“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV
“Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned. I violated the Lord’s command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.” 1 Samuel 15:24 NIV
“Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.” Proverbs 29:25 NIV
When Man is Big, and God is Small:
- I lose my purpose
“For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4 NLT
- I stunt my spiritual growth
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise.” Psalm 111:10 NIV
- I give into peer pressure
“Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong…” Exodus 23:2 NIV
- I become a hypocrite
“The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.” Galatians 2:13 NIV
- I lose my gospel influence
“Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.” John 12:42-43 NLT
Six Temptation Reminders to Overcome the Fear of Man:
- Remind yourself that even God can’t make everyone happy all the time
- Remind yourself that you have all you need in Jesus; therefore, you do not need everyone’s approval to be happy
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2 Peter 1:3 ESV
“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you. So why are you afraid of mere humans, who wither like the grass and disappear?” Isaiah 51:12 NLT
- Remind yourself that what seems important now is actually temporary
“The world and everything in it that people desire is passing away; but those who do the will of God live forever.” 1 John 2:17 GNT
- Remind yourself that your living for the audience of One
“Does this sound as if I am trying to win human approval? No indeed! What I want is God’s approval! Am I trying to be popular with people? If I were still trying to do so, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10 GNT
- Remind yourself that you’re going to give an account of your life to God not people
“Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.” Romans 14:12 NLT
- Remind yourself that God made you to be you not what someone else thinks you should be
“Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mold, but let God re-mold your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands and moves towards the goal of true maturity.” Romans 12:2 JBP