Words of God today!
The prophet Ezekiel has heard the words of God that say, son of man, go to my people (Israelites) and tell them to repent or to turn away from their sins or to stop sinning if they will listen to your proclamation and obey your message, well and good. They will be saved from death spiritually, and you are not accountable before me.
But if you will not tell them my message, they will continue in their sins; they will die physically and spiritually, and you will hold them accountable for their death.
In the same way, go to my people (Israelites) who heard my words for so long but have forgotten all the good things I’ve done for them and have turned away from me to repent from their sins. If you tell them my words and turn from their wicked ways, they will not die. You will no longer be accountable for their blood. But if you will not remind them of my words to repent and continue in sin, they will die physically and spiritually. You will hold them responsible for their blood (Ezekiel 3:16-21).
God used the prophet, Ezekiel, to remind the Israelites of the holiness of God, and this requires obedience as redeemed people from their long year’s slavery in Egypt, provisions while they were traveling to the promised land, protection from sickness, victory from their enemies, and some of them were entered in the promised land.
Despite God’s faithfulness, they disobeyed him. They lived in sin. God has given them chances to walk straight or live a life pleasing to him through the prophets. They were brought into exile in Babylon as God’s judgment of their disobedience.
Today, God has raised pastors, missionaries, faithful believers in Jesus Christ to remind the people of the 21st century to repent from their sins that no one will perish but to have eternal life (John 3:16). Before the second coming of Christ, the good news about the love and forgiveness of God through Jesus needs to reach up to the end of this world that all the 7.7 billion people will come to know Jesus, the only way, the truth, and the life, and not to spend their time in hell for eternity where the worms do not die, and the fire does not quench (Mark 9:47-48; Revelation 21:8).
Our holy loving God gives people the chance to change their ways of life from being slaves of sins to a pleasing life to God.
As one of the leaders of Sanhedrin, named Nicodemus, have I asked Jesus, “how to be born again?” or the rich young man’s question to Jesus, “what must I do to be saved?”. Jesus answered, believed in Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This means of wholehearted obedience to his words as expressions of inner changes happened in them when they allowed Jesus to retake control of their lives as their Lord and Savior.
Are you willing to allow Jesus to guide you in your daily walk in life where love and holiness will reign in you daily?
The words of God said to one of the criminals hanging on the cross beside him, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”. Jesus saw the sincerity in the heart and mind of that criminal. Those thief words mean complete trust in Jesus to forgive him and to give him eternal life.
If you have the same heart and mind as the thief beside Jesus, you will also receive Jesus’ words of assurance that “today, you will be with me in paradise.”
You can hold on to Jesus’ promises in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. That whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
And Romans 10:8-10 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you will believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and is justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”
God loves you, and he doesn’t want you to perish but to have eternal life. The decision is yours!
Why will the Lord listen in my prayer?
What is the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
Where will the soul of man go a second after he died?
The Seven Last Words Of Jesus
42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” {Luke 23:42-43).
Jesus’ painful sufferings were the result of the wickedness of men, both the Jewish leaders and the ordinary people from Israel and other places. They all heard his teaching with authority and had witnessed the miraculous acts that amazed them, and many became believers in Jesus.
The news about his mighty works has reached even the jail where the thieves were. The one criminal believed and accepted Jesus as the Messiah, the King of the Jews, the Savior of Israel, and their hope from the cruel leadership of the Emperor of Rome. But the other one didn’t believe, by showing his real person when he insulted Jesus and said, “Aren’t you are the Christ? Save yourself and us!.” Satan has totally blinded his mind and heart (2 Corinthians 4:4). That criminal didn’t believe in Jesus and knew that he has no hope but sure death. Still, he preferred what he think is right and followed his way. He was so proud of himself and missed the precious gold that the other criminal found in Jesus.
When the other criminal has heard it, he said, we deserve what we are experiencing punishment for criminals, but this man is righteous. After hearing the news about Jesus while they were in jail, he realized and concluded that he is now beside the true Messiah, the Son of God, and the Savior of Israel from their sins (Matthew 1:21).
He said then with whole confidence and humbleness these words, “Jesus, remember me when you come to your kingdom.” These thoughts were developed in his mind: his faith in Jesus, complete trust in Him for his soul, humbleness of heart and mind, acceptance of his inability to save himself, and to believe that only Jesus can forgive and bring him to heaven. When Jesus heard and saw the heart and mind of that criminal, He answered, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” The word paradise means heaven. A perfect bliss, harmony, peace, no more tears, pain, death, and sickness (Revelation 21:1-4; 22:1-5; Luke 16:19-22; Acts 7:59). After hearing the words of hope of Jesus, he believed and was at peace facing death with confidence!
Now, what is the message of Jesus’ second last words for us in the 21st century? We know that all will die, and that we can’t bring in the grave or in the life after death place everything that we possessed. What then, we need to do to have eternal life?
Jesus said in his words in John 3:16, NIV “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Our God and Father, our creator where our breath came, provider, protector have already done his part through Jesus, the once and for all sacrificial act of love to save the humanity from sin (Matthew 1:21; Hebrews 10:10). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. For the wages of sin is death (physical and spiritual or an everlasting separation of the soul and body of man from the presence of God or hell) but the gift of God is eternal life through faith in Jesus (Romans 3:23; 6:23). As how the rich young man asked Jesus concerning his soul that says, “What must I do to have eternal life?.” Did you ask God of the same question concerning your soul and body? Our God is giving us an opportunity to decide. What is your decision?
As what the words of God says, Romans 10:9-10 “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.” New International Version (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything…
What are the common reasons for worries?
Causes of fear, worries, or anxieties?
Anxiety disorders have a complicated network of causes, including:
- Environmental factors: Elements in the environment around an individual can increase anxiety. Stress from a personal relationship, job, school, or financial predicament can contribute significantly to anxiety disorders. Even low oxygen levels in high-altitude areas can add to anxiety symptoms.
- Genetics: People who have family members with an anxiety disorder are more likely rested—source to have one themselves.
- Medical factors: Other medical conditions can lead to an anxiety disorder, such as the side effects of medication, symptoms of a disease, or stress from a serious underlying medical condition that may not directly trigger the changes seen in anxiety disorder but might be causing significant lifestyle adjustments, pain, or restricted movement.
- Brain chemistry: Stressful or traumatic experiences and genetic factors can alter brain structure and function to react more vigorously to triggers that would not previously have caused anxiety. Psychologists and neurologists define many anxiety and mood disorders as disruptions to hormones and electrical signals in the brain.
- Use of or withdrawal from an illicit substance: The stress of day-to-day living combined with any of the above might serve as key contributors to an anxiety disorder (Source: medical news today.com)
Signs or symptoms if you are worried, fearful, or anxious!
Symptoms
Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:
- Feeling nervous, restless, or tense
- Having a sense of impending danger, panic, or doom
- Having an increased heart rate
- Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Feeling weak or tired
- Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
- Having trouble sleeping
- Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems
- Having difficulty controlling worry
- I have the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety. (Source: mayoclinic.org).
Watch this fifteen-minute video about anxiety and how to treat it?
What the Bible says about anxiety and how to treat it without taking medicines. Apostle says in the book of Philippians 4:6-7, “Do not be anxious about anything, but everything by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. And the peace of God which transcends understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.”
This Bible verse was written in a command form, and this requires obedience without reservations. Paul knew well who God is. He is the creator of the Universe, for He is powerful, and nothing is impossible in him. God’s words are not like grasses or fresh flowers today but tomorrow will be dried, but these remain forever (Isaiah 40:8); these are active and alive like a double-edged sword, like a hammer that can crash the stones and more. God’s words are trustworthy, and we can hold on to these.
If God is with us, who can stand against us? Troubles, poverty, wicked man, sickness, or even Satan? Is there impossible with God? He says words, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:22).
Apostle Paul was so confident to remind the Philippian believers in Jesus not to worry about anything, but everything by prayer with supplications with Thanksgiving, let God know your needs. If God feeds the birds in the air which do not toil, nor plant, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. If you are much valuable than the birds, will the Lord let you become hungry? You and I are much valuable than the birds for we were created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27).
And the book of Psalm says, “For you created my inmost being;(A)
you knit me together(B) in my mother’s womb. (C)
14 I praise you(D) because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,(E)
I know that full well. (139’13-14)
Do not be afraid. Believe in God and learn to entrust all your anxiety to Him because He cares for you ( 1 Peter 5:7).
When the disciples were in the boat traveling towards the other side of the lake, Jesus was sleeping suddenly; a strong wind came with big waves, and their boat was almost too drawn into the water. They all screaming at Jesus and said, Master, we might all die! Jesus answered, where is your faith? The disciples forgot immediately that they just witnessed the miracles of Jesus and that Jesus is with them in the boat. Jesus rebuked the wind, and the waves stopped. All of them were amazed by Jesus another miracle. They worshipped him.
Ask yourself, how big is your problem today compared with Jesus? If Jesus is with you, don’t be afraid, the boat will not drdrawnto water. Your issue can’t overpower you because greater is he who is with you than the one or Satan who is in the world.
Romans 8:31-39New International Version
More Than Conquerors
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things?(A) If God is for us,(B) who can be against us?(C) 32 He who did not spare his own Son,(D) but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge(E) against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?(F) No one. Christ Jesus who died(G)—more than that, who was raised to life(H)—is at the right hand of God(I) and is also interceding for us.(J) 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?(K) Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?(L) 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”[a](M)
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors(N) through him who loved us.(O) 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[b] neither the present nor the future,(P) nor any powers,(Q) 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God(R) that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(S)
If you need prayer and free online counseling, email me at agn623@gmail.com. Trust in the Lord with all your heart…(Proverbs 3:5-7)
