2-Part Series: Confronting the Spirits of Anxiety and Insecurity

Part 1: Anxiety

Confronting the Spirits of Anxiety and Insecurity

Synopsis of Bible Study March 11, 2020

Delivered by Bishop Joseph W. Walker, III, D.Min.

Philippians 4:6-9 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. – By prayer and supplication, make your request be made known. Supplication in this text means to “be specific”.

Everyone is familiar with anxiety. Anxiety happens to be in epidemic proportions these days.

Being caught up in Anxiety is the most counterproductive thing you can do. It is like trying to make a fast get away on a wooden horse.

I.          UNDERSTAND THE PROBLEM

A.    What is Anxiety?

1. Anxiety is the fear of danger and misfortune. Another source says it is the state of apprehension. Anxiety in a real sense is your body’s response to stress. It is fear of what is to come.
2. Studies show that 43% of adults report being stressed. Other studies report that the root of most physical ailments is 60% caused by stress.
3. Xenophobia is the fear of the unknown. When we have this phobia, it causes us to lose control. When we are no longer in control, then we have stress and anxiety.

B.     Fear of anxiety?

1. Fear of anxiety is real or imagined threats against us. There are some things you stress about that is all in your head. Your mind will embellish things so much, it will put stress into your life. Imagined threats can sometimes be worse than real ones. When we were kids, the Boogie Man for instance, made us afraid of the dark.
2. We often have more fear of what could happen than we do current threats.

Phillipians 4:8 (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

3. Fear of anxiety brings on insecurity. Insecurity means we always have a feeling that something bad is going to happen.

C.     What Causes Anxiety?

1. Anxiety has 3 Main Elements
   1. Insecurity – Sometimes you conjure up things that might happen, because things look too good to be true.
   2. Helplessness – This is the idea that you can’t fix it.
   3. Isolation – This is the idea of thinking, “Who is going to help me with this”?
      1. Isolation is the playground of the devil. The devil wants you in isolation so that he can interrogate you.

II.          SYMPTOMS OF ANXIETY

A.    Natural – This is referred to as having butterflies or having bubble guts or just simply being restlessness.

1. You might feel out of control. Out of control is that disconnect between the body and your spirit.
2. You start experiencing panic attacks, a lack of sleep, or lots of stress. This will make you lose the ability to trust in God.

B.     Spiritual – Anxiety will rob you of the ability to enjoy your life. You become obsessed of what is going on in your life and you let it overwhelm you. The enemy’s plan is to get you stuck, so you will abort the plan of God for your life.

III.          5 WAYS TO DEAL WITH ANXIETY

1. Admit There is a Problem (Scripture Reference: Psalm 32:2) – We have to admit that we have a problem. We are stressed and concerned.
2. This doesn’t mean that we are not spiritual, it simply means that we are honest with God. If you don’t face it, you can’t fix it. Psalm 32:2 (NKJV) 2 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord does not [a]impute iniquity, And in whose spirit, there is no deceit. – Tell God the truth. For example, say “Lord I’m worried about my job”. Be honest with God.
3. Stop Self Medicating in Unhealthy Ways – Stop self-medicating in unhealthy ways.
   1. The way we cope with anxiety can be Everyone has ways that they cope with stress that is unhealthy (i.e drinking, smoking, and etc…). Your coping mechanisms can often be dysfunctional.
4. Take Care of Yourself Physically – Physical help is attached to your mental health. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NKJV) 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body [a]and in your spirit, which are God’s. -When you are stressed out, you eat when you’re not even hungry.
5. You don’t sleep and you don’t feel like working out. When you experience anxiety, this really is the time to we should eat right, sleep right, and exercise.
6. Be Intentional About What Enters Your Mind (Scripture Reference: Philippians 4:8) – There are 3 gates to the life of a believer.
7. It starts with what you see, enforced by what you hear, then you start talking about it. We take precautions for the corona virus, but we don’t live in fear of it. Philippians 4:8 New (NKJV) 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.- Everything you hear isn’t always true. Meditation on the word is not just emptying the mind of wrong things, but also filling your mind of things that are right.
8. Embrace the Process – Trust God to bring you through. You must depend on God.

1. Case study-Jesus tells the disciples, let us pass over to the other side. Jesus gets into the ship, gets a pillow and goes to sleep. A pop-up storm comes, and the disciples get nervous. They panic and wake Jesus up. The Disciples say “Master” (meaning teacher) and ask, “Do you care if we die?”. Jesus then asks them where their faith was.

Note that Jesus saying “Peace be still” is not the moral of the story as most may think. The moral of this story is when Jesus says, “Let us go over to the other side”. In other words, if he uses the words “let us go”, then it is an indication that “us” is going to make it to the other side. If God told you that you are going to make it, then stop panicking.

1. It is impossible to be stressed and trust God at the same time.

1. Know that there is a way out!

1. Ways out
2. Stay busy. – DESPAIR is a form of laziness. Blessed is the person too busy to worry in the day and too sleepy to worry at night.
3. Trade in your panic for prayer.

1. View the anxiety moments as the Word Moments, meaning, take this opportunity to get deeper into God’s word. Satin will whisper lies in your ear while you are going through moments of anxiety.

1. Story:

On 12/31/19, Bishop preached “Run Back to God”. In this sermon he explained how God had told him how he was heartbroken, because of how people had turned away from him, particularly People of Faith. God explained how he wanted us all to come back into relationship with him. Bishop said that God would confirm his word by 3 things which were Conflict, (Iran), issue in nature, and the Economy. Now just look at what’s going on in this season. In addition, the conflict with Iran happened within days of this sermon being delivered. In this sermon God said that if we were in covenant with him, then we wouldn’t have to walk in fear when these 3 things occured.

This story teaches us that now is a time for us to understand, pray, and not to panic. Ask the Lord to show you what you are supposed to be doing during the time our nation is going through this struggle.

1. Example of prayer:

Hannah prayed for a child out of anxiety and fear. She prayed so hard in the temple, Eli the priest, thought she was drunk. After the prayer, the man of God told Hannah that her answer was on the way.

1 Samuel 1:26-28 (NKJV) 26 And she said, “O my lord! As your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to the Lord. 27 For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him. 28 Therefore I also have lent him to the Lord; as long as he lives he shall be [a]lent to the Lord.” So they worshiped the Lord there. – Hannah prayed for her child Samuel, so she promised the Lord that the child would always belong to the Lord.

IV.          HOW TO COMBAT ANXIETY

1. Reframe Your Thoughts (Scripture Reference: Psalm 94:17-19) – When you understand you are spiritual and on a spiritual path, you realize that problems are for learning. You are right where you need to be. Your initial reaction will be replaced by the question, “What can I learn out of this?” or “What opportunities are hidden in these obstacles.?” Psalm 94:17-19 (NKJV) 17 Unless the Lord had been my help, My soul would soon have settled in silence. 18 If I say, “My foot slips,” Your mercy, O Lord, will hold me up. 19 In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. – This should be a revelation scripture for us all.
2. Be Realistic (Scripture Reference: Ecclesiastes 8:16-17) – Peace of mind doesn’t depend on solving all problems and righting all wrongs. Ecclesiastes 8:16-17 (NKJV) 16 When I applied my heart to know wisdom and to see the business that is done on earth, even though one sees no sleep day or night, 17 then I saw all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. For though a man labors to discover it, yet he will not find it; moreover, though a wise man attempts to know it, he will not be able to find it.- Some things will not change so be realistic enough to accept it.
3. The are some problems that have no solutions. There are some things that you will have to minster to and there is really no solution to them. Sometimes it is best to be present and silent. Some situations you simply have to live through it. Look at what you’ve already have lived through. You lived through Sars, H1N1, and others and God kept you through them! If you lived through that, know that you are going to live through this!
4. The art to being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook ~ William James
5. What is a uniform response for people that want to bring drama: The Bible says in the book of Job, Chapter 14, “Man born of a woman is of few days of trouble”? Those days are full of trouble. So why would I add another person’s trouble to trouble we are already guaranteed to have.
6. Find Support – Find the right people to be around.
7. Choose to be Optimistic (Scripture Reference: Joshua 1:8) – Optimism can kill any negative spirt. Attend church, feed yourself with God’s word. Joshua 1:8 (NKJV) 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. – Know that God’s got you!
8. Good Cares – Care for things that are good. (Scripture References: 1 Corinthians 12:25 (NKJV) 25 that there should be no [a]schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.- Stop dealing with things that cause division. 2 Corinthians 11:28 (NKJV) 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.; Philippians 2:20 (NKJV) 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.)
9. Bad Cares (Scripture References: Matthew 13:22 (NKJV) 22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.; 1 Peter 5:7 (NKJV) 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.)
10. Only One Thing is Necessary (Scripture References: Matthew 6:33-34 (NKJV) 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.)
11. You Do Not Have to be Perfect to be Loved by God (Scripture References: Philippians 4:10-13 (NKJV) 10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[a] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [b]be abased, and I know how to [c]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [d]Christ who strengthens me. Deuteronomy 28:13 (NKJV) 13 And the Lord will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you [a]heed the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.; Romans 15:4 (NKJV) 4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the [a]patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.; 2 Peter 1:3 (NKJV) 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,)

Questions:

1. What is God trying to teach you in this season? We can do all things through Christ, because he strengthens us. We have learned how to trust God and worship him though this.
2. When you grow in the knowledge of God, your learn peace is part of the promise.
3. Matthew 11:28-30 (NKJV) 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”-Of all of the things… when you been through a tornado, you realize why this was written: John 14:17 (NKJV) 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. – This is very relevant! Jesus didn’t say this bling-bling I leave to you. Jesus says “Peace I leave to you”. Psalm 4:8 (NKJV) 8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. – After it is all over, God is going to make you lie down in safety.
4. This is a time for spiritual people to trust God’s word. We will dwell in safety.