A Sure Pathway To Living An Overcoming Christian Life.
The Expected Christian Life and Description
Bible Text: Isa. 51:12,13, 1 Jn. 4:18
INTRODUCTION
In our previous studies, we have seen that a major source of motivation – the power to propel you into evangelism is love or compassion. Many Christians profess they love God and love their neighbour, yet they are still passive towards evangelism; fear tends to demobilize them. For some people, evangelism comes easy. For others, though, just talking about evangelism makes their palms sweat and their stomachs turn.
As Christians, we want to evangelize. We know we should evangelize. We are commanded to evangelize. But many of us are afraid. What do we do?
FACTS FOR CONSIDERATION
To overcome the fear of evangelism, we must first consider three facts about that fear:
1. Fear to Speak for God is Common.
a. Moses struggled with fear. Exo. 3:10 – 4:10
He made four excuses for why he could not speak to Pharaoh as God told him to.
i. Who am I? Exo. 3:11
ii. What shall I say? Exo. 3:13
iii. They will not believe me. Exo. 4:1
iv. I am not eloquent. Ex 4:10
b. Timothy was full of fears. 2 Tim. 1:7
c. Even Paul, the great evangelist, was often afraid. Acts 18:9,10
2. Don’t let one – not even many rejections paralyze you. Many seasoned evangelists including Apostle Paul suffered many. Acts 18:6.
a. Your responsibility is not to convert them – that is the work of the Holy Spirit. So, you have not failed! Jn. 16:8
b. Their blood is not on you. Acts 18:6, Ezk. 33:7-9
You are responsible for sharing the gospel. You are not responsible for how people respond.
If you faithfully proclaim the Gospel, your hands are clean; you are innocent.
c. The Word of God is a seed – you have planted it.1 Pet. 1:23
3. The spirit of fear is not from God. 2 Tim. 1:7 and so must be overcome.
OVERCOMING THE FEAR
1. Prayer
Before talking to men about God, cultivate the habit of first talking to God about men.
– Pray for courage. Acts 4:29
– Pray for power. Acts 4:30-31
– Pray for God to go ahead and open their eyes and hearts. 2 Kgs. 6:15-17
– Pray for the enemies of the gospel to be silenced. Acts 13:6-12
– Pray for your sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Exo. 3:13,14, Lk. 21:13-15
2. Cultivate a pervasive sense of God’s omnipresence.
Remember his corresponding promises. Heb. 13:5, Matt. 28:20, Exo. 3:21.
If God be with you, you are covered. Rom. 8:31, Heb. 13:6
Stand firm in your faith. Isa. 7:9, 2 Cor. 5:6,7
3. Let your fear of God increase more and more. Jer. 1:17
– Meditate much on the coming Judgment Day, and your need to give account to Him.
– Ask Him to help you fear God more than you fear man. 2 Cor. 5:10,11, Isa. 51:12,13
As you grow in your love for God and love for lost souls, these will override your fear of going out to men and for God. 1 Jn. 4:18
4.Set the reward before you. Heb. 12.2
– Even if they insult you, a blessing is still promised to you. 1 Pet. 4:14
– Even if the worst happens and they persecute you, your reward is sure and great. Matt. 5:11,12
5.Prayerfully choose a seasoned soul winner to team with until you have gained courage and tact. Mk. 6:7-13, Lk. 10:1, Acts 13:2-4
CONCLUSION
You are called to go and do; contrary to popular evangelical thinking, we are not totally responsible for the results. If you have been witnessing for years and have seen only a few converts and thousands of rejections, well, praise God. Maybe you need to consider your tactics, but the willingness and implementation to obey are seen as success in God’s eyes.
The main measure of your performance is your obedience, not just in number of converts
The real failure is when we do not do this! The real beginning of success is when you rise in obedience henceforth and you can say “I have heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. I SHALL GO FOR YOU, I SHALL NO LONGER KEEP SILENT
