The Other 4-Letter-F-Word Christians aren’t Supposed to Say

What do you do when fear sets in?

What is your first move?

It’s something we all face.

Fear.

Fear of the future, fear of attack or physical harm. Fear of failure, fear of letting people down, fear of persecution, or the fear of finding ourselves in uncomfortable situations.

I know I’m just barely scratching the surface here.

As I’ve blogged about before, worry, fear, and anxiety have followed me all my life. They’ve lurked around every corner, just waiting for me to partner with them.

While I haven’t blogged about it yet or told many people, I’m going through one of the hardest trials I’ve ever gone through in my life right now. I’m literally in the thick of it. Stuck in the middle of the story. Still waiting on the breakthrough.

There have been hours, or days, that I’ve felt almost paralyzed by fear.

And I’m not supposed to admit that, right?

Cause fear is basically a cuss word in church.

Now I’m not talking about the reverent, awesome fear of the Lord we read about in the Bible. That is a healthy type of fear that leads to wisdom, faith, and surrender.

I am talking about the fear that was born in the pit of hell. The fear that is not holy, not from God, and must be cast out by perfect love. I am talking about the fear that keeps us frozen, seized, and immobilized in its tight grip.

And it’s normal to feel fearful or worried. It’s natural to deal with anxiety.

But “natural” and “normal” are not Kingdom standard.

It’s what we do with those feelings that matters most. Our first move after the wave of fear washes over us.

Do we submit them to the cross or make them our master? Do they rule our thoughts, actions, and words, or do we call forth the truths of God’s Word and speak the things that aren’t true in the natural…yet? Do we succumb to the pressure of anxiety or do we worship with all abandon, even when we don’t feel like it?

As I read the Word last weekend, I watched two stories unfold.

Both stories began the same, but they ended very differently.

70,000 people died as a result of how one man dealt with fear. Alternatively, a nation’s faith was restored under the leadership of the other.

Let’s look at the “non-example” first.

David is normally a hero in stories we read in Scripture, but just like us, he made his fair share of mistakes. Unfortunately, in this case, it not only cost him, but it impacted thousands of other people, too.

By the time we get to 2 Samuel 24 (or the parallel passage in 1 Chronicles 21), we see that David had recently experienced victory in several battles with the Philistines, he wrote a song of deliverance, he shared the last words the Spirit had given to him, and a list was compiled of all of the top notch guys in Israel (who all happened to be on David’s team.) They were literally named his “Mighty Men.”

So, he may have been feeling a little overly-confident and prideful at this stage of his life.

A little backstory before we begin…

God had required a few things of Israel’s kings and leaders:

Not to acquire:
- Too many horses (too easy to turn around when things got hard)
- Too many wives (they’d take their eyes off the Lord and make you crazy)
- Too much silver or gold (excessive wealth gives a false sense of security)
Write for himself his own copy of the Book of the Law (and read it everyday, always keeping it with them.)
When a census was taken, every single person (20 years or older) was to give half a shekel as an offering to the Lord.

Not only did David not receive direction from the Lord to carry out a census, but he didn’t take up an offering, either.

Even after an immediate win, fear set in and he wasn’t sure the Lord would win the next battle for him. He wanted to see what “cards” he was playing with. He wanted to know how many strong men he had on his team.

In that moment, he forgot about the little boy within him who trusted the Lord and was brave enough to go head-to-head with a giant using only a slingshot and a rock.

And don’t we do the same?

We tend to forget about the battles the Father has already won for us.

You know who’s big on remembering things? GOD. He loves parties and feasts and altars and pillars made out of rocks.

Anything to remind His people of His goodness, His faithfulness. Of the promises He’s made with us. Of the battles He’s won for us.

Jehoshaphat shows us a better way.

While David responded to fear by taking matters into his own hands, Jeho set the stage for how we should handle waves of fear.

the victory cycle

Fear sets in.
We set our face to seek the Lord.
We call in our village to fast, pray, and worship.
Holy Spirit takes over.
We gather abundant blessings and return home with joy.
God renews our strength with a period of rest + peace.

Whether a wave of fear is real or just perceived, Jeho shows us the better way.

His fear would’ve been justified. He could’ve crumbled under the fear and we wouldn’t have even blamed it for it. He could’ve done what his own father had done and assembled an army of 300,000 men and prepared them for battle.

But I’m so glad he didn’t!

Instead, he went straight to the Lord when the reports came in of nations on their way to attack him and his people. They were on their way and they were already close by.

Jeho shows us what it looks like to choose God’s timing over ours. Some might think it was a waste of time for him to press pause, worship, and seek the Lord.

But one second in His presence is never time wasted.

Jeho prayed to the Father in the middle of the assembly. He quoted the words of Solomon on the day they dedicated the temple to the Lord. He quoted Scripture to the Creator and reminded Him of the promises He’d made with His people.

He admitted his own powerlessness and handed the situation over to the Lord. He humbly finished his beautiful prayer with, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

After a time of fasting, prayer, and worship, the Holy Spirit came upon Jahaziel and brought comfort to His people. He empowered them to face the battle the next day. He reassured them that they wouldn’t even have to fight! They would have to face the battle, but they wouldn’t have to lift their sword.

Jesus promised us the same - that we’d face many battles. Many waves of fear and anxiety would wash over us.

And everything I’ve taught you is so that the peace which is in me will be in you and will give you great confidence as you rest in me. For in this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world!
John 16:33

The most beautiful part of Jeho’s story (and my favorite part) happened the morning after the Holy Spirit came upon Jahaziel. The nation of Judah woke up early, ready to face the day. Jeho chose the choir members (and their outfits) and sent them out to lead the army.

They worshiped their way into battle!

They praised Him, singing, “Give thanks to God! His love never quits!”

What an act of faith! Jeho trusted the Father so much that he sent out the singers first. The NET Bible says that he told his people, “March out toward them. The Lord is with you!”

And guess what? It was true! When they arrived on the scene, every one of their enemies were dead. The Lord had fought the battle for them. He really did what He said He’d do!

It took the nation three days to gather all of their spoils. The Bible says they took as much as they could possibly carry.

On the morning of the fourth day, they blessed the Lord and assembled in the Valley of Beracah, which means Blessing.

I can picture them walking home, just bragging on God. Their time in worship and believing for His deliverance wasn’t wasted. He was so faithful. They returned home rejoicing.

The Word says that the fear of God came upon all of the nations around them because they heard about what the Lord had done for his people. What the enemy meant for evil God turned for His good!

Fear found a new home and joy, peace, and rest fell upon His people.

What do you need to admit powerlessness in today? What battle are you facing? What sword, judgement, pestilence, or famine has collided with you?

Where do you need to walk into battle, worshiping loudly, but not lifting a finger? Where do you need to seek His face? Is worship and prayer your first response or your last ditch effort?

Cling to the God who has proven Himself time and time again. Trust in His goodness and His promises.

You may have to endure the battle, but you don’t have to fight.

1 Chronicles 21

a case study: David

1 Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the Lord add to his people a hundred times as many as they are! Are they not, my lord the king, all of them my lord's servants? Why then should my lord require this? Why should it be a cause of guilt for Israel?” 4 But the king's word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came back to Jerusalem. 5 And Joab gave the sum of the numbering of the people to David. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, and in Judah 470,000 who drew the sword. 6 But he did not include Levi and Benjamin in the numbering, for the king's command was abhorrent to Joab.

7 But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. 8 And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 9 And the Lord spoke to Gad, David's seer, saying, 10 “Go and say to David, ‘Thus says the Lord, Three things I offer you; choose one of them, that I may do it to you.’” 11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Choose what you will: 12 either three years of famine, or three months of devastation by your foes while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, pestilence on the land, with the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’ Now decide what answer I shall return to him who sent me.” 13 Then David said to Gad, “I am in great distress. Let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for his mercy is very great, but do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 15 And God sent the angel to Jerusalem to destroy it, but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw, and he relented from the calamity. And he said to the angel who was working destruction, “It is enough; now stay your hand.” And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 16 And David lifted his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, and in his hand a drawn sword stretched out over Jerusalem. Then David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell upon their faces. 17 And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O Lord my God, be against me and against my father's house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

18 Now the angel of the Lord had commanded Gad to say to David that David should go up and raise an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 So David went up at Gad's word, which he had spoken in the name of the Lord. 20 Now Ornan was threshing wheat. He turned and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David and went out from the threshing floor and paid homage to David with his face to the ground. 22 And David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of the threshing floor that I may build on it an altar to the Lord—give it to me at its full price—that the plague may be averted from the people.” 23 Then Ornan said to David, “Take it, and let my lord the king do what seems good to him. See, I give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for the wood and the wheat for a grain offering; I give it all.” 24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will buy them for the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, nor offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 25 So David paid Ornan 600 shekels[a] of gold by weight for the site. 26 And David built there an altar to the Lord and presented burnt offerings and peace offerings and called on the Lord, and the Lord[b] answered him with fire from heaven upon the altar of burnt offering. 27 Then the Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back into its sheath.

28 At that time, when David saw that the Lord had answered him at the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, he sacrificed there. 29 For the tabernacle of the Lord, which Moses had made in the wilderness, and the altar of burnt offering were at that time in the high place at Gibeon, 30 but David could not go before it to inquire of God, for he was afraid of the sword of the angel of the Lord.

2 CHRONICLES 20

a case study: Jehoshaphat

1 After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. 2 Some men came and told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom, from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is, Engedi). 3 Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. 4 And Judah assembled to seek help from the Lord; from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the Lord.

5 And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the Lord, before the new court, 6 and said, “O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able to withstand you. 7 Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham your friend? 8 And they have lived in it and have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’ 10 And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and whom they avoided and did not destroy— 11 behold, they reward us by coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to inherit. 12 O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”

13 Meanwhile all Judah stood before the Lord, with their little ones, their wives, and their children. 14 And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. 15 And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's. 16 Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you.”

18 Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the Lord, worshiping the Lord. 19 And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the Korahites, stood up to praise the Lord, the God of Israel, with a very loud voice.

20 And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.” 21 And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say,

“Give thanks to the Lord,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”

22 And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. 23 For the men of Ammon and Moab rose against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction, and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all helped to destroy one another.

24 When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none had escaped. 25 When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. 26 On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there they blessed the Lord. Therefore the name of that place has been called the Valley of Beracah to this day. 27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to Jerusalem with joy, for the Lord had made them rejoice over their enemies. 28 They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets, to the house of the Lord. 29 And the fear of God came on all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. 30 So the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.

31 Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. 32 He walked in the way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was right in the sight of the Lord. 33 The high places, however, were not taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of their fathers.

34 Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded in the Book of the Kings of Israel.

35 After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of Israel, who acted wickedly. 36 He joined him in building ships to go to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. 37 Then Eliezer the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, “Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the Lord will destroy what you have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to Tarshish.