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Speaker 2Thank you so much for joining us this series of these podcasts . You know , as we're looking at fear , we're doing about 10 podcasts , 10 chapters of the book that's out there as well , and we just want to let you know that fear is a very , very common , a very common emotion . So it doesn't matter what part of the world we're birthed , it doesn't matter what our criteria is , it doesn't matter where we come from , it doesn't matter if we're in faith or out of faith , it doesn't matter how we look at life . Fear is extremely powerful and it is so encouraging to know that the Bible really speaks about it a lot 365 times . Jesus addresses it through the Old Testament , through the New Testament , but there's a really interesting part within the New Testament . You know , and thank you for joining us . You know , and the title of this podcast is Anxiety in the Bible . You know these are quick-fired 30-minute podcasts . You know quick chapter books that we're doing here and this is just throwing a blanket out . This is just throwing a blanket out on that word fear , the word just running around the world at the moment .
Speaker 2When you look at the situations of the world , when you look at everything that's kicking off around the world , whether you're in church , out of church , whatever your belief system may be in the world . You're just having a look at that word fear . It is very prominent . It's very real in many areas . Many of us live with it . Many of us have experienced that . Many of us have it on a daily base . Many of us live with it . Many of us have experienced that . Many of us have it on a daily base . Many of us may just deal with it as it comes and when it goes , but you know , it doesn't matter the color of your skin , it doesn't matter your culture , it doesn't matter your background , it doesn't matter your education , it doesn't matter how much money you got , it doesn't matter where you are from in this world . Fear hits every one of us at some point in our life . You know , some people really experience most and the majority of their lives living in fear , living in fear of the history , living in fear of the present and living in fear of what may be .
Speaker 2But what does the Bible say ? What does the Bible say ? Because that's what we're about on these podcasts and we thank you for joining us across the world as you revisit these podcasts time and time again , but this is a really interesting title , the third one in the series that we are doing Anxiety in the Bible . So we're going to press in , probably to one of the most famous scriptures dealing with fear and anxiety and worry and doubt and everything . It's quite a large text . It's coming from the book of Philippians and it is chapter 4 , verses 6 through 7 . And Paul provides these practical guidelines .
Speaker 2You know , there are many people on medication . There are many people that are really down . There are many people that turn to recreational drugs . Many people turn to alcohol , many people turn to gambling . Many people actually run away from the church . I'm not saying running away from Jesus , because there is something different between Jesus and church and religion .
Speaker 2You know , and we want to encourage you , wherever you are at this moment in time , if you are struggling with fear and anxiety and doubt , we want to encourage you and I'm going to use that word a lot today encourage . We want to encourage you to stand strong there , a way forward . And it is known as the gospels of jesus christ , it is known as the word of god , and god knows that we're fearful , god knows that we're doubtful , you know , but there are many areas of church , there are many areas of what we call the pentecostal movements , many areas of the evangelical movements that will really tell us loud and clear that , as you are a christian , you shouldn't fear , doubt , worry or anxiety . Well , the bible addresses that 365 times in uh , the congestion , the , the conscription of the word of god . So we want to encourage you , wherever you are , to grab yourself a bible right now . Grab yourself a cup of tea . Grab yourself a Bible right now . Grab yourself a cup of tea , grab yourself a coffee .
Speaker 2Whether you're reading this through the author's way , you know through the Word of God , whether you're reading this with us right now or whether you're listening to us , so you might be sitting down reading this book . You might be in the third chapter of this book and we pray that it will touch you . You might be listening to the third podcast in this series of fear , but I want to take us to philippians , chapter 4 , verses 6 and 7 . Paul provides practical guidance for those that are dealing with anxiety , and the scripture says this do not be anxious about anything , but in every situation , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your request to god , and the peace of god , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your minds in christ . That is taken from the niv , from the new testament , the book of philippians , chapter 4 , verses 6 and 7 . There is a practical guide in there . The bible says do not be anxious about anything . Isn Isn't it easy to read that , it's easy to say , that , it's easy to preach , that , it's easy to tell someone else do not be anxious about anything . But the practicality of us as human beings , as Bible-believing believers , as human beings , not to be anxious is a different drumbeat completely .
Speaker 2What is anxiety ? Where does it come from ? What is it made up from ? How does it start ? You know what does the Bible say about anxiety . What does the world say about anxiety ?
Speaker 2The Bible describes anxiety as a human response to the pressures and the uncertainties of life , often stemming from fear and worry and doubt about the future , the present or the past . But the bible addresses this through scripture , the only way that we can deal with anxiety . Yeah , we thank god for the doctors , the nurses , we thank god for the pharmaceuticals and the helps that are out there . But then we question now I'm just going to backpedal a minute Is anxiety a basic emotion that is of the flesh , or does it come from a different part ? Does it come from a spiritual world that we can't see ? Does it come from the area of the dark side ? You look at that out there . Where does anxiety come from ? What does the Bible talk about ? Does it say that it's a natural emotion ?
Speaker 2When you look at all this stuff , you know anxiety can it be controlled , can it be measured ? We can't measure it . You know anxiety is really , really powerful . It can come in like a click of a finger . It can come in like a wind just blowing down from nowhere . You know the sun is out , the sun is shining , but suddenly something happens in the drumbeat in the circle of life and all of a sudden our natural response is to go into fear . Now that might be a place where we rise and get away from trouble , or suddenly we freeze . Have you ever had anxiety where it makes you freeze ? But what does the Bible say ?
Speaker 2I've read that very interesting scripture out . We've had that out coming from the book of Philippians . You know chapter four , that you know that famous text that we've had . You know it's really , really important for me , as a Bible believing believer , to understand that Jesus tells me through the apostle Paul do not be anxious about anything but Paul and Jesus . I want to let you know .
Speaker 2It's easy to say it , but to put it into a practical rhythm of my life Lord , what do I do ? Paul says in every situation , by prayer and petition . What does he mean by request , lord , I pray because prayer is powerful . Prayer is bringing me to the presence and into the throne room of Christ . Prayer takes what my focus off of the situation . Worship will take my focus off of the situation .
Speaker 2But the Bible says in Philippians 4 , verse 6 and 7 , do not be anxious about anything . Anything actually means anything and everything . Don't worry about children , don't worry about relationship , don't worry about life , don't worry about your health , don't worry about the lack of , don't worry about food , don't worry
about all the life's situations that are before you . But it's easy to read this stuff , but the practicality of it as a believer , as a human being , is really difficult . I don't know about you , but sometimes I get hit with extreme anxiety . It just suddenly comes out of nowhere and I have to really focus , I have to really concentrate and I have to really draw on these scriptures . You know , I say thank you , lord right now . Lord , will you remove the fear ? Will you remove the doubt ? Do you sleep well or do you bounce in and out of sleep ? Do you wake up literally in a pool of sweat ? Do you wake up in fear ? You know there are many ways that fear just comes into our bodies . Even though we're sleeping , even though we're trying to rest , you know , fear can keep you awake , fear can absolutely exhaust you . Fear presents itself in so many different skins that we walk in .
Speaker 2The passage of that text is dealing with fear . You know , just in the bulk side of things it says do not be anxious about anything . But in every situation , in every life situation , don't be anxious about anything , but in every situation , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your request to God . So whatever is going on in my head , my heart , my mind , my psychological processing you know my cognitive thinking in my heart , my mind , in my life , whatever is bringing trouble to me , I've got to present that to God . How do I do that ? It is through speaking , because speech is powerful . So what do I do ? I say , father , in the name of Jesus . Lord , I'm worried about the children . Lord , I'm worried about finances . Lord , I'm worried about my life . Lord , I'm worried about living . I'm worried about dying , lord , I'm worried , dear God , about this exam I've got . I'm worried about work . I'm worried about financial pressure . I'm worried about the house . I'm worried about this . I'm worried about that .
Speaker 2Whatever the request is , according to the word of God , god says bring it to me . The Bible says come to me , all of you that are weary and heavily laden , and I will give you rest . We will find complete rest , complete freedom from fear , doubt and anxiety in Jesus Christ . What we are basically looking at here is how do I deal with anxiety in the Bible ? How do I deal with this ? I've got to come to God as as just , as a human being , as a believer in Christ , and I've got to say father , I am anxious , I am worried , I am worried about financial pressure , I'm worried about my life , I'm worried the way that I feel . You know social anxiety is enormous . Health anxiety is enormous . There are so many areas of anxiety out there . You know there are so many areas . What is anxiety in the world ?
Speaker 2Anxiety is a natural human emotion that every one of us experiences in different times of our lives . It is typically it arises , it comes by the response of , maybe in a stressful situation , uncertain situations , public speaking , exams . You know it is the same whether we're in faith or we're out of faith . There is a correlation Anxiety it seems to sit in the psychological and the emotion reaction to the areas of life , the threat and the challenges of just being a human being . So whether I'm a believer or I'm not a believer , whether I'm a churchgoer or not a churchgoer , whatever my life is , it doesn't matter if we're in faith or we're out of faith , it doesn't matter what culture I come from , it doesn't matter the color of my skin .
Speaker 2Anxiety attacks the human being in many , many ways . You know it can manifest itself in many ways , you know , through fear , through doubt , through lots of different areas becoming really tired , really weary , you know , exhausted and just stressed out and very snappy and very argumentative and all the stuff that goes along with anxiety is a disorder . It can develop into an anxious disorder and then suddenly me worrying and me being doubtful then leads to overthinking . Overthinking leads to stress . Stress leads to fear . Fear leads to more anxiety . It triggers , it just triggers itself . So I've got to find a place of where I can deal with these typical areas of life , because life itself is an anxious way .
Speaker 2Life itself , you know , brings challenges . As human beings , whether we're children , whether we're young adults , whether we're in school , out of school , whether we're retired , not retired , whether we're working , we're not working , whatever our situation , you know , it is a chronic way of being overwhelmed . Anxiety overwhelms us , it brings stress and it interferes with our everyday life . Is stress , worry and fear , and especially anxiety , at the top of the tree ? Is that messing around with daily life ? What are the trigger points ? Have you ever measured it to find out what are the trigger points ? You know it can be a temporary response to stress . You know , getting angry .
Speaker 2You know , then , there are many ways to look at anxiety . There are many ways trying to measure it . But can it be measured ? What does the medical world say about it ? The medical and the psychological communities ? There's lots of ways that they look at it . There are a few areas of anxiety , you know .
Speaker 2Worry or fear can range from mild symptoms , from severe to very mild attacks . You know we sometimes get so used to being anxious it becomes our normal . Do you want to live like this or do you want freedom ? The Bible says you will know the truth and the truth will set you free when anxiety becomes a chronic activity in our lives and it is an activity when it becomes chronic or overwhelming it is classified as an anxiety disorder . There are many people on planet Earth that have anxiety disorders . And how does that present itself ? What are the key insights ? What does the medical world recognize ? How does it recognize these traits of anxiety ?
Speaker 2You know we've got generalized anxiety disorder . You know GAD , you know that wide label that goes across all cultures , all colors , all tribes , all tongues . This is one of the most common anxiety disorders . People suffering with this general anxiety disorders , you know , experience extensive , uncontrollable worry about everyday situation when there's little or no need to worry because we get in a cycle . It might be work , it might be health , it might be family issues , it might be just anxiety about being anxious within itself . You know it can last a moment , it can last months , it can last a moment , it can last months , it can last days , it can last hours and it is accompanied by physical symptoms . What is general anxiety disorder ? What are the physical symptoms to this ? We become restless , we get a lot of fatigue , difficult concentrating and one of the real big things I think that we , uh , don't take much attention of is muscle tension , you know .
Speaker 2And what about panic disorder ? Have you ever had panic disorder where you're panicking , something is happening in life ? When panic actually comes into your bones , there is an attack of sudden , intense episodes of fear and discomfort and pain . It includes physical symptoms like rapid heartbeat . Have you ever had a rapid heartbeat , when suddenly , out of nowhere , your heart is really beating , there's a shortness of breath , you're sweating and you ever felt dizzy through them sort of attacks and you almost feel like you're having an outer body experience . These attacks can occur uncontrollably and they just come out of nowhere . They lead people to avoid situations . You know , fear and anxiety is so , so dangerous . You know .
Speaker 2You've got panic disorders , you've got general anxiety disorders , gad , and then you've got that other one . Do you suffer with social anxiety disorders ? You know . Do you suffer with people around you ? Are you worried ? Is there a social anxiousness about your life ? An anxiety disorder which involves being around people , being judged , being embarrassed , being eliminated , you know .
Speaker 2And in certain areas of life , you know . And social networks and all that sort of stuff , people with these disorders may avoid social events and all that . Even church , you know . Have you ever had that feeling of church . I don't want to go to church and there's too many people here and I can't face the commute . I don't want to go to school . I don't want to go to the lecture hall . There's too many people avoid public speaking sorry or meetings , even meeting new people , or just trying to avoid certain social areas of life .
Speaker 2You know certain phobias as well . You know fear and anxiety , doubt , worry , all this sort of stuff . It opens up the door . It opens up so much of a door to so much stuff . And when you study this and you look at this and I know we're looking at this through the eyes of faith , we're looking at this through eyes of the word of God , you know , but as we look at it as spirit filled believers of the John 3 , god , you know , but as we look at it as spirit-filled believers of the John 3 , 3 , you know brothers and sisters of faith , you know it affects people that don't even have a faith , cause when you look at all these traits that anxiety has , it hits the believer and also it hits the non-believer . It is really powerful . Anxiety is extremely strong and it is dangerous . It affects our body , it affects our mind , it changes our vision and our perception of life .
Speaker 2You know , what about phobias
? Do you have any phobias ? Is there anything in your life that you are irritated with ? Fears , objects , situations , heights , spiders , flying . You know , people with phob , people with phobias , go to great lengths to avoid certain areas of life , to avoid the fear and all that stuff that goes along with it . These are just a few areas that we're just touching on , these 30-minute podcasts .
Speaker 2But fear , we could talk forever and a day . Anxiety , we could talk forever and a day . We could podcast forever and a day . We could write forever and a day . You know we could write chapters and chapters and chapters of books and literature . But this is just a quick fight and overview . You know we're not going deep . We're just throwing open the envelope of the word fear and anxiety and worry . And what does God say ? What does the Bible say ? What is fear and what is anxiety , whether you look at it through the eyes of the world or through the eyes of a Bible-believing believer ? And then we hit another really big word that is trending around the world at this moment .
Speaker 2You know post-traumatic stress disorder , ptsd . You know we're pretty familiar with that . There is a lot of that that is going on and that can develop in a person for experience of witness , traumatic events , combat . You know someone that's been in a war time . You know situations , natural disasters or assault , sexual situations . You know , through family , through life , through abuse , all this sort of stuff , symptoms , you know you can have flashbacks , nightmares , hyper-tensitivity , all that sort of stuff that will lead to anxiety related to the trauma , the flashbacks . You know . Are you in a toxic relationship as well ? You know we avoid this sort of conversation in the world of the church . Toxic people , toxic relationships . You know all that sort of stuff . And culture as well . Culture is a very interesting thing . You know culture brings a lot of stress and culture brings a lot of pressure , you know , on human beings to perform , to act , to do and to be . You know , and this is a big area where we see a lot of people that are caught in very highly strung cultural traits , suffer with a lot of post-traumatic stress disorder . That really stirs that up . And there's so many other areas .
Speaker 2And what about OCD ? Do you have OCD , compulsive disorder ? You know , when you look at that OCD , one of the big things that is very characterized in that is being obsessed , the behavior of cleaning , of the continuation of cleaning and hygiene and everything like that . Tins in the cupboard are perfect . This is placed this way . You know , compulsive disorder , ocd .
Speaker 2There's so many ways that we can look at this . You know the behaviors , the mental activity , the compulsions in the mind . Have I locked the back door ? Are the windows shut ? You know you get in the car . I've got to go back indoors . I've got to do this . I've got to check the door five times . I've got to check the window eight times . Have I got my phone in my pocket ? Have I got ? Have I got that ? There are so many ways , but this is just really quick-fired stuff , you know .
Speaker 2Then we can look at the factors of what . What are the trigger points ? Is it genetic ? Is it the chemistry in the brain and the structure of that ? Is it the environmental stress around us ? Is it personal factors ? So there are a few areas . They're like personal factors , the environment or stress that is around us . You know brain chemistry and structure . Are there imbalances in my mind ? You know the way that the chemistry that transmits signals to the brain , all that sort of stuff .
Speaker 2Genetics as well . Is there a family history that plays a significant role in the development of my anxiety disorder . You know , anxiety , you know , runs through the thread of many , many human beings , you know , in families , you know , we can look , maybe , at our families now and just reflect over you know history and say , yeah , my family , I can see that certain areas and certain people within my family have had this . But what does the Bible say ? I've got to come back to the Word of God , I've got to come back to the book of Philippians . God says , through that great apostle , in Philippians 4 , verse 6 and 7 , do not be anxious about anything . So the Bible is telling us don't be anxious about the environment that is around you , don't be anxious about your personal factors , don't be anxious about your chemistry and your brain and your structure and your health . Don't worry about the genetics you know .
Speaker 2So then the question we ask to ourselves you know , what are these symptoms ? What are these symptoms of being anxious ? Anxiety disorders ? What are they ? What do they carry ? You know , is it a constant worry of fear , often , uh , worrying about the situation that is around us ? That is a trigger point figure . Uh , we got , we got psychological and we got physical symptoms such as a racing heart , you know , you got shortage of breath . You're sweating , dizziness , trembling . You ever experienced all that sort of stuff where you've been dizzy , you've been trembling and you're sweating , dizziness , trembling . You ever experienced all that sort of stuff where you've been dizzy , you've been trembling and you're sweating . Your palms are sweating , your body is hot . Your shortness of breath , your heart suddenly , out of nowhere , suddenly accelerates and you can feel that beat in your chest and then suddenly you go . Am I going to have an heart attack ? Is there something wrong with me ? Have I got a brain tumor ? Am I unwell ? You know there are so many things in life that trigger anxiety Restlessness .
Speaker 2Are you restless ?
Speaker 2Are you irritable ? Do you have a lot of fatigue ? Are you really tired ? Do you avoid situations , heavily placed shopping centers ? Are there areas in your life where human beings bring stress to you ? And what about sleep ? That's an area . You know sleep disorders . You know sleep disturbance . How many hours are we sleeping through the night ? Do we keep waking up every hour , every two hours , three hours ? Are we waking up alert ? Are we waking up fearful ? Are we waking up sweating and worrying about what the day holds for us ? You know our life activity needs to change . There are many of us across the world , whether we're in faith , we're out of faith . Whatever life looks like that , we need to change the activity . And when we change the activity and the environment around us , what does it mean ? It means looking at people in our lives . Are people bringing us to stress and anxiety ? Does our life reflect stress and anxiety ? What do the people in our lives actually do ? What do they actually do ? Are they bringing peace or are they bringing issues ? If we've got people in our lives that are bringing us issues , what do we do about that ? We've got to change the circles in which we walk in .
Speaker 2Now I've just thrown open there the envelope . Just so much stuff . We've looked at the causes and the factors of anxiety genetics , brain chemistry , the structure , the environmental stress around us in just major life events , families , life , financial difficulties , traumas , experiences , all that sort of stuff , chronic stress , ongoing worries , personal factors in our lives and that sort of situation . Then we have to look at the traits that are out there , the different areas of life . You know OCD . Have I got OCD ? Have I got PTSD ? You know post-traumatic stress disorder . Was there an event in my life ? Abuse , fear , doubt , a traumatic marriage , a traumatic childhood was there areas of my life that have triggered certain things . You know , have I got a phobia to certain areas of life ? Have I got social anxiety disorder ? Have I got panic disorder ? There is so much to look out there and that that one that we mentioned very , very briefly at the top of the hour was general generalized anxiety disorder . Gad , you know that is the one that is across the board . That can go from work to health to family issues . You know all types of areas of life .
Speaker 2You know anxiety is very , very powerful . It is psychological , it is spiritual and it is an emotion . So how do I deal with it ? What is the correct way ? What is the way that the Bible says ? The Bible is very , very clear . The way that the Bible says . The Bible is very , very clear . It says in 1 Peter , chapter 5 , verse 7 , cast all your anxieties onto him because he cares for you . Isn't it easy reading these scriptures ? You know we've just looked at so many areas of anxiety , just very fast and quick and fired . You know you might need to read this chapter again , you might need to go back through this podcast again , but it comes down to faith and trust and prayer . It comes down to those three key areas of the word of God prayer , trust and faith .
Speaker 2The Bible says be anxious for nothing . The Bible deals with these natural responses that we have built in to the chemistry of our life , but the majority of the stress and the anxiety and the fear that we experience is triggered from an outside experience . So the outside experience of life have the people that I've got around me , are they encouragers or are they very toxic ? Are they feeding me good stuff positivity , joy , hope or are they pulling me down ? You , you know people are critical to our emotions . Anxiety is fueled by the outside environment
. So how do I deal with this ?
Speaker 2The bible is extremely clear do not be anxious about anything , but in every situation . Have you got people in your life that are causing you trouble ? God's provision . God promises that he will provide for you . God tells us very clearly in Psalm 55 , 22 . David shares something very powerful . Read Psalm 52 , you know 22 . 52 , you know 22, . Cast your cares onto the Lord and he will sustain you . He will never let the righteous be shaken . David was a man . David was a king . David was a shepherd boy . David was a Psalmist . David was a warrior . David was a fighter , david was a survivor , but david also experienced extreme anxiety , extreme levels of anxiety in his life , and god got him through in the close of this podcast .
Speaker 2As we duck out of this last part of this , whether you're reading this through right now , whether you're listening to this on the other side of the world , we pray here that God will lead you in paths of righteousness . But there's a beautiful scripture . There's a lovely scripture as we come to the close , in John 14 , verse 27 . Peace I leave you , my peace I give you . I do not give you as the world gives . Do not let your hearts be troubled , do not be afraid . You know being afraid triggers fear . Fear triggers doubt . Doubt runs beside anxiety , anxiety , doubt and fear Extremely powerful emotions . God's peace with you . Cast all your cares onto God .
Speaker 2It is about reading the word of God . It is about trusting , is about walking in the scripture , prayer and supplication . The scripture that we started off in this podcast and in this chapter that we have within this book is Philippians 4 , verse 6 and 7 . Do not be anxious about anything , but in every situation , by prayer and petition , with thanksgiving , present your request to God , and the peace of God , which transcends all understanding , will guard your hearts and your mind in Christ Jesus . Wherever you are across the world , may the hand of God lead you , you know . Thank you for joining us for this podcast . You know anxiety in the Bible . God bless you wherever you are , in the mighty name of Jesus Christ . Mighty name of .
Speaker 1Jesus Christ . Thank you for listening to us today on Reverend Ben Cooper's podcast . We hope you found inspiration and guidance in today's audio . Remember the journey of faith is a continuous one and your questions and thoughts are important . You can send us a text or an email and we will get back to you . So , wherever you are around the world , thank you for listening to our podcasts and radio ministry . For more information about our ministry , please find us on pastorbencoopercouk . Please support us with prayer . Also , you can sow a financial seed into this ministry . You can also leave us a legacy to support and continue the work of this radio ministry . If you enjoyed this episode , please subscribe and share it with others who might benefit . Until next time , stay blessed .