Introduction: Nothing like putting on CLEAN CLOTHES! Doesn’t it feel good to take off DIRTY CLOTHES? WOW! Nice!! But remember, washing the dirty clothes makes them clean again. That is the GOOD news!

In this text of Scripture today, some dirty clothes are mentioned along with some clean clothes. See which ones perhaps you need to “take off” and then “put on.” Then do it!

1. TAKE OFF the dirty clothes which need WASHING! (Colossians 3:8–9) – “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.”

Do you ever get angry? Tell the truth. Really, should that question be rephrased this way: How many times a day do you get angry?

According to research, the average man “loses it” about 5 to 10 times a day, whereas women somewhat less—well, some women. Throwing tools, kicking dirt, or verbally ventilating is the outcome of internal anger when expressed.

Similar to a pot when it reaches its boiling point… some call it “blowing a gasket”! Does that make sense?

By the way, the word for anger, ὀργή, occurs thirty-six times in the Greek New Testament. This list—“anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth”—seems to be interconnected; more specifically tied to the “old man,” that which we were before being born again by the Spirit of God.

Those stains can ruin not only what you are wearing but what you are doing. In other words, our testimony can get soiled very quickly.

Question: Do you feel dirty? Do you need to CHANGE your CLOTHES?

2. PUT ON some clean clothes! (Colossians 3:10–12) – “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him… Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

After going through the wash, these CLEAN clothes are refreshing. Put them on.

Please look over the description again and notice the cleanliness of these outward garments:
“mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”

Are you wearing these clean clothes? If so, thank God for it! After all, these outward signs are a direct result of an inward change.

Praise the Lord for His life-changing power that transforms our “old self” into a likeness of His “new life.”

Conclusion: Is your washing machine working? Jesus Christ, in this case, operates like a washing machine—He gets the stain out! So don’t forget to put your dirty clothes in God’s washing machine…

“the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin.”

Introduction: What is keeping the Antichrist from emerging? If you answered the CHURCH, you are correct! Are things shaping up for the Antichrist to arise on the scene? Your thoughts? How can we tell?

1. The Church is holding back the Antichrist! (2Thess. 2:5-8) – “Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

Look at the phrase, “And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.”

The word “withholdeth” is κατέχω: (kat-ekh’-o), which means to hold fast, back, detain, restrain.

Even though the word “what” is in the neuter form, here it refers to the Holy Spirit within the Church. The same tense is used in the gospels to refer to the Holy Spirit. Technically speaking, the Holy Spirit cannot be completely removed because He is omnipresent. However, His indwelling presence (in the Church) is taken away in this instance, and yet He remains on the earth.

“until he be taken out of the way.” So right now, we are the wall that is holding the Antichrist back. Can you feel the pressure against the wall?

2. Next, the Antichrist will be revealed! (2Thess. 2:8) – “And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming.”

That is, he will move on the scene, make a covenant with Israel and then ultimately “sit in the temple of God” desiring to be worshipped as God.

“Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.” (2Thess. 2:4)

The devil has always wanted to be worshiped. (see Isa 14 & Ezek. 28). He will succeed only for a brief season. His time will come to an abrupt end.

Recently, this song was sung by a dear Christian lady who had lost just about all mental abilities to recall anyone’s name, and yet remembered this song the night before she went to be with JESUS.

“This world is not my home I’m just-a-passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore”

“Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you If Heaven’s not my home oh Lord what would I do The angels beckon me from Heaven’s open door And I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.”

I love that phrase: “Oh Lord, you know, I have no friend like you; If Heaven’s not my home, oh Lord what would I do.”

One of the wisest men who ever lived named Solomon said, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother” (Prov. 18:24).

Indeed, JESUS has been the BEST FRIEND that anyone could ever have! Can I get a Witness?

Why? Because He will be with you and carry you through the GOOD TIMES, BAD TIMES, on the MOUNTAIN, and in the VALLEY!

Get this:

And all God’s people said… AMEN!!

According to Hymnology Archive:

“A few years after the Carters recorded their version, Albert Brumley (1905–1977)—better known as the composer of “I’ll Fly Away”—was working as a staff composer/arranger for the Stamps-Baxter Company. His arrangement of “This world is not my home” appeared in Virgil O. Stamps’ Radio Song Album (Dallas: Stamps-Baxter, 1937). The collection was registered for copyright on 1 September 1937 (renewed 1 September 1964), and thus is valid until 2033 (Stamps-Baxter was bought by Zondervan in 1974).”

Finally, it won’t be long before we reach the “throne”! And each passing day, we get closer to that ultimate experience. So right now, LIVE for JESUS, LOVE JESUS, LONG for JESUS, and LOOK for JESUS!

Introduction: Are you facing some GIANTS? We all do! Some bigger than others… In our devotion today, here are some GIANTS that we must SLAY today.

First, notice the three steps that we must take in order to successfully SLAY our BAD GIANTS, but resurrect the GOOD GIANTS.

What do you think about these BAD, BAD, GIANTS? Simply put, these are listed as pornography {fornication – sex outside the marriage}, dirty minds, hearts, bodies, etc., along with lusts, longings for that which is forbidden, and greediness. These are BIG and BAD GIANTS that need to be SLAIN!

Did you pay attention to the BAD GIANTS that need to be slain, but the GOOD GIANTS like the NEW MAN that need to be resurrected? Put off, but put on! It is a deliberate choice. Make it today.

Here’s what we need to be doing:

Introduction: Are you going to plant a garden? What about a few tomato plants? Where do you start? Are you finished once your seeds are planted? Don’t forget the weeds. 

This devotion will discuss the process of planting a garden.

1. The soil needs to be plowed or prepared! (Hos. 10:12) – “…break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Hard dirt needs to be broken up. A hard heart needs to be softened through confession and repentance.

Do you confess your sins regularly?

2. The seed needs to be planted in the plowed soil! (Hos. 10:12) – “Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

Once the soil is cultivated then the seed can germinate, albeit it goes through a growing process overcoming the rocks, bugs, and critters. 

Our faith is similar to that process. Once the Word of God is planted (Rom. 10:17), then our faith is put to the test. When approved it grows. When failed it shrinks back. 

3. The seed and soil needs rain & sunlight! (Hos. 10:12) – “……for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.”

The Holy Spirit brings light! Truth! The Word reveals. Darkness conceals.

Conclusion: In order to produce fruit, a crop, or a garden, there needs to be the minerals. The technical term is PH level. Once it reaches its desired goal then with sunshine and rain the plants grow. And so it is with the Christian life. Believers need to take in the right kind of minerals with plenty of SONSHINE!

The Holy Spirit provides the rain! The end result is fruit.

How are you doing? Are you needing some SONSHINE or RAIN?

Starting with the “Anointing” of JESUS, imagine the scene. Next, Jesus goes with His disciples to the UPPER ROOM. From there, He goes to GETHSEMANE’S GLOOM! Follow closely, because next is the KANGAROO COURT BUFFOONS, and now CALVARY’S DOOM. From CALVARY’S DOOM, JESUS went to the BORROWED TOMB.

Note several truths:

• Not a bone would be broken (John 19:36–37)
  “For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of Him shall not be broken.”

• They would look upon Him whom they pierced, “And again another scripture saith, They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

• Jesus did not faint but died, as indicated with the evidence of BLOOD and WATER (John 19:34)
  “But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced His side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”

Clearly, this reveals the definitive death of JESUS.

Now for the burial:

The apostle John adds these words to the burial:

Even though it was a hurried procedure because of the Passover, the gospel writers took painstaking time to give pertinent information concerning the burial process, which is helpful for every child of God to know and believe, not to mention to use in defending our faith in JESUS CHRIST.

This information blows the theory that the body of JESUS was stolen from the tomb.

The last and extremely important point of this narrative is found in Matthew’s account, which reads: “And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.”

Why is this significant?

What about it?

Starting with the “Anointing” of JESUS, imagine the scene. Next, Jesus goes with His disciples to the UPPER ROOM. From there, He goes to GETHSEMANE’S GLOOM! Follow closely, because next is the KANGAROO COURT BUFFOONS, and now CALVARY’S DOOM.

“Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst. And Pilate wrote a title, and put it on the cross. And the writing was, JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS .”(John 19:16–19)

Starting with the “Anointing” of JESUS, imagine the scene. Next, Jesus goes with His disciples to the UPPER ROOM. From there, He goes to GETHSEMANE’S GLOOM! Follow closely, because next is the KANGAROO COURT BUFFOONS.

1. The KANGAROO COURT BUFFOONS! Have you ever looked into the “mock trial” of Jesus Christ? If so, you’ve seen how it was a “done deal”! From false accusations to guilty deliberations, it was doomed from the start.

Because of the timing of the trials, namely the preparation for the Passover, it was hastily carried out. Besides that, both the Roman law and the Jewish law collided in the process. The Jewish trial consisted of somewhat of an informal examination. This was done before Annas (John 18:12–23). It included a hearing before the High Priest Caiaphas along with the Sanhedrin.

Next, the formal trial began early in the morning, which Jesus was sent to Pilate. Some suggest that the Jewish trial verdict could not have sentenced Jesus to death; therefore, He was sent to be sentenced before the Roman court headed by Pilate. Though this is not exhaustive, here were the main charges.

A. Blasphemy against God! (Matt. 26:59–66) – “Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; but found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, and said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days. And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death.”

Matthew’s description of the mock trial specifies the false accusations against Jesus even though He was God!

C. Accused of being a Malefactor (John 18:29–31) – “Then led they Jesus from Caiaphas unto the hall of judgment: and it was early; and they themselves went not into the judgment hall, lest they should be defiled; but that they might eat the passover. Pilate then went out unto them, and said, What accusation bring ye against this man?” (John 18:30) “They answered and said unto him, If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee.”

Please do not overlook the word “malefactor.” Why? Because it perhaps explains some of the charges brought against Jesus. The word “malefactor” is κακός, which means bad, evil, wicked, and even harmful. Bottom line: There are those who claim Jesus was a magician by practicing sorcery; i.e., raising Lazarus from the dead.

It was a DONE DEAL! Cut and dried. From being accused of blasphemy against God, to treason against Caesar, and finally to being called a malefactor, the execution was in place. But be reminded, this was all in GOD’S plan (Phil 2:6–11). So whereas it looks like EVIL will WIN, ultimately JESUS WINS as the PASSION WEEK unfolds and the SOVEREIGNTY of God is revealed!