Since the month of January and the seminar which I summarised on Facebook, “Anointing for the extraordinary”, there is a sentence that has not left my mind: “Dress the way you want to be addressed.” The LORD has not ceased to show me various aspects of this message. Literally, it is to be taken to the first degree. It is not by chance those who go for job interviews dress in accordance with the position they are applying for. Politicians, bankers and artists all have their own dress codes; and so do royalty. When you think of it, even in the Bible, clothes are very important and highly symbolical. Priests wore special attire before entering in the temple to serve. Married women dressed in very specific way; virgins and widows as well. However, this understanding of that message, though important, is still superficial.
There is a direct link between faith and clothing and between glory and clothes. Look at the priestly garments; they were made with top quality material and precious stones (Ex 28). The tabernacle and the temple were opulent: cedar wood, solid gold, silver, precious stones etc. (Ex 26, 27 & 30). It is as if GOD wanted the luxury of the place to inspire awe and reverence to His people. I have felt similar emotions when I visited the Vatican and Queen Victoria’s family home. I just cannot describe the luxurious beauty of these places and a few pictures will not suffice to do justice to them. It is impossible to walk into such places and forget where or who you are even for a minute. If Presidential or royal palaces looked like any other mansion in town, the honour and respect due to Heads of States or the monarchs would fade: unfortunately, man tends to look at what meets his eyes.
In many places – especially in Africa -, people will only mind you if your external appearance oozes greatness, riches and ‘glory’. And it’s true that when GOD lifts someone up, when He wants to pour His glory on them, He showers them with the finest jewellery. It is written indeed that: “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones” (Is 54:11-12). And we know that the Heaven’s streets as paved with gold and the doors of the New Jerusalem are precious stones.
In Christ Jesus, we are all priests and kings, and our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, our outward appearance should reflect the dignity of these functions. However, contrary to what we often see in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles under the influence of Prosperity Gospel, these things should neither become the centre of our desires and attention, nor be viewed as the ultimate proof of GOD’s favour on somebody, because the devil can also adorn us with them. The Christian character is more important and these things should be added to us –and not sought after- on top of the GOD’s Kingdom and righteousness (Mat 6:33). This was the apostle’s mind when he wrote: Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewellery, or the clothing you wear-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious (1Pe 3:1-4).
Lastly, I also said that there was a relation between faith and clothes. Indeed, Is 54:1-3 reads: “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labour! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married," says the LORD. Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities.” In other words, GOD wants those that He is about to bless to prepare themselves accordingly. The proof that we have truly received and believed His message – faith-, lies in the way we get up, enlarge the place of our tent, let our curtains and lengthen our cords.
Many months ago, in “Thy will be done…”, I wrote how I had decided to align my clothing to what I had seen myself wearing in a dream. Even though the dream had to do with future events, I realised that there was one thing I could already do to attract the foreseen glory. So, I took a prophetic step and started to dress according to the model that had been shown to me.
Dress the way you want to be addressed. Where is GOD taking you? By faith, start dressing accordingly and, as the people and the atmosphere around you begin to associate you with the image that you project, whatever it is will soon become reality. GOD bless you and ‘see’ you next week.
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