In one of the Prophet Zechariah’s ten Old Testament visions he saw a man named Joshua, who was a High Priest of Israel. And he was inexplicably wearing “filthy garments!”

But the LORD immediately took care of the situation. Almighty God said, in fact: “Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him (Joshua) he said, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” Zechariah 3:4

Wow!

And the Prophet Isaiah mentions our wearing “filthy rags,” if we are depending on our own merit before the Lord! See Isaiah 64:6 … “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf.”

In the New Testament this same word picture holds. The Apostle Paul is found using the “put off” then “put on” metaphor. Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:8-9 are two examples.

Furthermore Romans 13:12 is classic in this sense: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” This means “to put on,” as in wearing something spiritually proper!

And even John in the Book of Revelation sees a multitude who have “washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14, presumably their original robes were dirty!

But the Bride of Christ, the New Testament Church, probably gives us the best illustration of “what we’re wearing.” Revelation 19:8 describes the scene: “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.”

Praise the Lord!

Are your spiritual clothes “filthy” or “clean?” Have you been born again, saved by the Grace of God?

Then one more thought … in a surprising “turn,” the Bible in Judges 6:34 says … “The Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon.” The verb “came upon” translates “labash,” which literally means “to wear” or “to put on!”

Now we have God the Third Person WEARING Gideon!

I’m thinking thre best way to don clean garments might just be inviting the Holy Spirit to “PUT YOU ON” and use you to the glory of God! He sure used Gideon that way.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

In Ephesians chapter 6 Paul gives us yet another idea about a suitable Christian wardrobe. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Verse 11 of Ephesians 6.

Seems that what we wear is critically important!

This morning I believe sincerely that I am wearing (in God’s Eyes) the very Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ! I base that bold thought on 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For He (God the Father) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.”

Hallelujah!

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Hebrews 1:6, clearly speaking of Jesus, declares that all the angels of God worship Him!

The entire verse: “And again, when he bringeth in the firstbegotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.”

Paul adds to this Scene by telling us how many angels that involves! “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company (murias in Greek, which is our word myriads, meaning tens of thousands multiplied by tens of thousands) of angels.” Hebrews 12:22, amazing!

Even when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angels worshipped Him! The night of the Virgin Birth … Luke 2:8-15.

Read it please … “And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.”

Furthermore, in 1 Peter 1:12 we learn that when it comes to the Gospel and the preaching of it … “the angels desire to look into it!”It seems they can’t get enough of the things of God!

Peter’s exact wording … “Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.”

Another example … this one ongoing for sure, non-stop! “And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” Revelation 5:11-12 … this scene being set in Heaven, in Glory!

So, when we get to Heaven … one of the sights I want to behold and one of the sounds I want to hear … is that crowd of angels still singing and praising and worshipping there “round about the throne!”

I’m in awe writing about it in this motel room! I shall certainly be in awe when that wonderful day comes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

In fact, in my heart (my spirit) I am worshipping HIM too, right now! Will you join me?

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We are now studying the Book of Jude. And all the lessons are archived on our YouTube channel, Dr. Mike Bagwell.

Around 4:00 this afternoon the Class on Jude verse 2 will be posted there. And on Facebook as well, for that matter.

A short Text indeed …

“Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied.”

Come study with us!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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The fancy term I just used, “nominative of address,” just means that someone has spoken to you!

Here’s the first example in Scripture, best I can find: “And the LORD God called unto ADAM, and said unto him, Where art thou?” Genesis 3:9

But this morning I am particularly interested in the times the Bible repeats names, a twofold (double) nominative of address!

The first of which occurred when God stopped Abraham from slaughtering his only son Isaac! “And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.” Genesis 22:11, King James Version.

The second concerns Jacob, when God led him to Egypt with his family, thus preserving the little Nation of Israel for four centuries! “And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.” Genesis 46:2

Next comes Moses! When God called that giant of a man to serve Him, to lead the Israelites to freedom! “And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.” Exodus 3:3

God getting His Word to young Samuel, the Lord still pastoring (shepherding) Israel the Nation! “And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.” 1 Samuel 3:10

I notice a trend here … God speaking or calling a name “twice” … always occurs at a critical moment in history, or in that person’s life!

Even ladies are so kindly treated, though in the midst of a patriarchal society. “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things.” A Text I preached in Revival two nights ago, Luke 10:41. The Lord here was gently teaching Martha (whom He loved) a very important lesson!

Yet another critical occurrence! “And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.” Luke 22:31, bracing Peter for hard times ahead.

Here’s a major event! “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?” The day Saul of Tarsus was saved, Acts 9:4.

Here are some other Texts where “epizeuxis” is used by the Holy Spirit, writing the Bible. It’s a Greek word, essentially. It simply means “to join together.” In our Lesson, joining a person’s name together “twice” in immediate succession.

Matthew 7:21-22, teaching a Truth that could keep a soul out of Hell! “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

A very sad usage: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Matthew 23:37

God’s Name is twice called during the greatest Event the world has ever known, the Cross of Calvary. “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, MY GOD, MY GOD, why hast thou forsaken me?” Quoting Mark 15:34.

Some of these Accounts are, of course, repeated in the Synoptic Gospels, as you would expect.

What’s the point of all this?

God loves us enough not only to call us, but to doubly call us!

God knows how to emphasize truth, to accent it!

And surely we are to deduce this …

God, through His Word, wants each of us now to learn the critical significance of His persistent calling in our lives!

Wow!

Listen folks, when He is calling your name!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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Our text today … Romans 8:16, a classic verse of verses!

“The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.”

This is speaking of God the Holy Spirit (indicated by the capital “S”) bearing witness to our human spirit (with the lower case “s”).

The human spirit is that part of man that has the capacity to commune with Almighty God. That part of us which possesses “God consciousness!”

When Jude speaks of apostates who are “twice dead” (Jude verse 12) … he is discussing men (or women) who are “dead” both in their human spirits as well as “dead” to God, to knowing Him! Hence his unique term, “twice dead!”

But when a person is saved by God’s Grace … that human spirit is born again! And the Holy Spirit moves into that life, actually into that body, physically even!

At that point … the Holy Spirit witnesses (testifies) that we are the children of God! In fact, the verb for “bearing witness” is framed in the present tense. Telling us we’re saved today and then tells us again tomorrow and yet again the next day! An ongoing conformation of our safety in Christ! A durative assurance, continuously so!

“Children” of God, “teknon” is the Greek noun used here … meaning genuine members of His Family! Members that might need to be chastened, trained, and matured along the highway of life! But clearly still “in” the Family!

Genuine, bonafide (derived from Latin meaning “in good faith!”) children, nonetheless!

Dear reader, do you have that abiding Holy Ghost produced WITNESS … proof that you are truly saved?

I do!

Though unworthy … yet a child of the King … via the shed Blood of Jesus Christ my Lord!

If you do not assuredly have that “witness,” begin seeking it today!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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