The Fashion of the Christ

The Fashion of the Christ:

After a very entertaining fashion show skit delivered with excellence by Kimi Wharton and a cast of Pointe models, I drew in a few deep breaths and gave some well-deserved thanks to all who contributed to the morning’s services and prepared to deliver what I hoped was a unique and thought-provoking message. Special note of thanks to my best bro Mike Harvey in helping me to set the staging, strobe lights and camera to DVD “stuff”.

So what is this “fashion” thing, anyway? Our clothes, accessories, sun glasses, cars, homes….and there are designers for all of these things. People sitting in a studio or some odd room making up what we’re supposed to find “cool” or “shiek” or sharp or cutting edge…whatever.

From the time we’re young, we’re taught to see certain conditions or qualities about others based upon what they wear. In fact, our garments can speak volumes about us. Our status, our job, our role, affiliation, mood, etc.

And what did Jesus think of clothing? Who were the “fashion plates” of His day. Pharisees? Rich young man/ruler? What was Jesus attitude toward such as these?

Do we think "fashion" really matters to God? Look at who Jesus called. Tax collector. Fisherman. Jesus didn’t come up and say, “Follow me….but first, dude, you gotta change that tunic. You smell like fish. Whew….”

But before we go further, I think it important to mention that God doesn’t look at us based on our clothes. Some wear "Sunday clothes" as an expression of respect. That's cool. For others, it’s simply tradition. And for some, it is wasted effort. There are far too many people wearing expensive suits and dresses that are doing absolutely nothing for the Kingdom. NOTHING! While there are yet thousands of people with little to no “fancy” clothes doing wondrous things for God and His glory here on earth.

OK. That out of the way, today's message is not actually about fashion...

First question - How many of you spent as much time preparing for service this morning as you did getting ready to enter the door of the church? (Man, I wish he’d quit asking that….)

Next: Refering to a question that I placed on FB - What is the one item/article of clothing that identifies you? Everyone knows you by this “whatever it is.” Sports jerseys, shoes, boots, a baseball cap…all great answers. But what I thought interesting were two things that no on mentions…..their wedding ring, and the cross around their neck. Does it make you wonder…? Just something to think about. Maybe another message on the cross later…have to see where He goes with that.

Moving on, people are likely to wear nicer clothes than usual for specific occasions. A gig. Party. Recital. Funeral…. Party - Celebrate. Funeral - Mourn.

One of our opening songs for Sunday was Garments of Praise. This song comes directly from Isaiah 61:3

"and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

Garments of Praise. What an amazing thing… That God would speak so clearly his ability and willingness to release us from out bondage, to take away our garments of mourning and replace them with garments of praise.

So many people carry around negative thoughts and a spirit of despair, mourning the things lost in their past. But that’s just the problem. Mourning and Despair are things of the past., and despair is basically a decision to just give it all up, because "even God can’t fix this"… How untrue is that? How unfortunate is that?

We have so many things in our lives that should give us reason to praise Him! Our children, our wives/husbands, our homes, our livelihoods.....our ability to love. How about our salvation!!!!!

God gives us all so many things to enjoy and appreciate and celebrate and provides us with Garments of Salvation.

Isaiah 61:10
I 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. (Quick note Isaiah 64. Filthy rags)

How Cool Is That?!?!

Through a relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ, God has the ability to change our clothes. Take off the veil of mourning and that spirit of heaviness and despair. Our faith in Him and the freedom provided by His Son, Jesus Christ, gives us the ability to take off these funeral clothes and put on our party clothes! Time to celebrate, for we are saved.

But why do we need to change our clothes, you ask?

My next question on Facebook was, “What is the piece of clothing that you hold on to because it’s comfortable? Probably old and faded, likely stained and worn, perhaps even torn. You keep it around and wear it around the house when no one else is there. Well, maybe close family or friends…or to the store to pick up milk. Sooner or later someone’s going to come clean and say…”What are you thinking? Dude, that’s ugly.”

Sin is a lot like this “favorite” garment. It’s always there in our closet or drawer, just waiting for us to come back to it when no one’s looking, or when there are those around us who understand. It’s no big deal. Wrong.

The only way to get rid of this old, comfortable garment is to get rid of it. Period. Don’t give it to someone else, or donate it to Goodwill. Get it gone. Throw it away.

And, the only way to get rid of sin is to take it to the cleaner. Have it washed white as snow, have it mended.

Wait, are you saying that we’re literally stained?

Joshua 22:17 - (paraphrased)
Was what we did in Peor not enough. We still have not cleansed ourselves of this sin, despite the plague that overtook the entire people of the Lord?

God plagued His own people and killed 24 thousand….and still they are not clean? That’s a deep stain.

But, the Garments of Salvation that God can place upon us are real!

1 John 1:7
Walking in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

God has broken our bonds, cast away our chains and has cast a light upon our path. Amazing…

And to draw a specific point, it was the shed blood of Jesus Christ that makes this salvation possible. Yes, He could have lived and died and rose, but the Bible clearly states that it was the shedding of His blood that provided the sacrifice for salvation. He lived, he BLED, He died, He was buried, He rose.

And our salvation comes so easily. Romans 10:9 If you confess with you mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead…you will be saved.

Can I get an Amen? Wooo Hoooo!

Look….God isn’t looking for us to literally bring our clothes to Him. They’re His already. He made everything that went into making them. What He wants is for us to bring our garments to Him. What we’ve wrapped ourselves in and stained through our various misdeed, misjudgments and indiscretions. He wants to remove the veil and help us pull of the spirit of mourning and heaviness and give us garments of praise and garments of salvation.

To cleanse our robes and make them white as snow. (Quick reference Rev 7 and the robes of the martyrs)

Do you have a garment that is stained?
Are you walking in garments of mourning?
Are you carrying a spirit of despair.

If so, let’s talk. We need a wardrobe change and prepare for celebrating….