The word for today is - Ashamed!

Good morning,

The word for today is- Ashamed!

 

Let's first look at  2 Timothy chapter 2,Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. We all need sound doctrine.The last half of chapter 2  surrounds one theme and that is the theme of "Not being ashamed of Christ." Let's look at Paul,Paul knows he's at the end of his own life and ministry, but the ministry must go on and he knows that Timothy has to carry on the message. Paul is deeply concerned that Timothy will be able to be used for the generation to come. So, Paul tells Timothy in chapter 2 verse 2 where Paul writes,"To Timothy, my dearly beloved son:Grace,mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord". He is saying, You therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The whole epistle is a call for strength in spiritual service against opposition. Obviously Paul's heart is burdened. Paul's heart is deeply concerned. We have to be strong and to do our spiritual duty no matter what comes against us. Also, you need to know that, Peter was ashamed of Christ but when he got his life straightened out, he was very useful. In other words, Jesus says everyone who openly, unashamedly, unabashedly with conviction speaks My name before men, I'll speak their name before My Father. Read Matthew chapter 10,In other words, if you'll claim Me, I'll claim you. If you don't claim Me, I will not claim you. Verse 33, "But whosoever shall deny Me before men, I will also deny Him before My Father which is in heaven." Now we're dealing with a very serious issue here. This is a matter of salvation. If you are continuously and constantly ashamed to confess Christ, then He will be ashamed to confess you before His Father. You don't belong to Him if He doesn't belong to you. If you don't acknowledge Him, He will not acknowledge you. And the implication here is that there's a price to pay for that. Who do you love? Verse 37,"He that loveth father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me and He that loveth son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he that taketh not his cross, and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it." Let's look at Romans 1:16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Did you get that? Everyone that believeth in Him ! We go from faith to faith, not faith to works. Read Ephesians 2:8-9,For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. This is a free gift from God, he prepared us by blessing us with the knowledge of his will. Okay, what is the will of God? The will of God is His word!  You will have a test ,the test is whether we are able to stand on the word or fall into the things of the world. You have to love the good Shepherd more than anything or anyone in your life, we are His sheep.Who are you following? Read  John 21:19-22,This spake he, signifying by what death he should glorify God. And when he had spoken this, he saith unto him, Follow me. Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. Whatever it is that you are doing, whatever enablement the Spirit of God has placed within you, you are doing it for the extension of the Kingdom of Christ and the glory of His name. Thank you God for your word.Amen !