THE CLOTHING OF THE SPIRIT
THE CLOTHING OF THE SPIRIT
(COLOSSIANS-Chapter 3:14)
Preached by: Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Colossians 3:14: “And above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.”
I had a dream that I had on a new jacket which was woven with Harvest colors.
Love is the thread from which all our new garments are made. It is the one grace which welds the entire church together in perfect unity.
What Paul refers to as the “fruit of the Spirit” in other places, here becomes the “clothing of the Sprit.” This is city talk rather than farmer talk. The new life is now pictured as requiring a new set of clothes. Paul asks us to discard the filthy rags of the old nature and put on new garments worthy of the new life. The material from which they are made is love from whence spring compassion, patience and tolerance. Inasmuch as we are totally forgiven, we are obliged to forgive totally. Able to forgive anyone anything we are no longer wolves, but God’s lambs—harmless and gentle. A wolf may devour a lamb, but it is unthinkable that lambs would attack each other.
I had not intended to tell the whole world about the full dream because it sounds presumptuous. However, in view of the dream being “on time” with Chapter 3 of Colossians, I feel to share it and this will give you understanding that I am not thinking more highly of myself than I should.
Dream given to Carolyn Sissom, 2/5/10: “I was climbing stairs. I had on a new brightly colored plaid jacket (bright Harvest shades). I didn’t feel that my blouse matched the new jacket, so was climbing to go to my closet to change the blouse. Coming down another set of stairs (opposite of me) was my “BOSS”. He said, “Carolyn hurry, you are a Supreme Court Judge and we are meeting right now. There are new judges who have been appointed and they are doing a fine job. Get in your place.” I asked him in shock, “What kind of Judge?” He said, a Texas Supreme Court Judge. I then saw the gathering of the court and all the judges were “seated”.
I was a couple of steps from my “closet” (place of prayer) and decided to quickly make the change. Instantly I realized I did not have time to make any changes and had to go at once. My outfit was shown to me. All of the colors blended, but the fabrics were woven of different textures and designs. The skirt was embroidered silk and the plaid jacket was bright Harvest colors.” (End of dream)
3:15: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body; and be thankful.”
Lovett: “Since you have been called to enjoy the peace of Christ within the one body, let peace do its sentry duty and become the judge of your hearts. You can be thankful it is there.” This would be seated with the Supreme Court Judge of Heaven. (Smile)
The peace of God is a signal system which warns of anything displeasing to God. If you feel restless about a matter, the warning buzzer is sounding in your heart. In any decision, first present it to God and then check your heart to see if His peace is there. Be assured that nothing helps satan more than upset and aroused feelings. Whenever you are perturbed, guard every word spoken to a Christian brother or sister. Say absolutely nothing when you are angry. With practice, the peaceful heart can become God’s primary means for guiding your hands, feet and mouth. The bond of peace has the highest priority in the church, ascending above matters of doctrine and practice.
Eph. 4:13: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”
3:1-4: “If you then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. when Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall you also appear with Him in Glory.”
Lovett: “Since you have risen with Christ, shift your ambitions to heaven. Inasmuch as your Master reigns there, that’s the place to invest. Purpose to be rich in the next life. Discount, yes, even ignore the attractions of this one. As far as the world is concerned, you are already dead and gone, with your new life temporarily hidden in God. But in that day when Christ is revealed, you will appear with Him---sharing in His glory!!!
Matthew 6:20-21: “Lay up for your selves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust does corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
If we shift our investments to heaven we soon have too much laid up for our hearts to be any other place. We couldn’t afford to have them any place if all of our ambitions are centered there. Paul would have us get greedy in Christ, forgetting all about worldly treasure. Since Jesus is directing the affairs of heaven, that the only safe place for your wealth.
3:5-7: “Mortify your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil and unnatural desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”
As long as we are on this earth, consider as dead the carnal desires raging within our old nature. If one prefers these to the things to heaven, then we are guilty of the sin of idolatry. The strong man over these sins is idolatry. The wrath of God is the Holy anger of God. The Word says for these things, the wrath of God will come on the children of disobedience. It doesn’t say, “if”, “maybe” or “perhaps”. The Word says, “it will come”.
The old life consisted of nothing but these things, for your flesh lived only to do them. But now all that is behind you.
When Jesus died, I died. If one has died, then he is already living on the other side of death. The body containing the old nature would has dropped off leaving the Christian clothed in his new nature only. A spotless, Holy life is all that could result. This is the goal Paul now puts before the Colossians. His words here carry the force of his words in Romans. “Reckon yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God.” Such “reckoning” or “thinking” puts before the Christian God’s own holiness as a challenge of this present life.
4:23: “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; that you put on (clothed) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”
3:8-10: Not only are those things to go, but in addition you must put off anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, and filthy communication out of your mouth.” Lie not to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:
Seeing we have chosen to put on the new nature, we have embarked on an entirely new kind of life, fitted for Holiness. Each day should find each of us closer to Jesus’ likeness enjoying deeper intimacy with our Creator.
The divine intention is to bring us to a maturity which allows us to participate in the Godhead. We are to grow to be more like Jesus today than we were yesterday.
Paul then uses the marriage program in Verse 17-18 and shows how it is designed to teach us about intimacy and the tenderness of being loved.
I am planning on teaching both this evening and on the 14th on the love relationship between a man and a woman. I recently taught on “need-love” or being “needy” as the wrong kind of love relationship. I may approach that again this evening and how the demon of Eros tries to distort the Love of God.
3:11: “Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor Uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, (people of eastern Iranian language included parts of
The basis for unity within the church is the fact that our lives are in Christ---a completely new realm of existence. Paul scans in four directions: nationality, religion, culture, and social status. In the old life there was division and discord. In the new, “we are members of one of another” (Eph. 4:25) In this church fellowship, we have multiple cultures, educational, social, financial status and nationalities. In this diversity, the Lord is bringing us into the place where His body is, “Christ is all and in all.”
3: 12-14: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any many has a quarrel against any; even as Christ forgave you, so also forgive them. And above all things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.”
Lovett: “Since we are dearly loved of God and chosen to be His holy ones, it is urgent that we re-arrange our lives accordingly. There is clothing which goes with this new life and we must wear it. See that we outfit ourselves with a heart of compassion and be kind to each other. Keep your self-estimates low so as to deal gently with one another. Pride makes a man impatient with his brother. Even though you might have a perfect right to complain, bear with that brother. Yes, go further and forgive him in the same manner and degree in which the Lord has forgiven you. The most outstanding feature of the new life is love. Love is the thread from which all new garments are made.”
3:16-17: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.”
Lovett: “Provide a large, permanent place in your fellowship for the teachings of Christ, so that all may draw from them richly and in abundance. And from the Word of God, as wisely as you know how, teach and counsel one another by means of your psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Let joyous and heart-felt thanks to God be found in all your singing. In everything we do or say, consider that we represent the Lord Jesus and perform your acts as unto Him. As we do so, let us be thankful to the Father for the privilege that is ours in Christ.
Verse 18: “Wives submit yourselves to your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and don’t be bitter against them.”
Paul treats marriage differently here than he did in Ephesians, where the husband’s dignity is noted by comparing him with Christ and the wife to the church. Here he is dealing with problems. The Greek indicates the wives may have been lax in their marital duties (asserting their new freedom in Christ, perhaps) and the husbands impatient with their weaknesses. Bitterness steals upon a man fast. Since the man is stronger and usually has more fire, he is often tempted to abandon his humility as “head of the wife”, (not “head of the house”), and deal too harshly, particularly should she fail to gratify his wishes. Paul insists that not only must the wife submit, but the husband must reign in love. Otherwise bitterness will result, damaging the marriage.
3:20-21: “Children obey your parents in all things (to the letter); for this is well pleasing to the Lord. Fathers do not provoke your children to anger. Do not irritate your children with unjust and capricious treatment, lest you damage their spirits and they lose heart completely.”
The wife’s submission to the husband removes from her hands the responsibility for the children. God holds fathers responsible for their maturity. Disobedient children displease the Lord even as do the parents who tolerate them. Yet they are not given as slaves. Parents were ordained for the benefit of children. Chastisement is to be inflicted only “as unto the Lord.” An exasperated or over-teased child soon loses heart and gives up. God forbids dispiriting of children. A broken spirit is fatal to youngsters.
3:22-25: Servants obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eye-service, as men pleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not to men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. He that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done; and there is no respect of persons.”
In Paul’s day slaves were cruelly exploited. He is assuring them that justice will be theirs as they follow the Lord. They are not to be man-pleasers with the carnal notion of currying their favor. Let us do all of our work as unto the Lord and regardless of the task assigned to us, it will have a happy out-come.
Let us remind ourselves that as we work unto the Lord, he is our paymaster. He will see that we collect what is due out of the great inheritance in heaven.
Chapter 4: Lovett: See that you become relentless in prayer. But make sure that is a time of watchfulness, and thanksgiving as well. Please mention us in your prayers, asking God to open doors so that we might enter into many places with the Gospel and share the mystery of Christ. Right now, of course, I am in bonds. Even so, will you pray particularly for me that I might be able to open up the mystery of Christ in such a way that it is crystal clear to men everywhere? That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Apostle Valentyn blessed me that by revelation, we are opening the “seals of the books of the Holy Bible”.
If you’re wise, you’ll take advantage of every opportunity to present the gospel to those outside of Christ. Of course. Walk in wisdom toward them as you do this. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt that you may know how you ought to answer every man.
Our dear brother, Tychicus will give you the details as to my present circumstances. He is a great worker, truly faithful in serving the Lord here with me. I am sending him to you so that you may know how things are with us and to bring his encouragement to your hearts. With him will be Onesimus, one of your group. He too is faithful and beloved. Together they will bring you up to date on things at this end.
Aristarchus, who is here in the prison with, sends his greetings. So does Mark, Barnabas’ cousin. You have already received instructions from me that he is to get a hearty welcome should he come your way. Jesus, the one they call Justus, sends his love too. Of all the Jewish Christians here, only these three are actually working with me. But oh, what a help they have been!
Verse 14 includes Luke as part of Paul’s ministry team in
In Verse 16, Paul refers to a letter to the
Verse 17 is his words for Archippus, “Treasure the ministry God has given you. It is most urgent that you do your best to fulfill it.”
We are in serious times. Roger Teale called me yesterday. He feels another terroist attack on the
In my dream, I wanted a short time to make “a change” in my “closet”. The Lord told me, to “get in place”.
“Go and preach the
Nine Things in Colossians we are to put on:
- The new man
- Bowels of mercies
- Kindness
- Humbleness of mind
- Meekness
- Longsuffering
- Forbearance
- Divine love
32 Things Paul charges Christians to do:
- Walk as when we received Christ.
- Be rooted in christ
- Be built up in Christ
- Be established in the faith.
- Abound in the faith.
- Be joyful in the faith.
- Beware of deception.
- Let no man judge you’re eating.
- Let none judge your drinking.
- Let no man judge your Holy days, new moons, festivals and Sabbaths.
- Live dead to the world and all its sinful ways.
- Seek things above.
- Set affection above.
- Mortify members on earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness which is idolatry.
- Put off the old man: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
- Lie not one to another.
- Put on the new man.
- Forbear one another
- Forgive one another.
- Put on divine love.
- Let God’s peace rule.
- Be thankful.
- Let God’s Word dwell in you.
- Sing with grace.
- Do all things in Jesus’ name.
- Give thanks to God.
- Watch with thanksgiving.
- Walk in Wisdom
- Redeem the time.
- Speak with seasoned grace.
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
www.eastgateministries.com – We video the Sunday a.m. messages and stream all of our messages.