Summary: Part 4 in series on compromise. Get off the fence, and change your clothes. A Change of Clothes brings on a change of attitude oftentimes. We need to change our attitude toward God, and begin to obey Him!

Part four: GET OFF THE FENCE!

Change Your Garments!

In the scripture found in Zechariah chapter 3, we see a vision at the time of the Rebuilding of the Walls of Jerusalem, and you must know that at that rebuilding, the enemy was doing everything in His power to defeat, slow down, or stop the rebuilding of the walls.

Now I know that we have NEVER, I MEAN NEVER, faced opposition from the enemy, so this just simply could NOT represent the church, or God’s people in any way, right?

Check this out!

This vision is a two-edged, power-packed, promise for the CHURCH!

Folks, receive the Word of the Lord as the Prophet Zechariah envisions the RETURN OF THE STRENGTH OF GOD’S CHURCH, AND THE RULING AUTHORITY THAT WILL BE GIVEN TO THE CHURCH WITH CHRIST AS OUR GUIDE!

Watch as the changing of the garments

brings on a change of destiny!

I believe we are standing at the point of realizing destiny

at The Sanctuary, and I receive this as the promise

that God will be with us and

BUILD THIS CHURCH FOR HIS GLORY!

If you believe that with me, would someone please stand to their feet and give God the mightiest ovation of praise that you are humanly capable of?

Zechariah 3:1-7 And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. (2) 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? (3) Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. (4) And he answered and spoke 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. (5) And I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by. (6) And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, (7) 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.

Joshua was represented in this vision as being filthy. He was filthy from the sin of the people, and of the deplorable and the sinful condition of the Levitical priesthood.

· As THIS HOUSE OF WORSHIP continues to grow, and minister,

· there will be times that the sinfulness of this world will be all around us,

o because of those to whom we minister,

o and because of where we will minister.

· As we pursue Christ,

o He will continually wash and cleanse His people and His church,

§ But it is ONLY as we choose to stay off of the fences of worldliness, sinfulness, and compromise.

We must not forget that Christ is coming back for a ‘spotless bride’ one without ‘spot or blemish’.

Ephesians 5:26-27 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

As we pursue Christ with all our heart, soul, and strength, He will do as He did Joshua in this powerful Prophetic vision.

· In verse 4, The Lord cleansed him with NEW GARMENTS.

(4) And he answered and spoke 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.

· In verse 5, He put a fair mitre on his head.

o A Fair Mitre - is a Pure, or a clean covering for the head.

(5) And I said, Let them set a fair miter upon his head. So they set a fair miter upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the LORD stood by.

· Then, in verses 6 and 7, He challenged him to walk in God’s ways, do what He says to do – (be obedient),

(6) And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, (7) 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.

o that the promise of the covenant will be upon him and upon the people (the church),

o and that the church would have a place to walk among heaven’s host!

That promise is ours as well!

Verses 7-10 give promise of the BRANCH –Christ, and Him, Christ, being the Cornerstone of the people, (the church).

In order to get to this place, you’ve got to GET OFF THE FENCE!

Be willing to:

· Put away the strange gods

o Worship HIM ONLY!

· be clean

o Wash yourself in the Word

· change your garments

o Be willing to change from your plan to HIS PLAN!

When we GET OFF THE FENCE!

We will get into His house,

and find ourselves in the hollow of His hand,

standing in the vein of God’s POWERFUL blessing!

· I believe that we we will be stepping into the fullness of His blessings,

· as we search out His heart.

· As we find the Will of God for this ministry, and for our personal lives,

o He will reward those who diligently seek Him,

o and that reward is going to be absolutely out of this world!

Out of this world while we’re still here,

Out of this world when we exit in the rapture of His bride!

· There’s a worship that is going to build in this place that you nor I can contain,

· when we AS A CHURCH AND AS A MINISTRY - ‘get off the fence’

· and begin to Worship Him without holding anything back!

As we step off the fence into His Perfect Will, the Glory will begin to flow! Get ready! It’s coming!

Somebody begin to Worship Him Now!