I have heard it said that the evil powers do not care about our sin as much as they care about leading us into despair to the point that we abandon God. They make the path to hell look good because they cannot make hell look good.
@Nola-2000 That's the reason why I often find modern or classical literature to be discouraging. Books like Candide, by Voltaire, are congratulating themselves, telling themselves and their readers that they're finally free from the stultifying effects of the church. Most reviewers are equally worldly, and praise books like this for being so enlightened.
Father, thank you for making it clear that discouragement is far more to be feared than sin is. I love to listen to your wise advice, and I'm even planning to visit my local Orthodox Church for the first time this Sunday, largely because of listening to you and Father Spyridon. The only thing you said that I'm unsure of is when you said that the Mountain of Sin grows heavier with each generation, as each generation is further away from the time of Jesus. In a comment below, someone said that Abba Sisoes was the one who first told us about this doctrine. I know nothing about the early Fathers like Abba Sisoes, but I remain skeptical about this doctrine that sin becomes harder and harder to resist as time goes on. I'm not saying that the opposite is true, either: that the world is making real progress over the centuries in alleviating tragedies like starvation, disease, war, and slavery. I just don't know, either way. But I don't need to know. I just need to follow Jesus, and to get better and better at following Him as time goes by in my own life.
I have so much shame and struggle everyday, since separating from the byzantine church I have struggled to physically be present at divine liturgy I want to be accepted into the orthodox church . I don't feel worthy and the demons have kept me from reaching out
Thank you Father. I am so blessed to have found this channel. You have a major impact in my spiritual life, by the power of the Holy Spirit. May God Bless you and your monastery.
Good point Brother we can create a stronghold as I did through sexual immorality via pornography and adult strip clubs BUT! Praise God I always kept listening to Christian radio and UA-cam channels like yours and many other God would speak to me with love and sometimes a strong rebuke! And I realized I must wake up & fight my way back to Christ and slam the door shut on any and all temptation Flee as the Bible says. Proverbs says those who forsake their sins will receive mercy!!!
How did you do it? I am on the same situation, I’ve fallen and I am lost, not going to church, not praying, not reading the word. I started to smoke again and been indulging in pornography
@@mvldituAs someone who is struggling with the same, here is some strong advice I have received. Don’t focus on your sin. Many of us believe that if we try our hardest not to sin, then we will no longer sin, but that is the same logic that applies to trying to fight our sin rather than running from it. Instead we should put our focus on Christ. Do not think about trying not to sin, but rather focus on doing your best to love and adore Christ more. Do not fall into despair or self shame when you fall into sin. We are going to sin. We are not like the saints, nor are we like Christ, so we will sin, but when we do, do not despair. Rather get up, and repent. Confess your sins often. Know and understand that God can, will, and WANTS to forgive you. God does not hate you when you sin, but rather if we sin, and do not repent, if we sin, and feel no shame or remorse for the evil we’ve done. If you feel sad, shame, etc. because of your sin, good, because you know it is wrong, but do not dwell in the sin, get up and repent. Go to church. It is hard at the start to commit to consistently go to church, but once you do, you begin to change. Try and hold yourself accountable. I’ve heard many have buddies or a priest they’d call or text every time they fell into their sin. Eventually they became so tired of always telling them, and they felt so much shame, that it motivated them to try and work harder. God bless you friend, and I pray Christ have mercy on us both, and save us from our sexual immorality.
I tried, but I could never have succeeded until I married a woman who wants to satisfy her husband's need, even when she isn't feeling turned on herself. Even today, I may not be perfect, but now I only turn to porn about 1% as often as I used to. I still have moments of temptation, but temptation isn't sin. I try to resist indulging in fantasies when temptation happens, and try to control my eyes, averting my eyes rather than letting my eyes linger on sexual objects which might lead me into even more temptation. In other words, it's much, much easier to succeed if you have a healthy (even holy) sexual outlet. Before getting married, I had a little bit of success by attending a 12 step group that focused on sexual addiction. But the only real advantage of such a group is that you've got the mutual support of others who are struggling with the same thing. I didn't really succeed until I married a wonderful woman. (Note: don't let Hollywood teach you any lessons about what love and marriage are like; that's like learning what good sex is like by watching porn.) I'm not perfect when it comes to lust, but I don't have to be. What matters is that I no longer focus on it, since I'm now struggling (perhaps successfully, with God's help) with other shortcomings which still affect my life, like laziness and fear and pride.
So if gad is omnipotent and benevolent why would he allow a "devil" to harm his children in any way? Also how do you know there are actual devils in the world? Also, also, what credible proof can you offer to support your outrageous claim? Thank you.
@@natiman8439 So regarding your first answer why doesn't your benevolent "father" protect his children? And regarding your second answer do you believe just because something is written in a book does that makes it true?
@@TboneWTF Romans 14:11 In the end, every knee shall bow before Me, every tongue will acknowledge God. It's good that you question things in life, and I do hope you find God sooner than later. All I'm saying is that you should be careful how you talk about Him. I'm going to be straight forward here, but I fucked with God and talked down on Him, just like you did and he humbled me eventually. It's not a pleasant experience when He humbles you. Take this as a warning. Repent and turn away from sin
@@TboneWTFRomans 14:11 As surely as I live, every knee shall bow before Me, every tongue will acknowledge God I hope that you find God sooner than later. I remember how it felt when I was like you, talking down on God, mocking Him and never had anything good to say about Him. I never liked the idea of God as an athiest. But then one day I was humbled in a way that I do not wish on my worst enemy. Learn from my mistakes, don't mess with God. Repent and turn away from sin. God bless
@@AmbientGem-n8d " I was humbled ..." So how can you be sure it was your god that "humbled" you? What evidence can you provide that would convince me that it was actually a supernatural being that interacted with you? If you could do that I would be sincerely "humbled" my self. Good luck my friend.
Jesus Christ my Lord and my God forgive me and help me to forgive those who hurt me and teach us your ways
I have heard it said that the evil powers do not care about our sin as much as they care about leading us into despair to the point that we abandon God. They make the path to hell look good because they cannot make hell look good.
Yes that's amazing how people think despair apathy is goog, something high. They even think they are smarter in this state.
@Nola-2000 That's the reason why I often find modern or classical literature to be discouraging. Books like Candide, by Voltaire, are congratulating themselves, telling themselves and their readers that they're finally free from the stultifying effects of the church. Most reviewers are equally worldly, and praise books like this for being so enlightened.
Priceless information brilliantly explained. Thank you father!
❤❤❤
lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me a sinner
Forgive me father for I am just a babe, a sinner, who yearns for you and your presence in my life, a sinner, a wretched sinner.
Father, thank you for making it clear that discouragement is far more to be feared than sin is. I love to listen to your wise advice, and I'm even planning to visit my local Orthodox Church for the first time this Sunday, largely because of listening to you and Father Spyridon.
The only thing you said that I'm unsure of is when you said that the Mountain of Sin grows heavier with each generation, as each generation is further away from the time of Jesus. In a comment below, someone said that Abba Sisoes was the one who first told us about this doctrine. I know nothing about the early Fathers like Abba Sisoes, but I remain skeptical about this doctrine that sin becomes harder and harder to resist as time goes on.
I'm not saying that the opposite is true, either: that the world is making real progress over the centuries in alleviating tragedies like starvation, disease, war, and slavery. I just don't know, either way. But I don't need to know. I just need to follow Jesus, and to get better and better at following Him as time goes by in my own life.
I have so much shame and struggle everyday, since separating from the byzantine church I have struggled to physically be present at divine liturgy I want to be accepted into the orthodox church . I don't feel worthy and the demons have kept me from reaching out
Just go to the church bruh
I feel the importance of humility! It is the very essence of Christ. ❤️
Thank you father. Glory be to God.
Thank you! I felt Him in my heart again after I went back to your video. My Lord Jesus! I love you! ❤️
Thank you Father. I am so blessed to have found this channel. You have a major impact in my spiritual life, by the power of the Holy Spirit. May God Bless you and your monastery.
Good point Brother we can create a stronghold as I did through sexual immorality via pornography and adult strip clubs BUT! Praise God I always kept listening to Christian radio and UA-cam channels like yours and many other God would speak to me with love and sometimes a strong rebuke! And I realized I must wake up & fight my way back to Christ and slam the door shut on any and all temptation Flee as the Bible says. Proverbs says those who forsake their sins will receive mercy!!!
How did you do it? I am on the same situation, I’ve fallen and I am lost, not going to church, not praying, not reading the word. I started to smoke again and been indulging in pornography
@@mvldituAs someone who is struggling with the same, here is some strong advice I have received.
Don’t focus on your sin. Many of us believe that if we try our hardest not to sin, then we will no longer sin, but that is the same logic that applies to trying to fight our sin rather than running from it. Instead we should put our focus on Christ. Do not think about trying not to sin, but rather focus on doing your best to love and adore Christ more.
Do not fall into despair or self shame when you fall into sin. We are going to sin. We are not like the saints, nor are we like Christ, so we will sin, but when we do, do not despair. Rather get up, and repent. Confess your sins often. Know and understand that God can, will, and WANTS to forgive you. God does not hate you when you sin, but rather if we sin, and do not repent, if we sin, and feel no shame or remorse for the evil we’ve done. If you feel sad, shame, etc. because of your sin, good, because you know it is wrong, but do not dwell in the sin, get up and repent.
Go to church. It is hard at the start to commit to consistently go to church, but once you do, you begin to change.
Try and hold yourself accountable. I’ve heard many have buddies or a priest they’d call or text every time they fell into their sin. Eventually they became so tired of always telling them, and they felt so much shame, that it motivated them to try and work harder.
God bless you friend, and I pray Christ have mercy on us both, and save us from our sexual immorality.
I tried, but I could never have succeeded until I married a woman who wants to satisfy her husband's need, even when she isn't feeling turned on herself. Even today, I may not be perfect, but now I only turn to porn about 1% as often as I used to. I still have moments of temptation, but temptation isn't sin. I try to resist indulging in fantasies when temptation happens, and try to control my eyes, averting my eyes rather than letting my eyes linger on sexual objects which might lead me into even more temptation.
In other words, it's much, much easier to succeed if you have a healthy (even holy) sexual outlet. Before getting married, I had a little bit of success by attending a 12 step group that focused on sexual addiction. But the only real advantage of such a group is that you've got the mutual support of others who are struggling with the same thing. I didn't really succeed until I married a wonderful woman. (Note: don't let Hollywood teach you any lessons about what love and marriage are like; that's like learning what good sex is like by watching porn.)
I'm not perfect when it comes to lust, but I don't have to be. What matters is that I no longer focus on it, since I'm now struggling (perhaps successfully, with God's help) with other shortcomings which still affect my life, like laziness and fear and pride.
I really needed to hear this today! Thank you Father Seraphim.
Thank you
❤
You are a treasure.
Asking . Who were the monastic Fathers that told us rhose at the end of the world would be greater. Tks Father
It was Abba Sisoes.
What about what resonates true in ourselves about what we are given; setbacks are lessons, yes?
So if gad is omnipotent and benevolent why would he allow a "devil" to harm his children in any way? Also how do you know there are actual devils in the world? Also, also, what credible proof can you offer to support your outrageous claim? Thank you.
First questions answer is freedom to choose for ur self and free will ,second would b the bible and prayer and the Orthodox church
@@natiman8439 So regarding your first answer why doesn't your benevolent "father" protect his children? And regarding your second answer do you believe just because something is written in a book does that makes it true?
@@TboneWTF Romans 14:11
In the end, every knee shall bow before Me, every tongue will acknowledge God.
It's good that you question things in life, and I do hope you find God sooner than later. All I'm saying is that you should be careful how you talk about Him. I'm going to be straight forward here, but I fucked with God and talked down on Him, just like you did and he humbled me eventually. It's not a pleasant experience when He humbles you. Take this as a warning. Repent and turn away from sin
@@TboneWTFRomans 14:11
As surely as I live, every knee shall bow before Me, every tongue will acknowledge God
I hope that you find God sooner than later. I remember how it felt when I was like you, talking down on God, mocking Him and never had anything good to say about Him. I never liked the idea of God as an athiest. But then one day I was humbled in a way that I do not wish on my worst enemy. Learn from my mistakes, don't mess with God. Repent and turn away from sin. God bless
@@AmbientGem-n8d " I was humbled ..." So how can you be sure it was your god that "humbled" you? What evidence can you provide that would convince me that it was actually a supernatural being that interacted with you? If you could do that I would be sincerely "humbled" my self. Good luck my friend.
lol
❤