Wardrobe Change

Today I want to talk to you about your freedom. Isaiah 61:1-3 says that Jesus came to announce your freedom. He came to proclaim freedom to every captive of oppression, depression, loneliness, hopelessness, misery, etc. It says, "He changed their mourning to comfort." He will comfort you. He will change your mourning to joy. He will give you the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Apparently, these words spirit and garment are interchangeable in this verse because when the spirit of heaviness is on you, you wear it like a coat. If you see a person who has oppression and heaviness on them, it is as if they are wearing a garment of heaviness. It weighs them down. Jesus was saying, "I am going to redress you. I am going to change your attire. I am going to take off that old garment of heaviness, and I am going to put on you the new garment of praise" (Author's paraphrase).

But once Jesus puts this garment of praise on you, He expects you to wear it all the time. . . not just when it is time to go to church, not just when things are going well, not just when there's peace in your home and marriage, not just when you have all the money you need . . . but all the time.

At church, while you are singing you have your garment of praise on, but then you go home and begin looking around at everything, all the bills, all the problems and you say, "Well, I guess I better take my garment of praise off and put on my garment of heaviness."

The garment of heaviness seems like it fits real good. It's just your size. Satan makes it fit perfect; not too tight, not too baggy. It's your color. And it feels right. The reason we are uncomfortable wearing the garment of praise is because it is Jesus coat, and sometimes it doesn't fit us well. Why? Because we've become more used to the old garment of heaviness.

But it's time that we get rid of that garment of heaviness and start wearing the garment of praise until it fits. Just keep it on until it fits; until it is tailor-made for you. When you truly have a revelation of what Jesus did at Calvary, that heaviness will not stay on you. It doesn't matter what you are going through.

I am not talking about pretending situations in your life don't exist. I am not suggesting that you just play like none of those things are really happening. I am saying that you don't let situations steal your joy, your faith and your hope, that it will turn around. Don't allow your circumstances to dictate what you wear! Keep on the garment of praise!

Confession: "I will put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. Jesus has set me free, and who the Son sets free is free indeed!"

by : Jerry Savelle


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