Unashamed

24 February 08

1. Introduction:

· Isaiah 54:1-5  -  “Enlarge the place of your tent…do not fear for you shall not be ashamed”.

· Whenever Go speaks to us, He also empowers us if we respond and take faith-action.

· God desires to help us grow through the limitations placed by fear and shame.

· To overcome personal limitations we must face them and plan how to work with God on it.

· God’s heart for us is that we live without shame and fear – be unashamed.

2. God’s Original Design – “Unashamed”:

1) We are made in the Image of God:

· Genesis 1:27-28  -  “let us make man in our image, according to our likeness”.

· God made us in His own image – beautiful, loving, creative, spirit beings.

· He made us with emotions, dreams, passions, creativity, ideas.

· God has many emotions and he created us to give expression to them.

· We are designed to represent God in the world – God is Good!

2) Whatever God makes is Good:

· Genesis 1:31  -  “God saw everything He had made and indeed it was very good”.

· God is Good – whatever He makes or does is good.

· God’s view of the man He created – “Very Good”.

· God does not make trash – ‘I am not trash’ – ‘I am unique’ = “very good”.

3) God clothed man with His Glory:

· Psalm 8:4-6  -  “You have crowned him with glory and honour”.

· Glory =  3519  =  Kabod – tangible manifest presence of God –

Psalm 104:1-2   =  “Light”.

· Exodus 33:18-19  =  “Show me your glory…I will make all my ‘goodness’ pass before...”.

· Adam’s whole body radiated the presence of God’s glory.

· Honour = 1926 =  hadar = magnificence, majesty, splendor, highest value.

· Man stood out above all God’s creation because of glory and honour of God.

4) Man was Unashamed:

· Genesis 2:25  -  “They were both naked, the man and his wife were not ashamed”.

· Adam drew his identity and life from his relationship with God.

· He walked with no fear, no shame – totally unashamed.

· The presence and Glory of God empowered him to live “unashamed”.

· Proverbs 3:55  -  “The wise inherit glory – shame is the legacy of fools”.

· God has prepared man to share His glory – shame is for His enemies!

3. Shame is a Thief:

• John 10:10  -  “The thief does not come except to steal, kill and destroy…”.
• Genesis 3:1-10  -  “Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord”.
• When Adam and Eve sinned they lost their glory and changed.
• They became focused on self – ashamed – conscious of something wrong.
• Shame can only arise from consciousness of sinful or wrongful conduct.
• Adam and Eve became tormented with guilt, shame, fear of God.
• Verse 10  -  “naked”  =  made bore, lost their clothing or covering.
• Verse 11 -  “Who told you”  =  Satan had ridiculed them and pointed out their condition.
• Satan accused them both and belittled their condition.
• Shame = painful feeling when conscious something wrong, dishonorable, lack, inadequate – something is wrong with me!
• Shame was never part of God’s design – God wants us unashamed.
• Shame is a thief:

1) steals identity

2) steals intimacy

4. Unashamed!  What does it look like?

· Note:  People who are unashamed will experience shame attacks from those in shame bondage – “Who do you think you are?”

1) Connected  -  I can remove all masks and live out my true identity as a child and representative of God:

· Shame causes us to cover and conceal who we are, live behind a mask.

· Shame causes us to be disconnected from self and from God and others.

· 2 Samuel 6:14-15  -  King David, emotionally expressive.  Totally able to be himself, total freedom emotionally/physically.

· David was connected with God – himself – his men.

2) Confident – I can confidently fulfill God’s assignment to me, free from fear of people or their opinions”.

· Shame causes us to live comparing ourselves to others and fearful of being different.

· Unashamed = I am free of what people think or say”.

· 2 Samuel 16:22 -  King David refused to be put down by Michal.

· David was able to withstand her shaving words.

· David expressed his freedom boldly.

· Acts 4:13  -  Peter refused to be intimidated by religious criticism.

· Peter stood and acted boldly –verbally bold and assertive.

· He stood up in his calling and assignment of God.

3) Creative – I am free to express the creative wisdom of God through my unique gifts, abilities and creativity:

· Shame causes us to place low value on what we are and have to give.

· Shame keeps us mediocre – following the crowd, copying.

· Unashamed = I am free to discover and develop my unique capacity boldly, confidently and creatively.

· Gideon – changed a nation – Judges 6:12

· Paul – proclaimed gospel – Romans 1:16 – “Not ashamed of the Gospel”

· David – music, songs – e.g. Jesus

It is Time to Break the Power of Shame – be Unashamed!