselves standing side by side with fellow believers and ready to further the Kingdom of God. They call it a ‘band of brothers.’ United in the same goal and mission of the same mind. The mission is to see the Kingdom of God established on the earth and going on into the future That’s the Plan of God for mankind.
To allow everyone to be in the Family. Each one has a role to play in this, in the Army of God. Together, as soldiers, we affirm that we’re committed and we’re ready to march forward together in faith. We find ourselves standing side by side, don’t we, with our fellow believers. It’s like the buddy system.
The motto in the army is, no man left behind. Your team, you’re a band of brothers, you live by the same. No man left behind. You watch out for one another. We’re many, but we’re one in the Body of Christ.
Each one members of one another. Many, many places that talk about that. We’re to bear one another’s burdens and so fulfill the Law of Christ. That’s a Law in the Army of God. This is a direct command to carry out each one’s burdens and show practical support in times of need.
We could spend an entire series of messages on that. Paul tells us to meet together and to be concerned about one another and be stirring up one another to love and good works. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves, but rather encouraging one another as the more we see the day drawing near.
Keeping the goal, the Word of God, don’t move off the Word, focusing on Christ. Christ is our banner. We can stay together as long as we all believe that same thing. When one gets off, we can help and try to bring them back, but sometimes it’s not possible. We stay together in true fellowship, love the brotherhood, revere God, and honor the King.
At the Feast of Trumpets, there’s going to be a call, a call to arms from the Commander-in-Chief. Our Commander is Christ, our Savior and High Priest, the Lord and Master, the King of kings and Lord of lords, our General. Of course, God the Father, the Ancient of Days, is the One Who is the five star General, or maybe the President.
He’s going to say something like this, it’s time, follow Me. Then we’re going to start our way down from the Sea of Glass to the earth on white horses with the host of the armies of God to the Mount of Olives to change the world and restore all things. What an amazing time!
In the meantime, we’ve been learning and training in the flesh now, with an earnest down payment of God’s Holy Spirit:
to develop Holy righteous character
to grow in grace and knowledge of Him Who is the Chief Soldier and Commander: Christ
to learn to fight the good fight now
The reward waits at the end of the fight. It’s eternal life. Eternal life for all mankind at the Last Great Day. Those who repent and follow God and Christ.
We’re going to be changed, continue to grow, and understanding the finer points of being the soldier of God.
There’s going to come a time in the Feast of Trumpets in the future that this really applies to us. I hope you see how this day applies to us, the army of God. It really hit home with me. An alarm is given, many trumpets are blown, there’s a war coming to announce the King of kings. A trumpet blast announces the King and the reign of His Kingdom. They’re going to hear that. They’re going to hear in Rev. 11:15, there’s going to be an announcement made from heaven that Christ’s Kingdom is now established. It’s here. It’s happened! It’s done!
It’s done. Christ qualified in Matt. 4, and He waited. Now, an announcement is being made in:
Revelation 11:15: “And there were great voices in heaven, saying, ‘The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ, and He shall reign into the ages of eternity.’”
That’s forever and ever and ever! At that time, we’re going to descend with the hosts of heaven and the Army of God, as it says in Rev. 19:11. Just think about this now.
Here we are. What a scene this is. We’re myriads and myriads and myriads of angels, maybe on chariots, maybe fiery chariots. I don’t know. We’re on white horses. I don’t know where we are. Maybe we’re out front. Who knows?
Revelation 19:11: “And I saw heaven open; and behold, a white horse; and He Who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He does judge and make war. And His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written that no one knows except Him. And He was clothed with a garment dipped in blood; and His name is The Word of God. And the armies in heaven were following Him on white horses; and they were clothed in fine linen, white and pure. And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations; and He shall shepherd them... [He’s going to correct them, and then He’s going to shepherd them] ...with an iron rod; and He treads the winepress of the fury and the wrath of the Almighty God. And on His garment and on His thigh He has a name written: King of kings and Lord of lords” (vs 11-16).
After this, Satan will be put away on Atonement, and the Kingdom of God pictured by the Feast of Tabernacles will be established, the Millennium, establishment of the Kingdom of God.
I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to this day, to be part of the Army of God now, and what it pictures for us on the Feast of Trumpets. Let’s continue to prepare daily for this day!
Scriptural References:
Leviticus 23:2, 23-25
Revelation 19:14
Joshua 5:13-15
Revelation 19:10
Colossians 1:6-7
Joshua 5:15
Amos 4:13
2-Kings 6:15-16
1-John 4:4
2-Kings 6:17
Psalm 68:17
Revelation 5:11
2-Kings 19:35
Psalm 91:11-12
Hebrews 1:14
Colossians 3:12-17
Revelation 16:1
Revelation 15:2-3
2-Timothy 2:3-4
Ephesians 6:10-13
John 15:16
Galatians 2:20
Revelation 11:15
Revelation 19:11-16
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
Jude 9
Isaiah 6
Matthew 11:28-30
Galatians 5
Matthew 4:4
Also Referenced: How Do The Seven Army Values Align With Christian Values? by Russell Gehrlein; Oct. 19, 2020
https://institutefc.org/how-do-the-seven-army-values-align-with-christian-values/
SD:po/bo
Transcribed: 8/10/26
Copyright (2026)—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner.
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