In my teens and early 20s I hung out in the darker parts of Dickson Street. In those days, those who were tasked with screening age often weren't too strict about doing their jobs; especially with incentive of varying types. I had a couple of favorites (no longer there) and knew most of the places and the people who ran them.
Speed forward to 1977. Now a Christian, I had quit going to the places I once did, although I worked with some people who still did. I witnessed to all I worked with more than once of the love God demonstrated by Jesus' sacrifice, His death, burial and resurrection and how repentance and acceptance by faith the sacrifice could turn their lives around, their sins forgiven. I had no fear of sharing this faith boldly with any who listened; so much I earned the nickname "preacher."
Jump ahead to early 1982. One night after evening service a few of us "Jesus people" were sitting around picking our guitars and singing a few songs when someone said, "Hey, why don't we go down to Dickson Street next Saturday night and witness at the places we used to hang out in?" After deciding it was a good idea, we agreed to get together and go.
I would like to say it was a rousing success but what I remember the most about that evening was that I was totally terrified! I felt completely and totally intimidated by those we spoke to; even those I had spoken to before at work. I couldn't understand at all why I should feel that way. It seemed strange how one moment I could be so "gung ho" and the next afraid to open my mouth. Why? As I said, some I had witnessed to before so why the fear? Why the feeling of intimidation?
Have you ever had that happen to you? We're "standing on the Word" quoting Psalms 118:6: "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?" or Second Timothy 1:7: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" and Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" and yet, when time to share our faith, or deal with someone who has offended us, we cringe and don't witness; we avoid (if we can) a person and not deal with an offense as Jesus taught us to, while excusing and justifying our behavior in so many ways.
What happened to the "I will not fear"? Should we believe it's because we're suddenly intimidated by someone; that these people somehow have the power to negate the truth of Scripture? Are we to believe we are filled with the Holy Spirit, able to go through anything, and then not go to a person and deal with an offense or share the gospel because they intimidate us?
Some say, "well, your faith isn't strong enough" to which I reply, well, I can't say in a family article what I think of that; I'll just say the statement is one psychologists call projection -- a process of taking feelings or fears we have about ourselves and put them on other people.
As for not having faith as a reason consider this:
In First Kings, chapters 17-19, there is a prime example of this occurrence. Elijah had made fools of the prophets of Baal; after mocking them of most of the day and Baal did not answer, he had the altar rebuilt, the offering re-arranged even went so far as to have 12 barrels of water poured over the sacrifice and altar and at the time of the evening sacrifice prayed. God sent fire from heaven and consumed everything -- the sacrifice, wood, stones, dust and licked up all the water in the trench. Elijah had all the prophets of Baal executed. You would think that after such a tremendous display of God's power in his life, not to mention in chapters 17 and 18 of miraculous provision, that absolutely nothing could intimidate Elijah. Yet, we find in chapter 19, Elijah running for his life because a woman had vowed to kill him. What happened?
In my case, it was because "WE" had decided to go witness. We didn't pray, seek the Lord if it was something He wanted us to do, we just decided to do it. Just because "it's a good idea" does NOT mean God will strengthen you to do it and it's a definite He won't if you are being disobedient. Disobedience to what He says weakens us, places us outside the peace of God allowing the enemy to work all sorts of mind games on us. As my grandkids used to say: WORD!
What happened in Elijah's case is something that happens to us a lot more times than we will admit; Elijah allowed an immediate threat from the enemy to overshadow ALL the mighty things he had experienced at the hand of God. Go read those chapters and remember: You must NOT allow anything anyone does or says to cause you to forget what God has done / is doing / will do. IF you are walking in obedience then you have nothing to fear from any. BUT, if you're not --well, best hold on tight!
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Editor's note: Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected], or write in care of The Times at [email protected] or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.
Religion on 12/03/2014