The Truth in Print Vol. 30, Issue 6, July 2024

A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,

2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)

                                                        

Website Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

 

 

Shame Has Its Place 

 

Pro 11:2 When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom. 

 

When lives spiritually are at stake to save them shame matters (!!) and has a place.

 

Shame is a consequence of sin that is a violation of God’s law; with sin there is sting of conscience (that’s shame). Others sins cause disappointment (that’s shame in the sense you can be ashamed because you expected more out of them). Fear to act on a matter leads to procrastination that is tied to one’s pride and things get worse. There is the fear of losing family who become disobedient that leads to putting them first before God (that’s a shameful thing! Matt 10:37). Sinful pride produces being silent when knowing you speak up (that’s shameful!). Shame comes by reproof designed to produce shame; withdrawal produces shame if the Christian still has not hardened their heart completely (2 Th 3:6,14 “be ashamed” [G1788] “to invert, turn one upon himself” … “to shame one”). Lack of study produces the shame of our spiritual work being a failure and not being approved by God (2 Ti 2:15). Paul gave Timothy a warning in 2 Tim 1:8 to spare him shame.

 

 

HYPOCRITES WILL BE SHAMED DOWN BY THE TRUTH.

 

 

A Woman With A Disabling Spirit From Satan (Lk 13:10-17).

 

Luk 13:10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

Luk 13:11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

Luk 13:12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."

Luk 13:13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Luk 13:14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, "There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day."

Luk 13:15 The Lord then answered him and said, "Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

Luk 13:16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?"

Luk 13:17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

 

Read that and see the example of adversaries of the truth being “put to shame”; and all the multitude rejoicing over Jesus’ teaching and works. After the rebuke given to the hypocritical and angry ruler, answering is a problem for adversaries (Lk 13:14).

 

 

·       “put to shame” [G2617 from 2596 “down” and G135 vb. “to feel

shame (for oneself)] Strong’s: “to shame down, that is, disgrace or (by implication) put to the blush: - confound, dishonour, (be a-, make a-) shame (-d).   

 

You have the woman (Lk 13:11), the hypocrite (Lk 13:14 – here you see the love of human traditions that means everything), the rebuke (Lk 13:15-16), and all the adversaries put to shame (Lk 13:17). (“Well Bob, you know each man can have his own interpretation” – Answer: Eph. 3:4. When you read the New Testament you can understand it.)

 

 

When the Jewish leaders could say nothing to contradict the lame man being healed by Peter (Acts 3:7), then they confer together, threaten them and command them not to speak further in the name of Christ (Acts 4:14-17) --- brethren today confer with one another, and when the truth becomes apparent they are shamed down and their hope of harming you because of their trap (defamation) is lost (I Pet 3:14-16). 

 

Compare such hypocrites who put Stephen to death (Acts 6:10). They can’t out argue or answer against God’s word! First they are unable to cope with the Spirit speaking through Stephen, then they murder him. You see the promise in Lk 21:15 fulfilled – they would not be able to correctly refute or oppose with man’s wisdom.

 

In Corinth The Majority Was Filled With Pride, And Did Not Mourn Shameful Conduct (I Cor 5:1-2).

 

1Co 5:1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father's wife! 

1Co 5:2 And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 

1Co 5:3 For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. 

1Co 5:4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Co 5:5 deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. 

1Co 5:6 Your glorying is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 

 

When you see others in spiritual danger of bad leaven because you are not acting to see it is corrected how should you feel?

 

The Devil’s seducer can be right in a classroom, coming in late, seldom coming, and just little by little introducing the works of the flesh in comments, speech, attitude against the truth and study of the word, looking at a cell phone not interested in studying --- that’s why mothers who care take those cell phones away from kids when they come to church.

 

Teachers who teach correct shameful matters – parent’s sinful pride gets in the way of that -- when you see others in spiritual danger for what your pride participated in by not speaking up how should you feel?

 

Look at “some”:

 

1Co 15:33 Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 

1Co 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. 

 

1Co 15:12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

 

Those who want the sinful pleasures of the world convince themselves that the resurrection of the unjust to eternal death isn’t coming to them (Jo 5:29). A member of the church who in their heart is a Sadducee lives however they want to live! Shame comes when members are corrupted by evil companions among them. A lot of things are going on when there are prolonged problems with a member, or “some.”

 

 

Young Christians, you will live your lives if faithful seeing God using things the world considers foolish, weak, not noble enough, and things just brought to pass in His rule over this world, and His helping faithful churches and members (I Cor 1:27). Watch how God does that! – He is not impressed with things that men hold in high esteem using human wisdom.

 

Paul was confident to speak the truth about all things concerning the situation in the church at Corinth, to not become ashamed. In the fornicator not being dealt with sinful pride was there – there were many things that needed to be repented of (2 Cor 7:14). His motive for speaking the truth about all things was “care” (I Cor 7:12) – “care” [G4710] Thayer: 2b) to give all diligence, interest oneself most earnestly; Strong’s: speed, dispatch, haste in taking care of things] – this is described as love [G25 affection, brotherly love] (2 Co 2:4).

 

 

Judah’s Fornication With Tamar His Ex-Daughter-In-Law Was Well Published (Gen 38:20-23).

 

First, Judah took a wife for Err his firstborn whose name was Tamar (Gen 38:6). Err was wicked and God killed him (Gen 38:7).

 

Then Judah told his second son Onan:

 

Gen 38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. Gen 38:9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. Gen 38:10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.

 

That only leaves Shelah his third born, and Judah promises Tamar, his daughter-in-law, he’ll give her Shelah when he’s grown. He lied!

 

Then Judah’s own wife dies and after a while he goes up to his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. Tamar is told this, disguises herself a harlot, and waited by the way to Timnath. He gives her his signet, cord, and staff as a pledge to bring a young goat as payment later. Later, he sends the goat by his friend Hiram:

 

 

Gen 38:20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand, but he did not find her.

Gen 38:21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, "Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?" And they said, "There was no harlot in this place."

Gen 38:22 So he returned to Judah and said, "I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place."

Gen 38:23 Then Judah said, "Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her."

 

Is God not making a public spectacle out of him! He thinks he’s been beat out of his signet, cord, and staff by a prostitute! There will be shame by continuing to ask about the supposed prostitute -– all the vicinity was hearing his friend “publish” while seeking the harlot to pay her and retrieve his pledge!

 

        “shamed” H937 from H936; contempt: — contempt (9), despised (1), laughingstock (1).

 

        Does not the world see shameful deeds? (Rev 3:18).

 

Members of the church at Laodicea needed to repent and do works of righteousness, so their shame might no longer be revealed.

 

Rev 3:18 I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. 

 

ASPECTS OF SHAME AND BEING ASHAMED

 

Paul Knew In Nothing He Would Be Ashamed (Phil 1:20).

 

When you know the Gospel preached and obeyed saves unto eternal life then in nothing you’ll be ashamed in walking in obedience. Why? Because Christ is seated upon His throne with all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt 28:18-20). Christ is King (Rev 19:16) -- Satan, using Rome and its sub-kingdoms could not the church on earth. Because the Word of Christ, the New Testament, is the power of God unto salvation and where strength is found. Paul wasn’t ashamed of the revealed Word (Rom 1:16 “not ashamed” means not “to feel shame for” – be ashamed of).

 

Paul told timothy not to be ashamed and stated the reason in 2 Tim 1:7.

 

2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 

2Ti 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, 

2Ti 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, 

2Ti 1:10 but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, 

2Ti 1:11 to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. 

 

2Ti 1:12 For this reason 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 what I have committed to Him until that Day. 

 

Paul and others were willing to suffer and did rejoice to suffer shame (Acts 5:41 “suffer shame” [G818] maltreatment, to be despised, treated shamefully] – for preaching the gospel and living it!

 

In difficult times you seek continual renewal every day through the word:

 

Eph 4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 

Eph 4:18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; 

Eph 4:19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. 

Eph 4:20 But you have not so learned Christ, 

Eph 4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 

Eph 4:22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 

Eph 4:23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 

Eph 4:24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. 

 

In the truth of the Word, we are sanctified (Jo 17:17); God’s promise of salvation in Christ and that hope of eternal salvation is sure (Titus 1:2) -- all the promises of God are sure (2 Cor 1:19-20).

 

This knowledge produces great boldness of speech:

 

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

 

 

There is shame in not having boldness of speech.

 

·       “boldness” [G3954] from G3956 “the whole” and a derivative of G4483

“to command and speak.” Strong’s def.: “all out spokenness, that is, frankness, bluntness, publicity.”

 

You make yourself conspicuous with it. Sound doctrine doesn’t depend on whether they like you or not! You don’t back up --- if an opponent is honest they have nothing they can say against sound speech and are ashamed:

 

Tit 2:7 in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,

Tit 2:8 sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.

 

·       “ashamed” [G1788] “to turn one against himself” (Titus 2:8).

 

 

If you are having trouble spiritually, then you ask for help from those who are confident scripturally with the Truth – If you can’t handle a situation, either your own or another’s – including your family members – seek help. Don’t hide it!

 

Knowledge is knowing to ask when you need help, and knowing to speak and not remain silent – seeing misconduct from fellow Christians and not speaking nor trying to help is just plain wrong.

 

 

THERE ARE OTHER WORDS AS WELL AS STATEMENTS, AND PHRASES, BESIDES SHAME AND ASHAMED THAT INCLUDE SHAME IN THEIR EXPLANATIONS.

 

We See The World’s Hatred Of The Light In Jo 3:19-21.

 

Joh 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 

Joh 3:20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 

Joh 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God." 

 

Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to it “lest his deeds should be exposed.”

 

·       “exposed” / “reproved” [G1651] Strong’s: - convict, convince, tell a

fault, rebuke, reprove. > CWSD:  In the NT, to convict, to prove one in the wrong and thus to shame him.

 

The Woke Cause Themselves To Be Disgraced.

 

Lesbians are real women!

 

Rom 1:26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

 

·       “vile” passions (Rom 1:26) - “vile” [G819] Strong’s: comparative

indignity, (objectively) disgrace: - dishonour, reproach, shame, vile.

 

Homosexuals are real men!

 

Rom 1:27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 

 

·       “indecent acts” (Rom 1:27) “indecent” [G808] Thayer: 1b) of one’s

nakedness, shame.

 

Understand that they cause this disgrace themselves! Compare the word “abominable”:

 

Rev 21:8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." 

 

·       “abominable” [G948] “to cause to be abhorred” – appears in context

with sexual immoralities.

 

The person who works an abomination:

 

Rev 21:27 But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb's Book of Life. 

 

·       “abomination” [G946] “to stink, emit a foul odor.”

 

A faithful Christian is not going to endorse what stinks!

 

All of these are related to shame when preaching:

 

·       “rebuke” G2008 (2 Tim 4:2) Thayer: 4) to tax with fault, rate,

chide, rebuke, reprove, censure severely 4a) to admonish or charge sharply.   

 

·       “convict” G1651 (Titus 1:9) Strong’s: - convict, convince, tell

a fault, rebuke, reprove. CWSD: In the NT, to convict, to prove one in the wrong and thus to shame him.

 

·       “convict” G1651 Thayer: 2a2) to call to account, show one his fault,

demand an explanation. 

 

Some want to act like they are fighting for the Truth, but they are not really fighting. A rebuke stings. General Inquiry does not (!!) replace the work of rebuking. The receiver knows what it sounds like, and it is not a rebuke!

 

Peter’s Shame.

 

Mat 26:69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, "You also were with Jesus of Galilee." 

Mat 26:70 But he denied it before them all, saying, "I do not know what you are saying." 

Mat 26:71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth." 

Mat 26:72 But again he denied with an oath, "I do not know the Man!" 

Mat 26:73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, "Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you." 

Mat 26:74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, "I do not know the Man!" Immediately a rooster crowed. 

Mat 26:75 And Peter remembered the word of Jesus who had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." So he went out and wept bitterly. 

 

·       “wept bitterly” (Mat 26:75). When you call to mind a warning,

and you’ve just done exactly what you were warned you feel shame. Someone cared to warn you. This weeping was not like Saul’s false tears when David cut off a corner of his robe while he slept in the cave (2 Sam 24:16); and not like Saul’s false confession when David took his spear and jug of water, and he says he’s a fool (2 Sam 26:21).

 

 

Simon’s Shame.

 

Act 8:18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 

Act 8:19 saying, "Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit." 

Act 8:20 But Peter said to him, "Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! 

Act 8:21 You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. 

Act 8:22 Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. 

Act 8:23 For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity." 

Act 8:24 Then Simon answered and said, "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me." 

 

Simon the past sorcerer, and past great man among the people, was convicted, ashamed and terrified of God’s wrath that comes without repentance. He did the right thing here: "Pray to the Lord for me, that none of the things which you have spoken may come upon me." (Acts 8:24)

 

 

Shame Is A Consequence.

 

Pro19:26 He that wasteth his father, and chaseth away his mother, is a son that causeth shame, and bringeth reproach.

 

·       “shame” [H954] by implication to be ashamed; also (by implication) to

be disappointed, or delayed: - (be, make, bring to, cause, put to, with, a-) shame (-d), be (put to) confounded (-fusion) …

 

·       “reproach” [H2659] - be ashamed, be confounded, be brought

to confusion (unto shame), come (be put to) shame, bring reproach.

 

 

You start mocking your non-woke parents, and you just might have cut your life short! (Eph 6:1-3).

 

Pro 29:15 The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.

 

Disregard Pro 29:15 and you will have an Adonijah (Adonijah set himself up as King).

 

1Ki 1:5 Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. 

 

Failing family copy failing family, and members of other families that have failed in the past! He’s copying Absalom who was also a great failure. They rebelled against David their father.

 

1Ki 1:6 And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. 

 

·       Displeased [H6087] A verb meaning a combination of physical and

emotional pain: to hurt, to pain, to grieve.

 

This is David’s inaction when Adonijah attempted to usurp the throne (1Ki 1:6). When a child wants to be your King and you let it go on, and don’t question strongly and stop things it ends in disaster. David and his wives produced some handsome children – which doesn’t amount to a hill of beans as regards righteousness.

 

Having obeyed the gospel, you still feel shame for past sins now (at the present time):

 

Rom 6:20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 

Rom 6:21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 

 

This is a reminder the outcome of those things is eternal death in Hell.

 

Those who exchange their soul’s salvation for material things are ashamed of Christ, and He will be ashamed of them when He comes – they will be lost eternally: (Mk 8:34-38). To think you can spend your life not going to church, not serving God in “every good work” (Titus 1:16, 3:1) is to be self-deceived – this is the materialistic man’s own imagination (Pr 18:11). 

 

Mar 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 

Mar 8:35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. 

Mar 8:36 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? 

Mar 8:37 Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Mar 8:38 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." 

 

As the gospel is preached the heart is pricked:

 

Act 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." 

Act 2:37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Men and brethren, what shall we do?" 

Act 2:38 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 

Act 2:39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." 

Act 2:40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." 

Act 2:41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 

 

·       “pricked” (Acts 2:38) [G2660] CWSD: “meaning to be greatly pained

or deeply moved.” This goes with their asking the right question as to what to do to be saved (Acts 2:37). And the right answer in Acts 2:38 goes with the right question! You see the results of obeying in Acts 2:41, which marks the beginning of Christ’s church He promised to build (Matt 16:18). They were baptized as commanded! True conversions had “received the word glady” – they continued steadfastly in worship (Acts 2:41). God enabled them to do that! 

 

 

 

The Valley Church of Christ

2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364

(928) 782-5058 ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00; Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.

Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm

 

To learn more call, visit or visit our website at:

http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com

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