Look with me in the scriptures in the book of 2 Timothy, the first chapter and the 12th verse,

2nd Timothy 112. He said in this scripture, something we've been looking at for a few weeks

now, he said,

for the which cause I suffer these things, and if you read the previous verses, he's talking

about suffering, being persecuted for preaching the gospel. Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed.

For I know, let me just stop here.

The Bible said they that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

And, you know, people, nobody likes to be talked about negatively. Nobody likes to be ostracized or separated from others' company. But if you really stand up for the Lord,

you're going to get some of that without exception. But here's the thing.

He said, nevertheless, I'm not ashamed.

People will try to shame you for believing what you do.

Intellectuals will try to shame you because you're obviously not that intelligent and weak and need the crutch of religion.

Others will try to, those who hold more traditional, and when I say that, man's tradition, views of religion and even Christianity,

they'll mock you for believing and speaking in tongues. People will speak ill of you for believing that God's a God of abundance and would be involved in prosperity for his people.

But you and I, like Paul, we do not have to receive shame.

Even though people may try to shame you, they haven't shamed you unless you receive it.

If somebody says, shame on you, we're going over there to that faith church.

I just had somebody tell me a while back that a person told them they would do something for them financially if they'd quit going to our church.

Have you ever heard of such a thing? And the person told them, are you kidding? I wouldn't even be alive. They said it if I hadn't been going there and learned about faith. Well, it's people trying to shame you, trying to

shame you. Shame on you for this or that. And you can just say, well, don't try to shame me.

It's going to boomerang come back on your head because I don't receive it. I'm not ashamed.

Paul said it in Romans. I'm not ashamed of Paul said it in Romans.

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