A Crucified Life - - Longing To Be Clothed

 

2 Corinthians 5:2-3

For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 1971 & 1902

Longing: strain after, desire greatly, have affection for, intensely crave

From the Greek word 'epipotheó' (pronounced  ep-ee-poth-eh'-o): to have a yearning love for

To Be Clothed: to have on over (oneself)

From the Greek word 'ependuomai' (pronounced ep-en-doo'-om-ahee): refers to the glorified body the Lord gives (puts on) each believer at Christ's return. 

DEATH NOT OURS TO WEAR

    Being the body of Christ is a spiritual thing. Having risen from the grave and being clothed in a glorified body, Christ has ascended to be with His Father in heaven, seated on His right hand, where He intercedes for His followers: all of His followers: we who are alive and have come to Christ until this point in time and we who will be His followers until His enemies are annihilated.

    Death is not our garment. It merely wraps itself around our corrupted bodies, which were created with sinful natures, sin having reigned in this world since Adam and Eve disobeyed God.  Because they were the first people and all people descended from them, all people are created with a sinful nature. We needed a Savior to save us and save us Christ Jesus did. (1 Corinthians 15:55).

    When we make a decision to follow Christ, we also should be making a commitment to live a holy and blameless life/lifestyle. We decide for ourselves that it is better to live a Christ-centered, Spirit-filled life than it is to live a life without God in it. 

    Which is the life we had before we came to Christ. It was no good then, it will be even worse for us were we to turn our backs on God after believing Him for our salvation. Proverbs 26:11 warns us of this folly: "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly." (cf 2 Peter 2:20-22).

    As we age, we groan when we sit up, stand up, stretch, sit down; basically, whenever we shift position, we groan. The groan escapes our mouths though we try not to. That's life. For now. 

    We LOOOONNNNGGG to be clothed with our eternal bodies. We anticipate living on the other side of our eternity with joy and hope, knowing that even as we are in Christ now, we will be even more so then. 

UPGRADED

    We who believe that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior--Lord of our lives and Savior who saves us from our sins--await the day we receive our divine glorified covering/garment. We know that the garment we are currently clothed with is considered a filthy rag, a filthy garment, by God and must be taken off of us before we can receive the divine garment prepared for us. 

    In Zechariah 3 we learn of Joshua the high priest, who stands before God in his filthy garments. Satan is at one side of him ready to accuse him before God. But God knows that Joshua is innocent and demands that his filthy garments be removed so that his 'splendid' clothes may be put on him. 

    Joshua could not remove the filthy garments he was clothed in: only God could do that. Joshua could not dress himself in splendid clothes: only God could do that. This passage is a shadow of Christ being our covering. 

    We cannot in and of ourselves remove sin from ourselves: only God can do that through the sacrifice of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. We needed an upgrade that only God can provide. So He did (John 3:16).

     We put Christ on (Romans 13:14) when we believe on His name for our salvation (Romans 10:13). But it is God who clothes us with Christ, not we ourselves (Ephesians 2:1-10). 

WEDDING GARMENTS

    Matthew 22:1-14 tells us the Parable of The Wedding Banquet. Though many of the king's servants went out into the fields to call the invited guests to the wedding feast he had prepared for his son, none would come in; each had his own excuse for not attending. 

So the king sent His servants into the streets to invite everyone else and soon his tables were full. But someone had come in who was not invited. 

See, in order to get seated at the tables, everyone had to have wedding garments on. You know, nice clothes; clean and respectable clothes. They had to be cleaned up and made presentable. It was easy to recognize the uninvited guest because he wasn't cleaned up, nor covered in the wedding garment. 

The king ordered the uninvited guest, who had no defense, to be bound hand and foot and thrown into utter darkness (cf Matthew 8:12; Matthew 25:30; Luke 13:28). 

We who will be clothed with Christ as our Wedding Garment will take our places at the heavenly wedding banquet which has been prepared for the marriage supper of the Lamb and His bride (Revelation 19:9).

Which guest are you going to be? The invited guest or the uninvited guest? It is, after all, a decision each of us has to make while the invitation is being made. 

INVITED

    

    

Guard Your Heart -- - Guard Your Core

 

Colossians 3:12

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 4698

Bowels:  the inward parts (heart, liver, lungs, etc.), the emotions

From the Greek word 'splagchnon' (pronounced splangkh'-non):  the inward parts; the heart, affections, seat of the feelings. Properly, the internal organs ("viscera"); "gut-level compassion" (visceral feelings); the capacity to feel deep emotions (sympathy, empathy, etc.).

THE CORE

    The main job of the core in the human anatomy is to hold and protect the spine. It is located within a person's abdominal muscles, which stabilize the pelvis, maintain natural abdominal pressure and helps hold other organs in place. 

    It is the same in our spiritual bodies. The core, the innermost part of our spiritual hearts, where the Trinity dwell, holds us upright. The core's main function is to keep the born again Christian in Christ and Christ in the Christian. It is here God writes His Word with the power of His Holy Spirit. 

HEART OF MERCY

    Having gone through various trials with Christ at our helm, we are able to navigate these same storms with others. We call this empathy. But being Christians, we can also offer the Love of God, our Hope in Christ and Strength for the journey.

    Death is another storm which everyone goes through. When we are born into this world, we are aware that we will have to die at some point to leave it. Though we do not want to say good-bye to our loved ones, we who know we are in Christ and that He is in us, know that 'good-bye' is really 'see you later'.

     Therefore, as Christ's servants we can also sympathize with the dying, the ones they leave behind and the ones who fear death. A grieving parent is shown both empathy and sympathy by a Christian parent who has also suffered the loss of a child. A grieving child is shown sympathy and empathy by a Christian when we share how our parents are now in heaven.

    From deep within the heart of a Christian rises the love of God and the mercy of Christ to reach into the heart of the one we are showing empathy with and sympathy to. We grieve when they grieve. We cry when they cry. We mourn when they mourn. We rejoice when they rejoice. 

CORE VALUES

    Core values are the priorities by which we live our lives: our personal ethics, our integrity. In Scripture, the core values are the fruit of the Spirit as outlined in Galatians 5:22, 23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law." These grow in the spiritual core of a Christian.

    We each have our own list of core values. Some as few as five, yet some have a set list of 200+ values. It is the structure of life for us. In a Christian's life it is the same. What we believe and how we live what we believe is to be known by our core values. 

    For instance, integrity, which tends to show itself in a public display of honesty. When you see an item in your cart after you've already paid for everything else, do you go back and pay for it or do you keep it? The person with integrity goes back and pays for it. 

    Responsibility, respect, good sportsmanship are all core values. But servant leadership is also a core value. Jesus showed this value when He washed His disciples' feet. (John 13:1-17). He's the Servant Leader, who shows by example how to live a Christ-centered life.

     So, remember, in order to guard our hearts and the core of our hearts, we need a right relationship with Christ and to be filled with His Holy Spirit, who leads us and guides us on every step of our walk with Him. In the church we call it 'being known by our fruit'. What are you known for?

Just A Closer Walk With Thee - Alabama

I Can't Even Walk - Southern Gospel Revival

Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross  

I'd Rather Have Jesus - Jim Reeves

Nothing Without You - Will Reagan

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Fully Clothed

 Romans 13:14

 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

To 'put on' is to clothe one's self with. When we dress ourselves, we are putting on outerwear to cover our nakedness. With this understanding, when we recognize our sins against God, we realize we have no covering and seek out what will remove the nakedness of our hearts. 

Through prayer to God, He leads us to His only begotten Son Jesus Christ, His Lamb which takes away the sins we have committed against Him. And God applies the blood of His Lamb to the wickedness of our hearts, washing away the sin and covering us with the blood. It is a spiritual thing which God does, for God is spirit. We cannot cover ourselves. But we can believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He is God's only begotten Son, that He is the Righteousness of God. 

THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD

Romans 1:17

For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

Romans 3:22, 23

And this righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no distinction, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

I CLOTHE MYSELF WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS

Job 29:14

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

Ephesians 6:14

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed. (When we apply this verse to ourselves, we are able to say, "I stand firm, having buckled the belt of Truth around my waist, and putting on the breastplate [corselet which extends from my heart to my hips] of Righteousness [which protects my heart and my emotions].")

Luke 12:35

Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning. 

Proverbs 31:17

She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms.

Galatians 3:27

For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.

MAKE NO PROVISION FOR THE FLESH

Galatians 5:16

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Ephesians 4:21-

Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be renewed in the spirit of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

1 Peter 5:6

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.

Only a fully clothed Spiritual Warrior can enter God's presence and live. When we pray to this Holy God, we are entering the spiritual realm where good battles evil (Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.) 

With this new knowledge we have gained an understanding of how to put on Jesus Christ:

1. Walk by the Spirit
2.  Clothe ourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience
3. Put off (take off the dirty clothes) our former way of life, our old self
4.  Be renewed in the spirit of your minds (daily and throughout our days)
5. Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness
6. Submit ourselves to God
7. Resist the devil
8. Humble ourselves under God's mighty right hand 

There's no other way to be a FULLY CLOTHED SPIRITUAL WARRIOR than to wear JESUS CHRIST on the inside, in our hearts. When He is there by the Spirit of God, then He will become the Light which shines from the darkness into the darkness, lighting every nook and cranny of ourselves, revealing sins that He might uproot them and remove them permanently. This Light of Christ shines through us where others are able to see Him in us and in our actions. 

Lord, let Your Light shine in me and through me, that those around me may see You in my life and be drawn to You. Make Your Light and Your Love to be evident and may this evidence be apparent to even the darkest, breaking their bonds and chains with Your Grace and Mercy. Help me to be fully clothed and in my right mind today. 

In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen. 

What Am I Wearing?

 Revelation 16:15

Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watches, and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. 

Garments: the outer garment worn over the undergarment next to the skin, long flowing cloak, robe, mantle, apparel, raiment 

I Am Wearing Jesus Christ

Romans 13:14

But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Galatians 3:27

For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

I Am Wearing Righteousness & Justice

Job 29:14

I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; justice was my robe and my turban.

I Am Wearing Salvation

Isaiah 61:10

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

Ephesians 6:17

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. 

I Am Wearing Truth

Ephesians 6:14

Stand therefore, having girded your waist with Truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  

I Am Wearing Peace

Ephesians 6:15

and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 

I Am Wearing Faith & Love

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I Am Wearing The Fruit of The Spirit

Colossians 3:12

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Jesus Christ is my Victory!-Spirit Song

I've come too far to turn back now
I've changed my ways, I guard my heart
Those days in chains have no hold on me
Jesus Christ is my Victory! 

I've come too far to look back on
Days of sorrow and shame are gone
The mire and muck I once called home
Jesus Christ is my Victory! 

Shine on Jesus
In my heart!
Wash away 
All the darkened parts.
Break me down 
To lift me up
I've come too far to turn back now
You reign in me! 

I am clothed in Your Righteousness
I am clothed in Your Holiness
I am clothed in You, my King,
Jesus Christ is my Victory! 
You reign in me
You reign in me, O Lord,
You reign in me, Jesus! 
Jesus Christ is my Victory!

Shine on Jesus
In my heart!
Wash away 
All the darkened parts.
Break me down 
To lift me up
I've come too far to turn back now
You reign in me! 

I am clothed in Your righteousness
I am clothed in Your holiness
I am clothed in You, my King,
Jesus Christ is my Victory! 
You reign in me
You reign in me, O Lord,
You reign in me, Jesus! 
Jesus Christ is my Victory!