Public speaking is still one of the biggest phobias. Ask someone to get up in front of a group of people, and their palms begin to sweat. It takes courage to speak in front of an audience, and only a minority of people are comfortable with the task. The same can be said for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but you can pray for the courage to speak.
PHILIPPIANS 1:14
“and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.”
Will You Bail?
Paul wrote the letter to the Philippians from prison. His imprisonment had caused his haters to use that as proof that he wasn’t a real apostle, while his supporters used it to be bolder in preaching the Gospel. Tribulation will cause people to act like this. Some will do anything to prevent pain or suffering, and at the first sign of trouble, they bail, while others will see the trouble as confirmation that what they are doing is on track. Paul rejoiced at those who had the courage to speak.
Embrace the Struggle
Do you struggle sharing the Gospel? Are you afraid of upsetting someone or flat-out getting rejected? You are not alone. It takes courage to share the Gospel, and God is willing to give it to you. Acts 4:31 tells us that the disciples were praying, and God gave them the courage to preach the Gospel. This was in the face of severe persecution. God had just supernaturally removed Peter from prison. Don’t get discouraged. Ask the Holy Spirit for the courage to speak.
Courage to Speak
You don’t have to go door to door or out in a busy area to share the Gospel. You can do it to the people God brings into your life. A neighbor walks into your garage to borrow a tool, lend it, and ask where they go to church. Have a family member that is struggling? Ask them how you can pray for them. All of these will lead to discussions where you can share the Gospel. Be bold and go for it.