Last week, we concluded that the purpose of evangelism is the reconciliation of sinners to God through Jesus Christ so that they be adopted into His family and worship Him as Creator and Redeemer.
Additionally, from our examination of Scripture, we determined that every believer in Christ is called to be a witness for Him – no exceptions.
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9
Notice in the verse above God’s purpose in choosing us. “… that [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called [us] out of darkness.” We ought to be witnesses for Christ because it’s our purpose and because as we proclaim the glories of His grace, He is glorified.
Yet, this Spiritual Discipline of evangelism is one many of us fail to embrace or involve ourselves with. We choose, instead, to leave it for others. Why is that do you think? Could it be because of fear? Are we afraid we don’t know enough or have the ability? Might we be afraid of rejection? Are we fearful that in the sight of others, our own daily lives don’t measure up? Or are we afraid that the magnitude of the message is more than we are up to?
Fear is a mighty crippler. The best way to overcome our fear of evangelism and live our purposed life is to adopt a biblical view.
4 Reasons for Overcoming the Fear of Evangelism
1. GOD IS SOVEREIGN
John Piper defines God’s sovereignty as “His right and power to do all that He decides to do.”
Job 42:2 says, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” In other words, when God decides to do a thing, He does it. There is no one who can stop Him.
Sovereignty is a good argument against our fear. We need to remember that God is sovereign in the salvation of sinners. In His good grace, God has elected sinners for salvation, and He has promised to gather a people for Himself.
It was knowledge of God’s sovereignty that encouraged the apostle Paul while he labored in Corinth (Acts 18:9-11). And it was this same knowledge that buoyed missionary Adoniram Judson with the confidence to labor nearly forty years on the field of Burma.
Likewise, we should be encouraged and emboldened with confidence to witness for Christ knowing that God is sovereign in the salvation of sinners.
2. WE ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT
In His sovereignty, God draws sinners to Christ. That, alone, is a powerful truth. But there is more, so much more. He has also equipped His people for the work of evangelism.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.
Acts 1:8
The power for the work of evangelism does not come from us. We often forget that we do not evangelize in our own power, but by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.
What encouragement and confidence for evangelism! From the moment of conversion, we have been equipped to share the gospel.
3. OUR SUFFICIENCY IS FROM GOD
Some of us might feel that we are too sinful to be a good witness for Christ. We might be concerned that what people see in us doesn’t match up with our message – that our life might be a hinderance. It is true that blatant and evident sin hinders our Christian witness. However, it does not mean that we must wait until we have it altogether to involve ourselves in evangelism.
God chooses to use us in the work of evangelism. Furthermore, He delights in using weak instruments so that He alone receives the glory (2 Corinthians 4:7).
May we understand that our sufficiency for the task rests in God alone (2 Corinthians 3:5).
4. THE GOSPEL IS THE POWER OF GOD FOR SALVATION
The message of the gospel is powerful. So powerful, that it is able to save all those who believe it (Hebrews 4:12, Romans 1:16-17.)
One of the best arguments against the fear of evangelism is remembering that we have no power whatsoever to save another. Our well-expressed words, our potent persuasions, our ardent arguments – none of it has the power to save.
God has elected sinners for salvation. He will call them through the gospel, and He will apply that gospel powerfully upon their hearts. He is the One who regenerates sinners. He is the One who takes away their heart of stone and gives them a heart of flesh. We can trust Him to do this work that He alone can do.
What a freeing thought this is! Our work is simply to tell. It is His work to save.
Ultimately, Salvation is God’s Work
It is worth saying again. Salvation is God’s work. Our job is simply to be faithful in pointing others to Christ by sharing the gospel. Conversions are brought about by Him alone. Some of us plant and others water (John 4:35-37). But God does the culminating work.
We must be diligent to remember that it is God who elects sinners to salvation by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is He who brings regeneration into a lost soul. And we must be intentional in our faithfulness and trust Him for the results as we share the good news with those around us (Ecclesiastes 11:4-6,
Be faithful and trust God for the results. Let Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 and John 4:35-37 be an encouragement to us.
