Fear of Speaking
Fear of Speaking
What is the most courageous thing you have ever done? Courage is there to overcome fear. We all have many fears - healthy fears (of fire, height) and destructive fears. The fear of speaking is debilitating. Even more so is the fear of speaking the TRUTH. Satan capitalizes on our fear of speaking the TRUTH. He is the father of lies so he makes sure people will fear so as to lie to one another.
Even worse is the fear to speak to people about Christ and the good news of the gospel. Have you noticed that we are not afraid of discussing the weather and other non-consequential topics even with strangers, but we freeze when it comes to telling them about the gospel of salvation in Christ? You and I are not alone. Even Moses in the Bible had the same fear to speak. He told God so.
Apostle Paul wrote his beloved Philippians to encourage them about speaking and preaching the gospel. He says learn from people who are overcoming their fears. Listen to Paul, Philippians 1:12-18:
“12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear”.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former[b] preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice”.
1. We become courageous when we see that others are doing it. Then we tell ourselves, yes I can too. The brethren “are much more bold to speak the word without fear”. They must have been fearful at some point. They have now “become confident by my chains” Paul wrote.
2. Even Paul recognized this fear in himself and asked for prayers several times. “19 And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4. He knew that the power to speak is enabled by the Holy Spirit. Like Paul, I also ask for your prayers for boldness to speak.
3. He told Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Tim.2:7. Fear is of the devil and shows we are trusting in our ability instead of God’s.
4. Fear is a spirit that must be addressed in the spirit for our weapons are not canal but mighty thru God in pulling down strongholds. We must pray and ask for the boldness of the Holy Spirit to speak. Satan says fear. God says “fear not” many times to us. Who will you trust and obey?
5. The most courageous thing I have done or still do is to open my mouth to tell someone that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. I freeze each time but I ask God to help.
6. Jesus (“the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”) saves is the most important thing we can say to anyone. Satan does not mind you talk about your job successes and other topics, but not the gospel. You can’t save anyone; only the Holy Spirit convicts and saves. But people are saved by hearing the word of God when we speak.
7. Jesus tells us to “Go and make disciples” teaching them what He has taught us. We are being called to be “witnesses” to the power and effect of the Gospel. Witnessing requires boldness.
8. Notice Paul’s joy. “Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice”. This is the greatest joy you can have – calling people from hell to heaven. Someone told you of Jesus. Like Paul, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Friends, most people around us have not heard the true Gospel. They may know about Jesus but don’t have a relationship with him. Ask God for help each time there is opportunity. What are you going to do differently going forward? Pray, open your mouth and speak. God will fill your mouth with words of grace as he has promised. You must therefore understand what the GOSPEL is in order to speak.
Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit and grant us your boldness to speak. We confess our fears today and ask for your grace to be sufficient for us. Grant us courage as we trust you to enable us. Amen.
What is the most courageous thing you have ever done? Courage is there to overcome fear. We all have many fears - healthy fears (of fire, height) and destructive fears. The fear of speaking is debilitating. Even more so is the fear of speaking the TRUTH. Satan capitalizes on our fear of speaking the TRUTH. He is the father of lies so he makes sure people will fear so as to lie to one another.
Even worse is the fear to speak to people about Christ and the good news of the gospel. Have you noticed that we are not afraid of discussing the weather and other non-consequential topics even with strangers, but we freeze when it comes to telling them about the gospel of salvation in Christ? You and I are not alone. Even Moses in the Bible had the same fear to speak. He told God so.
Apostle Paul wrote his beloved Philippians to encourage them about speaking and preaching the gospel. He says learn from people who are overcoming their fears. Listen to Paul, Philippians 1:12-18:
“12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear”.
15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former[b] preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice”.
1. We become courageous when we see that others are doing it. Then we tell ourselves, yes I can too. The brethren “are much more bold to speak the word without fear”. They must have been fearful at some point. They have now “become confident by my chains” Paul wrote.
2. Even Paul recognized this fear in himself and asked for prayers several times. “19 And for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel” Ephesians 6:18-20; Colossians 4:2-4. He knew that the power to speak is enabled by the Holy Spirit. Like Paul, I also ask for your prayers for boldness to speak.
3. He told Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” 2 Tim.2:7. Fear is of the devil and shows we are trusting in our ability instead of God’s.
4. Fear is a spirit that must be addressed in the spirit for our weapons are not canal but mighty thru God in pulling down strongholds. We must pray and ask for the boldness of the Holy Spirit to speak. Satan says fear. God says “fear not” many times to us. Who will you trust and obey?
5. The most courageous thing I have done or still do is to open my mouth to tell someone that Jesus Christ is the only mediator between God and man. I freeze each time but I ask God to help.
6. Jesus (“the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”) saves is the most important thing we can say to anyone. Satan does not mind you talk about your job successes and other topics, but not the gospel. You can’t save anyone; only the Holy Spirit convicts and saves. But people are saved by hearing the word of God when we speak.
7. Jesus tells us to “Go and make disciples” teaching them what He has taught us. We are being called to be “witnesses” to the power and effect of the Gospel. Witnessing requires boldness.
8. Notice Paul’s joy. “Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice”. This is the greatest joy you can have – calling people from hell to heaven. Someone told you of Jesus. Like Paul, “…woe is me if I do not preach the gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:16).
Friends, most people around us have not heard the true Gospel. They may know about Jesus but don’t have a relationship with him. Ask God for help each time there is opportunity. What are you going to do differently going forward? Pray, open your mouth and speak. God will fill your mouth with words of grace as he has promised. You must therefore understand what the GOSPEL is in order to speak.
Lord, fill us with your Holy Spirit and grant us your boldness to speak. We confess our fears today and ask for your grace to be sufficient for us. Grant us courage as we trust you to enable us. Amen.
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