The Syrian army was threatening Israel, so King Ahab asked King Jehoshaphat of Judah to help fight them. Ahab hatched a cunning plan. He said to King Jehosaphat, “I will disguise myself in the battle…but you put on your kingly robes.” So during the fight, the Syrians mistook Jehoshaphat for Ahab and pursued him—until they realised he wasn’t the king of Israel. Ahab thought his disguise worked, but then a random arrow from the Syrians struck the galloping Ahab between the joints of his armour, and he died. 1 Kings 22. The decision not to dress like a king cost him his life. The enemy abandoned the one wearing royal robes and killed the one who wasn’t. The enemy still targets believers who won’t wear their kingly spiritual garments.

Last year, I met my cousin and her husband, Michael Rose, for coffee in Devonport. He’s a knighted military general, highly decorated, and once served as the Queen's aide-de-camp, but in casual clothes, he was anonymous in the café. He didn’t look like he had commanded armies in England, the Falklands and Bosnia. No one recognised the authority he carried—because he wasn’t wearing his uniform.

That’s how we can live too. We’ve been given spiritual authority. Clothed with Christ. Endued with the Spirit. But if we don’t put it on our spiritual garments, people may not be helped; they may or may not even sense it, but the devil will.

Friends, let’s not live like we’re empty.  Before we leave the house, let's get ready. Dress like sons and daughters of the Highest, because the world is waiting, both heaven and hell are watching, and our Father is calling us to wear Him into the battle.