As I read the 22nd chapter of Matthew the first time , I wondered:….. What is this new garment that You expect us to change into……? You have to tell me – You said ask and I will receive and seek and I shall find and knock and the door will open in Matthew 7:7….. So, please let me know…..What and how is this new garment to be on me?
Most evangelism is now spoken to others to receive Jesus and you shall not go to hell…… Well, that is true but from our Heavenly Father’s perspective – there is a lot more He has in store for us…… As written in 1 Corinthians 2:9-10, But as it is written: Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him…… But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
So the reality of God is His love which then pulls us above the earthly realm into His heart when we turn our heart and eyes to Jesus and surrender our rebellion to His sacrifice………We start to enter into the vision that our Lord died to give us. So since we are redeemed, our life is not our own anymore….. Right?-RIGHT!
The parable that Jesus speaks to us in Matthew 22…. is quite shocking….. Hey, here we are inside to celebrate the wedding. Everyone else was too busy with this and that to stop and turn to the feast…….Hey, we got in- right? We are okay….. Right? We are called worthy because we turned and said yes….. but there is a wedding garment……. How do we get this wedding garment? Do we even know there is a wedding garment?
Well, Jesus is making us aware and responsible. There is a wedding garment for us to be in as we are presented to Him. When? Not sure, but I do know He is God and knows all and sees all and is aware of our all…. every millisecond that passes.
So let us search this out……
He never gives us a responsibility without giving us the empowerment to overcome. So we may be what He has called us to be, before He made the foundation of the world as written in Romans.
Chapter 19 of the book of Numbers shows us a red heifer that is to be sacrificed and burnt…..outside the camp…. Jesus Christ was crucified outside the camp as written in Hebrews 13:12. This chapter reflects the purification process of the Old Testament from the red heifer. But now, we speak in the strength of the blood of our King, the Lamb of God, cleansing us from an evil conscience as written in Hebrews 9:14.
But there is more….
The 20th verse of chapter 19 of Numbers speaks: But the man who is unclean and does not purify himself, that person shall be cut off from the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of the Lord. The water of purifiation has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean…..
Okay, so you might say, well, that is the Old Testament without grace….. Well, may I submit to you, that the Old Testament is a type and shadow of what good things the Lord prepared for us this day and forever….
As written in 2 Corinthians 6:15- 7:1: And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God.
As God has said: I will dwell with them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Therefore, Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Almighty God.
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
And also written in Hebrews 10:22, Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
Yes, beloved, this is the New Testament!!
We want to live from the fullness of God, right? We want His holy presence not be grieved- right? We do protect our eyes and ears from what does not promote the Spirit of Christ in us, right? We are ruthless on any idols that may try to steal His preeminence, right?
Hello?……… Hello? You still there?
Not changing our garment, as written in the parable of Matthew 22, is quite a stunner, if you ask me…… I do not want to think I am in the wedding feast and all is okay. When in actuality, there is a garment that Holy Spirit has fitted me for and I never allowed Him to fit me in it….Why?. Because I am too busy with earthly things that fade away and have not got my eyes on the Prize, His reality….The Kingdom of God has a Star- King of all kings, the Lord Jesus Christ.. The result of not allowing Holy Spirit to purify and sanctify our thoughts, patterns and actions to His mind which has been given to us as written in 1 Corinthians 2:15, is not sitting in a punishment room or detention for a while now and in the next age.
Nope….Let’s read on…..
Verses 11-14, But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
So he said to him, Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and nashing of teeth.
For many are called, but few are chosen..
Beloved, eternity is a long time for us to take for granted and to be in error to think that God is a man and is like us as we exist in time. Let us awaken to the One who was and is and is to come. He is holy and calls us to be the same. Separate from the world….. If we are busy with the passing age, hopefully and prayfully, we keep our eyes on Him. May we be found gazing and thinking of Him as worthy of all our praise….. We may be at a job, but a quick thought to Him- I love You Lord….. Or a quick thank You for all You are and do for us. Or even a giant silent yell to Him, Lord, I need Your help…… He is with us and ever ready to assist us in the living the life He has called us up to….. in His realm; the heavenly place.
Remember, we are a sign and a wonder as written in Isaiah and Hebrews……. We are the signs and wonders, as well as the skies and stars and all of His creation to point to His glory and greatness. But we, beloved, are bringing the Lord Jesus Christ’s presence to others sight.
Read these verses in Hebrews 10:14- For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. But the Holy Spirit also witnesses to us, for after He had said before, this is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord; I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them, then He adds, their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.
So as written in 2 Peter 1;2-12; Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertains to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence , add to your faith, virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge
self control, to self control perseverance, perseverance godliness, to godliness to brotherly kindness and love.
For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth.
So again, our gracious God never ever calls us to do anything that He does not abundantly supply the power by Holy Spirit to overcome and be victorious. We overcome the world by the faith in our Lord and His blood and by His power to keep us. Keep us separate from the world and be a living sacrifice unto Him as written in Romans 12:1-2… He is faithful !!! We will never know how faithful until we start walking in Him and by Him and for Him…. completely.
The Lord cleansed us by His blood and is cleansing us by the regeneration of His Spirit within us……. SO………. we are a new creation and are learning to walk by His fullness as we are living and established in His Word, the Truth.
As we are sternly warned in 2 Timothy 2:19-21: Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: The Lord knows those who are His, and, let everyone who names the name of the Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
The holiness of our God is His virtue which is above all ………. So, we must remember, this warning-in Hebrews 10:26-31: For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there is no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries.
Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled, the Son of God, underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?
For we know Him who said, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord. And again, the Lord will judge His people.
It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
As it is written in Proverbs 1:7, The fear of the Lord is beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction……..
We are not going to be fools, right? We are learning wisdom which is the fear of the Lord….Right?
I will finish with this: Who is wise? Let him understand these things. Who is prudent? Let him know them. For the ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them, ( Hosea 14:9).
As we pray Ephesians 2:14-21: For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height- to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations , forever and ever. Amen.
Lord, You alone are worthy of all our praise and love. May we submit to Your handiwork and allow You to fashion Your garments on us today. We repent of not knowing Your great plan for Your sons and daughters. Please forgive us and we draw near to You knowing You will draw near to us. Thank You for Holy Spirit in us and guiding us into Your complete and perfect plan for each of us….. We are sorry we have lessened our value by not seeing us as You see us and others and those in the womb. Thank You that Your mercy is new every morning…. May we not forsake our mercy from you as we hold onto our idols. Thank You for the awakening us to Your great Love and Your greatness. We love You and thank You that You are our God. Holy Spirit we are listening as You teach us all things that our King has spoken and things to come. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen!
Selah!
Children,
Do not fear I AM with you. As you turn to Me, stay tuned in and on and do not turn back to the plow again….. Draw near to Me with a pure heart and our walk together will be strong as the sun rising in the dawn. The dirt of the world fills the cup of your heart that I AM has cleansed. Turn away and turn to Me. What you see, I watch you. What you hear, I AM is listening too. What you contemplate on, I AM is watching those wistful thoughts…… But what do they avail? Light or darkness. Joy or weight. Life or death? My arms are not shortened to help you, but do you have faith? Faith is diminished with the earth view. Your faith will ring out loud in heaven, as You know I AM is hearing your words….. I AM waiting for your sound to ring out above the sound of heaven. You are My precious jewels and reward…. Do not turn to the world for you have and know Me. Why do you not give me your trust? Will I AM be silent because you have leaned on the world for your needs? Patience is having her perfect work. Be with Me and you will learn My steps and My climbs to the hills. You cannot lean on Me and mammon…… You cannot lean on Me and the wisdom of the world….. My way leads to My highways, though the weight is less the higher you fly…. You cannot fly with the cares of the world. You cannot sit in peace on My rock if you are part of the storm of the seas. You cannot sleep as a child, if you are solving your own dilemmas. Come to Me – I AM knows you.
Come to Me and learn of Me….. My burden is light….. My arms are wide open. See My wounds of shedding blood for you. I AM waiting. I love you, My child. Let go of the world and grab on to Me….. I AM is strong and will carry you through…. Know Me and know My love and ever loving kindness.
Come to Me. I AM all that I AM and more than you will ever search Me out for. Come to Me, My child. I AM waiting.
Hear My Call from those who I AM has sent. If you receive those who speaks for I AM, then you have received I AM and the One who sent Me to you this day….. Know all that was,is now, and will not be, but My Word.
SELAH !! SELAH!!
