Invisible Clothes- "What are you wearing?"

Let God Dress You

Intro: My mother used to do the most cruel and unusual things (Show picture of bowl cut hair cut)

Tension: A lot of us after a while, whether we realize it or not, are wearing something. It’s not an experience we had, or something someone said to us, it becomes a piece of clothing that we wear. And when you’re wearing what you weren’t meant to wear, you can’t be who you’re meant to be. But if you let anyone other than God dress you, you will look like I did on the inside.

Bible: Here’s where we get this idea of “Invisible clothes.” It’s from Genesis 25 and 27. And this is like the most dramatic situation that could possibly happen.

Context Point: But as we read this, there’s an important thing you need to understand about clothing. What you wore was a statement of who you were. If you had a coat with colors, which wasn’t common, it was a statement that you were someone of importance. If I took my jacket and gave it to you, it’d be equal to me giving you my social security number and credit card. I was giving you my identity.

Setup: 2 bothers, Jacob and Esau were twin brothers. But only 1 of them could get the blessing from their father. Now this story is messed up from the beginning. Because God told the parents, your older son, Esau, will serve your younger son, Jacob. Which meant, Jacob will get the blessing! But the parents just ignored. So much so that the dad decides to give the blessing to the older and mom is like no way! So she gets Jacob and devises a plan!

Passage (Genesis 27:15-24): Then she took Esau’s favorite clothes, which were there in the house, and gave them to her younger son, Jacob. 16 She covered his arms and the smooth part of his neck with the skin of the young goats. 17 Then she gave Jacob the delicious meal, including freshly baked bread.

18 So Jacob took the food to his father. “My father?” he said.

“Yes, my son,” Isaac answered. “Who are you—Esau or Jacob?”

19 Jacob replied, “It’s Esau, your firstborn son. I’ve done as you told me. Here is the wild game. Now sit up and eat it so you can give me your blessing.”

20 Isaac asked, “How did you find it so quickly, my son?”

“The Lord your God put it in my path!” Jacob replied.

21 Then Isaac said to Jacob, “Come closer so I can touch you and make sure that you really are Esau.” 22 So Jacob went closer to his father, and Isaac touched him. “The voice is Jacob’s, but the hands are Esau’s,” Isaac said. 23 But he did not recognize Jacob, because Jacob’s hands felt hairy just like Esau’s. So Isaac prepared to bless Jacob. 24 “But are you really my son Esau?” he asked.

“Yes, I am,” Jacob replied.

That’s what Jacob was wearing, but what are you wearing?

Conclusion: So Jacob gets the blessing, but burns bridges with his family, goes on the run, and has multiple wives, and continues to act like someone he’s not because he put something on that he wasn’t supposed to! There’s tons of moments throughout his story, but this one is clear! Sometimes we put on something that we weren’t meant to be wearing!

Illustration: Have someone come out with clothes and a hat

If I’m wearing things I wasn’t meant to wear I won’t be able to:

Point 1: See myself clearly

Example: Someone can come up and say, wow look at this gift God’s given you! You’re really good at talking to people and making them feel welcome. But when you were WKND someone said that the only people who have value do things on a stage. So you have this ridiculous looking hat on thinking that you look good. But its blocking part of you.

Point 2: Do what God made me to do

Example: Someone can ask you to do something for 1 hour on a Saturday. Can you come and just hand out nametags to kids? But because you got on all these clothes like this jacket that no one thinks your attractive, and your single and everyone talks behind your back. Serving for 1 day feels like your burnt out. So when you finally get the opportunity you can barely handle it.

Point 3: Wear what I should

Example: There’s moments when someones tried to speak something to you. That you’re called into ministry and going to make a difference in the world, but because your parents told you it doesn’t make money, and money is where security comes from, you go. Nope, I won’t wear it!

(Send Illustration off stage)

Bible Tie In: Jacob could have chosen to wear the promise of God instead of the pressure from his mother.

Resolution: So what do I wear?

Let’s read Ephesians 6:11-17

New Living Translation (Chapter 6)

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Segway to close: I’ve done a lot of study into this. Some people take this SUPER literal. Each part of the armor points to 1 thing, Jesus. When I’m in a close relationship with Jesus. I let him dress me with righteousness that protects my heart, Salvation that covers my head, peace that guides my steps, truth that keeps me together at my core, faith that protects me from attacks coming way and serves as a weapon.

When God dresses me, I’m the best version of me.