Free Christian Ebooks: Change Your Garments

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Free Christian Ebooks: Change Your Garments

Change Your Garments

Changing garments in the Bible is an outward manifestation of an inward transformation.
We learn this from the many instances in the Bible when people changed their garments as their situations changed.

Joseph Change Your Garments
A perfect example of changing garments is from Joseph because he changed his garments many times as he went through the many stages and seasons of his life.

Joseph the Beloved Son's Garment
Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other children because he was the child of his old age and he made him a coat of many colors. (Genesis 37:3) 

This coat of many colors represented the fact that he was loved dearly by his father. 

However it also made his brothers hate him with a passion. Therefore when they got the chance, they Stripped Joseph of the tunic of many colors (Genesis 37:23) and cast him into a pit with the intention of killing him.

This stripping of the coat of many colors represented the end of his status as the favored son who was sent by his father to check up on his brothers.

Joseph the Beloved Slave's Garment
Joseph's brothers sold him to Midianites who took him to Egypt and sold him to be a slave in Potiphar's house. God blessed Joseph and his work so much that Potiphar left all his possessions to be managed by Joseph.

However, Potiphar's wife wanted to commit adultery with Joseph and when he declined, she grabbed him by his garment, but he left the garment in her hand. (Genesis 39:12)

This leaving of his garment in her hand as he ran outside represented the end of his season as a slave since she falsely accused him of attempted rape and he was imprisoned.

Joseph the Beloved Prisoner's Garment
Once again God blessed Joseph and his work so much that the keeper of the prison left all the prisoners and everything they did to be managed by Joseph.

One day, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt had a dream that none of his wise men or magicians could interpret. His butler who had had his dream interpreted by Joseph while he was in prison, informed Pharaoh of Joseph. Pharaoh sent for him and he shaved and changed his clothing before he came to Pharaoh. (Genesis 41:14)

This changing of his clothing represented the end of his season as a prisoner.

Joseph the Beloved Prime Minister's Garment
When Pharaoh recognized Joseph's wisdom after he interpreted his dream, Pharaoh appointed him to be the Prime Minister of Egypt and put his signet ring in Joseph's had, Clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck(Genesis 41:42) 

This changing of his clothing represented the beginning of his season as a Prime Minister.

The many changes in Joseph’s life are somewhat akin to the changes that a butterfly goes through during its metamorphosis from a round egg to a caterpillar and then to a pupa in a cocoon before it finally becomes a beautiful butterfly.

Therefore if you would like to change from one situation or season in your life to another, begin by changing your outward and inward appearance to match the situation or season you want to enter.

For example if you have been working from home in your pajamas as a freelance graphic designer and you now want to get an office job as the Creative Director of an advertising agency, begin changing your outer and inner garments.

To change your external appearance, you can begin waking up at the time you would if you had to commute to that dream job. Then shower and wear the type of clothes you would wear if you were working as a Creative Director for that company even if you are still designing from your home.

To change your internal appearance, meditate and confess Scriptures that can make your dream of becoming a Creative Director a reality. For example you can meditate on I have committed my work to the Lord and my thoughts of being a Creative Director are being established. (Deuteronomy 28:12)

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Change Your Garments Bartimaeus

Blind Bartimaeus was sitting by the side of the road begging when he heard that Jesus was passing by. He then stopped begging and started crying out to Jesus. Jesus stood and gave the command that he should be called. When he was called, He threw away his garment and came to Jesus. (Mark 10:50)

By throwing away the garments that identified him as a blind beggar when he rose to go to Jesus, Bartimaeus signified the end of that chapter in his life. 

He was wise enough to realize that his life would never be the same again because Jesus had called him and that is why he threw away those garments even before he was healed.

This throwing away of the blind and begging garments was an act of faith because it said he would not need them again even though he was physically still a blind beggar.
Jesus recognized this act of faith for He said to him, "Your faith has healed you." (Mark 10:52)

Therefore understand that you may have to take a leap of faith and throw away the garments you wore in the season of your life that you want to end even before the one you want to begin has started.

For example, if you made your money dishonestly and you want that chapter of your life to end so that you can start a new one of earning a living honestly, you have to throw away the clothes you wore and the tools you used to make money dishonestly even before you begin making money honestly.

In addition to being a statement of faith, this throwing away of the clothes and tools you used to make money dishonestly, also serves as a way of telling yourself that there is no going back since you have nothing to go back to.

This throwing away of your old outer garments should also be accompanied by throwing away of the inner garments you wore during that chapter of your life that you want to close. These inner garments are the thoughts you used to think in order to enable you to carry out your old, bad profession well. Therefore replace those negative thoughts with new ones that will enable you to make an honest living.

To facilitate this transformation from the old you to the new you, you have to come to Jesus like Bartimaeus did (Mark 10:52) so that He can guide you as you enter the new chapter of your life.

To do this, simply say with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and then believe in your heart that when He died for our sins God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

The second step of following Jesus is praying every morning for His help and before every significant decision for His direction.

The third step of following Jesus is reading at least one chapter of the Bible each day and trying to do what it says.


Free Christian Ebooks: Change Your Garments

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Change Your Garments Ruth

Ruth was a widow who left her people and moved with her widowed mother-in-law Naomi to Israel. The two widows lived together and Ruth worked to sustain them by gleaning in a field belonging to Boaz.

When Naomi decided to help Ruth change her situation and get married to Boaz, she advised her to "Wash yourself, anoint yourself, put on your best garment and go to the threshing floor where you will find Boaz." (Ruth 3:3)

Putting on her best garment entailed removing the ones she had been wearing which could have been those of a widow who worked by gleaning in the fields. It therefore symbolized parting with her old status of a widow and preparing to start a new chapter of her life as a married woman. 

Therefore if want to start a new chapter of your life and especially the chapter of being married, understand that you have to remove the old physical and mental garments you wore when you were single and begin wearing your best physical, mental and spiritual garments.

The new physical garments you can begin wearing are decent clothes which suit your body type.

The new mental garments you should begin wearing to help you find a godly spouse are thoughts from the Bible that you can meditate on like:
God sets the solitary in families. (Psalm 68:6)
Marriage is honorable. (Hebrews 13:4) 
God has opened His hand and satisfied my desire to get married. (Adapted Psalm 145:14-16)

The new spiritual garments you should begin wearing to help you find and marry a godly spouse are:
1. Salvation - Say with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believe in your heart that when He died for our sins, God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

2. Righteousness - Doing the right thing in the sight of God all the time. This will also help you get married for the Bible tells us that The desire of the righteous will be granted (Proverbs 10:24).

3. Truth - Speaking the truth all the time.

4. Gospel - Reading the Gospels of Jesus to prepare yourself before you go out to mingle with other Christian singles.

5. Faith - Believing the Word of God so that you can destroy every dart the devil shoots in your direction.

6. The Word of God - Speaking the Word of God over your situation so that you can change your status from single to happily married. 

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Change Your Garments Prodigal Son

The Prodigal Son is another person who changed his garments when he moved from one chapter of his life to the next.

The Bible tells us that this man asked his father for his inheritance and relocated to another country where he wasted all his money on extravagant living. The country experienced a severe famine which forced him to begin feeding the pigs of one of its citizens in order to survive.

However, one day he came to himself. And when he did, he realized that his father's servants had enough food to eat and yet he would have gladly eaten pig's food since no one gave him anything. He therefore decided to go back home and ask his father to forgive him and make one of the servants.

As the Prodigal Son approached their home, his father saw him, felt compassion for him, ran towards and kissed him. When he tried to tell his father that he was no longer worthy to be called his son, his dad would hear none of it and he asked the servants to Bring the best robe and dress him with it, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. (Luke 15:22) 

Since the prodigal son had been a pig-feeding servant, he was probably dressed in clothes worn by servants. By dressing him with the best robe in the home, his father signified that he had changed his status from servant to son.

Therefore if you want to move from one chapter in your life to another understand that you have to change your outer and inner garments.

For example if you are living a debased life that is below the standards and rights that your Heavenly Father has given you physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially and you want to move yourself to a new chapter in your life where you are living the abundant life that Jesus came to give you, you have to change your inner and outer garments by doing the following:
1. Come to Yourself
Coming to yourself means recognizing who you are.
If you do not know who you really are, read your Bible. For example it says that:
You are a child of God - I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.  (2 Corinthians 6:18)
You are Jesus’ friend - You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. (John 15:14)
You are Jesus’ disciple - If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. (John 8:31)
You are Christ's ambassador - We are ambassadors for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
You are the temple of the Holy Spirit - Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God (1 Corinthians 6:19)

After realizing who you are according to the Word of God, refuse to live below your God given privileges. To do this and begin living within your God given rights know that you must move spiritually, move mentally and move physically.

2. Move Spiritually
To shift spiritually you have to return to your heavenly Father's house and begin going to a Bible preaching Church on Sundays.

Combine going to Church with getting saved. To get saved, say with your mouth that "Jesus is Lord" and believe that when He died for our sins God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

In addition, ensure that you pray and read your Bible everyday so that you can continue moving towards God spiritually.

3. Move Mentally
Moving mentally means replacing the thoughts that enabled you to eat pig's food as you lived below your God given privileges with those that will enable you to eat fattened calves as you enjoy your God granted privileges.

For example, if you told yourself that the disease is too advanced to be healed and you must therefore bear with it, change your mind and begin thinking that By His stripes I am healed. (Isaiah 53:5)

If you told yourself that you are too ugly to be loved and married and you must therefore suffer from loneliness until you die, change your mind and begin thinking that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14)

If you told yourself that you are too uneducated to prosper and you must therefore suffer in poverty, change your mind and begin telling yourself that I am beginning to prosper and I will continue prospering until I become very prosperous (Adapted Genesis 26:13) because The cattle on a thousand hills belong to my heavenly Father. (Psalm 50:10)

If you told yourself that you cannot clean your language because it is your second nature, begin telling yourself that Only good words which are necessary for edification come out of my mouth. (Ephesians 4:29)

4. Move Physically
Repositioning yourself physically means moving from the place where you were living below your God-given privileges to a place where you can enjoy them.

For example this might mean shifting from an apartment you share with friends where you live a life of debauchery that does not satisfy you, the way this Prodigal Son was still hungry when he was living with the pigs, and moving to place where you are not living with pigs, pimps, prostitutes and peddlers of drugs.


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Change Your Garments Esther
When the Jews were threatened with annihilation, Queen Esther was challenged by her mentor and uncle Mordecai to do something about the situation.

Esther decided to fast for 3 days because she did not have an appointment to see the king as he had not sent for her for 30 days and anyone who went to see him uninvited faced instant death if he did not hold out his golden scepter.

After her fast, Esther wore her royal robes (Esther 5:1) and went to stand in the inner court of the king's palace.  

By removing the garments she wore in her quarters and wearing her royal robes before going to the palace Esther symbolically reinstated herself as Queen. She removed the victim mentality and put on a victor mentality.

Therefore if you have been denied your rightful position in life the way the king had not sent for Esther for 30 days, understand that you have to change your garments from those that you wore in your "state of being denied" and wear those that are fitting for the position you want to regain.

For example if you were a bank manager and you lost your job unfairly, if you want to take back you position as a bank manager you have to remove the clothes you wore at home moping and wear "bank manager suits".

In addition to changing your outer garments, you also have to position yourself  strategically the way Esther positioned herself in the inner courts of the palace. This means that you have to go to the place where you are best able to solve your problems regardless of whether your strategic position is a court of law or another job recruitment agency.

Understand also that this changing of your outer garments or clothing has to be combined with changing your inner garments or attitude.

Therefore emulate Esther for she also had to change her thinking from "Going to see the king uninvited is too dangerous because of the law of the golden scepter" (Esther 4:11) to "I will go to see the king uninvited and if I perish, I perish." (Esther 4:16)

To replace the fearful thoughts that may try to hold you back, go through your Bible and find scriptures that fill you with courage like I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)


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Change Your Garments Family

When Jacob's daughter Dinah was defiled by Prince Shechem, her brothers tricked all the men of that city to get circumcised.

As the men were wallowing in pain, Dinah's two brothers Simeon and Levi, went and killed all the men. They also took their sheep, oxen, donkeys and all their wealth. They even captured their wives and children.

Jacob became concerned that the other inhabitants of the land would join forces and destroy him and his family. (Genesis 34) God then told him to go and live in Bethel and make an altar there for God." (Genesis 35:1)

In preparation for this journey to Bethel which would involve travelling through places populated by people who hated him and his sons, Jacob told his household to, "Put away the foreign gods, purify yourselves and change your garments." (Genesis 35:2) 

Jacob realized that in order to save his family, they had to purify themselves by not worshiping other gods and changing their garments.

This change of garments would symbolize parting with their old evil ways and making a new beginning.

The members of his household then gave him all the foreign gods they had in their hands and they removed the earrings in their ears and he buried them in Shechem before they left. (Genesis 35:4)

God blessed their changes for the terror of God came upon the cities that were around them and they did not pursue them as they journeyed. Jacob and all his family therefore arrived safely at Luz (Bethel).

So, if your life is in danger and you need God's protection the way Jacob needed it, you have to change your spiritual and physical garments.

To change your spiritual garments, stop doing what God forbids in the Bible. For example you can start with the first commandment You shall not have other gods (Exodus 20:3) and spiritually remove all false gods from your life by not praying to them or worshiping them or serving them.

After your have changed your spiritual garments, change your physical ones to symbolize your spiritual changes the way Jacob's family removed their earrings. So, remove all the amulets, earrings, chains, T-shirts and anything else you wear to symbolize your allegiance to false gods.

After changing the spiritual and physical garments that pertain to the first commandment, work your way down to the 10th commandment to ensure you obey all the other commandments.


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Change Your Garments is part of our Free Christian Books Series










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