OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL - WEDNESDAY 05/06/2013 - PUT ON THE NEW MAN BY PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

PUT ON THE NEW MAN

MEMORIZE

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

Colossians 3:10

READ

Colossians 3:5-10

Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 

Colossians 3:6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 

Colossians 3:7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 

Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 

Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,

MESSAGE

The name of the Lord is an extremely powerful weapon that is open to all soldiers of the Cross. How often do you use it? The whole armour we are advised to put on in Ephesians 6:13-17 can be summarised as Jesus. The belt of truth is Jesus because John 14:6 says Jesus is the Truth. The breastplate of righteousness has its link in the Sun of righteousness (Malachi 4:2 ; 1 Corinthians 1:30). The boots we are to wear are the boots of peace and Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Our shield of faith links up with Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Our helmet is salvation and Jesus is the Saviour (Matthew 1:21). Our sword is the word of God and the Lord Jesus is the word made flesh (John 1:14). So you see that all parts of our armour are linked with Jesus. No wonder we are commanded to put on Jesus in Romans 13:14:

"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."

To be able to put on Jesus completely, you must first undress. Colossians 3:8 says,

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth."

If you are a mechanic wearing your work clothes that are dirty and greasy, and you are asked to come and attend to an important function with lots of dignitaries, what will you do? Will you put your new clothes on the old dirty ones? If you do that, I believe everybody will think you are nuts. But do you know this is exactly what some believers are doing? They want to put on Jesus but they are not ready to let go of their dirty habits. That is why they are not well kitted. You cannot be savouring anger, malice and bitterness and expect to be fully dressed with Jesus; it is impossible! As long as there is lack of forgiveness in your heart, you cannot put on the whole armour. If your tongue is lose or you are into gossip and backbiting, you can never fully be clad with all of God's armour. If you truly want to wear Jesus, look at the old, dirty clothes of sin you are stilt wearing-that evil habit you are still harbouring, put them off. Resolve never to live in such sins anymore. Study God's Word and begin to apply it.

KEY POINT

If you do not displace the old man, you cannot put on Jesus

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR

Matthew 16-19