Scripture 1 Peter 5:7
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Anxiety
is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness. It might cause you to sweat,
feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat. It can be a normal
reaction to stress. For example, you might feel anxious when faced with a
difficult problem at work, before taking a test, or before making an important
decision.
Anxiety Webster’s Dictionary
1 apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill.
2 medical: an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of a threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it.
1928 Webster’s Dictionary – ANXIETY = concern or solicitude respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. it expresses more than uneasiness or disturbance, and even more than trouble or solicitude. it usually springs from fear or serious apprehension of evil, and involves a suspense respecting an event, and often, a perplexity of mind, to know how to shape our conduct.
TOP 10 ILLUSTRATION TITLES ON ANXIETY:
Rising Levels of Youth Anxiety and Expectations
Anxiety Is Now Our Most Common Mental Health Issue
Mothers Feel Increasing Anxiety About Parenting
Increasingly Teenagers Report 'Overwhelming Anxiety'
We Have Entered the New Age of Anxiety
In Uncertain Times U.S. Anxiety at All Time High
Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety
The New Social Anxiety—Fear of Missing Out
Precipitous Rise in Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in the U.S.
Study Shows Cell Phone Separation Anxiety
Gary glad when he saw me in his review mirror on his way taking Gideon to the hospital because he had forgotten his phone and needed to communicate with Gretchen what was taking place at the hospital.
ILLUSTRATION
“The head of the Nevada Highway Patrol says that, ‘At 100 mph you’re not driving a car, you’re aiming it.’"
APPLICATION
We live in a world that's changing at a high rate of speed. We don't drive our life at a 100 mph, we aim it. At that speed, we don't have control over anything which creates a great amount of anxiety. Make sure that your spirit is pointed in the right direction and God will take care of the rest.
Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety
In an article in The Atlantic magazine, Scott Stossel shares openly about his lifelong attempts to deal with the anguish of anxiety. From an early age he's been what he calls "a twitchy bundle of phobias, fears, and neuroses." Stossel writes: "Even when not actively afflicted by acute episodes [of anxiety], I am buffeted by worry." Stossel adds, "Here's what I've tried [to deal with my anxiety]:
individual psychotherapy (three decades of it), family therapy, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, hypnosis, meditation, role-playing, interoceptive exposure therapy, in vivo exposure therapy, self-help workbooks, massage therapy, prayer, acupuncture, yoga, Stoic philosophy, and audiotapes I ordered off a late-night TV infomercial.
And medication. Lots of medication. Thorazine. Imipramine. Desipramine. Chlorpheniramine. Nardil. BuSpar. Prozac. Zoloft. Paxil. Wellbutrin. Effexor. Celexa. Lexapro. Cymbalta. Luvox. Trazodone. Levoxyl. Inderal. Tranxene. Serax. Centrax. St. John's wort. Zolpidem. Valium. Librium. Ativan. Xanax. Klonopin. Also: beer, wine, gin, bourbon, vodka, and scotch.
Here's what's worked: nothing.
TRANSITION FROM
DESCRIPTION TO ILLUSTRATIONS
Two things are important here. We are not talking about a full-blown anxiety disorder that requires counseling and medication – although these things still apply as part of your treatment. Secondly, doing what the scripture suggest will not necessarily remove all your anxiety, it can remove it, or lessen it, or help you live through it in a more victorious way that you cannot do without this biblical prescription. The bible often writes prescriptions for us, but if we don’t go to the pharmacy (the bible) and pick them up and follow the directions and actually take them – they do us WHAT? No good!
BIBLICAL UNDERSTANDING
epiriyantes = Cast – to throw something upon something else. (the sense of the word is not out of frustration, anger or indifference, rather in humility and trust.)
melei = Care
– present active indicative – to have concern – to have care – to have constant
concern and care for the other.
Greek word order = “all the
anxiety of you casting on him, because to him it matters concerning you.”
When we focus on
Jesus, our anxiety becomes less. It is when we lose focus that our anxiety
causes us to do nothing, or to do wrong.
BIBLICAL
ILLUSTRATIONS
Peter walking on water – Anxiety because of the wind and waves. Jesus reached out his hand as if to say – “Hey, just keep your focus on me”.
Disciples in the boat during a storm
Feeding of the 5000
Martha worried about the details.
Hebrews worried about the plague
of death – covered by the blood
Jesus continued talking with his disciples. Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.
Hebrews 12:2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and
perfecter of our faith.
CONCLUSION/BENEDICITON
1 Peter 5:7-11
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 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. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
If
you missed this message – let me rephrase briefly.
Read the KJV with which some of you are familiar - 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Cast your (anxiety) CARES on Jesus, because Jesus CARES for you!
How we care for ourselves is a distraction from what gives us anxiety. No matter what joy or pleasure or pain we give ourselves to escape anxiety – it is never sufficient – only His grace is sufficient. God’s care for us is divine care that only God can provide. It is most like a mother with her first child who does not find caring a distraction (difficult yes) but not a distraction because she would do anything and everything to care for that child to make sure it is fed, clothed, sheltered, embrased, sung too, rocked, held, and loved.
God’s care is like that and even more – Jesus has no distraction in His care for you. All of heaven is centered on you. It is not divided as our care is for many people and therefore inadequate. God caring for someone else does not remove any ability or focus on His part to care for you, because God has you on His heart!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Anxiety Webster’s Dictionary
1 apprehensive uneasiness or nervousness usually over an impending or anticipated ill.
2 medical: an abnormal and overwhelming sense of apprehension and fear often marked by physical signs (such as tension, sweating, and increased pulse rate), by doubt concerning the reality and nature of a threat, and by self-doubt about one's capacity to cope with it.
1928 Webster’s Dictionary – ANXIETY = concern or solicitude respecting some event, future or uncertain, which disturbs the mind, and keeps it in a state of painful uneasiness. it expresses more than uneasiness or disturbance, and even more than trouble or solicitude. it usually springs from fear or serious apprehension of evil, and involves a suspense respecting an event, and often, a perplexity of mind, to know how to shape our conduct.
TOP 10 ILLUSTRATION TITLES ON ANXIETY:
Rising Levels of Youth Anxiety and Expectations
Anxiety Is Now Our Most Common Mental Health Issue
Mothers Feel Increasing Anxiety About Parenting
Increasingly Teenagers Report 'Overwhelming Anxiety'
We Have Entered the New Age of Anxiety
In Uncertain Times U.S. Anxiety at All Time High
Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety
The New Social Anxiety—Fear of Missing Out
Precipitous Rise in Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders in the U.S.
Study Shows Cell Phone Separation Anxiety
Gary glad when he saw me in his review mirror on his way taking Gideon to the hospital because he had forgotten his phone and needed to communicate with Gretchen what was taking place at the hospital.
“The head of the Nevada Highway Patrol says that, ‘At 100 mph you’re not driving a car, you’re aiming it.’"
APPLICATION
We live in a world that's changing at a high rate of speed. We don't drive our life at a 100 mph, we aim it. At that speed, we don't have control over anything which creates a great amount of anxiety. Make sure that your spirit is pointed in the right direction and God will take care of the rest.
Author Tries to Find a "Cure" for His Anxiety
In an article in The Atlantic magazine, Scott Stossel shares openly about his lifelong attempts to deal with the anguish of anxiety. From an early age he's been what he calls "a twitchy bundle of phobias, fears, and neuroses." Stossel writes: "Even when not actively afflicted by acute episodes [of anxiety], I am buffeted by worry." Stossel adds, "Here's what I've tried [to deal with my anxiety]:
individual psychotherapy (three decades of it), family therapy, group therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, rational emotive behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, hypnosis, meditation, role-playing, interoceptive exposure therapy, in vivo exposure therapy, self-help workbooks, massage therapy, prayer, acupuncture, yoga, Stoic philosophy, and audiotapes I ordered off a late-night TV infomercial.
And medication. Lots of medication. Thorazine. Imipramine. Desipramine. Chlorpheniramine. Nardil. BuSpar. Prozac. Zoloft. Paxil. Wellbutrin. Effexor. Celexa. Lexapro. Cymbalta. Luvox. Trazodone. Levoxyl. Inderal. Tranxene. Serax. Centrax. St. John's wort. Zolpidem. Valium. Librium. Ativan. Xanax. Klonopin. Also: beer, wine, gin, bourbon, vodka, and scotch.
Here's what's worked: nothing.
Two things are important here. We are not talking about a full-blown anxiety disorder that requires counseling and medication – although these things still apply as part of your treatment. Secondly, doing what the scripture suggest will not necessarily remove all your anxiety, it can remove it, or lessen it, or help you live through it in a more victorious way that you cannot do without this biblical prescription. The bible often writes prescriptions for us, but if we don’t go to the pharmacy (the bible) and pick them up and follow the directions and actually take them – they do us WHAT? No good!
epiriyantes = Cast – to throw something upon something else. (the sense of the word is not out of frustration, anger or indifference, rather in humility and trust.)
Peter walking on water – Anxiety because of the wind and waves. Jesus reached out his hand as if to say – “Hey, just keep your focus on me”.
Disciples in the boat during a storm
Jesus continued talking with his disciples. Don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.
1 Peter 5:7-11
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 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. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
Read the KJV with which some of you are familiar - 1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Cast your (anxiety) CARES on Jesus, because Jesus CARES for you!
How we care for ourselves is a distraction from what gives us anxiety. No matter what joy or pleasure or pain we give ourselves to escape anxiety – it is never sufficient – only His grace is sufficient. God’s care for us is divine care that only God can provide. It is most like a mother with her first child who does not find caring a distraction (difficult yes) but not a distraction because she would do anything and everything to care for that child to make sure it is fed, clothed, sheltered, embrased, sung too, rocked, held, and loved.
God’s care is like that and even more – Jesus has no distraction in His care for you. All of heaven is centered on you. It is not divided as our care is for many people and therefore inadequate. God caring for someone else does not remove any ability or focus on His part to care for you, because God has you on His heart!
Jeremiah 29:11-13 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
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