Wanted: Weak Messengers - Emmanuel Baptist Church

On Sunday we talked about the way that many Canadian Christians act as if was illegal to share our faith. We too easily keep the gospel to ourselves.

One reason for this, in my experience, is fear. We know that people have objections to the Christian faith, and we don’t feel like we have all of the answers. We’re afraid of being put on the spot and having nothing to say.

If that’s a part of your struggle, I want to remind you that sharing the gospel is not about you having the best answers or solid comebacks. The most important thing for you to know is the gospel itself. That message will be foolish to many people. But to those whom God intends to save, the gospel message itself will be the power of God.

“For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:18).

Many times I’ve found comfort in Paul’s words from the next chapter of 1 Corinthians. “And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1–5).

Are you not good at public speaking? Do you not feel very wise? Does the thought of sharing the gospel with others make you feel scared, and even make you physically shake? Are you not sure that your words will make sense and convince anyone?

You’re in good company, right up there with the Apostle Paul. God delights to use people like you in the spread of the gospel because all of the glory goes to Him. Our weakness makes it clear that God is the One who saves. Sharing the gospel becomes less about us and more about pointing away from ourselves to the Saviour.

So, if you are scared of being public with your faith, ask God for courage, ask for His perspective, and focus on building your understanding the gospel message itself. That’s where the power of God is found.