Transcription
Now, I want you to open your Bibles tonight to 1 Peter 5 and verse 7. The word of God says, and I want you to listen to this, not as if a man said it, but as if Almighty God himself were speaking right into your heart, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.
Say that out loud with me. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. Now, say it again. And this time put the emphasis right where it belongs. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. Hallelujah.
You see, the word didn't say cast some of your cares. It didn't say cast the big ones and carry the small ones. It didn't say cast your cares when you feel spiritual. No, it said casting all your care upon him. All means all. Every burden, every pressure, every anxiety, every sleepless night, every unpaid bill, every prodigal child, every aching body. He said, "Cast it all."
Now, somebody says, "Brother Hagen, you just don't know what I'm going through." Well, no, I don't, but God does. And he didn't tell you to carry it. He told you to cast it. Glory to God.
You see, the problem with most folks is not that they don't love the Lord. Oh, they love him, but they just haven't learned how to roll it over on him. They're trying to carry what only Jesus can carry. They've got one hand lifted in praise and the other hand clutching their worries like a bag of groceries they're afraid to drop.
The Bible didn't say, "Worry about nothing except your finances." It didn't say, "Be anxious for nothing except your children." It said, "Be careful for nothing." Philippians 4:6. One translation says, "Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything." That's a command, not a suggestion.
Now, I remember years ago when I first began to practice this, I said, "Lord, you said to cast my care upon you." "Well, I'm going to do it. I'm not going to worry anymore." The devil whispered, "You can't do that. Everybody worries." And I said, "Mr. Devil, you're a liar. The word of God says I can and I will." And I just laughed at him. I said, "Devil, I've turned it over to God and I'm going to sleep." And I did. Hallelujah.
Worry will wear you out. Faith will rest you up. Worry is faith in the devil's promise. Faith is trust in God's word. Worry says, "What if?" Faith says, "God said it." That settles it.
Let me tell you something. And the devil doesn't care what you believe silently. He only fears what you say boldly. That's why Jesus said in Mark 11:23, "Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, faith must be spoken to be released, worry must be silenced to be defeated."
Now, the Amplified Bible says it this way. Listen carefully. Casting the whole of your care, all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns once and for all on him. For he cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Aren't you glad God doesn't sleep? He watches over you when you can't even keep your eyes open. Glory to God.
Turn to your neighbor and say, "God's watching over me." Say it again. God's watching over me affectionately, watchfully, lovingly.
You see, friends, we're not talking about a distant deity. We're talking about a father who cares. Jesus said in Matthew 6:26, "Behold the fowls of the air. They sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feedeth them." Now, if God feeds the birds, don't you think he can feed you? Amen. He said, "Are ye not much better than they?" Well, praise God. I'm better than a bird, aren't you? But some believers act like the Lord cares more about sparrows than saints. No. No.
Jesus said, "Even the very hairs of your head are all numbered." He's a personal God. He's not only the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He's the God of you, the God of your Tuesday morning, the God of your sleepless nights, the God of your doctor's report.
So then if the word says, "Cast your care," and you keep carrying it, you're out of line with the word. You're trying to do God's job. He said, "Cast it, not share it." He said, "Roll it, not drag it." When you cast something, you throw it so far you can't grab it back. The Greek word there means to hurl violently. Glory to God. That means throw it with force. Throw that fear, that anxiety, that debt, that pain, hurl it on to him with the force of your faith. Why? Because he can handle it. And you can't.
I've told folks for years, if you're going to worry, don't pray. And if you're going to pray, don't worry. You can't do both at the same time. One cancels the other. Prayer releases the burden. Worry takes it back.
You remember what Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest." He didn't say it give you a nervous breakdown. He said rest. Glory to God. He said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
You see, your soul, that's your mind, your emotions, your will, that's the part of you that gets weary. But Jesus said, "Come." And when you come, leave the baggage with him. So tonight, I'm here to tell you, worry doesn't work, but faith does. Fear doesn't win, but the word does. Anxiety doesn't heal, but confession does.
Let's make a declaration together. I cast all my care upon the Lord. I refuse to worry. I refuse to fear. I refuse to carry what he already bore. The Lord cares for me affectionately and watchfully. Therefore, I live worry-free today. Hallelujah. Glory to God.
And that's where we begin tonight, friends. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. Not tomorrow, not next week. Today. Now, when you learn to do that, when you learn to roll every burden over on him, you'll find out why worry doesn't work and how confession gets you free.
Now, the word says, "Be careful for nothing." That's a little blind to us in the King James, isn't it? It means don't fret or have any anxiety about anything. Well, that wipes a lot of people out right there. You see, some folks have raised worrying to a fine art. They think if they're not worrying, they're not being responsible. But worry is not responsibility. Worry is unbelief in disguise. Worry is faith turned inside out. Worry is meditating on the devil's lies instead of God's truth.
Paul didn't say worry about some things. He said in everything. How many things? All things. That means when the bills are due, when the body hurts, when the children are away from God, when the future looks foggy, don't fret about anything, but pray about everything.
Now, notice the order. He said, "Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer." That means before you pray, you got to make up your mind not to worry. You can't mix prayer and panic in the same pot. One cancels the other. I've had people say, "Brother Hagen, I prayed and prayed, but nothing happened." And I said, "Did you worry after you prayed?" Well, of course, Brother Hagen, I'm only human. I said, "That's your problem. You're only human when God told you to be spiritual. You're acting on feelings instead of faith."
Listen, you can't pray in faith and worry and fear. You can't say, "Lord, I trust you." And then lie awake all night trying to figure out how he's going to do it. That's not faith. That's frustration. Faith rests, worry wrestles.
Jesus said in Matthew 6:27, "Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?" In other words, worry never built a house. Worry never healed a body. Worry never paid a bill. Worry never brought a child home. Worry doesn't work. Worry is like rocking in a chair. There's a lot of motion, but no progress. You rock and you rock, but when you're done, you're still in the same place. That's what the devil wants to keep you busy but unproductive.
Now look again at Philippians 4:6. Paul said, "Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving." You see, most people pray, but they forget the thanksgiving. They say, "Oh God, help me." But they never say, "Thank you, Lord. You heard me." They leave the place of prayer the same way they came, heavy and defeated. But Paul said, "Let your requests be made known with thanksgiving." Thanksgiving is faith's confession. When you thank God before the answer shows up, you've already stepped into victory.
Now verse 7 says, "And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds." Oh, I like that word keep. It means guard. The peace of God will stand at the door of your mind like a heavenly sentry and say to every anxious thought, "You can't come in here." When you pray right, peace comes. When peace comes, faith works. When faith works, worry dies. Glory to God. That's why worry doesn't work. It shuts the door on peace and opens the door to fear.
I remember a man came to me once years ago. He said, "Brother Hagen, I'm about to lose my business. I'm sick with ulcers. My wife's nervous. I can't sleep. I don't know what to do." I said, "Well, brother, have you cast it over on the Lord?" He said, "I'm trying to, Brother Hagen." I said, "Uh, you don't try to, you do it. You don't try to drop a hot pan. You just drop it." Amen. You don't try to cast your care. You throw it with all your might. That's what Paul meant. Be careful for nothing. That means you've made up your mind. I'm through with worry. I'm done with fear. I'm walking by faith. And then you act like it.
Worry talks defeat. Faith talks victory. Worry says, "I just don't know what's going to happen." Faith says, "My God shall supply all my need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19. Worry says, "I feel so weak." Faith says, "The Lord is the strength of my life." Psalm 27:1. Worry says, "Everything's falling apart." Faith says, "All things work together for good to them that love God." Romans 8:28.
You see, the devil listens to what you say. He can't read your mind, but he can hear your words. So when you speak fear, you give him permission to act. But when you speak faith, you put him out of business. That's why Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." You can worry yourself into sickness or you can confess yourself into healing. You can talk yourself into depression or you can talk yourself into joy. It all depends on which way you let your tongue turn.
Now, somebody said, "Brother Hagen, I just can't help worrying." Yes, you can. If the Bible said don't do it, then you can help it. God's not unjust. He'd never tell you to do something you can't do. If he said don't worry, then there's power available not to worry. Glory to God.
And notice again, Paul didn't stop with "be careful for nothing." He told us what to do instead. "But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God." That means you turn every care into a prayer and every prayer into praise. You turn every burden into an opportunity to thank him for his faithfulness. When you do that, the peace of God, not man's peace, not circumstantial peace, not "everything's perfect" peace, but the peace of God will guard your heart and mind. And when peace guards your mind, worry has no key to get in.
I remember when I first began to learn that lesson. I was pastoring down in Texas and things got mighty tight. We were building a church, adding to another, buying land, and paying off a loan all at once. One day a fellow preacher said to me, "Oh, Brother Hagen, I know you're under such a heavy load." I said, "No, sir, not a bit." He said, "What do you mean? Not a bit." I said, "The Lord's carrying it. I'm not under the load. I'm under grace." When you quit. And I just laughed and laughed until that man started laughing, too. Friend, if you can't laugh at the devil, you'll cry with him. Amen.
So tonight, I want you to know, worry doesn't work, but faith does. Fear doesn't pay, but trust does. Anxiety doesn't move God. Confession does. Say this with me. Worry doesn't work. I will not fret. I will not fear. I turn every care into prayer and every prayer into praise. The peace of God guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah.
And that, dear friends, is why worry doesn't work. But praise God, faith always does. Now Jesus said, "Take no thought for your life." That means don't let anxious thought take you captive. Notice he didn't say you'll never have a thought. No, thoughts come, but you don't have to take them. You can reject them. You can refuse them. Glory to God.
How do you take a thought? Jesus told us in verse 31, "Therefore, take no thought, saying, you take a thought when you speak it. You receive the worry when you give it a voice." You say, "What if I lose my job? What if I never get well? What if this doesn't change?" And the moment you say it, you have just taken that thought and made it yours. But thank God, you can take a different thought. You can take the word and say, "My God shall supply all my need." You can say, "Himself took my infirmities and bare my sicknesses." You can say, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want."
You see, the root of worry is a failure to trust what God said. Worry is really calling God a liar. Oh, I know folks don't mean to, but that's what they're doing. When God says, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee," and you say, "I just feel so alone," you've chosen your feeling over his word. When God says, "I'll supply all your need," and you say, "I don't know what I'm going to do." You've chosen sight over faith. Worry is believing what the devil says about tomorrow instead of what God has promised today.
Faith takes God at his word. Worry questions it. Faith says God said it. That settles it. Worry says yes, but. Did you ever notice the devil loves that little word, "but"? God heals, but... God provides, but... that little "but" is the hinge that swings the door back open to fear. The moment you begin to say "yes, but" you've left the arena of faith and stepped into the arena of reason. And in the arena of reason, the devil wins every time. But in the arena of faith, you win every time.
Now Jesus said in verse 30, "Oh ye of little faith," worry always shrinks your faith. Worry is watered doubt. You keep pouring your words on it and it grows into fear. But faith grows the same way by hearing and speaking the word of God. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God." You can feed your worry or you can feed your faith. Whichever one you feed will grow.
Now listen, the Amplified Bible says, "Stop being perpetually uneasy." Isn't that good? Stop it. That means you can. You can't stop something that's stronger than you. But thank God through Christ, you have the authority to stop it. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you." He didn't say, "I'll lend it if you behave." He said, "I give it." Peace is yours. But you have to choose it every day by choosing his word over your worry.
Now, years ago, I met a woman in one of my meetings. She said, "Brother Hagen, I just can't quit worrying." I said, "Sister, if the Bible said cast your cares, then you can." She said, "I know it says that, but you don't understand what I've got to worry about." I said, "No, I don't, but God does, and he still said cast it." Then she said, "Brother Hagen, I prayed that God would give me grace to carry my worries." I said, "That's unscriptural. He never told you to carry them. He told you to roll them off on him." You see, she didn't have a worry problem. She had a word problem. Friend, you'll never conquer worry by wrestling with feelings. You conquer worry by resting on the word.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee." Perfect peace. Not half peace. Not "some days I'm calm, some days I'm crazy," but perfect peace. How do you keep your mind stayed on him? You keep it stayed on what he said. When fear comes knocking, answer the door with scripture. When the devil says you're not going to make it, you say, "It is written, greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." When he says you'll die young, say, "With long life he will satisfy me." When he says you'll lose everything, say, "I was young, now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken."
You see, when you talk the word, you starve worry to death. Worry lives on "What if?" Faith lives on "It is written." I remember the Lord said to me once deep in my heart, "Son, the moment you begin to worry, you're saying I'm not big enough to handle it." I said, "Forgive me, Lord. You're more than enough." And I found out you can't say "more than enough" and "I don't know what to do" in the same breath. One of them has to die. I chose faith, and worry died that day.
The root of worry is mistrust in the word. But the cure for worry is meditation on the word. That's why Joshua 1:8 says, "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night. For then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." If you will think the word, speak the word, and act on the word, worry can't live in you.
Say this with me. I take no thought, saying I take God's word believing. I refuse to worry. I refuse to fear. My trust is in the Lord and his word never fails. Glory to God forevermore.
So then the root of worry is mistrust in the word. But the fruit of faith is peace in the heart. If you'll trust his word above your circumstance, the root of worry will dry up and the flower of peace will bloom again in your life. Hallelujah. Glory to God.
Let's turn now to Mark 11 and verse 23. Jesus said, not Kenneth Hagen, not Paul, not Peter, but Jesus said, "For verily I say unto you, that whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith."
Now listen to me carefully. Jesus said you can have what you say, not what you wish, not what you hope, not what you cry about, not what you think about, but what you say. That's God's way of freedom. God's way is not by worry, but by words, not by panic, but by proclamation, not by fear, but by faith that speaks.
You see, God himself operates this way. Hebrews 11:3 says, "Through faith, we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God." When God wanted light, he didn't sit on his throne and say, "Oh, it's dark down there. So dark, so dark, I wish it wasn't dark." No, he said, "Light be." And light was. You'll never see a change in your life until you start saying what God said instead of what you feel. The Bible says we are made in his image. If he creates by speaking, so must we.
Now notice in Mark 11:23, Jesus used the word "say" three times and "believe" only once. That means you got to do three times as much saying as believing. Faith must be expressed. Faith must be voiced. Faith must be spoken.
I remember years ago after I was raised up from that deathbed. You know my story. Two incurable diseases, heart and blood. The doctor said I wouldn't live to be 16. But thank God I got into the word. I read Mark 11:23 and 24 till it got down inside of me. And the Lord said to me, "You believe as far as you know, but you don't have the results because you're not saying it." I said, "Lord, I believe I'm healed." He said, "Yes, but you haven't said you're healed." So, I said it right there in that bed. I said out loud, "I believe I receive my healing now." And when I said it, something happened. Power came into my body. Faith rose in my heart. I turned my legs over the side of that bed, stood up for the first time in 16 months, and walked. Hallelujah. That's what I'm talking about. God's way of freedom is speaking the word.
Now listen, worry is voice activated too. The same law that brings faith results will bring fear results if you speak the wrong thing. Job said, "The thing which I greatly feared has come upon me." Why? Because he kept saying it. But the believer says, "The thing which I greatly believed has come upon me." Hallelujah.
You see, words are seeds. Every time you open your mouth, you're planting something. Life or death, blessing or curse, worry or victory. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." The tongue is the steering wheel of your life. If your tongue points toward fear, you'll end up in trouble. If your tongue points toward faith, you'll end up in triumph.
Now, somebody says, "Brother Hagen, that sounds like mind over matter." No. No. It's word over worry. It's spirit over circumstance. It's faith over feeling. God doesn't respond to need. He responds to faith. And faith always speaks what the word says. Romans 10:8 says, "The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth and in thy heart." That is the word of faith which we preach. The word in your heart brings faith. The word in your mouth brings results. It's got to be in two places, heart and mouth. You can have a Bible full of promises sitting on your nightstand, but if it never gets in your heart and on your lips, it won't change a thing. You must speak the word.
That's why David said in Psalm 107:2, "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so." Say it. Don't think it. Don't whisper it. Say it. Say, "I'm redeemed." Say, "I'm healed." Say, "I'm free." Say, "The Lord is my provider." And when you say it long enough, your spirit will begin to believe it. And when your spirit believes it, it'll change everything around you.
Now, let me tell you something. Faith doesn't deny the problem. Faith declares the answer. Faith doesn't say there's no mountain. Faith says, "Mountain, be removed." Faith doesn't say I'm not sick. Faith says, "By his stripes I'm healed." Faith doesn't say there's no trouble. Faith says, "Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all." Glory to God.
You remember Jesus in Matthew 4 when the devil came to tempt him. Every time the devil said something, Jesus didn't argue. He said, "It is written." He didn't say, "I think or I feel." He said, "It is written." He spoke the word and the devil left him. And that's exactly how you and I are to live. By the spoken word.
When worry whispers, "You're not going to make it," say, "It is written, 'The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want.'" When fear says, "You're going to die early," say, "It is written. With long life will he satisfy me." When discouragement says it's over, say, "It is written. He always causes me to triumph in Christ."
You see, God's way of freedom is not silent endurance. It's vocal victory. Faith must have a voice. Say it out loud right now. My faith has a voice. I speak the word of God. My mountain hears me. My body hears me. My finances hear me. My future hears me. I say what God says and I have what I say. Hallelujah.
Now, you can worry yourself bound or you can speak yourself free. You can confess fear until it becomes your reality or you can confess faith until victory becomes your experience. Choose today to use your mouth as an instrument of liberty, not bondage. God's way of freedom is speaking the word. And the moment you start saying what he says, your mountain starts moving, your storm starts calming, and your victory starts manifesting. Glory to God forevermore. Hallelujah.
Now let's go back to Philippians 4:7. It says, "And the peace of God which passes all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Notice that the peace of God, not the peace of the world, not the peace that depends on quiet circumstances, not the peace that waits for the bills to be paid or for the doctor to change his report. No. No, it's the peace of God. And this peace, the Bible says, passeth all understanding. You can't figure it out. You can't analyze it. You can't explain it. But bless God, you can have it.
You see, when faith takes hold, peace takes over. When you've cast the care, the peace comes in to guard the heart. When you've rolled the burden off, the rest of faith fills the soul. Faith and peace go hand in hand. When one comes, the other stays.
Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee." Now notice the connection: "because he trusteth in thee." That means peace is the fruit of trust. New trust, new peace; much trust, much peace; perfect trust, perfect peace.
You see, worry always tries to talk you out of rest. Worry says, "What are you going to do now?" Faith says, "Nothing. I've already turned it over to God." Worry says, "How you going to pay for that?" Faith says, "That's not my problem. That's His." Worry says, "What if it doesn't work?" Faith says, "It already worked when He said it." Oh, glory to God.
You see, the peace of God isn't the absence of trouble. It's the presence of the word. It's not the quiet of circumstance. It's the calm of confidence. Peace isn't what happens when nothing's wrong. Peace is what rules when everything's shaken and you're still steady.
Hebrews 4:3 says, "For we which have believed do enter into rest." Did you hear that? You don't enter rest by wishing. You don't enter rest by hoping. You enter rest by believing. When you truly believe that God is faithful, you stop striving and start resting. Now, the rest of faith isn't laziness. It's confidence. It's not folding your hands in idleness. It's lifting your hands in praise. It's saying, "Lord, I've prayed. I've believed. I've confessed. And now I rest. The work is yours."
Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto you. Not as the world giveth, give I unto you." The world gives peace through pills, possessions, and positions. But Jesus gives peace through promise. He said, "Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." Now, if Jesus said, "Let not," then that means you can "let not." You have the authority to refuse fear and embrace peace.
When that worry tries to creep back on you, and it will try, you just lift your hand and say, "No, you don't. I've rolled that over on the Lord. That's not my care anymore. I'm walking in the peace that passes understanding." You see, peace is not passive. Peace is powerful. Peace is not weakness. Peace is victory in slow motion.
Now, I remember years ago when we were in the middle of building projects at Rama, the money was tight, the schedule was tight, and the devil whispered, "You're not going to make it this time." I just sat back in my chair and said out loud, "Ha ha ha, Mr. Devil, I'm not going to worry. I'm not going to fret. I've already prayed. I've already believed and I've already cast the care. If it fails, it's not my failure. It's God's. And he's never failed yet." End quote. And do you know that peace came rolling through my heart like a river? I just leaned back and went to sleep. And the next morning, the money showed up. Hallelujah. You see, worry would have kept me up all night. Peace gave me rest. Worry would have made me weak. Peace made me strong. Worry would have stolen my confession. Peace anchored it deeper.
Some people think the peace of God means nothing's wrong. No. The peace of God means everything's right between you and Him, no matter what's happening around you. Paul said in Colossians 3:15, "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts." That word "rule" means to act as an umpire. An umpire decides what's in and what's out. So when a thought comes that disturbs your peace, that's out. When a word comes that strengthens your faith, that's in. Peace is the divine referee of your heart.
The peace of God is not a feeling, it's a knowing. It's that quiet assurance that whispers, "It's done." When your head screams, "It's impossible." Peace says, "It's already finished." That's why Hebrews 4:10 says, "He that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." When you rest in faith, you stop trying to make it happen and start trusting that He already has.
Say it out loud with me. The peace of God rules in my heart. My mind is stayed on him. I refuse to be troubled. I refuse to be afraid. I enter the rest of faith today. I live in the peace that passes understanding. Glory to God.
That peace, that divine supernatural calm, is what keeps you standing when others fall apart. It's what lets you smile when everything looks impossible. It's what makes the devil mad because he can't figure out how you can be so calm while God is working everything out. Peace that passes understanding. That's not the peace that the mind gives. That's the peace that confuses the mind. The mind says you ought to be worried. Faith says, "No, thank you. I'm resting in the Lord." And when you live that way, you'll find out what it means to say, "The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul." Glory to God. That's the rest of faith.
So tonight, I want you to know you don't have to live in turmoil. You can live in tranquility. You don't have to live under pressure. You can live in peace. You don't have to live in worry. You can live in rest. Because when faith takes hold, peace takes over. And you'll find that the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your heart and mind through Christ Jesus. Hallelujah.
Now turn with me to Ephesians chapter 6 verse 13. "Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all to stand." Did you notice that last phrase? "Having done all to stand." That means when you've prayed all you can pray. When you've confessed all you can confess. When you've done all you know to do. Stand. You see, faith was never meant to work only on calm days. Faith shines brightest in a storm. Anybody can shout when the sun is shining, but it takes faith to sing when the thunder's rolling. It's easy to say hallelujah when the bills are paid, but faith says hallelujah anyhow when the mailbox is empty.
The Bible didn't say the just shall live by comfort. It said the just shall live by faith. Romans 1:17. Faith doesn't break under pressure. Faith grows stronger through it. Pressure is proof that your faith is working. James 1:2 says, "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." The trying of your faith, that's what the devil's after. Not your money, not your house, not even your health. He's after your faith. Because if he can shake your faith, he can stop your victory. But oh, thank God. We've got a faith that doesn't bend and doesn't bow. It's the faith that overcomes the world. 1 John 5:4.
Now, I remember years ago when we were in one of the toughest spots in ministry we'd ever faced. Money was short, deadlines were near, and the devil said, "This time you're going under." I said, "Mr. Devil, I'm not going under. I'm going over." And I stood my ground on the word. You know, sometimes standing isn't easy. You've got to stand when the wind's blowing. When your knees are shaking, when everything in you screams, "Quit!" But I tell you, child of God, when you've got the word in your heart and on your lips, you can stand in the middle of the storm and smile. Why? Because the word hasn't changed. Circumstances change, feelings change, people change, but the word never changes.
Jesus said in Luke 6:47-48, "Whosoever cometh to me and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will show you to whom he is like. He is like a man which built a house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock." Notice "when the flood arose." Not "if the flood arose." Storms will come. Trouble will blow. But when your life is built on the word, the storm can't sink you.
Now, the devil will try to pressure you into letting go of your confession. He'll say, "You've been standing too long." You just answer him, "Devil, I'll stand as long as it takes. And when you've done all, stand some more." Faith doesn't have an expiration date. You see, faith under pressure is like gold in the fire. The heat doesn't destroy it. It purifies it. 1 Peter 1:7 says that "the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ." Glory to God. Your faith is precious. So when the fire gets hot, just shout, "Glory! I must be worth something. The devil's trying to test me."
The secret to standing under pressure is knowing you've already won. You're not fighting for victory. You're standing in victory. Jesus already defeated the devil 2,000 years ago. You're not trying to overcome. You're enforcing what's already been done. Ephesians 6:16 says, "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." Not some of the fiery darts, all of them. That means when worry comes, lift your shield. When fear comes, lift your shield. When lack comes, lift your shield. How? By speaking the word.
Faith under pressure doesn't talk the problem. It talks the promise. Faith under pressure doesn't run from the storm. It rides through it singing. Faith under pressure doesn't ask, "Why, Lord?" It declares, "Thank you, Lord. The answer's on the way." You see, the devil wants you to back off, to get quiet, to let your confession die. But the Bible says in Hebrews 10:23, "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised." Hold fast. Don't drop your confession. Your mouth is the handle on your miracle. Don't let it slip.
Sometimes you have to stand when friends misunderstand you. Sometimes you have to stand when your body screams otherwise. Sometimes you have to stand when the money doesn't line up, when the report looks worse, when the prayer seems unanswered. But if you'll stand on the word, the word will stand with you. Glory to God. I've stood in the face of sickness. I've stood in the face of lack. I've stood in the face of opposition. And every time the word came through because the word never fails.
So what do you do when the storm blows? You do what Jesus did. You stand up in the boat, look that storm right in the face, and say, "Peace, be still." And that storm will have to obey the faith in your voice. Say this out loud with me. I'm standing on the word. I refuse to quit. I refuse to fear. I refuse to turn back. My faith is working. The storm may blow, but I'm not moving. The word of God abides forever. Hallelujah. Yes. Faith under pressure still stands. Faith under pressure still shouts. Faith under pressure still wins.
You may be in the middle of the fiercest battle of your life right now. But I've got good news. You're not alone in the fight. God is with you. His angels are encamped around you. His Spirit lives inside you. And His word will bring you out on top. So don't quit. Don't bend. Don't break. Just stand. And after you've done all, stand some more. Because when you stand on the word, child of God, you're standing on solid rock. And every storm that rises against you will pass, but that word will still be standing when the clouds clear. Glory to God forevermore.
Let's open again to 1 Peter 5:7, our key verse. "Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you." Say that with me again. Casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you.
Now, we've talked about what it means to cast your cares. We've talked about why worry doesn't work, how faith speaks, how peace rules, and how to stand when the storm blows. But dear friends, this faith life, this carefree life isn't just something you practice in a crisis. It's a daily way of living. You see, some folks only cast their cares when everything's about to collapse. They wait until the load is too heavy to bear. Then they cry, "Oh, God, help me." But God's word doesn't say, "When you're drowning, cast your care." It says, "Cast all your care." That means every day. Faith is not an emergency system. Faith is a lifestyle. Walking in peace is not an event. It's a habit. Living carefree is not ignoring problems. It's trusting a faithful God day by day, step by step, moment by moment.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Notice, it didn't say "some of your ways," it said "all." That means when you wake up in the morning, you start with faith. When you face a decision, you stay in faith. When the devil whispers fear, you answer with faith. That's how you live carefree.
Now, let me tell you something. You don't wait for feelings to tell you you're free. You declare it. Faith doesn't ask, "Do I feel peaceful?" Faith says, "The peace of God rules in me." Faith doesn't ask, "Do I look victorious?" Faith says, "I'm more than a conqueror through him who loved me." That's what I call the daily practice of confession. Confession isn't begging. Confession is declaring what God already said about you. When you confess His word, you're agreeing with heaven. And when you agree with heaven, heaven moves on your behalf. Amos 3:3 says, "Can two walk together except they be agreed?" You can't walk with God and talk fear. You can't walk with peace and talk panic. If you want to walk with God, you've got to agree with His word.
That's why I start every day with confession. Before I face the world, I face the word. Before I talk to people, I talk to God. Before I think about the problem, I declare the promise. Now, I want to teach you how to live this way. It's simple, but it takes consistency.
Start every morning with the word. Get the scripture into your spirit before the devil gets into your mind. Say, "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24. Notice "I will." That's an act of your will. You decide your atmosphere before the world decides it for you.
Refuse every anxious thought immediately. Don't wait for worry to grow roots. The moment it knocks, answer with the word. Say, "No, I cast that care on the Lord. He cares for me." If worry tries to come again in 10 minutes, say it again. If it comes 10 times a day, say it 10 times a day. You keep casting until it sticks. And it will guard your mouth. Proverbs 21:23 says, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Don't undo your prayers with your confessions. Don't pray faith on Sunday and speak fear on Monday. Don't say, "I believe God will provide," and then call three friends to tell them you don't know how you'll make it. Keep your tongue lined up with your faith and your life will line up with your words.
Uh, keep thanksgiving flowing. Philippians 4:6 says, "With thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Thanksgiving is the voice of rest. Worry complains. Faith gives thanks. When you thank God in advance, you prove that you believe the answer's already on the way. Oo, walk in love. You can't live carefree if you're carrying grudges. Galatians 5:6 says, "Faith worketh by love." Bitterness short-circuits the power of faith. So if you've got something against somebody, forgive them and get free. Love never fails and love never worries.
Rest every night in His peace. Psalm 4:8 says, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." That means when your head hits the pillow, your heart should be at peace. You say, "Lord, I've rolled it all on you. I'm going to sleep in faith and wake up in victory." That's how you live carefree. You start with the word, you stay with the word, and you end the day resting in the word.
Now, somebody says, "Brother Hagen, you make it sound easy." Well, it isn't easy to the flesh, but it's simple to faith. The word works if you'll work the word. I've lived this way for decades through storms, sickness, lack, attacks, and every single time God's word has proven true. I've learned that living carefree isn't pretending problems don't exist. It's knowing they can't dominate you because you're resting in the One who reigns over them.
You see, Jesus said in John 16:33, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Now, if He overcame it, you don't have to be overcome by it. Say this with me, not as a wish, but as a decree. I live free from care. I live full of peace. I live by faith. I cast my cares once and for all. I walk in love. I speak the word. And I rest in His faithfulness. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Hallelujah.
Yes, friends. That's the way to live. Carefree, worry-free, anxiety-free, burden-free, full of faith, and full of joy. Because when you live this way, no devil can shake you. No fear can bind you and no storm can stop you. You'll wake up each morning saying, "This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice." You'll go to bed each night saying, "The Lord is faithful. I rest in His care." And all through the day, you'll be living in what Jesus called the abundant life. Peace that passes understanding, joy unspeakable, and faith that overcomes the world. Glory to God. That's the carefree life of faith. Hallelujah. Amen.
Now, before we close, I want you to open your heart to the Lord for just a few more moments. We've heard the word tonight. We've talked about casting all your care upon Him, about why worry doesn't work, about speaking the word, about peace that passes understanding, about standing when the storm blows, and about living carefree day by day. But dear friends, it's not enough just to hear it. You got to do it. James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." The doing makes the difference. The practicing brings the peace.
Right now, I want you to lift your hands and roll every care, every burden, every anxiety over on the Lord. Do it consciously. Do it deliberately. Say it right out loud. Let your own ears hear your own voice. Say this with me. Slow, steady, strong.
Heavenly Father, I thank you for caring for me. I thank you that Jesus bore my worries, my fears, and my pain. I refuse to carry what You already carried. I cast all my care upon You right now. Every burden, every concern, every thought of fear, I roll it on You. I will not take it back. I will not worry. I will not fret. I trust You, Lord. You care for me affectionately and watchfully. Hallelujah.
Now, just begin to thank Him right there where you are. Thank Him that it's done. Thank Him that the burden's lifted. Thank Him that peace is flowing like a river through your heart. Isaiah 55:12 says, "Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace." That's how you're going to walk from this day forward, with joy and peace.
Now listen to me, child of God. You don't have to ever live under pressure again. The same God who saved your soul is able to carry your load. The same Jesus who bore your sin also bore your sorrow. The same cross that broke the power of death broke the power of anxiety. So don't pick it back up. Don't rehearse it. Don't nurse it. Don't curse it. Just disperse it by faith. Once you've rolled it on Him, leave it there.
Psalm 55:22 says, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." He shall sustain you. That means He'll uphold you, support you, keep you standing when others fall. You might say, "Brother Hagen, what if I feel the worry trying to come back?" Well, that's when you talk to it. Say, "No, you don't, devil. I've cast that care on the Lord. He's got it and I don't." And then just laugh. That's right. Laugh at the devil. Because laughter is the language of faith. The Bible says in Psalm 2:4, "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh." If God can laugh at the devil, so can you.
Now, before we dismiss, I want to leave you with a daily confession. This isn't something you say once in a while. You make it a habit, morning, noon, and night. You fill your mouth with it until it becomes the very rhythm of your heart. Say this out loud boldly, confidently, with faith in every word.
I live free from worry, for the Lord cares for me. I refuse to fear, for God has not given me a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. I cast every care, every burden, every anxiety upon the Lord. He sustains me daily. The peace of God rules my heart and mind. The word of God is my final authority. I walk by faith and not by sight. I live in victory. I rest in His promises. I rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all things. Today I am carefree, worry-free, and full of faith because my God never fails. Hallelujah.
Now if you live in that confession, I mean make it your daily conversation, the peace of God will surround you like a shield. When others collapse under pressure, you'll walk right through it singing. When others panic, you'll be praising. When others cry, you'll be confessing. You'll find that what used to shake you will now strengthen you. What used to burden you will now bless you. What used to overwhelm you will now overflow with glory. That's what happens when you cast all your care upon Him. You step into the care of God Himself. Glory to God.
Let's pray together. Father, I thank You for Your word tonight. I thank You for every man, woman, and young person who has chosen to live the life of faith. I thank You that as they roll every care upon You, You will sustain them. I declare peace, health, provision, and joy over every household represented. And I thank You that Your word never fails. It always produces what it promises in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Hallelujah.
Now go on your way rejoicing. Go out with joy. Be led forth with peace. And remember, God's word works and worry never does. Say it one more time before we go. God's word works. Say it again. God's word works. One more time, louder now. God's word works. Glory to God forevermore. Now lift your hands and thank Him because it's done. The care is cast. The peace is yours. The victory is settled. And you are free, completely, totally, forever in Jesus' name. Hallelujah. Amen.