Nobody Overcomes Fear Without Evangelizing

To overcome fear, two items are absolutely essential: obedience and experience. Obedience is first, because common sense tells us without obedience there never is experience. It is simple obedience to a given command that leads to life experience.

Believers are individuals who have trusted Jesus Christ as their only way to heaven. Disciples are those who follow after Him and keep learning from Him. The first thing Jesus taught His disciples was evangelism. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:19). This was accomplished by teaching them obedience. After a fruitless night of fishing, Jesus commanded them to throw out the nets once more. They did, and caught a miraculous number of fish. It was after this illustration that He told them to become fishers of men. Like Peter, we must be willing to say, “at Your word I will let down the net” (Luke 5:5).

Another example of obedience is recorded in Acts chapter 4. The Sanhedrin threatened Peter and John and commanded them not to speak nor teach in the name of Jesus. The response of Peter and John was immediate. There was no, “Would you allow us a day or two to pray about it?” or “Your Highness, we will give what you are saying careful consideration.” Instead it was, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge” (v. 19). While the Sanhedrin was questioning the audacity of those who would so boldly mention the news of Christ, the apostles were questioning the audacity of those who would judge their orders to be above the Almighty’s. It is quite plain they felt they were under marching orders to which disobedience was not an option.

Again, in Acts chapter 5, the apostles were brought before the Sanhedrin because they did not obey the command to stop preaching the name of Jesus. The high priest’s complaint against the apostles is clear. “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” (5:28). That has to be the ultimate guilt trip. Their complaint was, “You blew it on two counts. You did something you were not supposed to do and you are going to get us in trouble by your doing it.” The leadership was afraid that the people stirred up by the apostles’ teaching might take them to task for having condemned Jesus. Once more, though, Peter’s response was immediate, “We ought to obey God rather than men” (v. 29).

God honors obedience. The humble, dependent heart that says, “I’m scared—terrified would be a better word—and don’t even feel like I know how to evangelize, but you’re the Master. I’m the disciple. I’ll do it.” God then honors obedience and answers the cry of a contrite heart.

With that obedience comes much needed experience—the experience that plays a big part in overcoming fear. Believers are so often intimidated in evangelism by what they think will happen or what might happen, instead of what does happen. Experience teaches us how to prepare for reality, knowing full well what reality is—some could care less about the Savior and His message and some could not care more. Those who could not care more become so exciting to reach that one simply tolerates the closed doors en route to the open ones.

Experience brings skills in evangelism such as how to turn a conversation to spiritual things, how to answer questions and objections, and how to clearly and concisely present the Gospel—all of which are often elements of our fear. We all need experience for which there is no substitute. There are lessons in evangelism that can only be learned through face-to-face, eyeball to eyeball contact with the lost.

When these two are combined—obedience and experience—they play an immense role in overcoming fear. God honors obedience, and experience teaches us how to respond to and overcome the obstacles that intimidate us. It is therefore no wonder that those who consistently evangelize, although experiencing struggles in the area of fear, have also experienced the most victory. God is working as they are working. Obedience and experience cause boldness to take the upper hand.