The Responsibility of Worry

Thank ministry

(H) Have any of you ever worried before?…

THING worries me = FLYING

STORIES FROM 3RD YEAR - BRITTANY STORY

PREFER DRIVE = CONTROL…KINDA

ARROGANT TO THINK I’m more IN CONTROL when IN CAR…REALITY = GOD ALONE IS IN CONTROL.

I believe there is a strong comparison to be found between our worries and our lack of trust in God.

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1 PETER: BACKGROUND…AUDIENCE IS PERSECUTED/SCATTERED BELIEVERS…WRITING TO GIVE THEM HOPE & ASSURANCE

1 Peter 5:1-11 ESV

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

PETER could be SPEAKING about those OLDER NATURALLY or SPIRITUALLY, it is LIKELY SPIRITUAL.

MESSAGE: SERVE others in HUMILITY, YOU’RE NOT THE CHIEF SHEPHERD

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5 Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.

NATURALLY or SPIRITUALLY, be HUMBLY SUBMITTED to those God has put over you for your spiritual care!

5b Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

RELEVANT FOR EVERYONE: CLOTHED w/ HUMILITY

Ever go out naked? Nope.

SIN NATURE = NATURALLY SELFISH in RELATIONSHIPS

HOW DO YOU TREAT OTHERS?----

Do you give others the benefit of the doubt? Rush judgment?

Note the “in the box” idea from Leadership and Self-Deception

WIFE’S BDAY = SPECIAL TREATMENT…WHY DON’T I DO THIS EVERYDAY?

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6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

READ AGAIN, NOTE CONNECTION

Casting is a participle in the Greek…so the NIV and NLT translating it as a command here that stands alone is a poor translation. Rather, you humble yourself before God, by means of casting your anxieties on Him.

Participles are inherently connected with another verb and do not stand alone

LCC- says this, “True humility in the church involves a reliance on God. The second half of the verse shows why the Christian can fully rely on God—namely, because God himself cares for the Christian.”

Peter is saying, humble yourselves by casting your anxieties on God = acknowledgement that you can’t do it!

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We can trust God to take care of us…so we can worry about focusing on others.

WORLD: SCRATCH MY BACK –I’LL SCRATCH YOURS.

KINGDOM: TAKE CARE OF OTHERS, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU

GREEK WORD (2X) CASTING CLOAKS ON JESUS’ COLT…Literally throwing!

Big Idea: No matter how many responsibilities you have you do not have the responsibility to worry, for God has taken that from you.

BLESSING TO BE RELEASED!

Still have to do our part in life…but we can have comfort in God’s care for us!

Remember Peter was writing to a group of persecuted believers who probably had more to worry about than we ever will!

Testimony about personal anxiety

Recent testimony about school and car…time worrying was wasted.

WORRIES/CARES =

Do you remember the parable of the sower? The seed that fell amongst thorns was choked and unfruitful, the thorns represent the cares of this life…the same Greek word for our anxieties and cares in 1 Peter 5:7

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8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

ANY CONNECTION BETWEEN DEVIL DEVOURING & OUR PRIDE DESIRE FOR CONTROL…YUP

REMEMBER THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER?

CAST ANXIETIES/CARES ON THE LORD = THORNS FROM THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER.

THORNS CHOKE THE WORD…MAKING IT UNFRUITFUL!

9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. 11 To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

INTENTIONAL CHRISTIAN LIVING …intentionally humble yourself, intentionally serve others, intentionally cast your cares to the Lord…

HE WON’T DO IT FOR US…ASK FOR HELP

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Jesus Christ, our model:

Luke 22:39-44 ESV

And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

When JESUS was in MORE AGONY than any of us will ever face HE WENT TO THE FATHER in prayer…

Because CHRIST went to the CROSS…BIGGEST WORRY in life (DEATH) should NO LONGER be OUR WORRY. If you are in Christ you are sealed for the day of redemption!

In light of this, How often do you run to God in prayer with your cares? Or do you always try to handle it yourself? Some of us are too proud to ever ask for help…but Jesus Christ himself sought the Father’s help…all to pay for our sin.

He paid the price so that I can enter the holy place to seek God for help, to come to the throne of grace and find help in my time of need…..how often do I use this privilege?

Remember, No matter how many responsibilities you have you do not have the responsibility to worry, for God has taken that from you.