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Freedom Friday – Jesus Robes Whom He Restores

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I recently spoke with a young woman who felt as if her life choices had disqualified her from God’s help to overcome her circumstances.

All I could say to her was that I didn’t know who the God was that she believed in, but that the God I know is compassionate and loving, and that His son Jesus knows exactly how we feel because He experienced our pain – every single bit of it – when He hung on the cross and sacrificed His life for us.

Her words back to me were, “Please keep telling me that.”

I recently heard Beth Moore teach on this Scripture:

Luke 8:26-35 NIV 26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee. 27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission. 33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.”

Jesus robes whom He restores-Beth Moore Click To Tweet

So here’s a little before and after for you:

Before an encounter with Jesus: Demon possessed, crazy in his head and running around naked.

After his encounter with Jesus: Clothed, in his right mind, and sitting at the feet of Jesus.

I don’t know about you, but there was a time in my life when I was a little (sometimes a lot) wild and crazy myself and, knowing right from wrong (good church girl that I was), when I finally came to my senses I had a lot of shame over the things I’d done.  Jesus was waiting to restore me and He covered my nakedness with a white robe of righteousness. 

Isaiah 61:10 10I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

In her teaching Beth Moore said that the word used for garments in this passage – Labash or Labesh – is the same word used in Exodus 29 and Leviticus 16 for the garments that were used clothe the priests.  These garments were part of the consecration of the priests of the Old Testament, or the act of ordaining to a holy office.

1 Peter 2:9 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Think about THAT!  When we become Christ followers, God Himself clothes us with holy garments, consecrating us for a holy work.  So not only are we redeemed, but we are set apart as holy, and then given the life purpose of declaring His praises!

Hear this:  If you are a Christ follower and have been redeemed by His blood, yet still feel the burden of shame, you are listening to the lies of the enemy.

John 10:10 10The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I [Jesus] have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

PRAYER:  Father God, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your only son Jesus, to die on the cross on my behalf.  Thank you that you’ve forgiven every dirty, shameful thing I’ve done and You’ve cleansed me from ALL unrighteousness.  Forgive me for my unbelief.  Forgive me for the pride of believing that my sin is special, and that You, Jesus, aren’t not enough to cover it.  I renounce my belief in the lies of the enemy that cause me to continue to live in shame and I rebuke the enemy in Jesus’ name.  From now forward,  I make the choice to stand on the truth of Your holy Word.  I believe and accept the full freedom you’ve provided for me, and I choose to walk in it.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

For anyone who continues to struggle with shame after making this commitment to Christ, I urge you to talk to a Pastor or other godly counsel.  God has a good plan and purpose for your life and when you walk in freedom you can walk fully in that plan.

For anyone who has never accepted Jesus Christ as the son of God and their personal savior, and desire to do so, it is simply a matter of speaking the words of faith out loud.

I believe strongly in the fellowship of believers and committing to a good Bible teaching church.  We can have a personal relationship with God but our faith is strengthened in community.  If you’re looking for a church and don’t know where to start, drop me a line.

God only wants the best for you.  Believe it!

Blessings friends,

I’ve been known to link up to the following great parties!!!

Sunday:

SundaysAtHome, TheDIYShowoff, LifeOnLakeshoreDrive, SilverPenniesSundays, RusticAndRefined, Spiritual Sundays

Monday:

IShouldBeMoppingTheFloor, TheDedicatedHouse, Dwellings, ProjectInspired,  InspireMeMonday, BetweenNapsOnThePorch, CelebrateYourStory, What Joy is Mine/Monday Musings, Darling Downs Diaries, The Art of Homemaking, MomentsOfHope, Glimpses, SittingAmongFriends

Tuesday:

TalkOfTheTown, HomeStoriesAtoZ, AStrollThruLife, CoastalCharm, CedarHillFarmhouse, TuesdaysAtOurHome, TheWinthropChronicles,  Rich Faith Rising Unite Linky, Testimony Tuesday,Cheerleaders of Faith,Tell His Story

Wednesday:

SavvySouthernStyle, A Wise Woman Builds Her Home, Woman to Woman Word Filled Wednesdays, Coffee for Your Heart, MessyMarriage, ThreeWordWednesday,  WriterWednesday

Thursday:

ShareYourStyle, ImpartingGrace, EmbracingChange, HaveADailyCupOfMrsOlson, MyRepurposedLife, ADelightsomeLife, KatherinesCorner,  Thought Provoking Thursday, SincerelyPaulas, ThoughtfulThursday, Tune-inThursday

Friday:

FrenchCountryCottage, TheCharmOfHome, TheDedicatedHouseAnythingBlueFriday, ShabbyliciousFriday, Sweet Inspiration,  Faith’nFriends, Missional Women Faith Filled Fridays, Dance With Jesus FreshMarketFriday

Saturday:

FunkyJunkInteriors, OneMoreTimeEvents,  SaturdaySparks, TheInspirationGallery, Make My Saturday Sweet

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Comments

    • I’m so happy the words of this post spoke to you Christie. I pray that the only weight you feel on your shoulders today is the weight of His glory. Blessings.

      Reply

  5. Gotta love it! This could help so many who feel they are disqualified by previous life choices. You aren’t the only one who was a “good church girl” who went temporarily wild & crazy. I did a lotta crazy stuff. And I wasn’t YOUNG when I did a lot of that stuff. But once I finally said,” Ok, God. It’s obvious I don’t know what I am doing. I am giving you the wheel.” I still messed up sometimes even though I was TRYING to be “behaved”…..ya know how the devil sends temptations especially when you are trying to be righteous, right? But less than a year later I met my husband when I switched churches. 13 months later we started dating. 2 months after that we got engaged. 3 months after that we got married. So…good church girl went wild when young, got married, got divorced, went wild again, got her act together and then married a preacher. It could happen to anyone!!!

    Reply

    • It could and does happen all the time. Aren’t you glad we serve a God of second chances? For me it is a lot more than two chances though. Thankful to be clothed in His righteousness! Blessings dear friend.

      Reply

    • There are so many great Bible teachers to read aren’t there? I’ve done some Beth Moore Bible studies through church and I’ve also read a couple of her books. Right now though, I’m recording her weekly Bible teaching on TV and I can listen/watch while I work in my kitchen. She is a delight. Thank you for your comment Michele. Blessings.

      Reply

    • Woo hoo is right Susan! I SO wish I knew you way back when cuz’ I think we might’ve been besties. I also think we would’ve also been trouble. Hmmm, on second thought, I’m glad I know you now and not then. Hugs friend.

      Reply

  9. That’s so true, Patti! Christ’s robe of righteousness covers our sin and shame. Now that’s a robe I’m never going to take off! Thanks for inspiring us with this truth today!

    Reply

  11. This is beautiful and so true! Thank you for reminding me of the truth I so often forget: “If you are a Christ follower and have been redeemed by His blood, yet still feel the burden of shame, you are listening to the lies of the enemy.” I needed that today. 🙂

    Reply

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