Casting All Your Care Upon Him
The sermon emphasizes the importance of leaving things God will not tolerate, trusting in God's sovereignty, and prioritizing what is essential in life.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of casting our cares upon God, illustrating how Nehemiah chose to ignore distractions and focus on what truly mattered. He points out that many of our burdens are self-imposed, stemming from worries about things that may never happen. By simplifying our lives and trusting in God's plan, we can find peace and rest, much like a bird resting in its nest. The sermon encourages believers to let go of unnecessary concerns and to trust that God is working for their good.
Text
There are some things that God will not tolerate in us. We must leave them. Nehemiah would not talk with Sanballat about his charges and fears. He simply refused to have anything to do with the matter-even to take refuge in the temple to pray about it. How very few things we really have to do with in life. If we would only drop all the needless things and simply do the things that absolutely require our attention from morning till night, we would find what a small slender thread life is.
But we string upon it a thousand imaginary beads and burden ourselves with cares and flurries that-if we had trusted more-would never have needed to preoccupy us.
Wise indeed was the testimony of the dear old saint who said, in review of her past life, "I have had a great many troubles in my life, especially those that never came." Trust and rest with heart abiding, Like a birdling in its nest, Underneath His feathers hiding, Fold thy wings and trust and rest. Trust and rest, trust and rest, God is working for the best.
Sermon Outline
- Leaving Things God Will Not Tolerate
- The Example of Nehemiah
- The Consequences of Unnecessary Cares
- The Call to Trust and Rest
- The weight of imaginary burdens
- The importance of trusting God
- Trust and rest with an abiding heart
- God's sovereignty in all things
Key Quotes
“I have had a great many troubles in my life, especially those that never came.” — A.B. Simpson
“Trust and rest with heart abiding, Like a birdling in its nest, Underneath His feathers hiding, Fold thy wings and trust and rest.” — A.B. Simpson
“God is working for the best.” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- I will seek to identify and leave behind things that are not pleasing to God.
- I will prioritize what is essential in my life and avoid unnecessary distractions.
- I will trust God more by praying, reading scripture, and seeking to understand His sovereignty in all things.