Rsbc 06/23/02

Intro- In this chapter the Apostle Peter opens these verses with some food for thought. He begins by declaring that he was a witness of the suffering of the Lord Jesus Christ...vs 1. Anyone who studies the Bible knows that Jesus Christ suffered greatly during his short life...

Then he declares a responsibility of those who were Elders over the Lord's flock the church of Jesus Christ...vs 2 my responsibility is clearly defined in this text... feed the flock of God....and that I have tried to accomplish in the yrs that I have been here...

Then he makes a promise...vs 4 that Christ is coming and when he comes we will receive a crown of glory that fades not away...not to pastor only but all who love his appearing...

This is indicated by the next verse...number 5 uses the word "likewise" connecting whatever he had said in the first 4 verses applies to all who do what they are told to do.

When we do what are supposed to do, it is clear what God will do for us... He will exalt us, this is a promise for all of us...There are so many christian duties in these verses I want to speak about but must move on so I can speak to this subject...

I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE FOUR THINGS...

1. The problem hid in the command of the text: vs 6

2. The inevitable of the text: vs 7

3. The privileged duty of the text: vs 7

4. The wonderful promise of the text: vs 7

Page # 2

The fact that GOD has to repeatedly tell us in the bible to humble ourselves tells me that the problem we have is "pride" and there are so many verses in the word of GOD that spell out to us the dangers of pride:

The word pride is found "46" times in the word of GOD let me list just a few:

Lev 26: 19 " God said he would break the pride of Israel power and make their heaven as iron, and their earth as brass..

Proverbs 11:2 [When] pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly [is] wisdom. Proverbs 16:18 Pride [goeth] before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. By refusing to humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD you are clearly revealing the pride of your heart... Oh that GOD would rend the heavens and come down upon all our pride... James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

What are we really saying when we humble ourselves?

1^st. We are saying we need you LORD.

2^nd. We are saying we need your help LORD.

3^rd. We are saying we do not trust ourselves..

Philippians 3:3 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

This word can be translated "anxiety" boy now we no what he is talking about. Most of us bring on our own anxiety without even realizing it.

1^st. The root of all care comes from our birth:

Job 14:1-2 Man [that is] born of a woman [is] of few days, and full of trouble.

2 He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not.

2^nd. Other cares come from our sins:

Hebrews 12:15 Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble [you], and thereby many be defiled;

Living in your past will destroy you. It will bind you up and cause you to loose sight of the LORD JESUS CHRIST HAS DONE FOR YOU. The Bible is clear about what we are to do about our sins.. Confess and forsake them.

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What a glorious privilege we have as children of the LORD. David of old said these words:

Psalm 121:1-2 . I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. 2 My help [cometh] from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

We can see the great privilege of this invitation in a number of ways...

1^st. We can cast our care upon him because he is our LORD and Saviour:

2 Peter 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

2^nd. We can cast our care upon him because he has told us to...

Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all [ye] that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke [is] easy, and my burden is light.

3^rd. We can cast our care upon him because we are his people:

Psalm 100:3 Know ye that the LORD he [is] God: [it is] he [that] hath made us, and not we ourselves; [we are] his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

There is a difference in the word "care" and "careth" you remember the word care means "anxiety" and the word careth means " he cares for you" it has to do with to deep abiding love the LORD has for us.

1^st. This privilege is seen in the fact that he doesn't set his love on all men:

Romans 9:13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. What a privilege to be loved by the LORD. For him to bestow all the wonderful blessings of heaven on us his beloved...

I John 3:1 "Behold what manner of love the father hath bestowed on us that we should be called the sons of GOD..

2^nd. This privilege is also seen in the fact of unselfish giving of himself for us.

Page # 4

John 13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

3^rd. This privilege of him caring for us is also seen in the wonderful truth that he has forgiven us all our sins...

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins.

The average christian never thinks deep enough to see the enormity of what he or she was before Christ died for them. Many think that after all I was a pretty good person, I never sinned much I was raised in a christian home... but never realize how bent to sin they really are... they judge others who never come up to their standard of righteousness..and most of them never reach their own standard..

I have said over and over throw me at the feet of Christ every time and not at the feet of men...

Conclude:

Do you have care? Do you have problems? Do you need help? Are you Lost this morning? Cast all your care on Christ.. He careth for you!

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