THE DANGERS OF MARKETING OF THE FLESH New

TUESDAY, JULY 29TH, 2025

Dressing as an Altar of Seduction or a Reflection of Christ?

SCRIPTURE: “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” (PROVERBS 7:10)

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: One of the worst things that can happen to a Christian is to become a tool in the hand of Satan the devil unknowingly.

MESSAGE:The Unseen Battleground: Our Appearance as a Spiritual Statement

Beloved, we live in a world saturated with imagery, where visual presentation often speaks louder than words. From billboards to social media feeds, the human body, particularly the female form, is constantly used to sell everything from cars to lifestyles. This phenomenon is what we identify today as the marketing of the flesh. It connotes the deliberate exposure of sensitive parts of the body with the intention to allure, entice, and seduce. This isn’t merely a fashion choice; it’s a spiritual statement, often with dire consequences.

Our anchor scripture, Proverbs 7:10, provides a timeless warning: “And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.” This verse is incredibly revealing. It establishes a clear connection between a specific “attire” (a way of dressing) and a particular character – that of a harlot. This isn’t about subjective taste or cultural norms; it’s about discerning the spiritual intention and impact behind certain styles of dress.

Just as commercial organizations market their products extensively through advertisement, so too does the spiritual realm. In the same manner, the attire of a harlot is the attire that merchandises the human flesh as a product to be exploited. It presents the body not as a temple of the Holy Spirit, but as an object for consumption, an invitation to lust, and a tool for seduction.

The Blurring Lines: When the Church Adopts the World’s Dress Code

In this end time, we are witnessing an alarming and shameless showcasing of the flesh, even within the sacred confines of the church. It has become increasingly difficult to differentiate a Jezebel (a biblical archetype representing an immoral, manipulative, and seductive woman) from a Christian. This isn’t an exaggeration; it’s a lamentable reality. Believers, who claim to be followers of Christ, wear dresses that are overtly revealing and excessively tight on their bodies. Despite this glaring incongruity, they come to church to sing and clap, seemingly oblivious to the spiritual message their outward appearance is communicating. The question that arises from such a sight is poignant and piercing: who are they deceiving?

Are they deceiving themselves, believing that outward appearance has no spiritual consequence? Are they trying to deceive God, as if He cannot see beyond the façade? Or are they inadvertently deceiving others, causing confusion about the true standards of holiness and righteousness? The spiritual implications are profound.

Instead of advertising our spirituality, we live in a generation that seeks to advertise carnality. There is a deep desire, fueled by cultural trends and the enemy’s subtle influence, to draw attention to the physical self rather than the spiritual essence. This is a complete reversal of the biblical mandate for believers to be a light, to stand out, and to glorify God in their bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

The truth is, each time you dress in a seductive manner, you are essentially advertising your body. You are, in effect, sending a silent but potent message: “Everybody, see me, look at how physically endowed I am: look at my chest, look at my back, look at how big my hips are; just take a look.” This kind of self-promotion, focused entirely on physical attributes, subtly communicates that the only thing you are good for, the only value you possess, is your physical attractiveness and to be used by men (or women, depending on the context of the fleshly display).

This is a dangerous path, as it reduces a person, fearfully and wonderfully made in the image of God, to a mere object of fleshly gratification. It devalues the spirit, the intellect, the character, and the divine purpose for which they were created.

The Unwitting Tool: Becoming an Instrument of the Enemy

Beloved, one of the worst things that can happen to a Christian is to become a tool in the hand of Satan the devil unknowingly. This is not a conspiracy theory; it is a spiritual reality. The devil does not always appear with horns and a pitchfork. Often, his most effective work is done through unwitting agents, people who claim to serve God but are, through their actions and choices, fulfilling his agenda.

The challenge is that many children of God have joined the children of the devil in fulfilling Satan’s vision by directing people to the path of damnation. How so? When a believer’s appearance provokes lust, causes another to stumble, or blurs the lines between godliness and worldliness, they are inadvertently aiding the enemy’s mission. They are creating stumbling blocks, weakening the spiritual resolve of others, and misrepresenting the very Christ they claim to serve.

This is a serious matter, for Jesus Himself warned about causing “one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea” (Matthew 18:6). While that verse specifically addresses harming new believers, the principle extends to anyone whose actions lead others into sin.

The Preaching of Your Life: A Silent but Powerful Sermon

Consider the weight of your Christian witness. If the Master, Jesus Christ, were to appear suddenly, right now, in your presence, would He look at you, adorned in the attire you are currently wearing, and call you, His daughter or son? Would He recognize in your outward presentation the reflection of His holiness, His purity, and His separation from the world? This is a question that cuts to the core of our integrity as believers.

We are called to be living epistles, read by all men (2 Corinthians 3:2). Our lives are meant to be a constant sermon, a powerful testament to the transforming power of Christ. When was the last time someone looked at you and became born again because of your appearance? Not because of what you said, but because your very presence, your demeanor, your modesty, your peace, radiated Christ.

When was the last time your life convicted someone, and made the person ready to follow God? You have not even spoken yet, but the person is convicted. This is the essence of powerful, incarnational evangelism – when your life itself preaches.

St. Augustine of old, a giant of Christian theology, famously said, “Preach the gospel always, and when necessary, use words.” The meaning of that profound statement is clear: “Let your life do the major preaching.” Your conduct, your character, your values, and yes, even your appearance, should be so distinctly Christian that they draw attention to Christ, not to your flesh.

When was the last time your life preached and people changed, not because you said anything, but because they watched you? This is the testimony of a life lived in authentic holiness and yieldedness to God.

The “Egyptian” Dress Code: Discerning Worldly Influence

The story of Moses and the daughters of Jethro (Exodus 2:16-21) provides a fascinating illustration of how appearance can mislead. Moses, having fled Egypt, encountered Jethro’s daughters at a well. When he helped them, they returned home early, much to their father’s surprise. Jethro asked them, “How come you came home so early today?” They replied, “An Egyptian helped us” (Exodus 2:19). This is the key: “An Egyptian delivered us from the hands of the shepherds.”

The question is, was Moses an Egyptian? Absolutely not. He was a Hebrew, born of Hebrew parents. So why did they call him an Egyptian? The answer is simple and profound: He grew up in the palace of Pharaoh and dressed in the attire of the Egyptians. When they saw him, they called him an Egyptian because his appearance screamed “Egyptian.” There was nothing in his outward presentation to show them he was a Hebrew, much less God’s chosen deliverer.

This story highlights a crucial spiritual principle: So, there is an Egyptian dress style. There is an appearance for the Hebrews and an appearance for the Egyptian. Just as there was a distinct cultural and identifying dress for the Egyptians and the Hebrews, so too is there a distinct spiritual dress code for the world and for the Kingdom of God.

If your attire, behavior, and lifestyle mirror that of the world, even if your heart is for God, you risk being misidentified. People will call you “Egyptian,” when you claim to be “Hebrew.” In a more direct and blunt, yet culturally relevant example: “In our village, if they see a person dressing seductively, they will shout, ‘See a prostitute going.'” This raw honesty forces us to confront the undeniable link between certain types of dress and the spiritual message they communicate. This is not about judgment but about clarity of identity and witness.

The Eternal Stakes: Your Life, Your Eternity

God is calling us today to take Him seriously and to take our souls seriously. The way we live on earth, including how we present ourselves, is not a trivial matter. The truth is, the way you live on earth determines where you will spend your eternity. Our choices, our priorities, our very appearance are not neutral; they are spiritual signals that reflect our allegiance.

If our bodies are indeed temples of the Holy Spirit, purchased at a great price (1 Corinthians 6:19-20), then we are called to glorify God with our bodies. This means caring for them, yes, but also presenting them in a way that honors Him, not in a way that caters to the lusts of the flesh or the desires of a fallen world.

The dangers of marketing the flesh are not merely social or moral; they are deeply spiritual and eternal. When we engage in such practices, we:

• Dishonor God: By defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit.
• Create Stumbling Blocks: Leading others into temptation and sin.
• Misrepresent Christ: Making it harder for the world to see the distinctiveness of Christianity.
• Empower the Enemy: By unwittingly fulfilling his agenda of deception and destruction.
• Risk Our Own Souls: By prioritizing carnal attention over spiritual purity and eternal destiny.

Remember this sobering thought for the day again: One of the worst things that can happen to a Christian is to become a tool in the hand of Satan the devil unknowingly. Let this thought stir you to prayer, to self-reflection, and to decisive action.

A Call to Consecration: Aligning Our Appearance with Our Calling

The solution is not legalism, but a renewed commitment to holiness driven by love for God and a desire to reflect His glory. It’s about choosing conviction over convenience, eternal value over temporal trends.

ASSIGNMENT(S):

Determine to represent God in your looks and dressing. Make a conscious decision that your appearance will be a testament to your faith, not a compromise with the world. This requires asking yourself: “Does this glorify God? Does this promote holiness? Does this draw attention to Christ or to my flesh?”

Change your wardrobe, if necessary, to conform to kingdom pattern and standard. This might mean literally removing clothes that are too revealing, too tight, or send the wrong message. Replace them with garments that are modest, decent, and appropriate, reflecting the beauty of holiness. This is a practical step of obedience that demonstrates your commitment to putting off the old man and putting on the new.

This isn’t just for women; it applies to men as well, ensuring their dress reflects reverence and responsibility, not vanity or seduction. Our appearance as Christians should consistently declare: “I belong to Jesus. My value is found in Him. My body is His temple.”

PRAYER:

Lord, I thank You for Your Word to me today. It is piercing and convicting, but it is truth. I demand that You kill every fleshly tendency in me – every desire to parade my body, to seek attention from the wrong sources, or to compromise Your standards for worldly acceptance. Help me to walk in uprightness, Lord. Clothe me with humility, purity, and the beautiful garments of Christ-likeness. May my life, including my appearance, always reflect Your glory and draw others to You, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.

FOR FURTHER UNDERSTANDING, GET THIS MESSAGE: THE ESSENCE OF CHRISTIANITY by Dr. Pastor Paul Enenche.

DAILY BIBLE READING: Isaiah 43-45

QUOTE: As a Christian, you are meant to be a light to the world; when people look at you; your life should reflect the character of Christ by your appearance and conduct. Culled from The Essence of Christianity by Dr. Paul Enenche.

AMAZING FACT: Female bats would help take care of other bat babies. (A reminder of communal care and selfless behavior, a contrast to the self-centered “marketing of the flesh”).

PROPHETIC DECLARATION/WORD: Grace to represent God in your generation be released on you in Jesus’ Name. May your life shine as a beacon of holiness and attract souls to the Kingdom!