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.
- By our faith the world sees a tangible evidence of the One who has done all the work
for us, & saved us.
- When it comes to showing our faith, There’s a lot that goes against our outward
showing to others.
- Let me give you a very extreme example,
> If you remember, some time ago a man murdered his pregnant wife & two daughters.
Now after serving some time in prison he says he’s a changed man & a servant of
God.
- I read the description of the murders, as tears well up in my eyes, & all I can think
is, I don’t know how that’s possible.
- Now, Here’s where I’ve looked at this man’s outward actions, & can’t see his
faith.
- Now, immediately I’m going to tell you it’s not my position to judge whether this
man got saved or not.
Q- What’s my point of telling you about this man?
Q- Would we immediately write this man off as he’s gone too far to be saved?
- If we think he’s doesn’t deserve to hear about Jesus.
- Then we’re guilty of being ashamed of the Gospel that saved us, because we
found a sin (however heinous, horrible, & sickening as it may be) that God can’t
forgive through the blood of Jesus.
- Now picture the man’s faith behind bars. He’s locked up 23 hours a Day with
not much more than a Bible. He’s allowed 1 hour outside his cell.
Q- How many more people are like & even worse than he is in prison?
- He could be a testimony of the saving grace of our Lord & Savior.
- Here’s the thing though. The world is watching to see if you truly do believe you
are saved by Jesus.
- As John was baptizing people in the Jordan river along came some Pharisees &
Sadducees.
- I want you to listen to how he greets them,
Matthew 3:8
8 Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance:
- In words John was saying, show me your faith.
- It would be a shame for any of us if at our funeral people would ask, I wonder if they
were saved.
- John looked at the lives of these men & looked at their outward actions & he
wanted to see their real faith.
Q- What was John looking for?
- The same thing this world is looking for, their testimony.
1 John 5:10-12
10 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.
11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
- Our lives are meant to be a testimony towards God.
- That testimony is a life of praise unto Him that has saved us, & given us life.
- Let’s look at our lives through God’s eyes & see the stain of sin upon us.
- Let’s realize I am a sinner, just like everyone else.
- Then Let’s Listen to my last verse, Jesus’ Words,
John 5:23
24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.
- I have no condemnation. My sins are washed away!
- Everything this world could dish out against us will not last.
Q- Why should we be ashamed of this faith?
- The answer, There’s no reason to be ashamed.
- Listen to this,
> No condemnation (www.sermonsearch.com)
Source Unknown
A condemned prisoner awaiting execution was granted the usual privilege of choosing the dishes he wanted to eat for his last meal. He ordered a large mess of mushrooms.
"Why all the mushrooms and nothing else?" inquired the guard.
"Well," replied the prisoner, "I always wanted to try them, but was afraid to eat them before!"
- Let’s dust off our robes of righteousness, given by the hand of God, & wear them for
all to see.
