1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:03,400 In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy 2 00:00:03,400 --> 00:00:07,080 Spirit, forever Amen. Glory be to the everlasting 3 00:00:07,080 --> 00:00:11,000 mercies which sent you to us, O Christ, the Light of the world 4 00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:14,760 and the life of all. Give us wisdom by your law and 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,760 enlighten our impulses by Your knowledge. 6 00:00:17,800 --> 00:00:20,840 Sanctify our souls by Your truth, and grant that we may be 7 00:00:20,840 --> 00:00:24,280 obedient to Your words and may fulfil Your commandments at 8 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:27,600 every hour. O You who enlightens the 9 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:31,760 rational with the knowledge of Your greatness, do enlight, O my 10 00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:35,600 Lord, our thoughts, that we may meditate upon Your holy and 11 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:39,960 divine Scriptures at all times. O Lord of all, Father and Son 12 00:00:40,120 --> 00:00:42,520 and Holy Spirit, forever. Amen. 13 00:00:42,520 --> 00:01:02,930 We now previous two episodes. 14 00:01:02,930 --> 00:01:07,960 We discussed and ascertained biblical fasting and the food 15 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:13,320 aspect of fasting and the the verses that we quote or the the 16 00:01:13,320 --> 00:01:19,120 verses that we supported these, you know, understandings were 17 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,720 Genesis chapter 2, verse 17 and from the tree of knowledge of 18 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:27,080 good and of evil. God said to Adam and Eve, you 19 00:01:27,080 --> 00:01:30,960 shall not eat. Actually, God said to Adam, you 20 00:01:30,960 --> 00:01:34,280 shall not eat. Eating entails food. 21 00:01:34,960 --> 00:01:36,640 Jesus himself prays between his name. 22 00:01:36,640 --> 00:01:42,320 Matthew 41, we are told, fasted 40 days and 40 nights and 23 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:46,280 afterwards he was hungry. When you're hungry, it means you 24 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:49,840 haven't eaten any food. You're hungry for food. 25 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,440 What I'd like to do this episode, by the grace of God and 26 00:01:55,440 --> 00:02:01,120 the guidance of the Holy Spirit is discuss some tips on fasting 27 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:05,200 to help you fast. Now, some of you may be fasting 28 00:02:05,200 --> 00:02:08,080 for the first time. Some of you may be contemplating 29 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:13,880 fasting. The church Canon is that a 30 00:02:13,880 --> 00:02:18,320 Christian, a faithful of the church, the body of Christ must 31 00:02:18,320 --> 00:02:22,680 fast the first week, the middle week, and the last week of Lent. 32 00:02:23,480 --> 00:02:26,600 So if you're contemplating and and you need another push and I 33 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:32,080 hope that this episode will help you to enter your wilderness and 34 00:02:32,160 --> 00:02:36,640 offer your fast to the Lord again, according to the 35 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:40,720 scriptures and the traditions of the church. 36 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,560 Now before we huff and puff and cringe at the word traditions, 37 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:49,720 which unfortunately some still do, even though there is 38 00:02:49,720 --> 00:02:52,960 evidence from the scriptures, they claim solar scriptura. 39 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:57,440 But when you when you solar Scripture it it's then another 40 00:02:57,440 --> 00:03:03,040 story. 2nd Thessalonians, St. Paul's letter to the Church in 41 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:07,320 to the church to the Thessalonians, chapter 2, second 42 00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:13,320 letter, chapter 2, verse 15, be established and hold the 43 00:03:13,320 --> 00:03:16,000 traditions. Now in the pshita versions also 44 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:20,200 sets commandments. Hold the traditions fast. 45 00:03:20,400 --> 00:03:24,200 Hold on to the traditions fast that you have learned, whether 46 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:27,080 by discourse writing or by epistle. 47 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,440 Sorry, this course is by word or by mouth or by epistle. 48 00:03:30,440 --> 00:03:33,040 So there's the word tradition. I mean, I mean, if I would have 49 00:03:33,040 --> 00:03:36,680 said Second Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 15 traditions, 50 00:03:36,680 --> 00:03:38,880 that's it. That would have been sufficient. 51 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:42,320 It's in the Bible. What I'd like to do today is 52 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:48,440 define, define fasting and some hints for those who would like 53 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:51,920 to enter their wilderness or those who have and they're still 54 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:56,560 not sure as to how the Church actually has set for her 55 00:03:56,560 --> 00:04:00,280 children to fast. Now, the word fasting in English 56 00:04:03,200 --> 00:04:08,400 is fasting, but it it's basically abstaining soma. 57 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:13,320 In the Aramaic language soma is abstinence. 58 00:04:14,000 --> 00:04:21,839 So when someone says Siam and semen now many times they don't. 59 00:04:21,839 --> 00:04:27,040 It doesn't pertain to I'm ABS abstaining from food. 60 00:04:27,040 --> 00:04:29,720 It just means I'm not eating dairy products and what have 61 00:04:29,720 --> 00:04:30,840 you, the poultry and what have you. 62 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:36,120 But soma means abstain. God said to Adam do not eat, 63 00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,480 Jesus did not eat. Meaning abstain from food and 64 00:04:40,480 --> 00:04:43,120 drink. Jesus did not eat or drink. 65 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:49,800 Moses did not eat nor drink when he was on the mountain receiving 66 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,480 the 10 commandments. So how do we do this? 67 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:58,040 First and most popular and most encouraged way of fasting by the 68 00:04:58,040 --> 00:04:59,880 church is that we wake up in the morning. 69 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:03,920 We prepare ourselves hygienically. 70 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:10,440 We enter the room, our room. We offer our prayer, we read the 71 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:14,480 Holy Scriptures. Now if on your way to work, 72 00:05:14,640 --> 00:05:18,840 there is a church, for example, the Mara Day church, the door, 73 00:05:18,840 --> 00:05:22,200 the side door is always open. So if you're driving past Mara 74 00:05:22,200 --> 00:05:26,000 Day to go to work in place of just doing the sign of the cross 75 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:29,320 when you're which is great, why don't you stop for 5 minutes 76 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:32,200 going to the church and offer your prayer and read your 77 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:37,000 scripture and abstain from food. No food, no drink. 78 00:05:37,000 --> 00:05:40,720 From the time you wake up there is no food and no drinking. 79 00:05:41,640 --> 00:05:46,240 So you abstain from food and drink till evening prayers. 80 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:50,120 Vespers There is sundown yo. You mean all day? 81 00:05:50,120 --> 00:05:53,480 Yes, all day. No fate, no eating, no drinking. 82 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:55,840 Jesus didn't eat and he didn't drink. 83 00:05:55,840 --> 00:05:57,480 Moses didn't eat and he didn't drink. 84 00:05:58,280 --> 00:06:01,720 So you abstain from food and drink until vespers, which is 85 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:05,080 around 5:36 PM. But during this time, you're 86 00:06:05,080 --> 00:06:08,600 constantly praying, constantly reading the scriptures when you 87 00:06:08,600 --> 00:06:12,160 have an opportunity at work, wherever you are, and asking 88 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:15,760 God, contemplating, meditating, Oh Lord, help me, Oh Lord, 89 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,880 forgive my sins. Lord, Lord Jesus Christ, Son of 90 00:06:19,880 --> 00:06:23,640 God, have mercy on me as Sina. Oh Lord, have mercy on me. 91 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:27,080 Lord, bring me to my knees. Lord, help me to repent. 92 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:31,240 Speak to your heavenly Father. You have that confidence through 93 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:35,320 Jesus Christ to go Father, my Father, our Father. 94 00:06:35,600 --> 00:06:36,480 You have that. You know why? 95 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:39,280 Because you've believed in Jesus Christ and you've been baptized. 96 00:06:39,280 --> 00:06:40,480 You've been baptized in his death. 97 00:06:40,640 --> 00:06:43,200 So those who say no, you can't call father, of course, if 98 00:06:43,200 --> 00:06:45,960 you're not, if you haven't accepted Jesus Christ and you 99 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,520 haven't been baptized, you're not permitted to call the Father 100 00:06:49,560 --> 00:06:51,920 your father. You'll call him Father. 101 00:06:53,840 --> 00:06:58,680 So abstaining from food until Vespas, after Vespas. 102 00:06:58,680 --> 00:07:00,600 Now, if you can make it to the church, great. 103 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:05,000 If not, I pray go into your room or you're driving back and 104 00:07:05,000 --> 00:07:07,240 you're going to miss vespers in your car. 105 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:12,520 Pray to the Lord and say, Lord, here I am now I'm about to break 106 00:07:12,520 --> 00:07:17,760 my abstinence. Now it's, it's a blessing to 107 00:07:18,320 --> 00:07:21,280 when you're at church on Sunday to receive the Bokhra, the 108 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:25,280 blessed bread to take, even if it's a small piece, but every 109 00:07:25,280 --> 00:07:28,360 time you break your abstinence to break it with the Bokhra, 110 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:31,440 with the blessed bread that you receive after Purabana, that's 111 00:07:31,440 --> 00:07:32,800 not the body and blood of Christ. 112 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:35,720 OK, So take one and leave it with you. 113 00:07:35,800 --> 00:07:39,120 And every day until the following Sunday, take a little 114 00:07:39,120 --> 00:07:42,640 portion of it and say your prayer, read your scripture and 115 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:46,400 break your abstinence, not your fast. 116 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:50,400 Doesn't mean I'm not telling you to pray and eat the Bohra and 117 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:51,800 hit in and out. No, no, no. 118 00:07:51,800 --> 00:07:54,400 Your abstinence, You're still fasting. 119 00:07:54,400 --> 00:07:57,160 You're still having the fast food. 120 00:07:57,360 --> 00:07:59,120 Not. I should have said that. 121 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:04,880 You're still having the, you know, the food, you know, minus 122 00:08:04,880 --> 00:08:06,560 dairy products and poultry, what have you. 123 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:07,960 Honey is permitted. Yes. 124 00:08:07,960 --> 00:08:10,760 Some ask you if they can have honey during this time. 125 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:12,040 Yeah. And we're going to talk about 126 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,840 this food aspect a little bit more later on. 127 00:08:15,080 --> 00:08:19,400 Honey is permitted. So that's the first and most 128 00:08:20,480 --> 00:08:24,120 encouraged process of fasting by the church. 129 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:29,800 The second type you can also. And remember, every time I say 130 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:33,559 fast soma, it means abstinence. I don't have to repeat myself. 131 00:08:33,600 --> 00:08:35,159 Abstain. No. 132 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:38,360 No food, No drink. Oh, can I still have? 133 00:08:38,360 --> 00:08:40,559 No. You know, you, you tell some 134 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:41,640 people no food. No. 135 00:08:41,679 --> 00:08:43,640 So I can't have water. What is drink? 136 00:08:43,919 --> 00:08:46,200 No. No liquids, No solids, Nothing. 137 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:54,760 No nada na la na, no, no food, no drink, no solids, no liquids. 138 00:08:55,080 --> 00:08:58,400 Second process or the second way you can fast is you wake up in 139 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,080 the morning. Again hygiene and quickly 140 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:05,960 prepare yourself. Go into your room, pray, read 141 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:09,440 your scriptures, and again you can pray in the church if it's 142 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:14,400 on the way, and offer your abstinence again, but this time 143 00:09:14,520 --> 00:09:21,120 until lunchtime, until you leave work for lunch or you're ready 144 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:25,560 to have your meal for lunch. And again, before you have that 145 00:09:25,560 --> 00:09:28,960 lunch, wherever you are, have a little portion of the Bohra, the 146 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,520 blessed bread. Pray and ask the Lord to accept 147 00:09:32,520 --> 00:09:36,080 and receive and to your your fasting and your petition and to 148 00:09:36,080 --> 00:09:38,880 forgive your sins and to strengthen you to overcome all 149 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:44,880 temptations and then break your abstinence and then have soma 150 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:51,000 food again, not breaking, not after you. 151 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:54,880 You have your buchra at 12 PMI have to be specific because it's 152 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:59,080 some people still listen and hear hear it as they want to 153 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,400 hear. It is selective listening and 154 00:10:01,400 --> 00:10:04,960 hearing. So you don't at 12:00 have your 155 00:10:04,960 --> 00:10:06,800 buchra and pray and hit in and out. 156 00:10:06,800 --> 00:10:09,480 No, you don't do that. You continue with the fasting 157 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:15,200 food until lunchtime and then you can still attend vespers and 158 00:10:15,200 --> 00:10:19,600 after vespers you can have your your dinner as well. 159 00:10:19,600 --> 00:10:22,920 And after dinner, pray and thank the Lord who has provided you 160 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:27,560 with a bounty. And again, honey is permitted. 161 00:10:28,400 --> 00:10:35,760 The third method or the third way you can offer your soma is 162 00:10:35,760 --> 00:10:38,040 now this time there's no abstinence. 163 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:45,800 Some people cannot, you know, and I I don't, I don't credit I 164 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,360 cannot. It's hard for me to accept it's 165 00:10:49,120 --> 00:10:54,280 I won't or I don't want to. I choose not to because we can 166 00:10:54,280 --> 00:10:56,840 do everything through Christ to strengthen this praise be to his 167 00:10:56,840 --> 00:11:00,480 name, but you don't want to. That's why you know between you 168 00:11:00,520 --> 00:11:03,720 and your Lord. Wake up in the morning, prepare 169 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:06,640 yourself hygienically, go into your room or go to the church, 170 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:12,160 pray, read the scriptures and continue with soma food. 171 00:11:12,320 --> 00:11:15,040 So your breakfast is not bacon and eggs. 172 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:22,120 Your breakfast is what's Bahan in English, Stephen Tiny that's 173 00:11:22,120 --> 00:11:26,240 Arabic is you know, your, your jams, your marmalades, your 174 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:31,320 honey, your your Halawa and your Marjanos. 175 00:11:31,320 --> 00:11:32,920 You know, mashed potatoes, whatever it is. 176 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:34,600 Oh, mashed potatoes for the morning. 177 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,160 I don't have people can do that. So you continue with that with 178 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,520 with fasting food all day. You can have your breakfast, you 179 00:11:42,520 --> 00:11:45,280 can have your lunch, but continue to pray and read your 180 00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:47,840 scriptures. That must be always accompanying 181 00:11:47,840 --> 00:11:51,240 your fasting. Attend the Vespas if you can and 182 00:11:51,440 --> 00:11:56,200 continue to pray after after that you have eaten your meal. 183 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:02,280 But the challenge is now and you know what you can, maybe you 184 00:12:02,280 --> 00:12:05,680 don't want, you can't, you don't want to you choose not to 185 00:12:05,680 --> 00:12:08,120 abstain till 12:00 PM or lunchtime. 186 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:12,200 You want to abstain 2 for two hours after you have woken up. 187 00:12:12,480 --> 00:12:14,040 God bless you Alan. Have a lemon look. 188 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:15,720 May the Lord be appeased by that. 189 00:12:16,640 --> 00:12:20,880 But we need to also focus now. Now the food aspect, the food 190 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,120 aspect. Now some people pick up a 191 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:25,720 whatever it is, they're they're shopping and they look at the 192 00:12:26,400 --> 00:12:30,160 food products and they're scrutinizing the ingredients. 193 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,640 Oh, you know, there's a trace of milk. 194 00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:38,560 Oh, I had this yesterday. God's not going to accept my 195 00:12:38,560 --> 00:12:40,400 face. No, that my fasting. 196 00:12:40,400 --> 00:12:43,600 That's that's human mentality. Don't, don't adhere to that. 197 00:12:44,880 --> 00:12:50,320 In place of scrutinizing the ingredients of your food factor 198 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:55,680 for fasting, why don't you scrutinize the ingredients of 199 00:12:56,400 --> 00:12:59,880 your sins during the time of Lent? 200 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:03,280 Scrutinize and really scrutinize. 201 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:08,600 There is a hindrance of hatred and gossip and pride and 202 00:13:08,720 --> 00:13:14,280 immorality and, you know, puffing up and, and idolatry. 203 00:13:14,280 --> 00:13:22,160 There is a, a, a, a minute dot of sin or a, a spot of sinning. 204 00:13:22,200 --> 00:13:25,280 That's how you scrutinize during during Lent. 205 00:13:25,400 --> 00:13:28,120 Now, I'm not saying be careless with what you eat. 206 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:32,480 No, Continue standing fast to the traditions of the church. 207 00:13:32,840 --> 00:13:36,200 Fast food, no dairy, no products, no seafood. 208 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:39,480 By the way, can I have prawns? Can I? 209 00:13:39,480 --> 00:13:42,200 No. You know, people who ask, can I, 210 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:43,480 can I do? Can I have this? 211 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:45,720 So your fasting is all about the food factor. 212 00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:48,240 No, no, no. Again, I'm not saying I'm not. 213 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:51,240 I'm not doing away with the traditions of the church. 214 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:55,920 No, continue to fast as the church has, has, has, you know, 215 00:13:56,800 --> 00:14:01,840 canonized. But don't overdo the food factor 216 00:14:02,400 --> 00:14:06,320 and don't let that supersede the sin factor. 217 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,680 Beloved, scrutinize your sins. There's going to be a lot of 218 00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:15,680 temptations. The addictions, the demons you 219 00:14:15,680 --> 00:14:21,720 have will intensify. They will intensify the pressure 220 00:14:21,720 --> 00:14:24,240 and the attacking on your desires. 221 00:14:25,320 --> 00:14:28,400 The attack and the intensification is going to be 222 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:31,120 on your desires. Why desires? 223 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,280 James chapter one verse 14 we read. 224 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:39,680 But every man is tempted by his own lust or desires. 225 00:14:40,520 --> 00:14:46,600 He covets and is enticed. Every man is tempted from his 226 00:14:46,640 --> 00:14:51,520 own desire and he lusts and he is seduced because of the 227 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:54,440 desires. So the temptations will will 228 00:14:55,120 --> 00:14:58,360 multiply, intensify because of the desires. 229 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:01,120 Be prepared for that. How do we overcome that? 230 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:07,240 Avoid the places that cause the the the increase in the 231 00:15:07,240 --> 00:15:11,720 temptations. Avoid the places, avoid the 232 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:18,680 paths, the sights you enter to fulfill your sexual evil desire 233 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:21,960 addictions. Your demon avoided. 234 00:15:21,960 --> 00:15:25,280 My beloved brothers and sisters. Grandparents. 235 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:27,200 Grandfathers. Oh, yes. 236 00:15:27,200 --> 00:15:30,160 You're shocked now? What do you mean grandparents? 237 00:15:30,160 --> 00:15:31,960 No, they're holy. They're angels. 238 00:15:31,960 --> 00:15:33,760 No, they're not. No, they're not. 239 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,960 When they're, when they're blowing wolf whistles at young 240 00:15:37,960 --> 00:15:42,200 girls that are walking past, right, and they're, they're 241 00:15:42,200 --> 00:15:45,920 lusting because of what they're seeing, that's not being an 242 00:15:45,920 --> 00:15:49,360 Angel. No, no, no, no, Trust me. 243 00:15:49,560 --> 00:15:54,400 Trust me on this one. I know I have my intelligence 244 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:59,400 informants, right? So avoid the places, the paths, 245 00:15:59,400 --> 00:16:03,480 the sites, the social media platforms where you click and 246 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:09,480 then you receive this picture or this this porn and then it it 247 00:16:09,480 --> 00:16:10,960 crumbles. You avoid it. 248 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:15,040 You know, block, minimize, delete, block all block 249 00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:20,200 platforms when you see someone, a friend, a brother, a sister, a 250 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:24,840 school mate, a church attend attendee attendee when you 251 00:16:24,920 --> 00:16:28,040 you're on there and you want to just keep up with the world with 252 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:31,280 the news, especially these days. We need to pray for the Middle 253 00:16:31,280 --> 00:16:34,680 East, you know, and then and then your friend, your uncle, 254 00:16:34,680 --> 00:16:38,720 your auntie's picture, which is so inappropriate. 255 00:16:38,720 --> 00:16:45,280 Block, block, block, block. And if you're asked why, well, I 256 00:16:45,280 --> 00:16:48,520 don't want to see inappropriate pictures during my no, I don't 257 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:51,160 want to see period. This is not a Christian manner. 258 00:16:51,240 --> 00:16:53,000 You know, you know why I speak these things. 259 00:16:53,480 --> 00:16:55,640 Read Titus. I think it's chapter 2. 260 00:16:56,800 --> 00:16:59,720 Saint Paul instructs him to speak about things that are 261 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:02,760 shameful and that no one despise you. 262 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:09,280 We need to, my brother priests, my brother priests, yes, we need 263 00:17:09,280 --> 00:17:11,880 to learn the church doctrines, the Church fathers. 264 00:17:11,880 --> 00:17:13,760 But you know what? I'm sorry, that's not doing 265 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,240 anything now because when you teach about the Church fathers 266 00:17:17,240 --> 00:17:19,920 and the doctrines and the trinities and the Mary Ology, 267 00:17:20,040 --> 00:17:23,000 the Christology and the Eucharist, it's not affecting. 268 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:27,880 We need to be impacting. We need to be admonishing and 269 00:17:27,880 --> 00:17:33,760 telling our youth our people don't watch porn, do not engage 270 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:39,480 in sexual communications because they are an abomination to the 271 00:17:39,480 --> 00:17:45,600 Lord, abomination to the Lord. We need to command deletion and 272 00:17:45,600 --> 00:17:49,920 blocking of platforms that are evil and not appropriate. 273 00:17:50,680 --> 00:17:53,480 Yes, you may say, Robbie, we're living and we can't avoid it. 274 00:17:53,480 --> 00:17:55,920 Sometimes we can't avoid it. Well, if we can't avoid it, 275 00:17:55,920 --> 00:18:00,280 that's out of our hand, right? Jesus said to the Pharisees, if 276 00:18:00,280 --> 00:18:03,480 you didn't know, you would not be held accountable. 277 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:04,960 You will not be held to be accountable. 278 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:06,360 You will not be held against you. 279 00:18:06,520 --> 00:18:09,640 But you know when you intentionally know, 280 00:18:09,640 --> 00:18:13,840 intentionally know, and then you like and love and put food to 281 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:17,400 someone who's posted a derogative, an evil picture. 282 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,120 No, no, that you're a part of that sin. 283 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:24,760 You're a part of that sin. This is how we need to rebuild 284 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:29,280 our people in spirituality, especially during these time of 285 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:32,320 Lent. Yes, you have free will. 286 00:18:33,080 --> 00:18:36,000 You can adhere or you can reject. 287 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:39,360 That's entirely up to you. But this is how we overcome 288 00:18:39,360 --> 00:18:41,640 temptation. Are you chuckling now? 289 00:18:41,920 --> 00:18:44,760 Are you cringing and you're thinking that's too extreme? 290 00:18:44,920 --> 00:18:50,960 Well, for those who just switched off or, or logged out 291 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:53,160 and then you've decided to come back. 292 00:18:53,160 --> 00:18:54,720 Hello, I'm still talking about that. 293 00:18:54,720 --> 00:18:56,320 I haven't changed the topic, right? 294 00:18:56,560 --> 00:19:00,240 If you think that's extreme, if you think I'm being an 295 00:19:00,320 --> 00:19:07,080 extremist, a fanatic, well, let me present to you extremism, 296 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:10,640 beloved Matthew, chapter 18, verse 8 to 9. 297 00:19:10,680 --> 00:19:16,080 Jesus, praise and glory be to his name, your Lord, your 298 00:19:16,080 --> 00:19:21,840 Savior, your judge, your righteous judge writes this and 299 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:26,160 speaks this. But if you, if your hand or your 300 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:29,360 foot causes you to sin, cut it off. 301 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,880 Oh, that's not extreme, is it? No, no, Tasha Genardi is 302 00:19:32,880 --> 00:19:35,560 extreme. Cut it off and cast it from you, 303 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:39,200 for it is better for you that you enter life as lame and as a 304 00:19:39,200 --> 00:19:42,600 maimed rather than having two hands. 305 00:19:43,080 --> 00:19:48,280 Two hands, my beloved brothers, two hands and two feet, 306 00:19:48,280 --> 00:19:52,640 Ancestors, by the way, and two feet that you would fall into 307 00:19:52,680 --> 00:19:55,760 eternal fire. Eternal fire. 308 00:19:55,840 --> 00:19:58,600 Don't tell me if you think you're a Sinner, then Jesus 309 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:00,920 failed. You're a fool to be preaching. 310 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,160 You're, you're, you're a heretic to be preaching that. 311 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:09,040 No, if your feet or your hand causes you sin, get rid of it. 312 00:20:09,040 --> 00:20:11,200 Otherwise you'll be burning in eternal fire. 313 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:15,280 And this is not a scare tactic. And he goes on to say, if your 314 00:20:15,280 --> 00:20:19,640 eye causes you to sin, pull it out and throw it from you, for 315 00:20:19,640 --> 00:20:23,320 it is better, better for you that you would enter life, 316 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:27,160 eternal life, eternal bliss with with Christ, praise between his 317 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:30,920 name with one eye, rather than having two eyes, that you would 318 00:20:30,920 --> 00:20:35,320 fall into the Gehenna of fire. And the blessed theophilic 319 00:20:35,320 --> 00:20:39,960 comments and says that your hand, your eye, your feet are 320 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:43,840 those best friends, your BFFS, your cousin, your brother, your 321 00:20:43,840 --> 00:20:47,600 sister, your mother, your father, anyone who is precious 322 00:20:48,040 --> 00:20:50,320 causes you to sin. Get rid of them. 323 00:20:50,880 --> 00:20:56,000 Don't hate them and totally write them off, but distance 324 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,520 yourself from them. I'm being extreme. 325 00:21:00,520 --> 00:21:05,720 No, no, no, I'm being ethical. I'm trying to be ethical. 326 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:07,840 I'm not ethical. No, no, no, I'm sorry, I'm not 327 00:21:07,840 --> 00:21:10,000 being ethical. I'm not extreme. 328 00:21:10,000 --> 00:21:15,280 The scriptures are ethical and extreme, however. 329 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,960 However, be prepared for suffering, beloved brothers and 330 00:21:19,960 --> 00:21:22,360 sisters. Be prepared for ridicule, for 331 00:21:22,480 --> 00:21:27,280 rejection, shame and embarrassment exposure. 332 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:31,760 Be prepared. Satan will quote you scripture 333 00:21:31,760 --> 00:21:37,920 as he did with our Lord. Satan will say, and what fruit 334 00:21:37,920 --> 00:21:42,320 do you have then for Oh, let me, let me repair of it. 335 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,560 Satan will say to you, do you think that the Lord will take 336 00:21:45,560 --> 00:21:50,160 you back? You, you are so shameful. 337 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:55,240 You're so you have you have committed so many shameful acts. 338 00:21:56,560 --> 00:21:59,120 What fruit did you have then? Isn't it written? 339 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:03,480 What fruit did you have then for which today you are ashamed for 340 00:22:03,480 --> 00:22:06,960 it is result it for its result is death. 341 00:22:07,320 --> 00:22:12,560 You reply just as Jesus did and say my Lord endured the cross 342 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,320 and ignore the shame that is my shame. 343 00:22:15,320 --> 00:22:22,000 Hebrews 12/2 by the way has to say Satans quote or dare to 344 00:22:22,000 --> 00:22:25,640 quote was Roman 621. Your quote should be a Hebrews 345 00:22:25,640 --> 00:22:31,720 12 to my Lord and you the cross and ignored the shame that is my 346 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:33,400 shame. That's why he died for me. 347 00:22:34,280 --> 00:22:38,600 If he whispers to you and attacks your conscience and says 348 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:42,880 you have no salvation in your God, you're such a Sinner. 349 00:22:43,000 --> 00:22:47,240 You haven't fasted for the entire your entire life. 350 00:22:47,240 --> 00:22:51,120 Now you want to offer fasting? Do you know who you are? 351 00:22:51,400 --> 00:22:57,080 You reply to him script scripturally saying my God takes 352 00:22:57,080 --> 00:23:02,080 no pleasure in my death a wicked but rather than I turn from my 353 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,520 ways, my wickedness and live. Ezekiel 3311. 354 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:13,400 His quote was Psalm 3/2. He will justify your sin and 355 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:16,680 your abomination. All the world is doing it. 356 00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:22,920 It's OK, it's the norm. Reply scripturally saying, but 357 00:23:22,920 --> 00:23:28,360 the day of the Lord God comes as a thief in which the heavens 358 00:23:28,440 --> 00:23:33,360 suddenly pass away, but the elements being set on fire shall 359 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:38,840 be destroyed, and the earth and the works that are in it shall 360 00:23:38,840 --> 00:23:41,320 be discovered. So don't tell me the world's 361 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:42,560 doing it. It's the norm. 362 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:45,720 Second, Peter 310 That should be your reply. 363 00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:49,360 He may say, but look at the people who are prospering and 364 00:23:49,360 --> 00:23:52,720 are successful. They don't obey all of God 365 00:23:52,880 --> 00:23:55,440 precepts, right? They don't do that. 366 00:23:55,560 --> 00:23:58,520 Look, they attend church, they're in the choir, they 367 00:23:58,520 --> 00:24:00,520 attend the youth, they're a church. 368 00:24:00,640 --> 00:24:04,960 But look at their social media. That must be okay. 369 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:12,240 No, no, you reply. I will not emulate or compete 370 00:24:12,240 --> 00:24:17,680 with the wicked, neither envy, envy the works of evil because 371 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:22,040 they dry up quickly like straw and they wither like green 372 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:24,720 grass. Psalm 3712. 373 00:24:25,040 --> 00:24:27,680 Notice it was all scriptural scripture. 374 00:24:27,880 --> 00:24:30,520 Jesus was attacked with scripture and he responded with 375 00:24:30,520 --> 00:24:35,320 scripture and we did the same as a role play, a social media role 376 00:24:35,320 --> 00:24:38,640 play. But keep in mind, beloved, keep 377 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:41,920 in mind why Scripture? Why is it constantly Scripture? 378 00:24:42,480 --> 00:24:47,400 Second Timothy 3/16/17 Every writing which is written by the 379 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:51,320 Spirit is profitable for teaching, for correction, for 380 00:24:51,320 --> 00:24:55,720 direction, and for A cause in righteousness, that the man of 381 00:24:55,720 --> 00:25:01,400 God will be perfect, perfect and perfected for every good work. 382 00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:08,240 And who officiates the writings that are by the Spirit? 383 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,800 Who does it? Who say it? 384 00:25:11,680 --> 00:25:18,160 I'll give you 3 seconds. Who is it? 385 00:25:18,200 --> 00:25:20,400 It's the church, It's the church. 386 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,720 You probably said the Bible, It's the church. 387 00:25:22,760 --> 00:25:27,000 Oh Jesus, it's the church. Jesus and the Bible through the 388 00:25:27,000 --> 00:25:30,760 church. One Timothy 315. 389 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:35,400 The church is the pillar and foundation of truth. 390 00:25:36,360 --> 00:25:42,960 So every book that the church has officiated and canonized as 391 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,600 being inspired by the Holy Spirit, along with the Holy 392 00:25:46,600 --> 00:25:51,320 Scriptures, they're good for correcting, for admonishing, for 393 00:25:51,320 --> 00:25:57,760 direction, so that you and I be trying to be a man or a woman, a 394 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:02,720 son or a daughter of God, will be perfect and will be perfect, 395 00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:10,120 perfected with, oh, oh, with every good work. 396 00:26:10,320 --> 00:26:12,640 So the works. There it is again. 397 00:26:12,680 --> 00:26:14,560 There it is again. Faith alone. 398 00:26:14,720 --> 00:26:16,000 Faith alone. Yeah. 399 00:26:16,000 --> 00:26:21,880 Faith alone in the Bible pertains to salvation is not 400 00:26:21,880 --> 00:26:26,880 through faith alone but also through the works or eternal 401 00:26:26,880 --> 00:26:30,840 life is not through faith alone, but it's through the works, good 402 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,720 works. Salvation is through faith 403 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,880 because God has done it and we believe He has done it. 404 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:39,120 When we believe it, we receive it. 405 00:26:39,320 --> 00:26:43,840 But entering the Kingdom of heaven, eternal life, we need to 406 00:26:43,840 --> 00:26:47,720 continue with the good deeds, one of those being fasting. 407 00:26:48,280 --> 00:26:52,160 So we know fasting is biblical. We have ascertained that there 408 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,960 is a food factor. It's not just what you want to 409 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,360 fast from. I want to fast from look, 410 00:26:58,360 --> 00:27:01,720 looking at the sun during this. I want to fast from not going to 411 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,840 the to the beach. This is in in those countries 412 00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:09,080 that the season is still summer or spring right now. 413 00:27:09,080 --> 00:27:11,160 No, no, no, no fasting pertains food. 414 00:27:11,160 --> 00:27:15,520 We've already ascertained that and today, today we've learned 415 00:27:15,520 --> 00:27:18,920 how to offer our fast according to the church's teachings and 416 00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:22,840 process and and, and cannons. And we know that what happens 417 00:27:22,840 --> 00:27:27,440 during that fasting, the the temptations that that really are 418 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,080 intensified. But we continue, continue the 419 00:27:30,080 --> 00:27:35,240 good fight because the Lord will protect us and the war Lord will 420 00:27:35,240 --> 00:27:40,680 grant us victory. The Lord vindicates those whom 421 00:27:41,400 --> 00:27:45,520 who fear Him and obey Him, and love Him and respect Him. 422 00:27:45,560 --> 00:27:48,360 Praise and glory be to His name now, and that all times I'm for, 423 00:27:48,360 --> 00:27:48,960 for. Amen. 424 00:28:17,180 --> 00:28:19,180 We hope you enjoyed this week's message. 425 00:28:19,220 --> 00:28:22,420 Please don't forget to rate and review this podcast and share 426 00:28:22,420 --> 00:28:25,780 with your friends and family. For any future topic suggestions 427 00:28:25,780 --> 00:28:29,220 or to give us detailed feedback, please visit our link in the 428 00:28:29,220 --> 00:28:34,280 Show notes link. TR EE forward slash double edged 429 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:36,600 sword. Until next time, God bless you 430 00:28:36,640 --> 00:28:36,880 all.