Naked But Not Ashamed or Naked But Ashamed
I write today on just two lessons of the thirty lessons I discovered from my research that are tied to the story of Adam and Eve in the Holy Bible.
- Undisclosed Sin Separates Us from God And as a result, we Become Afraid and Ashamed.
- Adam has greater accountability in the story; Adam is the MAN.
The Holy Spirit of God directed me to write on the Adam and Eve story because of my personal experience
My Personal Experience
A couple of years back I had a dream and when I woke up, all I could say was ‘Wow, what a dream’. I got dressed up and off I went to work. I had a younger female colleague who happened to be a good friend. She was in a different department from mine. By the way, that colleague is currently the Managing Director of a reputable global brand in a country outside her country of origin. She makes us proud! I wish her more success in her career and her personal life.
Naturally, my friend whom I call Mary – the pseudo name – was the first person I called when I got to my office. I said, please stop by at my desk when you have a minute. She said no problems. As she sat in front of me, I said to her, I had a dream last night. And she said if you called me to your office to recount this dream, then I am ALL EARS!
It must be damn ‘inte-resss-tinng’ she said. So, I laughed and said, ‘not sure how interesting the dream is, but what I am sure about is ‘I am shaken by the dream’. At this point, she leaned forward towards me and said, please tell me…I am listening.
Then I said, Mary, I dreamt that I was Naked But Not Ashamed. And she said you are strange you know. And I said why do you say this? And she said I am currently reading a book that is titled exactly what you just said. Naked But Not Ashamed by TD Jakes. I said really? She said yes. She went on to explain briefly the key message of the book from her readings so far and she promised to bring me the book the next day at work.
When I read the book, TD Jakes was saying, we should come naked before God with our sins because God already knows about our sins and God is willing to forgive us, for as long as we ask for forgiveness and we discontinue sin. For God promises Mankind that through the redemptive blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, all sins are forgiven. With the help of the Holy Spirit of God, we will discontinue sin.
I recommend you get a copy of Bishop TD Jakes’ book if you have not read it. It will bless you tremendously.
No longer a slave to guilt, shame, and fear.
In the dream, I felt so confident even though naked, with my Head up and the most distinguished steps someone who has just won the highest Grammy awards would take when called to the podium to receive the trophy. After reading the book, I made a vow to my God and myself that I would rather self-disclose my sins than be caught hiding away and become a slave to guilt, shame, and fear.
The feeling of confidence was way more comforting and rewarding than a feeling of guilt, shame, and fear. And I went on to say to Mary that God help me, even if I am tempted to couch my sins so it is not that terrible in the eyes of God and the eyes of MAN, may God not permit me to fall to the position of ‘lying’ because of shame, guilt, and fear.
Why did I say that? Because first God is All-Knowing, Ever-Present, and All-Powerful; Omniscient, Omnipresent, and Omnipotent. We cannot hide our sins from him and he alone has the Power to forgive sins. Secondly, I know for certain that full disclosure of ‘hidden secrets’ brings us peace and joy. This ‘upfront’ approach though easier said than done I must admit, is more acceptable and pleasing to God Almighty. I will keep trying to give this approach of living my very best shot in Jesus’ name I pray.
Undisclosed Sin Separates Us from God And as a result we Become Ashamed.
So, my first lesson from the story of Adam and Eve is that when we conceal our sins from God, we are separated from God and all the benefits that God has given mankind. Before the fall of Adam and Eve, Adam and Eve enjoyed a harmonious relationship with God our creator in a beautiful environment in the garden of Eden. However, MAN fell from God’s glory when he sinned. Instantly, a rift between God and Man was produced just after they sinned.
Naked But Ashamed
Adam and Eve became aware that they were naked and became afraid and ashamed. When God called Adam after they had eaten of the fruit, Adam, where are you? In response to God, in Genesis 3:10, Adam said ‘I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid’. Adam and Eve were not only afraid, but they were also ashamed. Then the conversation with God continued and Adam said at a point ‘The Woman you put here with me, she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it’.
Then God addressed Eve ‘what is this you have done’? and Eve answered, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate’. May God save the Men and Women from the serpentine spirits. Why did Adam allow Eve to engage with the leviathan spirit?
From one of my readings about evil spirits, I learned that the serpentine spirit of darkness is the most wicked of all evil spirits in the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan. The spirit is also known as the leviathan spirit or the lying spirit. You do NOT negotiate or engage with the spirit of the leviathan. You rebuke it by the blood of Jesus, and you command the wicked spirit to the pit of hell to be consumed by hell fire in perpetuity.
Adam has greater accountability in the story; Adam is the MAN
The second lesson I learned from the story is that Adam has greater accountability in the Fall of Man. Why? because Adam is the MAN.
This topic of Adam and Eve is Dear to my heart because I have three adult sons.
Adam has greater accountability in the story. Adam is the MAN. In the book of First Timothy 2:14, we get more understanding of what happened in the garden of Eden. Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived fell into transgression and caused Adam to also fall into transgression. The question is how did Adam being the Head of the family, was not the one to engage the leviathan (Satan-the serpent) in the conversation in the garden of Eden. Should Adam not be the one to converse with the devil and stand against the devil. Rather, Adam gladly shirked his responsibility to his wife so he can hide under the pretext of ‘The Woman you put here with me-she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it’. Shifting the blame to the woman and God.
Rebellion That Cause The Fall of MANKIND
Adam knew that by eating the fruit, he, and his wife, were rebelling against God. And this rebellion cost humanity its kingdom position and caused the fall of Mankind; Mankind that was created in God’s image and likeness fell on the account of this grave SIN.
Adam took his eyes off the ball when Eve succumbed to Satan’s temptation that caused the fall of MAN. What Can I say other than ‘it is what it is’. God allowed this to happen because God had a solution ahead already to redeem MAN from this Fall. The solution is in Christ Jesus, the only begotten Son of God who was God made flesh to be sacrificed for the sins of Mankind so that mankind can be saved. Hallelujah!
As I listened to Pastor Jerry Eze’s Livestream this Sunday morning, his sermon resonated greatly with my spirit, and these are my takeaways that speak to both Men and Women concerning the Adam/Eve relationship and roles:
For Men
MEN are carrying seeds of destinies and cannot be passive-Men must pray ceaselessly so that their seeds of destiny will crystallize as God-ordained for their families
MEN are admonished therefore Not to Be Passive
There are blessings a MAN carries and gives out in line with God’s plan that a woman cannot carry and give out
There are gates only a MAN can Man
Finally, Hear Ye Oh Men, ‘DO NOT GIVE your Spiritual Gates to Women’.
For Women
Women are admonished NOT to be Gateways of Negativity. This is deep. Women are called here not to open the flanks for the enemy to come in to attack not just the Man and herself but also to attack destinies of generations yet unborn.
Though the admonishment for women in the Pastor’s sermon is just one, however, this admonishment is pregnant with several meanings in my understanding.
I say here like I have often heard ‘He who has ears let him hear’.
May God help us All live the life of our destinies as ordained by God.
Praise be to Our God Almighty; Praise be to Our Lord Jesus and Praise be to the Holy Spirit of the Living God! Hallelujah!
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