Sermon #1566 Miscellaneous
Sermons
Title: “He Careth for You”
Text: 1
Peter 5:1-7
Date: Sunday Evening ― April 25, 2004
Readings: Rex
Bartley and Larry Criss
Psalm 37:1-40
Subject: Casting
Our Care Upon The Lord
Tape # Y-16b
Introduction:
Verse 1 ― “The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also
an elder.”
When Peter
speaks of elders among the people, he was not addressing one local church with
a plurality of elders. He tells us this back in the first two verses of chapter
one. He was writing to God’s saints scattered in many places.
(1 Pet 1:1-2) "Peter, an
apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia,
Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, (2) Elect according to the foreknowledge
of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be
multiplied."
The elders
here were the pastors of individual local churches. There can be but one pastor
in any congregation. There may be other elders within the assembly; but there
is but one pastor.
“And a witness of the sufferings of Christ.”
Peter was literally an eye-witness of the sufferings of Christ, but
that did not qualify him to be a Christian, much less a pastor. Multitudes were
eye-witnesses of our Savior’s physical sufferings, who went to hell. Peter was
more than one who saw the Lord’s physical sufferings. He was “a witness of
the sufferings of Christ.”
That is precisely what every true gospel preacher is ― “a
witness of the sufferings of Christ.” The gospel preacher is a man to whom
and in whom Christ is revealed, sent to bear witness of his sufferings.
· The Person who suffered.
· The thing he suffered.
· Why he suffered.
· The result of his sufferings.
“And also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.”
All who are witnesses of the sufferings of Christ are also partakers “of
the glory that shall be revealed,” the glory of Christ as our Mediator, the
glory he obtained.
· Eternal redemption.
· Eternal life.
· Heavenly glory!
That glory he has given to all his people, and all his people are
partakers of it. ― “When we shall see him we shall be like him, for we
shall see him as he is!”
Verse 2 ― “Feed the flock of God.” ―
The church of God is God’s flock. It is the pastor’s responsibility to feed
Christ’s flock, the sheep and the lambs, with knowledge and understanding (Jer.
3:15).
Preaching is more than communicating facts and more than giving out the
sense of a text. Preaching is feeding your souls with knowledge of Holy
Scripture and understanding of your needs.
Preaching at one of our Bible conferences several years ago, Pastor Scott Richardson made a profound statement about preaching. He said, “Preaching is getting a message from God’s heart to my heart and delivering it to your heart. Anything else is just filling in time.”
What a profound, insightful and needful statement! The Lord God promised to give his church pastors after his own heart, who would feed his people with knowledge and with understanding (Jer. 3:15).
He commands his prophets, “Speak ye comfortably to” — to the
heart of — my people (Isaiah 40:2). That is the responsibility of a gospel
preacher every time he speaks to eternity-bound men and women in the name of
Christ. But it is a task no man can accomplish. The only way a mere man can
speak the things of God to the heart of another is if God himself is pleased to
speak through him.
Two hundred years ago John Rusk wrote, “I want an
experimental preacher, one who, when he has had one meal, is tried how he shall
get the next; one who is tormented with devils fit to tear him limb from limb;
one who feels hell inside himself and every corruption in his nature stirred up
to oppose God’s work; one who feels so weak that every day he gets over he
views it as next to a miracle.”
“Which is among you.” ― God’s
servants are just sheep among sheep, sinners washed in the blood of Christ,
saved by his grace, and robed in his righteousness, just like you. We know
nothing in the church of God of “clergy” and “laity.” We are all one in Christ,
on one level. My being your pastor and teacher is not the exaltation of one man
above the rest. I simply happen to be the man among you appointed and called of
God to be your pastor, God’s messenger to your souls, Christ’s under-shepherd,
the one to whom he has entrusted the care of his blood bought sheep.
“Taking the oversight thereof.” ― As
your pastor, it is my responsibility to take the oversight of this flock of
sheep. I am not responsible to take the oversight of any other assembly, and
dare not presume to do so. But I am responsible to take the oversight of this
assembly, and dare not fail to do so.
“Not by constraint, but willingly.” ―
This must not be something forced upon a man, something he is coerced into, but
that which he is willing to do. I do not mean merely that the pastor must be
willing to preach. Lots of men are anxious to do that. God’s servants are men
who are willing to devote their lives to the care of God’s flock, watching over
their souls as they that must give account, laboring in the Word to bring them
meat in due season, praying for them, carrying them upon his heart, and seeking
their eternal welfare in all things.
“Not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.”
― Faithful men are not motivated or in any way controlled by money and
personal interests. They consider themselves debtors to all men and are ready
to preach the gospel to all. Such men are to be provided for by the generosity
of God’s saints, but will not enrich themselves by the most generous care
bestowed upon them.
Verse 3 ― “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but
being ensamples to the flock.”
That man who is entrusted with the care of immortal souls must never
presume to rule and govern the lives of God’s people. His business is to feed
the flock and led the flock, being an example to the flock.
· In faith.
· In faithfulness.
· In devotion.
· In uprightness.
· In love.
Verse 4 ― “And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall
receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.”
When Christ comes again, every faithful pastor shall, along with all
the flock of God, receive “a crown of glory that fadeth not away.” We
shall receive Christ in all his fulness and all the unfading glory of eternity!
Verse 5 ― “Likewise, ye younger.” ― By
the younger, Peter means you who are younger in faith and you who are younger
in years.
“Submit yourselves unto the elder.” ―
What wise counsel! Submit your judgment, your thoughts, and your desires to
those who have already walked in your path.
“Yea, all of you be subject one to another.”
― That is what it is to be filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18-6:1). That
is the way families get along. There is no other way to walk in peace, to
maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
“And be clothed with humility.” ― If
we would live in this world for the glory of God, serving one another, we must
constantly clothe ourselves with humility, putting on the mind of Christ. To
be clothed with humility is to consciously, and with deliberate purpose, walk
before God acknowledging who and what you are before him and before your
brethren.
(John 12:27-28) "Now is my
soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for
this cause came I unto this hour. (28) Father, glorify thy name. Then
came there a voice from heaven, saying, I have both glorified it, and
will glorify it again."
(Phil 2:1-11) "If there
be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any
fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, (2) Fulfil ye my
joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord,
of one mind. (3) Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory;
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. (4) Look
not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
(5) Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who,
being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But
made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was
made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he
humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
(9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which
is above every name: (10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should
bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under
the earth; (11) And that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
“For God resisteth
the proud.” ― We are all terribly proud creatures by nature. In
our sinful, shameful pride, we stoutly resist God and God resists us. That is a
battle we are sure to lose. The person who fights against God is a fool indeed.
“Woe unto him that striveth with his
Maker!” (Isa. 45:9). If the Almighty should lift so much as the finger of
his wrath against you or me, it would crush us instantly and eternally into the
lowest hell!
Yet, we are such proud,
foolish creatures that by nature we all live with our fists shoved in the very
face of God, defying his infinite holiness, justice, and wrath! Those who do so
have this promise from him – “God
resisteth the proud.” If God resists you, you must be forever undone! If
God almighty resists me, I am altogether without hope.
“And giveth grace to the humble.” ― This same God, who resists
the proud, “giveth grace to the humble.”
Notice the conjunction. It is not but,
but “and.” The very same God who
resists the proud gives grace to the humble. If God resists me, I am damned
forever. If he gives me grace, I am forever blessed and saved.
But how can a proud rebel, a stout-hearted sinner, a stiff-necked rebel, a child of Adam ever hope for grace, if God only gives grace to the humble? Obviously, grace must do something for me before I can ever enjoy the experience of grace. I will not attempt to explain the mystery of God’s gracious operations in the souls of men; but this much I know...
No sinner will ever be
broken, humbled, and abased before God until God almighty himself breaks,
humbles, and abases him by his grace. Grace operates on us and in us before
grace is received by us. That which breaks the heart is the revelation of
Christ in the heart (Isa. 6:1-6; Zech. 12:10; Acts 9:1-9).
God gives grace to the
humble
(Ps. 34:18; 51:17; Isa. 66:1-2).
(Psa 34:18) “The LORD is nigh
unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite
spirit.”
(Psa 51:17) “The sacrifices of
God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt
not despise.”
(Isa 66:1-2) “Thus saith the
LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool:
where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place
of my rest? {2} For all those things hath mine hand made, and all
those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I
look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and
trembleth at my word.”
Find me a truly broken soul, a broken hearted sinner, one who weeps over his sin before God, and I will show you an object of God’s grace, one to whom God has promised salvation.
All who are humbled by grace
humble themselves before God and seek his grace, looking to Christ in faith;
and all who seek the grace of God by faith in Christ, trusting his blood atonement
obtain the grace they seek (Luke 18:9-14). Yes, God gives grace to the humble:
saving grace, sanctifying grace, sustaining grace, sufficient grace, and
satisfying grace! God gives grace, all grace, to the humble.
Verse 6 ― “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of
God, that he may exalt you in due time.”
Since God gives grace to the
humble, we are here called to humble ourselves before him, that we might obtain
his grace. As I said before, I know that no one will humble himself, until he
has been humbled by God. Yet, it is our responsibility to humble ourselves
before the Lord God. All who refuse to do so shall be forever destroyed by him.
All who do humble themselves before the Lord shall be forever saved by him.
First, I
take these words to be addressed to you who are yet without Christ, to you who
are yet unbelievers, to you who are yet under the wrath of God.
When Hezikiah
the king was justly threatened with death because of his transgression, he
humbled himself and sought the Lord his God. Therefore, because he humbled
himself, God spared his life (2 Chron. 32:26). It is written in the Scriptures:
“He shall save the humble person...He
forgetteth not the cry of the humble...He giveth grace to the humble...Humble
yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.” (Job 22:29; Ps.
9:12; James 4:6, 10).
(Isa 57:15) “For thus saith the
high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell
in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart
of the contrite ones.”
I hope someone is asking, “What is it to humble myself in the sight of
God? How can I humble myself before the Lord?’ I do not pretend to be an expert on
humility. But I do know this—If Moses was the meekest man who ever lived, then humility
is not at all what men and women naturally assume it is.
If the hand of God lays
heavily upon your heart, if you carry in your soul the sentence of death, if
you are now under a sense of God’s justice, wrath, and judgment, and sense that
you are rapidly slipping into hell, the Holy Spirit here calls you to humble
yourself under the mighty hand of God. Are you interested in what is thus
demanded of you?
Look at the example given by
our Lord himself in Luke 18:9-14.
(Luke 18:9-14) “And he spake
this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous,
and despised others: {10} Two men went up into the temple to pray; the
one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. {11} The Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are,
extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. {12} I
fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. {13} And
the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
{14} I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than
the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that
humbleth himself shall be exalted.”
If ever a man exemplified
what humility is, it was the publican in the temple. Clearly, three things are
involved in humbling yourself before God. If you would humble yourself before
the holy Lord God, if you would abase yourself before him...
1. You must acknowledge who the Lord God is in his
infinite, unapproachable, sovereign holiness. “The publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes
unto heaven, but smote upon his breast.” This man knew that he was unworthy
to approach the living, holy, Lord God. And he knew that the root of the
problem was his own wicked, depraved, deceitful heart. Do you realize that?
2. You must acknowledge and confess your utter
sinfulness. Oh,
God help you to cry out to him like this publican, “God, be merciful to me a (the) sinner!” You cannot be saved until
you take your place in the dust before God as a sinner. Take the ground he gives
you, and plead for mercy. If you can, if you will, you will obtain mercy (1
John 1:9).
3. You must see, acknowledge, and confess that the only
grounds upon which God can or will forgive your sin is the blood atonement, the
propitiatory sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ. The
word translated “merciful” is
actually propitious. The publican was
saying, God, look on the blood of your Son, the Mercy-seat, the blood of the
Lamb, and forgive me. If in your heart you thus humble yourself before God,
believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, his salvation is yours!
“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that
he may exalt you in due time.” ― Such humiliation is the way
to exaltation. As soon as you thus humble yourself, the “due time,” the appointed time of your exaltation has come. No
sooner does a sinner cry, “God, be
merciful to me a sinner,” than he is exalted to sit among the sons of God,
crying from his heart by the witness of the Spirit, “Abba, Father!”
(1 John 3:1) “Behold, what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
But this call to contrition is also addressed, indeed primarily addressed, to you and me as believers, as the sons and daughters of God.
Whenever the hand of God is heavy upon us in loving chastisement, we are to humble ourselves under his hand. At all times, let us humble ourselves under his hand, knowing that in the hollow of his hand we are perfectly safe and secure. When trials, temptations, and troubles come, couch down in his omnipotent hand, and be at peace.
“Quietly submit to his will;
patiently bear every affliction without murmuring, repining, or replying
against him; be still under the rod, and despise not the chastening of the
Lord; mourn over sin as the cause, acknowledge your vileness and unworthiness,
and stand in awe of his Majesty, considering yourselves as under the mighty hand of God.” (John Gill)
If we can, by the grace of
God obey this word from our God, we will have little problem with the next part
of our text.
Verse 7 ― “Casting all your care upon him.”
Now I see, whate’er betide,
All is well if Christ is
mine;
He has promised to provide;
May He teach me to resign.
When a sense of sin and
thrall
Forced me to the sinner’s
Friend,
He engaged to manage all,
By the way and to the end.
“Cast,” He said, “on Me thy
care;
‘Tis enough that I am nigh:
I will all thy burdens bear;
I will all thy needs
supply.”
Lord, I would indeed submit;
Gladly yield my all to Thee;
What Thy wisdom sees most
fit,
Must be surely best for me.
Only when the way is rough,
And the coward flesh would
start,
Let Thy promise and Thy love
Cheer and animate my heart.
Some time ago, a very dear friend and brother in the Lord, one who was going through some real struggles and trials (Some he knew were of his own making.), said to me – “Don, I’ve been singing that hymn to myself for weeks, ‘Take your burden to the Lord and leave it there.’ But no matter how I try, I just can’t leave it there. I wish I could, but I just can’t.”
Really, I do not know that
any of us can leave our burdens with the Lord. We should. If we believed
him as we ought, we could. But we simply do not believe him as we ought. Still,
I will tell you what you can do. As often as a burden presses upon your
heart, as often as a care arises in your soul to trouble you, you can cast it
upon the Lord.
Will you please notice
the tense of the word. It is not written in the past tense or in the
future tense, but in the present tense, “Casting
all your care upon him.” It appears from the very tense of the verb
that we are to be always casting all our care upon him.
I once read a very good
sermon on this text by Mr. Spurgeon. It was quite good. It was
profitable and edifying. But in the introduction to his message, he said,
“There are some cares which we must not cast upon God.” But Mr. Spurgeon was
mistaken. The Holy Spirit clearly says, “Casting
ALL your care upon him.”
Let me talk to you now for a
little while about our cares and the cure for care. Our Lord does not mean for
us to be slothful, negligent of duty, or careless in our responsibilities. But
he does mean for us to trust him with all the affairs of our lives (Matt.
6:25-34). Therefore, our text calls
for us to cast all our care upon him.
Do not think that I am being
careless with the Word of God when I tell you that there is no limit, no
boundary, no extremity, no line which you must not cross in “casting all your care upon him.” The
Lord God would have us to cast upon him, and to cast upon him constantly, all
our cares!
Cast
upon him all your spiritual care. ― Cast upon the Son of God the care of all your
sins: past, present, and future (1 John 1:7). ― Cast upon him the
care of your personal weaknesses (Phil. 1:6; Isa. 43:1-5).
― Cast upon him the care of your present temptations (1
Cor. 10:13). ― Cast upon him the care of your future dangers
(Rom. 8:35-39). ― Cast upon the Lord Jesus Christ, your Savior, the God
of glory, your heavenly Father, and the Spirit of sanctification, all the care
of your immortal soul for all eternity (2 Tim. 1:12).
“What
more can He say than to you He hath said,
You
who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?”
If we cast upon him, if we
truly cast upon him all our spiritual and eternal care, we ought not find it
difficult to cast upon him all our earthly, carnal care. Again, let me say no
more than I know to be true. But I must speak the truth. If I trust him with my corruptions, I ought to be able to
trust him with my children. If I
trust him with my transgressions, I ought to be able to trust him with
my troubles. If I trust the Lord with
my wickedness, I ought to be able to trust him with my welfare. If I trust him with my soul, I
ought to be able to trust him with my body. If I trust him for all things in eternity, I ought to be
able to trust him for all things in time. He bids us cast all our care upon
him.
·
The Care for Daily Bread
·
The Care of All Earthly Needs for Ourselves and Our Families
·
The Care of Our Businesses
·
The Care of Our Children
·
The Care of His Church and Kingdom
In all things, let us be
careful to do our duty, to do what we are responsible to do under God. But
having done what we are responsible to do before him, if we would live in
peace, we must cast our care upon him.
Now, I want us to look for
just a moment at the last line of our text. Here is a cause for confidence.
“For he careth for you.”
Oh, what a word of grace
this is! Children of God, we may confidently cast all our care upon the Lord
our God, “for he careth for you!” It
is good to know that he is strong, that his shoulders are broad, that he has
the ability to carry the load of my care. But all that would be meaningless
without these words, “he careth for you!”
(Zep 3:14-17) “Sing, O daughter
of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of
Jerusalem. {15} The LORD hath taken away thy judgments, he hath cast out
thine enemy: the king of Israel, even the LORD, is in the midst
of thee: thou shalt not see evil any more. {16} In that day it shall be
said to Jerusalem, Fear thou not: and to Zion, Let not thine hands be
slack. {17} The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he
will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he
will joy over thee with singing.”
(Rom 8:28-39) “And we know that all things work together for good to
them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
{29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed
to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
{30} Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he
called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
{31} What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can
be against us? {32} He that spared not his own Son, but delivered
him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
{33} Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God
that justifieth. {34} Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ
that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of
God, who also maketh intercession for us. {35} Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution,
or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? {36} As it is written, For
thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the
slaughter. {37} Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors
through him that loved us. {38} For I am persuaded, that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor
things to come, {39} Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord.”
“He careth for you!” ― Get hold of this if you can. It will
help you through your rough waters. This is what those words mean...
The
Lord God has a special love for you. This is the very heart and essence of all our
comfort (Heb. 13:5; Psalm 37:5; 55:22).
(Psa 37:5) “Commit thy way unto
the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.”
(Psa 55:22) “Cast thy burden
upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous
to be moved.”
(Heb 13:5) “Let your conversation
be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye
have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
The Lord Jesus says, to
every disciple, “I have prayed for thee,
that thy faith fail not.” When he comes to you across the troubled waters,
hear him speak, “It is I, be not afraid.”
“It is I”
In Mark 6, you will recall a time when
the Lord’s disciples were in the midst of a terrible storm, in the middle of a
dark, dark night. They were toiling hard with trouble, but everything appeared
to be contrary to them. In those circumstances, our all-glorious,
ever-gracious Savior came to his troubled friends, walking upon the sea that
caused them so much trouble. As he approached their little, storm
tossed boat, he said, “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.” Then,
“he went up unto them into the ship, and the wind ceased” (Mark
6:45-51).
This is written in the Book of God for
you and me, “that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might
have hope” (Rom. 15:4). I trust that the Lord will graciously step
into your storm-tossed lives and cause the winds that appear to be so contrary
to you today to be calm.
Remember, it was the Lord Jesus who
sent his friends into the storm, who sent them away from himself (Mark 6:45-46). He seems
to have done so specifically that he might come to them when they desperately
needed him, speak these words to them, and make himself known to them in a way
that was not otherwise possible. Surely, that is the case with you. Listen,
then, to the voice of your tender, omnipotent Savior in the midst of your
storm. ― “Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.”
· “It is I” who raised the
tempest in your soul, and will control it.
· “It is I” who sent your
affliction, and will be with you in it.
· “It is I” who kindled the
furnace, and will watch the flames, and bring you through it.
· “It is I” who formed your
burden, who carved your cross, and who will strengthen you to bear it.
· “It is I” who mixed your cup of
grief, and will enable you to drink it with meek submission to your Father's
will.
· “It is I” who took from you
your strength and health, your peace and tranquility.
· “It is I” who made the light
darkness about you and raised the contrary winds.
· “It is I” who have done all
these things, not against you but for you, not to hurt you but to do you good.
I make the clouds my chariot, and clothe
myself with the tempest as with a garment. The night hour is my time of coming
to you. The dark, surging waves and billows are the pavement upon which I walk.
Take courage!
· “It is I”. Don't be afraid.
· “It is I,” your Friend, your
Brother, your God, your Savior! I am causing all the circumstances of your life
to work together for your good.
· “It is I” who brought this
storm that assails you. Your affliction did not spring out of the ground, but
came down from above — a heaven sent blessing disguised as an angel of light
clad in a robe of darkness.
William Cowper’s
hymn describes God’s ways so well. We need often to be reminded that, as Cowper
put it…
“God
moves in a mysterious way
His
wonders to perform.
He
plants His footsteps in the sea,
And
rides upon the storm.”
Deep,
in unfathomable mines
Of
never failing skill,
He
treasures up His bright designs,
And
works His sovereign will.
Ye
fearful saints, fresh courage take,
The
clouds you so much dread
Are
big with mercy and will break
In
blessings on your head.
Judge
not the Lord by feeble sense,
But
trust Him for His grace.
Behind
the frowning providence
He
hides a smiling face.
His
purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding
every hour.
The
bud may have a bitter taste,
But
sweet will be the flower!”
I have sent all in love! ― “This sickness is not
unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified
thereby.” ― “Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe,
thou shouldest see the glory of God?” (John 11:4, 40) This trail will not
be forever. It will not always cast you down.
· “It is I” who ordered,
arranged, and control it.
In every stormy wind, in every dark
night, in every lonely hour, in every rising fear, may God the Holy Spirit give
you grace to hear your Savior’s voice, saying to you, “Be of good cheer: it
is I; be not afraid.”
(John 13:36-38) “Simon Peter
said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou
canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards. {37} Peter
said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for
thy sake. {38} Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my
sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast
denied me thrice.”
(John 14:1-3) “Let not your
heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. {2} In my
Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have
told you. I go to prepare a place for you. {3} And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am,
there ye may be also.”
(Psa 23) “The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not want. {2} He maketh me to lie down in green
pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. {3} He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. {4} 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. {5} Thou
preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my
head with oil; my cup runneth over. {6} Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever.”
The
affairs of this world are under the dispensation of God’s special providence. God’s
universal, general providence is directed by his special love for his own and
his special designs of love for his elect. “He
careth for you!” He is the Savior of all men in providence, but he is
especially the Savior of those that believe.
·
Romans 8:28
·
1 Corinthians 3:21
Application: “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.”
(Prov 3:5-6) “Trust in the LORD
with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. {6} In
all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Humble yourselves before the
Lord,
Bow to His sovereign will.
Children of God, the way to
peace
Is bowing to His will.
Casting all your care upon
Him,
You’ll find Him strong and
true,
That now is crushing you.
Hear this inducement from
the Lord,
Especially for you.
To help you cast your care
on Him,
He says, “He cares for you!”
“He cares for you!” “He cares for you!”
Your Father cares for you!
“He cares for you!” “He cares for you!”
Amen.