Unashamed: Breaking Free of Shame

16 March 08

 

1.      Introduction:

·   Isaiah 54:4  -  “Do not fear, you will not be ashamed, neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame, for you will forget the shame of your youth…”

·   God’s design for man was to be totally unashamed – sin caused shame to enter.

·   Shame Message:  ‘I am damaged’ – ‘I am different’ – ‘I am in danger of exposure/rejection’.

·   Shame is an identity thief – shame is an intimacy thief.

·   God promised us that we can be free pod shame and reject being shamed.

·   Forget = 7911 = to cease to care, cause to wither, put out of mind, pay no attention to.

·   Keys for breaking free of shame:

1.      Come to Christ.

2.      Break attachments to shame.

3.      Change inner beliefs.

4.      Change how you relate to people.

 

2.      Christ bore our Shame:

·   Isaiah 50:6-7  -  “I did not hide my face from shame and spitting”.

·   Jesus Christ personally experienced shame – He understands our suffering.

·   He determined not to hide from shame – chose to pay the full price for shame.

·   He did not draw back from shame of dying a criminal’s death on the Cross.

·   Christ was put to an open shame – Hebrews 6:6  -  exposed to public shame and humiliation.

·   Matthew 27:27-31,35

·   Jesus was stripped naked and exposed to public humiliation three times.

·   Jesus was physically abused, verbally abused and mocked.

·   Jesus’ crucifixion was more than means of death, but means of public shame.

·   Jesus shame was public and universal – labeled in 3 languages for all to see.

·   Without complaint Jesus bore his shame and our shame on the Cross.

·   No matter what shame you have experienced Jesus understands and made provision for it.

·    God promises to make remove our shame and even the memory of it.

·   Matthew 11:28 – “Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest” – acceptance and love.

 

3.      Breaking the Attachments to Shame:

·   Amos 3:3  -  “How can two walk together except they be agreed?”

·   In order to walk with God I must come into agreement with Him.

·   Agreed = 3259 = yada = to be intimate with in order to reproduce.

·   I must break all my attachments, agreements and intimacy with shame.

 

  1. Remove the Mask and become Honest with Myself:

·   Adam and Eve covered themselves to hide their shame – Genesis 3:7

·   Adam and Eve had to remove their covering to receive God – Genesis 3:21

·   What experienced of shame have you had?

·   How did you feel?

·   What message did it give you about yourself?

·   How did you cover yourself? – What mask did you put on?

·   Mask:

*Witch – sharp, critical                                              *Lone Ranger – rescuer

*Princess – want the best, perfectionism                          *Genie – please and save everyone

*Arnold Schwarzenegger – strong independent            *Clown – joker

*Fairy Godmother – no needs, know what to do  *Kiwi – timid, shy, intimidated

*Beaver – buried in work, business

·   Proverbs 28:13  -  “he that covers his sins shall not prosper – confess and forsake => mercy.

·   What have you done that you are ashamed of? Repent and Confess.

·   What have you experienced that brought shame to you? – admit it.

 

  1. Break you agreements with Evil Spirits:

·   Proverbs 28:15  -  “We have made a covenant with ‘death’ and with ‘hell’ we are in agreement …for we have made lies our refuge and under falsehood we have hidden ourselves”.

·   While we remain covered and hidden we are open to demonic spirits.

·   Accusing spirits – accusation, shame, abandonment, rejection and fear.

·   Romans 8:1  -  “There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit”.

·   Jesus offers us total acceptance, no condemnation based on our agreement with what He has done for us upon the Cross.

·   Make a stand against accusing spirits of shame – familiar and tormenting.

·   James 4:7  -  “Resist the devil and he will flee”.

 

  1. Let go the grief and Reactions to being Shamed:

a)     Grief:

      - remember what happened and how you felt.

                  - Allow the feelings to surface and express – God is interested in your feelings.

                  - Jesus carried our grief and sorrows – Isaiah 53:3-4

b)     Forgive:   

      - Let go from the heart the resentment and anger at people.

      - Forgiveness involves the emotions and the will.

      - Unforgiveness keeps you attached to showing experiences.

      - Matthew 18:34-35  -  “Forgive from the heart! Let go the demands!”              

c)  Reactions:

- Repent and break the agreement with ungodly inner reactions to being shamed.

-  Adam and Eve reacted to their shame and fear – covered, hid.

-  How did you respond to experiences that shamed you?

-  Inner vow?

-  Bitter judgment?       We are responsible for our reactions

-  Death wish?              Repent, change by bringing it to the Cross.

 

·   God promise to “roll away the shame of Egypt” – Joshua 5:9

·   Our part is to come to Christ in faith – expose our shame and let go the attachments to it by faith.