HOW GOD HELPS US

1 Peter 5:6 – 11

INTRODUCTION:

1. Everyone has problems: it is a fact of life! For Christians, “all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.” (2 Tim. 3:12) What we do with these sufferings determines the fitness of our mental well-being, which in turn determines the fitness of our SPIRITUAL well-being.

2. All people have their own way of “coping.” Some of us cope better than others: expressions of concerns within their lives are not readily determined. Others of us are “opened books.” We weep, we scream, we get angry, we “clam-up” … there are as many ways of coping as there are people who cope! And for many, many, many of us, we STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM AND THE ANXIETY OF THE PROBLEM ONCE WE’VE “COPED” WITH THE PROBLEM!

3. God has provided the PERFECT means of releasing ourselves from such problems. There are four critical steps to releasing our problems. Only when all four steps reach completion will the ANXIETY of the problems depart from us. The problems causing the anxiety may not go away for a while, but the ANXIETY ITSELF can and will depart when all four steps reach completion!

I. “HUMBLE YOURSELVES THEREFORE UNDER THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD”

A. Humility is the proof of our need. (FIRST STEP)

1. to depress; figuratively to humiliate (in condition or heart): - abase, bring low, humble (self).

2. Luke 14:11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

3. Such humility as portrayed here conveys the HELPLESSNESS of the one in need:

a. Helplessness to do for oneself

b. Helplessness to know what to do more than already done by self

c. Helplessness when one realizes there is no HUMAN way to correct the situation!

B. Humility is under GOD’S mighty hand

1. This particular phrase appears nowhere else in the New Testament. It shows God’s MIGHTY HAND is PERSONALLY EXTENDED to us – INDIVIDUALLY!

2. The word “hand” literally means “hollowness,” as if to know the COMFORT is only in this place!

3. With the marvelous works of God in our behalf (forgiveness of sin, abiding with us as we abide faithful with Him, all spiritual blessings, etc.), we must realize HE WANTS TO HELP US!

C. He will exalt us

1. It is HE who exalts – none other can or will in the SPIRITUAL sense of “exalt.”

2. For GOD to exalt is for God to RECOGNIZE us – individually! “Thou thinkest Lord of ME!”

D. He exalts in DUE time – His, not ours!

1. Ecclesiastes 3:11 He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

2. Psa 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

3. Pro 20:22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the LORD, and he shall save thee.

II. CASTING ALL YOUR CARE

A. Casting means: “to throw away” (SECOND STEP)

1. carries the idea of FORCEFULLY ridding oneself of an object; as “casting a hook,” “casting a vote,” “casting a stone”

2. It is the idea the possession is no longer pleasant to us, and there is no human (including self) to whom the object should be, could be, or would be cast. Nonetheless, the object MUST be propelled from us, for to retain it is harmful and eventually deadly.

B. All means ALL (THIRD STEP)

1. Compare to Colossians 3:17 – What can we leave out?

2. God desires we do NOT possess anything of oppressive nature! Yet, because we DO have oppression, He desires we cast it ALL upon Him!

C. We cast it upon HIM

1. Jesus bore our sins -- 1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

2. God is our Father – He LOVES to help His children! – 2 Corinthians 6:14 - 18

III. FOR HIS CARES FOR US

A. This step is the FOURTH STEP

B. THIS STEP REQUIRES TRUST

1. BELIEVING GOD is not necessarily TRUSTING God.

2. James 1:1 – 8 (“nothing wavering” [KJV] = “nothing doubting” [NASU]

3. Psalms 118:8-9 It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.

C. Notice now the supreme example!

1. John 5:30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.

2. Romans 15:1 - 3 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

3. 1 Peter 2:21 – 25

Conclusion:

While some of us struggle in completing any of these four steps, for most, the last usually poses the greatest challenge! When we are free from oppressions, anxiety is not a problem! Sometimes, when anxiety occurs, it is of minimal sort and we “handle it on our own” (at least we THINK we do.) But when all else fails us in granting release from the oppressions this life brings, WE MUST GO TO GOD! (song – “Where Could I Go But to the Lord?”)

If we would learn the meaning of COMMITMENT as Jesus exemplified COMMITMENT (1 Peter 2:24) we would find the exact meaning of TRUST! Therefore, whether sin in our life, troubles in our life, or concerns for others dear to us – we must follow the steps herein related to relieve us of the anxiety of the situation:

HUMBLE OURSELVES

CAST OUR CARES

CAST ALL OUR CARES

TRUST HIM TO CARE FOR OUR CARES!