HOW TO FIGHT AGAINST LUST
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- Опубліковано 19 кві 2021
- Why can't we just focus on the spiritual side of life and live as spiritual beings? Why is the Church so keen that we should learn to control our bodies and their passions? Does God even care what we do with our bodies?
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The video 'GOD'S 'OBSESSION' WITH LUST. DOES GOD EVEN CARE? (THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR BODIES AND THEIR PASSIONS)' was recorded by Fr Seraphim Aldea from Mull Monastery (The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints), on the Isle of Mull, Scotland.
"The devil has no reason to pursue those who are already in hell, but he has every reason to pursue those who are trying to escape it."
Stay strong brothers and sisters! Temptation, fall, shame ARE hell. Repent, change your actions. Escape your inner hell.
Im praying for you!
I was literally just praying about this subject in my car and then this video pops up. I love Jesus.
Me too, about 20 minutes ago. Love Jesus too.
@@colinsteeley Christ loves you
Yes we are spoken too. My issue was yesterday. I needed this and here it is . Thank you man of God. God Bless you Brothers 🙏🙏🙏🙏
Praise The Everlasting GOD
@ZdPr Me too. This happens to me almost daily.
If anyone is struggling with some aspect of your faith, pray for understanding so that you may better do God's will. It will be given
Loneliness and depression is the 2 things that lead to this. Glory be to God for your videos. Prayers Father Seraphim.
"If you are lonely when you are alone, you have bad company"
Don't feel regret for not being in company, the time will come, even then, it's better to be alone than to be in bad company
Make solitude comfortable, you don't have to be a hermit but just balance things out, you know..
Also, anger and discouragement. Anger gives the devil a foothold, and discouragement leads you to lose hope and fall again. Confess and pray for deliverance. Also, pray for all those struggling with this. He who waters will also be watered. Bless you all in Jesus' name.
Not only loneliness and depression. Our society encourages this.
I agree. I can’t seem to make any friends or feel connection with anyone around me. I also feel like I don’t belong anywhere.
@@thelastcall633 you belong in church.when youll feel God you will hate to stay in the world
Honestly I'm not a very religious person, but last night I prayed to God to help me fight my temptations with Lust. And then this morning this video pops up on my feed. Thank-you lord.
I hope you found this video encouraging. It lifted my spirits to hear his struggle and know there is a good strategy.
He's always listening to us!
Jesus loves you all
In my experience, I believe the Evil One attacks when I'm feeling good and at my best, not when I'm down.
Same for me!
Joined Orthodoxy not to long ago first few months felt so peaceful and my mind never felt so clear, told my priest and he said it was a small gift of God but warned me that it would not last, that there would be times of struggle. Started having nightmares like never before, rarely in all my life did I ever even have dreams, and becoming a catechumen it's been a real test in faith.
He attacks me at both times. When I'm at my "best" and at my lowest.
satan never tries to attack when he already has you. also he will attack though if he can take you to a darker place by adding a demon into you like alcohol or drugs.
I feel like its the other way around, when down he take me deeper. If im feeling good he leves me alone
Literally made a mistake today with self pleasure and this pops up! Fantastic God! Praise Jesus Christ!
My husband had a brain hemorrhage at age 46 and he became the liturgy for me while he was in the hospital for almost the entire season of lent (from the first Tuesday until the Tuesday of the Bridegroom). All I could do was fast in the hospital cafeteria (I stayed at the hospital day and night for quite a while next to my husband)- to eat peanut butter and a bagel after praying: the poor shall eat and be satisfied but those who praise God- May their hearts be blessed and that brought me so much peace. My body fasting took me in prayer through that whole time.
I have just found this man. I have long struggled against lust. There is something different about this man in a very good way. His words have compassion in them. Others and even myself speak to such sins in a very burn it down way. Whenever I fall into a sin I will spend the next hours viciously tearing myself down. This mans tone alone made me feel better. Usually I say to myself, "How could you, how can you call yourself a Christian and fall into these temptations year after year". Despite not saying it, this man basically said, "It is ok, what you did was wrong, but were all in it together, and here are some tips to stop in the future". Thank you, this video made me realize that I should adopt your attitude, and not my former self hatred method of trying to resist sin.
Do not hate yourself, we are all human. I will fall, you will fall and we will continue to fall. It is in our struggle to rise up and repeatedly fight against our own sinful nature where Christ will bless us with strenght and clarity of mind and heart. That being said we should strive to keep watch over the gates of our minds and of our hearts as the father recommended. May God bless you!
Authentic orthodoxy is all about this. Do not hate the sinner (including yourself), hate the sin
before sinning, the Devil is your defender and Jesus/conscience the accuser, after you sin, Devil is the accuser, Jesus is your at your defence. After you've committed sin the Devil tell you're despicable and all bad things. What you do if you follow these thoughts, you'll repeat it over and over again, like the drunken husband that comes back home drunk, hit the wife, then he gets sober, realises what he's done, and full of guilt goes out and drinks again, comes back home and hit his wife again. You have to forgive yourself, be sorry, go to confession asap, knowing that God mercy is bigger than any of your sins.
I been clean from alcohol for nearly four years and I have overcome it this far by my faith in Christ and watchfulness is a big thing in defeating demons . We have to understand how the enemy works to become stronger spiritually in the fight against our sinful ways 🙏🏻
Put the Bible on my head. And saw the word lust with my eyes closed. Seconds later I find this. 👍🏼 gods work.
Thank you, Fr. Seraphim. I lived many years in Chile and we experienced multiple earthquakes. I learned that I could hear them before I'd feel them as they'd shake the trees as they advanced over the landscape. I've found that in the spiritual life it is the same. There are warning signs that we begin to recognize over time, and can prepare to confront. Thank you for reminding me of this.
Beautiful comment, thank you for sharing. God bless you!
Chilean here, bless you
12:13 "THE LITTLE STOVE THAT REHEATS YOUR HEART AND YOUR BRAIN IS ACTUALLY YOUR BODY." 🤯
And so, I was brought to tears. You can still stand like a candle that cannot be lit, like the living dead. The body can still fall prostrate before God.
Can you please film a video on gluttony? It is one that I feel is often overlooked, and I too am guilty of trying to overlook it in my life. I have struggled in my relationship with my body and food for a long time, and I woul greatly appreciate it if you could offer your words of wisdom on this topic. Thank you so much, I truly see Christ in you💕
Gluttony is a lust.....this video is for you!
Romans 6:19
"I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves of righteousness for holiness."
It brings things into perspective when you hear that even a monk struggles with human shortfalls. I don't feel so much like a failure. Thank you brother.
What I've learned is that every second that I am feeling peaceful or good is a blessing, for I know the enemy can strike at any given moment. Also, the devil loves to kick you when you're down. Faith and prayer are crucial for the spiritual battleground. The Lord is my strength. Praise the Lord. Glory to God. God bless all of you and I love you all.
Thank you for sharing, Glory to God, Bless you too.
Thank you so much for your candor and honesty, I’m struggling in this area very badly and I’m definitely not winning the battle. What is it? Why is it? I just don’t know! It’s like when Paul said he does what he shouldn’t do and doesn’t do what he should and calls himself a wretched man! Thank God that we are not rejected because of these idiotic behaviors and weaknesses! Even though I know it’s not theologically sound I’ve even prayed for the Lord to take away my free will ! I don’t want it and I don’t need it! But I will never give up and I will always try to do better not because I’m afraid of being punished because anyway I’m just punishing myself, but because I am so grateful that Jesus was tortured to death as a guilt offering for a wretch like me. It’s also a vicious cycle of depression. I feel depressed and lonely and so I sin snd then I get depressed because I’ve sinned! Thanks so much and I do pray for you and your monastery wherever you are! May God bless you and keep you. May He cause His face to shine on you and give you peace in Jesus’s name.
Hey man, just keep doing what you're doing. Focusing on God and moving in the right direction. For me it's relatable to compare this struggle with getting in shape, we can't just constantly get in better and better shape in a linear fashion. You'll have times when you make gains and times when you make losses, but as long as the gains outpace the losses, you know you're really trying. It's like the tracking line of a good stock, they still fall certain weeks, certain months, even years.. but over the long haul they keep moving up! God bless you man, I'll pray all of us who struggle with this can be victorious through Christ.
You are not alone I have the same problems sometime I even thinking to kill my self but i know that thought is from evil ,, I keep praying 😢I feel God don’t hear my prayers then somehow the more i prayed I can feel him again it’s not easy let keep pray
The Book of James is one I truly hold close for times like these. This spiritual attack is one where you can only endure and hold God's testimonies close to heart.
Thank you for the wisdom Father.
Lust uses pleasure itself to entice you away from God.
The trick I'm learning is to reflect on the fact that God made pleasure and treasures it. We can learn from Adam and Eve's mistake and point out to the snake that God will give us the full measure of what he designed them for.
pleasure is in joy and laughter, in a warm hug and a kind smile. There is no limit to God's imagination. He loves us and celebrates us in our celebration of Him. We Celebrate God in His Church
So this only works in submission to God and through repentance. To be obedient to his commandments etc.
I hope this is helpful for someone.
Not only pleasure to entice, but also interest and excitement as an attractive and effective distraction from pain.
Glad I came across this on a Friday night home alone. The mystical Body of Christ is real.
That feeling is The Holy Spirit leaving you after His work is done through you.
Christ transcended the passions,the death the pain,the fear,because if you don t undergo them,you can t defeat them.and He gave us the power to do so.as we receive His Most Holy Body.and He communicates to us the same will by which He transcended everything. Yes.may God embrace us and may we all meet in the Kingdom of Heaven with bodies full of light and with souls full of light❤
When i am refuse to sleep , i hear your videos then i get good sleep
I have accidentally come across this video and am speechless 😳
Lord have mercy on us.
Lord enlight my darkness to know myself and to be humble. Amen
This talk of loneliness and depression and dealing with rejection is exactly what I’m going through. What I’ve gone through for years. Thank you for this upload. Lord Jesus give me the strength.
Jesus is the only way to have victory what a saviour he is thankyou god praise jesus Christ
Everything about this talk - the gentleness, compassion, love, and attention to patristic and scriptural wisdom - is GOOD. I've sent this video to friends. Protestant Christians everywhere need to return to this incarnational, Orthodox teaching on body, heart, mind and how to resist temptations.
Yes, Father...despondency , fear, anxiety, judging my brother, anger, feelings of abandonment, loneliness are entry points for the Devil. Thank you Father for a humble and courageous talk. Don't get too tired! I learned from you about using the body to return and create the conditions for the "stove" to reignite - standing in the dark mute, or prostrating. A Catholic saint teaches that there are times when we can only just kneel before God like "an intelligent statue," and that can be a prayer. I pray for you, for your community, and for Scotland. Pope John-Paul said that we Christians must once again learn to breathe with two lungs - East and West. May it be so. Amen
You have been the most wise priest i have heard. I dont know if i will ever see a catholic church again in my life. I have been away from it and from jesus in my own heart for so long. Listening to you is helping me forgive myself and swallow my own pride and open myself back up to the idea of religion again. I go one day at a time.
Thank you for being a real, humble, loving, father as you teach us throughout the world using this medium to share God’s live and wisdom.
I DON'T HAVE A SPIRITUAL FATHER😢.. I leave in Como, Italy. 🙏🙏🙏THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME FOR OUR SOULS....
Como is so beautiful. I was blessed to visit there many many years ago with my family . . What a lovely village
Thank you Father . I let the Devil overcome me yesterday and here you are for me . Thank you for this study 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🇺🇸
I just prayed about this and this video showed up I'm struggling
the analogy of the Ottoman destruction in the Balkans was very powerful
I notice Satan only attacks me when I'm at my lowest, when I'm not mentally well. He even uses his people to bring me down to his level. But always keep in mind, God gets all the glory in the end. God conquers evil always, we all His children must obey His word and most importantly keep alert of things that will lead us to sin. God bless everyone who views this video
Thank you, this is been very eye opening, i understand that my loneliness is selfish and a weak spot. That the mechanism for this fall into spiritual void and feelings of lust were influenced by each other. I pursued the love of another person with every part of my mind body and heart, i pursued them with abandon to my self, my time, even my faith. Nothing else mattered to me while i thought that this persons love and acceptance would fulfill my heart. I didnt want to be alone, and i put the love of a woman on the highest place in my heart. I regret this terribly!! i am tormented feelings of lust, abandonment, fear and regret. Im learning, my signs are to not go against what God is doing in my life because as we know God does hand us over to ourself and our sin. Please Lord forgive me for trying to do it on my own, its painful to try. Your lessons are full of mercy and love and its clear we didnt have youre blessing to pursue a relationship together, but let us find you and love you as we are separated. and let that separation be filled instead with you Lord in Jesus name
Glory to God! This channel has been a literal Godsend.
Alone for 10 years lost my parents in a car crash 4 years ago. I've become void of most motivation and energy as I get stuck in the thought of what even is the point of living. I might as well lay in bed and starve to death. But don't worry I won't do anything. Those are just my thoughts. I seek out lustful websites to get that sexual energy to temporarily get rid of my depression and it works. I've apologized to God only a million times and feel I'm not worthy of forgiveness anymore. Anyways, thank you for this video!
Life is a struggle, my friend. The important thing is to not give up and that we always keep God front and center in all things that we do. IC XC NIKA
Join a hiking group through Meetup app
Don’t give up on yourself , be of service to others in whatever way you can . You have much to live for .
@adamdarby43
Hey lost my mom 2016 dad died pretty much as soon as I was born. It’s hard to quit but it’s not impossible. 12 days sober but I do smoke cigarettes but keep praying keep trying to be your best friend as well.
Thank you, Father. Very, very helpful. I appreciated your saying that our body can take the first step. One priest said, "At least..." In other words I may not be able to (fill in the blank) but I can at least stand or prostate myself in silence." Thank you so much.
You are such an angel💔🥺.Yes.God is coming to us,to all of us,even the most wretched;let s not shut the door in His face. Our God doesn't eat nor drink what we usually eat and drink:meat,vegetables,bread...our Lord has another menu:It is meat and drink for Me TO DO THE WILL of HIM Who sent Me until I have finished His work.So,it doesn't mean that if you fast,you will only eat air or drink just wind
I feel the Holy Spirit speaking through you and this whole talk really touched those who needed to hear it. Thank you for this video
I battled with this before and during my encounter with God and thankfully so much ground was given me when I put my faith in Jesus that what was my most defining sin, or weakest gate to the enemy, was repaired.
So much of what you say is exactly what I experienced, though in a much less organised fashion. I chose celibacy, which began as a relief and continues as a blessing, and will continue as long as God wills it. However, there are annoying thoughts at times and when they occur in my waking moments they are not too difficult to withstand. However, I do feel like sometimes my sleep is when I am most under attack because I am not as aware of what's going on until I wake up relieved that it wasn't real. I'm sure you are already planning to address this aspect of the battle but I thought I would pose the question.
Thank you Father. God bless you. You and all those at the monastery are in my prayers every day. I'm looking forward to receiving your Mary Mother of Love icon in the post very soon. I made the mistake of ordering my patron saint Columba (and the heron) along with Becoming our true selves in Christ instead of the Theotokos when I got Christ The Good Shepherd to begin my icon corner and neglected the traditional setup but after getting to know Mary last Friday in church I decided to remedy my mistake. So thank you for these holy gifts. I love you very much. :)
Thank you again Father for another video on the passion of Lust. It has been difficult dealing with this passion, especially during the government mandated lockdowns. I have had a decent period of quiet with this passion so I recently purchased two icons to help support you in return for your wisdom. Peace of the Lord be with you my brother.
She has made miraculous healing in the past 2 days. GLORY TO GOD IN ALL THINGS. Much thanks for the prayers. Especially the prayers of the Theotokos and St. PANTELEIMON.
I saw my wife go through exactly what you are explaining explaining
This was honestly amazing. Honestly this was holy spirit in you. Ive never heard you speaking so so passionately. The youth need this. God bless you to continue teaching and helping us. Be blessed. Amen
it feels like we were set up for failure
Thank you for the help I’ve been struggling with this for a while and I just want it gone but with patience and faith and persistence I will beat it no matter what ,lord Jesus Christ have mercy
Father Seraphim, this is a very emotional spiritual advice. I have accomplished more by your simple easy to understand lectures than even a school of theology and dogma. The study of God is one thing but how to handle day to day realities is another. Peace and Blessings.
You are exhausted because the Power of the Lord has passed through you to we that hear you and at least for ME, feel the power of the blessed words coming physically from your mouth directly to my senses and Holy Spirit within me. Thank you Fr Seraphim. I needed that!! Go rest. You accomplished your work!
My humble Prayers are for you Father, Thank You for all those Videos guiding towards the Light in the Days of Darkness... Amen
Thanks to guide me to god, i hope that god do the same with everyone.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Do not give 1 second to him, rebuke Satan immediately. Look away.
this video popped up in my recommended at first, and although i knew deep down i needed it, i looked at its length and i felt too lazy to watch it, and i skipped it and did something else. no 30 minutes later i fell into lust (likely through the heart, through my own feelings of loneliness). i regretted it, prayed for forgiveness, and then came back to youtube, this video in my recommended, but this time in the very first row of the page. ahahahah. God is great. may he bless the algorithm and those who created it, and most of all, may he bless you, father who has made me weep twice with as many videos with your humble yet powerful words. Amen.
Made me tear up at the end. I am not Orthodox but your videos popped up in my feed. This is the second video I have watched so far. Thank you for giving us honest, Godly message that are unfiltered, that hit the soul and spirit and guide us to grow and change in Jesus Christ. God Bless You! 🙏🏽
Stop thinking that you want to quit watching porn. Start thinking that you want to live a life that's pleasing to God. There's a big difference.
Thank you so much Father!
Thank you God for sending me this man...
Thank you father
its so amazing how we observe god answering our prayers, i feel god speaks to me through this video
22:17 min. mark. Indeed, St. Joseph is the patron saint of sleep. May he bless your efforts and your rest, on the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Even Jesus, based in a happy part on the example of trusting slumbers witnessed in the person of his foster father, could be raised up from the deepest sleep to even calm the tempests of the Sea of Galilee. +Peace+ & All Good, in the Name of Jesus, Through the Prayers of the Theotokos! So Be It!
So well said. The Holy Spirit spoke through this man. Praise God.
1)Devotion to Mother Mary such as Three Hail Mary’s to protect you from impurity
2)Meditation on Hell
3)Meditation on Passion of Christ !
But wouldn’t writing our failures journal invite further strong temptation? Because the memory can invite us to those moments right when we recall , we can’t even trust ourselves after all
Orthodox Christians don’t use Hail Mary as a sort of mantra prayer, instead we pray “O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me a sinner.” We have the Hail Mary prayer, but we only read or sing it only on specific occasions; also Orthodox Christians never use the term “meditation” because that term belongs to Buddhism which has nothing to do with Christ; meditation is a self-centered matter while a prayer is a dialogue with God
@@Viktorvelat95 Christian meditation is dialogue with God.
From Misión Cruz Hermitage in Somerset, Texas. Blessings
Hallelujah! Amen! Thank you Lord for this homily! And thank you Fr. Seraphim! God bless you all!
7:42 Eg I might try to justify my desire not to pray, that I am "not in the right mood" or that "it's too late" etc... My brain will then shoot back saying, "do you just want to suffer your whole life?!" and the answer, I think, at age 36, is... Yes, kinda. I'm not seeking out meaningless suffering, but the suffering I endure now, eg praying when I am tired, waking up early to go to Church even though I haven't slept etc...that's the suffering I should endure because that is the point of this life - to endure our suffering for our greater glory
Thank you for these jewels. God bless you Father.
Yet again, God answered through your video. I find it very useful when you give us examples from your experience. Thank you, Father!
Thank you Fr Seraphim for your message today. Your videos are so blessed and helpful. Praying for you all on Mull. God's blessings to you all. Amen.
Thank you so much for this. You & the monastery will be in my prayers as well.
This message was exactly what I needed! I have been struggling (just like everyone else) with this sort of thing!
Now more than ever I realise that the grace of Almighty God, which makes possible what seems impossible to
us by nature, goes hand in hand with that internal decision to forsake sinful conduct, and that desire does not
excuse or sanction behaviour (Psalms 38 & 51; Book Of Sirach, 5: 4-7; Epistle Of Paul To The Romans, 6: 1-23)!
Very well said, God Bless you!
Thank you for this.
Holy Spirit definitely moving in this- I had very specific answered questions to my prayers in this. Very moved. Bless you through our Lord Christ Jesus.
Thank you for the advice Farther. Love your videos and your advice they are always a big help ,
Thank you for those encouraging words, Father. I will keep you in my prayers.
needed this. thanks!
Glory to God 🙏.
You explain this beautifully Father.
Thank you, Father, you always say something that I need to hear. Blessings to you all
Wow this is incredibly salvific stuff! Moved me to tears. Thank you!
Thank you for this video, Lord had reccomend this video when i need it the most
God be with us. Thank You for this forum Father.
Thank you so much.
Thank your Father Seraphim for you teachings on this subject. Praying for you and all your brothers and sister at Mull. Please take care of yourself we need your words of encouragement and enlightenment in these crazy times.
thank you bro.... with all our heart, our mind and and our strength
And from my experience, and I'm sure many other women too, it's not only the temptation, but when you're on the receiving end of it, when you're being lusted upon, it feels disgusting. And the moment we sit with why it actually feels disgusting, we see the heartbreak underneath it. I've been weeping so many times for not being looked at with love but with Lust. It's heartbreaking.
Pornography is a huge issue with me. This has helped.
May God continue to bless you. Amen dear Brother.
Romans 6:6. St Paul uses the past tense to proclaim that our old Adamic nature was crucified with Jesus on the cross (nailed to the cross). Let us proclaim this word of God over our lives, over and over until it becomes true for us. Death was not instant for Christ, and so for our old nature it will not die in one moment, but let us have faith, confident that it will die, becoming weaker and weaker until we are free from it's influence on us. Keep proclaiming these words of God releasing this supernatural/spiritual power into our lives. God bless.
God bless you. Thank you for these words.
Excellent talk. Prayers each and every day for you and your community.
Thank you Father, I learn from you all the time. The topic was well explained.
Brave topic, so much to realize
God Bless you.
Thank you
So needed this.
Thank you so much! Christ bless you! Oh Lord Jesus Christ Son of God have mercy on me a sinner!
Thank you Father...beyond slogans, true practical advice
Amazing and powerful . 🙏 prayers for you all and thanks to God