I’m Not Ashamed
2 Timothy 1:8-18; 2:15
Intro: We live in a society where shame is a thing of rarity. In fact, some people are completely unable to blush.
- Jeremiah 6:15 Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? nay, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the LORD.
It goes without saying, some things we should be embarrassed about. Some things should make us blush. There are obviously times when we should be ashamed.
Ezra spoke for the entire nation when he said:
- Ezra 9:6 And said, O my God, I am ashamed and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God: for our iniquities are increased over our head, and our trespass is grown up unto the heavens.
However, just as there are times when we SHOULD be ashamed, there are times when we SHOULD NOT be ashamed.
Paul used the word “ashamed” no less than 4 times in chapter 1 and 2.
I. Of the Testimony of the Savior
Notice Paul’s admonition to Timothy.
Be thou not therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord.
What a statement!
By the way – Paul had the right to preach this. He had lived it!!
- 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.
ILLUSTRATION: I used to have a 1980 Ford Courier truck. It was a piece of junk. I bought it from my father-in-law for $500. It was the biggest piece of garbage I’ve ever owned. I lost track of how many times I had to rebuild the carburetor on the side of the road. I had to use a rope on the wind-shield wipers. I had to use a can of quick start all the time just to get it started. The paint was oxidized. The seats were ripped. The rims were rusted. The tires were bald. The best thing about that truck was the bumper sticker on the back. REAL MEN LOVE JESUS. I drove it with a big cheesy grin watching people’s reaction to my bumper sticker.
Jesus was crystal clear in Mark 8.
- Mark 8:38 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.
IMAGINE THAT!!!
- Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.
Why would a person that was going to hell and got saved be ashamed of their Savior??
Why would a person drowning in the sea of sin be ashamed of the One that delivered them?
Why would a person that was dead in trespasses and sins be ashamed of the One that quickened them?
Why would a person that was blind be ashamed of the One that gave them sight?
Why would a person that was in bondage and a slave to sin be ashamed of the One that set them free?
If you’re not ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, then you shouldn’t be ashamed to:
- Talk about Him
- Walk with Him
- Act like Him
- Tell others about Him
II. Of the Tribulations of the Saints
- 2 Timothy 1:8 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;
- 2 Timothy 1:12 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.
- 2 Timothy 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
SEE how many times refers to suffering just in this book:
- 2 Timothy 1:8, 12, 16 – all three verses he used the word “ashamed.”
- 2 Timothy 2:9-12
- 2 Timothy 3:10-12
- 2 Timothy 4:5
- 2 Timothy 4:6, 7 (referring to his pending martyr’s death)
- 2 Timothy 4:14-18
Since the early church, God’s people have been persecuted, mistreated, and misjudged.
Jesus stressed it to His disciples over and over again.
Matthew 10
- 24 The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord.
- 25 It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?
By the time we get to the book of Acts, suffering is part of the plan of God from Day One!
- Acts 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
- Philippians 1:29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
I honestly think that if we are going to call ourselves Christians in 2021, we need to understand this.
Suffering has always been a part of being a Christian, but it’s about to get real.
If you are easily embarrassed – thin-skinned – snowflake – you will struggle with the suffering.
III. Of the Toiling in the Scripture
- 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
I want to say tonight that I AM NOT ASHAMED of the hours I’ve spent studying the Scripture.
If anything, I’m ashamed of the time I wasted NOT studying!
God wants every child of God to know the Bible.
This will require STUDY.
- Ecclesiastes 12:12 …and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
The Bible uses the word WORKMAN.
We are told to OCCUPY until Jesus comes back. (Luke 19:13)
We are to be busy ABOUT THE FATHER’S BUSINESS. (Luke 2:46-49) Involved asking questions!!
How much time have you spent studying the business?
Rightly dividing the word of truth will require study, mediation, research, listening, reading, etc.
ILLUSTRATION: I started studying the Bible seriously when I was about twelve years old.
I remember sitting at the table for hours while my dad discipled new converts in Samoa in the early ‘80’s.
I remember sitting at the dining room table when my dad trained the national pastor to take the church.
I remember at Ligi’ifo Ieti’s ordination, thinking, “I know everything he knows, and more.” I was thirteen.
I remember the time we had two Jehovah’s Witnesses come to our house in Buford Georgia. I was fifteen.
From that time, I had a hunger to know the Bible and to understand it.
NOTE: One of the qualifications of the pastor is APT TO TEACH.
If you have a pastor that is APT TO TEACH, you should be APT TO LEARN.
- 2 Timothy 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
You can’t continue in the things that you have learned IF YOU NEVER LEARNED THEM!
Conclusion:
- Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.