Mark 4 The sower sows the word.
Some heard, immediately Satan came and took the word which had been sown in them.
Some heard, that had -- no firm root in themselves, when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately they fall away.
“And others -- seed was sown among the thorns; the worries (cares) of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.
The Care of life is a thief: of the Word,
Care will steal the Word only if you allow
CARES will enter into your life.
You must stay alert, and not allow it in.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.
1 Peter 5:5-11 (NKJV)
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, (humility and submissive..you can't do it)
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.
11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Using 1 Peter 5:7 - as a text
1 Peter 5:7 - casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 (AMP)
7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
1 Peter 5:7 - casting all your care
the word “CARE” in the Greek = “merimna”
“merimna” - carries the idea of a dis-traction or care
(something that causes concern or uneasiness).
1. God tells us to “CAST” our cares on Him.
“CAST” = to fling something away, usually with force.
This involves an action on our part.
Not a passive approach to dealing with cares.
2. God tells us to cast “ALL” our cares on Him.
the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns,
Not only ...the small or large things, but all things.
once and for all
Many people get themselves in trouble when they try to pick and choose which things they can handle on their own.
3. God says to cast “YOUR” cares on Him.
These are the things that weigh us down
and concern and sometimes overwhelm us.
He makes it very personal.
AMP~ Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
.....................................................................................................................
Here are more instructions that includes prayer.
Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
Philippians 4:6 (AMP)
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
.....................................................................................................................
STORY
About 20 years ago
I was in a job that had a lot of stress/pressure.
I was a Christian
I tithed ~ maybe tithe sometimes ~ when I had money
I was worried……..
car
house payments
credit cards
Bill collectors
A promotion
Better sales ~ STORY
I WAS SICK
Chest pains ~ stress?
Chronic heart burn.
Developing arthritis in my hands.
Head aches
Praise God all my needs are met and I’m headed
ONE DAY ~ in my car
I PRAYED ~ LORD
THE CARES OF LIFE
THE BURDENS THAT ARE ON ME
I CAN’T CARRY THEM ANT MORE!!!!!
I PRAYED ~ LORD
I can TAKE some OF THESE BURDENS
I CAN ONLY CARRY some OF THEM
OR ~ GIVE ME THE GRACE TO CARRY ALL THEM
In my car ~ He said ~ Cast all your care upon me; because for you.
I meditated about three days on this ~
I decided it was Too hard ~
I can't do it!!!!
I said ~ “I can’t go without worrying.” ~
“I can’t trust you”
THANK GOD ~ He was persistent
I was bound by worry!!!!!
I thought worrying was the thing to do ~
That’s what you to do. ~ Worry and pray
NO ~ God is a big God ~ He will take care of you!!!
God is our father!!!
Finally the Holy Spirit got through to me.
I would cast my cares ~ Then take them back ~ EXPOUND
picture yourself casting your cares on the lord
and the devil would give it back to me
.....................................................................................................................
I WOULD SING THE SONG ~
take your burdens to the Lord and leave it there.
Glory Glory Hallelujah since I laid my burdens down
.....................................................................................................................
The problem is people get down and pray ~
but as soon as they get up
they pick their worries back up and take them.
.....................................................................................................................
At a cretin point in my life I made a commitment to God…….
to never worry
.....................................................................................................................
The bible says ~ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
I can do it ---- because He said do it!!!!!!!
God is a just God ~
He won't tell me to do something I can't do!!!
That would be unjust!!!
.....................................................................................................................
Phil 4:6 ~ God’s instruction for prayer
Philippians 4:6 (AMP)
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
This is instruction on prayer…………
Q: What is the 1st thing He said to do?
Deal with your anxieties ~ your worries.
6 Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything
Do this first then pray.
but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition(definite requests),
then...
with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.
.....................................................................................................................
YOU DON’T CARRY THE LOAD ~ GOD DOES!!!!
Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
.....................................................................................................................
If you want your prayers answered
~ Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything
Deal with your anxieties ~ your worries.
.....................................................................................................................
Jesus said
Matt 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.
GIVE HIM YOUR BURDENS ~ YOUR CARES
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
In Luke 19, V. 35
the disciples threw their cloaks on the back of a borrowed colt to provide a makeshift saddle for Jesus.
The same Greek word is used as the one translating "cast" in our text.
God wants us to throw our worries on His back like you throw a saddle blanket on a horse.
He wants to be our pack animal to carry all our burdens.
.....................................................................................................................
This is not an easy thing to do.
A great deal of trust is required.
MAY TAKE SOME TIME TO LEARN!!!
.....................................................................................................................
Luke 8:14 -
In the story of the sower who sowed seeds in 4 different places,
Jesus tells of the seed growing among thorns.
That seed stands for those who hear the word and allow the worries of this world to choke off growth.
.....................................................................................................................
Luke 21:34 - Jesus warned His disciples against anxiety
in speaking of the last days.
Luke 21:34 (ESV)
34 “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap.
.....................................................................................................................
Be like the cheerleader who falls back on the catching team.
they make a pyramid
she climbs up to the top
closes her eyes and falls back.
that’s the way we need to do it
.....................................................................................................................
T.T. Matthew 6
Let me tell you about my mother:
No matter what form anxiety may take, it is dangerous:
.....................................................................................................................
Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
.....................................................................................................................
The things that concern - us - matter to Him.
He is a friend to each of us.
He is never too busy to hear our prayers.
He wants to be involved in every area of our lives
AMP~ Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
We can cast our anxiety upon Him because we know He cares for us:
We see the extent of His care on Calvary
