BibleFood / CPPA Devotions to help the Christian grow in his faith

How can a Christian overcome the fear of witnessing?

"Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly [is] plenteous, but the labourers [are] few; pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest." — Matthew 9:37-38

"But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." — Acts 1:8

"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." — Acts 4:31

Please read the above scriptures several times so that the Holy Spirit can reveal the MANY truths in these passages as they relate to today's devotion.

While I believe we shouldn't be fearful of share Jesus, the truth is, many are afraid. There are many reasons why—justified or not.

What can we do while in this state? Give up on witnessing? Absolutely not!

As way of encouragement let me share a time that I was afraid but in the end I was so blessed to share Christ.

Many years ago in Hartford, CT, I had an experience that I still remember clearly because it was a time when I was filled with fear. One night, I went downtown with one or two other fellow believers. We stood on the sidewalk, handing out tracts to people as they exited a bar. I really didn’t want to do it—I was shaking like a leaf.

As people came out of the bar, I started handing out the tracts. Many refused to take them, some threw them on the ground, and others made unfriendly remarks. However, as I kept going, I noticed that more and more people began to take a tract. Eventually, I even had the chance to talk to some individuals and pray for others.

As the night went on, my excitement grew, and my fear disappeared. By the end of the night, I was almost running up to people to hand them a tract. This experience taught me that sometimes, we just need to take a step of obedience, and God will handle the fear.. (See Psa. 27:1; Isa. 41:10; 2 Tim. 1:7)

I am going to briefly share some ways that you can witness, even if you find yourself in this fear group. I have been there. I was not naturally a people person. Now I am—and that is a God thing! I am still not fond of walking up to strangers to share Jesus with them, although I do much better at it than I used to.

Many people now think of me as an "evangelist." As a calling, believe me that is NOT me. As a Christian, I do evangelize and pray that the LORD helps me to share even more with those who need Him.

To START, you MUST give your day and life AFRESH to the LORD (a daily practice). Let Him know you are an AVAILABLE vessel. Then He will open the doors for sharing and opportunities.

For those who struggle with direct witnessing, there are other effective ways to share Christ. Just for the record I have those fears at times. So here I will share 3 other ways to witness.

FRIENDSHIP EVANGELISM

This is one of my favorite way of sharing Christ that I find highly effective. Build relationships with people at work and other places where they can get to know you. It’s not a one-shot deal but involves building a relationship through your Christ-like example, spending time with them, being available for prayer, or addressing whatever needs may arise.

TRACTS/CHRISTIAN LITERATURE

Hand directly to a person or leave on a counter or bathrooms. Eating at a restaurant, you can give tract to the waitress or waiter when you pay for your meal. Just make sure to leave them a GOOD tip! Also you can include them with on-time bill payments, and place them ANYWHERE else you can think of.

CHRISTIAN T-SHIRTS

Wearing Christian t-shirts has been incredibly productive in my life. I love my Christian t-shirts, and here's why: When I’m too afraid or busy to speak up, people often comment on my shirts. When they ask, that is the door opener to share with them. This approach helps me and others get past the awkwardness of starting the conversation. If you struggle to initiate a conversation, try this! PLUS, if your shirt has a good gospel message, it may minister to others who don’t speak up at that moment. T-shirts have been extremely effective for me.

My prayer is that those of you who THOUGHT you couldn’t be an effective witness for Christ will now see that there are many ways to share Christ, and there is a method that is right for YOU!

Please share ways you have dealt with fears of witnessing.

Video on Witnessing