CLOTHED IN HIM
By Kay Keith Peebles April 29, 2024
Clothing is a necessity in life. Clothes protect us from the sun’s harmful rays. They also keep us warm when the winter cold fronts shroud us with freezing temperatures. Some people wear clothing as a status symbol, while others couldn’t care less how they look. Our clothing can reveal our occupation and also indicate the level of our authority. The reality is, we all need clothing.
If you are a student of the Bible, it is clear the Lord is very adamant about our clothing (raiment). When Adam and Eve sinned, they made their own “clothing” out of fig leaves, but God clothed them with animal skins. When the Lord God established the Priesthood in the Old Testament, He was very specific about how the Priests should dress. In the Book of Proverbs, the virtuous woman is clothed in strength and dignity. Isaiah 61 prophecies of the coming Messiah, Jesus who would be anointed with good news, healing the sick and bringing freedom to the captives. As a result of being touched and changed, verse 10 is the response of those who were transformed. “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation. He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” AMPV
In the New Testament book of Matthew 22:11-14, many were invited to the wedding feast but there was a man without the proper wedding garment. The king had him removed from the feast and cast him into outer darkness. Jesus warned the people in the sermon on the mount to beware of false prophets who were actually wolves in sheep’s clothing. Revelation 19:8 says that the saints of God will be clothed in fine linen, bright and pure which represents the righteous deeds of the saints. Psalm 104:1-2 proclaims, “Bless (Affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, You are very great! You are clothed with honor and majesty—[You are the One] Who covers Yourself with light as with a garment…” Whether we like it or not, our clothing matters to God!
The Book of Judges tells the story of a man named Gideon whom God called to lead the army of Israel against the Midianites who had been pillaging their harvest and lands for 7 years. The story begins in chapter 6, “But the Israelites did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian for seven years.” They had forgotten everything the Lord had done by bringing them out of slavery in Egypt and giving them their Promised Land. He had cared for them and protected them until they began to worship false gods. Gideon was hiding in the winepress beating out wheat hoping the Midianites would not find him when the Lord appeared to Him. He called and appointed Gideon to lead the armies of Israel to fight and conquer the Midianites and take back their land. Gideon had no faith that God was calling him to lead the army to victory. The Lord responded back to him, “Go in this your might, and you shall save Israel from the hand of Midian. Have I not sent you…Surely, I will be with you, and you shall smite the Midianites as one man.”
After the Lord convinced Gideon that he was the man He wanted to lead the Israelites into battle, something incredible happened. The New King James Version says in verse 34, “But the Spirit of the LORD (Yahweh) came upon Gideon…” That is a powerful statement, but as we refine our study looking at other versions of the Bible, we discover a deeper and more powerful revelation. The Amplified Classic 1987 Bible says: “But the Spirit of the Lord “clothed” Gideon with Himself and took possession of him…” (Emphasis mine). That gives a completely different picture of what happened to Gideon when he said “yes” to God. The New Jerusalem Bible explains it this way: “And the spirit of Yahweh clothed Gideon around…” The Lord clothed Gideon with Himself! Let that sink in!
Was the same true of Abraham, Moses, and all the others of the Old Testament patriarchs who represented the Most High God? When David killed Goliath, he knew the Lord had enabled him to kill the lion and the bear as a youth. He had no doubt the Lord would empower him to do the same for the giant! Scripture only says He clothed Gideon to my knowledge, but could it also relate to the other patriarchs in the Bible? Psalm 91:1 says, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High (Elyon) shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty (Shadday – all sufficient).” (Emphasis mine). That sounds like covering to me!
Let’s shift our thinking to the New Testament church. Ephesians chapter 6 explains the armor of God. Every New Testament believer is called to battle with “despotisms, powers, master spirits who are world rulers, spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. And just how are we supposed to do that??? First and foremost, we have to KNOW our GOD and be well-equipped with the Word of God.
Paul continues with verse 13: “Therefore put on (clothe yourself with) God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God. And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints.” AMPV.
Tad Greyurich, Pastor at Rhema Bible Church said: “Another thing that happens when we’re clothed in God’s armor is that the devil can’t tell the difference between God and us!”
Our advantage as New Testament believers is much more powerful than our Old Testament counterparts. We are not only clothed with Him on the outside, but we also have the Holy Spirit of the Most High God living inside us! It is time we not only recognize our providential position in Christ, but we must also believe and accept our calling to come up higher and not only live, but function from that perspective. Doubt and unbelief still plague the church. Fear causes us to avoid our responsibility of defending the faith. What would we accomplish if we all laid down our insecurities like Gideon and pick up the call of God to believe all He has done for us and walk in all He has given us?
Galatians 3:26-27affirms, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith. For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [into spiritual union and communion with Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ. The meaning of being “clothed with Christ” is being one with Him as His prayer in John 17 implies. Charles H. Spurgeon said; “No man can put on the robes of Christ’s righteousness until he has taken off his own.” Romans 13:14 says, “Put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.”
There is an old adage which talks about wearing our “feelings” on our sleeves. This contains a negative connotation. All the more powerful is Peter’s charge to “clothe (apron) yourselves, all of you, with humility [as the garb of a servant, so that its covering cannot possibly be stripped from you, with freedom from pride and arrogance] toward one another”. 1Peter 5:5 Our mindset must change from self to Him! Paul gives a wake-up call to the Ephesian church in Chapter 5 beginning with verse 14, “Therefore, He says, Awake, O sleeper and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine (make day dawn) upon you and give you light. Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people).” He calls the church to live “circumspectly” which means to have careful consideration.
Jesus told His disciples “And behold, I will send forth upon you what My Father has promised; but remain in the city [Jerusalem] until you are clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49. Another term for clothed is endued. It means to be clothed in likeness with power, to sink into or put on the power of God. Acts 1:8 explains, “But you shall receive power (ability, efficiency, and might) when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and Samaria and the ends (the very bounds) of the earth.”
Galatians 3:27-29 affirms: “For as many [of you] as were baptized into Christ [ into a spiritual union and communion with Christ the Anointed One, the Messiah] have put on (clothed yourselves with) Christ…And if you belong to Christ [are in Him Who is Abraham’s Seed] then you are Abraham’s offspring and [spiritual] heirs according to promise.”
Finally, Paul challenges the church in Colossae to “put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another and forgiving one another…” Colossians 3:12.
How we are “clothed” will determine how we represent the Lord. The Lord has given us all we need to represent Him well. May we use our time wisely, allowing Him to expose those things we need to have removed and replace them with the garments He desires us to wear. We are called to be His ambassadors everywhere we go. Lord, help us to represent You well. If we do, they will not see us but they will see You working through us. To God be the glory!
