Paul’s Burden for the Churches

In our previous discussion on biblical anxiety, we saw that even God’s servants wrestled with inner turmoil, fear, and distress. Today, we turn our attention to two kings—Saul and Herod—men of influence, power, and potential who both allowed anxiety to shape their destiny in tragic ways. The accounts of these two rulers are not just ancient history; they are mirrors reflecting what happens when spiritual disconnection and inner insecurity are left unhealed. King Saul shows us what occurs when the presence of God is forfeited through disobedience—how anxiety and torment rush in to fill the void. King Herod reveals how anxiety rooted in insecurity and control can twist into paranoia, manipulation, and even violence. Both men had access to divine intervention—Saul through David’s anointed music and Herod through prophetic revelation of the true King. Yet both missed their moment to turn inward and upward. As we unpack their stories, we will see that anxiety is not simply an emotional condition but a spiritual battleground—one that reveals where our trust truly lies. Try to see how you can relate to what I am sharing about these kings, perhaps in your leadership roles or even within your household.

As KINGDOM CITIZENS we owe our allegiance to Jesus Christ because without His sacrifice on the cross the divide between ourselves and God would still exist today. He is THE DOOR. He is the WAY MAKER. He is the TRUTH and the LIFE. He gives us permanent access to the Kingdom, for those who choose to repent, believe and follow Him. I am always amazed that Christ chose to die for us while we were still completely lost and completely a far off. Once completely alienated and now we are brought into son-ship, we are made co-heirs with Him. The scripture says that we were without hope and without God and in the world. We cannot choose the world that we live in but we can choose Christ and by choosing Christ we can be filled with hope that does not disappoint.

Anxiety is not a modern invention. Though our vocabulary and psychology may be more sophisticated today, the human heart has wrestled with fear, uncertainty, and inner turmoil since Eden. Scripture gives us more than just commands like “Do not be anxious” — it gives us people. Real people, with real fears, who faced real threats. From Elijah’s exhaustion under the broom tree to Paul’s daily pressure for the churches, the Bible paints anxiety in all its shades. In this message, we’ll explore how Elijah, Saul, Herod, and Paul each encountered anxiety in different “degrees” — from despair and torment to control and compassion — and how God responded to each with both truth and tenderness.

In this message we will explore anxiety producing patterns in others and also the anxiety-maker within. Part of EQ is emotional self-awareness and a subset of that is knowing the impact you have on those around you. Research in psychology shows that certain interpersonal styles and personality traits can indeed make others feel uneasy or anxious. It’s true that context matters. Sometimes we react more anxiously when power dynamics are present. For example, a boss subordinate dynamic tends to amplify these effects. Personal history is also a factor. People with social anxiety or trauma histories may be more reactive to the traits I will describe in this message. It is important that we create protective strategies to guard our hearts when dealing with these people who are anxiety-makers. We need clear boundaries, emotional regulation skills, and supportive relationships as these can reduce the impact. Here are some key findings and also scriptures describing these categories of anxiety producing behavioural patterns.

Accurate diagnosis results in accurate treatment. When we figure out how we have learned certain reactions it becomes easier for us to unlearn them. I spoke to a client of mine recently. She lives on a small- holding with lots of rescue dogs and various kinds of animals. This is someone who's not afraid of animals in general, however she shared with us a story about how she's afraid of frogs. She described how her father used to taunt her as a little girl using frogs. The result of this is that she has a phobia when it comes to frogs. Apparently, her husband now does the same thing to her. The good thing is she's able to explain it and I believe this is one of the keys to her overcoming this phobia. Ladies and gentlemen, it's very powerful when you are able to trace the roots of your anxiety. Academic research identifies multiple, interacting sources of anxiety, showing that it can arise from both early experiences and biological predispositions. Anxiety is not a modern invention. It is as old as the human heart. Psychologists and medical researchers tell us that anxiety rarely comes from just one place—it’s like a river fed by many streams. This is an important point because there's something about us as human beings that loves to identify one thing as the root issue that causes something else; often it's a bit more complex. Childhood adversity, trauma, genetic vulnerability, even the anger we bury deep inside can all feed that river. Studies show that family conflict, neglect, and ongoing stress can shape a child’s brain so that the world feels unsafe. Scientists have even discovered that patterns of stress can be passed down through our DNA. Therefore, when you are counselling people or trying to figure out things about yourself, rather ask questions like, “what are the ingredients that have contributed to my current anxious state?” In this message I will also show you how Scripture has been naming these sources for centuries.

One of the major growth steps for a lot of people in the corporate world, in civic society and even in churches, is learning how to speak up. Many people were raised in households where they were told children must be seen not heard. In psychology there's what’s called transference; very often the experiences we have in childhood with our primary caregivers are transferred on to our current relationships as adults.

Whether you are a concert pianist, sports enthusiast, or a young professional who needs to give presentations at work, this same pattern often presents itself. The enemy’s strategy is to get us to focus on something else other than God’s goodness and presence with us. This is one of the reasons Jeus instructed His disciples saying, “Abide in me, Remain in me”. Isaiah 26:3 states, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” In the ESV it reads “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” You might be thinking, “Paul, I am not a high performance person.” The reality is that many of us have got children who are doing sport or stage performances and we don’t know how to support them when they are anxious. This message will help you to see how you can apply your knowledge of God to everyday performance situations. This week we will focus on sport and music and next week we will spend time discussing stage fright, one of the most common manifestations of anxiety. Regardless of the type of anxiety you are experiencing, you can apply the word of God to it. For some of you its trait anxiety where you feel anxious in many aspects of your life, whilst for others it is state anxiety which is temporary and only in specific circumstances.

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Whether it’s a parent, leader, pastor, athlete, or salesperson, anxiety often drives four major areas: Over-control (micromanaging, over-preparing); Avoidance (not taking necessary risks); Perfectionism (overworking to avoid mistakes) and People-pleasing (excessive concern about approval).In this message we will explore the anxious parent and the anxious child, highlighting how this dynamic affects families. As parents we have the privilege of imparting many good things to our children. Sadly, often out of ignorance, we pass on negative things, one of which is anxiety. If many parents knew that anxiety is contagious, they would take ownership and address it. The Anxious Parent is generally overprotective, micromanaging every detail of a child’s life. This is often perpetuated by the fact that such an approach is often highly regarded and rewarded by those around them. They are envied by other parents as the model parents who are deeply involved in the child’s world. They have difficulty allowing children to take age-appropriate risks. Their children, as they get older, begin to clash with them as they feel they are being babied all the time. They constantly check on children’s whereabouts, grades, or friendships. They also have frequent “what if” scenarios about their safety or future. This is how anxiety works, they meditate on the worst-case scenario and then live in that emotional state. They typically feel like they are going to fail or have failed as a parent. Their sense of personal worth is tied to child’s success or safety. This results in a lot of anxiety, particularly because a lot of the child’s behaviour is beyond their control. They tend to ruminate by multiple mental replays of past parenting mistakes. They also have a fixation and extreme fear of having regrets later in life. This fuels their behaviour. Their lives are riddled with “Shoulds” and they have no revelation of guilt free motherhood or fatherhood. A powerful self-coaching question for them to ask is, “What shoulds have a placed on my parenting that Jesus hasn’t?”

Unmasking Anxiety | Paul Nyamuda by Go Church SA

In this series we are taking a deeper look at anxiety by integrating the neurobiology, neuroscience, psychology and theology of anxiety. I will also illustrate the different sources of anxiety, ranging from chemical imbalances and psychological factors to demonic spirits that come to torment with a spirit of fear. In this first message I will give a rationale for this study and also lay a foundation with regards to various Hebrew and Greek words associated with anxiety. I'm also going to contrast anxiety with fear, explaining the difference.

Reigniting the Flame | Shaun Roberts by Go Church SA

Romans 8:11 – “The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you...” This is one of the most powerful revelations for a believe to fully embrace. God is manifest within you too. 1 Corinthians 6:19 – “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit...” Paul emphasises identity in a lot of his narratives. It’s one thing to be something it’s another thing to really know and believe you are that thing. John 14:17 – “...He lives with you and will be in you.” Who is being spoken of here? Look at the full scripture, John 14:17 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be[a] in you. And then here is the icing on the cake to top it all off, Galatians 2:20 – “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me...” The big game changer when you get saved is that the Holy Spirit comes and regenerates your spirit. He is the Seals and assurance in believers. Ephesians 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit. This is part of the salvation package. It is not for a chosen few.

In our walk with the Lord, we often experience Him quite tangibly in our corporate meetings. Our challenge is that not many of us know how to sustain the presence as we go about our daily lives. In this message I will share some of the core teachings of Brother Lawrence and also integrate my own experiences and relevant scriptures.

Scripture shows that demonic spirits (unclean spirits) are drawn to — or given legal access by — certain attitudes, behaviours, or spiritual conditions in a person’s life. These are the things that invite their counterfeit presence rather than God’s true presence. We are living in times where people rejoice over atmospheres that seem positive but are not actually God’s presence.

Grieving the Holy Spirit “We often neglect or insult the Holy Spirit by ignoring Him or living contrary to His promptings, and then we wonder why there is no power in our lives.” Francis Chan (Forgotten God). We short-circuit the manifest presence of God by grieving the Holy Spirit. In this message we will explore what entails grieving the Holy Spirit and examine the various things that repel God’s Spirit. It is important to note that God’s manifest presence is essentially the presence of the Holy Spirit. It behoves us to study what the Holy Spirit likes and is attracted to, which we have been doing in this series thus far. It is not enough for us to know just what activates the presence without exploring what deactivates the manifest presence of God.

How we should show up when we are in the manifest presence of God. Is there a code of behaviour for His presence? When God is tangibly present and experienced are there any guidelines from scripture regarding how we ought to be? These are important questions for believers to answer because many have short circuited his presence because they were ignorant concerning these matters. “Our pursuit of God is successful just because He is forever seeking to manifest Himself to us.” — AW Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Have you ever found yourself saying, “God, I know You’re real, but I want to experience You—right here, right now”? The Bible teaches that God is omnipresent, but there are moments in Scripture—and in our lives—when His manifest presence becomes real, tangible, and transformative. Moses refused to move without it. The early church gathered until it came. Prophets, priests, and ordinary people aligned their lives to make room for it. Today, we’re going to explore how we can activate the manifest presence of God—not through formulas or hype—but through intentional choices: obedience, unified worship, fervent prayer, sacrificial living, and deep communion with God. These are not performances to earn His presence—they are invitations that align our hearts with Heaven’s reality.

The manifest presence of God refers to instances where God’s presence is not just acknowledged, but His attributes are vividly experienced by individuals or groups. It is when God reveals Himself tangibly and relationally. When we speak of His manifest presence we are talking about God on assignment, He goes with you with a specific purpose. It is similar to a commanded blessing as opposed to a general blessing. Sometimes it is referred to as the glory of God. God’s manifest presence is not static. It can increase or decrease in intensity.