This is a very basic question but one that so many of us have to answer wrong when we compare our answer to what the Bible has to say. I would dare say that most of us would say that when we are going to be talking to someone about Jesus or we feel lead to witness to someone, we let the fear of man stop us.
Matthew 10 opens with Jesus selecting the twelve men who he wanted to be his disciples. Once He selected them, He gave them their instructions on what He wanted them to do. Beginning in verse 16, Jesus assures them that persecution will come…
Matthew 10:17-18:
Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues, and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.
As soon as Jesus finishes warning them about suffering persecution for His sake, He hits them with these verses…
Matthew 10:28-31
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear HIM who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.
All men can do is kill the body, and, if that happens, we will forever be with the Lord in heaven. But God is the one who can destroy both body and soul and send us to hell. Rest assured that God will never condemn one of His own children (Romans 8:1).
He continues…
Matthew 10:32-33
So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven, but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Warren Wiersbe says to acknowledge Him means more than to make a statement with the lips. It also means to back up that statement with your life. It is one thing to say “Jesus Christ is Lord,” and quite another thing to surrender to Him and obey His will. The walk and the talk must go together.
So, who do you fear more? Man or God? If our fear for God is more than our fear of man, we will obey the commands of the Lord!
“The person who fears God alone need never fear any man or group of men. The fear of God is the fear that cancels fear.” – Warren Wiersbe
jasonlsneed.com 
Pretty timely post, don’t you think?
I could not agree with you any more about the timing! May we all truly fear the Lord! Thanks for your leadership with Proverbial Thoughts. I am sorry that I have been slacking but I will be jumping back in shortly!