• The Priestly Garments in Exodus 28 –
•  Each of the priestly garments outlined in Exodus 28 had a specific role in ensuring that the high priest was appropriately dressed for service in God’s presence. 
• These garments symbolize the need for holiness, righteousness, and preparedness.
• each of these elements is fulfilled in Jesus, our ultimate High Priest, who intercedes for us and has made the way for believers to approach God with purity and holiness through His sacrifice. 
• Through Christ, believers are now spiritually clothed with the righteousness of God (2 Cor 5:21), and we are called to live as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9), representing Him in the world.
•  as much as Christ is our righteousness and right standing before God we’ve got to PUT ON
• As much as Christ is our HIGH PRIEST forever we’ve got to PUT ON
• There is a tactile component to serving God. Everything in God is not Ethereal
• The OT sacrificial system was a tangible tactile endeavor. We still have tangibles In the NT
• Baptism is tactile: Matt 28:19 “baptizing them” Laying on of Hands is tactile: Acts 8:17 “they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.” Anointing with Oil is tactile: James 5:14: ” let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.” Communion is tactile: 1 Cor 11:24-25: ” He broke it and said, ‘Take, eat; ‘” Foot Washing is tactile  John 13:14: ” you also ought to wash one another’s feet.” Laying on of hands for healing is tactile: Acts 28:8 Paul went in to him and prayed, and he laid his hands on him and healed him. Christian Fellowship and Greeting is tactile: Romans 16:16: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

1. Breastpiece (Breastplate of Judgment)

• HE HAD TO PUT ON A square, ornate fabric piece containing twelve stones, each engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel. It also held the Urim and Thummim. Worn over the ephod
• HE PUT ON The breastpiece to Symbolize carrying the people on his heart before God and seeking His judgment (guidance) for Israel through the Urim and Thummim (Exodus 28:29-30).
• Jesus Christ: As our High Priest PUT US ON HIS HEART, Christ continually intercedes for us, carrying us on His heart (Hebrews 7:25). He is our ultimate guide and mediator before God.

• • Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. WE ARE ON HIS HEART
  • Urim and Thummim- sacred objects placed inside the breastpiece, used to discern God’s will 
  • Use: The high priest used the Urim and Thummim to seek divine guidance in decision-making.
  • Purpose: They symbolized the need for divine direction and judgment in serving God.
  • Jesus Christ promised the Holy Spirit to SPEAK TO US

• Jn 16:13 when the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth….. but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

2. Ephod

• HE HAD TO PUT ON An apron-like garment made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet threads, and fine linen. two onyx stones on the shoulders, engraved with the names of the 12 tribes of Israel 
• HE PUT ON a symbol of the responsibility of the people on his shoulders. It represented the high priest’s role as the mediator between God and the people, bearing the weight of their sins 
• Christ had the weight of our sins PUT ON His shoulders at the cross. He is the ultimate burden-bearer, fulfilling the role of mediator between God and humanity. HE PUT OUR SINS ON HIM
• Isaiah 53:4-5 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows… But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities.” 

3. Robe of the Ephod

• HE HAD TO PUT ON A blue robe worn under the ephod. The hem was adorned with alternating golden bells and pomegranates made of blue, purple, and scarlet thread 
• HE PUT ON a robe when he entered the Holy Place, and the sound of the bells ensured he was still alive while serving in God’s presence.
• It showed continuous intercession for the people and the need to be fully prepared when entering God’s holy presence.
• Christ, our High Priest, continually intercedes for us, serving in the true Holy Place in heaven, offering the fruit of righteousness. Heb 7:17 a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
• Heb 8:1 We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.

4. Turban (Miter)

• HE HAD TO PUT ON A white linen headpiece with A gold plate engraved with “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” was fastened to the front for consecration to God and dedication to holy service.
• the priest’s thoughts, mind, and service were consecrated to God. holiness when serving God.
• Christ PUT ON HUMANITY to REDEEM humanity. Through Him, we are made holy and acceptable to God. OUR holiness is only possible because Jesus put on corruptibility 
• Phil 2:7 made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men

5. Tunic

• HE HAD TO PUT ON A long, fine linen garment as the innermost layer under the robe and ephod
• HE PUT IT ON to cover his body, FOR personal purity and readiness to serve in God’s presence.
• HE HAD to be pure both inside and out to enter God’s presence.
• Christ is the embodiment of purity and righteousness, and through Him, we are clothed in righteousness before God. We are made PURE in HIM
•  2 Cor 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

6. Sash (Girdle)

• HE HAD TO PUT ON A woven belt to secure the ephod and tunic (Exodus 28:39).
• HE PUT ON the waist, to show readiness for service and strength to perform duties.
• represented the priest’s commitment to being “girded” or prepared for service in the temple.
• Christ came as a servant, fully committed to fulfilling the will of the Father. We are called to serve God with the same commitment and readiness. 
• Luke 12:35 Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning.

7. Linen Undergarments (Breeches)

• HE HAD TO PUT ON breeches beneath the tunic, waist to the thighs, to cover his nakedness 
• HE PUT ON modesty and protection from exposure, to show moral purity.
•  The linen undergarments represented the importance of modesty and purity, particularly when entering God’s presence. To God, what the priest PUT ON mattered. 
• Through Christ, we are spiritually clothed in righteousness, no longer exposed to shame or guilt. He covers our moral and spiritual nakedness.
•  Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me… white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed.
• People hear Jesus fulfilled the law and think that we’ve become an ethereal spiritual body with nothing tactile required or incorporated into our spiritual experience. 

YOU NEED TO “PUT ON” as a Christian. The priest PUT ON, JESUS PUT ON. YOU PUT ON

PUT ON JESUS

• • Ro 13:14 “ put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
  • PUT ON His Character: Live like Christ: This means aligning your life with the values and character of Jesus—walking in love, humility, forgiveness, and righteousness.
  • Gal 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.”
  • Putting on Jesus involves surrendering your own ways and letting Christ live through you.
  • Many people don’t ‘put on’ christ because they never surrender their own ways
  • They want their life to be their life. Their activities, their plans, their purposes. 
  • You can’t “Put on Jesus” and keep you. It doesn’t work. CRUCIFY YOU. LET YOU DIE
  • NOT WHAT YOU WANT- WHAT JESUS WANTS. 
  • PUT ON Christ-like Mindset: Phil 2:5 “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.” 
  • To put on Jesus means adopting His way of thinking—selflessness, obedience to God, and a servant attitude.
  • How do you view your day? What goes through your mind? How important do you thnk you are

• Christ thought of others, served others, walked in love, was others centered. 

• PUT ON the Spirit Gal 5:16  “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” To “put on” Jesus involves living a life led by the HS, which is essential to living a Christ-like life.
• You walk in a way that you allow the HS to speak to you and convict you in areas you need it

PUT ON THE NEW MAN

• Ephesians 4:24 “And that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.”
• Put off Sinful Behavior Eph 4:22-24 “That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts” 
• “Putting on” the NEW MAN involves a conscious decision to reject sinful desires and old habits. (Coming home from field in the Army- remove it all in garage, all must be cleaned)
• You get involved in the process of of becoming a new man. A new man doesn’t do old things
• You can’t do the old things and expect the same results. It doesn’t work that way. 
• IT’S A CONCIOUS DECISION. I’m not going there, Those aren’t my friends, I’m not buying that
• Have you known the people who want to tell you what they are doing w their diet?
• I’m vegan, carnivore, I’m counting calories. Me? Intermittent faster- my family would make fun of me because I always wanted to explain it. Been doing it 7-8 years now. Everyone knows. 
• BC I told everyone. Everyone knows I’m a Christian. I tell them when I meet them in 5 min. 
• You have to be a person that completely changes the way you view everything in the world, but that’s on YOU. You have to look at it through a Christian lens- not a worldly lens. 
• Colossians 3:10 “And have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.”
• That’s the new knowledge- I don’t look at the world the way I used to. 
• Things on TV Disgust me. People’s actions sadden me. Politicians repulse me. Worldly activities don’t satisfy me. I look at people and church services differently. I spend my money differently and live my life differently because I’m being conformed into the image and likeness of his son. 

PUT ON THE ARMOR OF GOD

• You don’t have what it takes to get there and do it on your own! You need the armor! 
• Eph 6:11 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Romans 13:12 “put on the armor of light.”
• You need the breastplate of righteousness- The priest walked into the holy of holies with the breastplate- You walk into the presence of God with his righteousness
• The belt of truth- The priest needed the sash to hold all his stuff together- you need the belt of truth or you lose your spiritual pants! 
• The feet of the gospel of peace– If you don’t live on mission to evangelize, you’ll grow weary. All of us every day should live on mission. There’s not one person I meet I don’t think about evangelism. 
• The shield of faith- You need this shield because discouragement is going to come. You have to continue to believe. 
• The helmet of salvation. Remember you are SAVED it will protect you! “HOLINESS TO THE LORD” on the turban of the priest as a reminder. 
• He had breeches of holiness to remind him to stay holy- Stay holy! Bells on the tunic that jingled to let everyone know he was alive in Christ- some of ya’ll lost the jingle on your spiritual robe!
• The sword of the spirit Will guide you and keep you in the truth! 
• And you need the prayers and supplications! Priests had the umim and Thummim, you have the prayers in the Holy Ghost to speak to you so you can receive from God and speak to others

PUT ON TENDER MERCIES

• Colossians 3:12 “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.”
• Man- We got to stay tender as the people of God. I don’t trust people that aren’t tender
• This life is hard. We have to handle truth and passion with gentle hands. 
• People fail. Mistakes happen. People sin. Don’t lose a heart that forgot where you came from

PUT ON FAITH

• 1 Thessalonians 5:8 “But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.”
• As the song goes “Don’t stop believing” I am going to die believing that things will go well
• I believe that my God blesses, provides and heals. I know he can and I know he will
• No matter what is going on in my life I am going to believe. 
• I believe you can be healed, marriage fixed, job improved, debt cancelled, life changed. 

PUT ON LOVE

• Colossians 3:14 “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”
• We got to love people. Deeply. We have to be loving people
• Live in love and live out the truth of the Gospel.