The Wedding Garment
03/01/2015
Text: Matt. 22:1-14
- There is a marriage ceremony that will take place soon.
- Some special people were invited to the wedding, but they refused the invitation.
- The invitation has been extended to the general public (both bad and good)
- However, in order to attend the wedding, you must put on a wedding garment
- Anyone found without the wedding garment will not be allowed into the wedding
- To have the wedding garment, you must accept the proposal of the Groom
- The Bride-Groom is Jesus Christ
- The bride is the Church
- The Church is not the buildings or the chairs or the denominations or the system that runs the church
- The Church are the souls – the Church is you
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- Rev 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Main Topic
1. The Wedding Garment
- In a earthly marriage, the couple would want their marriage to be perfect
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- Some would even hire a wedding planner – so that attention is given to every detail
- In the marriage with the Lamb – attention to detail is also required
- Rev 19:8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
- Your wedding garment is made out of fine linen, clean, and it is white
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- The fine linen implies that you are righteous
- Clean implies that there is no impurity
- White implies that it has been washed in the precious blood of the lamb
- Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- Eph 5:27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
- No spots
- No blemish
- No wrinkle – it was the wrinkle that got Moses in trouble.
2. Possible Stains on The Garment
- There are many things that can stain a garment and disqualify the bride from attending the wedding
- Son 2:15 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.
- If you have truly accepted the proposal for the wedding, you are not bothered by the big sins. It is the little ones.
- The little sins, referred to as the little foxes, will spoil the whole wedding
- For example, the bride of Jesus should not be stealing, committing adultery, fornicating, murdering, etc
- However, the little foxes are of concern – like holy pride, white lies, occasional anger, gossip, etc
- These little sins will stain the garment and disqualify the bride from the wedding
- A bride serious about the marriage must be on the lookout for these little sins
- Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
- Cover the garment with a garment bag to prevent stains – the garment bag is the Word of God
3. Preparation for the Wedding
Matt 25:1-13
- The parable
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- 10 virgins – they were all pure, they have not defiled themselves
- 5 were wise and 5 were foolish
- The wise took extra oil, while the foolish did not
- They all slumbered and slept
- While they slept, the oil in their lamps ran out
- The announcement was made that the Bridgegroom was coming
- The wise ones with the extra oil, simply add more oil to their lamps
- The foolish ones had no extra oil, thus had to go and buy
- Before the foolish ones came back, the Bridegroom had arrived and the door was shut
- They said, Lord, Lord, open to us
- He said unto them, “verily I say unto you, I know you not”
- The difference between the wise and the foolish was the extra oil
- Oil implies – the Spirit of God
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- 1Sa 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.
- What do they need the oil for?
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- The Holy Spirit is the oil that causes our light to shine for the Bridegroom to see His bride
- Without the Holy Spirit, there is no light in the life of a believer
- Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
- Mat 5:14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Mat 5:15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
- Extra oil implies going the extra mile
- It is not enough to just be saved and be baptized in the Holy Spirit
- You must go the extra mile to build endurance
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- Study the Word
- Pray
- Fast
- Wait on the Lord
- Evangelize
- Mat 10:22 … but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
- Do not doze off
- Your oil must not run out
4. The Marriage
Eph 5:22-33
- You must submit unto the Lord as His bride
- The Lord Jesus is the head of the Church (His bride)
- The Church is subject unto Christ
- Christ loves the Church to give up His life for the Church
- Christ will sanctify and cleanse the Church with washing of water by the Word
- That He might present to Himself a glorious Church, not having spot or wrinkle
- That it should be holy and without blemish
- The Lord nourishes and cherishes the Church
5. Things that can cause a divorce
Rev. 2-3
- Rev. 2:1-7 The Church in Ephesus – Forgetting your first love
- Rev 2:12-17 The Church in Pergamos – Practicing the doctrine of Balaam – eating food sacrificed unto idols, and committing fornication.
- Rev 2:12-17 The Church in Pergamos – Practicing the doctrine of Nicolaitans – The Nicolaitans were a group of people bringing in a religious system into the church that was not of the Spirit – this may have been started by Deacon Nicolas.
- Rev 3:1-6 The Church in Sardis – Imperfect works
- Rev 3:14-18 – The Church in Laodicea – Lukewarmness
Conclusion
- You are invited to the wedding as a bride
- Have you accepted the invitation?
- Your wedding garment is prepared
- You must not allow anything to stain your garment