UNASHAMED

Welcome!

Tonight’s message is important for you to listen closely. We’re going to work hard to pay attention so we can have good discussion in our CONNECT groups.

Backwards

Tonight’s message is gonna be preached backwards.

Here’s what I mean. Last Wednesday night we ended the message time giving an invitation and opportunity for you to respond to Jesus. What I mean by that is having a moment where you understand Jesus dying on the cross for you and saving you from your sin. It’s the moment all 66 books of the Bible discuss at some point referencing what God has done in Jesus as miraculous. Some of us in this room tonight have had that moment of God reaching into our lives and saving us.

I’m preaching this message backwards because you MUST understand, or at least have a working knowledge of that to understand what’s tonight message is about. You must understand that what it means to be “unashamed,” is to understand why Jesus took care of your sin so you could pursue Him.

So let me say it again before we hit tonight’s message and get real deep about pursuing Him.

Last week, a really popular dude amongst his people, was ASHAMED to meet Jesus during the day and talk to him about the Kingdom of God and Jesus told him that you can’t see the kingdom unless you are born again. Being born again is the first step in following Jesus. Baptism is a representation that. When you come up out of the water you are a new person and the old person has been buried and left on the cross with Jesus. The new person/who no longer is a slave to sin and sinful desires but is a slave to Jesus/has been raised out of the water to represent being raised with Jesus in his resurrection.

That moment you came to recognize Jesus as Savior is when the Holy Spirit convicted you of your sin and let you know that YOU/WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON THAT CROSS, but as I read to you a few weeks ago, it was God’s will to crush Jesus on the cross on our behalf. Wow.

So there....that part is normally preached at the end of a message, but for tonight’s message, it has to be shared first as we dig in. So let’s go.

Message Beginning

Go ahead and turn in your Bibles to . As you’re turning there let me set it up. We are beginning our message tonight 12 chapters into a book of the Bible so it’s necessary you get a little backstory before engaging in what we’re discussing tonight. From , Jesus has come into the world as a baby, grew up, performed miracles confirming He’s the Son of God, called the Disciples, heals the lame and blind, calms a storm, and preaches the greatest message of all time.

(WARNING)

So…a lot! Jesus has done a lot up to the point where we are at tonight. And tonight, I gotta warn you about the content. Don’t be alarmed because Jesus speaks about demons in this passage. If you get worried or anxious, here’s a free tip - remember .

James 2:19 ESV

19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

Demons, possession, evil spirits....they have a lot in common, but 1 thing that is most common about all of them from Scripture is that they are commanded by Jesus. If he says flee, they flee, if he says run into a herd of pigs - they run into a herd of pigs. The most important thing you need to know about them is that Jesus is in control and Scripture shows you that over and over. Don’t be afraid.

So…right before this passage, Jesus makes reference to the Sign of Jonah. Jonah, hmmmm, what was Jonah about? Oh that’s right! The whale! Jesus was correcting Pharisees in the previous passage about confirming whether or not He was God or not, again, and He confronts them with an end times reference. I know that’s deep but keep tracking. Jesus confronts them by saying the only sign I’m going to give you is the Sign of Jonah and he expresses this by hinting at the Resurrection.

Fruit of Cutting Things Out/Off ~ Too much.

I’m not around “those” people any more.

I deleted Instagram AND Snapchat.

I only listen to Christian Music.

I only watch PG movies.

I read my Bible everyday and always post about it.

The fruit of these “prideful” not humble statements is a lack of love/warmth/and pursuit of Jesus. You’ve picked up new, shinier sins, and are appreciating them more than pursuing Jesus and loving your neighbor.

There’s a healthy tension here and that’s good. The point is to understand you’re a sinner, how your sin was taken care of, why your sin was taken care of, and why you should be in pursuit.

How do I pursue Jesus?

So glad asked. Check this out on the screen.

2 Timothy 2:22 ESV

22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Flee youthful passions, PURSUE righteousness, faith, love, and peace.

Turning from those things is good, don’t stop there like passage showed us, instead pursue.

Righteousness - right standing/right living with God

Faith - the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Love - Loving them because you know someone died for them. They matter.

Peace - Peace that surpasses “understanding.” Calm, cool, collected…for no other reason than knowing you are a Child of God and nothing else matters.

ALONG with THOSE who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

No hypocrisy.