Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
Reverend Ben Coopers podcast, offers an inviting space for listeners to explore Christianity and spiritual growth with wisdom, humor, and a deep commitment to biblical truth. Through Rev. Ben's engaging conversations with guests, the podcast not only explores the timeless wisdom of the Bible but also tackles the pressing issues of life, faith, and hope in a way that is accessible, thought-provoking, and enriching. Whether you’re seeking spiritual nourishment, answers to life’s big questions, or simply a place to reflect on your faith, the Rev Ben podcast is a valuable resource on your journey.
In each episode, Rev. Ben guides listeners through profound theological reflections, personal stories, and practical insights drawn from the Bible and the broader Christian tradition.
Reverend Ben Cooper's Podcast
2 - Gods Presence as the Remedy for Fear. - (PBC @02)
Conquering Fear with Faith – A Biblical Approach to Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Peace in God's Presence
In this episode, we dive deep into fear—a common emotion that impacts people worldwide. Fear has the power to control our thoughts, actions, and peace, often causing anxiety and robbing us of joy. But there is hope—God’s presence is the ultimate solution to fear. Through faith and scripture, we can overcome fear and find peace that transcends all understanding.
We explore Psalm 23, a powerful scripture offering comfort and reassurance in the face of fear. In the darkest valleys of life, we are reminded that God is with us—His presence is a refuge. The comfort we find in these words shows us that no matter the challenges we face, God’s promises offer strength and peace.
The Biblical Perspective on Fear
Fear is a natural human emotion, but when it becomes overwhelming, it can lead to anxiety, stress, and insecurity. The Bible tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind." Fear can keep us from living fully, but God offers us freedom from this stronghold. By choosing faith over fear, we can rise above it.
Psalm 23 encourages us in verse 4: "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me." God’s constant presence provides comfort, making fear powerless in His love.
Overcoming Fear with Faith
Faith is a direct antidote to fear. In Isaiah 41:10, God promises, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you." This assurance empowers us to trust in God’s strength and protection, knowing that fear does not have the final word.
When we place our trust in God, we shift our focus from the fear itself to His unwavering presence. Philippians 4:6-7 teaches, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Practical Steps to Overcome Fear
If you’re facing fear, here are steps to help you find peace:
- Acknowledge Your Fear: Recognize the fear you’re feeling. Psalm 34:4 reminds us, "I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears."
- Pray and Trust in God: In prayer, lay your fears before God. 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
- Meditate on Scripture: Reflect on God’s promises. Psalm 23 and Isaiah 41:10 are powerful verses to remind you that God is with you.
- Find Community: Fear often isolates us, but Hebrews 10:24-25 encourages us to be in fellowship with others who can help us overcome fear through support and encouragement.
Embracing Peace and Living Fearlessly
As we face fear in our lives, remember that God’s peace is greater than any anxiety. John 14:27 says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” By trusting in God and His Word, we can live fearlessly in His strength and peace.
Key Topics Covered:
- Overcoming fear with faith and trust in God
- The comfort and assurance of Psalm 23
- Biblical answers to anxiety and fear
- Scripture for overcoming fear: 2 Timothy 1:7, Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:6-7
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Speaker 2:God bless you wherever you are. We thank you so much for joining us for these podcasts. You know, these 10 podcasts on fear, we're into the second one and the title of the second one at this moment, wherever you are across the world, is God's presence as a remedy for fear. You know the Bible is extremely clear what it says about fear. It tells us over 365 times do fear, do not fear, for I am with you. You know, fear is such a very powerful emotion. Whether we're in faith, wherever we're out of faith, whether we're churched, unchurched, whatever our look at life is, fear is so powerful. But we've got to rise above that and I just want to touch on a couple of areas for these 30 minutes, these quick-fired podcasts, and whether you're listening to this via audible or whether you may be listening to this through radio and whatever means you're capturing this, and also through the book form as well. We just want to say that you know, never give up. God is with you in everything and every year of your life. But as we just look at these interesting chapters, you know we're in number two at this moment in time God's presence as a remedy for fear. You know what is happening in this world at this moment in time, when we look across the news and we look at school and we look at education, we look at life and we look at the financial issue and the political agenda and everything that's happening around the world. You know everything that's going on. You know fear. It's like the world is just driving this fear bomb to each and every one of our front doors and we pray here that you will find a place to rest, that you won't allow this fear to dictate to you, because fear does something very, very interesting to the human being. Whether you're churched unchurched, whether you're in faith out being, whether you're churched unchurched, whether you're in faith out of faith, whether you're a believer, an atheist, whether you're from a different world religion viewpoint, whatever it may be, it doesn't matter your spiritual understanding at this moment in time, because fear is the same for every human being. It will take your vision and your focus just from life itself, regardless whether you're a bible believing believer or not.
Speaker 2:Fear will change the landscape that is before you and it's critical to realize that I cannot allow the fear that is on the outside to affect the inside of my life, because we live by perception, we live by what we perceive through the, the basic of the body smell, touch, visualization and then hearing. You know, it's very important that I, as a human being, do not allow the outside environment. And what does the outside environment look like mainly in our lives? Well, the majority of our day, the majority of our week, the majority of our lives, we are surrounded by issues. Now, that might be through toxic people, that might be educational situations, that may be family situations, that may be business, that may be schooling, that may be any area of life.
Speaker 2:We've got to be careful of the people that we allow into the circle of our lives. Are the people coming into our lives bringing joy or are they bringing fear? Are the people that are connected to us when you look at certain areas of life and your life and my life, and when we analyze that and we unpack that and we unpick the thread of life, are the people in our lives driving us to achieve what we should be achieving and helping us to be focused, or are they making us fearful and doubtful? You know, fear sits under many umbrellas, but as we look at this one, at this particular point, god's presence as a remedy for fear what do you mean a remedy? What is that actually that you're talking about? How unpack that for us?
Speaker 2:What does the Bible say? How does the Bible look at God being a remedy? What is it? Well, it's simply the Word of God.
Speaker 2:We come to understand that the Word of God is written by 66 books. We have 66 books with New Testament, old Testament. We understand that the Word of God has 40 different authors. We understand that the Word of God is life-changing and the word of God doesn't drive fear to us. The word of God drives hope and faith. You know, the only time that we look very clearly about fear, as in work out your salvation with fear and trembling. The other area of fear is to to be fearful of the living god. You know, holy, holy, holy is the lord. So fear is a very interesting drumbeat that lucifer uses to take our focus just off of life itself, and he uses that drumbeat by people that are around us.
Speaker 2:But the bible says greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. I've got to come to the realization as a human being, as a john 3, 3, a born again, spirit filled, believer, that my god is greater than any fear. So the outside environment, the outside, is lucifer's playground. The inside is owned and it is god's territory. So the inside of me, my autonomy, my physicality, my spirit, my soul, however we look at what goes on on the inside is not owned by lucifer. But my internal system of life is god's territory because the Bible says greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. So God lives within the Bible-believing believer. And it's very interesting.
Speaker 2:The territory on the outside, the territory on the outside, everything on the outside of the skin that you walk in, the landscape before you, is Lucifer's playground and he will use many areas of life. He will use toxic people, he will use business, he will use education, he will use schooling and he will even use church in a certain area, the mechanics of religion, to try and drive fear through our system. Because if Lucifer can drive fear through our system, if we can just be solely focused on fear, fear drives us to many areas. It drives us to anxiety, it drives us to doubt, it drives us down to our self-worth, it drives us to a place where we feel completely depressed and we are exhausted if we had time, but we will cover this later on down the podcast in other chapters of this book, how fear really affects the body, the human side of us, that fear, we live on adrenaline, we live on this fire inside of us. That is not correct and not right.
Speaker 2:You know what fear does, how it messes up the cognitive processing, where it weakens us, where it tires us, where it takes our vision, our focus, just off of our goals generally, because you know what it's like when fear comes into your life, when fear actually comes in and it invades, it invades your life. It invades from the outside. It doesn't start from the internals, it starts from the externals, because the externals is the devil's playground, and the externals, because the externals is the devil's playground and the externals affect the internal. But I got to say to myself that god is living within me. I have the father, the son, the holy spirit, I have the deity. There is no fear in this heart or this skin of mine.
Speaker 2:But what happens is when I see the outside landscape of life, when I see the outside environment and I look around me, a 360-degree circle in life and however the day was for you and whatever is in your lens at this moment in time, when you look at life, you know. Is life bringing joy to you? Is life bringing hope to you? Is life bringing a new beautiful fragrance to you? Or is the life around you getting you depressed and fearful and doubtful? You know, are you engaging in too much TV? Are you engaging in too much social media? Are we engaging in too much sports? Are we engaging in too much worldly activity? Because those worldly activities are fueled very, very cleverly, you know. Social media, you've got sports, you've got all this area of education. It does something very, very powerful and it takes us away from what. It takes us away from the word of God.
Speaker 2:If you are fearful right now, god's presence as a remedy for fear, it is the presence of God that is the remedy. It isn't the pharmaceuticals, it isn't watching the tv, it isn't listening to music. It is the presence of god. And how do we get into the presence? Because our autonomy and our physicality is naturally living in this physical world, you know. But the bible says that there is more to this world than we see, that we can perceive, that we can touch with the thread of life.
Speaker 2:And when you look at the scriptures because this is what this podcast is about is dealing with fear with a biblical viewpoint, with a biblical understanding, with the scripture, without scripture in my life. Scripture brings peace. Scripture brings hope. Scripture brings freedom. God brings freedom from the fears and the doubts of every trial and every situation of life. But I've got to make sure it's not about living correct, because when we look at living, living and lifestyle cannot hit the bar that christ has given us. It is impossible to hit that bar, you know. But the Bible says all have sinned and fallen short of thy glory. So when we live our lives, we live our lives in the eternal hope that God is changing us from glory to glory. And through the cross of Calvary, through the shed blood of Christ, we have our sins nailed to the cross and we are free. Who the Son sets free is free indeed.
Speaker 2:And another area of fear that the devil gets us is in our history, in is in the back book of our life, in the historical things that have gone on. You know, you can almost hear Lucifer's voice saying to us if those people knew what you was like, how would us, if those people knew what you was like? How would it be If those people knew what you had done before? Would they take you serious? Does God know what you are thinking? Do these people around you know what you used to be? Because the devil uses history, because the devil can only sit, lucifer can only sit in history. He can't sit in what is before us. He does not have any understanding is what is before you. He has no capabilities in any way, shape or form. He can only hold us to ransom. And what happens is when the enemy holds us to ransom through history, what does it do? It brings fear.
Speaker 2:So historical events can hold us from moving forward or migrating from where we are in this geographical place of life, moving forward in the word of god, not because god's word isn't capable, it is because of my mindset. I've got to break the mindset. How do I break? When I say I break, I have to make a conscious and a clear understanding that I need to bring this to Christ because I cannot live in my history. You know so many people, so many of us human beings, and humanity is living in. What if that came out of the cupboard? What if that was revealed? What if people knew that about me? What, what, what? We are always living our lives in in historical events and not living by faith. So when we live in historical events, we are living in fear. When I live in what is before me and the bible says, we serve a god that calls the things that are not as though they are, so fear is living in the past, holding history, faith. Faith, you know. Faith is looking forward to what god has for you. So what is the, the scripture that is really relevant for god's presence as a remedy for fear?
Speaker 2:If you have a Bible and if you have a chance just to look at these scriptures, I really would encourage you, you know, just to have a look at these references. And the first reference that we got is probably the most famous psalm the earth has ever heard, and that is Psalm 23, verse 4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. Psalm 23, verse 4, let me read that again Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. So the Bible tells us that there is a walk. There is a good walk, there is a walk by light, there is a walk by darkness. And I'm not saying that we will walk by darkness. That darkness is leading us because the Bible is extremely clear Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world. You know, when you look at that scripture, the Bible says that Christ is the light of the world.
Speaker 2:So when Christ is living within you, when we actually think of it through the lens of the spiritual walk with God, fear does not actually exist in our heart. It only exists in the cognitive processing. Fear can only sit in the mind. This is why the mind can be quite dangerous, this is why the mind can almost hold us back, because the mind is captured by our historical events, you know, and the mind can't really push us any further forward than where we are at this moment in time. Yeah, you might think about holiday, you might think about work Monday, you might think about an exam coming up, you might think about these physical areas, but the mind has no capability of living by faith because the mind is of this natural world. So where does faith come from? Out of your belly shall flow rivers of living water.
Speaker 2:You know, in your inner soul, in your inner heart, as the Bible says you know, the heart is where the word of God is. Your mind and my mind. It carries the word, but it carries it in an educational purpose. In that way, the mind is just a vehicle. But what we've got to understand is that fear sits in the mind. It doesn't sit in your heart because what the fear of this world does? It draws on anxiety, it draws on adrenaline, and that starts in the mind. It doesn't start in the heart because it can't start and it can't stay in the heart. Fear actually sits in the mind of the human being. It has no way of getting onto the heart because when we talk about the heart in the realization of scripture, it is talking about the, the spiritual realm where God sits.
Speaker 2:So when we look at what is this remedy? Is God's presence a remedy for fear? 100% God's presence and his love and his mercy and his unfailing goodness will guide you through the valley of the shadow of death. So this is where the Psalmist is explaining even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. So this is where the psalmist is explaining even though I walk through the darkest valley psalm 23, verse 4 the presence of god is with you as you are walking right now. The presence of the holy spirit is with you right now. Jesus christ, as the savior of the world, is with you right now. You might be operating in fear. You might be listening to this in fear and anxiety and worry and doubt, but let me guarantee this to you when you get the word of God.
Speaker 2:Now this is critical. It's not worship, it's the word of God. Worship and prayer is secondary to the word of God. Worship and prayer is secondary to the word of God. The first area that I gotta get to is scripture. It is scripture. Scripture. Worship will carry us, worship will place us. Worship will get us through certain times, and I love worship. Worship is powerful, but worship is only powerful when it is twofold. The Bible says the worshipers shall worship in spirit and in truth Holy Spirit and word. Holy Spirit and what do you mean? Word? Do doctoring? See, if god wanted us to primarily find freedom from worship, he would have mentioned that. But it is the word of god. But actually the word of god is worship. So we are in worship when we are in the word of God. So if you look at Psalm 23, verse 4, even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil. Why is this, david? Why does David say this? For you are with me. God's remedy, god's presence, god's love is the remedy for freedom. It will destroy that. God's presence as the remedy for fear to go. Fear will go. God will redeem, god will set free, god will make a way. God's presence as the remedy of fear. God will destroy.
Speaker 2:The Bible says perfect love drives out all fear. Now, if God wanted worship to drive that out, he would have said you know, perfect worship drives out all fear. But the scripture says perfect love drives out all fear. What is perfect? Love? Christ is perfect love. Prove it. The Bible says in John 3, 16, for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whosoever shall believe in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. That is the great scripture For God so loved. There is a love that is over you that will drive out fear. That love is perfect because Jesus Christ is perfect. Jesus Christ is the living word of God. He is the Alpha and the Omega. He is the king of kings and the lord of lords.
Speaker 2:So as I look at my life, my life and your life is the physical realm of walking. We walk, we move, we are active, we we live our lives by, by progression, you know, and however that may be in our lives. So, as we walk, so christ is using, through the psalmist of david, psalm 23, verse 4, this valley as an analogy of yes, I will walk through my life, yes, I will have hurdles, yes, I'll have peaks, yes, I will have troughs. Yes, I'll have highs and lows, yes, I will yo-yo in and out. But one thing is for sure if you keep walking, victory will come.
Speaker 2:I cannot afford to allow the shadow of death to stop me moving forward, because I've got to understand that there is no power within a shadow. It is just a shadow, a silhouette, just something that is that is there in my eyesight but it's actually not there within the physical realm. You know, when you touch a shadow, it has no power. This is why this psalm is so powerful and it is so liberating and it is so freeing. You will know the truth and the truth will set you free. What do we need to be set free from? The most we could say sin. We understand that. But running parallel with that, running in the fabric of that, is fear, because fear changes our vision, whether that's our daily life, whether that's our focus and whatever that may be. Fear changes everything the chemicals in the body and the way that we go into that fight and flight mode, and everything.
Speaker 2:But god's presence is a remedy for fear. God's presence, it is God's presence that will give you freedom. So in the Psalm 23, verse 4, even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Your rod and your staff, god, I love that. Your rod, the, the rod of instruction, that the staff that will comfort me.
Speaker 2:You know, when you look at a shepherd, the god that we serve through christ, when we look at the man, christ, when we look at the savior of the world, jesus, he is the good shepherd. So when the psalmist writes this, he's using the analogy of a shepherd. The shepherd will protect the sheep. We are his sheep, we are his children. You know fear. We need to drive fear out of our lives. We need to drive this out. God has commanded us not to fear and God's presence is a remedy for fear to go, and we've got to stand on the word of God because fear is not our portion. Fear is not part of the Redeemer's plan. Fear sits in the playground of Satan. Fear sits in the playground of the political agenda. Fear sits in the playground of the political agenda. Fear sits in the way of the world. But by faith, and we know through scripture that faith and fear they run very, very close together.
Speaker 2:But I just want to read this scripture again, and the scripture reference is Psalm 23, verse 4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I want to tell you tonight, this morning or this afternoon, whenever you listen to this audible, however you do, through radio, through podcasts, when you read this through book form, I want to let you know tonight that fear is not part of the master's plan, that fear does not belong to you, that the fear that you are feeling now will go at the name of jesus. So, wherever you are, I would encourage you to grab a bible and open the word of god, open up that text to psalm 23, verse 4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, you might be walking through a very dark, a very gloomy, a very bleak. You might, you might be in a windstorm at this moment, you might be spinning plates that you can't control anymore. You might be going through this avalanche like an avalanche on a snow resort. When it just completely cascades down, there might be an avalanche of issues, there might be an avalanche of problems. There might be an avalanche of problems, but there is a way forward and it is the word of god.
Speaker 2:Worship has its place, prayer has its place, but the prime area that we need to get into is the word of god. So this is the major issue that we have within the UK is that the church hasn't equipped the Bible believing believers for such a time as this. We are living in the days of Noah, we are living and we are waiting for the second coming of Jesus. So the devil is in his playground, trying to stir up as much fear as he possibly can, and he will use every vehicle under the sun that he can use to try and drive us away from faith, because faith is the opposite end of the stick to fear. So, wherever you are at this moment in time, whatever your time zone is, whatever lens you are looking at life at right now, if you are in a fearful position, as I said, grab the Bible.
Speaker 2:Open up to Psalm 23, verse 4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. God is with you. The power of the Holy Spirit is with you. The love of Christ is over you. Perfect love drives out all fear. The glory of God is within you. Destiny is waiting for you. You can find that beautiful place of peace right in the valley of despair. God is with you wherever you are tonight.
Speaker 2:Do not give up. Do not give in. Do not allow the outside environment, the devil's playground, to control that faith that has been placed within you. Grab yourself the word of God. Grab yourself a coffee or a cup of tea. Take time out and read Psalm 23, the most beautiful psalm the world has ever heard, verses 1 through to 6. The Lord is my shepherd. God is guiding you through to six. The Lord is my shepherd, god is guiding you. God is going to drive out all fear because he loves you. Because he loves you, the Bible says because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him. God is a God that will rescue from fear. God will rescue you from your troubles and your doubts. Do not allow anxiety. Do not allow doubt. Do not allow the present to hold you back.
Speaker 2:I just want to drop this in before we click out of this podcast. It is coming from the book of Philippians, chapter 4, verse 6 through to 7. Do not be anxious about anything. 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. This shows this shows something really powerful. This shows the glory of God.
Speaker 2:I want to encourage you, wherever you are, read that text. We have the reference just as we come to a close. The reference is Psalm 23, verse 4. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me, your rod and your staff. They comfort me. And then I've just dropped that reference into the mix. Philippians, chapter 4, verse 6 through to 7. I thank you for joining us wherever you are for this chapter of this book. I thank you for listening to us wherever you are through rb, christian radio. I thank you for listening to us through the World of Podcasts, wherever you're capturing what we are presenting to you right now. We want to encourage you to live by faith, live by the Word of God. God is with you. We will see you soon. Take care, never give up. The Word of God is with you, and the title of this podcast and this chapter in the book is God's presence as the remedy for fear. God bless, we'll see you soon.
Speaker 1: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.
