REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

"Suit Up!"

ICEBREAKER: Where is your favorite place to buy clothes or what is your favorite brand?

CONFESSION: God has given me a complete wardrobe for every spiritual confrontation, climate, condition and culture. My spiritual clothes are brand new and are not one size fits all. My garments have been tailor-made and designed by God just for me. I refuse to be underdressed for the conflicts of life. When I wear my God-given apparel I am dressed for success. I am suited for divine appointments. I am armed and ready. I am fully equipped. I am in my element. I am positioned with purpose. I am prepared for my assignment. I am in the zone. I am totally confident. I am arrayed in splendor and honor. I am covered with heaven's best!

DEFINITION: SUITING UP refers to..

· The preparation for getting in the game or on the battlefield

· Wearing your spiritual garments

· Identification of which team you are on

· Providing protection from the elements & enemies (heat, cold, sand, precipitation)

· Allowing greater freedom of mobility

· Making a statement of status, preference, style, age, gender, culture, nationality, occupation, authority, accomplishment, attitude, unity

OUTLINE: SUIT UP STRATEGIES

1. The GARMENT of praise: Our game plan...to be fully suited up for the game of life praising God everyday, everywhere, with everyone, in all circumstances, at all times, completely free from oppression

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. (Isaiah 61:3 KJV)

2. The ROBE of righteousness: Our condition...to be completely accepted by Father God just like Jesus

I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10 KJV)

3. The ARMOR of God: Our protection...to be totally prepared for battle

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer...(Ephesians 6:11-18 KJV)

4. The COAT of many colors: Our inheritance...to be intentionally favored sons & daughters

Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. (Genesis 37:3 KJV)

5. The EPHOD of the high priest: Our purpose ...to be ministers to the Lord and for the Lord as an act of intercession

And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle...(Exodus 28:1-4 KJV)

6. The MANTLE of the prophet: Our calling...to be carriers of the power, the presence and the prophetic proclamations of God

So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him. (1 Kings 19:19 KJV)

7. The CLOTHING of humility: Our attitude...to be promoted by humbling ourselves before the Lord

Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour...(1 Peter 5:5-11 KJV)

8. The UNIFORM of the kingdom: Our Identity...putting on Christ like a garment, to be anointed by the Anointed one and His anointing completely unified with Christ and His Body

You are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus. Clearly, all of you who were baptized in Christ’s name have clothed yourselves with Christ. There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus...(Galatians 3:26-29)

TEXT: 2 Cor 5:1-4 (Read Amplified if possible) biblegateway.com

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. Describe a time when you showed up somewhere and you were underdressed for the occasion. How did it feel?

2. What keeps us from putting on the garment of praise?

3. The robe of righteousness is a gift from Jesus that grants us an undeserved invitation to come boldly before the throne of grace and make our petitions known to God. If you could have a one-on-one audience with God what would be your greatest request right now?

4. Which piece of the armor of God do you most need right now? Why?

5. Joseph received a special coat of favor from his father. Do you feel favored and accepted by God? How do you know you are?

6. Which of the spiritual garments listed above do you need to put on?

PRAISE & PRAYER REQUESTS:

ACTION POINT: This week consider giving away some clothes you haven't wore in a long time to a charity of your choice.

BIBLE GARMENT EXAM

1) This man's nakedness brought about a curse on his son.

2) A woman touched the hem of Jesus garment, and was healed of this problem.

3) This man was clothed in camel's hair.

4) This man gave his son a richly ornamented robe.

5) Soldiers cast lots over this man's garment.

6) This man left his garment behind, as he fled a seductive woman.

7) This man sewed fig leaves together to cover himself.

8) This man 'borrowed' his brother's garment to try and impersonate him.

9) The armies that follow the Faithful and True are clothed in this.

10) In Revelation 12 a woman is clothed with this.

11) This man's garments couldn't compare to the lilies of the field.

12) This child was wrapped in swaddling clothes at his birth.

13) In the parable of the wedding, what happens to the man who shows up without a wedding garment?

14) This man's servant lied in order to obtain two garments from a foreign dignitary.

15) According to the law of Moses, a garment could not be made from the following.

16) This man coveted a garment and some gold, and was stoned for it in the valley of Achor.

17) Jesus said that we should not put new cloth on an old garment, why?

18) This man offered 30 garments to anyone who could solve his riddle.

19) God clothed this man with coats of skin.

20) In Bible times, being clothed in this type of garment indicated sorrow, distress or humility.