It was in the news on Saturday, this was in the early 80’s, that a man was arrested, bathing naked in the city fountain. Well, I didn’t see the news about it, so as folks came into the church, several people said to me, “Well I’m glad to see you got your clothes on, pastor. I was really confused, and finally someone said “Didn’t you see the news? They said that someone was arrested, bathing naked in the city fountain. When they took him downtown to book him, he said his name was Reverend Charles Elliott.
Well, I thought that this bit of personal humor would fit themessage today,
So, I titled this message, “Put Your Clothes On”....
I don’t care what your personal preference is in how you dress, Paul is pretty specific about how we should be dressing our spirit, in our homes and as we get ready to head out each day into the public....This is the universal dress code for all believers in Christ...Our scripture text is...
2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. v2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, v3because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
v4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. v5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come”.
I want to focus on verse 3 for a moment... “When we are clothed we will not be found naked”. The word naked here, is about being vulnerable, exposed and susceptible. Paul is telling the Corinthian church that if their Spirit is not dressed properly they will be vulnerable to the wiles and deceptions of the devil...and susceptible to his lies.
Paul also writes to the Colossian church, much the same thoughts.... Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”.
He says, “Clothe your Spirit with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”.
Now that’s a good looking wardrobe! It’s a wardrobe that will speak well and testify of the Lord that we serve.
This isn’t going to just happen without an effort.... We have to choose these items from our wardrobe all day long, all week long, all month long and all year long!
I used to have a nightmare all the time, that I would show up at school, and everyone was dressed up, and I was in my underwear.... Or I would be on the stage singing in my underwear.... I think it came from reverse Psychology, because when my mom found out I could sing, she would take my sister and myself to every talent showshe could get to so that we could perform. To help us with our nerves, she would tell us to picture everyone in their underwear, and we were the only ones dressed up! But somehow, in my dreams, it got reversed! They were all dressed and I was in my underwear!
The implication from Colossians and Corinthians, is that this is a daily practice, just like we put on our own clothes, and get dressed every day, likewise we need to be putting on these spiritual clothes as well.
So let’s look in the closet and select some clothes to get our spirit dressed up in.....I want us to check out each article of clothing Paul tells us we should be wearing....
He says 1. Let’s put on Compassion.... Jesus was wearing compassion, when He healed a leper in
Mark 1:41 “Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”
Before Jesus fed the 5000, he was moved with compassion....
Jesus said, Mark 8:2 “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat”.
Compassion literally means to put yourself in the place of another.... Jesus put himself in the place of the leper, and those who had nothing to eat... He asked himself, “What would I need if I were in their place”, and then took their place....
That was His mission, to take our place.... with all the suffering, all the pain, the addictions, and all the things that we are vulnerable to.... But the difference is that He had the answer, the solution, the way, the truth and the life, to bring us to His righteousness, His wholeness, and His victory.
Compassion put Christ in our place, our situation, our struggle, and when that happens, we can go free.... Now, I walk with him out of the tomb, I receive new life through His resurrection, I triumph over principalities and powers and rulers of wickedness in high places.... I receive victory over death hell and the grave.... Wow, Compassion is such a powerful force in our lives! I heard (this story) from a pastor who works with the down-and-out in Chicago: He said “A prostitute came to me in wretched condition, homeless, sick, unable to buy food for her two-year-old daughter. Through sobs and tears, she told me she had been renting out her daughter to men– at two years old!… She made more renting out her daughter for an hour than she could earn on her own in an entire night. She had to do it, she said, to support her own drug habit. I could hardly bear hearing her sordid story… I had no idea what to say to this woman. He said, At last I asked if she had ever thought of going to a church for help. He said he would never forget the look of pure, shock that crossed her face. “Church!” she cried, “Why would I ever go there? I was already feeling terrible about myself. They would just make me feel worse.” What struck me about this pastor’s story is that women was much like the prostitute who rantoward Jesus, but this woman was running away from His church.
Are we compassionate? Do we put ourselves in the place of others so that they can find their rightful place in Christ
Certainly we must say that something is missing.... The churchneeds to put on compassion...
2. We put on kindness..... This is the desire to improve someone’s self esteem, self worth, value, and belief so that they can be a better person, regardless of who, or where they are, or what circumstances they are in. Theologian and philosopher Janet Soskice. Examinedthe etymology of the word kindness. She found that “In the common language, the words ‘kind’ and ‘kin’ were the same—to say that Christ is ‘our kinde Lord’ is not just to say that Christ is tender and gentle, although that may be implied, but to say that he is our kind or our kinfolk.
Kindness means giving up the right to judge others. Alexander Maclaren wrote, ”Kindness makes a person attractive. If you would win the world, melt it with kindness, do not try to hammer it into shape”. Kindness sees potential, and possibilities that defy natural reason or even logic..... Kindness doesn’t always succeed, but it always offers others the opportunity to improve their lives and to succeed.... Are we putting on kindness every day?....
3. Paul says, We put on Humility.. Humility is about how you identify with the society, the culture, or the community around you. Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, v4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. V5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: v6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to His own advantage; 7 “Rather, He made Himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. V8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross”!
John Newton wrote, "I am persuaded that humility is the highest attainment in the family of Christ and the brightest evidence that He is indeed our Master." Didn’t Jesus say that to have authority, we must be willing to come under authority?.....
Are we putting on humility?
4. We Put On Gentleness....Often the bible uses the word meekness for gentleness, but it is never about weakness. The word self-control is also a description of gentleness. Women just swoon, when they find a man who has put on gentleness! Gentleness is power and might restrained and channeled by mercy and grace. An alligator has a deadly and powerful bite, but it will allow it’s hatchlings to run into it’s mouth and find safety in those same powerful jaws! Jesus gave us the perfect picture of gentleness: “See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey” What a description of restrained power!..... John the Baptist vocalized gentleness in his own situation, when he referred to Jesus and said “He must increase and I must decrease.”. We can be gentle in relationships but still firm in convictions. We must ask God for strength in holding to His truths but still be gentle in handling the feelings and hearts of others....no matter what your love language is, there’s room for gentleness.
Are we putting on gentleness?
5. Paul says that we are to put on Patience. Someone said, “Persistence is our strength and patience is the source of our power.” Water may look passive, but it carved out the Grand Canyon, it levels mountains, and can sweep away anything in it’spath in a flood.
Another word for patience is faithfulness. To stand firm against adversity without quitting. It means enduring opposition. To rest in the knowledge that God has everything under His control and He is moving our life in line with his timing and His plan. Luke 18:8 When the Son of Man comes, will he find faithfulness on the earth?”
Peace is a manifestation of patience, and it’s hard to find peace without it. Perhaps instead of asking God for peace, we should ask Him for patience which is the path way of peace.
Are we putting on Patience?
6. We put on forgiveness......We don’t put on forgiveness because they deserve it.... We don’t deserve it.... We forgive because we have been forgiven... WE ARE THE FORGIVEN! And that makes us forgiving! Jesus really rubbed it in when Peter was asking him about it....
Matthew 18:21-22 “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Until seven times?”—Jesus responded, “I don’t tell you until seven times, but until seventy times seven” In Peter’s mind, it was about someone deserving forgiveness and Jesus was telling him that it was never about deserving it, so Jesus took that out of the equation!
Forgiveness may not lead to reconciliation between you and that person. Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting or ignoring abuse or destructive behavior.... It’s about releasing that person from ‘your wrath’ and giving it over to God’s better way and better plan.
Forgiveness is about taking the thorns of that offence they caused,out of your own heart and knowing that Jesus already took all of that with the crown of thorns that He wore, so you don’t have to.Those thorns of offence were met with forgiveness...”Father forgive them for they know not what they do”....
Are we putting on forgiveness?
So we save the best for last....
7. Paul says put on Love, which makes the entire wardrobe work! None of it really works without love, love coordinated everything.... I remind you that it says in Colossians 3:14 “And over all of these put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”.
Galatians 5:13-14 “but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What would change in our lives if we really started using this wardrobe for clothing our spirit so the world can see? These spiritual garments were made available to us because we are chosen of God to wear them. Being chosen means we have a new, higher purpose, and mission in life, than we had before He chose us. Being chosen means we have been set apart for His purposes.... Winnie and I both have toothbrushes. Hers has been set apart for her use and mine has been set apart for mine. I don’t use hers, UCK, UCK, UCK! And she doesn’t use mine... UCK, UCK, UCK.... There are some things we don’t share.... That’s what Holy means. Set aside for God’s purposes. If you are holy, you are set apart....
So every time you pray to be more Holy, you’re really asking God to set you apart in greater measure for His purpose and use.... Winnie and I have joined the gym. I looked at myself in the mirror and asked “Where did it go?” One of the things they do at the gym is isolate the muscle groups so there is a machine for working on muscles in different parts the body. But it all strengthens and improves the same body. When you’re hurting, from the workout, is not when you build muscles, you’re building muscles when you’re resting.... When love is the hardest, rest, yes rest in Him, in His love, and you’ll build up your love ability....
Love keeps it all working together, while improving our effectiveness in each area that God has made available for us to obey.
1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a loud sounding gong or a clanging cymbal. v2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing (or I am ineffective). Of all the things God is sending us out in this world to do, let’s not forget that the greatest thing we can do, is show His love by clothing ourselves in the garments He has provided.... We are chosen by God. We are holy, and set apart for His purpose and made righteous in Jesus Christ. We are deeply and eternally loved. So we throw off the old selfish wardrobe, and clothe ourselves with new garments, which are fashioned from the fabric of love..... and we walk in love.... Closing prayer.... “Lord, we open ourselves to the fullness of Your wisdom and guidance. We receive the knowledge we need at this time in our lives that we might serve You and serve those around us. Our greatest desire is that we may bring glory to Your great Name. Forgive us for the times we have taken Your presence for granted on our path to growth and development. Make us more aware of the One who made all things and holds all things together. Help us to become children again. No matter what has happened, I know that beginning today, it can be different. Give me an understanding heart, that I may see the precious lives that you treasure all around me. Lord we cry out in behalf of the people, around us, that their eyes may be open to Your truth so they might receive Your mercy and forgiveness. Help us, that as we walk in love, You would shine through us to dispel the darkness, so that all can come into Your transforming light. Father, You are able to bring forth every kind of good fruit and bring our loved ones, friends and neighbors into the peace of mind and spirit, they so long for. Bring our cities to revival and restoration. May we be strengthened with Your glorious power so we have the endurance and patience we need, to enabled us to share in the inheritance that belongs to all Your people. Shine through us and may Your light never dim. Christ with me, before me, behind me, in me, beneath me, and above me. Christ on my right, on my left, when I lie down, and when I rise up. To Him be all the glory, In Jesus Name…
