Are you Ashamed of the Gospel? Are you Ashamed of Jesus?

by Mihran Kulhanian

 

by Mihran Kulhanjian

 

 

Dear Friends,

Here is a five minute lesson from the apostle Paul from 2 Timothy 1:8:

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.

What is Paul Saying Here?

Filled with the Holy Spirit, a Christian has power to witness, to not be ashamed of the gospel and to even expect suffering sharing the Word of God.

Paul explains to Timothy to have courage preaching and not to be ashamed of the Lord or of him. Do not be ashamed of other Christians fulfilling the will of the Lord. Paul also explains to Timothy that he will suffer as he and the Lord have suffered with persecution. This suffering is a holy suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.  Jesus said the world will not like you if you are a Christian.  You will be yelled at, cursed at, spit at, struck, laughed at, made fun of, ridiculed, lied about, slandered and obviously separated from the world.  Jesus said:  “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you"  (John 15:18). Your suffering as a true believer in the Lord could ultimately lead to death as thousands are murdered each year for  being true to Jesus Christ. The world is a dangerous place for true Christians. Christian persecution is at an all time high and it will get worst.  Expect persecution.

 

"Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter" (1 Peter 4:6).
For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26).

 

 Test

  1. Paul tells Timothy to not be ________________________________

of the testimony of our Lord.

  1. Paul tells Timothy to expect what? ___________________________
  1. John 15:18: "If the world _____________ you, know that it _____________Me before it hated you."
  1. Christ said in Mark 8:38: "For whoever is __________________ of

Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the

Son of Man also will be _______________  when He comes in the glory

of His Father with the holy angels.”

  1. What should we expect as Christians? ________________________.

 

Answers

  1. Ashamed.
  1. Suffering.
  1. Hated; hated.
  1. Ashamed; ashamed
  1. Persecution.

 

If you are ashamed to share the gospel, you better take a good look at yourself. Are you born again? Are you renewing your mind with the Word of God daily?  How many times did Jesus tell His disciples "fear not?"   Jesus said:  "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"  (Matthew 10:28).

Go out and witness, preach, and share the Word of God.  We are saved for good works and from love we share the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.

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