"Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7)

1. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV) “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, {7} casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

2. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Have you ever felt so burdened as to despair of life?

3. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Have you ever felt so burdened as to despair of life? • The apostle Paul knew what it was like. (2 Cor 1:8)

4. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • (2 Corinthians 1:8 NKJV) "For we do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, of our trouble which came to us in Asia: that we were burdened beyond measure, above strength, so that we despaired even of life.“

5. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Because of his faith in God this burden was lifted. (2 Cor 1:9-10)

6. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • (2 Corinthians 1:9-10 NKJV) “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, {10} who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,”

7. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • This man of God knew that this was not a one-time event, but a blessing every child of God could count on!

8. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • This made prayer an essential element of his life! (2 Cor 1:11)

9. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • (2 Corinthians 1:11 NKJV) “you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”

10. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • How many of you have reached your "stress limit" lately?

11. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Often we have little ability to handle difficulties because of a weak faith.

12. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Often we have little ability to handle difficulties because of a weak faith. • Sometimes our problems lie in the decisions we make.

13. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • Often we have little ability to handle difficulties because of a weak faith. • Sometimes our problems lie in the decisions we make. • If we will put ourselves in the will of God, our loads will be bearable. (1 Cor 10:13)

14. "Casting all your care upon Him.." (1 Peter 5:6-7) • (1 Corinthians 10:13 NKJV) “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”

15. We must learn humility • In order to be humble we must see clearly. (Rom 12:3)

16. We must learn humility • (Romans 12:3 NKJV) “For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.”

17. We must learn humility • Pride and envy cause us to pursue things that only bring us grief. (1 Tim 6:6-10)

18. We must learn humility • (1 Timothy 6:6-10 NKJV) “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. {7} For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. {8} And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. {9} But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.

19. We must learn humility • {10} For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

20. We must learn humility • "Money and time are the heaviest burdens of life. Unhappiest are those who have more of either than they know how to use."

21. We must learn humility • Have you asked the question "Is this really important?" What will matter in eternity?

22. We must learn humility • Have you asked the question "Is this really important?" What will matter in eternity? • There are times we need to suffer so that we might see where the true riches are. (Jas 4:9-10)

23. We must learn humility • (James 4:9-10 NKJV) “Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. {10} Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”

24. We must learn humility • Humility will lead us where God wishes, not according to our own wishes. (Acts 20:18-20)

25. We must learn humility • (Acts 20:18-20 NKJV) “And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you, {19} “serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; {20} “how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,”

26. We must learn humility • Too many people make demands upon God. (Ex. "I will never do this!")

27. We must learn humility • Too many people make demands upon God. (Ex. "I will never do this!") • Paul learned this in his suffering. (2 Cor 12:7-10)

28. We must learn humility • (2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV) “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. {8} Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

29. We must learn humility • {9} And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. {10} Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

30. We must have confidence in the care of God • There are so many burdens lifted when we stop fighting God. Do we trust Him with our lives? (Ps 13:1-3; 23:1-6)

31. We must have confidence in the care of God • (Psalms 13:1-3 NKJV) “How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? {2} How long shall I take counsel in my soul, Having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? {3} Consider and hear me, O LORD my God; Enlighten my eyes, Lest I sleep the sleep of death;”

32. We must have confidence in the care of God • (Psalms 23 NKJV) “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. {2} He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. {3} He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. {4} Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

33. We must have confidence in the care of God • {5} You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. {6} Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.”

34. We must have confidence in the care of God • It is easy to attend services but do we place our daily decisions before God?

35. We must have confidence in the care of God • Why do we fail here? Are we afraid of what will happen? What does our faith teach us? (1 Pt 3:12-14)

36. We must have confidence in the care of God • (1 Peter 3:12-14 NKJV) “For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” {13} And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good? {14} But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. “And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.””

37. We must have confidence in the care of God • We must constantly be reminded about what our God is like. (Rom 15:4)

38. We must have confidence in the care of God • (Romans 15:4 NKJV) “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.”

39. We must have confidence in the care of God • When we know God our fears will disappear. (1 Jn 4:18-19)

40. We must have confidence in the care of God • (1 John 4:18-19 NKJV) “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. {19} We love Him because He first loved us.”

41. We must have confidence in the care of God • Are you building your faith or exhausting yourself over the cares of this life? (Mk 4:19)

42. We must have confidence in the care of God • (Mark 4:19 NKJV) “and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.”

43. We must have confidence in the care of God • "It was due to the efforts of Samuel Plimsoll (1824-98), British reformer, that the Merchant Shipping Act of 1876 was passed, requiring all ships to bear a mark known as the Plimsoll mark and indicating the maximum load line. By this act the Board of Trade of England was empowered to detain any vessel deemed unsafe, and the amount of cargo was restricted, thus making the long and perilous ocean voyage of those days much safer.

44. We must have confidence in the care of God • Because of his work, Plimsoll became known as the sailor's friend. The Plimsoll mark, with its gradations and figures, may be seen on the bow of ships near the water line as they lie at anchor in a harbor.

45. We must have confidence in the care of God • In God's sight, each of us has a similar mark, though we may not be able to see it. The burdens and responsibilities He gives us may seem unbearable, but He knows our limit." -- William Austin

46. We must pray • Why do we most often have these conflicts in our hearts? (Jas 4:1-3)

47. We must pray • (James 4:1-3 NKJV) “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? {2} You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. {3} You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

48. We must pray • How often do you pray?

49. We must pray • How often do you pray? • What do you pray about?

50. We must pray • How often do you pray? • What do you pray about? • Many of us need to be crushed so that we might see. Have you forgotten God in your life?