Episode 31: Tackling Fear Part 3 - Deliverance from Fear
Welcome to Going in Grace, a podcast where we go beyond simply understanding God's word. We explore how to live it out daily, making a meaningful impact in our lives and the lives of those around us. Let's tune in to this week's episode.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Welcome to episode three of our series, Tackling Fear. We've defined fear and anxiety. Now, how do we experience lasting deliverance from fear? What steps must we take so that fear no longer rules our life? First, we must know that fear has a remedy.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, Fear not, for I am with you be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you yes, I will help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. The knowledge of God's presence and accepting His help is the cure. The mother of all fears, so to speak, is the fear of death. Why are people afraid of flying?
Dr. Brandi Stover:Because they fear something happening to the plane, a crash, and ultimately their death as a result. Why do some people fear marriage? Because they fear the death of their independence, security, or something else. Why do parents fear releasing their children into adulthood? Because we fear the death of our identity, especially if being a parent is much of who we believe we are.
Dr. Brandi Stover:It could also be the fear that the child will hurt themselves, which though possible shouldn't take precedence in our minds because we've made it this far by God's grace and we should trust that they will too. Wherever there is fear, the concern about some kind of death is close by. I remind us of what God says in Psalms 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Now, God, of course, doesn't say this.
Dr. Brandi Stover:David is the one saying this in this psalm, but this is God's instruction to us. We could be in a place where we are in the shadow of death, but we do not have to fear evil. Much of what we face is the shadow of death. Death of some kind is always possible, but receiving Jesus as Lord and Savior removes the sting from death. Second Corinthians 5:8 says, We are confident, yes, well pleased rather, to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord.
Dr. Brandi Stover:If something does bring on death, the worst thing that can happen to the believer is that we go to be with Jesus. And that's the best thing that could happen. Remember, the knowledge of God's presence and accepting His help is the cure. Whether the help you need is to receive salvation or to conquer fear, God is ready and able to assist you. Romans 10:9-10 says that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
Dr. Brandi Stover:For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. Right now, wherever you are, open your mouth and invite Jesus Christ to be your Lord and Savior. If you believe your confession in your heart, welcome to the family. You are saved! Contact me at brandistover.com to let me know about your decision and allow me to send you some resources that will help you on your journey.
Dr. Brandi Stover:So, what do we do to walk in deliverance from fear? First, we confess and repent. First John 1:9 says, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Bring your hidden fears into the light. Allow God to meet you right where you are.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Second, we resist the devil. James 4:7 says, Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. By submitting to God's leadership and resisting fear, not allowing our minds to run away with us, by dousing ourselves with the Word of God, we can win. We must stand on two Timothy one:seven and other scriptures like those I shared last week.
Dr. Brandi Stover:We must speak truth over ourselves. Third, we put on God's armor. Ephesians 6:10-11 says, Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles another word for tricks, of the devil. Finally, we pray continuously.
Dr. Brandi Stover:Luke 18:1 says, Then he spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart. Jesus taught this parable urging persistent prayer. Deliverance comes in dialogue with God, not in brooding internally. It's testimony time again. Remember how I was bound by a spirit of fear for nearly a year in my teenage years?
Dr. Brandi Stover:I'm talking about a manifest, demonic presence that was in my life oppressing me. You may wonder how I was delivered. First, the Lord spoke a word to my heart about death, and with that word He broke the shackles off my mind that had me fearing death. You don't need to wait to hear God speak directly to your heart. He speaks to us through Scripture.
Dr. Brandi Stover:But at that time, I did not know that I was to read my Bible and take it literally as God's Word to me. It was God's mercy that caused him to assist me the way that he did, because he was well aware of my ignorance and he knew how much I needed his help. After speaking this Word and setting me free from the fear of death, I just knew on the inside that I needed to read Psalm 91. As a born again believer, I believe Holy Spirit was speaking to my human spirit. As a result, I went to my Bible and I began to read this Psalm daily.
Dr. Brandi Stover:After months, those words embedded themselves inside me, and I remember the day that I woke up feeling lighter and completely free. That presence that had me full of fear was gone. That's when I learned that God's Word has God's power in it, and it can bring about exactly what it says. Scriptures about fear combat fear. Scriptures about healing bring healing.
Dr. Brandi Stover:I learned through this experience that God is my God. He is my Father and He cares. The Bible is His Word to me and it has the power to change my life and to give me freedom. The Word of God, the Bible, stopped being a special book that I saw on people's coffee tables. It became my life's instruction manual, something to be used, engaged with, read, spoken about, and absorbed over the course of my entire life.
Dr. Brandi Stover:To walk in deliverance from fear, we must activate our faith. We should declare God's promises aloud. Say to yourself, God has not given me a spirit of fear. Second Timothy 1:7. We should also rehearse deliverances.
Dr. Brandi Stover:We should remember testimony moments where God walked us through a challenging situation. I have all the details of this experience and several other testimonies written out and pasted in my Bibles so that they not only remind me of God's goodness, but that they will be there to encourage my children and my future posterity when they receive my Bibles. We should also invite our closest friend or pastor on the journey with us to the freedom from fear. We should share our steps toward freedom and accept their encouragement on the journey. This gives us an opportunity to practice one 1 Peter 5:5, Be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but He gives grace to the humble.
Dr. Brandi Stover:True deliverance from fear is found in God's presence, God's Word, and God's family. Next week, our final episode, we'll build a fear proof life with boundaries and guidelines to guard your heart. Walk in freedom this week. Confess, resist, pray, and claim his promises. You've
Dr. Brandi Stover:been listening to Going in Grace. Be sure to visit us online at brandistover.com.
