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Facing Your Fears
by Darrel Rundus, GNN Founder and President
Are you filled with fear when faced with sharing your faith? Does the mere thought of telling someone about Jesus make your heart race? A few years ago, several thousand people were surveyed and asked about their greatest fears. When the survey was finished, would you believe that death was number #2 on the list? What was number #1? You guessed it, Public Speaking. That means people would rather die than speak publicly! Ironically, everyone is born with only 2-fears; do you know what they are?
The First Fear we all have is the Fear of Falling. The Second Fear is The Fear of Loud Noises. Every other Fear we have acquired in our lives is learned.
Some Fears hold us back, whiles other fears keep us from making costly mistakes. For example: The Fear of Fire is a good thing. It keeps us from getting burned. The Bible says "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."
Right here and now, let me put to rest a few very common myths and unravel a few of the lies that Satan has sown into the hearts and minds of most Christians. If you’re wise, you’ll pay close attention to what I’m going to share with you so that you will no longer buy the lie that Satan is sowing.
First, let me address where the fear comes from. 2-Timothy 1:7- "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." So if the fear doesn’t come from God, where does it come from? The obvious answer is Satan. Consider this for a minute: Do you feel fear when you sing songs, pray, go to church, fellowship, read the word, do acts of kindness, etc? Not fear like respect, but fear like intimidation. Most everyone I have ever asked the question says, "No, of course not!" Yet do you feel fear sometimes if not all the time when you share the gospel with someone? Why do you think that is? Why do you think you feel fear when you share the Gospel with non-Christians but not when you do these other things? Why? It’s because Satan knows that none of those things will directly affect the strongholds he has over the lives of non-believers. The Bible says "It’s the preaching of the cross that’s the power to salvation".
The truth is Satan doesn’t care about the believer’s soul since he can’t have it and all those other things focus mostly on your own relationship with the Lord. But it’s the preaching of the cross which is the power of God to salvation that infuriates him. You see, singing praise songs, reading the bible, praying, acts of kindness, and fellowshipping with other Christians are great things and are crucial and essential in our relationship with the Lord. But none of those things will lead someone to the Lord, only God and the gospel can do that. You see, Satan doesn’t want God to take back the souls he stole. That’s why you feel fear when sharing your faith! Satan brings fear (and lots of other distractions or deceit) against you when share the Gospel because he knows that souls are saved by the grace of God when the Gospel is preached. Satan doesn’t care how many songs we sing, prayers we pray, verses we read because none of that can save a soul! That’s why 95% of the church is doing something other than what God wants them to do! Satan has lured them into a trap of fear and futility
The next question you should ask yourself is, "If God wants me to share the gospel, than why does He allow Satan to attack me with fear and lies?" Why, because that’s when you will learn to lean on the Lord and not yourself. It’s the fear that will cause you to pray more often and to cling close to the cross in order to face your fears. The fear will drive you to cling to the cross and to lean on the Lord so that you will be led by the spirit and not by your flesh. The fear is what will help you to know your Lord more and to come to the realization that the power truly isn’t in the sower but in the seed. It will cause you to pray more, read the word more and learn what it’s like to be led by the Lord. You have nothing to fear but the fear itself. You don’t need to be afraid of the world or Satan. He’s a liar and the world is weak! Even Satan has to yield to the power of Jesus which has been given to you for the purpose of plowing and planting the seed of the gospel to people. Matthew 10:24-26- "A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master. If the head of the house has been called Beelzebub, how much more the members of his household! So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."
A well known Evangelist went to visit Jim Baker when he was in prison for all the terrible things Jim had done. He asked Jim, when did you stop loving Jesus? Jim answered saying, "I never did!" The Evangelist didn’t believe him so he persisted saying, "Jim, come on!" "You’re in jail for doing things that made the entire body of Christ look bad, What do you mean you never stopped loving him?" Jim said, "I never stopped loving Him, the problem was I had stopped fearing him."
Don’t be afraid!
Proverbs 29:25"The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted." How about you? Will you do what Jesus did and start boldly sowing the seed of the gospel or will you continue to allow your fear of men trap you? If you will, I promise you that you’ll start to experience the full favor of God and you will be exalted. If you’ll take a small step of faith and face you fear, you will start to see God supernaturally show up and do amazing work in your heart, mind and life. He’ll give you the courage, words and wisdom you need to be a successful seed sower.
Fear #1 - I may not have an answer or I don’t know what to say.
Would we stop going to school just because the teacher may ask us a question we don’t know? What about going to church? Maybe we should all stop coming to church because someone may ask us a question we don’t have an answer for? No, of course not, that’s how we learn. Repetition is the mother of all learning and there’s no better teacher than experience. Just because you don’t know the Bible backwards and forwards doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t share the Gospel. You don’t have to be a picture perfect preacher and have all the answers to effectively share your faith. 1 Corinthians 2:1-4-"When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power," All you have to know is that you were blind and now you see because Jesus saved you from your sin on the cross at Calvary and then let the spirit of God do the rest. You broke the Law and Jesus paid your fine; it’s as simple as that! Besides, if someone asks you a question and you don’t know the answer, where will you find it? In the Bible of course! That means the more you witness the more you’ll read the word and the better you’ll began to understand it. Listen to what Peter said in about knowing what to say: 1 Peter 3:15- "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect"
Remember, your words don’t matter anyway. The power is in the seed and comes from the spirit of God; it’s not the sower that brings salvation. God’s word is a mighty lion that devours the hearts of men and women when you let it out and it will never return void. Isaiah 55:9-11- "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."
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Fear #2 - What will people say to or about me?
Luke 12:4-5,"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. Instead of being concerned about what people may say you should consider what Jesus will say on the day you meet Him. Matthew 10:32-33 - "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven." Do you actively profess Jesus as Lord before men? If not, does it concern you that on the day you stand before Him He may say, "I never knew you?" Are we so afraid of man that we would deny our Lord? What did Jesus say about the world loving you? John 15:19-21 - If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. If you care more about what the world thinks than what your Lord commands of you, is He really your Lord? Listen to what Paul wrote about living for the Lord in Romans 12:1-3 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you."
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Fear #3 - What will people think, or they'll think that I'm a Jesus freak?
Do we stop going to work because people think we’re something we aren’t or because they might say something about you? Do we stop going to work because people think we’re something we aren’t? As a Christian, do you care what people think about you because you go to church? Do we stop reading the word because people think we’re weird? No, of course not! How ridiculous is it then to use that as an excuse not to stand up and speak out for Jesus? Maybe you care more about what people think than what God commands? Be honest with yourself and see if you care more about the praise of men than the praises of our father who is heaven. John 12:41-43 - Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory and spoke about him. Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God. Who do you serve, Man or God? Are you a friend to the world or a friend of Gods? Listen to what James said about people who are a friend of the world. James 4:4 "You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Try to stop thinking about what people will think and start focusing on what God thinks about you. Are you a "Good and Faithful Servant" doing what the master told you to do? Think about heavenly things and the righteousness of God and not what the world thinks of you. John 16:33 - I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Don’t concern yourself with what other people will think or say about you. Focus first and foremost on what God thinks about you! Colossians 3:1-2 – "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." The more you deny yourself and focus on you commitment to Christ the more you will grow as a Christian.
2 Thessalonians 2:14-15– "He called you to this through our gospel that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter."
So stand firm on the word of God! He will sustain you and give you the words the wisdom and the courage you need to face your fears and share your faith.
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Fear #4 - What will people do?
People of the world will do exactly what the Bible says they will do to you. 2 Timothy 3:12-"In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted," But listen to what Jesus said about the persecutions you will suffer through and the blessings that come along with them. Luke 6:22-23 - "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. "Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets." Mark 10:29-30 -"I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life. So you will be persecuted, mocked, made fun of, and the world will probably hate you because of your love for Jesus and you commitment to share the gospel. However, when they do, you will be storing up great treasure in heaven and on earth. Besides, persecution has the ability to strengthen you, your character and your relationship with Jesus. Romans 5:3-4- "We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." So don’t be afraid to share your faith because of what people will do. If you never share the gospel how then can you be persecuted and thus earn any treasure or be stretched and therefore have your faith and character in Christ increased? Staying silent and satisfied in your own salvation because you’re worried or afraid of what people will do is not an option! 1 Corinthians 4:1-3 - So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself.
Look at it like this, the worst thing that could happen is that they could kill you. And we all know to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. So don’t worry, if they kill you, they’ll be doing you a favor. Besides, Jesus also said in John 15:13 – "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Seriously, no one’s going to kill you for sharing the gospel, most likely… You may feel like you would rather be dead but if you open your mouth I assure you, the fear will flee when you open up your mouth and you will find yourself supernaturally supercharged and alive in Christ like you’ve never been before. Besides, you have the power of God working in and through you. You need not fear the enemy. Why? 1 John 4:4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
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You’re right, it’s not easy. Quick and Easy is how you bake a cake or pop popcorn but it’s not how to build the best relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. If you want to take the easy road you might just want to ask yourself where that road leads. According to Jesus, the easy or popular way isn’t going to take you where you want to go.
1 Corinthians 9:19-25 - Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.
It takes time and effort to learn how to effectively share your faith, but rest assured, your time, energy and effort will be greatly rewarded; not by worldly standards but by God’s. So if you don’t know how to do it, go into strict training and make yourself a slave to everyone as to win as many as possible. Get into God’s game of end times evangelism and quit sitting on the sidelines satisfied in your own salvation.
If I said,"I’ll pay you $1,000.00 every time you shared the gospel, then how many times today would you share your faith? If you would do it for money, how much more should you do it out of love and gratitude for what Christ did for you on the cross at Calvary? Matthew 6:24 - No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money. So if you’d do it for money how much more should you be willing to do it for the Lord who sacrificed Himself to save your soul from Hell?
In closing, I would like to sum it all up in one scripture, Matthew 6:33– "Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and then all these things will be added to you." You see, in order to please God you need to focus first on His will and His desire. Then and only then can all the other things be added to you. The trick is not to tell God how great your fear is; tell your fear how great your God is!Everyone feels fear when sharing the Gospel but God lets it happen so you will lean on Him and not on your own understanding.
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Want to be like a mighty king of God? Listen to what David (who had everything and could do anything) said about talking to people about God. Psalm 40:8-10– "I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know, O LORD . I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly."
Jesus said, Luke 19:15-27- ""He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. "The first one came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' " 'Well done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' "The second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' "His master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.' "Then another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid away in a piece of cloth. I was afraid of you, because you are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow.' "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow? Why then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have collected it with interest?' "Then he said to those standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten minas.' " 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has ten!' "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But those enemies of mine who did not want me to be king over them—bring them here and kill them in front of me.""
So be a good and faithful servant and much more will be given to you. It’s so important that you can be trusted in this small matter so that God can give you so much more. If you won’t obey Him and His command to preach the gospel, how than can He be your Lord? Last but not least, Jesus said: Matthew 4:19 - "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." If you’re not fishing for men, than are you really following Jesus the way you should?
Everything you need to effectively sow the seed of the gospel will be given to you from above. When I feel fear when faced with sharing my faith, I simply recite the following verse and it gives me the courage to face the fear and it helps me to push through it. Proverbs 28:1 "The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion." So you need to quit fleeing from your fear and worrying about what people will do. Be as bold as a lion for all things are possible for Christ who lives in you. Build your relationship with Jesus on the Rock of Evangelism and be a little bolder for Christ!
Last but not least, remember the antidote for your fear is love. 1 John 4:18– "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." Stop buying the lies that Satan sows and put your full faith and trust in Jesus and His love for you. Run the race that’s been marked out for you with perseverance and stick to the good fight. Keep the faith and face your fears. 2 Timothy 4:7– "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." Work for God! He’s the best boss you’ll ever have and the retirement benefits are out of this world!
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