Why  Do We Feel So Ashamed?

Adam and Eve

Genesis 2.25 "25 And the man and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed."

then after they sinned...

Genesis 3.7 "At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves."

They automatically became aware they had violated GOD's instructions and the consequences were immediate - they had to be covered!

Ezra 9.6 "O my God, I am utterly ashamed; I blush to lift up my face to you. For our sins are piled higher than our heads, and our guilt has reached to the heavens. 7 From the days of our ancestors until now, we have been steeped in sin. That is why we and our kings and our priests have been at the mercy of the pagan kings of the land. We have been killed, captured, robbed, and disgraced, just as we are today."

2 Samuel 10.4-5 Hanun captured David's men and cut off half their beards, and half their robes, and sent them back to David in shame.

David told the men to stay in Jericho until the beards grew back in order to avoid embarrassment at home...

Being abused, or mistreated causes shame

Psalms 25.2-3 "I trust in you, my God!
Do not let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.
3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

Amazing changes developed inside David, from being an adulterer, and murderer...to being a "man after GOD's own heart."

All of us have that same opportunity.

Psalms 34.5

"Those who look to GOD for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces."

GOD humbles us, and disciplines us so that we can live lives, and make decisions that are pleasing to Him.

2 Timothy 1.12 "That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return."

Trusting in GOD, obeying Him and living righteously and landing up in jail - just as Joseph - is no reason to be ashamed, because sitting in jail is not the end of the story....

GOD always has the last say! Sometimes jail is one of the stops to a bright future in GOD.

Paul's resume...

Look at Paul's record. Would you, or your church hire this man? Probably not...

2 Corinthians 11.23-28 "Are they servants [ministers] of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served Him far more!

I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.

Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.

Three times I was beaten with rods.

Once I was stoned.

Three times I was shipwrecked.

Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.

I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas.

And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.

I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.

Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches."

A great resume, Paul!

That's what Paul feared.

Eve gazed upon the fruit from the wrong tree.

Somehow, we are deceived that the world has the answer for the church!

We try and bring the world's music and theater into the services, instead of prayer, fasting and weeping at the altar of GOD.