1 00:00:00,160 --> 00:00:03,120 In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy 2 00:00:03,120 --> 00:00:04,440 Spirit forever. Amen. 3 00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:09,200 Glory be to the everlasting mercies which sent you to us, O 4 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:11,880 Christ, the light of the world and the life of all. 5 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,960 Give us wisdom by your law and enlighten our impulses by your 6 00:00:15,960 --> 00:00:18,960 knowledge. Sanctify our souls by your 7 00:00:18,960 --> 00:00:22,800 truth, and grant that we may be obedient to your words and may 8 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:24,800 fulfil your commandments at every hour. 9 00:00:25,720 --> 00:00:29,040 O you who enlightens the rationale with the knowledge of 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:33,840 your greatness, do enlight, O my Lord, our thoughts that we may 11 00:00:33,840 --> 00:00:37,240 meditate upon your holy and divine scriptures at all times, 12 00:00:37,240 --> 00:00:41,240 O Lord of all, Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever. 13 00:00:42,160 --> 00:01:03,360 Amen. What is the most common advice 14 00:01:03,360 --> 00:01:07,720 given to someone when they have lost something or they are 15 00:01:07,720 --> 00:01:12,960 called upon to given an account of a specific incident? 16 00:01:14,800 --> 00:01:21,760 It is retrace your steps. That is you return to where you 17 00:01:21,760 --> 00:01:25,360 started from using the same route. 18 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,240 Now, this doesn't always guarantee a total success. 19 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:34,200 I mean, you don't always end up finding what you're looking for 20 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:41,040 or recollecting the details of that specific incident, right? 21 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:46,640 But it helps. It takes you back to where you 22 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,000 started from. It puts you back to point A. 23 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,600 This can, one way or another, relate to trying to work out why 24 00:01:56,680 --> 00:02:02,640 you are not the same in faith as you were a month ago, a year 25 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:07,680 ago, a decade ago. Why am I hearing? 26 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:09,520 Yeah, lobby. That's right. 27 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,120 That's true. Let me say it again. 28 00:02:13,240 --> 00:02:19,200 Retracing your step could be one of the advice, and I think the 29 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:25,240 most helpful advice one kid can give to someone whose faith 30 00:02:25,480 --> 00:02:31,040 relationship with God spirituality is not the same as 31 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:34,840 it was a month ago, a year ago or a decade ago. 32 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:41,000 And what I mean by the same faith or the same in faith, I'm 33 00:02:41,000 --> 00:02:45,840 talking the sameness in the practicality of your faith. 34 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:52,200 That is prayer, reading, the Holy Scriptures, fasting, 35 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,360 attending the public, Sacramento worship. 36 00:02:56,360 --> 00:03:01,840 That is the church commitment to your faith, to your obligation 37 00:03:01,840 --> 00:03:07,400 as a Christian, helping those in need, humility, unwavering, 38 00:03:07,400 --> 00:03:11,520 trust in and patience and perseverance in God. 39 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:18,000 Your readiness to accept, to suffer, to sacrifice God for 40 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,760 Christ's sake, your general spiritual demeanor. 41 00:03:22,720 --> 00:03:26,120 How many of us out there that are listening are in this 42 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:31,040 predicament? A month ago I was on fire when I 43 00:03:31,040 --> 00:03:34,840 first attended Bible studies and I was introduced to the Holy 44 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:40,360 Scriptures and I was introduced to a an active, committed 45 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:42,960 relationship with Jesus Christ. I was on fire. 46 00:03:42,960 --> 00:03:49,000 I felt like I was on God's lap. And each time I said God, I 47 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:50,960 could hear him say yes, my child. 48 00:03:51,640 --> 00:03:54,600 But now, Rabi, I feel that God is distant from him. 49 00:03:54,600 --> 00:03:57,080 Well, God has not distant himself from you. 50 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,080 God is there. Maybe you don't need to be 51 00:04:00,080 --> 00:04:03,320 pampered anymore. You don't need to be put on 52 00:04:03,320 --> 00:04:07,000 God's lap. Maybe God now is saying to you, 53 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,280 you're a grown up now. You know me now. 54 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,920 You've been introduced to me. You've been, you know, learning 55 00:04:13,920 --> 00:04:16,760 about me. You need to start walking now. 56 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:23,560 We all go through this. I'm regularly asked why am I not 57 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:27,800 who I was, where I was when I was with Christ Lobby. 58 00:04:29,360 --> 00:04:34,120 I feel like I've lost my zeal, my drive, my commitment, my 59 00:04:34,120 --> 00:04:39,840 seriousness, my respect, my honor for the sovereign, all 60 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:43,560 knowing, all capable and all present God. 61 00:04:44,680 --> 00:04:51,080 Well, what do I reply? What must be reply is retrace 62 00:04:51,080 --> 00:04:55,400 your steps, your life, your relationship with Christ. 63 00:04:56,240 --> 00:05:01,200 Pinpoint where it changed, where it started to go downwards. 64 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:04,960 What were you doing a month ago, A year ago? 65 00:05:04,960 --> 00:05:09,240 A decade ago, which saw you in a relationship with God that was 66 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,080 on fire, that you could hear God's voice. 67 00:05:13,960 --> 00:05:17,760 Well, the answer is what I'll be I prayed. 68 00:05:18,120 --> 00:05:21,160 I read the Holy Scriptures. I fasted. 69 00:05:21,520 --> 00:05:24,880 I did my charitable work. I witnessed to people about 70 00:05:24,880 --> 00:05:27,480 Jesus Christ and what he has done in my life. 71 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:32,040 I invited family members, friends, relatives, to church, 72 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,520 to Bible studies, to prayer meets. 73 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:42,320 I never stopped doing this. I went to places that a 74 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:45,560 Christian needs to constantly be again. 75 00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:49,480 Church, Christian gatherings, Bible studies, Vespers. 76 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:52,320 That is, evening prayers, morning prayers. 77 00:05:52,840 --> 00:05:56,480 I totally avoid her. I tried my best to avoid those 78 00:05:56,480 --> 00:06:01,800 places that are nothing but negativity and a bad influence 79 00:06:01,800 --> 00:06:06,040 on a Christian life. Nightclubs, Casinos, concerts 80 00:06:06,040 --> 00:06:11,360 where performers are mocking Christ, Half Naked, evil, 81 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:17,360 Atheist, abominable. And as a Christian, I avoided 82 00:06:17,360 --> 00:06:20,440 going to those places. That wasn't my place. 83 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:26,080 I associated with the right people again, Christian brothers 84 00:06:26,080 --> 00:06:31,480 and sisters, people with etiquette, good morals, kind, 85 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:36,280 loving. I didn't associate much and 86 00:06:36,280 --> 00:06:40,720 mingled with those who are immoral drug dealers, thieves, 87 00:06:40,840 --> 00:06:43,600 blasphemers, God mockers and haters. 88 00:06:43,880 --> 00:06:48,280 I actually prayed for them but I didn't associate with them. 89 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,960 I occupied myself with serving, helping people, reaching out to 90 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:58,160 people. I didn't engage much much in 91 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:05,080 laziness and self selfishness. Loftness, inconsiderateness, 92 00:07:05,320 --> 00:07:08,320 disrespectfulness. No, I avoided those. 93 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:15,200 I watched appropriate films. I surfed the appropriate 94 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:19,240 websites, social medias, plat social media platforms. 95 00:07:19,560 --> 00:07:22,520 I ignored and tried to state right away. 96 00:07:22,520 --> 00:07:28,560 I blocked inappropriate memes, posts, videos. 97 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:35,320 I actually reported them so that I would not see them a month 98 00:07:35,320 --> 00:07:40,640 ago, a year ago, a decade ago. I listened to positive talk. 99 00:07:41,000 --> 00:07:46,800 I listened to the appropriate music, encouraging and spiritual 100 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:51,360 uplifting conversations. Christian music of praise, 101 00:07:51,360 --> 00:07:55,520 educational, theological, doctrinal hymns and songs, 102 00:07:56,000 --> 00:08:01,640 soothing classical music, soothing classical or jazz music 103 00:08:01,640 --> 00:08:03,080 and the Blues. I love those. 104 00:08:04,760 --> 00:08:08,080 I listened to songs with appropriate lyrics. 105 00:08:08,360 --> 00:08:14,080 I didn't blast my stereo in the car with the F bomb, every 106 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:19,440 second word with with with filth and cussing rap and R and BI 107 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:25,920 didn't do that, Rabi. I used my time wisely, not only 108 00:08:25,920 --> 00:08:28,440 my Christian life, but my life in general. 109 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:33,360 I would study, I worked, I concentrated on my studies, 110 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:37,240 concentrated on work. I invested my money. 111 00:08:37,240 --> 00:08:40,360 I excelled. I never wasted my time and 112 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:44,480 became a bludger for those Australian brothers and sisters, 113 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,960 a bludger, which is an Aussie slang. 114 00:08:46,960 --> 00:08:50,760 It's a noun which describes a lazy person. 115 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:55,240 For example, I'm running around like a headless chook organizing 116 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,760 this Barbie, and Jono's just sitting there like a bludger. 117 00:08:59,200 --> 00:09:01,320 A lazy person. I wasn't a bludger. 118 00:09:02,080 --> 00:09:08,400 I would use my time wisely. And then I ask, So what was your 119 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:11,200 relationship like then? Great on fire. 120 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:18,760 Challenging, yet satisfying yet profitable producing fruit. 121 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:24,160 OK, I reply. What happened? 122 00:09:26,040 --> 00:09:29,000 What is your life in telling now? 123 00:09:29,480 --> 00:09:38,560 Well, what I did then, I don't do now What I didn't do then, I 124 00:09:38,560 --> 00:09:46,800 do now. Well, my advice is cut it out. 125 00:09:48,360 --> 00:09:53,040 Cut out what you did then and you don't do now. 126 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:57,160 I'm sorry. Do what you did then and don't 127 00:09:57,160 --> 00:10:00,480 do now. Cut out what you didn't do then 128 00:10:00,600 --> 00:10:04,600 and do now. That is causing your faith to 129 00:10:04,600 --> 00:10:07,480 diminish. Cut out the things you do now 130 00:10:07,480 --> 00:10:13,880 which are deterring your consistent, effective and 131 00:10:13,880 --> 00:10:18,680 healthy relationship with God and diminishing, deteriorating 132 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,800 your spirituality. Cut it out. 133 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:23,560 Cut it out. Gouge it out. 134 00:10:24,000 --> 00:10:27,200 Cut it out. Yes, Matthew 1889. 135 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:29,840 He's echoing in my words, right. Amen. 136 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,760 Yes, cut it out. So if you thought up to now, 137 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:40,400 these are Gasha Jenards of Wise and theology and philosophy. 138 00:10:40,400 --> 00:10:44,720 No, no, no. These are the commandments of 139 00:10:44,720 --> 00:10:46,480 our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 140 00:10:46,920 --> 00:10:50,280 That Jesus that you were on fire with. 141 00:10:50,840 --> 00:10:55,400 You're on the clouds That Jesus that you loved and worship and 142 00:10:55,400 --> 00:11:00,080 now you crave so much to have that same relationship with 143 00:11:00,440 --> 00:11:05,600 commands you to do this. If your hand or your feet causes 144 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:11,160 you to sing or subverts you, cut it off and cast it from you. 145 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:16,440 What those those things that do you do now that have distant you 146 00:11:16,640 --> 00:11:20,800 and diminished your relationship with God, cut them out. 147 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:26,480 It could be what you do, what you see, where you go, the best 148 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:31,640 of the best friends you have, the BFF that you have, the 149 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:34,520 family members, the cousins, the relatives. 150 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:40,040 Cut them out if they are causing your relationship to God to 151 00:11:40,040 --> 00:11:45,840 start wavering. For it is better for you that 152 00:11:45,840 --> 00:11:50,080 you enter life as a lame, as a maimed, rather than having two 153 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:56,400 hands or two feet, that you would fall into eternal fire by 154 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,000 cutting out. Yes, you may have been surprised 155 00:11:59,000 --> 00:12:01,320 and shocked. How can I cut out my best best 156 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,360 friend, my relatives? No, by cutting them out you 157 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:07,840 could cause that relative, that family, that friend, to come 158 00:12:07,840 --> 00:12:12,600 back and repent, so that both of you will enjoy the eternal bliss 159 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:15,440 and eternity. But if you don't, what Christ is 160 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:20,160 saying, both of you will be in the eternal fire. 161 00:12:20,640 --> 00:12:25,960 And if your eye subverts you, pull it out, gouge it out from 162 00:12:25,960 --> 00:12:27,120 you. Not physically. 163 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,320 Metaphorically. He's talking about those things 164 00:12:29,800 --> 00:12:32,760 that you now do, which you didn't and are causing you to be 165 00:12:32,760 --> 00:12:34,840 in the dilemma that you're in now in your faith. 166 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,240 For it is better for you that you would enter life with one 167 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:45,200 eye rather than having two eyes. That you would fall into the 168 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:50,080 Gehana of fire, the hell of fire. 169 00:12:51,080 --> 00:12:53,440 How would I be? How do I do that? 170 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,520 Easier said than done, they say. Right? 171 00:12:56,520 --> 00:13:00,080 Yeah, it is easy. Cheap talk is cheap. 172 00:13:00,120 --> 00:13:03,040 Well, I'm sorry, That is not blaspheming. 173 00:13:03,040 --> 00:13:05,880 This is not my talk. This is Jesus talk. 174 00:13:06,120 --> 00:13:08,640 And it's not cheap. It is valueless. 175 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:12,720 You cannot put a value on the words and the promises and the 176 00:13:12,720 --> 00:13:15,120 warnings of Jesus Christ. You know why? 177 00:13:15,560 --> 00:13:19,400 Because value ends thinks devalue. 178 00:13:19,680 --> 00:13:24,040 Christ's words will never devalue because they extend into 179 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:25,920 eternity. And we're gonna finish with that 180 00:13:28,200 --> 00:13:33,320 when how would I be now? Today, you know, during this 181 00:13:33,320 --> 00:13:38,000 time of fasting, as we are fasting and preparing to 182 00:13:38,000 --> 00:13:43,400 receive, to celebrate, to praise, to worship, to honor the 183 00:13:43,400 --> 00:13:48,520 birth of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, let us now be 184 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:54,760 attentive to and active in our spiritual vitamin supplements, 185 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:59,800 prayer, fasting, reading the Holy scriptures, participating 186 00:13:59,800 --> 00:14:03,360 in the public Sacramento worship of the church, partaking in the 187 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:07,520 all sanctifying body and blood of Christ. 188 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:12,440 It wasn't just ordinary bread. Don't let them fool you to say 189 00:14:12,440 --> 00:14:14,600 that it's just an ordinary bread. 190 00:14:14,760 --> 00:14:17,880 No, it isn't. Because an ordinary bread will 191 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:21,440 not kill you, will not put you to sleep, as it did in One 192 00:14:21,440 --> 00:14:24,000 Corinthians. Those who are partaking in this 193 00:14:24,720 --> 00:14:28,800 quote, UN quote, ordinary quote, ordinary bread, UN quote. 194 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:32,760 They were falling to asleep because they were not worthy. 195 00:14:33,400 --> 00:14:38,760 No, it is the Body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 196 00:14:39,400 --> 00:14:44,320 And also remember, during this time, remember to continue your 197 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:48,240 good deeds. As soon as I mentioned good 198 00:14:48,240 --> 00:14:49,040 deeds. Yeah. 199 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:54,600 You know, for Thanksgiving we did a a Thanksgiving drive. 200 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:57,280 And for Christmas we fed the homeless. 201 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:58,360 God bless you. Amen. 202 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:00,080 And you know what? Let me tell you something. 203 00:15:00,800 --> 00:15:04,240 I don't like seeing you posting pictures of you feeding someone. 204 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:06,520 Don't do that. Your left hand should not know 205 00:15:06,520 --> 00:15:08,960 what your right hand is doing. When you do your charitable 206 00:15:08,960 --> 00:15:12,400 work, do not do it to be seen. And if you may say, well, I 207 00:15:12,400 --> 00:15:13,720 don't. Well, why are you posting your 208 00:15:13,720 --> 00:15:15,120 pictures? Don't post pictures of you 209 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:18,120 feeding a homeless. That's disrespectful to the 210 00:15:18,120 --> 00:15:23,520 homeless for all those who do it and then take selfies, because 211 00:15:23,520 --> 00:15:25,040 I'm feeding a helm. Homeless. 212 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:27,360 Don't do that. You know you've received your 213 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,200 It's a good, it's a good deed. I'm not, I'm not downplaying 214 00:15:30,200 --> 00:15:31,440 that deed. It's a great deed. 215 00:15:31,680 --> 00:15:34,600 But you received your reward. And you know what your reward 216 00:15:34,600 --> 00:15:37,800 was? Five or six likes on your post 217 00:15:38,400 --> 00:15:42,760 as opposed to eternal bliss with God as opposed to I'm sorry let 218 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:47,800 me re re retract that as opposed to Christ saying good faithful 219 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:49,680 servant, I'm going to reward you for that. 220 00:15:49,760 --> 00:15:52,000 No he will say you've already been rewarded. 221 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,600 You got your five likes and two hearts and God bless yous. 222 00:15:55,600 --> 00:16:00,720 No. When I talk about good deeds, we 223 00:16:00,720 --> 00:16:04,840 tend to forget the most important that Christ is really 224 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:12,760 pleased with forgiveness, reconciliation, You know, as 225 00:16:12,760 --> 00:16:16,040 you, as you listen to this, Now pull over. 226 00:16:16,040 --> 00:16:17,920 Here we go. Pull over to one side. 227 00:16:17,920 --> 00:16:21,240 Stop your washing of the dishes and your vacuuming and changing 228 00:16:21,240 --> 00:16:24,080 of the diapers. Whatever you're doing, just stop 229 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:29,360 for one second. Once you have completed this, I 230 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:32,440 don't challenge you and I don't dare you. 231 00:16:33,520 --> 00:16:43,880 I encourage you to pick up the phone and call, text, or send a 232 00:16:43,880 --> 00:16:51,320 SNAP message or an Instagram message or a Twitter message to 233 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:55,440 that person that you haven't spoken to for so long because he 234 00:16:55,440 --> 00:17:01,600 or she have hurt you so much. Pick up the phone and text and 235 00:17:01,600 --> 00:17:07,960 say in Jesus name, for the sake of my Lord and my Saviour Jesus 236 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:19,640 Christ, who took my spittle, took my nails, accepted my crown 237 00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:28,520 of thorns, and took my ridicule and my sins and my foolishness 238 00:17:29,120 --> 00:17:32,880 and what's crucified. And yet, he said, Father, 239 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:35,680 forgive them, for they do not know what they're doing. 240 00:17:37,240 --> 00:17:39,200 These are the deeds that the Lord is pleased with. 241 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:43,560 Christ mentions. If you only knew what it meant 242 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:47,000 that I want mercy and not sacrifice. 243 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:49,880 Mercy, compassion. So continue with your good 244 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:52,680 deeds. Forgiving, reconciling, 245 00:17:53,240 --> 00:17:58,080 apologizing. If you have caused someone to 246 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:03,160 fall and you have brought hurt and pain upon someone, pick up 247 00:18:03,160 --> 00:18:04,240 the phone. You know what? 248 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:08,080 I'm sorry I'm going to so belittle myself. 249 00:18:08,080 --> 00:18:12,640 I'm going to so humble myself and I'm going to apologize, 250 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:17,680 continue to help people reach out to people this Christmas 251 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:21,000 during this fasting time. And now let me, let me just tell 252 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:25,640 those who've never fasted Don't be proud of yourself, don't be 253 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:27,760 proud of yourself. If you've never fasted. 254 00:18:27,840 --> 00:18:31,160 Don't mock and laugh. And don't tell me where in the 255 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,000 Bible it says it's in the Bible. Go and read the Bible. 256 00:18:34,360 --> 00:18:37,440 Read the scriptures. When you fast, Jesus says, 257 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:38,080 period. That's it. 258 00:18:38,080 --> 00:18:40,040 When you fast, that means you're going too fast. 259 00:18:40,680 --> 00:18:42,400 Fasting is in the scriptures now. 260 00:18:42,400 --> 00:18:46,360 Maybe some versions have dared to remove fasting from the 261 00:18:46,360 --> 00:18:50,400 scriptures and the punishment of God will be upon those 262 00:18:50,400 --> 00:18:53,880 theologians, whatever you want to call them, who've removed the 263 00:18:53,880 --> 00:18:55,120 word fasting. No, no. 264 00:18:55,120 --> 00:19:00,640 It's in the Pshutba version, which is the ancient version of 265 00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:03,240 the scriptures. Fasting is in the scriptures. 266 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:08,360 Why aren't you begin to fast before you even forgive and 267 00:19:08,360 --> 00:19:12,400 reconcile and begin to fast? Oh, Rabi, I've never done it. 268 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:14,560 Like, what do I do? Start simple. 269 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:18,320 Very simple. Today's Monday, right? 270 00:19:18,320 --> 00:19:22,640 Yeah, it's probably about 9:00 in the morning. 271 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:24,640 What time do we go? Well, what time do you post it? 272 00:19:24,880 --> 00:19:26,040 70. That's nice. 273 00:19:26,040 --> 00:19:27,600 Even earlier. 7:00 in the morning. 274 00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:30,120 Good morning. Good morning, California. 275 00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:31,480 Philippines. Those who listen from 276 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:32,800 Philippines. Good morning. 277 00:19:33,760 --> 00:19:38,880 Why don't you, before you turn on your radio and before you 278 00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,920 light your cigarette, you know, have your shower, wash your face 279 00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:45,280 and do what you need to do hygienically, Go into your room, 280 00:19:45,280 --> 00:19:48,400 get on your knees and say, Lord, I'm going to attempt to fast 281 00:19:48,400 --> 00:19:52,400 today. I'm going to not eat or drink 282 00:19:52,440 --> 00:19:56,440 until let's say, 12:00. That's when I had my lunch. 283 00:19:56,720 --> 00:19:58,640 I'm going to totally abstain, Lord. 284 00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:02,200 I'm going to not only abstain from food, I'm not going to sit 285 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:03,840 in the car. I'm not going to turn my music 286 00:20:03,840 --> 00:20:05,400 on. I don't need to listen to that 287 00:20:05,400 --> 00:20:10,040 music right now. Lord, constantly meditate upon 288 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:11,640 you. I That's what I want to do. 289 00:20:11,880 --> 00:20:14,400 Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me as Sinner. 290 00:20:14,600 --> 00:20:18,280 Lord Godfather, forgive me. Just mention the name of God. 291 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,840 And then when time comes for you to break your fast your 292 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:25,440 abstinence, say a prayer. Say, Lord, I know I've fallen. 293 00:20:25,440 --> 00:20:27,760 I know I've made a lot of mistakes and I've probably 294 00:20:27,760 --> 00:20:29,400 sinned as well without me knowing. 295 00:20:29,640 --> 00:20:32,720 Father, accept my fast and then break your fast. 296 00:20:32,760 --> 00:20:34,520 Break your abstinence. Right. 297 00:20:34,520 --> 00:20:37,000 OK, right. I can't go total vegan. 298 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:39,600 Fine. Why aren't you fast from meat 299 00:20:39,600 --> 00:20:42,160 and poultry? Why don't you do this? 300 00:20:42,680 --> 00:20:46,360 It's the it's the intention. It's the attempt that God will 301 00:20:46,360 --> 00:20:51,320 be pleased and appeased with. Begin to fast and you will see 302 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:58,360 that slowly and yet 100% guaranteed, 100% guarantee you 303 00:20:58,360 --> 00:21:00,680 know there's going to be no money back. 304 00:21:00,680 --> 00:21:03,880 You know 100% guarantee all your money back. 305 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:05,440 You'll not receive any money back. 306 00:21:05,440 --> 00:21:09,880 Now it's 100% guaranteed that you will receive the eternal 307 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,480 blessings of God in the Kingdom of Heaven. 308 00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:15,440 When we go back to that point where we had that amazing 309 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:19,280 relationship with God, Saint Paul encourages us in one 310 00:21:19,280 --> 00:21:22,120 Timothy chapter 6, verses 11:00 and 12:00. 311 00:21:22,280 --> 00:21:29,280 But you, O man of God, escape from these things, escape from 312 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:34,600 those that cause you to be laxed in an active and living faith. 313 00:21:34,600 --> 00:21:37,400 Now, I know Saint Paul's not talking about this, but let's 314 00:21:37,400 --> 00:21:39,760 just use this for our situation today. 315 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:43,080 But you, O man of God, escape from these things that are 316 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:48,400 causing you to waver in your faith, faith, active faith, 317 00:21:48,440 --> 00:21:52,680 living faith, and run after righteousness, after justice, 318 00:21:52,880 --> 00:21:57,080 after faith, after love, after patience, and after humility and 319 00:21:57,080 --> 00:22:02,560 fight in the good contest of faith and seize eternal life to 320 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:09,520 which things you are called. And you have professed a good 321 00:22:09,520 --> 00:22:13,880 profession before. Many witnesses go back to that 322 00:22:13,880 --> 00:22:18,000 relationship with God, and there is no way you can do it until 323 00:22:18,240 --> 00:22:25,360 you begin to go down on your knees and knock on God's doors. 324 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:30,640 That's what we do when we name the Holy Trinity and do the Son 325 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:33,040 of the Cross in the name of the Father and of the Son of the 326 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:34,640 Holy Spirit. Knock, knock, knock. 327 00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:39,280 Isn't amazing when there is an emergency, What do you call 911? 328 00:22:39,280 --> 00:22:41,640 Just like Homie, Simpson said. Quick, tell me the number for 329 00:22:41,640 --> 00:22:44,440 911. You know you call 911. 330 00:22:44,440 --> 00:22:47,720 In Australia they call triple O though 000. 331 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:49,240 It's everything is in three, isn't it? 332 00:22:49,520 --> 00:22:53,760 So when there is an urgency in our spiritual life, let us knock 333 00:22:53,760 --> 00:22:57,040 on God's door in the name of the Father one knock and the son the 334 00:22:57,040 --> 00:23:00,160 second knock and the Holy Spirit the third knock and God opens 335 00:23:00,160 --> 00:23:03,600 the door or picks up the phone and says, yes, my son, yes, my 336 00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,400 child. I was so waiting for you. 337 00:23:05,400 --> 00:23:12,680 I'm here for you. Now you see, a healthy, active, 338 00:23:13,360 --> 00:23:20,760 thriving relationship with God in temporality will extend into 339 00:23:20,760 --> 00:23:27,640 an everlasting sharing in God's bliss, eternally praise and 340 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:31,640 glory be to His holy Name now and at all times and forever. 341 00:23:32,680 --> 00:23:53,680 Amen. We hope you enjoyed this week's 342 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:56,000 message. Please don't forget to rate and 343 00:23:56,000 --> 00:23:58,760 review this podcast and share with your friends and family. 344 00:23:59,000 --> 00:24:01,440 For any future topics, suggestions or to give us 345 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:05,720 detailed feedback, please visit our link in the Show Notes link 346 00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:09,720 TR EE forward slash double edged sword. 347 00:24:10,200 --> 00:24:11,920 Until next time, God bless you all.