A couple of months ago, the Holy Spirit woke me up around 4 AM and gave me the strangest thought. He brought to mind a story that I wouldn’t have thought of (especially in the middle of the night) in a million, billion years, The Emperor’s New Clothes. The only other thing that He told me was a scripture, Luke 24:49. Being 4 AM, I didn’t spend any time pondering about the childhood tale or the scripture. Surely, those thoughts could wait until a more convenient time. And wait they did. That is, until the Holy Spirit brought them back to my mind a couple of days ago.
For those unfamiliar with Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale, I will condense the story into a few sentences. There was an Emperor who was obsessed with his clothes that was duped by two swindlers that promised to weave cloth of the most beautiful patterns to create a robe for the Emperor that would be invisible to everyone unfit for the job he held or who was very simple in character. Once wearing the new robe, the Emperor paraded through town oblivious of the fact that he was only wearing his underwear. All of those around could readily see that the Emperor wasn’t clothed. Upon hearing from his people that there was no invisible robe, the Emperor was upset, for he knew that the people were right. However, he continued the procession walking on in only his underwear.
Before sharing why I believe that the Holy Spirit woke me up at 4 AM, let me share the verse that He brought to my attention.
“Listen carefully: I am sending the Promise of My Father [the Holy Spirit]
upon you; but you are to remain in the city [of Jerusalem]
until you are clothed (fully equipped) with power from on high.”
Luke 24:49 (The Amplified Bible)
Here is the revelation that I gained … as a Christian, we can be spiritual streakers! Like Andersen’s Emperor, we as believers/a church can be so obsessed with the ever-changing, big-results-promised wardrobe (the ways/methods produced by man) and buy into a deception that causes us to believe that we have on everything that we need. We can be so blinded that we aren’t able to see what everyone else can see, us as a naked (powerless) believer/church.
Here’s some great news. Unlike Andersen’s tale, I have a better ending. I know that you have read this many times in my blogs but it needs to be shared again. Thank God for the Holy Spirit. Thankfully, through the sending of the Promised One, Luke 24:49 tells us that we can be totally clothed (no more nakedness!) with the Almighty’s power.
Let’s not be spiritual streakers. Resolve that your unclothed procession through life and ministry is officially over! Be filled with the Spirit and put on heaven’s clothes. In doing so, I’ll tell you right now that you have never looked better! Now, Spirit-filled, Spirit-clothed believer, go show off your new wardrobe!
Great article very true ! mirror on the wall do I see a streaker or a person clothed in the power of the Holy Spirit?