What (not) to wear

Isaiah 61:10



I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. *(NLT)

Introduction

A TV Show called “What Not To Wear”. The reality show premise is simple: friends and family members nominate a candidate that they consider poorly dressed and ask the show to make over the "fashion victim." Fashion Police Stacy London and her partner, Clinton Kelly ambush the candidate and make them an offer-- they are given a $5000.00 budget for a new wardrobe, which they must purchase in New York City boutiques over the course of two days, but only on the condition that they allow Stacy & Clinton/ Wayne to critique, and in most cases throw out, their existing wardrobe.



We all have a spiritual wardrobe that is sometimes full of the wrong garments. Today we will learn what is in fashion in heaven… and instead of “What NOT to wear we will learn what TO wear.

A. THE ROBE OF DESTINY

Genesis 37:3
3 Now Jacob loved Joseph more than any of his other children because Joseph had been born to him in his old age. So one day he gave Joseph a special gift--a beautiful robe.
1. Joseph received a mantle with many colors. This mantle represented his destiny and was a special token of the father’s love

2. The mantle of destiny will cause envy in others. In the spirit realm we all received this same mantle from our Father in heaven and Satan will try to move people around us to rob us from our call.

1 Kings 19:19
So Elijah departed thence and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and ELIJAH PASSED BY HIM, AND CAST HIS MANTLE UPON ELISHA.
3. The Robe of destiny comes from God but he will use people to pass it on to us. At this time the mantle of Elijah touched Elisha. Years latter Elijha was taken to heaven (2 Kings 2:8) and he finally received the mantle of destiny.
B. THE CLOTHES OF INTEGRITY

1. Let’s come back to the story of Joseph. His brothers removed his mantle and sold him as a slave. They took the mantle of destiny and sprinkled it with the blood of a goat.

2. Joseph was sold to a man called Potiphar and the Lord was with him. Potiphar’s wife was an adulterous woman and wanted to have sex with Joseph. One day she grabbed him and tried to force this relationship.

Genesis 39: 12
And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

3. Joseph ran way leaving his shirt on her hands. That shirt was used to accuse Joseph of an attempted rape. In the spirit however that shirt represented Joseph’s integrity.

4. Integrity is what you do when nobody else is seeing you. Joseph had the opportunity of sexual pleasure and personal satisfaction but he decided that he would not commit a sin against his master.

Integrity gains strength by use!

C. DRESSED WITH ROYAL GARMENTS - DIGNITY

Genesis 41:41
41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.
42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;

Joseph used 3 different garments

1. The first one was given by the father (a figure of our Pastor)

2. His master, the one who made him ruler over his estate and inheritance, gave the second robe to Joseph (A figure of our Leader)

3. The third was given by the King (God’s figure)
Mantles are symbols of authority and we need to discern the times and the seasons to wear them. As you serve the Lord at church you receive the mantle from the pastor but sometimes there are circumstances or even people around us that will try to remove it. If we keep our integrity as leaders and learn to be faithful to our leadership people around us may even criticize us but God is the one who promotes us. God can change your destiny in one single day just like he did with Joseph.

Illustration

There is a mantle of righteousness that comes with forgiveness is made of vertical and horizontal threads. The vertical threads are the relationship between us and the Lord, representing our restored relationship. Horizontal threads are the relationships we have with others, established by our forgiving one another. It is not possible to have a lasting garment made of just vertical threads, nor is such a garment useful if there are only horizontal threads. Our mantle can only be fashioned when both types of threads exist
CONCLUSION

When Jesus entered in Jerusalem the people did something amazing.
Luke 19:36
Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus.
This was an act of submission before the King. These people did the right thing with their garments but they were not able to keep up with their vow.

There are 3 Things that can take away your Mantle

1. Yourself

2. The Spirit of Religion

3. The Devil
In Luke 15 Jesus told the story known as “The Prodigal son”. It talks about a young man that left the father’s house dressed as a prince. He took his inheritance and bought many new clothes and spent the money in all the pleasures the world has to offer. After the fortune was spent he ended up dressed as a beggar, sleeping with pigs. As he realize his mistake and returned to the father.
Luke 15:22
“But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.

The father did restitution and dressed him with the finest robe in the house