Freedom House Church and Healing Centre

How many times have you asked yourself the question, “What should I wear?” How much time, energy and money you have spent answering this question? 

When we look back on important and special events in our lives such as weddings, funerals, birthdays, graduations or New Year’s Eve parties, if we are honest, we realize that we have spent a lot of time, energy and money getting ready for these events.

Jesus warns, exhorts and encourages us many times in His Word to be ready for another event.  His return!  How much time, energy and resources are we spending getting ready for the return of our King?

A few scriptures to meditate on:

You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected. (Mt 24:44 NLT)

 “Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!  He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.  But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.   “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.” (Lk 12:35-40 NLT)

In 1 Thess 5:4-8 we are exhorted to be on guard and not sleep, stay alert and clearheaded.  In other words, be ready!

Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev 19:7-9 NKJV)

“Look, I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their clothing ready so they will not have to walk around naked and ashamed.” (Rev 16:15 NLT)

Rev 16:15 has been highlighted to me and there is an important message for the church of Jesus Christ in this Word from Jesus.

Jesus reminds us again that He will return unexpectedly as a thief and tells us that those who are watching for Him and who keep their clothing ready will be blessed! 

Blessed means happy or blissful.  However it also has a deeper meaning.  It carries the idea that our happiness is independent of our circumstances, meaning that regardless of what is happening to us externally, we can be truly happy internally.  We can be genuinely blessed as followers of Jesus.

As I meditated on this scripture I thought about what clothing we, the church, have been given in Christ?  What clothing do we choose to wear? Are we keeping this clothing ready for the return of Jesus?  If we spend so much time getting ready for earthly events, how much more time should we spend getting ready for the return of our Bridegroom and King Jesus?

So, what clothing have we been given in Christ and are to put on and keep ready?

• The robe of righteousness-I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lordmy God!  For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness.  I am like a bridegroom dressed for his wedding or a bride with her jewels. (Isa 61:10 NLT)
• The garment of praise-To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” (Isa 61:3 NKJV)
• Fine linen that represents the righteous acts of the Saints-And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints. (Rev 19:8 NKJV)
• Strength and dignity-She is clothed with strength and dignity,and she laughs without fear of the future. (Pro 31:25 NLT)
• The character of the new man-Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tender-hearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Col 3:12 NLT); Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. (Col 3:14 NLT)
• Beauty from within-the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit-Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes.You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. (1 Peter 3:3-4 NLT)
• The armor of God-Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:13-17 NLT)

WOW!  Think about this!  Do you believe this?  Is your life reflecting that you have been given, are wearing and keeping ready this clothing?  Or are you still wearing the old clothing of sin, shame, guilt, condemnation, unworthiness, rejection or lies?  Or are you wearing the new clothing over the old clothing?  Jesus does not want this!  He came to save us, deliver us and heal us so that the old clothing is gone and that our lives can reflect that we are wearing the new clothing.

I encourage us all to spend time keeping our clothing ready.  Spend time with Jesus.  Read, meditate on and live the Word of God.  Allow Holy Spirit to work in us righteousness and holiness.  Let’s clothe ourselves with a gentle and quiet spirit, tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and above all-LOVE.  Live like the new creation we are in Jesus.  Use the armor of God we have been given!  We are in a battle!  Let us wear the garment of praise and PRAISE THE LORD!

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. (2 Co 5:17 NKJV)

Put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. (Eph 4:24 NIV)

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Rev 2:7 NKJV)