Mine is a story of rags to riches.
Jesus gave me …
“the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.” (Isaiah 61:3 KJV)
In the Scriptures we see Joshua dressed in rags dragged before the courts of heaven, satan baying at his heels. Spirits flank his sides and accusations shower his burdened soul.
The entire passage is worth reading:
“And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the LORD said unto Satan, The LORD rebuke thee, O Satan; even the LORD that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by.” (Zechariah 3:1–7 KJV)
Who are these standing by? The Spirit asks. I’ll give you place to walk among them. Take his filthy garments and clothe him from above. Place a mitre upon his head.
With this new authority and entrance to the heavens, you have the highest privilege of all – the ability to praise the King in spirit and in truth. To step with confidence from the realm of men into the realms of God. You are a co-citizen or two worlds.
No longer an outsider, an alien from the covenants, your place of authority and seat in the heavenlies is set. Your garment of praise is prepared.
Beautifully arrayed you stride without shame or fear into the presence of a holy God, and call Him Father.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4–7 KJV)
