I AM NOT ASHAMED
I AM NOT ASHAMED has been one of my lifelong favorite gospel songs. Regardless of the times I have heard it, it still brings me to tears. The lyrics speaks to the heart and gives assurance of what HIS GRACE and MERCY has done for us.
Words have power; they can lift you up or tear you down. In this song, the word ASHAMED made me research the meaning. The biblical definition means feeling inferior or unworthy, reluctant, or unwilling to do something because of shame or embarrassment. Whereas the Webster definition means feeling shame, guilt, or disgrace. In essence, both definitions combine the words; inferior, unworthy, shame, guilt, and disgrace. With these words in mind, I would say this word is not a good place to live.
INSPIRATION – I AM NOT ASHAMED
Inspiration is the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative. For this song, I could not find the inspiration. For a song that is recorded by multiple artists, I will say that the LYRICS speak for themselves. Hence, it must have been written by someone who poured their heart out to GOD and then penned it for all of us to enjoy. It has the POWER to changes lives.
THE LYRICS TELL A STORY – NO MORE SHAME
- We’re an anchor for those who are hurting
- We’re a harbor for those who are lost
- Sometimes it’s not always easy bearing Calvary’s cross
- We’ve been ridiculed by those who don’t know Him
- And mocked by those who don’t believe
[Heb 6:19 KJV] 19 Which [hope] we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
- Still I love standing up for my Jesus
- ‘Cause of all that He’s done for me
- That’s why I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- The Gospel of Jesus Christ
- No, I am not afraid to be counted
- And I’m willing to give my life
- See I’m ready to be all He wants me to be
- Give up the wrong for the right
- No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ
- For every moment His hand has held mercy
- For all the love that He’s shown all my life
[1Co 16:13 ESV] 13 Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.
OUR CONFESSION – FOLLOW JESUS EXAMPLE
Our confession of ‘No, I am not afraid to be counted’ puts our life in another realm. This is where we put on our ARMOR > IN JESUS NAME. His mercy and grace will lead us to those who don’t know him but should! ‘
- A simple thanks doesn’t say how I’m feeling
- I get tears in my eyes
- So as for me, I’m gonna keep on believin’
- In the One whose been so faithful to me
- I’m not out to please this whole world around me
- I’ve got my mind on eternity
[Jhn 3:36 NIV] 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
- I’ve got too much behind me
- To let this world bind me
- To some He’s a name
- But to me, He’s my everything
- I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- I’ve got too much behind me to let this world bind me
- To some He’s a name but to me He’s my everything
- I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- No, I am not ashamed of the Gospel
- Of Jesus Christ
[Rom 8:28 NIV] 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
PROUDLY PROCLAIM THE NAME OF JESUS
I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. I AM PROUDLY PROCLAIMING THE NAME OF JESUS FOR ALL TO HEAR, READ, SING and LIVE.
To some He’s a name, But to me, He’s my EVERTHING.
Without a doubt, we have all been in the inferior, unworthy, shame, guilt and disgrace stage of our lives before we accepted JESUS as our LORD and SAVIOR. BUT HALLELUJAH and AMEN we don’t live there anymore.
Furthermore, now that we ARE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL, more is required of us to live up to those words. God gives us gifts and talents to share the gospel. He will open eyes to see those who are hurting and don’t realize why. Our testimonies will showcase how far we have come. That the world does not bind us anymore. To some, He’s a name, but to me, He’s my everything.
AND HE DID IT AGAIN
GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME. ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD! Hallelujah and Amen.
The Holy spirit led me back to this song which led me back to a movie / book that relates to it >> IN HIS STEPS. In essence, it guides our steps in how to NOT BE ASHAMED of the GOSPEL. How our lives should be an example of WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
In His Steps is a best-selling religious fiction novel written by Charles Monroe Sheldo. First published in 1896, the book has sold more than 50,000,000 copies, and ranks as one of the best selling books of all time. The full title of the book is In His Steps: What Would Jesus Do?
When a homeless man interrupts the comfortable routine of First Church of Richmond, life will never the same for the apathetic congregation. Paster Henry Maxwell, Rachel Winsolow, Virginia Page, Alex Powers and Jasper Chase are trust into a journey to discover what life would be like beyond “Christianity as usual.” But as they find themselves opposed by family strife, church politics, and scorned lovers, will they be able to keep their commitment, or will they be dragged aback into fruitless lives?
LET ME SET THE SCENE FOR YOU
A vagrant man (sick and living on the street) arrives in the town of RAYMOND. To clarify, he lost everything and was seeking work. In fact he was willing to do anything. He DID NOT WANT A HAND-OUT from the church or businesses, but he was rejected by them all. For this reason, he walks into the church while Pastor Maxwell started to preach a sermon on FOLLOWING CHRISTS’ EXAMPLE.
PASTOR MAXWELL: Morning everyone. My message his morning is on FOLLOWING CHRISTS’ EXAMPLE. Let’s read in 1stPeter 2, verse 21…
[1Pe 2:21 NIV] 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
Those steps are OBEDIENCE, FAITH, LOVE, and IMMITATION. So, if we are called followers of Christ, we must FOLLOW HIS EXAMPLE and GO WITH HIM ALL THE WAY. Let’s PRAY …
A VAGRANT
To point out an important aspect of this scene, from the back of the church, the vagrant walks the isle to the pulpit.
VAGRANT: Excuse me (the sick man walks forward from the back of the church to the alter). Please, please > hear me out. I am not drunk or crazy; just got some questions.
I lost everything about four months ago. Since then, I have been wandering around looking for any kind of work I could find. In all that time I never got a word of sympathy or kindness from anyone. Until I met Pastor Maxwell a couple days ago. He said he was sorry and could not help me.
I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty, but I have been wondering what you Christians mean when you say, YOU ARE FOLLOWING JESUS? You sing songs with words > I’ll GO WITH HIM, with HIM ALL THE WAY, and you have BIBLE VERSES on your office wall. DO YOU EVEN NOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
REASON HE HAS ISSUES WITH THE CHURCH
My daughter was a strong Christian girl, told the truth all the time, but when she died, all I got was a card from the church saying how sorry they were. I was always told that helping people was what the church was there for. But when I was at my lowest, and really needed some kind of hope to keep me going, all I got was a card.
So I was wondering, what do you Christians mean when you say you are FOLLOWING JESUS? You say things like ‘What would Jesus do?’ What does that mean? Does it mean having FOOD BANKS for people like me?
WHY DON’T CHRISTIANS TELL THE TRUTH?
Why don’t you CHRISTIANS TELL THE TRUTH?
Don’t you Christians show LOVE instead of just talking about it?
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
I don’t know, I don’t think you do either.
HE COUGHS AND COLLAPES on the church floor, and later dies.
FOLLOWING CHRISTS’ EXAMPLE
THE DEATH of his homeless vagrant and his last words FINALLY TOUCHED THE HEART OF PASTOR MAXWELL. He asked his church members to take a PLEDGE to do NOTHING for a year without asking themselves, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?
YOU CAN’T BE ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL WHEN YOU WALK IN HIS STEPS!
THE PLEDGE
Five people took the PLEDGE > only THREE out of the five made it to the finish line.
- Pastor Maxell
- Rachel Windsow – Song writer and singer
- Virginia Page – Rich young women
- Alex Powers – Business owner
- Jasper Chase – Writer
Each person had to ask the question before they made any decisions in their personal and business life for one year.
The devil rears his ugly head to try to KILL what God wants us to do.
POWERFUL QUESTION
Out of the five people who took the pledge, only three made it through the year.
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Four words with so much meaning. I read the book (many times) and watched the movie (many times), yet it still touches my heart. Point to remember, the BOOK brings to light that NOTHING has changed since 1896. That is 126 years ago! Fast forward today and the story is the same!
How many people who call themselves, CHRISTIANS, would take the pledge?
TESTIMONY
IN HIS STEPS book and movie are personal to the Carey Family. This book sparked a two- year mission journey for three Carey members > dad, mom and youngest son. The Holy Spirit spoke to me with two words, KAUAI, HI. And he repeated them to me until I finally asked for clarification. And that was for us to auction everything off and move to Kauai, HI for two years to minister the WORD of GOD. GOD IS GOOD! For two years my husband became a BEACH EVANGELIST, and I started a WOMEN’S BIBLE STUDY.
BACK TO THE STORY
To emphasize, from 1896 to 2022 is 126 years. Nothing has changed regarding the vast number of people who call themselves Christians, yet proclaim that title in name only. Many go to church on Sunday, sometimes on Wednesday, and then live their lives like a non-Christians the rest of the week.
WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Is a question all CHRISTIANS need to ask themselves? We don’t need to take a pledge in a CHURCH, we need to make a personal pledge to JESUS from our heart.
With this in mind, IF WE ARE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, WOULD WE TAKE A PERSONAL PLEDGE TO DO WHAT HE WOULD DO?
IN CLOSING
People of Faith are falling apart at the seams because of the state of our WORLD.
To point out, the vagrant says …
I’m not trying to make anyone feel guilty, but I have been wondering what you Christians mean when you say, YOU ARE FOLLOWING JESUS? You sing songs with words > I’ll GO WITH HIM, with HIM ALL THE WAY, and you have BIBLE VERSES on your office wall. DO YOU EVEN NOW WHAT YOU ARE SAYING?
FOOD FOR THOUGHT!
Let’s challenge ourselves to follow IN HIS STEPS for just a week! Seven days to see how our lives will change.
[1Pe 2:21 NIV] 21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER because JESUS prayed for us!
In the POWER and AUTHORITY in Jesus name. Hallelujah and Amen!
I AM NOT ASHAMED. YouWillWantTo are the hands and feet of Christ to reach one.