Episode 72: Retracing our steps with Christ

In the name of the glorious Trinity, Father and Son and Holy

Spirit forever. Amen.

Glory be to the everlasting mercies which sent you to us, O

Christ, the light of the world and the life of all.

Give us wisdom by your law and enlighten our impulses by your

knowledge. Sanctify our souls by your

truth, and grant that we may be obedient to your words and may

fulfil your commandments at every hour.

O you who enlightens the rationale with the knowledge of

your greatness, do enlight, O my Lord, our thoughts that we may

meditate upon your holy and divine scriptures at all times,

O Lord of all, Father and Son and Holy Spirit forever.

Amen. What is the most common advice

given to someone when they have lost something or they are

called upon to given an account of a specific incident?

It is retrace your steps. That is you return to where you

started from using the same route.

Now, this doesn't always guarantee a total success.

I mean, you don't always end up finding what you're looking for

or recollecting the details of that specific incident, right?

But it helps. It takes you back to where you

started from. It puts you back to point A.

This can, one way or another, relate to trying to work out why

you are not the same in faith as you were a month ago, a year

ago, a decade ago. Why am I hearing?

Yeah, lobby. That's right.

That's true. Let me say it again.

Retracing your step could be one of the advice, and I think the

most helpful advice one kid can give to someone whose faith

relationship with God spirituality is not the same as

it was a month ago, a year ago or a decade ago.

And what I mean by the same faith or the same in faith, I'm

talking the sameness in the practicality of your faith.

That is prayer, reading, the Holy Scriptures, fasting,

attending the public, Sacramento worship.

That is the church commitment to your faith, to your obligation

as a Christian, helping those in need, humility, unwavering,

trust in and patience and perseverance in God.

Your readiness to accept, to suffer, to sacrifice God for

Christ's sake, your general spiritual demeanor.

How many of us out there that are listening are in this

predicament? A month ago I was on fire when I

first attended Bible studies and I was introduced to the Holy

Scriptures and I was introduced to a an active, committed

relationship with Jesus Christ. I was on fire.

I felt like I was on God's lap. And each time I said God, I

could hear him say yes, my child.

But now, Rabi, I feel that God is distant from him.

Well, God has not distant himself from you.

God is there. Maybe you don't need to be

pampered anymore. You don't need to be put on

God's lap. Maybe God now is saying to you,

you're a grown up now. You know me now.

You've been introduced to me. You've been, you know, learning

about me. You need to start walking now.

We all go through this. I'm regularly asked why am I not

who I was, where I was when I was with Christ Lobby.

I feel like I've lost my zeal, my drive, my commitment, my

seriousness, my respect, my honor for the sovereign, all

knowing, all capable and all present God.

Well, what do I reply? What must be reply is retrace

your steps, your life, your relationship with Christ.

Pinpoint where it changed, where it started to go downwards.

What were you doing a month ago, A year ago?

A decade ago, which saw you in a relationship with God that was

on fire, that you could hear God's voice.

Well, the answer is what I'll be I prayed.

I read the Holy Scriptures. I fasted.

I did my charitable work. I witnessed to people about

Jesus Christ and what he has done in my life.

I invited family members, friends, relatives, to church,

to Bible studies, to prayer meets.

I never stopped doing this. I went to places that a

Christian needs to constantly be again.

Church, Christian gatherings, Bible studies, Vespers.

That is, evening prayers, morning prayers.

I totally avoid her. I tried my best to avoid those

places that are nothing but negativity and a bad influence

on a Christian life. Nightclubs, Casinos, concerts

where performers are mocking Christ, Half Naked, evil,

Atheist, abominable. And as a Christian, I avoided

going to those places. That wasn't my place.

I associated with the right people again, Christian brothers

and sisters, people with etiquette, good morals, kind,

loving. I didn't associate much and

mingled with those who are immoral drug dealers, thieves,

blasphemers, God mockers and haters.

I actually prayed for them but I didn't associate with them.

I occupied myself with serving, helping people, reaching out to

people. I didn't engage much much in

laziness and self selfishness. Loftness, inconsiderateness,

disrespectfulness. No, I avoided those.

I watched appropriate films. I surfed the appropriate

websites, social medias, plat social media platforms.

I ignored and tried to state right away.

I blocked inappropriate memes, posts, videos.

I actually reported them so that I would not see them a month

ago, a year ago, a decade ago. I listened to positive talk.

I listened to the appropriate music, encouraging and spiritual

uplifting conversations. Christian music of praise,

educational, theological, doctrinal hymns and songs,

soothing classical music, soothing classical or jazz music

and the Blues. I love those.

I listened to songs with appropriate lyrics.

I didn't blast my stereo in the car with the F bomb, every

second word with with with filth and cussing rap and R and BI

didn't do that, Rabi. I used my time wisely, not only

my Christian life, but my life in general.

I would study, I worked, I concentrated on my studies,

concentrated on work. I invested my money.

I excelled. I never wasted my time and

became a bludger for those Australian brothers and sisters,

a bludger, which is an Aussie slang.

It's a noun which describes a lazy person.

For example, I'm running around like a headless chook organizing

this Barbie, and Jono's just sitting there like a bludger.

A lazy person. I wasn't a bludger.

I would use my time wisely. And then I ask, So what was your

relationship like then? Great on fire.

Challenging, yet satisfying yet profitable producing fruit.

OK, I reply. What happened?

What is your life in telling now?

Well, what I did then, I don't do now What I didn't do then, I

do now. Well, my advice is cut it out.

Cut out what you did then and you don't do now.

I'm sorry. Do what you did then and don't

do now. Cut out what you didn't do then

and do now. That is causing your faith to

diminish. Cut out the things you do now

which are deterring your consistent, effective and

healthy relationship with God and diminishing, deteriorating

your spirituality. Cut it out.

Cut it out. Gouge it out.

Cut it out. Yes, Matthew 1889.

He's echoing in my words, right. Amen.

Yes, cut it out. So if you thought up to now,

these are Gasha Jenards of Wise and theology and philosophy.

No, no, no. These are the commandments of

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

That Jesus that you were on fire with.

You're on the clouds That Jesus that you loved and worship and

now you crave so much to have that same relationship with

commands you to do this. If your hand or your feet causes

you to sing or subverts you, cut it off and cast it from you.

What those those things that do you do now that have distant you

and diminished your relationship with God, cut them out.

It could be what you do, what you see, where you go, the best

of the best friends you have, the BFF that you have, the

family members, the cousins, the relatives.

Cut them out if they are causing your relationship to God to

start wavering. For it is better for you that

you enter life as a lame, as a maimed, rather than having two

hands or two feet, that you would fall into eternal fire by

cutting out. Yes, you may have been surprised

and shocked. How can I cut out my best best

friend, my relatives? No, by cutting them out you

could cause that relative, that family, that friend, to come

back and repent, so that both of you will enjoy the eternal bliss

and eternity. But if you don't, what Christ is

saying, both of you will be in the eternal fire.

And if your eye subverts you, pull it out, gouge it out from

you. Not physically.

Metaphorically. He's talking about those things

that you now do, which you didn't and are causing you to be

in the dilemma that you're in now in your faith.

For it is better for you that you would enter life with one

eye rather than having two eyes. That you would fall into the

Gehana of fire, the hell of fire.

How would I be? How do I do that?

Easier said than done, they say. Right?

Yeah, it is easy. Cheap talk is cheap.

Well, I'm sorry, That is not blaspheming.

This is not my talk. This is Jesus talk.

And it's not cheap. It is valueless.

You cannot put a value on the words and the promises and the

warnings of Jesus Christ. You know why?

Because value ends thinks devalue.

Christ's words will never devalue because they extend into

eternity. And we're gonna finish with that

when how would I be now? Today, you know, during this

time of fasting, as we are fasting and preparing to

receive, to celebrate, to praise, to worship, to honor the

birth of our Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ, let us now be

attentive to and active in our spiritual vitamin supplements,

prayer, fasting, reading the Holy scriptures, participating

in the public Sacramento worship of the church, partaking in the

all sanctifying body and blood of Christ.

It wasn't just ordinary bread. Don't let them fool you to say

that it's just an ordinary bread.

No, it isn't. Because an ordinary bread will

not kill you, will not put you to sleep, as it did in One

Corinthians. Those who are partaking in this

quote, UN quote, ordinary quote, ordinary bread, UN quote.

They were falling to asleep because they were not worthy.

No, it is the Body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And also remember, during this time, remember to continue your

good deeds. As soon as I mentioned good

deeds. Yeah.

You know, for Thanksgiving we did a a Thanksgiving drive.

And for Christmas we fed the homeless.

God bless you. Amen.

And you know what? Let me tell you something.

I don't like seeing you posting pictures of you feeding someone.

Don't do that. Your left hand should not know

what your right hand is doing. When you do your charitable

work, do not do it to be seen. And if you may say, well, I

don't. Well, why are you posting your

pictures? Don't post pictures of you

feeding a homeless. That's disrespectful to the

homeless for all those who do it and then take selfies, because

I'm feeding a helm. Homeless.

Don't do that. You know you've received your

It's a good, it's a good deed. I'm not, I'm not downplaying

that deed. It's a great deed.

But you received your reward. And you know what your reward

was? Five or six likes on your post

as opposed to eternal bliss with God as opposed to I'm sorry let

me re re retract that as opposed to Christ saying good faithful

servant, I'm going to reward you for that.

No he will say you've already been rewarded.

You got your five likes and two hearts and God bless yous.

No. When I talk about good deeds, we

tend to forget the most important that Christ is really

pleased with forgiveness, reconciliation, You know, as

you, as you listen to this, Now pull over.

Here we go. Pull over to one side.

Stop your washing of the dishes and your vacuuming and changing

of the diapers. Whatever you're doing, just stop

for one second. Once you have completed this, I

don't challenge you and I don't dare you.

I encourage you to pick up the phone and call, text, or send a

SNAP message or an Instagram message or a Twitter message to

that person that you haven't spoken to for so long because he

or she have hurt you so much. Pick up the phone and text and

say in Jesus name, for the sake of my Lord and my Saviour Jesus

Christ, who took my spittle, took my nails, accepted my crown

of thorns, and took my ridicule and my sins and my foolishness

and what's crucified. And yet, he said, Father,

forgive them, for they do not know what they're doing.

These are the deeds that the Lord is pleased with.

Christ mentions. If you only knew what it meant

that I want mercy and not sacrifice.

Mercy, compassion. So continue with your good

deeds. Forgiving, reconciling,

apologizing. If you have caused someone to

fall and you have brought hurt and pain upon someone, pick up

the phone. You know what?

I'm sorry I'm going to so belittle myself.

I'm going to so humble myself and I'm going to apologize,

continue to help people reach out to people this Christmas

during this fasting time. And now let me, let me just tell

those who've never fasted Don't be proud of yourself, don't be

proud of yourself. If you've never fasted.

Don't mock and laugh. And don't tell me where in the

Bible it says it's in the Bible. Go and read the Bible.

Read the scriptures. When you fast, Jesus says,

period. That's it.

When you fast, that means you're going too fast.

Fasting is in the scriptures now.

Maybe some versions have dared to remove fasting from the

scriptures and the punishment of God will be upon those

theologians, whatever you want to call them, who've removed the

word fasting. No, no.

It's in the Pshutba version, which is the ancient version of

the scriptures. Fasting is in the scriptures.

Why aren't you begin to fast before you even forgive and

reconcile and begin to fast? Oh, Rabi, I've never done it.

Like, what do I do? Start simple.

Very simple. Today's Monday, right?

Yeah, it's probably about 9:00 in the morning.

What time do we go? Well, what time do you post it?

70. That's nice.

Even earlier. 7:00 in the morning.

Good morning. Good morning, California.

Philippines. Those who listen from

Philippines. Good morning.

Why don't you, before you turn on your radio and before you

light your cigarette, you know, have your shower, wash your face

and do what you need to do hygienically, Go into your room,

get on your knees and say, Lord, I'm going to attempt to fast

today. I'm going to not eat or drink

until let's say, 12:00. That's when I had my lunch.

I'm going to totally abstain, Lord.

I'm going to not only abstain from food, I'm not going to sit

in the car. I'm not going to turn my music

on. I don't need to listen to that

music right now. Lord, constantly meditate upon

you. I That's what I want to do.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me as Sinner.

Lord Godfather, forgive me. Just mention the name of God.

And then when time comes for you to break your fast your

abstinence, say a prayer. Say, Lord, I know I've fallen.

I know I've made a lot of mistakes and I've probably

sinned as well without me knowing.

Father, accept my fast and then break your fast.

Break your abstinence. Right.

OK, right. I can't go total vegan.

Fine. Why aren't you fast from meat

and poultry? Why don't you do this?

It's the it's the intention. It's the attempt that God will

be pleased and appeased with. Begin to fast and you will see

that slowly and yet 100% guaranteed, 100% guarantee you

know there's going to be no money back.

You know 100% guarantee all your money back.

You'll not receive any money back.

Now it's 100% guaranteed that you will receive the eternal

blessings of God in the Kingdom of Heaven.

When we go back to that point where we had that amazing

relationship with God, Saint Paul encourages us in one

Timothy chapter 6, verses 11:00 and 12:00.

But you, O man of God, escape from these things, escape from

those that cause you to be laxed in an active and living faith.

Now, I know Saint Paul's not talking about this, but let's

just use this for our situation today.

But you, O man of God, escape from these things that are

causing you to waver in your faith, faith, active faith,

living faith, and run after righteousness, after justice,

after faith, after love, after patience, and after humility and

fight in the good contest of faith and seize eternal life to

which things you are called. And you have professed a good

profession before. Many witnesses go back to that

relationship with God, and there is no way you can do it until

you begin to go down on your knees and knock on God's doors.

That's what we do when we name the Holy Trinity and do the Son

of the Cross in the name of the Father and of the Son of the

Holy Spirit. Knock, knock, knock.

Isn't amazing when there is an emergency, What do you call 911?

Just like Homie, Simpson said. Quick, tell me the number for

911. You know you call 911.

In Australia they call triple O though 000.

It's everything is in three, isn't it?

So when there is an urgency in our spiritual life, let us knock

on God's door in the name of the Father one knock and the son the

second knock and the Holy Spirit the third knock and God opens

the door or picks up the phone and says, yes, my son, yes, my

child. I was so waiting for you.

I'm here for you. Now you see, a healthy, active,

thriving relationship with God in temporality will extend into

an everlasting sharing in God's bliss, eternally praise and

glory be to His holy Name now and at all times and forever.

Amen. We hope you enjoyed this week's

message. Please don't forget to rate and

review this podcast and share with your friends and family.

For any future topics, suggestions or to give us

detailed feedback, please visit our link in the Show Notes link

TR EE forward slash double edged sword.

Until next time, God bless you all.