clothing

Exodus 39:1
“Of the blue, purple, and scarlet thread they made garments of ministry, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.”

In order for the Old Testament priest to serve the Lord, he must be clothed in the proper attire. Moses referred to his clothing as the garments of ministry. These garments included an ephod, breastplate, robe, tunic and a turban. It was clear that those who were to do the work of the Lord, must be clothed in the garments of the Lord. Things have not changed. Just as the Old Testament priest must be clothed in the garments of ministry, so the New Testament saint must don the proper attire if he/she is going to serve Christ. Our garments include at least four things.

Matthew 22:12-13
“‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'”

First, we must be robed in the righteousness of Christ. Jesus told a story of people who were invited to a great feast. Each guest was given a new garment upon arrival. Later the master of the feast noticed a man who was not dressed in these new garments, and because he was improperly clothed, he was removed from the feast. All who come to Christ have their sins forgiven, and are robed in His righteousness. Any who attempt to come to God another way, will find that they lack the righteousness required for access to heaven.

Ephesians 4:22-24
“. . . that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”

Second, Paul explained that like a worn out garment, we should take off the conduct we practiced before coming to Christ. Like the grave clothes Lazarus wore, these behaviors are no longer fitting now that we have been born anew in Christ.

Luke 24:49
“Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”

Third, after the Resurrection, the disciples were commissioned to take the Gospel message to every person throughout the entire world. Before they left they must, however, be endued or clothed with the power of God. This happens when the Holy Spirit comes upon us. Both John the Baptist and Jesus referred to this as being baptized with the Holy Spirit, and in the book of Acts we read of the disciples continually being filled with the Spirit. If we are going to be properly clothed for the service of the Lord we need a daily outpouring of the Spirit of God on our lives. Fortunately, the Holy Spirit is given to all who ask.

Ephesians 6:11
“Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”

And finally, the armor of God refers to a number of essentials that each and every believer must be clothed in to withstand the spiritual attack of the enemy. These garments include righteousness, Gospel preaching, faith, salvation, the Word of God, and prayer. A properly clothed Christian is one who makes these things a part of his daily life.

Pastor Jim

Matthew 6:21
” For Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

/home/wpcom/public_html/wp-content/blogs.dir/b9a/30989304/files/2015/01/img_1301.jpg The longer I live, the more I have come to realize, so much in life is passing. Things I once coveted and had to have, are bundled up and given to the Salvation Army. That “new car smell” has been replaced with “what’s that smell?” Even relationships that were once so close, have grown distant. The words of Christ shout a deafening cry,

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.”

Matthew, Chapter 6, not only exhorts us to lay up heavenly treasures, it also sheds light on the spiritual activities that will help us do it. We are told to give, pray, fast and let go.

One of the great struggles we face is how to live for eternity, while living in time. We know, while God could cause manna to appear on our front lawn every morning, He has chosen to call us to “till the ground.” In other words, we all have to work for a living. We need the tangibles like cash, food, housing, etc. How do we balance living here with storing up treasures in heaven. I think one of the keys is found in Verse 33.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

When we decide to no longer worry, to no longer be consumed with the things of this life, and instead, put our full confidence in Jehovah, as our provider, we will be able to put Him first. When that happens, we will see He is, in fact, able to meet our every need.

Today, whether you go to work, school, or stay at home, put Jesus in first place. Seek to please Him with every step, and watch as He uses the details of your day as opportunities to store up treasures in heaven.

Pastor Jim