Watch Out for the Little Foxes (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Sermon: Watch out for the Little Foxes

Scripture: Song of Solomon 2:15

Date: January 20, 2019

 

Catch us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes.  (Song of Solomon 2:15)

Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.  Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."  Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.  (1 Peter 5:5-9)

Let's look at 1 Peter 5 and talk about how to handle things that can ruin your day:

1. Care
   • God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.  (1 Peter 5:5b)
   • Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)
   • We often give power to things to ruin our day that should never have that power.
   • Think how absurd it is to expect other people to act a certain way so that I can be happy.
   • "Astronomers have yet to find a star sufficiently similar to the sun that it could be a candidate to host advanced life on a hypothetical planet in orbit around it."  -Hugh Ross
   • To date, astronomers have discovered more than 100 just-right features of the Milky Way Galaxy that make it suitable for our existence.
   • Instead of fighting what life has given you, try appreciating it.
2. Cast
   • Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom?  It's way over our heads.  We'll never figure it out.  Is there anyone around who can explain God?  Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do?  Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? (Romans 11:33-34, The Message)
   • Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.  (1 Peter 5:6)
   • Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)
   • We can cast or carry.
   • Instead of stuffing these things down, try casting them on Jesus.
   • Do I care more about God's glory than I do about today going my way?
   • "I am always doing something new in your life.  So try to keep an open mind when you encounter things you have not seen before - or even imagined."  -Jesus Calling
3. Compassion
   • Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.  (1 Peter 5:7)
   • But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.  (Matthew 9:36)
   • He pursued Rahab with a scarlet cord even after she had been a prostitute.
   • He pursued Gideon with an angel even after he had been terrified.
   • He pursued David with a prophet from God even after he committed adultery and murder.
   • He pursued Jonah with a fish even after he disobeyed the word of the Lord.
   • He pursued Lazarus with resurrection power even after he had been in the tomb for four days.
   • He pursued Peter with a beach breakfast even after he had denied him three times.
   • He pursued Thomas with nail-scarred hands even after he had doubted him.
   • He pursued Paul with a blinding light from heaven even after he had killed Jesus' followers.
   • And he pursued Judas by washing his feet even as his love was being betrayed.

 

Here I am
All my intentions
All my obsessions
I want to lay them all down

In Your hands
Only Your love is vital
Though I'm not entitled
Still You call me Your child

God You don't need me
But somehow You want me
Oh, how You love me
Somehow that frees me
To take my hands off of my life
And the way it should go