A Word From Your Pilot Series

Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” I Peter 5:7-10

Cast all of your anxiety on Him.

When you go through the trials and tribulations of this life know that there is a GOD. A God Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ and Who will HIMSELF restore you – strong and firm and steadfast.

Now, here’s the deal…

The church is the place God wants us so that we can be sheltered from the struggles and difficulties of this world. God wants us to be sheltered by the fatherly hand of good Elders. And God wants us to be protected and nurtured by other Christians who know us and care what happens to us. God wants them pray for us and hold us when we need comforted.

But the sad truth of life is that mortals often fail.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.

We all get busy living our own lives and facing our own problems.

We all get distracted and fail to be there for others on too many occasions.

The problem for a lot of Christians is that when the church fails them… they don’t know what to do. They get frustrated and angry and feel abandoned and rejected.

If the Elders don’t do their job and the preacher doesn’t do his… or the congregation comes off as being unloving and uncaring they feel lost and betrayed.

But I noticed something here in I Peter 5.

While Peter tells the Elders what they’re job is.

While he tells the rest of us what our job is.

NOT ONCE did He say “Cast Your cares on THEM”

NOT ONCE did He say “These folks will make you strong & firm & steadfast.

NOT ONCE did He say “The people will protect you from Satan.

Why not?

Because that’s not technically our job.

Who’s job is it?

It's God’s job!

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”

“(God) will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast”

Let’s face it folks: I will fail you now and again

The Elders will fail you

Your fellow church members will fail you

There may come a time when none of us will be able to be there for you.

But God will. God will always be there for you. He’ll never leave you and He’ll never forsake you. His is the voice you need to listen for when everyone else fails to save you from your troubles.

ILLUS: Just outside Miami Doug White, his wife and 2 daughters were flying home from a funeral. Around 1:30 in the afternoon/Easter Sunday the plane’s pilot suffered a heart attack and died.

Now White had just gotten his own pilot’s license flying small planes but the King 200 was a far more complicated and difficult plane to fly. It’s the type of plane that requires instrument training and special skills to fly safely. White didn’t have that. In fact he had no idea what any of the instruments would do. The only thing he knew how to operate in the cockpit was the radio.