Do Not Be Afraid

INTRODUCTION

1. During Paul’s second missionary journey he encountered opposition in most every place he stopped, including Corinth ().

2. Perhaps Paul felt pressured to move on as he had other places (, , ).

3. But the Lord appeared to him and quieted his anxiety saying, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you” ().

4. This is a timely admonition for all of us.

5. Fear is often the culprit that stops us from serving the Lord fervently ().

6. However, if we consider the encouragement God gives us in His word we have nothing to fear.

DISCUSSION

I. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF OPPOSITION

A. Fear of being opposed and fear of losing relationships keep many of us from serving God faithfully.

B. But opposition is something that is to be expected in serving the Lord.

C. God’s faithful have always been opposed and often it is those closest to them who resist them.

D. Jesus experienced this from his family (, ; ).

E. He also experienced opposition from his countrymen ().

Mark 3:22 KJV 1900

And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils.

F. But that didn’t stop Him from seeking to do the Father’s will.

F. But that didn’t stop Him from seeking to do the Father’s will.

G. Paul also faced opposition from his fellow Jews ().

H. But the Lord encouraged him to not be afraid because He was with him and time and time again, Paul continued to preach the gospel despite opposition ().

I. We do not need to fear any opposition today because the Lord has promised to be with us ().

J. We do not need to fear losing physical relationships because God has other faithful people who will stand with us and support us ().

Matthew 19:29 KJV 1900

And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

K. Let us not be afraid any longer of any opposition or of losing any relationships, but draw close to the Lord and to His people and stand.

K. Let us not be afraid any longer of any opposition or of losing any relationships, but draw close to the Lord and to His people and stand.

II. DO NOT BE AFRAID OF DANGER

A. Not only are we afraid of opposition and losing relationships, but often we are afraid of facing danger because of our faith.

B. Though we pray for a quiet and peaceful life, we realize from scripture that danger is something that is to be expected in serving the Lord.

C. God’s faithful have often been exposed to danger.

D. Even Jesus faced danger in His earthly ministry.

E. Not only did He endure insults and blasphemy, but people tried to take His life on several occasions (; ).

John 7:1 KJV 1900

After these things Jesus walked in Galilee: for he would not walk in Jewry, because the Jews sought to kill him.

F. But that didn’t deter Jesus from continuing to be faithful to God.

F. But that didn’t deter Jesus from continuing to be faithful to God.

G. Jesus was willing to be faithful to God even though it did cost Him His life.

H. In the same manner, Paul faced danger and death again and again for the sake of the gospel and for the sake of saving others ().

I. Yet, the Lord told him to not be afraid because He was with him.

J. We don’t need to be afraid of danger today because we have the same promise that God is with us and for us when we are striving to faithfully serve Him (; ).

K. In truth, the most we will probably endure in America is insults and profanity,

L. Even if that is the case it still means we are in good company ().

M. Let us not be afraid any longer of danger or even death, but draw close the Lord and to His people and stand ().

III. DO NOT BE AFRAID TO SPEAK

A. When we have faced our fear of opposition and danger what is that still keeps us from being willing to serve God faithfully and to speak about the gospel to others?

B. We are often afraid that we don’t know enough, or that we will say the wrong thing, or that we will look foolish in the eyes of others.

C. In other words, we are focusing more on ourselves than on the Lord and the lost.

D. When we start being more concerned about what the world thinks about us than about what the Lord thinks about us we are in danger (; ).

E. If we stop focusing on ourselves and start focusing on the Lord and the lost we shouldn’t be afraid to speak about the hope we have.

F. Jesus wasn’t afraid to speak, but relied on God and His word and much good was done (, ; ).

G. Paul and the other apostles weren’t afraid to speak out and the power of God’s word went forth much good was done (; ; ).

H. We don’t need to be afraid to speak, but instead we need to trust in God’s strength and in His word to change the hearts and minds of people (; ; ; ).

Isaiah 55:10–11 ESV

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11 ESV

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

I. Let us not be afraid to speak, but instead share the gospel with all we can ().

I. Let us not be afraid to speak, but instead share the gospel with all we can ().

I. Let us not be afraid to speak, but instead share the gospel with all we can ().

CONCLUSION

1. A brother once said, “Fear is the enemy of faith. It paralyzes us. God calls on us to give, and we are afraid we will not have enough for ourselves if we do. God calls on us to speak boldly, but we are afraid we will be ridiculed or rejected. God calls on us to pray and meditate on His word, but we are afraid to invest the time. God calls on us to get involved, but we are afraid we will fail. God calls on us to put our minds on heavenly things, but we are afraid to take our eyes off of the earthly things.”

2. Paul stayed in Corinth for over a year facing down opposition, danger, and death and learned that the Lord was with Him ().

3. Let us heed the Lord’s words to Paul and “Do not be afraid” any longer ().

4. Let us draw near the Lord, the source of all confidence and strength and do all we can to serve and glorify God and to help others come to Christ ().