Warfare: Fear of Ministering

It sounds kind of intimidating when you think of talking to total strangers. Satan has petrified the people of God by having us think that if we present the gospel we will be horribly rejected. Our imaginations and prideful emotions deceive us out of speaking.

I went to the bank to cash a check and then went to the library. I saw a man and I felt like I should give him some money. He didn't look completely homeless but he wasn't all that well put together either. So of course my imagination/satan starts to talk and lists off reasons I shouldn't:

• You only have twenties in your pocket. You don't want to give him a $20. That is way too much.
• He may be insulted if I give this to him in front of all these people. (He wasn't sitting alone)
• What if he will use it on drugs. Go look in his face to see if he is a drug user first then make your decision.
• You should find someone that you KNOW (from appearance) is homeless and give it to them.
• and finally...don't do it. Just leave.

So as I am in the library I am having this war in my mind as to what to do. I made the decision in my mind to give him $20, but still not sure what to say/how to say it. Just before I leave, he gets up and walks over to some books (where no one is) PERFECT! I walk over to him and asked him does he believe in God. He said "Well, I'm not an Atheist" I tried to create a small talk. I told him "When I looked at you I felt that God wanted me to give you this." I pulled out the twenty and he looked at me and said " I can't take that, no" I was quite shocked. Because even if he weren't homeless he could've still used it for something. I walked away still a little in shock that I went through all of that warfare just to be rejected.

First thing I learned is A) Be obedient even if the outcome isn't in your favor. B) God could be unctioning you to do something but it doesn't mean people will receive. C) Sometimes giving is all you need to do. I may not need to strike small talk each time...just give and shut up.

I could have completely ignored that unction went on with my day, but I know me. I will have dreamed about giving that money to the gentleman because it would've bothered me so much. When you are in search for the manifestation of God avoiding the call to duty will begin to bother your spirit/heart.

By avoiding the our call to duty we are saying:

• I don't want to be like my master and suffer any rejection. That may hurt my pride.
• I will disobey the command he has given me because my fear is bigger. 
• His death on the cross is not worthy enough for me to share.
• The Holy Spirit is incapable of ministering effectively through me.
• I don't trust that the Holy Spirit will provide me with the power to do what is necessary.

Ministering to anyone is a battle in the mind. Even if God unctions you to not say a word and just give, most of us still have the opposing fear.

If you are just starting to minister here are some thing to help you get started:

• Build your confidence in God through His word. Declare scripture daily that speaks of your authority/identity as a believer.
• Get information and surround yourself with other Christians who are like minded in ministering.
• Discover the gift that you take an interest in the most and begin a study on it.
• Study Jesus. We are to do the things he did and greater. What did he do and how?
• Think of Loving the person more than loving yourself. The self-love wants us to protect ourselves from the embarrassment and rejection. If you love the other person the way you'd want to be loved, you'd do it.

If you have already started this and there is still warfare:

• Be obedient
• Love. This is the MOST important. Love will blind you of that fear. God has not given us the spirit of fear but of POWER and of LOVE, and of a SOUND MIND. 2 Tim 1:7
• Be confident in the power within
• Don't look at the outer man. It is the inner man who needs the help.

Of course this is not an exhaustive list. There are several tactics to defeating satan when he presents fear.