What keeps the majority of Christians silent when it comes to sharing Jesus with others?
Fear of rejection
Fear of not knowing what to say
Fear of what people might think of me
Fear of the potential problems that might arise if I stand boldly for Jesus
When I was in third grade, I had to get up in front of the whole school and quote Patrick Henry’s, “Give me liberty or give me death!” I was so nervous because I kept thinking of everything that could go wrong.
What if I forget what to say?
What if people think I didn’t do good?
What will people think of my costume?
With my heart beating out of my chest, I was able to say my line without too many problems. I’m thankful that I went ahead and got the job done, though I was a bit fearful.
If fear of others is the number one reason we don’t share our faith in Christ, how can that obstacle be overcome?
1 – Realize You Are Normal
There is a statement that goes around that says, “95% of all Christians have never led another person to faith in Jesus Christ.”
Honestly, I would go on record as saying, “100% of Christians have never led another person to faith in Jesus Christ.”
What do I mean by that? The Holy Spirit is the real soul winner. We have the privilege of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone, but only the Holy Spirit can bring someone out of spiritual death to new life in Christ.
You never fail when you witness. The only failure is being disobedient to God as He gives you opportunity to share. God is not going to disown and reject you because you failed to maximize that opportunity to share.
You never fail if someone turns down Christ. Don’t take it too personally if they turn down Jesus. It’s Him they are rejecting, not you.
Jesus preached the good news and He is God. Still, not everyone received His message.
John 1:12 - He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.
Just because some didn’t receive Him, didn’t stop Him from proclaiming the good news.
It’s normal to have some fear when it comes to sharing your faith in Christ with others. However, none of us get an excuse card from God saying, “Because my child is fearful, they are excused from sharing my great news of salvation with their family and friends.”
1 Peter 3:14 – Do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.
John 14:1 - Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.
You are normal if you get a little apprehensive when it comes to sharing your faith. Remember, that’s just part of it. You begin to overcome that fear by obeying God and believing His truth.
2 Timothy 1:8 - do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God.
When I was in seminary, my evangelism professor stood before our class and shared his success in witnessing and reaching the lost for Christ. He shared story after story of winning sinners to the Savior. He said there was a time when he led people to Christ for sixty days in a row! I was amazed!!
Then he said, “I want each of you to find a partner and you are going to go door to door downtown New Orleans and you are going to win people to Christ.”
Do you know what my immediate response was? Not faith. Not an, “I’m with your professor.” But, I responded with initial fear. I was thinking, “God, this man is crazy. He expects us to go downtown New Orleans and share Jesus. I’m going to die my first semester at New Orleans.”
Looking back, I’m glad he called us to go and share our faith with the people of New Orleans. Going like this made me pray more, learn the Scriptures better, affirm my faith in Jesus Christ as Lord, develop relationships with people I’d never met before, and to learn to love people better regardless of their faith.
Do I struggle with fear in sharing my faith in Jesus Christ to this day? Yes. I probably always will a little. However, I’m not going to let my fear stop me from obeying God. We can seek the Lord and He will always help us overcome fear as we trust in Him.
2 – Keep Your Eyes On Jesus
3:15 – sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts.
Steve McVey says, “When people are opposing you (maybe they’re making life difficult for you), it’s easy to begin feeling intimidated and tongue-tied. But don’t focus on them. Keep your inner eyes on Jesus Christ and entrust yourself to Him, knowing that He is Lord over the situation you face. He will guide you, and when opportunity presents itself, you can share the reasons for your faith in the proper spirit. We don’t have to make Him Lord. We simply remember and rest in His Lordship.”
There is a very special lady at our church and she has such a sense of peace and power in her daily life in Christ. One day, I went to her discouraged, defeated, and down because I simply couldn’t get my act together and the ministry wasn’t going the way I hoped it would. She said, “David, Jesus Christ is your Lord and not only is He your Lord. Jesus is your LIFE.”
She wanted to remind me that suffering would come. Disappointment would come. Trials would come. Ministry would not always be easy. However, Jesus Christ would be faithful. Jesus Christ would be present. Jesus Christ would be my number one source through it all.
To set apart Christ as Lord of our lives is to simply recognize the greatness of who He is and to allow Him to live and work through us.
Hebrews 12:1-3 - Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
What does this have to do when it comes to sharing Jesus with fear with my friends and family?
You can quit struggling to win them in your timing…Jesus is Lord.
You can quit struggling in your own efforts to win them…Jesus is Lord.
You can remember that God is the one that draws them, not you…Jesus is Lord.
The most frustrated Christian is the one who is trying to do the work of the Lord instead of allowing the Lord of the work to work through them.
Colossians 1:28-29 - We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ. For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Doing God’s work is not about our power and might, but God’s power and might.
Think of the disciples toiling all night for fish and catching nothing (Luke 5). Yet, they were willing to cast their nets on the other side of the boat because they knew the voice of their Master.
What are they learning? It’s not about me, but it’s about Him.
3 – Remember the Reward
In Larry Moyer’s book, “How-To Book on Personal Evangelism,” he shares these four principles on evangelizing out of grace and not guilt.
1. Evangelism is Always Approached in Scripture As a Privilege, Not as a Pain
2. God Never Asks Anyone to Bring the Lost to Christ-He Only Asks Us to Bring Christ to the Lost
3. God is Not Asking You to Push Through Closed Doors – Simply Walk Through Open Ones
4. The Presence of Fear Does Not Mean the Absence of Love
What is your plan for sharing Jesus with others?
Remember who you were before Christ.
Remember how you received Christ as Lord and Savior.
Remember the difference Jesus is making in your life now and eternally.
Remember that we are on mission with God to reach the world with a passion for God and compassion for people.
There is nothing more awesome that knowing and sharing Jesus with our friends and family.
There is reward in knowing you are obedient to God.
There is reward in knowing God is at work through you.
There is reward in knowing your life is making an eternal difference.
There is reward in knowing others will included in God’s family instead of Satan’s.
There is reward in knowing you are an ambassador of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
There is reward in knowing you are a vessel of honor, alive to be useful to your Master.
There is reward in knowing you are sharing the best news ever given to man.
Jesus loves you.
Jesus died for you even while you were a sinner.
Jesus was buried.
Jesus is alive forever more.
Because Jesus lives, you will live also!
What is your plan for sharing Jesus even with fear?
1 – Realize Your Are Normal
2 – Keep Your Eyes on Jesus
3 – Remember the Reward
