Memorise: And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him. Colossians 3:10
Read: Colossians 3:8-10
Bible in one year: Leviticus 8-10
After Elisha saw Elijah being taken away, he cried out. The next thing he did was to tear his clothes (2 Kings 2:12-14). Why did he do that? According to Colossians 3:8-10, you have to put off the old man before you can put on the new man. What constitutes the old man?
But now ye also put off all these: a`nger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Colossians 3:8
Sin is a type of clothing; righteousness is another type of clothing. Anyone who wears the garment of sin will be clothed in shame but the one who wears righteousness will be clothed in God’s glory. When Adam sinned, he lost his robe of righteousness and God’s glory was lifted from him. When Jesus came, He came to take away our rags and being full of God’s glory, anyone who wears Him will be covered in His glory. The truth is that as long as you put on a cloak of sin, you will not be attractive for God’s use. Elisha realised the enormity of a new walk with God he was embarking on and he immediately tore his rags so that he could put on the new man. He was very wise.
There are some people who are being proposed for a higher spiritual assignment yet they will make no serious preparation. That is foolishness. A minister of God was being nominated by his pastor for ordination some years ago. When the time the list released, his name was on it so he went to tell his pastor he saw his name on the list. The pastor told him that although he sent his name, he will not advise him to be ordained that year, going by certain shady things involving the brother, but he insisted on being ordained. He was therefore told to go into a period of fasting and prayer. Later the Pastor learnt that this brother was busy watching home video during the time he should be fasting. Ordination came and he was ordained a deacon. He took the next Sunday message and all hell broke loose. His creditors started looking for him in order to arrest him. That was how he ran away from church. Anytime God is about to take you higher, it is a time to examine your garment and destroy it if it is stained with sin.
KEY POINT:
Are you yearning for promotion? What are the practical evidence of your preparation? Ordination adds value only to the prepared.
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