DATE: 25th November, 2001
TOPIC: THESE CARES ARE NOT MINE!
TEXT: 1 PETER 5:7
OUTLINE
INTRODUCTION:
- A text Study on 1Peter 5:7
“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you”. (KJV)
Background info.
* Apostle Peter’s writing to
- the strangers scattered throughout Pontus etc.(1:1)
- elect according to God’s foreknowledge (1:2)
Central theme:
- Victory over suffering (Thompson Study Bible- TSB)
- A living hope in the midst of persecution and suffering (NRSV – Harper Study Bible, HSB).
Peter’s own summary (5:12)
Message General: (1:2 – NRSV).
- to all Christians called and “have been chosen and destined by God the father and sanctified by the spirit to be obedient to Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with his blood.”
Matters Arising for the text:
1. Cast(ing) 2. all
3 cares(anxiety) 4. upon him (God)5. for (because) 6. he (God)
7. Cares for you (me)
Background: that of suffering/persecution
DIGEST
1. Cast (Or) Casting [contextual meaning]
cast aside: to get rid of someone or something because you no longer like them or they are no longer useful
cast out: to force something to go away
cast off: to get rid of something or someone
an act; action from you;
a command, an imperative
one option given – CAST!
casting (KJV) – continuous active tense
act of surrenderedness, handover, leave for another to handle; recognizing one’s insufficiency/dependence
- if you cast worries, fears, doubts, etc from your mind, you stop feeling worried, you stopped being afraid etc.
2. All
- All means all, the complete amount or quantity of; the whole of.
- No reservation, no sharing, no percentage sharing, 100% for God.
3. Cares (Anxiety)
Gk. merimna merimna mer’-im-nah : through the idea of distraction,
1) Solicitude – care. To be anxious about, take thought
2) care, anxiety , melw melo mel’-o , to care about
To feel that something is important, so that you are interested in it, worried about it etc.
The feeling of being very worried about something that may happen or may have happened so that you think about it all the time.
Something that makes you worry.
- Anxiety is a great threat to peace of mind and constancy of Christian conduct (HSB note on 1 Pet. 5:7),
- Compare Phil. 4:6-7, Ps.37:5.
- Read Phil. 6-7
Prayerlessness brings nothing but worry and insecurity, whereas prayer with thanksgiving brings a peace that passes all human understanding. This peace is independent of outward circumstances (HSB).
Peace of God: opposite of anxiety. It is the tranquility that comes when the believer commits all his cares to God in prayer and worries about them no more (NIV Study Bible).
- Anxiety and prayer are two great opposing forces in Christian experience.
Ps.37:5
- Anxiety is sin in the heart of the believer, forbidden by Jesus Christ himself. (See Mt. 6:25; Lk.12:22, 29; Jh. 6:27).
- Anxiety may be overcome by putting our trust in God (Jer. 17:7; Dan. 3:15-18), turning our cares over to the Lord (Ps. 55:22; Prov. 16:3, I Pet. 5:7), and thanking God in advance for the answer to our petitions (Phil.4:6) –HSB
4. On Him – God
- His Personality is involved.
- He is the object of trust and inspiration to cast our cares on; not any Pastor, friend, powerful or influential man or woman, because they are insufficient too. They all have cares and they need someone to give them over to.
- Cast your cares on God, the el-shaddai, the all sufficient one.
God is greater and bigger than all our troubles / cares.
God’s storehouse outweighs our need. It never runs dry. Alleluia!
5. For (Because – NRSV; NASV)
- the reason that commands the action
- a reminder that God’s solution preceded or precedes your cares.
- This is to say your cares have come rather too late.
This is a cause for jubilation
This is the reason why I should not carry cares or anxiety
This is a disclosure of God’s great provision for you and me.
6. He – God (in reference to God mentioned in v.6)
- God’s personality again
- The object of trust
- My sure rock surer and greater that the rock of Gibraltar
SONG: (Sacred Songs and Solos Hymn 539 verse 1 of 4)
THE LORD OUR ROCK, IN HIM WE HIDE:
A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM!
SECURE WHATEVER ILL BETIDE!
A SHELTER IN THE TIME OF STORM!
Oh, Jesus is the rock in a weary land,
A weary land, a weary land
Oh, Jesus is the rock in a weary land,
A shelter in the time of storm.
7. Cares for you
- Compare this ‘cares’ with the first ‘cares’ in outline #3 above.
Gk. melw melo mel’-o : to be of interest to; i.e. it concerns; it matters (impersonal), take care.
- to mind about what happens to someone, because you like or love them.
- To look after someone who is not able to look after themselves
- Are you helpless? God cares.
He cares, so I should not
These cares are not mine.
No role repetition or duplication
Illustration
The story was told of an aged woman with a heavy load, who was given a ride by a motorist. She was so joyous that she decided to carry her load on her head even while sitted in the car. When asked by the driver why she did that, she exclaimed: “I am very grateful for your offer to give me a free ride. I do not want to bother you with my load.” She later realized that if the vehicle could carry her, it is also carrying her heavy load.
Application
If the vehicle can carry me, it could as well carry my load (of cares).
God’s role is that of caring. He is more than able; so I should not bother myself again. God cares for me more than I care for myself.
He cares for you. Lit., - it matters to Him concerning you (NASV note on v.7)
- Why has God taken over this role over me?
- Asking you the same question, what shall be your response?
- Or why should God take care of you?
- My own answers:
I am created in His own image
He loves me
Greatest of all, I am His child, a member of His family.
As a father, His fatherly role is to care for His family members, His CHILDREN of whom I am one. (Or is there a father here today who does not cherish this role over his children?)
Yes, THESE CARES ARE NOT MINE!
God watches over (my) life with infinite care, Ps. 115:12; Mt. 6:32; Lk. 12:7; 1 Pet. 5:7. He supports the weak, Deut. 33: 27; Is. 41: 10; 46: 4.
a refuge from storm, Is. 25:4
fatherhood of God, Ps. 68: 5; Is. 64: 8; Mt. 6: 9; 7: 11
PRAYER SESSION
Cares forbidden, Ps. 127: 2; Mt. 6: 25; Lk. 21: 34; Phil. 4: 6
Folly of cares,
° Profitless, Ps. 39: 6; Eccl. 1: 13
° It is the sinners’ portion, Eccl. 2: 26
° It drives away sleep, Eccl. 8: 16
° It indicates a distrust of providence, Mt. 6: 31,32
° It chokes the “Word,” Mt. 13: 7, 22
° It mars the peace of home, Lk. 10: 40
…. YOU NEVER LOSE SO MUCH AS WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR PEACE – Smith Wigglesworth.
THESE CARES ARE NOT YOURS! AMEN
