David Diga Hernandez - How to Overcome Anxiety (And Panic Attacks)

You know, when I say that the Lord has impressed this on my heart, I really mean that, because the Lord has been dealing with me about ministering on this very topic. In fact, the week leading up to the time we are recording this, I have had calls from people who have dealt with panic attacks. I’ve talked face-to-face with individuals who have come to me and said, «I’m dealing with anxiety.» I’ve received messages, emails, and texts asking if I have any content on this particular subject. I knew that the Holy Spirit was speaking to me, and I truly believe the church needs this because this is a giant that is coming against the church: the spirit of fear, anxiety, and paranoia. Some believers I know have experienced panic attacks and have these obsessive thoughts—persistent, unwanted thoughts that lead them to be fearful or to worry about their future.

Now, there are many opinions on this topic. You can hear one preacher say one thing while other preachers say another. But I am going to tell you this right now: I am going based on the Word of God. So, what I’m teaching here is the biblical way to overcome anxiety. I’m not going with what popular opinion says. I’m not going with what sounds kind or nice or necessarily what is sensitive to those dealing with this because I want to see you set free. So, I’m going to give you the Word; I’m going to give you what the scripture says. I really want you to be careful that your negative thinking doesn’t cause you to miss out on the truths that have been given here, because it’s possible that as you’re watching or listening to this, your negative thoughts will say, «Oh, well, I’ve heard that one before, ” or „I’ve received this message at some other time and it really didn’t work for me.“ That is a negative thought, and that is the type of thinking that must be overcome. Unfortunately, it’s this negative thinking that keeps you in a state of anxiety, and it may also prevent you from finding the solution.

So, I want you to keep your heart open, I want you to be receptive, and I want you to lower your guard and really listen to what is being said here. Now, first of all, I have to say that there are two different kinds of fear. I wrote this down for you: there are only two kinds of ungodly fear. One kind is rooted in demonic influence, and the other kind is rooted in the flesh. After the demonic has been expelled, the flesh must remain weakened, or it will become strong along with all of its destructive ways. Just because you deal with anxiety doesn’t mean that you are a weak believer. Again, there are two kinds of ungodly fear. There is the kind of demonic fear that comes from a demonic influence, which you need to be delivered from, but then there is another kind of fear, namely anxiety, that is rooted in your flesh. So, just because you deal with this doesn’t mean that you’re not a true believer, that you’re not saved, or that you’re a weak Christian, or that you should be ashamed of yourself for struggling with this. In fact, it may very well be a part of your personality—those tendencies that lead to anxiety.

You can be delivered from the demonic, that is certain, but you will never, while on earth, be completely delivered from the flesh. I will deal with the spirit of fear, the demonic aspect of fear, at a later time. I’m not going to teach on that in this lesson right now; I want to focus on the type of ungodly fear that stems from the flesh because that is what the believer deals with: that anxiety rooted in the flesh. So, ask yourself this question: From where does my fear come? Does your fear come from your spirit? Absolutely not. Does it come from the Holy Spirit? Absolutely not. Does it come from your Heavenly Father? Absolutely not. Fear does not come from the spirit; it does not come from God, and the type of fear I’m talking about doesn’t come from the demonic. Yes, there are forms of anxiety rooted in the demonic, but I am speaking to the Spirit-filled believer who has already dealt with that.

I am addressing those who have kept demonic forces at bay through prayer, through the Word, and through worship in the presence of God. I am speaking to those who are living right, who have no demonic influence in their lives, and who have embraced freedom in Christ yet still find themselves struggling with this. That is the kind I am addressing today. So, you have to understand that this kind of fear I’m talking about—yes, I’m aware of the other one—but this specific fear I’m addressing right now is from the flesh. Your flesh never really leaves you; it shrinks and grows, but your flesh will always be with you until the day you are delivered from it, at the day of salvation, when you go home to be with the Lord. That is when the flesh is finally removed. Thus, we need to understand the two different kinds: there is the demonic ungodly fear, and there is the ungodly fear that is of the flesh. I’m talking about the flesh, so anxiety is truly crippling. Anxiety shrinks your world little by little; there are fewer and fewer things that you can do. Perhaps you have anxiety about flying in an airplane, and that anxiety keeps you out of airplanes. If