Sermon for Sunday June 12th 2022: “Do not be ashamed...” (2 Timothy 1: 1 – 18)
Please read Psalm 119: 38-45…
Is the UK a Christian country? (Probably not) Do we live in a “post-Christian” country? (Probably) Some would say that Christians are now beginning to be persecuted for their faith… It is a fact that wherever The Name of Jesus is spoken boldly… and not as a curse-word… you can be sure there will be opposition. Whenever the church goes public on certain issues it will inevitably be accused of backwardness or bigotry or told to, “Mind your own business!”
Jesus constantly warned his people that, if they were ‘doing their job’ as His witnesses and representatives in the world, the world would oppose them, sometimes subtly, sometimes savagely (Matthew 10:22; 24: 9; John 15:18). They should be prepared to live for Him and, if necessary… to die for Him. At very least all of them were called to speak up for him (Acts 1:8, 22; 2:32; 3:15; John 15:27) … not to deny Him…be ashamed of Him…
It was against just such a backdrop that the aged apostle Paul wrote his two pastoral letters, 1 and 2 Timothy. In some of his very last words from prison, remarkable for their tenderness (verses 3-6) – Paul encourages a young, timid pastor who lived in hard times when believers were being put to the severe test of persecution. Some had drifted away. Paul sensed that Timothy may have been tempted to “shut up” and give in as well. Paul encourages his charge to continue serving the LORD with all of his strength, in spite of mounting opposition to him and the gospel. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15). “Don’t be afraid – and don’t be ashamed…”
And so, Paul writes… 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. I.e. Remember Timothy where you came from: the (living) faith that was nurtured in your family. If you were fortunate enough to have received Christian parenting and teaching, remember them… honour them.
Verse 6: For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. Remember your baptism, Timothy…and what happened when you came up out of the water, when I laid my hands on you and you received the Holy Spirit and, with Him, all the things you would need for just such a time as this… the power, the love and the self-control. You are to use the gifts (resources) God bestowed. Remember your confession of faith and the oath of allegiance you made to Jesus Christ. Don’t be afraid and put off; have the courage of your convictions even in the face of hostility and ridicule which comes when you bear witness.
7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. The Spirit will help you to proclaim the gospel of repentance and the forgiveness of sins. Your enemies and detractors may come to faith, but you, Timothy, must do your part. You must discover your gift(s) and put them to work…
8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner.
15 You know that everyone in the province of Asia has deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes. (Evidently, some were ashamed…) 16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me (2 Tim 1: 15-17).
Perhaps Paul was thinking about David: “46 I will speak of your statutes before kings and will not be put to shame, 47 for I delight in your commands because I love them. 48 I reach out for your commands, which I love, that I may meditate on your decrees. 49 Remember your word to your servant, for you have given me hope. 50 My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. 51 The arrogant mock me unmercifully, but I do not turn from your law. 52 I remember, Lord, your ancient laws, and I find comfort in them…” (Psalm 119)
We should never be ashamed (embarrassed) of Jesus Christ… 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Paul wasn’t ashamed: 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Ro 1)
We should never be ashamed of Jesus Christ… What possible cause or reason could there be for being ashamed of the gospel or its founder or its people.
9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Saviour, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
This is the Message I’ve been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It’s also the cause of all this trouble I’m in. But I have no regrets. I couldn’t be more sure of my ground—the One I’ve trusted in can take care of what he’s trusted me to do right to the end. So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It’s as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in us.
9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” (Romans 9)
There is absolutely no cause (no reason) to be ashamed of your faith. We know that our faith (what we believe, what we stand on and live by) is not a matter of private belief. It is to be shared with lips and lives. The church that Jesus built and bought (with His Blood)… was never intended to be a secret society or a club filled with nondescript shrinking violets too uncomfortable to attend a bible study or prayer meeting, let alone invite their neighbours to church. Are you embarrassed? Or, always (be) prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope you have? (1 Peter 3:15)
One day we will indeed present ourselves to God… before the One we profess. Jesus has the final word on this difficult subject:
28 “Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. 32 “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven.
LORD of the cross of shame, we know what it is to be ashamed. We have often denied you with our words, with our silence and by our actions. Forgive us. Help us. Give us a spirit of power, love and discipline, so we can speak for you, to share our testimony and yours. Grant that we find mercy on that day… so that we will not be afraid and you, Lord, will not be ashamed to call us your brothers and sisters. Amen. MFR 10/06/22
Two Stories about Shame
A water bearer in India had two large pots, hung on each end of a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in it, while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water at the end of the long walk from the stream to the master's house; the cracked pot arrived only half full. For a full two years this went on daily, with the bearer delivering only one and a half pots full of water in his master's house. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, perfect to the end for which it was made. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.
After two years of what it perceived to be a bitter failure, it spoke to the water bearer. "I am ashamed of myself, and I want to apologize to you." "Why?" asked the bearer. "What are you ashamed of?" "I have been able for these past two years, to deliver only half my load because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your master's house. Because of my flaw, you have to do all of this work, and you don't get full value from your efforts," the pot said. The water bearer felt sorry, and said, "As we return to the master's house, I want you to notice the beautiful flowers along the path." Indeed, as they went up the hill, the cracked pot took notice of the sun warming the beautiful flowers on the side of the path, and this cheered it some.
But at the end of the trail, it still felt bad because it had leaked out half its load, and so again it apologized to the bearer for its failure.
The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice there were flowers only on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? I have always known about your flaw, and I planted flower seeds on your side of the path. Every day while we walked back from the stream, you watered them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my master's table. Without you being just the way you are, my master would not have this beauty to grace his house."
Each of us has our own unique flaws. We are all cracked pots. But if we will allow it, the Lord will use our flaws to grace His Father's table. As we seek to minister together, and as God calls you to the tasks he has appointed for you, don't be afraid of your flaws. Go on boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength. You, too, can bring beauty to His pathway!
I know there are areas of your life that make you ashamed today. The good news is that He can and will still use you in spite of them! We are all just a bunch of cracked pots, but that is the kind He uses for His glory. Bring the things you are ashamed of to Him today and let Him take care of them. (A Moral Story… Author Unknown)
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Mary Anna Martin grew up during the depression, but her family, despite its poverty, was rich in love and happiness. Her dad and mom were caring and tender parents, and laughter filled their home. Her father always whistled, and her mother sang while doing her housework. Her father was a baker, but he lost his bakery shop in the first years of the depression. He had to take any job he could to pay the family's rent and keep food on their table. He worked at the local YMCA for awhile, then with the WPA. When that job ran out, he found a job as a janitor. He was an older man, small and gray, and it was hard work. But he did his best and whistled as he worked.
Mary Anna said, "My life was happy and carefree until the year I left elementary school and started junior high. I was thirteen, and soon became part of a new group of friends. I knew that Daddy was a janitor, but I didn't know where, until that awful day during lunch break." Mary Anna was seated at a table with her new friends when she heard a teacher call her father's name in a loud voice. Someone had dropped their tray, and food and milk covered the table and floor. She saw him walk toward the table, carrying a mop and old rags. One of the girls said to Mary Anna, "That janitor has the same last name as yours. Do you know him?"
Mary Anna slowly raised her head and looked at the little, gray man cleaning up the spilled food. She hesitated, then said, "I've never seen him before in my life."
A wave of intense embarrassment swept over her, and she instantly felt ashamed of denying her dearest friend on earth. She hated herself for those words and tried to make up for what she had done by showing her father that she loved him more than ever. He loved for someone to brush his hair as he sat in his easy chair. She would do it. She sang to him and read to him and spent time with him. But regardless of how hard she tried, nothing made her feel better.
The years passed, and her father developed Alzheimer's disease. One day when he was ill and she was sitting with him, she started crying. Her mother asked her what was wrong, and Mary Anna poured out her heart and told her what had been bothering her for more than fifteen years. She said, "I have been asking God to forgive me, but I can't get over what I’ve done."
Her mother drew her close and held her tightly as she wept. "Honey," she said, "your daddy knew you loved him, and he would have loved you even if he had known about your being ashamed of him when you were so young. You know Simon Peter denied that he knew our beloved Jesus before he was crucified on the cross, and Jesus loved him just the same." Suddenly Mary Anna felt at peace with herself for the first time since she was in junior high. She knew that because of the love of Christ, it was time to turn the corner.
We have all been ashamed of things as we have passed through this life. Perhaps it was something we did, something we said, how we acted in a certain situation or how we reacted to a certain situation. We have all experienced shame!
(A sermon illustration from sermon central)
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