How to Dress for Spiritual Success

How to Dress for Spiritual Success

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Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender
mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone
has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of
perfection.

Here’s some Mom wisdom for Mother’s Day
* It’s not easy being a Mom. If it were, Dad would do it!
* Moms are the only ones who know the true meaning of 24/7.
* I smile because I’m your mother, but I laugh because there’s nothing I can do
about it.
* We have the perfect mother-daughter relationship. You’re my daughter, and
I’m perfect!

* Mom, on helping the kids with their math homework:
Dear Math, grow up and solve your own problems.
* Silence is golden. Unless you have kids, then silence is suspicious.
* Why is a computer so smart? Because it listens to its motherboard.

* Why is Mother’s Day before Father’s Day? So kids can spend their Christmas
money on Mom.
*I hate when I’m waiting for Mom to cook dinner and then I remember I am the
Mom and I have to cook dinner.
* Nothing is really lost until Mom can’t find it.
* Home is where your mom is.

How to dress for success — always dress like your boss.

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put
on Christ.

Fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language and lies

I. GOD’S CHOSEN PEOPLE.
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, …”

Ephesians 1:4 Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,
that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these:
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, … put on
Colossians 3:12 (Amp) Clothe yourselves therefore, as God’s own chosen ones

Isaiah 61:10 “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God;
For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with
the robe of righteousness, …”

II. GOD’S CHOSEN QUALITIES.
WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
1. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF MERCIES.
Colossians 3:12 “… put on tender mercies, …”

WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
2. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF KINDNESS.
Colossians 3:12 “put on … kindness…”

Romans 2:4 Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance
and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?

WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
3. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF HUMILITY.
Colossians 3:12 “put on … humility …”

“The Book of Virtues” by William Bennett.
https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1347849686i/883340._UY630_SR1200,630_.jpg

Matthew 20:28 Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, …”
Philippians 2:7 But made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.
Philippians 2:8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself …”

WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
4. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF MEEKNESS.
Colossians 3:12 “put on … meekness…”

1 Peter 3:4 “… the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God
is of great price.

The Horse Whisperer
https://is3-ssl.mzstatic.com/image/thumb/_KjX8B5BZu7lKucYOxucMg/1200×630.jpg

Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God.

WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
5. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF LONGSUFFERING
Colossians 3:12 ” put on … longsuffering;

1 Timothy 1:16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus
Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe
on Him for everlasting life.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord … is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish
but that all should come to repentance.

WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
6. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF FORBEARANCE
AND FORGIVENESS.
Colossians 3:13 Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone
has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

D.L. Moody used to picture the Lord saying to Peter,
“Hey, Peter, go hunt up the man who put the crown of thorns on my head and
tell him that I love him. Tell him he can have a crown in my kingdom and it doesn’t
have any thorns. Find the man who spat in my face and preach the gospel to him.
Tell him that I forgive him and that I died to save him. And find the man who
thrust the spear into my side and tell him there’s a quicker way to my heart”

WE DRESS FOR SUCCESS —
7. BY PUTTING ON THE CHRIST-LIKE QUALITY OF LOVE.
Colossians 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of
perfection.

Worldwide nearly 800 women a day die due to pregnancy or childbirth.

The Valiant by Poet Mark DeWolf speaks about the risks mothers take:
Not for the star crowned heroes
The men who conquer and slay
But a song for those who bore them
The mothers braver than they
With never a blare of trumpets
With never a surge of cheers
They march to the unseen hazards
pale, patient volunteers.

1 Corinthians 13:8 Love never fails …

The Ministry of Reconciliation

The Ministry of Reconciliation

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Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
Colossians 1:20 And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of
His cross.
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled
Colossians 1:22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight —
Colossians 1:23 If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became
a minister.

I. THE VARIOUS MEANINGS OF RECONCILIATION.
1 Corinthians 7:10 Now to the married I command, yet not I but the Lord:
A wife is not to depart from her husband.
1 Corinthians 7:11 But even if she does depart, let her remain unmarried or be
reconciled to her husband. And a husband is not to divorce his wife.

Reconciliation can be defined as restored favor, goodwill, and friendly relations
between two parties formerly at odds with one another.

Reconciliation has been described as putting back together the pieces of a
broken vase.

Reconciliation has been defined as,”The restoration of trust in an interpersonal
relationship through mutual trustworthy.”

Reconciliation has also been defined in counseling “as mutually agreeing to
not proceed with divorce. ”

Colossians 1:18 ” … that in all things He may have the preeminence.
The Message translate this verse “He’s there towering far above everything,
everyone.., everything of God finds its proper place in Him.”

II. THE VICTORIOUS MEANS OF RECONCILIATION.
Colossians 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

There is only one LIVING God.
But there have always been man-made gods.

Exodus 20:3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the
Lord thy God am a jealous God,

1 Chronicles 16:25 For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised; He is also to
be feared above all gods.
1 Chronicles 16:26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols, But the Lord made
the heavens.

Acts 17:16 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked
within him when he saw that the city was given over to idols.

1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the ONLY wise
God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 6:16 “… Who is the blessed and ONLY Potentate, the King of kings,
and Lord of lords;
1 Timothy 6:16 Who ONLY hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man
can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour
and power everlasting. Amen.
Jude 1:4 “… the ONLY Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 1:25 To the ONLY wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion
and power, both now and ever. Amen.

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

Colossians 1:20 And by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether
things on earth or things in heaven, …

Colossians 1:20 “… having made peace through the blood of His cross.”

Song lyrics “Written in Red”
God wrote His love on the hillside so long ago
For you and me Jesus died, and love’s greatest story was told
I love you, I love you that’s what Calvary said;
I love you, I love you, Written in Red.

III. THE VIRTUOUS MARKS OF RECONCILIATION.
Colossians 1:21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind
by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled.
1. RECONCILIATION DEALS WITH OUR PROBLEM.

I am friend of God, He calls me friend
What a friend we have in Jesus

2. RECONCILIATION DEALS WITH OUR POSTION.
Colossians 1:22 In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and
blameless, and above reproach in His sight —

3. RECONCILIATION DEALS WITH OUR PERSERVERANCE.
Colossians 1:23 If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast,
and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard,
which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became
a minister.

IV. THE VALUABLE MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION.
2 Corinthians 5:18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself
through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation,
2 Corinthians 5:19 That is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself,
not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of
reconciliation.
2 Corinthians 5:20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God
were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to
God.

Receiving and Giving Forgiveness Through Prayer

Receiving and Giving Forgiveness Through Prayer

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Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:14 “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will
also forgive you.
Matthew 6:15 But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your
Father forgive your trespasses.

Bible word pictures for forgiveness
To forgive is to turn the key, open the cell door, and let the prisoner walk free.
To forgive is to write in large letters across a debt, “nothing owed”
To forgive is to pound the gavel in a courtroom and declare, “not guilty!”
To forgive is to shoot an arrow so high and so far that it can never be found again.
To forgive is to bundle up all the garbage and trash and dispose of it, leaving the
house clean and fresh.
To forgive is to loose the moorings of a ship and release it to the open sea.
To forgive is to grant a full pardon to a condemned criminal.
To forgive is to relax a stranglehold on a wrestling opponent.
To forgive is to sandblast a wall of graffiti, leaving it looking like new.
To forgive is to smash a clay pot into a thousand pieces so it can never be pieced
together again.

Quote
“I don’t know why, but for some reason my mother could not forgive my brother
for leaving home as a teenager. Even in later life when my brother tried to reach
out to her, my mother was so filled with anger and bitterness, that she was unable
to forgive him. I watched as her inability to forgive hurt her more and more.
It destroyed my mother so much, that she was not able to bring herself to attend
my brother’s funeral. I learned firsthand how a lack of forgiveness can destroy
a family, can destroy relationships, can stop people from moving forward,
but ultimately the one it hurts the most in the end, is the one who will not forgive.”

I. FORGIVENESS AS A BRIDGE.
Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin
against us.

O the mighty gulf that God did span
At Calvary

Matthew 6:12 And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin
against us.
Luke 6:37 “… Forgive, and you will be forgiven.”

John Irving said “The man who refuses to forgive destroys the bridge over which
he himself must cross.”

James 2:13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy.

Forgiven people forgive people.

II. FORGIVENESS AS A DEBT.
Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted
to us.
Matthew 6:12 (PHILIPS) Forgive us what we owe to you, as we have also forgiven
those who owe anything to us.

Hell is a place where people pay an unpayable debt, that’s why it’s forever.

Galatians 3:13 Christ has redeemed us …

Luke 1:77 To give knowledge of salvation to His people by the remission of their
sins,

III. FORGIVENESS AS AN INFINITE NUMBER.
Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, Lord, how many times
shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?
Matthew 18:22 Jesus answered, I tell you not seven times but seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked
servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
Matthew 18:33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant,
just as I had pity on you?’
Matthew 18:34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until
he should pay all that was due to him.
Matthew 18:35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from
his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another,
even as God in Christ forgave you.

1. Forgiveness is not, denying a wrongdoing,

Acts 2:22 Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by
God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your
midst, as you yourselves also know—
Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of
God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

2. Forgiveness is not forgetting.

Acts 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter
and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized
in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying,
Be saved from this perverse generation.
Acts 2: 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized;

3. Forgiveness is not approving or diminishing sin.

Luke 23:34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what
they do.”

The three rules of forgiveness
Golden Rule
You should forgive others the way you would want others to forgive you.
God’s Rule
You will be forgiven the same way you forgive.
Grace Rule
The way you should forgive is the way God has forgiven you.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my
anxieties;
Psalm 139:24 And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.

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