“Only Thing We Have to Fear
Is Fear Itself”: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s First Inaugural Address.
I believe that the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt from 65 years ago are prophetic. He said this
famous quote as he addressed the nation during one of America’s darkest times in history. When I listen to the news
media and the people involved in finance, the word “fear” is used a lot.
Look at what Jesus said in the book of Luke when he was describing the “last
days” or the events that will happen at the close of this present age.
Luke 21:25-28
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation
of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 Then they will see the Son
of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption draws near."
Verse 26 is particularly interesting, men’s hearts failing them from “fear.”
Fear and faith have a close relationship.
Fear is the “yang” to faiths “ying”. Fear is having faith in the bad thing happening.
Fear is the polar opposite of faith, it runs in the opposite direction. If a person says, “I’m afraid that the
cancer will overcome me and I will die”, then that person just used fear as a type of faith to express their belief
that the cancer will in fact kill them. A person can say, “This economy is real bad, we are in a free fall and we are
in for a bad rescission or maybe even a depression”. What just happened? The power of fear is expressed in the form
of worry and anxiety.
There
are events that are happening in the world now that are affecting all of us. Some events are going to happen around us no
matter what, like the events Jesus described in Luke 21:25-28. Those events are prophesied, they are going to happen. How
do we live in these times of fear and turmoil?
By faith.
Faith
in God’s word. Faith in God’s mercy and grace. Faith in the fact that God is a God who hears and answers prayer.
Prayer is the most powerful force in the earth, more powerful than money.
What is faith? The bible says that it is a “substance”. A substance to me is something
that is tangible, I can touch it, taste it, smell it. Here is the bible definition of faith.
Heb 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2
For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are
seen were not made of things which are visible.
Notice that God uses faith! He is a faith God! Look at verse 1, “the evidence of things not seen”,
and verse 3 “the things which are seen were not made of the things which are visible”.
Powerful stuff, much more powerful than fear. Now,
lets look at God’s word concerning how to deal with fear. What is God’s will concerning how we are to deal with
and operate in “fearful” situations.
Look at this powerful Psalm, and compare the reference to the roaring waters in Luke 21:25.
Ps 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
In this passage of scripture in Romans, Paul points out
that fear is “bondage”. But we do not have to receive it!
Rom 8:15-17
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father."16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17
and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be
glorified together.
The
writer in Hebrews is confessing with his mouth, “I will not fear”.
Heb 13:6
6 So we may boldly say:
"The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
Finally, my all time favorite scripture concerning how to deal with anxiety and worry, which is caused
by fear. Remember, fear is a type of faith, a perversion of faith. Fear is having faith in the bad thing happening.
Phil 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This is an absolute promise, you can take that to the bank and deposit it! You can have faith in this
word, that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind, in the mist of the turmoil
and the raging waters!
Take
this promise to be your own, by faith. Speak it from your own lips everyday, especially when fear tries to rear its ugly head,
and say out loud, “No, no, no, my heart and mind is guarded through Christ Jesus. Fear, you have no place in me, I live
by faith!”
“Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself”: Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
First Inaugural Address.
I
believe that the words of Franklin D. Roosevelt from 65 years ago are prophetic. He said this famous quote as he addressed
the nation during one of America’s darkest times in history. When I listen to the news media and the people involved
in finance, the word “fear” is used a lot.
Look at what Jesus said in the book of Luke when he was describing the “last days” or the
events that will happen at the close of this present age.
Luke 21:25-28
"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress
of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring;26 men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation
of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.27 Then they will see the Son
of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.28 Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption draws near."
Verse 26 is particularly interesting, men’s hearts failing them from “fear.”
Fear and faith have a close relationship.
Fear is the “yang” to faiths “ying”. Fear is having faith in the bad thing happening.
Fear is the polar opposite of faith, it runs in the opposite direction. If a person says, “I’m afraid that the
cancer will overcome me and I will die”, then that person just used fear as a type of faith to express their belief
that the cancer will in fact kill them. A person can say, “This economy is real bad, we are in a free fall and we are
in for a bad rescission or maybe even a depression”. What just happened? The power of fear is expressed in the form
of worry and anxiety.
There
are events that are happening in the world now that are affecting all of us. Some events are going to happen around us no
matter what, like the events Jesus described in Luke 21:25-28. Those events are prophesied, they are going to happen. How
do we live in these times of fear and turmoil?
By faith.
Faith
in God’s word. Faith in God’s mercy and grace. Faith in the fact that God is a God who hears and answers prayer.
Prayer is the most powerful force in the earth, more powerful than money.
What is faith? The bible says that it is a “substance”. A substance to me is something
that is tangible, I can touch it, taste it, smell it. Here is the bible definition of faith.
Heb 11:1-3
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.2
For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are
seen were not made of things which are visible.
Notice that God uses faith! He is a faith God! Look at verse 1, “the evidence of things not seen”,
and verse 3 “the things which are seen were not made of the things which are visible”.
Powerful stuff, much more powerful than fear. Now,
lets look at God’s word concerning how to deal with fear. What is God’s will concerning how we are to deal with
and operate in “fearful” situations.
Look at this powerful Psalm, and compare the reference to the roaring waters in Luke 21:25.
Ps 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be
carried into the midst of the sea;
3 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling.
In this passage of scripture in Romans, Paul points out
that fear is “bondage”. But we do not have to receive it!
Rom 8:15-17
15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption
by whom we cry out,"Abba, Father."16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,17
and if children, then heirs -- heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be
glorified together.
The
writer in Hebrews is confessing with his mouth, “I will not fear”.
Heb 13:6
6 So we may boldly say:
"The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?"
Finally, my all time favorite scripture concerning how to deal with anxiety and worry, which is caused
by fear. Remember, fear is a type of faith, a perversion of faith. Fear is having faith in the bad thing happening.
Phil 4:6-7
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer
and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
This is an absolute promise, you can take that to the bank and deposit it! You can have faith in this
word, that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and mind, in the mist of the turmoil
and the raging waters!
Take
this promise to be your own, by faith. Speak it from your own lips everyday, especially when fear tries to rear its ugly head,
and say out loud, “No, no, no, my heart and mind is guarded through Christ Jesus. Fear, you have no place in me, I live
by faith!”
