Overcoming the Fear of Man
Hello everyone! In the previous blog, we discussed living unashamed and what it looks like to be a bold believer. We went over 4 areas, which included: being unashamed to be saved, to stand out, to be set apart, and to share our testimony. As believers, we must overcome any shame we have in these areas. We should not be ashamed that others around us know we are saved and belong to the Most High God. We should let our light shine and be comfortable standing out in the midst of a dark and wicked world. We must embrace the set apart lifestyle that God has instructed us to live. And we must overcome shame to freely share our testimony as we are led by the Spirit of God.
Today’s topic is a continuation of last week. In order to live boldly for Christ, we must overcome not only shame but also the fear of man. This particular area can restrict us from living authentically as a child of the Most High. When we are consumed with the words and actions of people, it keeps us in a perpetual state of fear. In 2 Timothy 1:7, it states that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. This passage of scripture lets us know that fear is a spirit that does not come from God. And if it doesn’t come from God, it is sent by our adversary, the devil. We are not created to fear man, but we are to fear God. In today’s blog, we will compare these two types of fear and discuss how we can overcome the fear of man.
The Fear of Man vs. The Fear of God
Fear is defined as: (1) an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat; (2) a mixed feeling of dread and reverence; and (3) profound reverence and awe especially toward God. Out of the three definitions, the first can be used to describe the fear of man. When we believe another person or group of people are dangerous, we may feel threatened and retreat in fear. Instead of boldly living for Christ, we hide who we are and who we belong to. But that should not be the case. We can not allow the words and actions of others stop us from serving and living for God unashamedly.
Whether or not we are accepted by those around us, we should not hide our faith all for the sake of fitting in. We must be bold enough to confess Christ before others. If not, denying Him before men will cause Christ to deny us before the Father. That is a lot on the line. We can’t let shame or fear lead us in denying our Savior. No matter what it costs, we must hold on to our profession of faith in Jesus. Despite the threats and possible backlash, don’t deny the Messiah. Regardless of the repercussions personally and professionally, hold on to your faith. Don’t relinquish it.
Even in instances where there is no actual or perceived threat, we battle the opinions of man. The people around us may not say or do anything that is a threat to our well-being, but we still fear their opinion of us. We are overly concerned about how they view us rather than how the Father sees us. That fear can be so strong that we try to fit in places and groups where we don’t truly belong. We may keep a low profile and stay to ourselves. So I ask you, “How does the fear of man and man’s opinion show up in your life?” Are you one of the few saved or the only saved person in your family? Do you shy away from sharing your faith and witnessing to those who are unsaved? In your workplace, do you attempt to blend in with your coworkers all for the sake of fitting in with the majority? Whoever you come in contact with, do you show up as your authentic self, as a child of the Most High God? Do you stand up for what is right regardless of what it could cost you; or, do you go along to get along? We have to be aware of how we carry ourselves in all areas of our lives.
We must understand that fearing man brings a snare, whereas trusting in God keeps us safe. No good comes from the fear of man. It is detrimental, and with it comes major consequences. In the Word, we are instructed to fear Him (God), who is able to destroy both the soul and body in hell, not man who can kill the body but not the soul. (Matthew 10:28) Even though man can take our lives, we are to only fear the One who can cast our souls into hell. I know it’s heavy to think about, but that’s the Word. In the face of adversity and persecution, we are not to fear man and what they can do to us. No matter what it costs, we must hold on to our faith in Christ and never deny Him. The result of denying Him is too severe to give in due to fearing men and their persecution.
Contrary to the fear of man, the fear of God is beneficial. It is a win-win. As previously mentioned, the second and third definitions fit the fear of God. It is a mixture of dread and reverential awe of the Most High. We know that Yahweh is holy and also a jealous God. As His children, we are set apart, living holy before our Father. While pursuing a lifestyle of holiness, we must remove ourselves from idolatry. The Most High requires us to serve and worship Him alone. He will not share His glory with another. We can not serve Yah and other gods. We can not have idols in our lives, which will lead us away from God.
There is no room for mixture; it is very cut and dry. Yah will not tolerate His children making, serving, or worshiping idols. In doing so, it will lead to His wrath. And, we don’t want to be on the receiving end of it. We must remove ourselves from all forms of idolatry, whether great or small. We have to be committed to loving and serving Yah with all our heart and soul. Also, we commit ourselves to keeping His instructions.
The fear of Yah is the beginning of wisdom. As we walk in the fear of Yah and follow His commandments, things will go well. Those who fear God have confidence and find safety in Him. In the fear of Yah is a fountain of life, departing from the snares of death. These are the benefits of walking in the fear of God: wisdom, confidence, safety, and prolonged life. These are only some, not all, the benefits. Fearing and trusting in God leads to a blessed and prosperous life. It doesn’t mean a perfect life. But it guarantees that our Father will sustain us, ensuring we are well taken care of. After identifying the differences between the fear of man and the fear of God, we can discuss how to overcome the fear of man.
How to Overcome the Fear of Man
The first step to overcoming the fear of man is to acknowledge it. We have to admit the areas we have been driven by the fear of man. We can’t fix what we won’t admit. Certain tendencies we have help to identify the fear harbored inside of us. In addition, we need to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal anything hidden or what we might have brushed off as insignificant. The process can be uncomfortable, and that is to be expected. Pinpointing our own fears and insecurities is not always easy to confront; but it is necessary. We must be willing to submit to the process and not fight it. Don’t resist, but submit.
Once we’re aware of how the fear of man shows up in our lives, we have to follow the Word and depend on the Holy Spirit to help us overcome it. We don’t have to confront it in our own strength. When we know what the Word says, we can easily combat fear. We should be intentional in building ourselves up in the Word of God. As our spirit is strengthened, being renewed with the Word, we have a greater ability to overcome anything that does not align with the truth. When fear rises up, we can boldly declare the truth that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind.
If we seek Yah when fear attempts to overtake us, cry out to Him, and we can rest in the fact that He will deliver us. In addition to seeking the Father, we are responsible for casting down the fearful thoughts that come to our minds. Otherwise, those repetitive thoughts can be planted into our hearts, eventually becoming a belief system, contrary to the Word. I like to say, “Replace the lie of the enemy with the truth of God’s Word.“
While we stand on the Word, which strengthens us, we have to make the decision to be bold. Don’t overthink or overspiritualize it. It is up to each of us to make the conscious decision to be bold and stand up for our faith. When a situation arises, we have to put into practice what we learned. As an opportunity comes around to share our faith with an unbeliever, we have to make a decision. Will we share the gospel of Jesus Christ or put it off for another time? What if that person doesn’t have a next time to hear the gospel? When we encounter unsaved coworkers, we have to decide how we will represent ourselves. We don’t solely represent ourselves, but we are Christ’s representatives in the earth.
We have to understand that we will stand out as believers because we are the light of the world. We must choose to be bold and live unashamed, not fearing how we are perceived by others. We may face being misunderstood or ostracized by family or friends. As we grow in faith and wisdom, oftentimes relationship dynamics change. That is expected. Even Christ was rejected by his own people. The very people He was sent to save didn’t receive Him. We may be gossiped about or treated differently in the workplace. It’s part of the journey with Christ. Those who live a godly lifestyle in Jesus will suffer persecution. When we’re persecuted for Christ’s sake, we are counted as blessed. This area of life can not be avoided. Instead, we should expect it and be prepared when it comes. We have no reason to fear man and what they can do to us or take from us. No matter the opposition, we are to seek God, stand on the Word, hold on to our faith, and trust the Holy Spirit to give us the ability to persevere through it.
Recap: Put it into Practice
- Fear God alone, not man.
- Don’t allow the words and actions of others stop you from serving and living for God unashamedly.
- Don’t allow the fear of man hinder you from sharing your testimony and the gospel of Jesus Christ with unbelievers.
- No matter what it costs you, don’t relinquish your faith in Christ. Don’t deny the Messiah.
- Remove all forms of idolatry from your life; serve and love God with all your heart and soul.
- Walk in the fear of Yah and His commandments, which leads to wisdom, confidence, safety, and prolonged life.
- Expect and prepare for persecution when you live a godly lifestyle in Christ.
- Stand on the truth in the Word.
- Make the decision to boldly and unashamedly live as a child of the Most High regardless of how you are perceived by others.
