Jesus Is Enough - Part 5
"Get Your Clothes On"
Many years ago there was an emperor who was so fond of new clothes that he spent all of his money on them. He did not give himself any concern about his army; he cared nothing about the theater or for driving about in the woods, except for the sake of showing himself off in his new clothes. he had a costume for every hour in the day, and just as they say of a King or an Emperor, "He is in his council chambers," they said of him, "The emperor is in his dressing room."
One day 2 strangers came into to town, they were con men who passed themselves off as master weavers. And they said that they knew how to make the most exquisite clothes. Not only were the colors and patterns uncommonly beautiful, but the clothes were made of stuff that had a peculiar property -- that of being invisible to every person who was unfit for the office he held or who was exceptionally stupid.
"Those must be valuable clothes" thought the emperor, "By wearing them I should be able to discover which of the men in my empire are fit for office... And I will be able to distinguish the wise from the fools. So the emperor paid the 2 scoundrels a handsome sum of money in advance, as they required. Now the 2 men pocketed the money and pretended to be weaving.
As time passed the emperor was getting anxious about his new clothes -- but as he reflected that the clothes reveled those who were unfit or stupid, he wasn’t sure that he wanted to go. So he sent his top aide. Well of course when this aide went to where these men were busy about their weaving, he saw nothing, but not wanting to be judged unfit or stupid -- he said "Oh, it is most elegant and beautiful, what a fine pattern and what fine colors. I will certainly tell the emperor how pleased I am with these fine cloths.
As time passed the emperor sent more aides all of who brought back the same reports.....Finally the day came and the emperor with the help of his stewards after taking off his old clothes, pretended to put on and button his new outfit....
And as he marched down the streets, his attendants were behind him acting as though they were carrying his long train and everyone in the streets was shouting, "What beautiful clothes, how splendid...." though in fact they saw nothing, but they didn’t want to be judged as being unfit or stupid. Until that is, a little child said, "But he has nothing on..."
So, what does this have to do with the book of Colossians.... Last Week -- we studied the first 10 verses of Colossians, remember: "Jesus Is Enough, Therefore Let Go Of The World...."
We talked about the four things we need to do in order to let go of the world. First we said that we need to set our minds and hearts on things above..we need to let thoughts of heaven fill our thoughts...... And then I gave you a picture to help re-enforce the next 2 steps, Picture #1 was - Phinehas - who vividly showed us, that we need to put to death - greed & sexual immorality. Picture #2 was Lazarus taught us that -- we need to remove the grave clothes of old way of life - God’s word says to the Christian, "NOW is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malice, slander, filthy speech and lies...." And the final step was we need to renew ourselves - HOW? -- by hanging out with God.
And it is good to do that (it is good & right --- to put to death and remove the things that should not be in our life) -- the Bible tells us to do that...BUT Listen, we can’t stop there, because there are also some things that we need to put on.
You see, many times we like the Emperor are deceived.... We buy costly and expensive thread and cloth from the weaver of lies -- who leads us to believe that in Christianity it is enough to simply not do the don’ts... To just remove the old man without ever putting on the new...
And many times we walk through the center of our town, So proud, pompous and self righteous -- wanting everyone to see just how pretty we are (look at all the things, I don’t do), Not knowing that we are walking around naked and that we have been made a fool of by the great deceiver.
You see, it is not enough to just get rid of the bad it, is not enough to just not smoke or chew, or go out with women who do......Because if we only take off the bad, and never get around to putting on the good >>> we are placing ourselves in a very dangerous situation.
Listen to what Jesus said in (Matthew 12:43-45);
"When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, seeking rest but finding none. Then it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds it’s former home empty, swept, and clean. Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil then itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off then before.."
Understand, that if after removing the bad -- we leave our house unoccupied; If after stopping wrong behavior - we don’t replace it with good behavior >>>> It won’t be long before the bad comes back, this time with a bunch of friends, saying, "HEY LOOKY HERE, BOYS -- A NICE CLEAN SPOT, LOTS OF ROOM FOR US TO SPREAD OUT..... And before too long, we find ourselves worse off than we were before... living in an even filthier pigsty.
One commentator years ago, made the following applications of this parable of Jesus...
"The mere removal of a few of the bad, more repulsive sins of which we are guilty, and the temporary victories over satan, MUST NOT be confused with the final, decisive triumph over sin. So Long as self is alive in the individual, the evil once banished from this life has not been destroyed...
Mere ‘negative’ religion (a religion of the ‘don’ts’) can for long hold sin at bay. Those whose piety consists entirely of the observance of God’s ‘prohibitions are only half armed against the assaults of satan whose delight is unbounded when he can convince anyone that NOT doing the bad , is a good as doing the good."
Listen, satan knows that an empty house is just waiting to be filled with something. AND he has just the thing to fill it!!!!
You know, when I think of this concept of an empty house, when I ponder the biblical teaching of spiritual nakedness.. when I think of the Emperor parading through the streets of the city naked as a ‘jay bird.’ I can’t help but think of the Pharisees...
You remember them don’t you? They were convinced that they were special (they were careful to always wear the right clothes; to say the right things, to always go to the right places, and of course to be seen with the right people).
Listen, these guys were extremely passionate about not doing any of the don’ts, and they were equally passionate, to make sure everyone knew that they didn’t do them.
The Pharisees were self righteous and spiritually naked. Yes, they had swept their houses clean... BUT they left them empty, and something much worse came into their lives, and took up house there... Just days before his death, Jesus had his final run in with these guys. Matthew takes a full chapter just top record the encounter (23).... I’d like to show a sample of what Jesus said....
Listen IF, we are serious about our Christian life... IF we believe God when he says that "in" Christ we are a new creation. IF we believe God when he says in Romans 8:29, that the ultimate purpose for man is to conform to the image and character of Christ... (And I am sure that you will agree with me, that the Life of Jesus consisted of a whole lot more, then just NOT doing the don’ts....)
IF we have taken off the old man (lust, sexual immorality, anger, malice, rage, slander..etc and if we want to (and let me coin a phrase HERE from the title of a book written in 1975 by John Molloy), IF we want to "Dress For Success" NOT success in the Business world, but rather in the Kingdom of God. THEN we need to ensure that 3 things are happening in our lives....
"Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity...." Col 3:12-14
FIRST, WE NEED TO INSURE THAT WE ARE PROPERLY DRESSED
Wearing appropriate clothing can be important... For example:
IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A MEMBER OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO FIGHT A FIRE WEARING HIS SPECIAL EQUIPMENT -- IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO COME TO FIGHT A FIRE IN A PAIR OF SHORTS.
IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A SOLDIER ON THE FRONT LINES OF BATTLE TO BE DRESSED IN A FLAK JACKET, HELMET AND FULLY ARMED IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR HIM TO SHOW UP TO BATTLE IN A TUXEDO.
IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR AN OPEN HEART SURGEON, TO GO INTO THE OPERATING ROOM DRESSED IN A GOWN WITH GLOVES AND MASK, FULLY SCRUBBED DOWN... IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR A SURGEON TO SHOW UP IN THE OPERATING WEARING DIRTY GARDENING CLOTHES....
AND Just as there are appropriate clothes in the world -- there are also appropriate clothes for the kingdom of God!
And the fashions of this world, are not appropriate (we need to take them off) - BUT we can’t stop there, because spiritual nakedness is not appropriate either -- we need to put some things on.
Did you know that one of Paul’s favorite terms for the Christian walk is that of "putting on...." Let me share a few with you...
"...cloth yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature..." Ro 13:14
"...put on the New Self, created to be like God..." - Eph 4:24
"...Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes..." - Eph 6:11
"...let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and hope of salvation as a helmet" - 1 Thes 5:8
We (that is Christians) are to put on Christ. We are to put on the character of Christ. When we were baptized into Christ we received the gift of the Holy Spirit -- and we are to allow the Holy Spirit to bear fruit in our lives.
Christians are to put on Christ.....We are to be like Christ (we are to imitate His character -- we are to walk and to live like Jesus)
Now, this will not however, happen automatically, we must choose, we must work, we must strive to be like Christ and to be clothed in His character. We are to be active participants in this putting on process -- we need to dress ourselves... No one can get dressed for us....
Paul in our text gives several examples of the kind of things we are to put on. And as we consider each of these items, 2 things will become readily apparent. First that these garments are far different then the clothing of sin we took off earlier.
And second that in ‘all’ of these garments, Christ sets the example -- Jesus is the fashion statement for the clothing of Godliness...
This morning everyone in this room woke up (at least I think you did). And you made a conscience decision to put some things on. You picked out the clothes you wanted to wear and put them on; you may have put on make up, cologne and deodorant. And all of that is a good thing - I think all of us are pretty thankful everyone is dressed this morning.
But what Paul is saying in Col 3:12 is; "Hey, when you wake up in the morning, you need to get dressed spiritually and emotionally as well as Physically. When you wake up in the morning you should also ask yourself, what kind of spiritual clothing do I need to put on....
(PRAYER - And let me challenge you right now to fight off an attack from satan. Okay, here what that nasty guy is going to try to get us to do today... To look at the things that others have not put on - rather than at ourselves.. Ask God to help you fight that.. )
WE ARE TO PUT ON COMPASSION
Compassion is a genuine concern for people/it is to care about people -- to care about their hurts, needs and their sorrows...
Did Jesus Christ have compassion for people? Ask the lepers who were healed, ask the blind man who saw the sun rise for the first time, ask the lame man who was made to walk and ask the lonely and drifting who were given fellowship and direction. Ask the demon possessed who were given a new life and a fresh start.
Compassion was made a living reality in the life of Jesus.....
WE ARE TO PUT ON KINDNESS
"BECAUSE OF HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US, GOD, WHO IS RICH IN MERCY, MADE US ALIVE WITH CHRIST EVEN WHEN WE WERE DEAD IN TRANSGRESSIONS -- IT IS BY GRACE YOU ARE SAVED. AND GOD RAISED US UP WITH CHRIST AND SEATED US WITH HIM IN THE HEAVENLY REALMS IN CHRIST JESUS, IN ORDER THAT IN THE COMING AGES HE MIGHT SHOW THE INCOMPARABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE EXPRESSED IN HIS KINDNESS TO US IN CHRIST JESUS." Eph 2:7
The bible says; Jesus Christ is an expression of God’s kindness to us...
And we are to express kindness to others.....
Many years ago I remember asking Chelsea and John (I think they we around 10 & 8) I asked them what it meant to be kind -- and they said, it means to be nice and friendly to someone. To share with someone. John said it means to play with someone when they don’t have any friends... to do nice things for people.
They were right -- kindness is something active -- it is not a thought in our head, but it is the active expression of our heart... it is reaching out... That is what God did for us and what we are to do for others.
Kindness is something active -- it is not a thought in our head but it is the active expression of our heart... it is reaching out... That is what God did for us and what we are to do for others.
Listen there are people all around who need someone to be kind to them. Who can you be kind to this week.... Random Acts Of Kindness.....
WE ARE TO PUT ON HUMILITY
Let me give you a definition of humility -- "HUMILITY IS NOT THINKING LITTLE OF YOURSELF -- IT IS TO NOT THINK OF YOURSELF AT ALL..." The opposite of humility is pride -- and we should have taken that off with the old sinful nature...
Listen; Thinking of ‘self’ is a major, if not THE major, cause of problems in our lives.... (marriages, families, churches...etc)
That’s why Jesus said we are to die to self daily....
Jesus Christ was the greatest example ever of humility, listen to [PHIL 2:3-8].
"Don’t be selfish; don’t live to make a good impression on others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself. Don’t think only about your own affairs, but be interested in others too, and what they are doing. Your attitude should be the same that Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing, he took on the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal’s death on a cross."
WE ARE TO PUT ON GENTLENESS OR MEEKNESS
The society in Paul’s day and in our day as well, admires strength and power and looks down on meekness and gentleness.. And perhaps the reason is because they don’t ‘really’ understand meekness.
You see, biblical meekness is not weakness, but rather it is strength under control. This word was used to describe a soothing wind, a healing medicine and a colt that has been broken.. In each instance there is power: a wind can become a powerful hurricane, too much medicine can kill. and a horse can break loose. But this power is under control.
Paul in 2 Cor 10 refers to the meekness and gentleness of Christ. Was Christ meek? Listen there is no greater example of power under control, than our Lord on the cross... (He had the power to break free, yet remained nailed until death).
WE NEED TO PUT ON PATIENCE
This refers to the ability to put up with people and with circumstances.... Now,
Patience doesn’t always come easy -- we really have to work at it... Back in our study of James in the spring of 99’, we talked about patience as we studied, what s perhaps the greatest text in the Bible on patience....
"Be patient then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield it’s valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm the Lord’s coming is near...Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." Jm 5:7-11
I could be preach a whole sermon on that text (as a matter of fact I did) but we obviously don’t have time for that so let me summarize what James is saying here, what he wants us to learn;
FROM THE FARMER WE LEARN TO BE PATIENT WITH DELAYS AND POSTPONEMENTS, FROM THE PROPHETS WE LEARN TO BE PATIENT WHEN UNDER ATTACK FROM PEOPLE, AND FROM JOB WE LEARN TO BE PATIENT WHEN UNDERGOING PERSONAL TRIALS AND HARDSHIPS.....
IF YOU NEED PATIENCE GO HOME AND THINK ABOUT THE FARMER AND READ ABOUT, THE PROPHETS AND JOB -- AND THEY WILL TEACH VALUABLE LESSONS SUCH AS:
THAT WE WILL TAKE PART IN A HARVEST...
THAT GOD WILL RESCUE US from OUR ENEMIES
THAT HE WILL DELIVER US FROM HARDSHIPS
THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL --
THAT OUR HOPE IS NOT IN THIS WORLD -- AND THE VICTORY IS ALREADY OURS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST!!
WE NEED TO PUT ON FORGIVENESS
Did Jesus Christ wear the garment of forgiveness... What did he say as he hung from the cross, His life’s blood pouring from His body.... His body weak, bruised and broken... you remember the words, "FATHER FORGIVE THEM FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING." In light of this, what is our obligation as Christians... I think our text speaks for itself...
"BEAR WITH EACH OTHER AND FORGIVE EACH OTHER WHATEVER GRIEVANCES (EVEN THE ONES WE THINK OUR EXCEPTIONS AND THAT WE WANT TO CLING TO) WHATEVER GRIEVANCES YOU MAY HAVE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER. FORGIVE AS THE LORD FORGAVE YOU."
LISTEN, we are probably never more like Jesus then when we forgive others (especially someone who doesn’t not deserve it) Are you right now holding unforgiveness against someone right now? Are you a Christian? Then you must forgive...
And please realize like I’ve said many times before, when talking about forgiveness - when we forgive the person we ‘really’ set free is us.... Because until you let it go - the past, past people and past hurts still control you today....
FINALLY WE ARE TO PUT ON LOVE
Now, I am not known for my sowing... but one thing seems obvious to me.... no matter how fine the material is, if the thread you use to put it together is not any good... the clothing will fall apart.
The Bible says the following in verse 14, "AND OVER ALL THESE VIRTUES PUT ON LOVE, WHICH BINDS THEM ALTOGETHER INN PERFECT UNITY."
Love is the key -- Love for God and each other.... and without love (agape -- sacrificial love of the will -- seeking others best) without love if we try to put on these garments (compassion, kindness, gentleness...) -- they will fall off of us.
After all, God says that these other virtues are really what love is.... "LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND. IT DOES NOT ENVY, IT DIES NOT BOAST, IT IS NOT PROUD. IT IS NOT RUDE, IT IS NOT SELF SEEKING, IT IS NOT EASILY ANGERED IT KEEPS NO RECORD OF WRONGS. LOVE DOES NOT DELIGHT IN EVIL BUT REJOICES WITH TRUTH. IT ALWAYS PROTECTS, ALWAYS TRUSTS, ALWAYS HOPES, ALWAYS PERSEVERES. LOVE NEVER FAILS!!!"
"BELOVED LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER... FOR LOVE IS OF GOD AND EVERYONE WHO LOVES IS BORN OF GOD AND KNOWS GOD. WHOEVER LOVES NOT DOES NOT KNOW GOD BECAUSE GOD IS LOVE... SO BELOVED LET US LOVE ONE ANOTHER."
CHRISTIANS WE ARE TO BE PROPERLY DRESSED.....
Let me say one more thing - Love is a verb....
"But God has shown us how much he loves us - it was while we were still sinners
that Christ died for us..." Rm 5:8 (TEV)
AND WE ARE TO BE FULLY DRESSED...
You know, it’s uncomfortable to not be filly clothed... To have shoes on and just one sock...
Who here would feel uncomfortable if they walked into a shirt and tie affair wearing only cuts-offs and a tee shirt. Or if a lady arrived at church on Sunday morning and realized that what she thought was a slip was in fact her pajamas. Or what man in here wouldn’t feel uncomfortable to find out that he had been walking all through the mall with his zipper down.
Those things can be embarrassing and uncomfortable, because it is uncomfortable to walk around half naked...
Okay, my question for us today is this, Why isn’t it uncomfortable and embarrassing for us to walk around ½ naked spiritually?
Listen; When we are not wearing compassion, kindness, patience, gentleness, love and forgiveness.... do we feel uncomfortable? Do we feel naked? Or like the emperor in our story do we march around unaware or unwilling to admit our nakedness...
These garments or virtues, that Paul mentions are not optional attire for the Christian -- we are not to pick and choose only the ones we like, but rather put on each item... When we are half dressed in our Christianity we are not very effective for the Lord.
Question How do we know that we are not fully dressed? Well we need to look in the mirror... AND what is the mirror we are to look at? The word of God (which is refereed to several places as a mirror).. You see when we study the word we find out just how naked we really are and what items we need to put on....
Question, When is the last time you really looked in the mirror?... not a quick glance mind you, but an intense look to see what we really look like.
Remember the church that Jesus wrote to in Laodicea -- they thought they were pretty good they thought they had arrived... They were wealthy.... and one of there major industries was a textile factory... so they were well dressed on Sunday mornings.
Listen to what Jesus said to them, "YOU SAY `I AM RICH; I HAVE ACQUIRED WEALTH AND DO NOT NEED A THING’ BUT YOU DO NOT REALIZE THAT YOU ARE WRETCHED, PITIFUL POOR, BLIND AND NAKED."
If it’s been awhile since you’ve looked into God’s mirror you may be like the Laodicians and are running around naked and don’t even know it.
CHRISTIANS, WE NEED TO BE: PROPERLY DRESSED, FULLY DRESSED..
AND WE NEED TO BE ALWAYS DRESSED
Christians we need to keep our clothes on.
The night Jesus was arrested in the garden a young man other than the disciples was there too (tradition says that he was John Mark - wrote Mark - traveled with Paul - but we are not sure because he is nameless in the text).
Let’s pick up the reading right after the arrest....
"THEN EVERYONE DESERTED HIM AND FLED. A YOUNG MAN, WEARING NOTHING BUT A LINEN GARMENT WAS FOLLOWING JESUS. WHEN THEY SEIZED HIM HE FLED NAKED LEAVING HIS GARMENT BEHIND."
This young man was following Jesus too, but when things got rough, he stopped following Jesus -- he fled naked because he left his garment behind....
Christians we need to always be dressed.... because if we are naked (if we are not clothed in Christ’s character) ... it means 3 things...
it means that we have fled into the world,
it means that we have stopped following Jesus,
and it means that we have cast our spiritual garments CARELESSLY onto the ground....
ARE YOU NAKED OR ARE YOU FOLLOWING JESUS?
ARE YOU PROPERLY DRESSED? FULLY DRESSED? ALWAYS DRESSED?
DO YOU HAVE YOUR CLOTHES ON?
I have on final question today,
Why is it so important for us to take off the old self and put on the new self?
One reasons is obviously because that is how we become like Christ but there is another reason....
I remember back in 1982 (boy am I getting old) I was 22 years old and in the Navy (a proud submariner, protecting our country so you could sleep at night)... Well back to my point, In 1982, I had the opportunity to pull into Plymouth, England. It was pretty cool... One incident I’ll never forget was when an old man with a cane started hollering at me and 2 of my ‘buddies’ from across the street - waving his cane saying something to the effect of; "you Americans take your missiles and go home..." (Apparently the local paper had an article about a US Missile submarine anchored out in the harbor)....
Now - how did this guy know we were Americans - I guess 3 young guys with short hair, wearing John Denver Glasses gave us away. We stuck out like sore thumb in that foreign culture...
A NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE......
If Jesus is enough for us there should be a noticeable difference in our lives....
