Fear of Man/Approval of Man sermons?

Can anyone point me in the direction of sermons or articles that speak of this topic of the Fear of Man and/or the fear of the approval of man? I am doing a study on this topic.Thanks!Grace,Doug

Hi Bro. Doug,There are lots of sermons that contain the topic. I read a book this year of David Wilkerson's called "Set The Trumpet To Thy Mouth." It's a real eye opener. One thing that might help is to also do a study of Being FULL of the Holy Ghost and how those in acts who were FULL seemed to be utterly fearless. It is in that fulness that we are equipped to become 'witnesses.' The Greek there is martyr. Ravenhill talked about being so drunk with the Spirit that we have a love life with the Lord Jesus that He can ask us anything He wants and we will do it. Jeremiah called it "fire shut up in my bones!" When that fire is there fear is gone. God Bless and God Speed!-Robert

I would look for those who were persecuted as Jesus was. If one loves Jesus, one will not be held in high esteem by men. The one that does come to mind is George Fox. Another might come from the "Back to Jerusalem," movement. They are like a man, crying out in the wilderness, not many hear them. In ChristJeff

The one that does come to mind is George FoxThis is a very good book to read for accounts of dealing with compromise in the Churches. It was no big thing for George Fox to get up and refute the clergy if they were in error. When it was time for comments, he would lay it on. He was greatly persecuted, but he seems to be about the closest thing to a true prophet I have read since the New Testament. His followers are called "Quakers." I suppose this was the quaking caused by great conviction of sin. God Bless,-Robert

Hey Doug,Would love to hear the outcome of this study. It's one of those issues that though ebbing more and more still rears it's ugly head.What instantly came to mind was from this thread;Audio/Text Cojoining Duel links to T. Austin Sparks "Blessedness of the Unoffended"Got my miners hat on, see what else we can dig up...

Thanks for digging around for items, this is very helpful to begin to work with.Grace,Doug

What do you mean? The proverbs says fear of man is a snare. So could you bring about a more full question as to exactly in what context you mean fear of man? or fear of or approval of sermons? Thank you.Bro. Daryl

Hi Daryl,For me this is a continum or a line where I vasiclate between fearing man, (being in front of man, what man thinks, man in general) and fearing the rejection of man (what man thinks of me, wrestling with the lies of man, not being accepted by other men, the approval of men) and this affects my ability to have courage to do what God may want me to do or speak to men (Christian and non-Christian). I was looking for the Biblical principles, articles, sermons, of how we as Christians can live in such a way that we would never fear death, man and what we say to them about Jesus and worry about being liked and accepted and approved by them. This is an area I have struggled with and God is working an this area in my life presently and wanting me to overcome this in my life. Grace,Doug

Thats a personal thing you'll need to navigate with the Lord's help.Preaching doesn't come easy to me , since I'm often in situations where I deliver a sermon to the church that seems out of place for that church. However it usually isn't. Never the less there is a tendency to want to soften the message in order to gain friends or approval, I believe thats natural and its a thing I war against.To be a man pleaser means I can't please God( I'm talking to myself here). I think it's a common problem. Paul told Timmothy not to be timid and all through scripture God tells his chosen to fear not, even Joshua.In Acts 4:29 the early church prayed for boldness--you have to rember who it was that prayed this prayer---The apostles---even Mary the mother of Jesus!Paul requested that the early church brethren would pray that God would give him a spirit of boldness to open his mouth ect....I believe That as you press in to knowing Jesus and asking him for boldness, season it with a request for wisdom, that he'll give it to you.Proverbs 29:25 fear of man is a snare Acts 4:13 note they acknowledged that Peter and John had been with Jesus(so he was thier source)Acts 4:29-31 prayer/answer to prayer. Rember this , that boldness isn't the absence of fear but rather it's the choice of a good conscience toward God who will enable you if you but simply ask -----James, if any of you lack wisdom let him ask -- our words and conduct toward others christian and non is nothing more than the outworking of God's wisdom by grace(grace is the unearned power of God given to us to do_________{fill in the blank} what ever God wants or say what ever he gives us to say)through (in the agency of or dependence on or in ) Jesus Christ who has given us a divine helper, the precious Holy Spirit. So start you adventure with Jesus and prayer and get ready for some really unique oppurtunities to stand up for the testomony of Jesus Christ.God Bless- I'll be praying that God fills your mouth and your heart with his word , and his wisdom.Blessings--Bro. Daryl

Hey Doug,This popped into my head as soon as I read yor post. Well worth the listen. Greg's got 70 of Ray Comfort's teachings on the site. This one is part of the 16 message series on "Hell's Best Kept Secret"...highly recommended.Freedom from the Fear of ManMerry Christmas, bro.

Br. Doug,I just finished a book, "The Heavenly Man." It can be found on the website for the "Back to Jerusalem," ministry. Here is a thought, one of a thousand that comes from the testimony of Brother Yun."Christians in China appreciate whenever believers around the world try to help them during times of imprisonment or persecution, but all efforts to help need to be bathed in prayer and rooted in God's will, otherwise it only seems to make things worse.The world can do nothing to a Christian who has no fear of man." page 313.In ChristJeff

Hello Doug,I thought of posting some quotes from Charles Spurgeon, but then came across this thread. The best resource for these matters, is of course the Bible, but maybe the things he says can be of use to you:Let God be true, and every man a liar!We shall never get an outspoken gospel until we get a set of men, who say "I don't care for the whole earth; if there is no one else right, and I conceive myself to be so, I will battle the whole earth; and I ask no man's wish, or will, or assent. 'Let God be true, and every man a liar.'" Oh, we want a few of those gigantic spirits who need no approvers—who can of themselves sweep their acre of men and slay them with their strong broad sword of confidence; and when we get these care-for-nothings, who care only for God, then shall the earth shake again beneath the tramp of angels, and God shall visit our land, even as he did of old.Only for Jesus…not to be honored by men!"Pleasant fruits, new and old, which I have laid up for thee, O my beloved." --Song of Solomon 7:13 We have fruits, this morning, both new and old; but here is the point--they are all laid up for Jesus. Truly, those are the best and most acceptable services in which Jesus is the solitary aim of the soul, and His glory, without any admixture whatever, the end of all our efforts. Let our many fruits be laid up only for our Beloved; let us display them when He is with us, and not hold them up before the gaze of men. Jesus, we will turn the key in our garden door, and none shall enter to rob Thee of one good fruit from the soil which Thou hast watered with Thy bloody sweat. Our all shall be Thine, Thine only, O Jesus, our Beloved! Preaching cannot be taken lightlyIt is no child’s play to be the occupant of a pulpit; he who finds it to be so may find it to be something more fearful than devil’s play when the day of judgement shall come.And to end with two comments of other brothers in Christ:"If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a million enemies. Yet distance makes no difference. He is praying for me"- Robert Murray McCheyneAnd I think a well-known quote among SI-ers :-)..."A man who is intimate with God will never be intimidated by men." – Leonard Ravenhill

"The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe" (Proverbs 29:25)