A few months back, I saw a wonderful movie, but it was also depressing. The movie was called, The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. It was about the atrocities that were performed against the Jews in Germany, during World War II. The stars in the movie were two eight year old boys. One was German and the other boy was Jewish, who lived next door in a "Holding Camp," and they became friends. Near the end of the movie the German boy sheds his nice clothes and puts on a pair of dirty "pajamas," so that he would look like the Jews. He wanted to help his Jewish friend find his father who happened to disappear like so many other Jews.
The movie shows the evil that lies behind deception and the consequences for those who practice them. It also show the price of being a true friend. This story reminded me of Jesus Christ and the price He was willing to pay, when He chose to come to earth and save us. It's also something Jesus expects all His disciples to be willing to do.
" Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made [clothed] in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted [clothed in honor] Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name," (Philippians 2:5-9 brackets mine)
As you see, Jesus was willing to forsake the clothes of honor and glory, and take on the appearance of a sinful man. He was born naked in a stable and He died naked on a cross. Jesus also did everything that was considered human, He laughed and cried, He knew pain and loneliness, and He also ate and drank with sinners. During His life and ministry on earth He sought to save the lost, help the poor and healed the sick. Yet, He still died a sinners death, but there was no sin found in Him.
When we accepted God's plan for salvation, we too shed our old clothes and put on the new ones. By faith we are all baptized into His death and raised to new life and clothed in His righteousness. Unfortunately, some people felt uncomfortable in their new clothes, because of what the enemy has said and what religion has taught them. That they didn't deserve His righteous clothes and others taught us not to expect too much from God now, because much of our reward would come after we died. Only to be reinforce by foolish songs like, I've Got a Mansion. But, God wants to clothe us now, in His robe of glory (anointing). "All that I am, all that I have and all I reveal myself to be I give to you," says the Lord.
During our lifetime, satan has tried to use the five I's —Intimidation, Imitations, Inferiority, Insecurity, and Inadequacy to keep much of the Body and Bride of Christ from raising up to her full potential. As a result many have lived in doubt and fear and unable to walk in the full authority of sonship they were meant to have. These lies have become a part of our infrastructure (false ways of thinking and believing) even wrong concepts of how we perceive God the Father. These things have kept many people in bondage or hindered our relationship with God, including me, and they need to go. We must cast them off by faith, as part of our healing and restoration, because only God can heal the damaged soul and the broken hearts. And let the Father cover us in His love and clothe us in His beautiful robe of glory.
We need to be willing to open our ears to hear His voice and obeying just as Abraham did. To seek that city who's builder is God. That seeking is what causes God to act on our behalf in areas we are unable to deal with. Where we are weak He is stronger. Now we can walk free no longer as a slave, but as sons and daughters of the Kingdom of Heaven. Our desires and vision become one with His and we work together to bring His Kingdom to earth.
Jesus spoke these words to His Father regarding His disciples and the lost, "I Have given them your word... They are not of this world, even as I am not of this world. Sanctify them with the truth. As you sent me into the world so have I sent them into the world... I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those who believe in Me through their word; that we may be one; even as You, Father, are one in Me and I in You, that they may be in us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."
"The glory which You have given Me I have given them, that they may be one as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world will know that you have sent me, and love them, even as You love Me." (John 17:14-23) Wow, the day the church understands that prayer, what a different world this will be. God loves us, and the sinner, just as much as He loves Jesus.
We should understand that we too are the prodigal sons, that must return home to the Heavenly Father. Where He strip us of our old dirty clothes and then clothe us in His glory, power (authority) and anointing. He's giving us His robe, a signet ring and shoes, and live in His house. The Heavenly Father is are glorious Mansion. This is true sonship. Then we can go out and be who we really are—the sons and daughters of God. (This process often takes time, but the quicker we grasp this truth, the shorter that time may take.) Then we can be used in His time and way to bring forth healing and restoration to a lost and hurting world. Because, we will have learned through experience, what it truly means to be a fathered by God. To be the Father's son will cost us everything, just as it did Jesus. When we abide in Him and accept His love then we will be exalted in our new clothes when the time is right, just as Jesus was and is exalted.
Note: Things are changing fast and I have shared some personal secret from God about our lives that may have been difficult for some people to understand and maybe I should not have shared them at all. But, I just wanted you realize that the Heavenly Father is interested in every aspect of our lives, and has a plan for our future. He also desires to talk with everyone who is really hungry for Him, honest, patient, and willing to sacrifice everything if necessary—everything. I've also come to realize that I need to spend more time abiding with Him and so for now on I will be posting only one article a week—Lord willing. I've enjoyed sharing with you, but I must spend more time with my lover of my soul.
