"Dress For Success"

August 27, 2006
Ephesians series, 7/7
from Ephesians 6:10-20 and Isaiah 11:1-15

"Be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armor of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil." – Ephesians 5:15

My sermon outline:

• 7 weeks ago I told you about my first wife Tricia. Life-giving in her last two years was "The Business".

• The Business offered social structure, offered HOPE, usefulness, use skills, make a contribution. Also beauty.

• The Business also taught wonderful principles of vision and personality. Also got us reading some great books: How to Win Friends... 7 Habits...

• Also I renewed my faith for first time as adult

• Dress for success. Suit and power tie. The Business: "Professional dress".

• My mom sometimes speaks truth bluntly. What profession? What is "professional dress"? Surgical scrubs is professional dress.

• What you wear is related to what you do, what you hope to achieve. (I choose not to wear tee shirts as much now)

• Christian dresscode for success in Eph. 6:10-20. If you call yourself a follower of God, people should see the following in your lives: truth and righteousness, peace and faith, salvation, God’s word, and prayer. If you wish to be successful you'll practice these.

• These garments are not only the fruit (result) of the life of faith but the path to the life of faith (business example: dress up if you want to move up). Proactive.

• What you wear is related to your environment. (surgical scrubs, power tie, collar)

• Struggle against rulers and authorities (not mayors governors senators presidents per se but more like spirits, real or figurative, that influence individuals and masses), & cosmic darkness & spiritual forces of evil.

• We can’t say ‘evil’ these days for fear of offending people. Who benefits from that? Evil. Evil is real. Evil is powerful and it is personal

• Recap of Ephesians:

• Things are not always as they seem. We don’t see the whole picture, so things that seem bad might not really be bad. Also things may be deeper than they seem (Elvis). Part of the life of faith is trusting in the unseen, trusting that our "us" is in God already...

• The living body of Christ... we are an organism together, and God is our food and our source of life. Body can be affected by variety of poisons. As Christ’s living body it’s important to dress for success.

• Talked about how and why we should imitate Christ (remember that whoever imitates Christ SWEEPS sin out of their lives... Sacrifice, Walk, Eat, Engage, Pray, Seek...) and how "God, by power at work within us, is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine..."

• Therefore set sights on God and God’s vision... dress for success and strive to be what God made you to be, what God empowers you to be. To him be the glory forever, amen.


- Pastor Kerry
This Sunday: Humid. Cloudy. 62 in worship.