Overcoming Fear
From the time the gospel was first preached until now, many issues have impeded our willingness to surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. The internal struggle of fear is a deeply rooted problem. We are afraid of the ridicule we might face for living in pursuit of Christ. We dread the inevitable severing of relationships with friends and family to have a life in Jesus. We fear what life might be like if we turn from the things that define us in the world. Perhaps persecution is what we fear the most. How do we overcome this fear?
When the kingdom was in its infancy, Peter and John were arrested for preaching about Jesus and His resurrection. The Jewish leadership was enraged by their preaching about the resurrected Jesus in association with the notable miracle they performed, healing the lame man in the temple gate. (Acts 3)
In the next chapter, the Apostles stood trial before the Sanhedrin. Peter delivered a rebuking defense and the council conferred among themselves to come up with a solution to silence them. They decided to severely threaten them that they should never again speak in Jesus' name.
“So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.” (Acts 4:18)
Peter and John were released and went back to where the Apostles were gathered. They reported the command given to them by the Sanhedrin, not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. Literally translated from the Greek, this means “not to let the name of Jesus pass from your lips again.” It’s tempting to think the reaction of the apostles to this report was flippant, but this was an important moment for the apostles and a real test of their faith. They became aware of the nature of the spiritual warfare they had enlisted in. Do you think they were afraid? What did they do to overcome their fear? They did what all soldiers of Christ engaged in the same war should do.
“So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them.” (Acts 4:24)
They proclaimed God's supreme power over all things. In one accord and of one mind, they affirmed their belief that because they were in Jesus God’s Anointed, they would be under God’s protection. As they continue their prayer, we see more clearly how they overcame their fear.
“Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” (Acts 4:29-30)
When the apostles lifted their voices to God, did they ask Him to remove the things from their lives that brought fear to their hearts? No, my friend, the Apostles prayed for boldness. They prayed that they would have the boldness to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and take the Kingdom to the ends of the Earth until their dying breath.
How can we develop the boldness of the Apostles unless we depend totally on God as they did? They went wherever the Holy Spirit instructed them to go, they preached the truth, and they gave their lives for the Gospel of Christ. Where does boldness come from? The key to overcoming the fears of our heart is an active faith. The only way our faith can resemble the faith of the apostles is to study the word and apply it. If glorifying God in a relentless pursuit of Jesus is our first priority, we can have this type of boldness. God answered the Apostles' prayer throughout their lives as they surrendered to His will, and He has the power to do the same for us.
“And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
We only overcome our fears through an active faith in Jesus Christ, studying the word, applying it, and teaching it to others. A surrendered life will not free us from trials, but it will give us the power to overcome them. Let us face all of our trials with an attitude of faith over fear.
— Eric Bullock, Evangelist
