Garments for New Year 2013
Blessings start unfolding as we make changes in our life!
Today we get to hear a lot of sermons on blessings, promises of God and so forth, but it is of paramount importance to also know how we could get them in our life. Is it not? I have actually given the recipe for a fun-filled, happy 2013! Read, do them and enjoy!
• Isaiah 1:16 “Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
• 17.Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
• 18.though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
In order to have a blessed and wonderful New year, we got to make some changes in our life, below I have talked about four kinds of garments that we got to wear in detail, please read and use it as preaching material as well:
A. Garments of humility
B. Garments of faith
C. Garments of salvation
D. Garments of Holiness
A. Garmnets of Humility:
1 Peter 5:5. Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Humility/faith of Roman Centurion:Mathew 8:8 “The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
9. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
13. And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the same hour.
Friend, observe the character of the Roman Centurion here: he loved his servant much as to plead Jesus to heal his servant; however when Jesus got ready to visit his home, he humbly tells Jesus that he was not worthy to accept the Messiah under his roof, instead he tells Jesus to just only ‘speak the Word!’ Man, this is awesome! Jesus not only saw his giant faith but also his deep humility and healed his servant that same hour! Check your heart for pride today! C’mon friends, dig deep for that toxic virus that might be destroying your career, marriage, relationships and progress! How do you react when you are corrected? Do you raise your hood like a snake and hiss? I am a senior here, I am a professional or nobody order me around………think …..and rectify your behavior in this New year.
I like the way Paul tells us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ: Romans 13:14 “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” This is no joke! It requires serious efforts to wear HIM ! Let go off that pride, ego and anger and start imitating Jesus this New Year! Are you listening?
B. Garments of faith:
You would be rewarded, released and raised !
Genesis 41:14 “Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his clothes, and came in unto Pharaoh. “
The above scripture is like unraveling a bouquet of exotic flowers! I think of the scripture where God wants us to be an aroma in this stinking world, He wants us to be the salt and the light of this earth. Are you listening? Have we entered into this fresh new year with a fresh heart or are with the hurtful words uttered against us still ringing in our ears and heart? Have we forgiven all or are we holding grudges?
For whatever reason, the above scripture got stuck in my mind! It would sure capture your attention too today! A simple act of Joseph like shaving and changing clothes spoke volumes to me, mark it, when and where he did is of paramount importance! In the prison after 13 long years of being abandoned in the prison! Joseph did not carelessly walk out of the prison to meet Pharaoh, though he did have all reasons to behave so, having been locked up in prison unjustifiably for 13 long years, is sure to dampen anybody’s spirit. Observe, Joseph was not given any reason but was just called to meet king Pharaoh: it could have been also for execution, but Joseph chose to shave and change into fresh clothes because no matter what he trusted God with the results. Joseph was one hundred percent submitted to God! Hallelujah!
How do you react when your supervisors harass or ignore you? How do you react when your best efforts go unnoticed at home/work/college? Do you throw tantrums, argue or throw in your resignation? Let me tell you what you should do: calmly submit! Your rewards would surely come!
Colossians 3:22 “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23. And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24. Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
I am simply excited to preach this message today! In this part of the city where I live, the men do not shave, wear black and abstain from alcohol for 40 days as a preparation for their pilgrimage of trekking the mountain to visit their god but in contrast we shave and stay holy through out lives (not just for 40 days) and our God comes down from Heaven to visit us. Glory to Jesus!
Friends, I am speaking with you today! Do you have a long face today or a smiling face like Stephen even at the time of being stoned to death? Answer me. Do you go to church wearing clean, neat clothes or do you go unshaven and with shabby clothes carelessly chewing gum? Don’t treat God and His House nonchalantly and dispassionately. God watched as Joseph dressed to meet the king, Joseph did not know that he would be rewarded, released and raised that day; yet he chose to be on his best for the BEST LORD! Give God a shout of praise! Joseph dressed up for the unknown mission! No matter what 2013 holds for you, approach with a chirpy and grateful attitude! Don’t be grumpy, nasty and moody! Cheer up!
God is working behind the curtain for you! God stirs the heart of the chief butler so deeply, that he straight away goes to the king and confesses his mistake.
Read:Genesis 41:9 “Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day.”
When the butler confessed, Joseph did not get to hear it! God made the butler remember not only his faults but also Joseph who was languishing in the prison! I am speaking to all of you who are waiting long for your miracle! Listen! God remembers you! He remembers your efforts, tears, prayers, hard work, wanderings, humiliation and your faith in Him! You may not today hear of the appointment letter, promotion letter, marriage bells or the chirpy chuckle of the baby that you are anxiously waiting for; but let me assure you today….He is preparing them for you!
C. Garments of salvation: Isaiah 61:10 “ delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Remove unrighteousness from your life, business dealings and your home! Let me be more explicit, remove that gas cylinder that you have bought as ‘black’. I was offered gas cylinder from the black market for my Abide Angel Home use; however, I rejected it and got one through the right process of applying for one, though it did cost more for me. It might sound silly for you but right for me. Check out for false details in your resume, ration card, academic/birth certificates, passport, property documents and rectify them. It might be a long, tedious and strenuous process involving pain, running around and loss – do it for future blessings and avoid curses. Repent, confess your sins and accept the Lord Jesus Christ in your life and wear the garment of salvation today! Let every form of hypocrisy cease! Get truly saved.
D.Garment of holiness: Zechariah 3:5 Then I said, "Put a clean turban on his head." So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him, while the angel of the LORD stood by.
Jacob looked at his family and told them: Genesis 35:2“Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments.”
The entire household of Jacob, a man of God was in an embarrassing mess and he finally asked them to throw away the strange gods and change their garments. Cleanse yourself and your home from idols and stains of sin. Take a good look at the shelves and your cupboards! You may spot an idol there!
Changing upholstery and curtains at your home for new year is good, but take away other ugly things from your home and car, like the laughing Buddha some Christians keep as a sign of luck, or any other things that is an abomination for the Lord. We should adorn the beauty of God with our life!
God bless you!
