The central theme of this podcast episode revolves around the profound message that God cares for individuals, which serves as a source of comfort amid life’s stresses and anxieties. The speaker emphasizes the importance of casting one’s cares upon God, as articulated in First Peter, chapter five, highlighting that He is always present and attentive to His children’s needs. Throughout the discussion, the speaker outlines practical steps to manage anxiety, including surrendering to God, trusting Him fully, and engaging in acts of service towards others. The speaker further illustrates how maintaining a humble and thankful mindset can transform one’s perspective, enabling individuals to navigate challenges with grace. By fostering a spirit of humility and discipline, one can cultivate a deeper relationship with God, ultimately leading to peace and fulfillment.
Takeaways:
- The speaker emphasizes that God cares for each individual, encouraging listeners to cast their worries upon Him wholeheartedly.
- He discusses the importance of trusting God in every aspect of life, highlighting that we must rely on His wisdom over our own.
- The speaker advises that rejoicing and being thankful can help alleviate anxiety, as gratitude fosters a positive mindset amid challenges.
- He points out the significance of patience, illustrating that God’s timing is always perfect and we must wait for His plans to unfold.
- The speaker encourages self-discipline, advocating for a structured approach to spiritual growth and daily routines to manage life’s pressures.
- Lastly, he stresses the value of serving others, suggesting that helping those around us can lead to personal fulfillment and reduce one’s own stress.
Transcript
First Peter.
Speaker A:First Peter, chapter five.
Speaker A:And appreciate the music today, tonight, again, this is a fleeting time.
Speaker A:I'm looking forward to the promised land, aren't you?
Speaker A:And again, as we are here, remembering that he cares for us.
Speaker A:And that's tonight, the message.
Speaker A:God cares for us.
Speaker A:God cares for you.
Speaker A:I'm glad the Sorsby family and the Mooney family got right with God, moved back to Texas.
Speaker A:I'm just gonna start the rumor I'm just gonna start the rumor now.
Speaker A:And so now it's good to see y'.
Speaker A:All.
Speaker A:And of course, Ms. Ratledge is trying to get.
Speaker A:Trying to get back to Texas because she's got more important things here than they're up there.
Speaker A:Yeah, yeah, no doubt.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And so it's Good to see Ms. Jennifer.
Speaker A:What a blessing to have such a good and wonderful church, family and friends from other places.
Speaker A:God's been so good to us.
Speaker A:First Peter, chapter five.
Speaker A:I'm actually going to read 11 verses, so let's start in verse one.
Speaker A:The elders which are among you, I exhort, who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed, feed the flock of God which is among you.
Speaker A:This is talking to pastors here.
Speaker A:Taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind, neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being an example to the flock.
Speaker A:And again, pastor ought to lead the flock.
Speaker A:He take the oversight, lead the flock again, not because he has to, but because he wants to.
Speaker A:And then not for money, but always be ready again.
Speaker A:And not being Lord overall, not being again a king, but again being a leader.
Speaker A:And we hope, as a pastor, we do that, and certainly with the help of the Lord to do that.
Speaker A:Look at verse four.
Speaker A:And when the chief shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Speaker A:By the way, there is rewards coming.
Speaker A:There is a day coming when we will give an account, but there will be rewards given.
Speaker A:Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder, yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility.
Speaker A:For God resisteth the proud and giveth grace to the humble.
Speaker A:Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.
Speaker A:And verse seven is tucked in here, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.
Speaker A:Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about seeking whom he may devour, whom resists steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
Speaker A:But the God of all grace, aren't you glad for that who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect or complete, establish, strengthen and settle you to him be glory and dominion forever and ever.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:God cares for you, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.
Speaker A:Let's pray.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father, we thank you Lord, for your love for us and your care for us.
Speaker A:And I just pray tonight that that would be increasingly believed.
Speaker A:And Lord, that we would trust you as we ought to in difficult times and in good times.
Speaker A:Thank you.
Speaker A:In Jesus name, Amen.
Speaker A:I would say that we all would admit and understand that we live in a stressful world, as we have pointed out many times through the themes of our church and other things, that we're all stretched in many different directions.
Speaker A:And if we're not careful, our priorities will get out of whack and our focus will get out of whack.
Speaker A:And we need to stay focused.
Speaker A:We need to have a focus and our priorities need to be again, the Lord Jesus.
Speaker A:Our priorities are God.
Speaker A:God cares for his children.
Speaker A:Aren't you glad of that?
Speaker A:I care for my kids.
Speaker A:I care for my granddaughter.
Speaker A:I care for them.
Speaker A:I care for my dad.
Speaker A:I care for them.
Speaker A:God cares for you.
Speaker A:We are his children.
Speaker A:That's one of the ways in which God in His word has written in a way that we can relate.
Speaker A:He's helping us relate to him, that he is our Heavenly Father.
Speaker A:We are his children, by the way.
Speaker A:Jesus Christ is our brother and we're joint heirs with Him.
Speaker A:But God cares for you.
Speaker A:He knows what you're going through.
Speaker A:Again, God didn't just make the world and create all things and then wind it up like a clock and throw it into space to not ever again visit and be here.
Speaker A:No, no, he's here.
Speaker A:He's right beside you.
Speaker A:He's promised to never leave you nor forsake you.
Speaker A:And he cares for you.
Speaker A:And he relates to us in many different ways.
Speaker A:One of those ways in which he relates to us and helps us to understand his position is the shepherd.
Speaker A:The Lord is my shepherd.
Speaker A:I shall not want.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.
Speaker A:He leadeth me beside the still waters.
Speaker A:He restoreth my soul.
Speaker A:And yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art with me, Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Speaker A:Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Speaker A:Thou anointest my head with oil.
Speaker A:Not oil, because you guys trying to pronounce it right.
Speaker A:My cup runneth over.
Speaker A:Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
Speaker A:And what?
Speaker A:I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Speaker A:This time is fleeting.
Speaker A:One day we will be and stand there at the gates of heaven.
Speaker A:And one day we will be with him forever and ever.
Speaker A:God cares for you.
Speaker A:He's our shepherd.
Speaker A:He's providing for us.
Speaker A:He feeds us.
Speaker A:He protects us.
Speaker A:Even the shadow of death, he is there with us.
Speaker A:We all face difficulties and we all face different difficulties.
Speaker A:Whether it's health problems or financial or relational, all of us experience the cares of this world.
Speaker A:That's what it is.
Speaker A:The cares of this world.
Speaker A:The cure for worry and stress.
Speaker A:We always want a cure.
Speaker A:Here's the medicine.
Speaker A:Here, take this pill, right?
Speaker A:And when the Bible says, here, cast all your care upon him.
Speaker A:That care means anxiety.
Speaker A:It's the same.
Speaker A:It's a synonym, anxiety.
Speaker A:Cast your anxiety upon him.
Speaker A:Cast the cares of this world upon him.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because he cares for you.
Speaker A:So it really is the cares of this world versus the care that God gives the cares of this world.
Speaker A:And the anxiety of this world versus the care that God gives.
Speaker A:That word care.
Speaker A:There again, specifically talking about us individually.
Speaker A:God cares for you as if you were the only one that he was caring for.
Speaker A:I know with us as human beings, when we care for people, there's a limit to that, right?
Speaker A:I can only do so much for my kids.
Speaker A:Or I can only do so much for my loved ones.
Speaker A:I can only do so much for my neighbors.
Speaker A:I'm limited in my supply.
Speaker A:I don't have enough to go around to everybody.
Speaker A:Aren't you glad God's not that way?
Speaker A:He's all powerful.
Speaker A:His supply never runs out.
Speaker A:You can cast every care upon him.
Speaker A:Every care because he cares for you.
Speaker A:Cast them all upon him.
Speaker A:How do we do this?
Speaker A:And this is what I liked about I came across this.
Speaker A:It's just really stuff you already know.
Speaker A:But just again, a practical outline.
Speaker A:Just practically, how do you cast your care upon him?
Speaker A:The first one is to surrender, to yield to Him.
Speaker A:To yield to him.
Speaker A:Romans 6:13 talks about yielding yourselves unto God as instruments of righteousness, yielding your body to him, yielding yourselves not as unto sin, as an instrument of sin, but an instrument of righteousness.
Speaker A:That we ought to yield ourselves to Him.
Speaker A:We ought to give our members to him.
Speaker A:No holding back, giving everything to him, every room of the house.
Speaker A:He ought to have access to every room of the house.
Speaker A:There shouldn't be a closed door anywhere.
Speaker A:So many times we yield, but we don't yield it all the way.
Speaker A:We say, lord, I'll do this, this and this, but I will not do that.
Speaker A:I've said this many times and I do it in jest.
Speaker A:I say, you know what?
Speaker A:I would never go to Michigan and pastor a church picking on some of these people from the north.
Speaker A:We may be outnumbered tonight.
Speaker A:I'm not going to have you raise your hand if you're from the north of the south.
Speaker A:But I said, I will never go up north.
Speaker A:I don't know why anybody would live in Wisconsin.
Speaker A:I don't get it.
Speaker A:I don't understand.
Speaker A:Why would you live there on purpose?
Speaker A:Why would you live in Canada on purpose?
Speaker A:I don't know why.
Speaker A:There's lots of other places to live.
Speaker A:Why would you go there and live there on purpose?
Speaker A:I don't understand it.
Speaker A:It's too cold.
Speaker A:And it's cold for like half of your life.
Speaker A:You realize you're spending half your life in the cold.
Speaker A:Then some of them would say, I don't know why you live in Texas.
Speaker A:It's 125 and I love it.
Speaker A:But I say it.
Speaker A:I say it pretty often.
Speaker A:I don't.
Speaker A:And then what I say is, I'll clarify is I'll say, well, you know, if a hundred foot Jesus come down, he tells me verbally that I need to take a church in Michigan or Wisconsin or one of those, I would do it, but otherwise I'm not going.
Speaker A:Now, if he wants to call me to, I got other places anyway.
Speaker A:No, but we ought to be willing to do whatever.
Speaker A:Yes, if God calls one of your kids the ministry, they ought to be willing to do whatever God asks.
Speaker A:Whatever God asks of you, you should be able to yield yourselves to yield your body.
Speaker A:A living sacrifice wholly acceptable unto God.
Speaker A:Which is what?
Speaker A:Your reasonable service.
Speaker A:It's just reasonable.
Speaker A:Why?
Speaker A:Because of the mercy of God.
Speaker A:Because he did not give you what you deserved?
Speaker A:He didn't give me what I deserved, which was hell.
Speaker A:And because he sent his son Jesus to die for us, shed his blood for us, be buried for three days and rise again from the dead.
Speaker A:It's just reasonable that we would yield our lives to him, surrender our lives to him.
Speaker A:And if we're going to overcome the anxiety and stress in our life, the very first thing we must do is just surrender it all to him, surrender our relationships to him, surrender our Jobs to Him, surrender our families to him, surrender our bodies to him, our lives to him, our stuff to Him.
Speaker A:We don't have no stuff.
Speaker A:We're just managers of God's stuff.
Speaker A:We're just surrendering it and yielding it all to Him.
Speaker A:It's reasonable to yield our will to His.
Speaker A:It's reasonable to yield our way to his and our words and our work and to walk with Him.
Speaker A:Number two, this is pretty close to the same thing.
Speaker A:But again, trust Him.
Speaker A:How are we to overcome and cast our care upon the Lord and overcome anxiety in our life?
Speaker A:You got to trust him.
Speaker A:This theme seems to have come up a lot lately in the messages I've preached, and rightly so.
Speaker A:I know, I know.
Speaker A:This is some areas in which people struggle of trusting God in everything.
Speaker A:They got to trust God in some things, but not in everything.
Speaker A:Psalm 37, verse 40 says, the Lord shall help thee because they trust in Him.
Speaker A:You want the help of God, you're going to have to trust him.
Speaker A:You're going to have to trust him.
Speaker A:You're going to have to put your confidence in Him.
Speaker A:I was forced to go to the doctor here lately.
Speaker A:I think I told you all.
Speaker A:I did tell you all about that.
Speaker A:I went to the doctor, gave me a clean bill of health, said I was excellent shape, just like check the boxes.
Speaker A:It was awesome.
Speaker A:I went to my childhood doctor, actually up in the Kona.
Speaker A:Anyway, we just kind of talked and fist bumped and I left.
Speaker A:And that was.
Speaker A:I'm just kidding.
Speaker A:But as I go to the doctor's office and he says this, this and this, and he.
Speaker A:It's amazing to me how many times I go to the doctor or you go to the doctor and they use these words.
Speaker A:I have no idea what they're talking about.
Speaker A:I say, can you explain that in English, right?
Speaker A:I mean, but why do we put up with it?
Speaker A:Because we trust them.
Speaker A:The doctor I went to, he's known me since I was 14 or 15 years old.
Speaker A:I trust him.
Speaker A:I trust him implicitly.
Speaker A:If he told me that's wrong with this, is wrong with you.
Speaker A:Take this medicine that I can't pronounce either, but I trust him.
Speaker A:I'm going to take it because he said that's what's best for me, right?
Speaker A:We trust him.
Speaker A:Listen, if we could trust a doctor, we could trust our physician.
Speaker A:Surely we could trust the great physician because he's always working on us.
Speaker A:He's always, if you're a Christian, he's always working on this.
Speaker A:He's always conforming us into the Image of his son.
Speaker A:He is using the trials as tests in our life.
Speaker A:He is using these things in our life to mold us, to shape us again.
Speaker A:He's the potter, I'm the clay.
Speaker A:And we have to yield to him and then trust him.
Speaker A:Trust him that he always, always, always.
Speaker A:I know I'm a broken record.
Speaker A:He always has our best interest in mind.
Speaker A:Do you not have your kids best interest in mind?
Speaker A:Do you not have your children's best interest in mind when you set rules and are you do this for them or that for them?
Speaker A:Yes, you do.
Speaker A:God has your best interest in mind in whatever is going on in your life.
Speaker A:We trust him.
Speaker A:We must trust the Lord.
Speaker A:By the way, he's all powerful.
Speaker A:As I've already said, he'll never fail you.
Speaker A:Trust in the Lord, what with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.
Speaker A:I don't know how many times I've got myself in a mess because I just leaned on my own wisdom and my own understanding.
Speaker A:Lean not on those in all thy ways.
Speaker A:Wide acknowledge him.
Speaker A:Give him the credit I love.
Speaker A:Again, as we preached this morning, we used Elijah there on top of Mount Carmel as he was facing the prophets of baal.
Speaker A:If you went back and you read his prayer, his prayer to God was absolutely number one on the list, giving God the credit.
Speaker A:And if you acknowledge God and give God the credit, he will direct your paths.
Speaker A:He will guide you.
Speaker A:He will be that tender shepherd that leads you.
Speaker A:But you have to trust him.
Speaker A:I know I've used this illustration before, but I like it because my middle son says I never talk about him.
Speaker A:But it is amazing how little kids trust their dads or trust their moms.
Speaker A:I love it when they're that age, you know, five, six, seven, even eight.
Speaker A:At some point they start getting wise.
Speaker A:But before that you could take a two or three year old and I have, and I've taken and just wait two seconds, catch them behind your back.
Speaker A:It's amazing.
Speaker A:Throw them up in the air, do all sorts of stuff to them.
Speaker A:I like taking their, you know, swinging them around, trying to see if I can get their joints out of socket until you're dizzy.
Speaker A:And they're dizzy.
Speaker A:And it's so much fun, isn't it?
Speaker A:They just trust you.
Speaker A:It's like, it's crazy.
Speaker A:Jump to Daddy.
Speaker A:Jump to daddy.
Speaker A:You know, 30ft high.
Speaker A:Okay, Daddy.
Speaker A:Boom.
Speaker A:I've used this illustration before.
Speaker A:I was throwing Joshua up in the air inside the house.
Speaker A:Just throwing him up in the air, threw him a little too high.
Speaker A:One Time he hit the ceiling fan, trust was done.
Speaker A:Now it was.
Speaker A:Every time I threw him up, he duck, flinch.
Speaker A:We trust the Lord.
Speaker A:We trust our heavenly Father and that type of faith.
Speaker A:The.
Speaker A:The Bible speaks of a childlike faith, having that faith in him to overcome anxiety and stress in life, we need to have that kind of trust.
Speaker A:And then we've preached this before too.
Speaker A:Number three would be rejoice that.
Speaker A:Rejoicing in thanksgiving.
Speaker A:It's hard to do, to thank him for all things and in all situations.
Speaker A:It is one of those very hard things to do.
Speaker A:Philippians chapter four, Rejoice in the Lord sometimes.
Speaker A:And again I say rejoice.
Speaker A:It's not what it says, right?
Speaker A:Most of you know the verse Philippians chapter 4, verse 4 through 6.
Speaker A:There Paul says, rejoice in the Lord always.
Speaker A:And again I say, rejoice.
Speaker A:It's hard to do so many times when you're in the thick of it, when you seem to be drowning, hard to rejoice in the Lord.
Speaker A:But I tell you what, you can't rejoice and have anxiety at the same time.
Speaker A:You really can.
Speaker A:I'm telling you.
Speaker A:Just some kind of switch in your brain that being thankful to God, it just switches the brain.
Speaker A:Be thankful to him and praise him in every situation.
Speaker A:And there in Philippians chapter four, it says, be careful for nothing.
Speaker A:That means don't worry about anything.
Speaker A:God's got it.
Speaker A:He's got it handled.
Speaker A:When you're overwhelmed by pressure, by the way, sometimes the holes that we dig ourselves, in fact, I would say most of the time that's the case.
Speaker A:When you're overwhelmed by the test that God is sending you through.
Speaker A:God is doing those things to sharpen you, by the way.
Speaker A:I have to remind myself of that many times.
Speaker A:I don't like it, do you?
Speaker A:But I know God again loves me, cares for me, that he's guiding my steps because I have trusted in him.
Speaker A:Psalm 119 says, Seven times a day do I praise thee.
Speaker A:I'll never forget there.
Speaker A:The Bible speaks about Paul and Silas being thrown into prison, being beaten.
Speaker A:And what happened?
Speaker A:They began to sing.
Speaker A:Beaten and then yet started to sing.
Speaker A:Can you imagine what the other people in the jail were going like?
Speaker A:What in the world?
Speaker A:This guy crazy singing in the jail.
Speaker A:And then the jailhouse rocked, right?
Speaker A:First time there was jailhouse Rock.
Speaker A:No, God was there again.
Speaker A:God again.
Speaker A:You may be in the heat of the battle, but God always has us hand on the thermostat.
Speaker A:Always has his hand on the thermostat.
Speaker A:I got to Where I really enjoy coffee.
Speaker A:I really do.
Speaker A:I'm now addicted to it, I totally, totally admit.
Speaker A:But you're not going to get good coffee without some hot water, without it brewing through the filter and all those.
Speaker A:Again, the good stuff happens with tea or with coffee after it's gone through the brewing process, brings out the good stuff.
Speaker A:And that's what God's doing in our lives.
Speaker A:He's going to bring out the good stuff.
Speaker A:We have to go through some things.
Speaker A:I was.
Speaker A:We were with our preachers in training upstairs while ago.
Speaker A:That's when I was a little late and just talking about what is it like to enter the ministry.
Speaker A:How much training should you have?
Speaker A:How much time should you have before you go pastor?
Speaker A:And just talking about various things and, you know, it's hard to tell.
Speaker A:But I can tell you this.
Speaker A:I'm so thankful for the training that I had and the time that I spent with my pastor and the time I spent with the other two pastors as well, learning God's so good.
Speaker A:Rejoice in the Lord.
Speaker A:And then number four is patience.
Speaker A:Ooh, we hate this one.
Speaker A:This is the one.
Speaker A:In fact, if I was to look at all of these, this may be the most difficult one for me.
Speaker A:Patience.
Speaker A:Hebrews 6:15 says, and so after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.
Speaker A:Who's it talking about?
Speaker A:Abraham.
Speaker A:So Hebrews Paul says that Abraham patiently endured until he received the promise.
Speaker A:Abraham knew.
Speaker A:The Bible makes it very clear.
Speaker A:Abraham knew that God was going to use him.
Speaker A:Through him, the Messiah would come.
Speaker A:But they had to wait for Isaac.
Speaker A:They had to wait for Isaac.
Speaker A:They tried to manipulate some things on their own, and that didn't work out well at all.
Speaker A:In fact, it's still not working out because they're still fighting over there in the Middle east with Ishmael's descendants.
Speaker A:Patiently endured, waiting for the promise.
Speaker A:You understand and know that God has promised again to the child of God again that he would never leave us nor forsake us.
Speaker A:There are so many great and precious promises the Bible talks about, but so many times we don't have the patience to wait.
Speaker A:Those that wait upon the Lord.
Speaker A:That word wait there means trust those that trust the Lord, he shall renew thy strength.
Speaker A:See, it's not about our timing, his timing.
Speaker A:And that's where we have such a difficult time, no pun intended.
Speaker A:We do.
Speaker A:We have a difficult time with that.
Speaker A:God is never early.
Speaker A:He's never late.
Speaker A:God is always on time.
Speaker A:And then whatever difficulty and whatever thing it may be causing anxiety in your life, understand and know that God is there and he cares and we have to trust him and be patient.
Speaker A:I've told you this many times.
Speaker A:I have a couple of things.
Speaker A:I don't eat them as much anymore.
Speaker A:My wife and I eat out too much.
Speaker A:But used to the little Sam's.
Speaker A:Go to Sam's.
Speaker A:You buy the frozen stuff, right?
Speaker A:And they have the little hamburgers.
Speaker A:And hamburgers only took take.
Speaker A:It's a minute and 20 seconds in a microwave, brother Tony.
Speaker A:A minute and 20 seconds and I can be eating a hamburger.
Speaker A:It's a miracle.
Speaker A:And they're pretty good.
Speaker A:They are.
Speaker A:They're pretty good.
Speaker A:And so what I would do is whatever takes longer than that, which is usually the other stuff, like whether it's a burrito or whatever else.
Speaker A:Because I want to cook those in the oven, because I want them to be crispy and not microwaved, soggy.
Speaker A:I want them to be crispy.
Speaker A:So I put those in the oven, let them cook, and then while I eat the hamburger that only took a minute and 20 seconds to heat up because I'm not patient enough to wait for the burritos to come out of the oven.
Speaker A:Now, this is.
Speaker A:I'm talking about lunch when you're trying to, you know, get on with the thing and get back to work or whatever.
Speaker A:Yeah, a minute and 20 seconds.
Speaker A:Patience is hard.
Speaker A:It really is.
Speaker A:But it is about his timing and not ours.
Speaker A:Number five is self discipline.
Speaker A:This is a difficult one, too.
Speaker A:First Corinthians 9:27.
Speaker A:I memorized this early on in the ministry when I was attending seminary because my schedule was really, really full.
Speaker A:And so I was trying to burn the candle at both ends.
Speaker A:And so I actually, at one point, and my wife will remember this, I actually pinned it to the ceiling in my.
Speaker A:In my bedroom so that when I woke up, I'd see it.
Speaker A:And there Paul says in First Corinthians 9:27, But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, taught to others that I myself should be a castaway, that bring our bodies into subjection, and though we want to be careful again when it comes to self discipline, that we are not haughty in that, that we're not prideful in that, that, oh, I can be.
Speaker A:I can do this, this, this and this, and I'll be spiritual.
Speaker A:And that's not true.
Speaker A:You can't just check the book, the boxes off of everything that you think you're required to do to be spiritual and think that you're going to be spiritual.
Speaker A:That's not the way it works.
Speaker A:But we as Christians ought to be disciplined enough to put ourself in a position where God can make us spiritual, where God can walk with us, where God can use us as a vessel, meet for the Master's use.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:And this is an area too where a lot have a problem.
Speaker A:Being disciplined enough to get up and read your Bible before you go to work, being disciplined enough to take time to pray and communicate with God in the morning or in the evening.
Speaker A:Being disciplined to give as you ought to give, and being disciplined to be at church.
Speaker A:And I'm preaching to the choir tonight.
Speaker A:Cause you're here.
Speaker A:But being disciplined, having that self control, it's what most of us don't have when it comes to our appetite physically.
Speaker A:I have a hard time with that one.
Speaker A:But self control does bring healing of anxiety.
Speaker A:Putting our appetites into subjection.
Speaker A:And maybe for you, social media, whatever appetite that's out of control in your life and bringing that into subjection.
Speaker A:Maybe that's the TV or maybe it's McDonald's bringing those appetites and subjection.
Speaker A:Second Corinthians, chapter 12, verse 9, says, My strength is made perfect.
Speaker A:What in weakness?
Speaker A:In weakness.
Speaker A:When I am weak, then am I strong.
Speaker A:Realizing and humbling ourselves before God and saying, lord, I have this sin in my life or I have this issue in my life, this weight that does beset me.
Speaker A:Maybe it's not a sin, maybe it's just a hobby that's out of control or something else that's out of control.
Speaker A:And to humble ourselves before God and say, lord, I need to get this appetite under control.
Speaker A:And Lord, would you strengthen me and give me the grace I need to bring it into subjection, to bring my body in subjection.
Speaker A:Lord, help me to get up 10 or 15 minutes earlier so that I can spend some time with you.
Speaker A:Lord, strengthen me and give me the grace I need to do so.
Speaker A:And then follow through.
Speaker A:Get up.
Speaker A:And lastly, service.
Speaker A:I believe this is what Philippians is teaching us, the book of Philippians, and that is doing for others will bring joy into your life.
Speaker A:Serving God and serving others will bring peace into your life.
Speaker A:You talk about doing away with anxiety and worry in your life.
Speaker A:Do something for somebody else.
Speaker A:Do something for your neighbor.
Speaker A:Give a cup of cool water in his name.
Speaker A:The Lord's going to reward you for that and bless you for that.
Speaker A:Do something for a co worker.
Speaker A:Again, get involved in the church.
Speaker A:And most of you had a lot of you had signed up to do something here at the church or maybe with Meals on Wheels or whatever it is.
Speaker A:Get involved, serve others, do for others.
Speaker A:By the way, Jesus served others.
Speaker A:He was the servant of servants.
Speaker A:I still don't the washing feet thing.
Speaker A:Whoo.
Speaker A:Washed his disciples feet.
Speaker A:What an example he set for us.
Speaker A:To follow in his steps.
Speaker A:To follow in the steps of Jesus as he healed the lame, as he healed the blind.
Speaker A:And he provided nourishment, food and all the things he did for others and put himself aside.
Speaker A:Well, preacher, if I all I'm doing is taking care of everybody else, who's going to take care of me?
Speaker A:But my God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Speaker A:Yeah, the popular thing today is self care.
Speaker A:And you know words like that and you know self esteem and you need to take care of yourself first.
Speaker A:No, no, no, no, no.
Speaker A:That's the opposite of the Bible.
Speaker A:I don't need to take care of myself first.
Speaker A:I take care of my wife first.
Speaker A:I take care of my kids first.
Speaker A:I take care of my grandkids first.
Speaker A:I take care of my friends first.
Speaker A:I take care of my neighbors first.
Speaker A:I take care of them first.
Speaker A:I take care of everyone around me.
Speaker A:I serve them, I do for them.
Speaker A:And guess what?
Speaker A:God will take care of me.
Speaker A:Self care.
Speaker A:I know what they mean by that.
Speaker A:Sometimes and there is times you need to be careful.
Speaker A:If it's a physical issue, make sure you get that taken care of.
Speaker A:But if you're just talking about looking out for yourself, it's number one.
Speaker A:That is totally, totally contrary to the scriptures.
Speaker A:And you want to stay under the burden of stress and anxiety, go ahead and treat yourself as number one because you'll stay right there.
Speaker A:You'll be so disappointed.
Speaker A:God loves you and he cares for you.
Speaker A:One of the greatest ways to overcome anxiety in your life and stress in your life is to do for somebody else.
Speaker A:Years ago somebody had done something to me and, and I'll never forget it was Brother J.D.
Speaker A:wheato.
Speaker A:Some of y' all remember Brother Guido, a friend who pastors in Arkansas.
Speaker A:We won't hold that against him.
Speaker A:He's preached some of our early missions conferences when we were in the storefront.
Speaker A:And he's been a real blessing.
Speaker A:In fact, I think we got him lined up again here in a couple of years.
Speaker A:But I never forget him preaching and saying, hey, somebody wronged you.
Speaker A:Has somebody wronged you?
Speaker A:And you can't seem to get past it.
Speaker A:You can't get over it.
Speaker A:You're having a hard time forgiving that person.
Speaker A:He said the best way to get over that, the best way to forgive that person is to do something for them.
Speaker A:And that's biblical.
Speaker A:That is a biblical principle.
Speaker A:And man, I did something for this person.
Speaker A:It really did help.
Speaker A:That's amazing.
Speaker A:The Bible actually works.
Speaker A:That's amazing even for the preacher.
Speaker A:Do something for somebody else.
Speaker A:Serve again.
Speaker A:Follow in the footsteps of Jesus.
Speaker A:Serve others.
Speaker A:Serve in your church.
Speaker A:Serve your family.
Speaker A:God will take care of you.
Speaker A:Ephesians 6, 7 says, with good will, doing service as unto the Lord and not unto men.
Speaker A:Do you realize again, a cup of cool water in his name when you are serving others, and you do, and your motivation is right, that you are serving God.
Speaker A:When you do serve that neighbor, and you do so, and your motivation's right and your heart is right, and God's going to bless you and reward you for that.
Speaker A:You ought to do that service as unto God and not unto man.
Speaker A:When you're teaching the Sunday school class, just remember that.
Speaker A:When you're helping in master clubs and you're dealing with little babies in the nursery, remember that we're serving as unto God and not unto men.
Speaker A:God will reward you for that.
Speaker A:And one of the ways in which he rewards you is that he, because he cares for you, you can overcome through him that anxiety and that care that has weighed you down.
Speaker A:Cast those cares upon him.
Speaker A:Cast the care upon him because he cares for you.
Speaker A:Cast that care upon him by yielding yourself to him and trusting Him.
Speaker A:There's no greater one to trust.
Speaker A:You put your trust in your friends, they'll let you down.
Speaker A:You put your trust in your family.
Speaker A:At some point they'll let you down.
Speaker A:But God will never let you down.
Speaker A:Be thankful.
Speaker A:Thinking people are a thanking people.
Speaker A:Thankful people.
Speaker A:Be thankful.
Speaker A:Praise Him.
Speaker A:Don't forget to give him credit for what he's done in your life and the things that has come your way.
Speaker A:Praise Him.
Speaker A:Be patient.
Speaker A:Remember, it's not your timing, it's his timing.
Speaker A:If you're having a hard time with self discipline, remember that God said He would give you grace to help in your time of need.
Speaker A:Go to him.
Speaker A:Humble yourself to him here at the altar and just say, lord, I need help in this area of my life.
Speaker A:I need help with this weight or I need help with this sin in my life.
Speaker A:Lord, help me.
Speaker A:Give me self control and then serve others.
Speaker A:Serving is the way to have joy.
Speaker A:I know it's a small thing and we use the same illustration all the time, but it is amazing how you feel when you do something for somebody else.
Speaker A:It's amazing how you feel, but can I tell you that it's doing more than just.
Speaker A:It's doing more than just giving you a feeling.
Speaker A:It's doing more than that.
Speaker A:You maybe don't know it, but it's doing more than that.
Speaker A:It's helping cast that care upon the Lord.
Speaker A:It's helping that stress and that anxiety in your life.
Speaker A:It's helping.
Speaker A:It is the cure.
Speaker A:God is so good.
Speaker A:Amen.
Speaker A:Let's all stand.
Speaker A:We have a verse invitation tonight I have decided to follow Jesus.
Speaker A:After we pray.
Speaker A:Heavenly Father again Lord, what a blessing it is to know that your Bible, your word gives us a prescription, Lord to overcome.
Speaker A:You've made us more than conquerors and Lord may we follow that prescription.
Speaker A:May we yield our lives to you.
Speaker A:May we trust you as we ought to.
Speaker A:May we praise you and rejoice and Lord practice self discipline and Lord and serve others.
Speaker A:God, may you through your grace and your holy Spirit enable us to do so and we'll thank you in Jesus name, amen.
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