What is one thing you would do for God if fear was not a factor?
That was the opening question in our small group discussion this week.
Responses included share my testimony, proclaim the gospel to others, invite my
neighbor to church, lead a small group. Next, we read these words from Paul,
"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) This Scripture reminds us that the Holy Spirit does not
produce fear. Instead, He brings power, love, and a sound mind. Whenever fear
controls us, we are no longer functioning from the power of the Spirit, but from
the weakness of our own strength.
However, what if the problem is not our response to fear, but instead the
question in general? "What is one thing you would do for God?" The focus is on
what I would do for Him. Here is the truth we need to receive. God does not
need us to do anything for Him. Some of you may be thinking, "Hold up, I
thought we are supposed to serve God?" Absolutely. But Acts 17:25 says, "God
is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything."
Jesus said it this way in John 15:5, "Apart from me you can do nothing." God
does not need me to accomplish something for Him. God simply wants me to be
with Him. As I abide in Him and walk with Him, He begins to work through me.
What I do for Him becomes the overflow of being with Him. So maybe the
better question is, "What is one thing God would do through me if I would
completely submit to His will?" The answers are endless.
Someone asked me the other day, "Ben, do you still get nervous when you
preach?" Absolutely! I get nervous when I put pressure on myself to deliver the
message as though the sermon is dependent on me. But it helps when I
remember it is not my message, it is His. When I have spent the week abiding in
Him and staying connected to Him, He reminds me that He is the One
speaking through me. Most of us struggle with the fear of inadequacy,
discomfort, or rejection. But if God is working through you, you have already
admitted you are inadequate. That is why you need Him. If people reject the
message, they are ultimately rejecting Him, not you.
When Jesus sent out the disciples in Luke 10 he said, "Whoever listens to you
listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me." Then, when they returned, they
said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your Name." Did you catch that? In
Your Name. Jesus reminded them that their greatest joy was not what they had
accomplished for Him, but that they belonged to Him. What if we lived every
day that way? Not trying to do great things for Jesus but trusting Jesus do great
things through us. Then everything we do would truly be done in the Name of
Jesus.
Responses included share my testimony, proclaim the gospel to others, invite my
neighbor to church, lead a small group. Next, we read these words from Paul,
"God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound
mind." (2 Timothy 1:7) This Scripture reminds us that the Holy Spirit does not
produce fear. Instead, He brings power, love, and a sound mind. Whenever fear
controls us, we are no longer functioning from the power of the Spirit, but from
the weakness of our own strength.
However, what if the problem is not our response to fear, but instead the
question in general? "What is one thing you would do for God?" The focus is on
what I would do for Him. Here is the truth we need to receive. God does not
need us to do anything for Him. Some of you may be thinking, "Hold up, I
thought we are supposed to serve God?" Absolutely. But Acts 17:25 says, "God
is not served by human hands, as though He needed anything."
Jesus said it this way in John 15:5, "Apart from me you can do nothing." God
does not need me to accomplish something for Him. God simply wants me to be
with Him. As I abide in Him and walk with Him, He begins to work through me.
What I do for Him becomes the overflow of being with Him. So maybe the
better question is, "What is one thing God would do through me if I would
completely submit to His will?" The answers are endless.
Someone asked me the other day, "Ben, do you still get nervous when you
preach?" Absolutely! I get nervous when I put pressure on myself to deliver the
message as though the sermon is dependent on me. But it helps when I
remember it is not my message, it is His. When I have spent the week abiding in
Him and staying connected to Him, He reminds me that He is the One
speaking through me. Most of us struggle with the fear of inadequacy,
discomfort, or rejection. But if God is working through you, you have already
admitted you are inadequate. That is why you need Him. If people reject the
message, they are ultimately rejecting Him, not you.
When Jesus sent out the disciples in Luke 10 he said, "Whoever listens to you
listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me." Then, when they returned, they
said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your Name." Did you catch that? In
Your Name. Jesus reminded them that their greatest joy was not what they had
accomplished for Him, but that they belonged to Him. What if we lived every
day that way? Not trying to do great things for Jesus but trusting Jesus do great
things through us. Then everything we do would truly be done in the Name of
Jesus.
Author of this article: Ben Cole is the lead minister at Boones Creek Christian Church in Johnson City, Tennessee.
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