Lesson 9
Evangelism without Fear
Fear takes many forms and has many sources. Earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes, cancer, prolonged illness, and people can be the cause of debilitating fear in our lives. However, with God's help, guidance, and intervention, we try to face our fears and become stronger in our Christian walk as a result.
Then one Sunday the pastor preaches about witnessing and evangelism, and we become fearful again. Why is there fear in many hearts when it comes to witnessing and evangelism? How does it come? What do we do about it?
Probing The Depths
How is the word “fear” used in the following verses.
Exodus 15:16
Exodus 20:20
Proverbs 29:25
Isaiah 8:13
Hosea 3:5
Matthew 10:26–28
Philippians 1:14
Hebrews 11:27
Hebrews 13:6
Word Wealth
Fear, morah (moh-rah); Strong's #4172 Fear, reverence, terror, awe; an object of fear, respect, or reverence. Morah is derived from yare', “to be afraid of, to fear, to reverence.” Morah occurs a dozen times in the Old Testament, beginning with Genesis 9:2, which speaks of the fear and dread Noah's descendants would inspire in all animals after the Flood. The Lord also inspires fear, as in Psalm 76:11. In the present reference, Isaiah (8:13) is admonished never to fear human threats, but to let God alone be the object of his reverential fear. [Spirit-Filled Life Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991), 973, “Word Wealth, Is. 8:13 fear.”]
Learning From The Past
We're not the only ones who have feared sharing God with others. There are examples of fearful evangelists in both the Old and New Testaments. A review of some of their stories will help us see how fear influenced their lives and what response God made to free them so they could be used in His purposes.
God had spared Moses at birth and arranged for him to be educated in the finest schools of Egypt. Through this, Moses became a leader to serve a larger plan than he could know or guess.
But Moses spent forty years thinking he was somebody. After another forty years out in the desert exiled from Egypt, he realized he was really a nobody. His last forty years were spent finding out what God can do with a nobody.
Where would you place yourself in those three areas and why?
How do you deal with negativism?
How does your life parallel that of Moses?
Exodus 3–4 is the setting where Moses discovered that God uses nobodies. Moses had resigned himself to be a shepherd for the remainder of his years, but God's call was true.
Are you a person ready to allow God to form and shape you into a nobody He can use?
Probing The Depths
Let's examine how God changes someone into a shepherd. Often we use excuses for not answering the call of God on our lives. Read Exodus 3:1–8, and then answer the second and third columns below by looking up the first.
Reference Moses' Response God's Promise
3:9–12
3:13–22
4:1–9
4:10–12
4:13–17
Learning Evangelism From An Eighty-Year-Old
We usually see Moses as a great man of God, which he was. However, becoming a man who could evangelize both Egypt and Israel necessitated overcoming many fears.
• Fear of insignificance. No one knows me. I'm too young or inexperienced. (1 Tim. 4:11–12)
• Fear of being alone. Do I have to do this alone? Are you, God, going to be there? (John 14:16–18). Hudson Taylor said, “God's work done in God's way will not lack God's support.”
• Fear of failure. What if you can't or don't deliver your people? I'll look like a fool. (Mark 16:15–20, especially v. 20)
• Fear of talking. I have a speech problem. I don't talk very well. (See Ex. 12 and Jer. 1:6–10)
• Fear of trying. Send someone else—the pastor, elder, deacon, evangelist—not me. (John 21:15–17)
Faith Alive
In what ways do you identify with the above fears?
What could be the basis of your fears?
How can you change with the Holy Spirit's help?
Moses went back to Egypt, obeyed God, and God never let him down. Fear can keep us from proclaiming God's saving Word to people. When we give in to fear, we can still be saved, but never know what it's like to walk in the blessing of God.
Jonah: A Prejudiced Man
The book of Jonah contains some tremendous lessons about the battle between man's flesh and his spirit. Jonah was a man from Israel called by God to preach to the Assyrians in Nineveh. Rather than respond to the call to go, Jonah thought he could escape by traveling in the opposite direction.
Behind the Scenes
The prophet Jonah visited Nineveh during the glorious days of the Assyrian empire. From about 885 to 625 B.C., the Assyrians dominated the ancient world. Numerous passages in the Old Testament report advances of Assyrian military forces against the neighboring kingdoms of Judah and Israel during these years. As early as 841 B.C., Jehu, king of Israel, was forced to pay tribute to the dominating Assyrian ruler, Shalmaneser III. This kind of harassment continued for over a century until Israel finally fell to Assyrian forces about 722 B.C. No wonder Jonah was reluctant to go to Nineveh; God had called him to visit the very heartland of enemy territory and to give the hated Assyrians a chance to repent! It was a radical order that would have taxed the obedience of any prophet. Jonah's grudging attitude should not blind us to the fact that he did carry out God's command. [Nelson Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Publishers, 1986), 590 “Jonah.”]
Faith Alive
Take several minutes to read the short book of Jonah. Afterward, answer the following questions.
What was the basis of Jonah's fears?
How did God respond to the actions of a pagan city and why?
What have you learned about yourself from Jonah?
Do you fear responding to God's call?
Are you afraid God will show mercy to people you judge are undeserving?
Whose Spirit (spirit) is directing your life?
God called Jonah to evangelize, but his prejudice prevented it until God demonstrated His power. God is looking for willing, obedient people to do His work. Are you willing? How far can He send you? Only as we allow God to mold us like Moses and break us like Jonah will we be ready to evangelize under the power of the Holy Spirit.
Fearful People In The New Testament
Moses tried to convince God that He had made a mistake in selecting him to be His mouthpiece. Jonah feared that God would show mercy to Nineveh. These are Old Testament examples. Are there examples of fear in witnessing in the New Testament, especially after the empowerment of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost? Doesn't God get rid of all fear when we are full of His Spirit?
Experience teaches that we do at times fear. Perhaps you experienced a time when you met someone and automatically felt fear because of what you may have heard about that individual. If so, you are in good company with Ananias in Acts 9. God told him to go pray for a new convert, Saul (Paul). He was reluctant to go due to what he had heard about Saul. But with God's loving encouragement, Ananias eventually went to witness to Saul.
Probing The Depths
What can you find out about Ananias from Acts 9:10–19? Feel free to use the marginal references and footnotes from your study Bible. You may want to use the following questions and scriptures as starters. Review Acts 9:10–17 and 22:12–16. What kind of man was Ananias that God would call him to evangelize?
What compelled him to go to Saul?
How had God prepared the way for Ananias to see Saul?
The real question here is: how did Ananias overcome his fear?
Describe a time in your life where you were fearful to talk to someone based on what you had heard about the person.
How did you deal with that fear?
What passages in the Bible could have helped you overcome?
Ananias will share with Paul in heavenly rewards due to his decision to obey. As with Ananias, the Holy Spirit is prepared to help you overcome. Are you ready? Then let's learn how to overcome fear.
Challenging Fear
In a Spirit-filled walk, when fear arises it must be challenged (2 Tim. 1:7; 1 John 4:18). Unchallenged, fear will bring degrees of paralysis, which will affect our ability to be witnesses.
There are two men in the midst of evangelistic endeavors who were challenged about their fears. Fill in the chart on the next page by looking up the references and answering the questions.
Galatians 2:11–21
Who was the man?
Who did he challenge?
Why did he challenge them?
How did they change?
Acts 12:25, 15:36–41; 2 Timothy 4:11
Who was the man?
Who did he challenge?
Why did he challenge them?
How did they change?
Word Wealth
Hypocrite, hupokrisis (hoop-ok-ree-sis); Strong's #5272. Literally, “a reply.” The word came to denote a theatrical performer who spoke in dialogue. Then it was used of playacting, role-playing, pretending; hence, acting insincerely, hypocrisy. [Spirit-Filled Life Bible, 1775, “Word Wealth, Gal. 2:13 hypocrite.”]
The Early Christians Spoke Boldly
The early church boldly proclaimed the
Word of God. Look up the following verses and make notes about boldness as
the Holy Spirit impresses you.
Acts
2:14
3:11–12
4:8
4:13
4:29–33
7:54–56
9:20–22, 26–30
13:46
14:3
14:21–22
Conclusions
Romans 1:16–17 sets forth Paul's conclusion on the matter: he was not ashamed of the gospel. Could it be that lurking beneath our fear is shame?
If we are unashamed, we'll proclaim the gospel.
Fear like this is a spiritual problem, and requires a spiritual answer. The answer is found in believing the Word of God. God's Word is true and lasts forever. You can be a witness for Christ.
By daily acting on God's Word, fear can be
overcome. Study these last four scriptures about overcoming fear in
spreading the gospel, and write out your insights.
Eph. 6:11–13
2 Tim. 1:7
1 John 4:18
Rev. 12:11
Revelation 12:11 prophesies that end-time believers will overcome the enemy “by appropriating the victory of the finished work of Christ, by the public confession of their faith and patient endurance, even in the face of martyrdom” (Rev. 13:10). The church's constant posture under the authority of the Cross's victory by the blood of the lamb and steadfastness to the promise and authority of God's Word—the word of their testimony—is the key to their overcoming. [Ibid., 1977, study note on Rev. 12:11.]
Kingdom Extra
In Isaiah 40:8–11, the prophet declares the eternal reminder: “The word of our God stands forever,” and then anticipates the spread of that word. The world needs a sound foundation upon which to build life, just as surely as it needs a sure salvation to redeem it. “Zion”—the people of God—have that word and are privileged to bring these “good tidings”—the pleasant, happy, and wholesome news of life now and hope forever. Thus 1) “Lift up your voice” (v. 9). The message is to proclaim good tidings, for nothing will happen until that declaration is made. 2) “Be not afraid” (v. 9); for God will manifest Himself as the proclaimer says, “Behold your God!” (v. 9). 3) Our message of One who has strength to rule, “a strong hand, ” and a reward to give, (“is with Him,” v. 10) will be confirmed. Answering our call to spread “good tidings,” we are wise to be fearlessly obedient, believing God to confirm His word (Mark 16:20). Jesus tells of the servant who buried his talent, saying, “I was afraid!” Let God's perfect love and powerful promise cast out fears, and speak “Behold,” to those He allows us to address with His Good News. He will confirm His word with proving power. [Ibid., 1012, “Kingdom Dynamics, Is. 40:8–11, Spread the Good Tidings—Fearlessly.”]
God has called us to evangelize. After studying this chapter, what changes will occur in your life?