Republished Sermon by Pastor Todd Boxely

Are you wearing the right clothes?

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Georgia, Kansas, Colorado, South Carolina, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, and Washington this week.

“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6 KJV). God loves to make his people new (2 Corinthians 5:17; Ezekiel 36:26,26; Revelation 21:5).

What tremendous times we live in! Some see the country as their only utopia, so they must do everything to save it. Trying to save the planet could cost them to lose their soul. (Matthew 16:24-26). But others see it according to how the creator sees it. This earth won’t be around too much longer no matter how clean it looks. (2 Peter 3:9-11).

But be encouraged body of Christ. No matter how far this country turns away from God, his (born again, Holy Spirit filled church) shall continue to stand in the midst of it. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18).

Our God is an awesome God! Amen? Let’s pray, “Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering hearts, eyes, and ears to your living word. Lord may nothing separate us from you today. Teach us how to choose only your way today so each step will lead us closer to you.

Lord, help us walk by the word and not our feelings. Help us to keep our hearts pure and undivided. May your Holy Spirit be the teacher and guide today. Open our understanding to all truth, in Jesus’ name, amen.”

How many of you love the old nostalgic days? How many of you wish you could bring back something from the 40’s to the 90’s to our present day? What would it involve?

Sometimes in our life we may look back and think, “If I could only go back, I would have done things differently.” I don’t know about you, but I know one thing I would have done differently.

I would have changed some of those ugly clothes my parents used to dress me in. I mean, I would bring those clothes to 2023 just so I could burn them.

But as I live on this side of grace today, I realize my parents were doing their best to meet my needs. My parents probably could have used some help from a professional wardrobe stylist.

The Lord knows. Sometimes I looked like a walking “Tic-tac-toe” board. I’m not sure you could tell what era I was from by the clothes I wore (Smile). But again, thank you Jesus for giving me parents who made a valiant try at making me stand out (Smile).

Although both my parents are now deceased, I think back to how they dressed in their prime days. No matter the era you grew up in, there was a clothing line that always stood out.

Any of you find it fascinating when your husband tries to buy you an outfit, but doesn’t know the difference between a size 5 or 6? Does he understand jr. miss sizes? Has he ever heard of Elaine Bryant? Does he understand shoe sizes are different for women than men? Some men just know sizes as small, medium, large. Some men just grab any style clothing for their wife hope for the best.

So, what style would you bring back if you could? I can almost see your minds racing back to your favorite outfit. (Smile). For those of you, who are very young members of “Try Jesus,” your style is already here, so have fun reminiscing with us “seasoned members” (Smile).

Here’s my quick research on the different styles in other era’s. I’m just going through some basic styles that people gravitated to. Your style of wardrobe may have been different. I know mine certainly was from age 5-13.

You just don’t know how liberated I was to pick out my own clothes and shoes. Some of you know exactly what I’m talking about. I never even got to wear Geranimals. Anyway, here are a few styles.

In the 50s, it was the style to wear a plain white t-shirt and a black jacket. Guys also wore blue jeans and they would roll up the ends, and they would wear chucks or black shoes. In the 50s, girls mostly wore long shirts with either poke-a-dots or a poodle on the bottom of the skirt. Girls wore one piece bathing suits. 

In the 60s, guys either wore clothes that made them look like hippies or gangsters. In the 60s, girls wore bright, colorful outfits. They mostly wore dresses with flowers on them with knee high white boots.

In the 70s, guys wore outfits that were made for the disco. Athletic short shorts and muscle tank tops. In the 70s, girls had afros and wore high wasted bell bottom jeans. Bohemian necklaces. Vintage graphic tees. Wooden platform shoes. Long summer dresses. They also wore athletic short shorts and knitted shorts.

In the 80s, guys wore punk clothes and had a cow lick in their hair. In the 80s, girls dressed in neon clothes and wore tutus. Off the shoulder sweatshirts, headbands. Very colorful nails.

In the 90s, guys wore baggy striped pants with Hugh tops and wore their hats backwards. Chuck Taylor shoes. In the 90s, girls wore flowery outfits, usually with a skirt and a jacket.

I grew up with 4 sisters and two brothers, so I knew a little bit about women’s fashion trends. What always confused me was the names they would give to their wardrobe.

For example, I heard some older women use the word parasol. You ladies may have to help me. I’m just doing a lot of this on memory from listening to my sisters. What are pedal pushers? It’s not bike riding, is it? Please, no laughing.

What is a pencil skirt? What is a geometric outfit? I never recall my sisters saying, “Hey mom, did you see my geometric dress?” I realize there are more clothing styles from different eras.

But fashion to me was always about looking nice to impress. I grew up in a household as a teenager that was more about looking good for the next dance club or house party event.

That phrase “Dress to impress,” always was an ulterior motive for dressing up for me. I definitely wanted to make a lasting impression and statement on the people I met.

I always wanted to be myself. I never liked copying another style because I had to live in that clothing style for that evening. How many people do you know that try to dress like important people?

Some people want to emulate those in Hollywood and professional sports athletes. Sometimes individuals will want to be like others so badly that they will submit themselves to dangerous surgical procedures to look like their idol.

Some of you remember the Michael Jordan commercial lyrics. 🎶Sometimes I dream, that he is me, you’ve got to see that’s how I dream to be. I dream I move, I dream I groove, like Mike, If I could be like Mike, I wanna be, I wanna be,
Like Mike, Oh, if I could Be Like Mike.🎶

I was young, but thought Michael Jordan was and still is the greatest player in history. But that’s where it ended. I never wore his name on any of my basketball shirts. I admired his game but tried to instill my own plays on the court.

Many young girls were trying to emulate and even become Brittany Spears. Some became so infatuated with Brittany, they had complex surgeries to become her. The thing people fail to realize is, there is a cost you may not know about when following someone’s career or personality.

Many star celebrities carry emotional scars you never hear about. Sometimes wanting so badly to dress like someone else or look like someone else can cost you a lot of pain and suffering.

Someone of you remember the woman who was infatuated with wanting to dress and look like Barbie the doll. She endured many surgical procedures and injections to look like someone she really couldn’t copy.

When I first saw a picture of her, I thought she look like a mannequin. I felt bad for her. She was trapped in a maze full of deception. There are many copycat followers in our nation today. The fads grow and people wear the “I’m part of this group sorority thinking.”

The fashion trends of the 50’s to the 90’s were wide and copied everywhere. But sometimes you just have to keep them tucked away as memories. I used to wonder how certain clothes would look on me after seeing them on someone else.

There’s a phrase called “clothes fit the man.” Someone suggested Mark Twain coined the phrase. Regardless of where it originated, I wanted my clothes to “make me the man.” In other words, I wanted my attire to give off the feel that I’m confident in my clothing and my personality.

As a teen, I used to think how did that man get on the GQ magazine cover? I thought why does his clothes seem to fit like a glove on a hand. I wanted that look. I was told this man went to a tailor.

◇A professional tailor will hand cut and loosely tack your body made suit. Your tailor will look at the technical fit of your garment, including how you walk and stand in it, and make adjustments. The canvas, stitching and finer details of the garment will be visible at this stage and there will be no lining on your garments◇

I used to wonder how a very expensive silk, or Italian suit would look on me. Some of the names I saw in GQ were Cesare Attolini, ISAIA, Kired, Kiton, Tom Ford, Etc. These suits range from $2,000 to $6,000 in price.

After seeing the suits I closed the magazine and started to wonder, would be me or the suit that attracts the right relationships in my life. I later found out that having a warm and friendly disposition can carry your personality way further than one wealthy stitch of clothing.

Am I saying people shouldn’t look well-groomed and dress appropriately in the right settings? Not at all. Clothing is one of the basic necessities of life (1 Timothy 6:8). But clothes can be a help and a hindrance. Any dads out there ever have to tell their daughter, “That outfit is too revealing, go upstairs and change!” Now that there has been set a foundation for today’s message, let’s look in our Bibles to see what God’s word says about clothing.

Men and women were commanded in the Mosaic Law to wear only gender-appropriate clothing (Deuteronomy 22:5), because wearing the clothing of the opposite sex conveyed rebellion against God’s design. So, remember everyone, God’s sets the standard for moral behavior on the clothes you wear.

Do you ever stop to think before you put something on whether God would approve it? Some people feel they don’t have enough clothes. The clothing closet in Bible days consisted of the material wool and linen. Throughout time, Jews and later Christians observed other clothing fashions and were influenced by others.

Can you imagine being influenced to wear something somebody else is wearing? Have you ever gone somewhere, and somebody showed up wearing what you had on? How did you feel? Did you want to run home and change your outfit?

Israelites were probably influenced by fashion after being exposed to Syrians, the Canaanites and Phoenicians, the Assyrians and Babylonians, the Greeks, and the Romans. They eventually told Samuel the prophet they wanted a king and wanted to be like the other nations. (1 Samuel 8:4-9).

☆Clothing has played a major role in the history of God’s interactions with humanity and is featured prominently from Genesis (3:7) to Revelation (22:14).
 

The first mention of clothing is in the Garden of Eden. When Adam and Eve sinned, their eyes were opened (Genesis 3:6,7), which means they had a new awareness that they were naked.

God, in His mercy, killed an animal and made garments for Adam and Eve from the skin of the animal (Genesis 3:21). So, even from the beginning, clothing has symbolized the need to cover our sin and shame.

Before they sinned, Adam and Eve never had to worry about waiting on each other to get dressed to visit God’s Zoo (Smile).
Throughout human history, clothing styles and colors have been indicators of a person’s status, wealth, position, and gender.☆

Every one of us has a certain way and style to dress ourselves. Some like very comfortable clothing, some like to wear the 9-5 high end clothing. But remember, the Holy Spirit keeps us in check concerning dressing modesty. Here are just a few articles of clothing they wore in Bible days.

@ Undergarments: the kiltlike loincloth worn next to the skin, called ezor (2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4). Many Egyptian paintings show such a garment wrapped around the loins and tied with a belt or girdle (hagorah), and Matthew describes John the Baptist wearing clothing like this.

Shirt or aprons: the most common garment was the tunic, the ketonet, chiton, or tunica (John 19:23; 1 Samuel 2:18; 2 Samuel 6:14).  Sleeveless shirt. Matthew 5:40; Luke 6:29; John 19:23; Acts 9:39).

Cloak: (2 Timothy 4:13; John 19:2,5) Skirts: (Ezekiel 5:3). Mufflers: (Isaiah 3:19) Sashes: (Isaiah 3:20). Top garment: the me’il, although in many cases English versions wrongly translate the term “coat” (Joseph’s). Apparently, it was also worn by people of high rank. (Mark 6:9; Luke 3:11).

Shoes: men generally went barefoot indoors but outside they protected their feet with a sandal usually made of a simple sole of untanned leather, tied on with straps or latchets (Genesis 14:23; Mark 1:7).

A sandal was the cheapest thing one could imagine. Only the shoe strap was worthless (Genesis 14:23; Amos 2:6). There were also laws that had to be followed pertaining to how clothing was worn.

Mixed materials in one piece of clothing forbidden (Deuteronomy 22:11). Men forbidden to wear women’s clothes; women forbidden to wear men’s clothes (Deuteronomy 22:5). @

@Notes: Elizabeth F. 2006

Before we jump into our main scripture passage for today, I wanted to share a couple of brief stories about the importance of life being more valuable than clothing.

I once knew a working employee who became ill and succumbed to his sickness. The day of his funeral was a day I will always remember. The viewing and funeral service took place that same day.

When I arrived, I saw a line of people that went around the block. I did not know he had a lot of friends. Upon entering the funeral home, they had it roped off because there were no seats.

When I looked up front, I saw some clergy that I knew. After a while, they motioned me to come up near the front. As I got closer to the coffin, I saw a punch of terrible Pittsburgh Steelers towels hanging in around the coffin.

This man was a huge football fan. The pastor who performed the ceremony I knew personally. What I didn’t know was the pastor was the uncle of the deceased. I never knew they were related.

But the story gets really interesting. The pastor begins his sermon and tells the story about his nephew and how much he wanted him to have a relationship with God.

As he continued his speaking to a packed funeral home, he turned and looked at his clothing and all the Pittsburgh Steelers paraphernalia in the coffin. He then set his attention back to the crowed room and begin to tell a story about a family.

This family were huge Pittsburgh Steeler fans. Every home game they would gear up for this special day. It was like a black and gold religious holiday to them. The pastor told those in the funeral home about the huge amount of preparation it took to gather everything together.

They were a big tailgate, get the pregame crowd fired up down at the stadium. Every item they wore was dressed in black and gold, even their faces had black and gold glitter.

Their vehicle and gas grill were decked in Steeler colors. It was close to game time. The family and those around them were fired up and ready to see a Steeler victory.

As they continued to get close to the entrance. The husband turned and looked at his family one last time and yelled “Here we go Steelers! Here we go!” When he turned around to continue towards the entrance, he was approached by someone he had seen many times.

The employee of the stadium smiled and shook his hand. He then said the words, “Tickets please.” The man smiled, reached into his pocket, and started to get a nervous look on his face.

He then frantically began to search every pocket, wallet insert, and bag. He then turned to his wife and kids and raised his voice slightly, “Who’s got the tickets!” They were asked to step out of the line so others could proceed inside.

The husband dropped all his Steelers paraphernalia and

raced back to the SUV and searched frantically for the tickets. He then had this look of hopelessness on his face. He remembered he left the tickets at his office where he worked.

As he walked back very slowly to his family to share the bad news, he wondered if the gate keeper would just let him in. But the gate keeper told him “No ticket, no entrance!” The man begged one more time and said, “But you know me!” Please, look at us, we are the biggest fans in the city!”

But as Steeler ready as they looked. As black and gold clothing draped their entire family, their entrance was denied. The pastor started to cry and turned to his nephew in the coffin and then turned back to those in the funeral and said, “You see Brian laying here?” He would tell you don’t be in this position.

He then began to tell the audience, if you think your entrance into heaven is secure, think again. He proceeded to tell them it doesn’t matter how good you’ve been, or kept church attendance, or obeyed 3 of the Commandments.

Without receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, there is no entrance into heaven. He read this passage to them. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV).

This passage of scripture also applied to many in the funeral home. (Mark 10:17-23). Afterwards, when the pastor finished reading the passage, he invited those who wanted to receive Jesus as Lord, to come forward.

As I sat there, many were crying and stood up and walked towards the front where the coffin of the friend laid. But there were some who were visibly angry and walked out of the packed funeral home.

They were upset that the service was more about the living than the person laying in the coffin. But that’s who Jesus came to save. Jesus came to save the living not the dead. The angels that stood by the tomb told Mary Magdalene and the other women these words.

5} “And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6} He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

7} Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. 8} And they remembered his words, 9} And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.” (Luke 24:5-9).

After reading these verses, the pastor prayed for those wanting to ask Jesus to forgive their sins and accept him as Lord and Savior. Some left that funeral home changed forever. They had completely forgotten about how they came dressed to the funeral home.

Jesus showed up at that funeral home the same way he showed up at Lazarus’ funeral over 2,000 years ago. Jesus came to give life and life more abundantly (John 10:10).

Another friend of mine didn’t realize what it meant that Jesus is the one who saves us, and cleanse’ us from all sin. He used to tell me he would come to church after he got his life together. He wanted to buy some new clothes and get his act together before he would come.

I told him if he did all of that, then Jesus would get none of the credit for his salvation. I told him his own works on trying to make himself fit for Jesus would not work.

I told him to come just as you are. God already sees your need of deliverance. He knows the part of you that you’re trying to clean up is impossible without him. Please read these scriptures aloud to yourself.

“I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5 KJV).

24} “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 26} For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:24-26 KJV).

I told my friend that he can only have his life changed by the power of God not through his own way of changing clothes. (John 1:12; Ephesians 2:8,9; Romans 10:8-10;13). Last week I spoke about the Pig-Pen lifestyle.

No matter what kind of clothing you put on, if Jesus is not your spiritual tailor, you will not be permitted to enter heaven. This leads us to our main passage for today.

As we know, Jesus told parables to many people. He used familiar scenes to explain spiritual truths. But Jesus also told the people what the Kingdom of heaven was like in his parables.

How many times do you suppose Jesus use the phrase “The Kingdom of heaven is like?” This is your little quiz question for this week. Here’s a hint. Be careful with your answer, it could be a trick question (Smile).

I’ll give the answer, Lord willing, next week. In Matthew, (chapter 22:1-14), we see Jesus using the Kingdom of heaven phrase in relation to a wedding. Since the message today revolves around clothing, how many of you love weddings?

Some of you may have received a wedding invitation for this year. Some of you may be a soon-to-be bride, or a soon-coming-groom. Congratulations! May the Lord bless your union.

Weddings are wonderful, but they must be planned and orchestrated in a way that brings beauty and joy to all who attend. Every wedding must have some sense of choreography display in it.

Even the wedding invitations are part of this huge spectacular event. When you think of weddings, obviously you think of a certain dress code that the wedding party sends out to all its guests. When my sister, who recently got married, she and her fiancé had a wedding theme involving a culture.

This was the case for the parable Jesus spoke about. The King in this story had prepared a wedding for his son. And just as other wedding planners do, the King sent out those invitations through his servants. Similar to singing telegrams (Smile).

But when these invitations went out, the people refused to come. Have you ever declined to attend something you were invited to? Refusing this invitation could be detrimental to your eternity.

The king did not give up but gave a very beautiful descriptive view and menu that maybe the people would show up. Let’s be honest, have you ever attended a high school reunion or banquet because you found out what kind of food was being catered? (Verse 4).

The people then made light of the kings catered menu selection. They just didn’t care. They were concerned more about self for that day. They had a “me, myself, and I” attitude. It was about them and their stuff. (Verse 5).

Some were so upset and filled with hatred that they insulted them and killed some of the kings’ servants. Have you ever had anger build up in you and didn’t attend a wedding because you had issues with the bride or groom relatives?

How many tragic stories do you hear of weddings that were interrupted by someone who had jealous motives and tried to wreck the wedding ceremony? You can find wedding fights on social media. This was the case for the king. (Verse 6).

When the King heard about how the servants were treated, he was so angry that he sent his armies to destroy those that harmed and killed his servants. Sometimes the ones closest to us (relatives) can do the most harm during a wedding ceremony.

No matter what happened the wedding ceremony and celebration was not going to be canceled. Again, there are ruthless people that would do anything to sabotage someone’s special event. Again, relatives usually are the culprits. (Verse 6,7).

Sometimes wedding plans are changed at the last minute. The king would go outside of family members and invite friends and co-workers to this special event. Have you ever seen a wedding invitation list be altered at the last minute before being sent out?

Some people that have been to weddings have been surprised when they received the invitation in the mail. They go to the wedding, and they know very few people. Has this ever happened to you? Weddings are beautiful in appearance whether the guests are family or so-called strangers attend. Remember, it’s all about the bride and groom. (Verse 8,9).

Sometimes there may be a risk in inviting just anyone to a wedding. But because the groom wants and audience to show his love for his bride and all the attendees, he sends out the invitations to good people and not so good people.

Sometimes the party crashers can be the life of the wedding and reception, and other times you end up calling 911. Some of you have been to these disastrous events and simply want to forget about it. (Verse 9,10).

Now we have arrived at our main scriptures that is the foundation of this whole sermon for today. So, the wedding servants had done their job and the people came. But there was a slight problem. This man must have forgot the invitation rules about clothing attire.

Have you ever been invited to an event and ended up wearing the wrong clothing? You don’t wear ice skates to a basketball court to play basketball. Some bring a quite attitude of, “I’m going to wear what I want at my sister’s wedding.” (Verse 11,12).

Notice the king still showed kindness and respect to the stranger by calling him friend. Weddings are supposed to bring out the best in all involved, right? Have you ever heard the words “rules are rules.”

Sometimes people will take their frustrations out on other party attendees. They will complain about the wedding rules of what clothing should be worn, but don’t have the courage to speak to the bride or groom. After all, it’s their wedding. It’s all about them. (Verse 11,12).

[22:11,12 It was customary for wedding guests to be given wedding clothes to wear to the banquet. It was unthinkable to refuse to wear these clothes. That would insult the host, who could only assume that such guests were arrogant and thought they didn’t need these clothes or that they did not want to take part in the wedding celebration.]

[The wedding clothes picture the right relationship with Jesus needed to enter God’s Kingdom. He graciously clothes every believer with right standing in God’s eyes. He provides these clothes of righteousness for everyone, but each person must choose to put them on in order to enter the King’s banquet (eternal life).]

The parable Jesus told was about Israel not accepting the invitation from God’s prophets who they persecuted and murdered. Then God sent his only son, and they murdered him too. Jesus showing up represented this invitation to attend the banquet honoring the Messiah.

They just kept refusing. Today many in Israel still reject the undeniable truth about Jesus being the Messiah. Some still swallow the lie that his body was stolen. When we refuse to honor God’s son (Jesus) we reject the Father.

So, when all was said and done, the king invited his guest 3 times, and they rejected his invitation. The spiritual clothes that God desires for us to wear are tailor made for us to wear prior to us entering heaven. These clothes are bonded to our new heart God gives us when we surrender to his Lordship.

Today, God still extends an open invitation in 2023 but we must accept and walk through the door. Without the right born-again clothes, you won’t be permitted into heaven. (Psalm 132:16; Isaiah 61:10; Zechariah 3:3-5; Revelation 3:4-5; 19:7-8.)

Jesus from the very beginning always had on the clothes that projected righteousness, purity, and power. The woman with the issue of blood understood this. (Mark 5:25-31).

[Even the Transfiguration brought the clothing of Jesus into the glorification that was bestowed upon him. It revealed his divine nature. God’s voice exalted Jesus above Moses and Elijah as the long-awaited Messiah with full divine authority.]

Jesus clothes were a powerful glistening white. White clothing symbolizes purity. In the book of Revelation, Jesus describes the attire of those who had been found worthy to rule with him in his eternal kingdom.

The color clothing is white (Revelation 3:18; 4:4; 6:11; 7:9). Jesus is usually seen wearing white in prophetic visions (Daniel 7:9; Mark 9:2). And angels are often described as wearing white robes (Matthew 28:3; John 20:12).

Here’s what God wants for you today. The invitation is being sent out to you, your family members and friends and neighbors. Jesus is the perfect groom, and you are his bride.

[God wants us to put on the new clothes of righteousness after we take off the old clothes of sin. It’s our sinful nature against our new life in Christ. (Romans 6:6-14; Ephesians 4:22-24; Colossians 3:3-15).]

Just as you change your clothing attire if you live in seasonal changes, God wants to be your spiritual tailor to fit you with his eternal robe (Isaiah 61:10).

Many people want religion over relationship. They want to make their own way to reaching God. They want to have a religion of flesh and not of the Spirit. You can’t have both. It’s simply impossible.

Some of you remember my remarks on Jesus calling the Sadducees and Pharisees Whitewashed tombs. They looked the part, but never lived the part. We certainly have many false teachers and denominations that look holy with large steeples and stain glassed windows.

But God forever always looks at the inward of our lives (1 Samuel 16:7). To follow Christ means we don’t live as mindless followers of the godless ways of culture. Many churches have subtle ways of twisting doctrine to fit their man-made theology.

I’ll probably write something soon on the differences between denominational church teaching versus non-denominational teaching. A lot of people don’t even recognize the difference. They just accept what’s on the spiritual menu when they walk in the church.

Religions are not all the same. Some churches give their sheep wolves clothing to dress in without them knowing it. Why do you think Jesus took the time to talk about sheep and goats? (Matthew 7:21-23; 25:31-46).

True born-again believers are to clothe themselves in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we should contend for the faith against all false teaching that can hurt those seeking holy truth (Romans 13:13,14; 2 Timothy 2:19; 4:8).

Not all churches have the person of the Holy Spirit in their midst. They may have religion, but the Holy Spirit brings power and life to spiritually dead churches. The Holy Spirit speaks. If the Holy Spirit presence is not in your church, it could be the leadership lives under (Romans 8:9).


🗣📢 Last words: Faith is the only way to get to heaven. It is the only doorway to eternal life. If God created eternity, then only through God can we get there. (Galatians 3:22; Hebrews 11:1). To be born-again spiritually, you must accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. (Romans 10:8-10;13).

Church attendance alone won’t get you tailor fitted with the robe of righteousness promised when your name is written in the book of life. Not only are our eternal robes significant, but God considers our earthly attire significant as well.

“Come and let God clean you, come and let God clothe you!” A Poem: When he shall come resplendent in his glory, to take his own from out the vale of night, O may I know the joy at his appearing, only at morn, to walk with him in white!


🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray to get fitted for that spiritual robe. “Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me that I don’t have walk around in grave clothes for eternity.

Lord, thank you for showing me a glimpse of the robe I may wear in your Kingdom when you transformed on the mount with your disciples.

Lord, clothe my heart with the God-kind of righteousness which I can only find by faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice on the cross of Calvary.

I choose to turn from the clothes of sin, to your glorious robe of righteousness and sit with you at your banquet table in glory, in Jesus name, amen.”



📕Here are some other spiritual clothes to put on and some to take off. (Psalm 93:1; Romans 13:12-14; 1 Corinthians 15:53,54; 2 Corinthians 5:1-5; Galatians 3:27; Ephesians 4:22-24; 6:11; Colossians 3:8-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:8; 1 Peter 5:5; Revelation 14:9-11).

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”

Pastor Todd Boxley

Worship Center Ministry

TjForLife.com