We all remember the phrase “Shame on you,” growing up. Well, I am here to tell you that as a Jesus follower, all of our shame is gone! Let me explain.
I kept hearing the two words, “Shackling Shame.” Not understanding what it meant, I looked up the word, discovering the root word of shackling is a shackle. We understand what a shackle is. An image of a man in handcuffs, or a man with chains around his ankles, restricting the movement, comes to mind. Prisoners and those in captivity are shackled.
That’s what shame does to us! It restricts us from being free. It’s like being chained up.
God never intended for His Kingdom-minded children to be restricted or chained like a prisoner.
Shame robs us of our identity in who we are in the Lord. It contradicts all that God said, when He said, “Let them be.” As a child of God, a follower of Jesus Christ, we have NO place in the shame arena. Don’t let the enemy keep you bound there. We all have things in our lives in our past that we are embarrassed about, or even shameful of.
As I write this, I can hear a question that some are continually tormented with. That question is, “How could I have done that?” That decision has kept some going round and round like a Ferris wheel with anguish and heartache joining them.
Can I tell you that the shame of that thing has been nailed to a tree, the cross that Jesus died upon.
Listen to this verse, “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12: 2)
There ain’t no shame greater (excuse the improper English) than hanging publicly on a cross bloody and naked. Yes, my friends the loincloth we see on the pictures did not exist when Jesus died. Theologians tell us He was naked. Think about that!
He was exposed to the whole world. Everything He owned was revealed; and He was made a public spectacle of Himself. The weight of the world and all of our sin was upon Him.
“When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; He took it away, nailing it to the cross. And disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (Colossians 2: 13-15)
Jesus took everything with Him to the cross, all of our sin and shame included.
Why do we hold on to it? It’s been nailed to the cross. Once we confess it to Him and ask for forgiveness, He takes it from us because it’s already been paid for by His blood shed on that cross.
There is no need to beat ourselves up, isolate or hide. Jesus took it from us. He is NOT the one who keeps reminding us of it, after we ask for forgiveness. That condemning voice is NOT the voice of Jesus, it’s the voice of the accuser, Satan.
Yes, sin makes us feel shame. In the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve were naked, it says, “The man and his wife were both naked, they felt no shame. (Genesis 2: 25) That was before sin entered the world. This proclamation of feeling no shame, God declared it over His children. Yes, He even knew that sin was about to enter.
- God’s declarations over our life stand firm, just because, “God Said.”
When the stone was rolled away on Resurrection Sunday, shame was rolled away, gone, too!
Kingdom-minded children of God know that “Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces.” (Psalm 34: 5)
I encourage you to read the entire Psalm, it is rich with encouragement.
Today, I am proclaiming freedom for the one who is being held captive with shame. I am declaring that there is a release from the darkness of shame. No longer shall you be a prisoner or one who is shackled with shame.
“Instead of shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance and so they will inherit a double portion in the land and everlasting joy will be theirs.” (Isaiah 61: 7)
God has taken the “dis” out of disgrace, and you are left wrapped in grace and mercy.
Actually, we are wrapped in grace, mercy, and Truth.
Be free to whom you were created to be in Jesus. No more shame, but now IN CHRIST:
Sealed with
Holiness
And
Mercy
Evermore
KINGDOM PRINCIPLE: Recognize that shame and disgrace are intended to restrict us. Grace liberates and frees us.
FOR VISUAL MESSAGE VISIT: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXHmBycvYWM&t=78s
KINGDOM ASSURANCE
You can find all of the Kingdom Assurance series posts by clicking the button below.
