Suzanna and I recently put together a short teaching on the fear of man for my men’s discipleship group.  The primary goal in this was to produce breakthrough in the reader to A) be set free from fear of man and B) be empowered to produce transformation in discipleship and evangelism.

Breakthrough Teaching on Coming out of the FEAR OF MAN

Scriptural truths

Fear of man is at its worst when tied to a religious spirit.

Mark 11:27They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28″By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”

29Jesus replied, “I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 30John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!”

31They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 32But if we say, ‘From men’….” (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

33So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Jesus said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”

Principles at work:

1. The Pharisees did not operate under fear of the Lord or conviction.  There questions were completely self-centered.
2. Jesus uncovered their lack of authority by his question.  If they had any real authority, they could answer straight about John, but they were unable to.
3. Fear of man will always lead to speaking and moving in a way that is conformed to the opinions of men.  It carries no transformational power.
4. When our convictions are based out of receiving the honor and praise of men, we are easily blinded to truth.  The Pharisees missed Jesus because they did not love the truth more than they loved what men thought of them.

Fear of man steals our testimony.

John 12:42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Luke 12:1Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. 3What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.

4″I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies^[a^]? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

8″I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge him before the angels of God. 9But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before the angels of God.

Principles at work:

1. Fear of man affects our relationship with God.  There can be no intimate closeness with someone you will not confess freely.
2. It is hypocrisy to confess that you are living for God but live consumed by the opinions of men.
3. Unbelief about the care of God and His complete control over our lives will lead to hedging out bets in the company of men.  If you are not sure that He counts the hairs on your head, you will not trust your reputation, friendships, and comfort into his care.

God brings justice ultimately.  Our pride causes us to seek justice in the eyes of men and miss the praise that comes from God in the day of judgement.

1 Corinthians 4:5Therefore judge nothing before the appointed time; wait till the Lord comes. He will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God.

23 A man’s pride brings him low,
but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

24 The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;
he is put under oath and dare not testify.

25 Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26 Many seek an audience with a ruler,
but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

27 The righteous detest the dishonest;
the wicked detest the upright.

Four categories or types of people who walk in the fear of man.

1. “Self-protection:  the hard shell”  -
   1. literally afraid of other men.  what they can do to hurt him or can steal from him.
   2. A man’s heart is mishandled from birth, he forms a hard exterior to protect himself from pain.
   3. He prefers to live numb so as to be able to freely exchange in the relational economy of sinful men.
   4. His life is marked by:
      1. religious duty w/o emotional connection
      2. shallow relationships with other men
      3. (for married men) his wife has increasing levels of sorrow and/or distraction from her husband, her heart needs are unperceived, unmet
      4. confusion and inability to hear God’s voice personally
      5. a lack of passion for fathering and discipling, unmoved by plight of the vulnerable and needy
      6. spiritual and emotional boredom

1. “Pleasant” -
   1. doesn’t want to cross anyone’s will.
   2. afraid of other’s reaction to him and perception of him
   3. wants to impact for the kingdom but lives in insecurity and is personally disconnected from God’s holiness.
   4. has not fed himself the fear of the Lord, and so cannot perceive the Scripture’s meaning with depth.
   5. his access to heaven’s resources are limited, so he mainly gives of himself, with limited authority.
   6. marked by:
      1. compassion w/o wisdom
      2. produces little or no breakthrough in the people who follow him
      3. driven by people’s perceived needs rather than their real needs
      4. overly drawn to routine
      5. fears confrontation
      6. wants to lead, but not really (avoid taking responsibility for others’ breakthrough…club mentality “let’s all do this together!”)

1. “Carnal”
   1. wants to enjoy fellowship with other men at any cost.  wants to fit into the systems of men
   2. has conviction that God and Jesus are real, but has not made Jesus Lord.  Wants to win with God and with men.
   3. unwilling to give up the world and men’s opinion of him.  makes an effort not to be perceived as “different” or “religious.”
   4. Marked by:
      1. Spiritual satisfaction and dullness, lack of hunger for God
      2. Self-hatred
      3. Anger and sorrow over life’s direction
      4. defensive over his lifestyle and resistance to anything “overboard;”
      5. fundamentally does not believe in the scriptural principle of cost
      6. thoughts  of serving God are disconnected from personal obedience; more a matter of personal preference

1. “The Fan”
   1. satisfied by men and what men are doing.
   2. easily excited about happenings and activities and schools of thought.
   3. inclination towards spectatorship, but talks excitedly about what others are doing in his “camp.”
   4. He is marked by:
      1. his loyalties, doctrines, and beliefs v. his personal fruit.
      2. devotion to choosing the right doctrines, being grouped with the right folks
      3. head knowledge v. spiritual authority and transformation
      4. escapism, avoidance of areas of defeat, esp in the home
      5. insignificance (stronghold)
      6. preference for talking v. doing
      7. disparity between what he says he believes and the power of faith to produce tangible fruit in his life
      8. team colors (I’m with so and so…extreme personal loyalty to people, even to the point of taking pride in association)
      9. “head in the sand”; this man can ignore God’s dealings with him over personal obedience by absorbing himself in ways God is moving in the body at large

Common thread is FATHERLESSNESS– a disconnect from the fear of the Lord and His personal interest in a man’s life and obedience.  A man who is fatherless is both unloved and undisciplined.

Questions to confront:

• Is the Lord committed to my personal development?
• Is my level of breakthrough reflective of His commitment, or am I blocking His development through fear of man?
• Do I regard immediate, personal obedience as the Lord’s constant requirement, or do I  make the issue of obedience confusing by thinking of obedience in broad strokes? Is my life simple?  (Faith like a child means hear and obey)
• Do I believe that He has greatness for me?
• Do I love correction, or does it make me feel like a failure?