WEARING THE ROBE


WEARING THE ROBE

                The robe of Christ’s righteousness is not casual attire.

                Every soldier knows that when he puts on his uniform it stands for something. It is not just to make him look like a soldier, but to BE a soldier. When He puts on his uniform it means that he will lay down his life if necessary in order to defend and protect his country.

                Likewise, when Christ puts His robe of righteousness upon us, it does more than making us look like a Christian. It causes us to BE a Christian in every sense of the word and to lay down our lives if necessary in service to our Lord and to others.

                Many Christians do not understand the difference between the infilling of the Holy Spirit and the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

                The Holy Spirit IN us produces the fruit of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit ON us gives us power to witness and to minister to others.

                The disciples were already filled with the Holy Spirit when they were born again. But Jesus told them to tarry in Jerusalem and on the day of Pentecost the Holy Spirit came UPON them for power to witness and to do the outward works of Christ.

                Paul said in 1 Cor. 14:1-4, “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly Spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy. For one who speaks in a tongues does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation; one who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

                If prophesying edifies, or builds up the church, then praying in unknown tongues builds up our own spirit. Both are necessary because we cannot share with others what we do not have ourselves.

                But the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is largely given for outward ministry to others that which Christ has also put inside of us.

                We need to get really serious in these last days about wearing the robe of Christ’s righteousness. Jesus will not put His robe of righteousness upon those who refuse to first allow Him inside. We are not only to look like Christians but we must BE Christians and a true Christian is one in whom Yeshua lives and bears fruit. He is also one who has been baptized by the Holy Spirit for power to minister to others in whatever capacity the Holy Spirit determines.

                This is not a call to work harder, but rather to trust in Yeshua and His Word and His Holy Spirit to do what they have promised they will do in us and through us. Have you entered His rest? Apple trees don’t sweat. They bear apples because the life of God is in them and so they cannot do otherwise. They bear apples, not to try to be apple trees, but because they ARE apple trees. And so is everyone who is filled with and baptized with the Holy Spirit.

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