Podcast Episode Summary

Podcast: Promise of Life Church Podcasts
Episode: The Sin Of Worry Pt. 3 | Pastor Craig Field | Wed. Jan. 8, 2025
Speaker: Pastor Craig Field
Date: January 8, 2025

Episode Overview

In this third part of his series "The Sin of Worry," Pastor Craig Field explores how worry is not just a negative habit but a spiritual issue—specifically, a sin that opens the door to the enemy and hinders faith. Using a blend of deep scriptural exposition, personal anecdotes, and memorable examples from spiritual leaders, Pastor Craig challenges believers to live in the “secret place” of peace and dominion, where they are spiritually inaccessible to trouble, fear, and the devil's schemes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Worry as a Spiritual Issue and an Open Door to the Enemy

• Scripture Basis: 1 Peter 5:6-8, Philippians 4:6, Matthew 6:25-34
• Main Insight:
  • Worry is actually rooted in pride; when we worry instead of trusting God, we’re saying, “I can fix this, Father, and I don’t need your help.” (00:01-03:20)
  • Worry isn’t neutral; it opens the door to the devil:

    “When you worry, you open the door and you let the devil come in... give him no place, which means you can give him a place. It’s your choice.” (Pastor Craig, 01:38)

• Sober and Vigilant:
  • The call to be “sober and vigilant” is less about looking for the devil and more about guarding against opening the door through worry, pride, fear, or offense.

2. The Biblical Process for Dealing with Worry

• Philippians 4:6—Be careful (anxious) for nothing:
  • Replace worry by praying with specific requests and thanking God in advance. The result is peace that “passes all understanding.”
  • The antidote to worry is supernatural peace, which shield’s one’s heart and mind through Christ.
• Matthew 6—Don’t take the thought, saying:
  • Worry begins in our thoughts but gets power when spoken—“There is life and death... in your words. Your words produce things. Your words produce your world.” (Pastor Craig, 10:35)
  • Don’t say it, don’t think it, and especially don’t give it power by speaking it aloud.

3. Worry’s Offspring and the Role of Gratitude

• Quote from Pastor Nancy Dufresne:
  • “Fear and doubt produce the offspring of worry. Worry is being troubled.” (Referenced at 12:50)
• Contentment vs. Satisfaction:
  • Paul’s secret (Philippians 4:11-13 AMP): Contentment is not passive acceptance or celebration of lack, but maintaining a right attitude and refusing to complain.

    “I’ve learned to be content, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted in whatever state I am...” (Pastor Craig summarizing Paul, 16:12)

  • Being content is being grateful for what you have while keeping faith out for God’s better.

4. Learning Inaccessibility—Undisturbed and Undisquieted

• The “Secret” Paul Found:
  • Maintain internal peace regardless of external chaos.

    “If you can get to the place where you are undisturbed and not disquieted inside, even when things are raging outside, now you’ve learned the secret.” (Pastor Craig, 22:00)

• Personal Example:
  • Pastor Craig shares relatable stories about what “presses his buttons” and encourages listeners to identify their own triggers so they can practice spiritual composure.
• The Real You:
  • Relating an account from Kenneth Hagin:

    “My hands may be shaking, but my spirit is not. And that’s the real me.” (Kenneth Hagin, recalled by Pastor Craig, 38:10)

  • Our emotions or body may feel pressure, but faith remains anchored in the spirit.

5. Scriptural Portraits of Inaccessibility and Dominion

• Psalm 23:5 – Feasting in the Presence of Enemies:
  • God prepares a banquet for us surrounded by trouble. The feast symbolizes supernatural peace in unlikely, even hostile, circumstances.

    “In the middle of all of that, I want you to be calm and undisturbed. That’s true faith.” (Pastor Craig, 50:28)

• Proverbs 14:30; Psalm 91 (esp. v.8):
  • A calm and undisturbed mind are “life and health to the body.”
  • Those who dwell in the secret place are “inaccessible” to harm, physically or spiritually.

6. True Dominion: The Wigglesworth Example

• Smith Wigglesworth’s Response to Satan:

  • The ultimate example of dominion and spiritual inaccessibility—a story where Wigglesworth, confronted physically by Satan, simply said:

    “Huh, it’s just you.”
    And turned over to go back to sleep. (59:32)

  • Pastor Craig notes:

    “True dominion is inaccessibility to external stimuli... It’s there, but it can’t touch you.”

• Application:

  • True maturity doesn’t obsess over the devil or spiritual attacks. Instead, the emphasis is on being so established in the secret place that trouble doesn’t register.
  • Pastor Craig relays personal and historical anecdotes (including lessons from Pastor Nancy and Dr. Sumrall), showing that mature Christians ignore the devil and focus on Christ.

7. Takeaways on Worry-Free Living

• Notable Guidance:
  • Don’t focus on what the enemy is doing; focus on your identity and position in Christ.
  • Avoid watching or discussing tales of evil and darkness—“be innocent of evil”.
• Practical Benefits:
  • If you live this way, you’ll never worry again, never be offended or rattled—“nothing disturbs you, nothing disquietens you. You walk in peace, you walk in love, you walk in dominion, you walk in victory.” (1:20:05)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Nature of Worry:

  “Worry is actually a pride issue, not a humility issue. Because what we’re really saying is, I can fix this, Father, and I don’t need your help. But we do need his help.” (Pastor Craig, 01:07)

• On True Vigilance:

  “I am sober—I’m paying attention—that I don’t open the door to him... We’re not focusing on him. We’re focusing on us not opening the door to him.” (Pastor Craig, 03:14)

• On Thoughts and Words:

  “If you don’t think right... concern, anxiety is going to come back. These are things you’ve got to meditate on. ...Don’t let those thoughts in. Cast the care. Keep the bird flying.” (Pastor Craig, 09:35)

• On the Fruit of Gratitude:

  “I am content in that I am not going to complain; I thank you for what you have given me. But my faith is out there—it's reaching for more.” (21:20)

• On Jesus’ Correction to the Disciples:

  “Don’t tell me all about the devils. Tell me who you are in me. Let’s talk about our inaccessibility.” (1:04:20 - summarizing Luke 10:19-20)

• On Smith Wigglesworth:

  “It is the ultimate insult to the president of Hell Incorporated... Huh, it’s just you... and then turn around, turn his back... and went back to sleep.” (59:50)

• On Spiritual Focus:

  “Babies emphasize the devil... True maturity doesn’t even acknowledge darkness... be innocent of evil.” (1:15:05)

Important Timestamps

| Timestamp | Topic/Summary | |---------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:01-03:20 | 1 Peter 5:6-8 – Worry as pride and open door to the devil | | 07:45 | Philippians 4:6 – How to process worry: pray, give thanks, receive peace | | 10:35 | Matthew 6, thought life: “Don’t take the thought, saying… your words produce your world” | | 12:50 | Pastor Nancy’s quote: “Fear and doubt produce the offspring of worry. Worry is being troubled”| | 16:00-21:20 | Philippians 4 (AMP): Paul’s “secret” – contentment, not complaining, always reaching in faith | | 22:00 | “If you can get to the place where you are undisturbed and not disquieted… now you’ve learned the secret.”| | 38:10 | Kenneth Hagin’s testimony: “My hands may be shaking, but my spirit is not.” | | 50:28 | Psalm 23:5 – “In the middle of all that, I want you to be calm and undisturbed” | | 59:32 | Smith Wigglesworth vs. the devil: “Huh, it’s just you.” True dominion and inaccessibility | | 1:04:20 | Jesus redirects focus: “Don’t tell me about the devils. Tell me who you are in Me.” | | 1:15:05 | Maturity: “Babies emphasize the devil... True maturity doesn’t even acknowledge darkness” | | 1:20:05 | If you get this revelation: “You’ll never worry again... You walk in victory.” |

Episode Conclusion

Pastor Craig closes by reiterating the main aim: believers are called to live in the “secret place” of peace and spiritual inaccessibility, where the worries of life, demonic opposition, and worldly trouble cannot touch them. The path is not overnight, but through meditation on the Word, right thinking, speaking, praying, and following mature examples, worry becomes a “distant memory.” The ultimate focus is not the devil or trouble, but intimacy with God and the reality of our position in Christ.

Tone: Practical, passionate, candid, with humor and directness.
Language: Biblical, but highly accessible, with contemporary anecdotes and encouragement.

Listening to this episode is highly recommended for anyone struggling with anxiety or a fearful outlook—Pastor Craig offers more than biblical platitudes; he provides a roadmap to genuine peace, spiritual maturity, and resilient faith.