Power Power over Social Phobia

Power

Power over Social Phobia

God has called every believer to share their testimony

To share your testimony about God and Jesus Christ and Him crucified

I bet you never thought of the Apostle Paul as having a social phobia

Trembling and fear, the kind that makes you weak in the knees

That is exactly the way Paul described what is was like for him

As he went to Corinth to share the Gospel

“I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.”

Paul saw that when he spoke the demonstration of the Spirit’s Power came

And made the difference in the lives of people

 It is never about your weakness or even your strength

It is about God’s Power

Power over Social Phobia

Glossophobia or speech anxiety is the fear of public speaking. The word glossophobia derives from the Greek γλῶσσα glōssa, meaning tongue, and φόβος phobos, fear or dread. Some people have this specific phobia, while others may also have broader social phobia or social anxiety disorder.

I bet you never thought of the

Apostle Paul as having a social phobia.

Trembling and fear the kind

that makes you weak in the knees.

That is exactly the way Paul himself describes what it was

like for him as he went to Corinth to share the Gospel.

“I came to you in weakness and

 fear, and with much trembling.”

Paul did not have some polished message, he had

shared 100 times before and saw great results.

Paul had his testimony about God, the

fact of Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

 “I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom

as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.”

“My message and my preaching were

not with wise and persuasive words.” 

Paul tells us later he developed

the ability to speak to mature people.

His ability to speak to the mature did not

come from classes on public speaking.

Paul says it this way…

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.

1 Corinthians 2:6-8

Paul with trembling knees shared his

testimony to the people at Corinth.

He pressed through his Glossophobia.

Out of that testimony a church was born.

So how did this happen?

Paul admits it was not his ability to speak.

It was not his education as a wordsmith.

Paul says it was the…

“My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words,

but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith

might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.”

It was the Spirit’s power / God’s power.

Paul believed that his mouth was God’s tool.

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one

speaking the very words of God.”

1 Peter 4:11

Remember the words of God that caused you to believe…

Those words of God repeated to others

will cause them to believe.

Paul believed that the message was not his message.

Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own.

It comes from him who sent me.

John 7:16

Paul believed God would fill his mouth.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt.

Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.

Psalm 81:10

Moses also had Glossophobia and God used

him to lead His people out of Egypt.

Paul believed that God’s Words had power.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow;

 it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12-13

Paul believed that God backs up His Word…

“These signs will accompany those who believe.”

He said to them…

"Go into all the world and preach

the good news to all creation.”

“Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

 Mark 16:15-18

Paul believed that obedience to share his

testimony of God and Jesus Christ and

Him crucified would have power.

It is the demonstration of the Spirit’s power /

God’s power that changes lives

and causes people to have faith.

Remember that if your greatest fear comes

and you are rejected, be confident that the

Holy Spirit will give you what to say.

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial,

 do not worry beforehand about what to say.

Just say whatever is given you at the time,

for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11

God in you is greater than your Glossophobia.

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 2:1-5 NIV

2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.   2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.