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The Wedding Garment

Posted on 01 Mar 2015, Pastor: Tolu Makinde

The Wedding Garment

03/01/2015

Text: Matt. 22:1-14

Introduction

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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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?
- 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
- 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