How to Take a Load Off
1 Peter 5:6, 7
Introduction: Do you feel like you are carrying a LOAD? Load of CARE? What is it you are troubled over today? Is it consuming your mind and energy? How can we deal with “CARE” without it dealing with us? Peter understood the significance of facing hardships and sufferings; and yet he was led by the Holy Spirit to give us some instructions as to “what to do” during those experiences. In his epistle, 1st Peter, he covers a number of both spiritual and practical “truths that transform”:
* Suffering of the strangers scattered (1 Pet 1)
* Suffering of the Savior as our Substitute (1 Pet 2)
* Suffering and the Scriptures for the Skeptic (1 Pet 3)
* Suffering for the saints for not singing (1 Pet 4)
* Suffering and struggling under stress (1 Pet 5)
1. Lay all your TROUBLES DOWN! (1 Pet 5:6, 7)
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him:”
{The word “Exalt” is Greek “hoopsoo” which means to lift up on high}
{The word “Cast” is the Greek “epirhripto”, which means throw, place}
{The word “Care” is the Greek “merimnan” which means distraction, anxiety}
• Are you distracted?
• Will you humble yourself?
• How much CARE are you carrying? Throw it down!
2. Lay all your TROUBLES DOWN upon the Lord Jesus! (1 Pet 5:7)
“For he careth for you…”
{The word “Care” is Greek “melo” which means “cares about”}
• Doesn’t it bring Comfort and Peace to your heart to know that our God CARES for US?
• After all, He knows us!
Conclusion: ***Decision time….Are we going to continue to carry our cares around until they drag us down (mentally, emotionally, spiritually – breakdown)? Or will we “Throw” our anxieties on Jesus because not only does He CARE for us, but PRAISE GOD, He can CARRY them as well.
* He loves us
* He cares for us
* He bought us
* He’s gone to prepare a place for us
* He’s coming back for us
Love y’all,