THE FRUIT OF FEAR
“So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.”
- Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address
It was March 4th, 1933. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had just been ushered into office as President, inheriting the Great Depression as his first order of business - and he chose to speak into the hearts of his people about fear. But, he knew something important: fear had the ability to capture that resilient, hope-fueled determination to advance against all odds, and stop it in its tracks. And leading paralyzed people is nearly impossible.
It’s pretty easy to see why fear is a poison to the church of Jesus Christ. An army of Spirit-indwelt believers that are called to turn the world upside down with the greatest news on earth, yet who can only retreat and never advance, just doesn’t add up. It’s not the kind of church we read about in Scripture. If the church ever needed efforts to convert retreating into advancing, it's now.
And so we, along with Paul in 2 Timothy 1:7, loudly declare that God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear. Fear doesn’t belong in the church. And yet we battle it every single day. What do we do with that?
On Sunday, we revisited the Old Testament account of Joshua and Caleb’s conversation with the Israelites after the spies returned with a report of the Promised Land. We saw the irrationality of fear and how fear’s falsehoods can distort a glowing report into what seems like a death wish.
Fear is destructive, but there’s something going on here that’s deeper than fear alone. Take another look at Joshua and Caleb’s plea:
Numbers 14:9-11
“‘Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not fear the people of the land, for they are bread for us. Their protection is removed from them, and the Lord is with us; do not fear them.’ Then all the congregation said to stone them with stones. But the glory of the Lord appeared at the tent of meeting to all the people of Israel.
And the Lord said to Moses, ‘How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?’”
It’s interesting to note Joshua and Caleb’s words:
“...do not rebel...and do not fear...”
It seems that the exhortation not to rebel and not to fear were separate. (Hang on to that for a second.)
Then, after the whole gathering turned on Joshua and Caleb and tried to stone them (yes, that really happened), God clearly stepped in ready to communicate something. And what He said is such a window into His heart:
“How long will this people despise me? And how long will they not believe in me, in spite of all the signs that I have done among them?” (vs. 11)
The Lord’s rebuke after the people rejected Joshua and Caleb’s exhortation wasn’t a rebuke of their fear. It was a rebuke of how they provoked God with their unbelief and unwillingness to trust Him despite all He had done among them in the past. It was a rebuke of how they had rejected Him in their hearts.
Friends, can I submit something to you? I don’t think God is offended by our fear in and of itself. He knows that the “Descendants of Anak,” — the “giants” of our own circumstances, intimidate us. He knows that from our vantage point, some situations seem absolutely impossible.
I think what He is ultimately concerned with is our response to our fear. Will we follow fear’s suggestion to doubt God’s goodness, sovereignty, and love, hardening our hearts toward Him and resorting to self-reliance and self-preservation? Or, will we allow fear’s alarm to send our hearts returning to God’s flawless track record of faithfulness, steadfast promises, and empowering presence through His indwelling Spirit within us? He has given us the freedom to choose.
If we allow the lies of fear to sink into our hearts, we will soon find our hearts bending to rebellion instead of returning to Him.
The fruit of fear is often a rebellion against faith and trust in the Lord.
But with the gracious help of the Holy Spirit living in us, the fruit of fear doesn't have to be rebellion; we’re not enslaved to that anymore. Instead, the fruit of fear can be return – a supernaturally-enabled homecoming to the promises and character of God.
So, what does the fruit of fear look like in your life? Is it tempting your heart to lean away from God’s presence? Is it tempting you toward self-preservation and coping mechanisms? Or is it drawing you closer to Him?
FDR said that “unjustified terror...paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance.” The Bible takes it one step further by suggesting that unjustified (ungodly) fear not only paralyzes our advance but leads to sinful rebellion, and ultimately, rejection of God Himself.
But when we allow fear to be the catalyst to return to God, strengthening our faith and trust in Him, it converts our retreating into advancing. And the church of Jesus Christ is in need of advancing today – am I right?!
So, I would tweak FDR’s speech a little bit for us as a family:
The only thing we have to fear is fear that doesn’t return to faith.
You know I love you, right?
In Christ,
Pastor Phil
THIS BLOG POST IS A COMPANION TO THE SERMON BELOW.
We pray it is a blessing to you!
Phil Byars serves as the Lead Pastor at FBC, where he pours himself into leading, teaching, and caring for our church community. Phil and his bride Robin love road trips, spending time with their family, and drinking their morning coffee together. For Phil, it doesn’t get better than hearing his grandkids call him “Poppy,” taking in the beauty of the Colorado Mountains, and, of course, enjoying a PB&J.