How do I overcome my fear of witnessing?

Matthew 18:12-14“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he will rejoice over it more than over the ninety-nine that didn’t wander away! In the same way, it is not my heavenly Father’s will that even one of these little ones should perish.”

We should shift our attention from what we are feeling to the needs of those to whom we may be speaking. Our commitment to witnessing begins by understanding that lost people matter to God.

Matthew 10:26-39“But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. What I tell you now in the darkness, shout abroad when daybreak comes. What I whisper in your ear, shout from the housetops for all to hear! Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows. Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. ‘I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household!’ If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.”

We need to develop a greater fear of God than we have of anything or anyone else. When we are afraid of people or circumstances, we are demonstrating that we actually think God is too small or powerless to deal with what we face.

John 7:12-13There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.” But no one had the courage to speak favorably about him in public, for they were afraid of getting in trouble with the Jewish leaders.

Even Jesus’ closest followers struggled with a hesitancy to witness on his behalf.

Acts 9:1-6; 28:20-23Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” . . . “I [Paul] asked you to come here today so we could get acquainted and so I could explain to you that I am bound with this chain because I believe that the hope of Israel—the Messiah—has already come.” They replied, “We have had no letters from Judea or reports against you from anyone who has come here. But we want to hear what you believe, for the only thing we know about this movement is that it is denounced everywhere.” So a time was set, and on that day a large number of people came to Paul’s lodging. He explained and testified about the Kingdom of God and tried to persuade them about Jesus from the Scriptures.

A straightforward telling of a personal encounter with Christ is the most powerful testimony anyone can give.

Exodus 4:12“Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

Luke 21:15“I [Jesus] will give you the right words and such wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to reply or refute you!”

Trusting that God will speak through us will help us to overcome our fear of witnessing.

2 Corinthians 4:11, 13Yes, we live under constant danger of death because we serve Jesus, so that the life of Jesus will be evident in our dying bodies. . . . But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, “I believed in God, so I spoke.”

Even when we are facing death, faith in God can give us the courage to speak.

Psalm 27:1The Lord is my light and my salvation—so why should I be afraid? The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?

Isaiah 44:8“Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!”

Acts 18:9-10One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision and told him, “Don’t be afraid! Speak out! Don’t be silent! For I am with you.”

We are to take courage and find strength in God’s power, presence, and protection.

Ezekiel 2:6“Son of man, do not fear them or their words. Don’t be afraid even though their threats surround you like nettles and briers and stinging scorpions. Do not be dismayed by their dark scowls, even though they are rebels.”

We are to trust God and realize that rejection is just part of the territory in which we are travelling.

John 12:26“Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.”

Acts 4:18-20So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

Acts 5:40The others [Jewish leaders] accepted his [Gamaliel’s] advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.

We should realize that as we suffer for our witness, we are following in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles.

Acts 1:8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We should remember that the Holy Spirit will empower us and help us to speak.

1 Corinthians 2:3-4I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 1:5When we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true.

We should go ahead and speak by faith, and the Holy Spirit will work in people’s hearts and minds.