Let Me Not Be Ashamed

Temple Baptist Church - 8-15-2010

Psalm 25:1-22

Introduction:

A. A few months ago, as we were leaving LaForrest after a service, Chris Harris was leaning back on his car with his Bible in his hand and as I approached, he said that he wanted to give me a verse that would help me. The verse said in part, “Let me not be ashamed.” I have said before and want to say again, “Thank you, Chris, for giving me some encouragement that day.” I have thought of that verse often since. “Let me not be ashamed!”

B. There are many things that I am and have been ashamed of in my life.

1. I am ashamed of the things that I have done before my salvation. I do not brag on those things and thank God that they are under the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He remembers them no more and I have no right to do so either. I did them but I am “not guilty!” I have been justified fully through Calvary’s payment. Just as if I had never sinned.

2. I am ashamed of some things that I have done since I have been saved. There have been times of sinfulness, unfaithfulness, failure, etc. I have not been perfect nor can I even claim that I have been good. I am not proud of myself; I am proud of my Lord. I thank God for 1 John 1:9. If a man could ever “wear out” a verse, I would worn that one our years ago.

C. I have been saved for almost 34 years now and have never been ashamed of the Lord. I have not always understood His ways but, looking back with spiritual hindsight, I have found that He has never let me down nor has He done wrong. Sometimes our hard times are long because sin has a course and must run that course until “sin is finished but God is still good all of the time.

D. The phrase “let me not be ashamed” is found only four times in the Bible with all of those references in found in the Psalms. Many of the Psalms rooted in the trials and tribulations of God’s people. Each of these verses that we have read have to do with trusting God in times when only He can bring our troubles to a right end.

We not only place our personal faith in a God that can do anything, anywhere, at any time—but also share that faith with others. How many times have I heard God’s people, in the midst of some great tragedy or trial tell others, “It will be alright! God will take care of us.”

E. The Bible teaches us that our confidence is to be in the Lord. Not in men; not in princes; not in horses; not in our flesh; etc. but in the Lord God Almighty!

Proverbs 3:26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.

1 John 5:14 And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: (Faith in God brings about confidence in God which brings about peace in God which brings about rest in God!)

1. Let me not be ashamed in my trials - Psalms 25:2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Hebrews 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward.

Psalms 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Daniel 6:20-22 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? (21) Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. (22) My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. (The Lord has promised to be there with me and for me in every circumstance of this life and I believe that He will do as He promised. At the end of this and every trial of life, I want to be able to stand before both the people of God and the world while saying, “The Lord is still good all of the time!” I never want anyone to know that God will let them down when they need Him most!)

2. Let me not be ashamed before my enemies - Psalms 25:20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee.

Psalms 31:17 Let me not be ashamed, O LORD; for I have called upon thee: let the wicked be ashamed, and let them be silent in the grave.

Psalms 42:10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God?

Micah 7:10 Then she that is mine enemy shall see it, and shame shall cover her which said unto me, Where is the LORD thy God? mine eyes shall behold her: now shall she be trodden down as the mire of the streets. (There are those who desire to either hurt me and my family or see us hurt. I want my enemies to know my God! “Where is your God now?” they ask. I never want to have to report to them that my God decided not to “show up” on my behalf this time and let them know that their “god” was greater than mine! I desire that they see His integrity and character, not mine. This would give the both my enemies and the enemies of God an occasion to blaspheme!)

3. Let me not be ashamed before my family - Psalms 119:116 Uphold me according unto thy word, that I may live: and let me not be ashamed of my hope.

Matthew 19:29 And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. (Many years ago, the Lord saved and called my family to leave our homes, friends, and family to serve Him. We sold out and left, never doubting God’s call. I want our family to know that that same God who called us away is able to keep us and take care of us when times get tough. I want them to know my God! I never want to have to drop my head in shame and let them say “God let you down when you needed Him!”)

4. Let me not be ashamed of Thy provision - Psalms 37:19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time: and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Psalms 37:25 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (The Lord has promised to supply all my need according to riches in glory. He has said that He gives us all things pertaining to both life and godliness. I never want to have to go to someone, with my head hung in shame, and beg because my God did not supply!)

5. Let me never be ashamed of my God! Psalms 69:6 Let not them that wait on thee, O Lord GOD of hosts, be ashamed for my sake: let not those that seek thee be confounded for my sake, O God of Israel.

Isaiah 50:7 For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded: therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. (I desire to spend the rest of my life telling both the saved and a lost world that you can trust God with your eternal life, your temporal life, and every need and circumstance that you will face!)

Philippians 1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.