BE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL

BE NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL: LIVE OBEYING THE HEAVENLY MANDATE!

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be not thou therefore ASHAMED of the TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD, NOR OF ME HIS PRISONER: but be thou PARTAKER of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 who hath SAVED us, and CALLED us with an HOLY CALLING, not according to our works, but according to his own PURPOSE and GRACE, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath ABOLISHED death, and hath brought LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light through the GOSPEL: 11 whereunto I am APPOINTED a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I AM NOT ASHAMED: for I KNOW whom I have BELIEVED, and am PERSUADED that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” 2 Timothy 1:7-12.

One day, I worked into a grocery shopping building to make purchases of some few items for the family. While going through the isle’s I cast my mind at a distance on a Christian Brother whom I know too well and coincidentally worship together in same multicultural Church in my early days in a new Mission City. Not realising he has seen me earlier and for his own obvious reasons, was hiding away from me behind one of the structural pillars that holds the grocery building, which I later realised he was hiding away from identifying with me in grace [by the Gospel of common salvation] and in life in Christ Jesus stead, because of colour and race in the public while in church he acts as brethren. And this is very much unfortunate and contrary to faith and grace in Christ Jesus, as Apostle Paul did squarely admonished Timothy not to be ashamed of the Gospel nor of him in the grace and life [2 Timothy 1:7-12]; he knows full well that our redemption in Christ Jesus stead, is way beyond tongue, kindred, race, colour, nation and such like, in the faith and in life as the Scriptures here but not limited did addressed.

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED us to God by thy blood out of every KINDRED, and TONGUE, and PEOPLE, and NATION; 10 and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” Revelation 5:9-10.

“Christ hath REDEEMED us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith . . . 26 For ye are ALL the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is NEITHER Jew nor Greek, there is NEITHER bond nor free, there is NEITHER male nor female: for ye are ALL one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” Galatians 3:13-14, 26-29.

And unfortunately for the beloved brother that’s hiding away from me, I was not going to tolerate such attitude which is contrary to the Gospel of Christ, just as Apostle Paul took a measure of note on Apostle Peter for such behaviour too as in the Holy Writ of Galatians 2:11-16 (1-21).

“. . . 11 But when Peter was come to Antioch, I WITHSTOOD him to the face, because he was to be BLAMED. 12 For before that CERTAIN came from James, he did EAT with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he WITHDREW and SEPARATED himself, FEARING them which were of the CIRCUMCISION. 13 And the OTHER JEWS DISSEMBLED LIKEWISE WITH HIM; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their DISSIMULATION. 14 But when I saw that they WALKED NOT UPRIGHTLY according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why COMPELLEST thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is NOT JUSTIFIED by the WORKS of the law, but by the FAITH of Jesus Christ, even we have BELIEVED in Jesus Christ, that we might be JUSTIFIED by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall NO FLESH be justified . . .” Galatians 2:1-21.

I walked up toward this Beloved Brother to exchange greetings. WHY MUST I HAVE TO DO THAT? Considering I could see he is hiding behind the pillars from identifying with me as one ever known in public place, while in Church gathering meetings he pretends we are same in a building with hugs and hand shakes. I wanted him to know that in the Kingdom of God and of His Christ Jesus, who is the head of His Church, that there is no race of being Black or White Believer’s in Christ Jesus in any form of being called Christian’s or in Christianity. There is no Jew not Greek, male or female and such like by any means – and should not be tolerated or welcome or accorded any of such sentiments, prejudice and dissimulation.

For our God is a Spirit and those that worthily WORSHIP and acceptably SERVE Him, does it in SPIRIT and TRUTH and not in colours of the skin, race, gender, status and more. [John 4:19-24; Philippians 3:3]. Meaning, in the REALM of the Spirit worship and services of God in Christ Jesus, neither of the brother intent to hide away from me should ever exist because of the colour of the skin. His UNDERSTANDING in that moment indicates that within the Church building we could greet and hug as brethren, but beyond that, the Gospel is not in operation to relate as brethren outside the doors. When I met him, I shook hands and exchanged greetings asking him of his family and such like to break that misnomer circus that contradict the GOSPEL of Christ Jesus. Being hopeful that he KNOWS and understands that what he did was unnecessary for him and me before the world that needs the gospel today and right now. And since then, we’ve seen severally in other occasions and greeted,  and our fellowship to enhance our relationship in Christ Jesus, has been healthy and gracious [Romans 3:28-30; Romans 9:23-25; Galatians 3:26-29; Galatians 5:1, 6, 13-18]. And so has Apostle Paul also wrote to the Churches Rome in the book of Romans as written:

“For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE JEW AND THE GREEK: for the SAME Lord OVER ALL is rich unto all that CALL upon him. 13 For WHOSOEVER shall CALL upon the name of the Lord shall be SAVED” Romans 10:11-13.

On the contrary, there are many today, whose Gospel of Christ Jesus only exist within the Church building and only amongst their own colour or race or tradition or tongues and such like. And some are ASHAMED also, of being noted in their place of work or doing life that they are Christians and seriously believing followers of Jesus Christ. They bury their head in the sand as the Ostrich, not necessarily because they are being questioned, but they see it as being antisocial and not cool enough in behaviour, for them to take a stand in Christ Jesus stead in public domain; and yet, they will tolerate someone misbehaviour and indecent gesture and behaviour before and about them without rebuking it. HOW COMFORTABLE AND COOL IS THAT! That’s okay for you to accommodate indecent behaviour without question about you, and can’t say to such with the attitude  and intolerance behaviour, that the acts is unwelcome in your world of doing life, just because you don’t want to be labelled a fanatics, religious bigots or any such like name they choose to call you in that environment. Forgetting that Jesus Christ was called numerous names in His humanity, while on the PATH to fulfil PURPOSE – “OBEYING THE HEAVENLY MANDATE“, which brought our salvation and deliverance in His redemption did and deed for our complete freedom.

 

Are you ASHAMED of the GOSPEL? Are you ASHAMED to TESTIFY to others of your FAITH when it matters?  Are you ASHAMED of your fellow Believer’s in Christ Jesus stead? How many times have you seen those we love dearly and care about passed on without Christ Jesus born in their hearts towards God in Christ Jesus. How comfortable are you then watching opportunities slips away of sharing the Gospel truth to a friend or colleague or family member of the goodness of your God in Christ Jesus stead. HELL is real and HEAVEN is real, knowingly or unknowingly. The Gospel is not about being religious or coming into the building called Church or the Church. The Gospel is the POWER of God for human salvation and liberation; and it’s irrespective of colour, race, status, tongue and such like as it’s written:

“And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast REDEEMED us to God by thy blood out of EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND PEOPLE, AND NATION; 10 and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth” Revelation 5:9-10.

“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” Romans 1:15-17.

Therefore, take a look INWARD and ask yourself if you are a promoter of the Gospel of Christ Jesus causes or ashamed of being a part of him in the first place. And why watch your love one’s and those you dearly care about ends in life without Christ Jesus, because the GOSPEL of Christ wasn’t made known to their reach.

SELAH – PAUSE AND THINK.

SCRIPTURAL THOUGHTS WORTH PONDERING IN CONTEXT:

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” Mark 8:35-38.

“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. 16 FOR I AM NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST: FOR IT IS THE POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION TO EVERY ONE THAT BELIEVETH; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith” Romans 1:15-17.

“As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed” Romans 9:33.

“Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? If any man trust to himself that he is Christ’s, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ’s, even so are we Christ’s. 8 For though I should boast somewhat more of our authority, which the Lord hath given us for edification, and not for your destruction, I should not be ashamed: 9 that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters” 2 Corinthians 10:7-9.

 

“Therefore we were comforted in your comfort: yea, and exceedingly the more joyed we for the joy of Titus, because his spirit was refreshed by you all. 14 For if I have boasted any thing to him of you, I am not ashamed; but as we spake all things to you in truth, even so our boasting, which I made before Titus, is found a truth. 15 And his inward affection is more abundant toward you, whilst he remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him” 2 Timothy 7:13-15.

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 8 Be Not Thou Therefore Ashamed OF THE TESTIMONY OF OUR LORD, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; 9 who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” 2 Timothy 1:7-9.

“Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness” 2 Timothy 2:14-16.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 and patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” Romans 5:1-5.

“And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. 25 For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away? 26 For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God” Luke 9:23-27.

“But when Peter was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed. 12 For before that certain came from James, he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. 13 And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. 14 But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? 15 We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” Galatians 2:11-16.

REV. CHUKIE MORSI