Posts tagged worry

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”

Matthew 6:33

You know what is liberating? You know what makes me feel free? You know what I remember when I get those moments that we all have where the problems of the world seem to pile up high and the walls feel like they’re closing in? You know what I do when my “to do” list seems longer than I-75? You know what I do when I look at everything that’s happening in the world; all the violence and evil and greed? You know what I do when I look at all the things that are wrong in my own life, and in the life of my loved ones? You know what I do when I just look at all the obstacles before me, and I see how mighty and giant they are compared to me?

You know, then, what sets me free?

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you.”

Stop worrying about what the world says. Stop worrying about what it thinks it finds. Stop worrying about it’s conclusions. And instead, remember the message of the Transfiguration, this CLIMAX to the season of epiphany, and remember that you bear the name CHRISTIAN. And because you do, you roll with Jesus. You believe what HE says. For his testimony has been validated. And it is validated here, when he is glorified. Now the transfiguration isn’t the ULTIMATE validation of who Jesus is: THAT happens at the resurrection; and he will be ULTIMATELY and UNIVERSALLY validated when he comes again.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

Jesus is coming. Jesus is coming, and with him comes the day of the resurrection. And NONE of these present problems or evils or sins will last past that day.

They will be GONE.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

Jesus forgives your sins in order that you would be with him in the RESURRECTION. He forgives your sins in order that DEATH would not have you. He forgives your sins in order that you would have eternal life.

Do you realize what this means? Whatever else comes, there is something, therefore, that you can tell yourself. Whatever else comes, you know something to be true. And I want you to remember this. Hold onto this in your darkest hour. Pray that the Lord would help you FEEL these words; that the Holy Spirit would lift you up by them; even as you KNOW that they are true.

Remember this and remember that there is nothing that can CHANGE this because you have been forgiven by Jesus Christ:

Listen to this, and let GO of the worry and anxiety. Brothers and sisters in Christ, hear these words now, by the power of the Holy Spirit:

“Everything is going to be all right.” Everything IS going to be all right. Everything’s gonna be alright.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

To have your sins forgiven; to have the evil that you have done PAID FOR by the blood of Jesus; means that you are RIGHT with God. “Right with God.” That’s what we call being “righteous”. And that means that, no matter what happens, there will be a day when you will live in a Kingdom; in a world; in a universe; that has been made right; made the way it was supposed to be made.

No more suffering. No more death. No more evil. No more being tempted to do the wrong thing and FAILING and doing it over and over and over. No more worry. No more anxiety. No more loneliness. No more heartache. No more loss.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

May the Holy Spirit wash over you and calm the storm of your heart.

May he give you the courage and conviction to face with righteousness and strength that which you must face, knowing that your redeemer lives.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, whatever you may face; and whatever you may be facing; whatever secret battles unknown; LISTEN! I tell you, you are not alone.

Listen and take hope. I tell you, in the name of Jesus Christ:

Peace be with you. Peace be with you. Peace be with you.

So it will be. Amen.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

REMEMBER CHRIST! And remember that YOU do not have to worry about the world being just towards you; listen to St. Paul: THE LORD takes care of that! So you don’t have to worry about handing out punishment! YOU just have to worry… about love.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

Don’t wait to trust God; and to put yourself in his hands. Life is too hard if we add the anxiety that comes from us not being able to comprehend God’s plan. Just trust in him. He will not disappoint.

Do not worry. Do not be anxious. And when you do doubt and misunderstand, remember that God your Father sees you, sends His Spirit to comfort you, and forgives you for the sake of his Son.

He is patient and forgiving with you. Just as he was… with the people in Bible before you. Thanks be to God. Amen.

-Aj Neugebauer LCMS pastor

You know, Jesus has seen the end of the story of creation. We are a universe on DVR. And Jesus has seen the ending. In fact, he IS the ending! He hasn’t just seen it, he wrote it, he made it; and he scored the winning goal.

And it can look kind of dark sometimes; and things can get pretty bad. And it is in these times that we begin to worry. It is in these times that we think that maybe Jesus was mistaken or something; like maybe he must have gotten it wrong.

It is in those moments that he sends us his message again; just like he did to Abraham: “Hey. Listen. I’m in control. Don’t worry about it. I know the ending. And you’re gonna love it. Do not worry. I’ve been there. I’m in control. Have faith. Hear my promise one more time, and have faith.”

So people of God: followers of Jesus Christ. Be comforted. Do not worry. And that’s not a command. And that’s not a threat. It’s a promise. For you don’t need to worry. And you don’t need to fear. We are, after all, in a DVR-ed creation. And Jesus knows the ending.

-AJ Neugebauer LCMS pastor