Episode 10: Spiritual Warfare of Fasting

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. Oh, Christ the light of the

world and the life of all give us wisdom by a 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

fulfill your Commandments at every hour.

O you who enlightens the rationale with the knowledge of

your greatness? He's doin light O My Lord.

Our thoughts that we made meditate upon your holy and

divine scriptures at all times. Oh Lord of all Father and Son

and Holy Spirit forever. Amen.

Receive the blessings and the Peace of our Lord and our Savior

Jesus Christ, beloved listeners, wherever you may be, I pray that

you are protected guarded and nurtured under the caring

compassionate. Love of our heavenly father

through his son. Our Lord Jesus Christ, and His

Holy Spirit. Praise and glory be to His holy

name for he has given us yet another gift.

These are his Provisions that we come together to discuss the

holy scriptures and to talk about our Heavenly Creator

period. How beautiful and how blessed

that he is for brothers to be worshipping together.

The psalmist says, but we to this is a like of worship

service. You know, when we talk about

Heavenly, you know when we talk about God, our creator Allah Now

Savior, Jesus Christ, we talk in all in respect in reverence in

utmost reverence and in worship today's not Monday.

Yes I know it's Wednesday. This is a special program as we

have entered our Battlefield with Satan during this period of

fasting. I thought that possibly every

Wednesdays we can have a different program to encourage

one another to What is it? G?

Each other up to 2. Hype each other up to continue

this battle as we have entered. As I said the battlefield with

Satan and his special forces. This is fasting.

You know, when we when we pray when we fast when we read the

Holy scriptures, when we contemplate on guard we have an

enemy that is trying to devour that and to adamantly Terrace

away from that. So there is a battle and it's a

spare Spiritual battle. So we have entered this

battlefield and those who haven't who are standing aside

on the sidelines, come in, come and join us.

Yes, it's not easy. You know, just just the word

itself battle, it's a fight. It's a, it's an out war war

against the enemy and we encourage you to join us in this

battlefield. Meaning, you know, offer your

fast, your prayers come Um to the law through your fasting

sing Paul writes, to his his son, he calls the Bishop Timothy

and his first epistle to Timothy 6:12 and fight in the good

contents contest of faith is you know, fight a good Battle of

faith and sees eternal life to which things you are called.

We are called to eternal life, and you have professed a good

profession before many witnesses.

So I encourage. It's those who are still sitting

on the sidelines and watching those who are in the battlefield

to come and join us. That is joining each other.

In this, in this battle and strengthen each other.

Through our prayer, Our encouragement, as we are doing

today, and we know that the special forces, the enemy has

his various types of Temptations and evil thoughts and deeds and

desires struggles pleasures of the World Pride lust, this sees

immoral desires, foolishness weakness, the list goes on and

on shortfalls hatred. Complacency carelessness

selfishness, you know, it's more than mere not eating meat, isn't

it? It's not just about not eating

meat and eating Martian, Locker beans, and lentils.

You know this week, we begin our second week of fasting.

And what we should be doing is we should be contemplating, we

should be meditating, we should be pondering and praying for the

revelation of the evil that has lurked and he's lurking and has

made its about its resting place, its dwelling place within

us. When I say within us, our

thoughts, our bodies, our souls our minds, our feelings, our

reactions, our senses. That's where he has in his most

trickery and deceitful. Ways makes his Abode within us

For the past two week, we have, you know, undertaken the the

greatest challenge of our life. Which is displeasing denying

rebuking trying to conquer the enemy and some may be saying.

Yeah, right. But I'll be yes, Robbie, Asha

jernard father, you may say, you know, look around you father,

it's not as easy as you speak it, you know, words are easier

than action. Well, you know, right?

At this moment, I personally am not concerned about what sir

Found me. What's happening surrounding me

but more. So what's Within Me?

Don't worry about what's happening in the world and

what's happening around us now, you know, Society, Community

politics, don't worry. Don't don't Focus too much on

that because these things are at our expected.

You know, we're living in a world of wickedness, so I world

of wickedness can produce nothing but wickedness, but

let's concentrate more during these periods of fasting and

praying and meditating. The holy scriptures on what's

within us what's happening within us?

You know why? Because if I have surrounded

with hatred, if I'm surrounded with hatred, but the genuine

Love Of Christ, that is Christ, himself is truly embedded within

me. My surroundings may disturb me

May cause me to stumble and to fall but certainly they will not

harm me. And when I say they'll genuine

love Christ himself. 1 Corinthians 13 love The love of

the cross. If it's within me and it's alive

within me, then what's around me?

What surrounds me really won't hurt me, harm, me, If there is

so much immorality, there is so much filth.

There's so much impurity surrounding us and the list goes

on, but I am complete with the Holiness.

With the sanctification, with the hallowing of the Holy

Spirit, who is active. And in total control of me, then

again, I won't be harmed. I'm a bee.

I will be attacked continually, but the attacks will not

overcome. You know, I must correct myself.

I may be harmed, it may affect me, but it will not bring me

down. It will not end me.

If I have the genuine Love Of Christ and the fervor of the

Holy Spirit within me. If there are various trials,

Temptations, and I have an unwavering faith in the power of

the name of my Lord and My Savior, Jesus Christ, I can

overcome and Conquer everything. in the book of Acts chapter 3

Acts 3:6

verse 6, the second most amazing thing that Simon did and

fulfilled and was able to do after receiving and being

empowered by. The holy spirit, is this look at

the beautiful words that came out of his mouth.

I have no gold. I have no silver.

It's not about money, it's not about wealth, but what I do have

And Simon is not being selfish and saying what I do have it's

my know Simon is speaking on behalf of all those who have

confessed the Lord to be their savior.

The Christ, the only son of God, look at what we have.

And we should to give to others that in the name of Jesus.

The Christ. The Nazarene stand up and walk

in the name of Jesus. So regardless, what's around me,

what's surrounding me? I'm going to speak about that,

how we always use that as an excuse and it's such a weak

excuse. When it comes to Christianity in

the power of Christ. And the Holy Spirit, the Father,

the Son, and the Holy Spirit. So if I'm surrounded, but I have

a faith that is unshakable unwavering and that faith is in

the power of the name of my Lord and My Savior Jesus Christ.

I too can conquer and I will possibly be harmed and affected

but I will not be conquered. In John, chapter 16 verse 23.

John 16:23

Jesus said, excuse me. And in that day, you will not

ask me anything Timeless. Truth.

I speak to you. This is the positive version.

Everything that shall you shall ask my father?

In my name. He, you shall, he shall give it

to you. So how powerful is the name of

my Lord and My Savior, Jesus Christ, your lord, and your

savior Jesus Christ, that when we ask God the Father the

creator of the universe Heaven and Earth and we ask in Jesus

name. We he the father will give us

there is the power of the name of Jesus Christ.

Please mind the neighbor's dog. This is our Master, is it?

He's named. Dana.

You got to do something about your dog?

I mean, I know I think Dina listens to these as well in any

case, let's focus. You know how coincidental is

were talking about the enemy and attacking us and you have a dog

barking anyway, in the joys and Pleasures surrounding me

surrounding us. And we're talking about not

focusing about what's What's around us, what you know and

using that as an example, the P pressure, the pressure of the

world, you know, during this time of Lent, if the joys and

Pleasures surrounding us are adamant to drawers as Jude,

Royce need to them. Through any means social media

television, just what's around us.

But I contemplate. And I read and I focus on the

lives of the Holy Saints, who conquered them.

And I try to walk the path of the Holy Saints, then I too will

be crowned as they did. I encourage you to read the

biographies, the histories of the lives of the Holy Saints,

you know, this is one of the one of the Christian virtues and one

of the Christian responsibilities and what we,

what we need to do is to read about those who went through all

those struggle, Worse than you. And I possibly and yet they

overcame and they conquered And yes, I admit I admit that if we

backslide and we fall to the intensity of what is surrounding

us. Yes.

And I mentioned that that, you know, I may be affected, we may

be affected. We met backslide, we may fall

but if we believe that we have a high priest Hebrews 4:15, we

Hebrews 4:15

have a high priest Jesus Christ, Our Lord and our savior, praise

and glory be to his name. The name above all names.

The name above all names. Do you not even dare, do not go

there to put any name, alongside the name of my Lord and My

Savior Jesus Christ. By whom only God, the father was

pleased, only Jesus Christ, and if we know that we have this

high priest who will suffer with us in our weaknesses, why?

Because any did that on the cross?

Because he went through everything that you and I claim

that is so hard to go through yet.

He didn't sin. He conquered.

And that's why he has sympathy, that's why Christ suffered

suffice with us. When we are in this weakness and

we believe in that and take that as our as our point of

encouragement, as an encouragement, verse that Jesus

knows what you and I are going through.

So let's not hop on the, the baseless excuses that we, you

know, which you use, we to justify the evil and you know,

and justify our Evil by our surroundings.

Let's not use that as an excuse. Actually, what we should do

during this time and as God does is use the evil around us for

our own strength and for our own benefit and the benefit.

Of others, regardless, Matthew chapter 5 verse 38, which is one

Matthew 5:38

of the readings of the gospels, during this Lenten period.

Excuse me, I'm coming over recovering from a cold, excuse

me, Matthew chapter 5 verse 38 to the end.

Matthew 5:38

This is the reading but I'm going to look at verse 38.

I for I listen to this. This is God, allowing in Exodus

Exodus 21:24

21:24, you know, I'm going to read that because that's what

Jesus is quoting. And I in exchange, for an eye, a

tooth in exchange for a tooth, a hand, in exchange for a hand, a

foot in exchange, for foot sounds cruel or maybe even a

little cool. Hey, you know, there you go.

There's there's my key to tanking taking Revenge.

Why was this allowed? Was it allowed was it permitted

so that one could, you know, fulfill the anger and could take

out his wrath and anger and frustration on one who is

hurting or, you know, causing pain?

Well, no, it wasn't. That wasn't God's purpose.

God didn't say, you can go. And, you know, take your revenge

and you can you can sort your own problems out when someone

hurts, you know, because that goes against what, what Christ

tells You know, the scriptures say, you know, give time allow

for God's Vengeance. But why is this recorded in

scripture? Why does God permit that?

Was that to deter people from panning one, another as Saint

John. Chrysostom comments in verse 38,

Jesus instructs us not to resist the devil in this verse he says,

do not. Resist, the devil or do not rise

up against. Well, it's not actually do not

resist the devil. But use reverse psychology,

theology spiritual psychology because we know that those who

harm or afflict Us in any shape or form are doing it under the

auspices or the influence of Satan.

It's evil. You see all good comes from God,

nothing but good comes from God. Now God may allow evil upon us

but there is reason for that. There's a purpose for that.

All good comes from God and all evil all bad comes from Satan.

Now God, as I said, May at times use bad or evil for our

reforming. You know, reshaping educating,

rebuking remoulding, strengthening.

Let me give an example. Simple, when you punch someone,

you punch someone to hurt someone.

Unless it's, you know, it's a friendly gesture and that

sometimes hurts. I might go up to Steve and say,

hey, Steven and I punch him on the shoulder and sometimes there

are points in the shoulder where you can just touch anything.

Wow, that hurt Robbie, my intention was not to hurt,

right? My intention was through pain to

show how much I love him, right? But let's use that.

As an example, punching someone is causing Seeing someone harm

pain its evil but you see in the karate instructors, what they do

to their students. They actually Stomp Them on the

stomach, then they punch them. They kicked him in the stomach

SWAT so that they can strengthen the ABS.

I think it is. What is it that stomach laughs?

Yeah. What about what about when when,

you know I watch rugby league and and the players are in the

change rooms and new Talking Tom sums up and you know and then

and then I stay next to me in front of one of them, they slap

each other in the face. And you can tell that hurts

because you can see there. And marks on on the phase 2.

But what do you know? That's, that's so you can you

can encourage and you could build that person to come on.

We're going in a battlefield now and it's and I start screaming.

Yeah, you know, or you see, you see those who punch someone and

they fall on the ground in a ring and they go and stomp on

their faces and punch them with the elbows and then stand up and

say, Praise Jesus. You know that I can never work

that one out but regardless but what it's the evil, it's pain.

And to get someone ready for action.

For this reason, John chrysostom says, Jesus also added, but I

say to you, do not resist. The evil one, now be careful.

John chrysostom also adds, he did not say Do not resist your

brother. Do not resist the evil.

So if a person is harming you is causing you harm, it's the evil.

Don't go against the brother don't go and paint, punch the

Daylights out of the brother but don't resist that evil.

The evil one. So we are authorized to dare to

act in the presence of evil to take on evil.

However this is the key Point Saint John chrysostom rights

through cry. Iced influence.

Reverse psychology, reverse theology.

I said through Christ influence in this way.

Wee. We can relax.

We can secretly remove most of the anger against the aggressor.

When we look at the evil, not the person and understand that.

That is Satan. So how am I going to combat

Satan? How do you combat evil with

good? So you do good to that person

who is harming you, that's why Jesus said, pray for your

enemies. Let me tell you my enemies will

never ever do good for me. My enemies will try to hate me,

my enemies will try to slander. My name, my enemies will try to

Define me character assassinate me.

These are enemies. But Jesus said, don't go against

your enemies. Go against that evil.

What you do is Come back and you say, for example, you know, God

bless you, I'll pray for them, I'll continue to pray for them.

If they, if they spit in my face, my reply will be, will God

bless you? You know what, who am I, when my

Lord received my spittle, who am I to stand here now?

And to be, to be utterly disappointed in one, take one to

take revenge, so what's surrounding me is not an excuse

beloved, that's actually a key and excuse that Satan gives You

and I to even further distance as from the will and the

Holiness of God, Saint Paul sums it up.

So beautifully in Romans. 12:21, do not be overcome by evil.

Romans 12:21

See Saint Paul is not extracting that we do not be overcome by

those who cause us pain suffering and evil.

It's evil, it's Satanist on bear.

Do not be overcome by evil that comes from people, but overcome

evil Evil with good. Pray for those who persecute you

feed your enemy, close your enemy bless your enemy.

Yeah. I you know, I can feel the Vibes

right now, you're probably driving.

And as I've always said, concentrate on the road or

you're washing your dishes, you're probably thinking, yeah,

whatever I'll be. Well if that is the mindset we

have in our Christian faith, God help us.

We need to pray. We need to ask God to remove

that, that evil mindset and to put us in that in that peaceful

and loving mindset of our Lord and our Savior Jesus Christ,

imitate Jesus Christ. During this Lent beloved, let us

imitate Jesus Christ. Which means suffer with the

weakness of others as well. We too have at times been

tempted in all things like they are.

And yet we have sinned There has been times where I have caused

disappointment sadness. Maybe even hurt through my words

not so much for my actions but through my words my service,

maybe you know, how, I've how I have battle, or how I have,

what's that word? You know, there's a word that

you sometimes you lose them. You know how I've taken control

over certain In certain circumstances I may have heard

people. See, I have sinned, I have

fallen Satan. May have worked through me and

he has overcome me. So who am I then to to be ready

to take take revenge and you know take Vengeance on someone

who is you know hurting me and not knowing sometimes what

they're doing and it's from Evil.

So I must not resist, the evil eye must come against evil with

goodness. I'll leave you with this verse

to conclude 2 Corinthians 13:5. I think the best way to really

2 Corinthians 13:5

see where we stand with all of that we have discussed, is to

examine our souls Saint. Paul writes, examine your souls

your inner, whether you stand in the faith, faith is not just

praising. Jesus, faith is not just doing

good and feeding, the homeless and coming and attending church

and fasting. That's not only mere faith.

Faith is to see whether you truly Stand in the faith and the

test of faith. As I've mentioned, I think in

previous programs is the test of faith.

Is what? How you conduct yourself your

Christian manner, in a world of wickedness, in the most awkward

and in the most difficult situations and circumstances,

that's where you tested your test.

Your faith, you don't test your faith.

When you're a church and you hear all these beautiful

chantings and the prayers and the Liturgy and you partake in

the Holy. Has.

That's not where you test your faith.

You test your faith when the world goes up against you.

And how you react, so examine your souls, whether you stand in

the faith, tend to your souls. Or are you not aware that?

Jesus the Christ is in you. Jesus.

The Christ is in you, you know? Yes, those who are at church,

two days ago, three days ago was a two days ago.

They partook in the Holy body and blood of Christ.

The Holy Eucharist to put a banner khadisha.

Hello, your body with my body, he who eats my body and drinks,

my blood remains in me. And I in him, that's not only

during that church time, and when you leave the church, the

body disappears, and just dissolves know Christ is with us

through his script. Through the Holy Spirit through

our contemplation and mediation through his body and blood

through our blood. Christian brothers and sisters

Christ is in you. And that if not Paul goes on to

say you are worthless. If you cannot find Christ within

you, if you are not sure where the Christ is in you.

And how do you test yourself to see if Christ is in, you is You

test yourself to see whether you are in the true Faith.

So during this battlefield beloved in this battlefield, and

during this war that we have waged against Satan and his

enemies. Let us focus.

Focus on ourselves. Where do we stand as far as

Christ's Commandments as far as Christ instructions?

As far as the instructions of the the church, The Liturgy, the

Eucharistic service, the prayers, where do we stand as

far as they are concerned? Because beloved fasting without

reading the holy scriptures or praying is a spiritual bodies

up. We got spiritual diet.

So I pray that during this time if you have dared and you are

courageous to take on Satan during this time of fasting and

lent and you have joined the battle.

I pray that the Lord will strengthen you continuously

focus on Jesus Christ. Focus on Christ's victory in the

wilderness where he truly was Victorious over Satan.

And all his Temptations. And if you're standing on the

sidelines, please come and join us in this battlefield so that

you can encourage. We can encourage one another.

May Christ be glorified at all, times in all that we say and do.

Amen. One last thing.

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God bless you all