I Am Not Ashamed Of The Gospel. Series

Sermon series- 6 qualities for spiritual health

5 - I am not ashamed of the Gospel

- We’ve now made it to the fifth part of trying to strengthen our spiritual health.

- We all can probably identify with the phrase, take two aspirin & call me in the

morning.

- There’s a prescription that is a blessing for today, but an even bigger blessing for

tomorrow.

Q- What could it be?

- Well it’s at first tough medicine, because if you’re like me you worry about someone

else’s opinion.

- You’ve probably figured it out.

- While you turn to 2 Timothy 1:8-14, let me read Jesus’ Words to you from

Mark 8:38.

Mark 8:38

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

- There’s the blessing & the curse.

Q- Does Jesus say you will be blessed the moment you show I am not ashamed of my

Lord & Savior Jesus Christ?

- No, not in words He doesn’t, but in Jesus’ response to the one who stands before

the Father you get the impression Jesus is not happy with you!

- That has to be a burden we carry, that infects our Spiritual Health, until we deal

with it.

Q- What are we to deal with?

- It’s not the idea of the Gospel.

- It’s the shame of who we call our Savior, our Lord, our King.

- With that in mind Let’s read the charge Paul gives to Timothy, & then we’ll pray.

2 Timothy 1:8-14

8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

- Be Not Ashamed!

Prayer

> Public Speaking (www.ask.metafilter.com)

They say people are more afraid of public speaking than they are of snakes.

It doesn't seem to make sense.

I mean, you don't see someone walking through the desert, suddenly shouting, "Watch out! A podium!"

posted by Cool Papa Bell

- As funny as the joke was, it does show the reality as to why we’re so afraid to

proclaim Jesus.

- It’s not the stage that scares us, but the stares we will receive when we’re on the

stage.

- When we get saved it’s a choice to step out from the world we know & put on the

Holiness of God that we have never known.

- Faith is a means that instead of relying on yourself, you’re relying on Jesus.

Q- Can you imagine the shame you would receive if you trusted a person for so long, &

they turned out to be a person who has slain thousands of people.

- That’s the shame Paul’s addressing here.

- Realize the part you play in your faith.

Q- Are you ashamed to admit that Christ is your Savior?

Hebrews 11:1-6

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.