GARMENTS OF SALVATION AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

Bob Jones and Paul Keith Davis

 January 2002

This generation has the great privilege to live in a day in which the Lord is going to demonstrate Himself and His glory in ways never experienced in any prior age. The preparation of recent years has been to make ready a people for His own possession who will bear His image and exhibit his redemption. In order to carry the mantles of Glory and Power reserved for this company of people, we must also have resident in us His divine nature and become clothed in His garments of Salvation and Righteousness.

(Isaiah 61:10-11) I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

For as the earth brings forth its sprouts, and as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

Many of those called to this place of leadership are presently being “fitted” with the attire of the “overcomer.” The termed “fitted” was actually given to Bob Jones in a prophetic experience in which he witnessed God’s people being taken to a “fitting room” to be measured and perfectly outfitted with the Lord’s garments of salvation.

This attire is specifically designed for that particular individual. The term “Fitted” is defined as, “shaped for a precise fit.” The adjustments necessary for the provision to be a perfect fit will not come in the garments themselves, but in us.

We are being molded and shaped to the very image necessary to carry these sacred garments provided for us by the Lord Himself. We are to be an extension of Him and His representation on Earth. To do so, it is imperative that we allow the Holy Spirit to fashion us to be perfectly formed for the “overcomers” garments.

PROPHETICALLY SHOWN TO MANY

This reality has been prophetically revealed to a number of believers who have experienced dreams or visions displaying the removal of old filthy garments and the impartation of the new. The purpose of this article is to help give clarity and understanding of this designing work. To gain understanding is to be chosen over silver and forms the foundation of life to the one who acquires it.

DISCARDING THE OLD

The old filthy clothing can represent a number of things, not the least of which are the traditions and doctrines of man that make the Word of God of no effect. We are living in a new day characterized by the manifestation and revelation of the Kingdom of God in the Earth.

By “overcoming” and occupying our role as Priests and Kings we will first minister to Him in our heavenly role as Priests. From that place of intimacy and fellowship we delegate the authority of Christ in the Earth and begin to reveal the Glory and Power of His Kingdom.

PATTERNS AND FORMULAS

Much of what will be taking place in our generation will be unprecedented displays of His Kingdom work. Old “patterns” and “formulas” heretofore relied upon will not have the favor and blessing of God upon them as they perhaps have in prior expressions of outpouring. One of the hardest things for man, is to relinquish the “good” in order to take up the “best”.

(Philippians 3:13-14) Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Clearly, this is not implying that we abandon foundational Truth, but rather the tendency to mold fresh outpourings of His Spirit into old methods and techniques with which we are accustomed. We sometimes become comfortable with the familiar which can then become a crutch.

The Holy Spirit is preparing a company of “pioneers” who will advance over in to the deep things of God and demonstrate them to this generation.   A pioneer is one who opens or prepares the way for others to follow. This will be exemplified in a John the Baptist type ministry. These will be a “voice” of another and will know the reality of Jeremiah 33.3 by calling upon Him to show us great and mighty things which we do not presently know.

This process will establish the “Royal Priesthood” prophetically illustrated in Zechariah 3 and the transformation of Joshua the High Priest. The Lord Jesus is the Head and we are to be His body and must be “bone of His bone and flesh of His flesh.”

(Psalm) 132:9 Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your godly ones sing for joy.

PUT ON CHRIST

The Lord is prophetically announcing to us His desire to “strip” us in order to clothe us with Himself and the garments of His Righteousness. We are not going to be clothed with strikingly beautiful garments to the natural eye… rather it will be with a Spirit of Humility according to I Peter 5:5

You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

These garments will only be beautiful to the spiritual eye and to the Lord. Being clothed in a spirit of humility and modesty will produce meekness or a teachable spirit capable of change into the very image of Christ.

(Romans 13:14) But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

We are to put on Christ and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. By submitting to Him and allowing this work to have its full benefit, we will be laying aside all of our fleshly desires and carnal inclinations. We then make way to be clothed with the qualities, character and attributes of Christ through His indwelling Presence. WE cannot know this reality any other way than through His abiding Presence.

(Colossians 3:10-14) — Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him, a renewal in which there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all. So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; Bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

PUT ON LOVE

The most important teaching from these scriptures is that we clothe ourselves in Love. Through divine love we will begin to see the bond of unity that will produce the anointing. If we clothe ourselves with the anointing, we will make no provision for the flesh and its lusts.

The garment of love will increase our affection and passion for Him first and foremost, allowing us to share in His love for others.

(Colossians 3:14) Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

Ultimately, we are being transformed in order to be prepared to inherit the Promises.

(2 Peter 1:4) For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of {the} divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

GALVANIZED WITH CHRIST

We are to be “galvanized” with Christ. An iron chain is a very powerful tool, however, it is also notably prone to corruption and rust and thereby weakened. When the iron chain links have been “galvanized,” they are coated with a layer of zinc which is non-corruptible. The chain links then become much more powerful because they are not subject to corruption and rust and will endure under the most abusive conditions such as salt water.

Living on the Gulf Coast and being a salt water fisherman, I discovered this reality firsthand. The stoutest of our iron chains and equipment became brittle and vulnerable when continually exposed to the harshness of salt water and air. It soon became clearly apparent that all metals must be equipped with non-corruptible material or they could not be relied upon to meet the extreme challenges of a sometimes turbulent sea.

Likewise, our spirits, souls and innermost beings are to be “galvanized” with Christ and coated with His anointing. Our corruptible traits will then be taking on His incorruptible nature and we can escape the corruption of this world and withstand the turbulent times ahead.

DEMONSTRATED IN SERVANTHOOD

The Lord Jesus introduced into the world a new concept of greatness. It was to be found in humility and self-forgetting service. Even the Lord Himself stated that He did not come into the world to be ministered to… rather, He came into the world to minister to others and give His life as a ransom for many. That should also be our motivation as we strip ourselves of the selfish fleshly nature and put on this attitude that was resident in Christ.

Many people in these last days will be given the gifts and power to ambitiously extend their ministries internationally and develop a great name for themselves. They will also be given the choice to take those gifts and become a trustworthy steward, even as the Lord was a servant to His disciples as illustrated in the washing of their feet. Then, in that place of willing submission, if our ministry touches the nations, it will only be according to His grace and provision.

He was the Highest authority on earth with all power in heaven and on earth, yet He chose the path of humility and servanthood and demonstrated this truth to His disciples by taking upon Himself the most lowly of responsibilities… the washing of their feet.

Greatness in the Kingdom of Heaven is measured through humility and service. I AM IN THE MIDST OF YOU AS HE THAT SERVETH (Luke 22:27)

The noblest evidence of true humility is demonstrated through obedience…Simply doing those things which the Lord has asked us to do. His garments of Salvation and Righteousness will produce these qualities. Obedience truly is greater than sacrifice and true servanthood is doing all that you can to help others achieve their calling and destiny in life.