"Remember the mentors
ours, who propa-
gave you a word
God's and, looking at the end
their lives, imitate
their faith." (Bible).
War... Few people returned to our village from that long-term slaughter safe and sound. Sick, crippled, women and children restored the ruined economy. They lived hard: work on a collective farm - they didn’t know day or night; hunger; from clothes - only cast-offs and those sewn-altered, patched-patched ...
So, it happened, my mother began her ingenuous story about the post-war hard times.
It was difficult for everyone, not just ordinary hard workers. Take teachers. The same hungry, half-dressed. But with what dedication did they treat their
duties! After lessons, they worked with those who were lagging behind, without requiring any additional payment, in the evenings they went to the homes of students who had dropped out of school to help support their family, which was left without a breadwinner, returned them to school, and helped to catch up with their peers in their studies.
And how did the doctors get it! And our village, stretching for more than seven kilometers, and several neighboring ones were in the care of a single doctor, two or three paramedics, and several nurses. On endless calls from end to end of the district, they walked. All the inhabitants highly valued and respected teachers and physicians, and, noticing them from afar, bowed...
Suddenly, my mother cuts off the story, looks at me over her glasses, and after making sure that I'm listening carefully, she continues.
- But note: both the collective farmers, and the doctors with the teachers - they were all workers in the law ...
Feeling my grin in response to the unexpectedly sounded "thieves" expression, my mother also smiled and explained her thought.
Religion was outside the law, although something was said about freedom of religion. And yet, in our village, the church operated, although people went to it with an eye, being afraid.
A priest served in it - of enormous growth, such an extensive, bushy one. He tied his long tarry hair with a string and threw it over his back with a tail. The same black beard and bushy eyebrows made his appearance completely outstanding.
My father did not have his own place to live. With a large family, he lived in a camp in a hut on the outskirts, at the foot of a steep cliff that descended to the river. Every day, and sometimes several times a day, he climbed the slope, going to church for a service or to fulfill numerous requirements.
By this time I already had all three of you. I christened Lyubochka on time, but I couldn’t get ready to go to church with you - there was nothing for Vasya to dress you decently for the occasion. And she couldn’t put it off - the two-month-old Vasya was very sick, she was afraid he would die unbaptized.
I went to the priest. Even in nightmare you won't see that. It was deep autumn. The rains washed away the clay on a huge slope, which could not be bypassed. The grass was already all trampled into the slush and could not be a support for slipping feet. Several times I fell and so would have moved down the open abyss to the bottom, if not for the rare bushes that I clung to as the only salvation.
Near the dilapidated hut stood a whole crowd of people. People were waiting for their turn to enter the father's house in order to call him for an urgent request. Some came to the mother. They told her with tears that their dying relative asked for at least a drop of jam to eat before he died ... Mother never refused them. In a tiny glass she put three cherries and a teaspoon of syrup... Afterwards, the glass was returned to the priest in the temple.
I could not stand it, I asked: why so little?
- Where can you get all of them? And the dying only needed to anoint his lips ...
Finally, my turn came. The small room was surprisingly neat and comfortable. The kids were busy reading, drawing, the little ones played rag dolls. Mother, outwardly matching the father, did needlework and made sure that the children behaved quietly.
The father listened to me attentively and asked:
- Are there any other unbaptized children on your street?
- Almost in every house, father. Everyone has one problem - there is nothing to wear and nothing to pay you with. Our earnings for almost the entire year remained in the foreman's notebook in the form of "sticks"
Father thought for a minute.
Well, here's what. Go around every house where there are unbaptized children, call them to your hut. I will come and baptize everyone. Yes, tell your parents not to worry: I will not take any payment from them.
Father appointed a day. The neighbors gathered in our hut, there was enough space for everyone. And my mother and father became godchildren from all over our street ...
This is how the father was glad about his arrival!
So many years have passed ... Mom was buried a long time ago. But, no, no, yes, that story of hers will come to my mind. And I decided to turn to our father with a request to consecrate our house. Batiushka listened to me very willingly, urging me that it is necessary to bless the house more than once and for all, that this sacrament is very important for life and it is necessary to conduct it at least twice a year.
Very pleased, I began to prepare the house for such a great important matter, and did not forget about my soul ...
That day has come!.. But the priest never arrived, although he lives in a beautiful gingerbread-looking house on the next street and drives around in a magnificent foreign car...
Somehow, in great post, on the strip of our "district" I saw a photo report from the beauty contest. In front of the semi-naked future "Miss" - a representative jury, in the center - our archpriest ... Where does he care about my "boring" request, she has remained forgotten ...
Reviews
Hello Daria! I am offended by the topics you bring up. Most importantly, they are relevant now and will be open until the end of time. People have changed, and souls have changed along with the people, priorities have changed. Deeply sad that it is for the worse. It's very embarrassing. Continue to sow the light, even if one person thinks about the eternal, after reading your story, you did not work in vain. Thank you very much!
Thank you, dear Konstantin! It is gracious to read such a review: I wrote with my soul and you didn’t disturb my soul with your review, but added joy and purity! Grateful
The holy Apostle Paul commands us: “Remember your leaders who preached to you the word of God, and … imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). Heeding the call of the holy Apostle, today we glorify and bless the enlightener and baptizer of Rus', Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir.
The all-merciful eye of the good God looked down on Prince Vladimir - and reason shone in his heart; he comprehended the vanity of the idol's delusion and sought the one God who created all things visible and invisible. He was inflamed in spirit and desired in his heart to be a Christian and convert all his land to Christianity. By the grace of God's love for the human race, this was fulfilled. Entering the holy font, Vladimir was reborn from the Spirit and water, and he commanded all his people to be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Since then, our land began to glorify Christ with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The sun of the Gospel enlightened our land, temples were destroyed, churches were erected, the cross sanctified the cities, idols fell down and icons of the saints appeared, the bloodless Sacrifice began to ascend, the incense offered to God sanctified the air.
Prince Vladimir is a complex historical figure. In his face, we can see ourselves today, as in a mirror, with all the complexity of our characters, the variability of our behavior, with ups and downs. The Lord was pleased to choose just such a person in order to fully reveal in him the miracle that holy faith works with people.
What gave the Christian faith to Prince Vladimir and our country? The sinful and violent pagan Vladimir became God-fearing in nature. His conversion to Christ was genuine, intimate, profound. The transformation of his character and the break with sin were amazing. “Thou hast found the priceless beads of Christ, who chose thee, as the second Paul, and shook off blindness in the holy font both spiritually and bodily,” the Church sings about him.
Holy faith changed Vladimir, helped him to hear the word of the Lord spoken to King Nebuchadnezzar by the prophet Daniel and, according to this word, arrange his life: “Atone for your sins with righteousness and your iniquities with mercy to the poor” (Dan. 4.24).
Almsgiving to people gave him great boldness before God as a true servant of Christ. In this we are confirmed by the words of Scripture: “Mercy boasts in judgment” (James 2:13); “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7); “he who turns a sinner from his false path will save the soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). If the Lord God gives such a reward for the conversion of a single person, then what bliss did Prince Vladimir find?! After all, he not only turned to Christ himself, but also, as a sovereign and leader, he took care of the conversion of his people. From him, as from a flaming fire, the fires of faith were lit in the hearts of his people. Faith cleansed the people from the gross delusion of idolatry, changed people's mores. In the Christian faith are the origins of our national culture. Faith laid the foundation for our writing, painting, and architecture. Faith brought humane principles into the life of our people, into the family and society. The faith that the Lord gave us through Prince Vladimir was a worthy sowing that brought worthy fruits of the spirit. She glorified the hosts of saints - our compatriots who intercede before God for our land, for our holy Church, for our people.
Blessing the Enlightener and Baptist of Rus', a constant intercessor before God and our intercessor Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, let us, brothers and sisters, keep the Orthodox faith and build our lives according to the Gospel. All this requires work and effort, but God is with us, who gave us the priceless gift of faith and helps us grow in proportion to the age of Christ. The prayerful help of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince is with us.
Knowledge alone is not enough to keep faith. You can know very well Holy Bible, his sacred decrees - and be a bad Christian. A real Christian will be the one who, in addition to knowledge about faith, about God, about the Church, adds church experience, true Christian life.
Let us pray to the all-good God, who enlightens and sanctifies every person who comes into the world, so that through the prayers of our Enlightener, Holy Prince Vladimir, He will strengthen our faith and help us, conquering everything vain, sinful and worldly, to be worthy children of our holy Church and Fatherland, heirs of eternal life.
Catholicism Rashkova Raisa Timofeevna
The cult of the saints: "remember your teachers ... imitate their faith"
One of the most important aspects of the Catholic cult and doctrine is the veneration of saints. The cult of saints developed in the first centuries of Christianity and was based on the texts of the New Testament, which say that the apostles and martyrs for the faith will be specially marked in heaven (Matt. 19:23; Rev. 9:14-16), as well as that the example of their earthly life deserves to be imitated (Heb. 13:7: "Remember your leaders ... imitate their faith"). The teaching of the Apostle Paul about the church as the mystical body of Christ, in which all believers are “fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:19: “So, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but ...”), became the main theological justification for the cult saints. For the first time, the veneration of the saint was documented around 159 in the essay “The Martyrdom of Polycarp”, which reports on special reverence the day of his death by his followers.
Martyrs were the first Christian saints. Initially, the cult of saints consists of the worship of the remains of the martyrs who suffered during the persecution of Christians. Origen, justifying the cult of the holy martyrs, argued that turning to them is effective only if the believer follows their example. In the 4th-5th centuries, when many renounce the "sinful" world and flee into the desert for the sake of saving their souls and feats of faith, one gets the idea that life, consecrated to God and full of self-denial, equal in holiness to martyrdom. This is how the cult of holy confessors and ascetics appears. In divine services, commemoration of the saints begins in the 5th century, which is attested by Augustine. Then they begin to draw up calendar lists of saints for commemoration. But the veneration of the saints served as a pretext for the opponents of Christianity to accuse them of idolatry. Pope Gregory I the Great, in his essay “On the Life of the Italian Fathers and the Immortality of the Soul,” refutes these accusations and gives a theological justification for the veneration of saints. The widespread cult of saints leads to the fact that it is combined with ancient pre-Christian beliefs, and saints become patrons of all types of human activity, helpers and protectors from adversity and disease, and then patrons of countries and cities. The patronage of the saint was connected with his occupations in earthly life or the way of his martyrdom. So, the patron saint of carpenters was St. Joseph. Accepted martyrdom through the wheeling of St. Ekaterina became an assistant to wheelsmiths, carriage workers, and then motorists. The hunters venerated St. Hubert, jewelers - St. Eligia, St. Cecilia - musicians. The holy healers were especially revered, and among them were the defenders from the plague, the scourge of medieval Europe, St. Roch and St. Sebastian. St. Anthony was revered as a protector from gangrene - "Anton's fire", etc. Entire peoples and countries had their patrons: St. Francis of Italy, St. Louis IX of France, St. George - England, etc. Many countries revere the Virgin Mary as their patroness, and Pope John Paul II even dedicated the entire Universe to her patronage.
Until the 12th century Bishops were in charge of the cult of the saints. But over time, local abuses accumulated, and a strict procedure for canonization was required. Pope Alexander III around 1170 insisted that only the pope could declare someone a saint. Pope Gregory IX introduced this rule into the Code of Canon Law. Pope Urban VIII in the 17th century established two levels of sainthood: beatification and canonization.
Beatification (from lat. beatificatio, beatus- blessed and fatio- I do) - reckoning to the face of the blessed, the first step of reckoning to the face of saints. During the beatification procedure, which is usually held in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, an icon of the blessed one is displayed, a papal decree of beatification is proclaimed, and a hymn is played Te Deum(We praise You, Lord).
Canonization (from lat. canonisatio- legalize) - a solemn act of church authorities, thanks to which the deceased ascetic of faith and piety, previously declared blessed, begins to be revered as a saint. The procedure of canonization as a whole repeats the procedure of beatification. The first canonized Catholic saint was in 993 the Archbishop of Augsburg, St. Ulrich. In the Vatican, in 1969, a special commission for canonization was created (to verify the submitted documents).
On the eve of Vatican II, there were about three thousand saints. Then the number of saints began to be regulated by the calendar published by Pope Paul VI in 1969. Paul VI reduced the list of saints by 200 names. Honoring such revered saints (especially in Russia) as St. Nicholas of Myra and St. George, and many others were deemed optional. Removed from the list are saints whose historical existence has not been reliably proven. Among them are the holy helpers popular in the West and in the East - Barbara, Christopher, Catherine of Alexandria, Margarita, Vit, Ursula and a number of other martyrs.
Now in catholic church there are more than three thousand canonized saints. This happened due to the well-known activity of Pope John Paul II in the canonization of more and more Catholic ascetics of the faith and the righteous. In total, during his 27-year pontificate, John Paul II canonized about five hundred righteous people and beatified more than 1,300 blessed ones. None of his 263 predecessors on the Holy Throne "made" such a number of saints and blessed.
However, in the Catholic calendar, there are still only 58 obligatory holidays for the entire church in honor of the saints.
From the book History of the Religions of the East author Vasiliev Leonid Sergeevich From the book of Mukhtasar "Sahih" (collection of hadiths) by al-BukhariChapter 1294 - About what misfortunes related to a woman should be avoided. The words of Allah Almighty: "Verily, (some) of your wives and your children are your enemies." 1752(5096). It is narrated from the words of Usama bin Zayd, may Allah be pleased with them both, that the prophet, may God bless him
From the book Sect Studies author Dvorkin Alexander Leonidovich7. Most of the mentors of the sect do not have a higher humanitarian education general characteristics TsKH, and now let's consider some elements of its Russian specificity. As we remember, the Church of Christ has Conversations leaders, evangelists and elders. In Russia (at least
From the book Chosen Vessel of God. Amazing feats Reverend Seraphim Vyritsky. author author unknown“Remember your mentors…” Father Barnabas looked with spiritual joy at the spiritual progress of Vasily Muravyov and generously shared his spiritual experience with him, preparing him for monasticism. "The tireless work and unceasing prayer Jesus - this is the foundation of the foundations - edified the spiritual children
From the book Holidays Orthodox Church author Almazov Sergei Frantsevich From the book Missionary Letters author Serbian Nikolai VelimirovicLetter 161 to beginners in the faith, about returning to faith Like a wanderer returning home from distant foreign lands, you are now returning from the icy limits of disbelief to the warm hearth of the faith of our fathers and grandfathers. The difficulties you face in doing so are well known.
From the book How the lives of the saints were created author Ranovich Abram BorisovichThe cult of saints in the service of the church But if hagiographic literature is entirely fiction, then the cult of saints is a fact that needs to be explained. Fabulous lives have decorated this cult "for the glory of God", but they, of course, did not create it. The study of literary and historical
From the book Explanatory Bible. Volume 1 author Lopukhin Alexander8. Hammor began to speak to them, and said: Shechem, my son, cleaves in soul to your daughter; give her to him as a wife; 9. intermarry with us; give us your daughters, and take our daughters for yourselves (for your sons); 10. and live with us; this land is before you, live and
From the book Explanatory Bible. Volume 9 author Lopukhin Alexander19. But I command you to say to them: Do this: take for yourselves out of the land of Egypt chariots for your children and for your wives, and bring your father and come; Whereas in mountainous Syria and Palestine chariots were hardly used at all, their widespread use in
From the book Explanatory Bible. Volume 10 author Lopukhin Alexander14. And if anyone does not receive you and does not listen to your words, then when you go out of that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet; (Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5; 10:10-11). According to Alford, the "solemn" act of shaking the legs could have two meanings: 1) that the apostles did not take anything with them from those who rejected them, and
From the book of Prayer for every deceased author Lagutina Tatyana Vladimirovna24. Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that it is I, you will die in your sins. Christ also explains why He threatened His enemies that they would die in sins and eternal destruction: this is because only faith in Jesus can save
From the book Fundamentals of the History of Religions [Textbook for grades 8-9 of secondary schools] author Goytimirov Shamil IbnumaskhudovichPrayer for mentors and educators God of reason, God of miracles, living, ever-flowing Source of Wisdom! I pray to you, remember in your kingdom the souls of your departed servants, my mentors (names), as if they enlightened my mind and instilled in my heart the spirit of wisdom and reason, the spirit
From the book of 100 prayers for quick help. With interpretations and clarifications author Volkova Irina Olegovna§ 26. Christology, icon and cult of saints. Temples Ill and IV centuries. Ecumenical Councils were devoted to the discussion of the Christological doctrine. Christology is the doctrine of the nature of Jesus Christ, of the relationship between the divine and human principles in him. In 451, at the Chalcedon (IV) Council
From the book Full Yearly Circle of Brief Teachings. Volume III (July–September) author Dyachenko Grigory MikhailovichPrayer for mentors and educators God of reason, God of miracles, living, ever-flowing Source of Wisdom! I pray to you, remember in your kingdom the souls of your departed servants, my mentors (names), as if they enlightened my mind and instilled in my heart the spirit of wisdom and reason, the spirit
From the book General History of the Religions of the World author Karamazov Voldemar DanilovichLesson 1. Holy Hieromartyr Babyla (On the Honoring of Spiritual Guides) I. Holy Hieromartyr Babyla, whose memory is being celebrated today, was a bishop in Antioch, during the time of persecution from Decius. Decius, having arranged a feast in honor of idols and sacrificed what was with him
"Dear Heavenly Father! We are Your property. We are Your children. We are Your people. We are happy in Your house. And it is better to spend one day in Your tents than a thousand years in the tents of wickedness.
Our hearts always rejoice when we are told, "Let's go to the house of God," because it is Your house. This is your resting place. This is the place of Your presence. This is a place where we can be happy, protected, healed.
Glory to Thee that Thy house is the gate of heaven. That your house will be called a house of prayer. That this is where answers come from heaven. The place where your glory is. A place where the works of the devil are destroyed, where prisons are opened, where every yoke is broken by Your fatness!
Glory to Thee! Visit your people. Visit Your legacy. We are happy to be in your house.
Holy Spirit, touch everyone. Let there be no indifferent and outsiders. Let everyone touch Your glory, Your strength, Your might.
Reveal Your word and let us know the truth. And may the truth set us free. We ask You this in the name of Jesus Christ."
Scripture says, "Seek the Lord when He can be found, and call upon Him when He is near."
If He is so close, don't miss the chance. He has the answers for you. He has comfort for you. He has the wisdom that we lack so much. He has power.
"Great God, take away the shame and shame from us. Take off the ashes and sackcloth from us.
God, grant us to proclaim to all those who mourn in Zion that instead of ashes, they are given an ornament. Instead of a dull spirit, glorious clothes.
God, clothe us in Your strength. Clothe us in Your might. Let the time for crying end. Let the time of poverty end. The time when the locust devoured, let it be a thing of the past. Let the dry season end. May the time of great retribution come!
We ask You in the name of Jesus Christ."
Great is the Lord. Great is His mercy towards His inheritance.
"Skimni are in need and suffer hunger, but those who trust in the Lord will not endure the need for any good" (Ps. 33:11).
"They will not be in need of any good." God accepts your fast today, church. God accepts your humility. God accepts Your broken heart.
God opposes the proud, but to those who humble themselves, who seek His face, He gives grace.
Get ready, God will pour out His grace on every thirsty and hungry heart. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
Lord! Pour out Your Spirit on every thirsty heart!
I want to preach on the subject, "Imitate Their Faith."
In our life there are standards, there are role models. And our faith depends on someone else's faith. We influence each other.
Our unbelief builds someone else's unbelief.
Our righteousness builds someone else's righteousness.
Our iniquity builds someone else's iniquity.
And our faith can build someone else's faith. We are so arranged that everyone looks at someone, honors someone and imitates someone.
And the Lord addresses His people: "Become a model for the faithful in faith, in life, in love."
God counts on each of us as an exemplary person.
"Imitate their faith" (Heb. 13:7).
We owe it to those people who built and continue to build our faith.
We bless these people. They left their mark on history. They did not succumb to this changing world. They made the world bow down before the name of Jesus Christ. They lived in such a way that the desert flourished around them, the sick were healed, the possessed were freed.
These people knew no compromises. These people saw the glory of the coming Lord. These people did not live in the present. These people had the fatherland in their minds. They did not try to adapt heaven to earth. They tried to adapt the earth to heaven.
They left a deep mark on history.
And we follow in the footsteps of those who went before us. In the footsteps of our father Abraham, in the footsteps of our predecessors: Daniel, Joseph, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. How many?
"Having around us such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every burden and sin that stumbles us, and with patience let us run the race that is set before us" (Heb. 12:1).
If today you imitate someone's faith, then know that a little time will pass, and someone will imitate your faith. What you sow, you will reap. Sow imitation, you reap imitation.
Heb. 13:7-8
Remember your leaders who preached to you the word of God, and, looking at the end of their lives, imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
I have read these verses so many times separately. And when one day I read these verses together, 7 and 8, it was like God's anointing came over me.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!
And if Jesus was Savior and Lord to those you imitate, He can be just as great and all-powerful God to you today.
Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever in His followers, in His disciples, in His imitators.
And those who imitate Jesus Christ in everything: who hate falsehood, hypocrisy, hypocrisy, hypocrisy, who despises human glory, career, human authority in the name of God's authority and God's glory - these mentors, pointing the way up, are holy role models.
"To the saints who are on earth, and to Your wondrous ones - all my desire is for them" (Ps. 15:3).
"Beholding the end of their life, imitate their faith."
I need role models. When I read about these heroes, I get inspired and my faith grows.
When I meet such people, I grow wings. We are talking about those people who, not by preaching and individual services, but by their whole lives, have confirmed their fidelity and devotion to the Lord.
The beginning does not crown, but the end. One day we too will come to our 60th or 70th birthday. One day we will also step over this barrier, which is called "the end of life." And we will be the standard for someone.
And so I would like to leave a deep, deep mark in the Awakening.
I want to preach today about a teacher. Not very popular and not very famous. They don't talk about it very often. But it is a worthy and lofty role model. His name is Stefan. He was one of the deacons of the early apostolic church.
Acts. 6:1-8
In these days, when the disciples multiplied, there was a grumbling among the Hellenists against the Jews because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution of needs.
Then the twelve Apostles, having called together a multitude of disciples, said: It is not good for us, having left the word of God, take care of the tables.
So, brethren, choose from among yourselves seven people who have been known, filled with the Holy Spirit and wisdom; put them in this service,
And we will constantly be in prayer and the ministry of the word.
And this proposal pleased the whole assembly; and chose Stephen, a man full of faith and Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmen, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert from the pagans;
They were placed before the Apostles, and these, having prayed, laid hands on them.
And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem; and many of the priests submitted to the faith.
And Stephen, full of faith and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.
So friends victory over differences is a condition for the growth of the church.
Primary Apostolic Church. At first there were only 12 students. Then 120 believed. And each of the students turned out to have 10 people. Each has its own cell.
Then these faithful 120, already in the upper room, fast and pray together. They believed that Jesus would one day fulfill what He promised and the Holy Spirit would be poured out on the church. They waited for the promise of the Father and did not leave Jerusalem.
And then came this great day of Pentecost. And after that there were no longer 120 people, but thousands and thousands of people came. It was a multi-thousand conference.
And when Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered this legendary historical sermon, 3,000 people repented from this sermon alone. Believing, they asked: "What shall we do, brothers and sisters?"
As the preaching is, so are the followers.
If the preaching is religious, then the followers are religious. There may also be five thousand, 25 thousand.
If it is a fiery sermon, a radical sermon in the power of the Holy Spirit, then the followers will be on fire.
"Let's choose deacons - people for the economic service." - What kind of people? - "Known and filled with the Holy Spirit and faith."
And I thought, "Where did they get these people that was full of faith and the Holy Ghost? Who filled them with faith? Who filled these deacons with the Holy Ghost? Where did they come from?"
Friends, initially in this church the task was set: to fill everyone who enters the church with faith, fill with the Holy Spirit. Those. they set themselves the task: "We will fill them with faith and power. If we do not fill them with faith, if we do not fill them with power, then this is not a church, this is just a religious farce."
Pastors, leaders, ministers, try to hear this in the Holy Spirit: The Church of God Exists not for fun, but for so that people may be filled with faith and the Holy Spirit.
And in the church there are no unspiritual ministries.
These deacons were appointed to distribute pasta, distribute bread, distribute meat. And it would seem, who should work there? It turns out that there must be spiritual people there too. And there must be people who know God, who are saturated with the strategy of the church. There are no neutral and outsiders.
I so want to be in a church where people are filled with faith and strength. I so want to be a person whom God fills with faith and His glory! I want to be the bearer of Divine miracles.
Stephen, full of faith and strength, worked great miracles among the people.
You say, "I'm not in a spiritual profession. I'm not a pastor, I'm not a worship leader." The Church of God is a supernatural organization called the Church of the Living God. And this supernatural body of Jesus Christ is supernatural because every cell of this body is saturated with the life of God, the fire of God, the glory of God!
Start praying now: "God, please fill me with faith! Fill me with strength! Fill me with glory! I don't want to be a dry branch. I don't want to be a soulless person. God, quicken me!"
Start screaming! Stop being lazy! Start looking for the face of God!
"God, fill me with faith! Fill me with the Holy Spirit! Wake up this passion in me! Wake up this thirst in me! Fill me with faith! Fill me with strength! Fill me with the Holy Spirit!"
Where did this Stefan come from? He was not among the apostles. He was not among those 120. He also stood, like thousands of other men and women, looking at it. strange phenomenon: people are screaming in tongues, they are all so disheveled, radical. And he was among those who asked: "And what shall we do, brethren?"
Repent and be baptized each of you in the name of Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- And what is it?
- Come to us, and we will explain everything to you.
Yes, if there were cells, then at the meetings of the cells people were filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. They said: "We will make new people out of you. You will not be afraid of anyone. Your eyes will glow."
How is it?
- We will continue in the teaching of the apostles. But that's not all. We will continue in prayer. In prayers like you've never heard before!
And it seems to me that there Jerusalem trembled. There the temple trembled when the early church was filled with the Holy Spirit! The earth trembled, the foundations of the dungeons shook.
Start praying: "God, I want to be in such a church! I want to know such a prayer, I want to know such a God, I want to learn this art. I want to be full of faith. I want to be full of power and fire!"
Dear church, dear ministers. Dear leaders. Stop working with religious methods! We do not need beautiful stories about the Lord. We need the word of God intact. We need the teaching of the apostles. We need such prayers that would change the atmosphere around us, before which the demons would tremble.
Prayer that changes our heart! Prayer that changes our home! Prayer that changes cities! Prayer that destroys the works of the devil! Prayer!
Dive into this stream!
They knew how to pray. They knew how to be filled with the Holy Spirit. They knew that when a conflict or scandal arises in the church, these things are controlled.
And some kind of scandal arose during the distribution of food between the Jews and the assimilated Jews, and there was a murmur, i.e. there was a disease in the church.
When people are divided in the church, like an ice floe is split into pieces, this is a disease. And God wants these diseases to be healed.
You can carry out endless showdowns, you can excommunicate, punish.
But I know one cure - when experienced people, full of faith and the Holy Spirit, stand at the head of leadership, illnesses will end.
Because the best doctor is not time, but the best doctor is the Holy Spirit. When the anointing comes, the demons, every dissension, every carnal attitude, it all breaks down, and the divine order comes in the Holy Spirit.
Remember, the most main architector churches - the Holy Spirit. The most important architect in the church is the Holy Spirit. We are not building a church.
The Church is built by the Lord. And the Holy Spirit is the Chief Architect.
And if you are obedient to the Holy Spirit, you are the main instrument in God's hands. And you can do what God commands.
This "culinary" conflict was extinguished. The apostles gathered and said: “It’s not good for us, having left the Word of God, take care of the tables. Let’s find a few guys for the deacon’s service. Only seven people. Find from your midst…”
Where did these well-known people come from, proven, reliable, on the board, who did not covet money, who did not use their official position, but who before God fulfilled their duty in the church? Someone taught them. They remembered their mentors, who taught them how to pray radically. They remembered those seminars. They recalled how they were also admonished: “Keep your heart above all things. And worship the Lord your God. And above all, seek the Kingdom of God. material values…"
I don’t know what kind of seminars there were, what kind of prayers there were, but if the caretakers were such powerful men, then what was the church like?!
And so they chose. Stephen was one of the first. Stephen, full of faith and the Holy Spirit.
I was thinking over this place, "Full of faith and the Holy Ghost." Maybe: there is faith, and faith proclaims, and faith sees the plan. Faith is like a guide to action.
But besides faith, we also need the power of the Holy Spirit.
In addition to the fact that the person was in the teaching, he was also in prayer. And this balance is just like an unbeatable combination: when a person is versed in the Scriptures and versed in the gifts. When he is versed in the teachings and versed in the charisms. This is exactly the combination that made him invulnerable.
And it is said about Stephen that he performed great wonders and signs among the people.
The scandal was over. Sickness in the church was healed. And when this mature spiritual leadership stood up to resolve all these conflict situations, all illnesses ended.
See, the healed church kept growing. A sick church does not grow. A healed church is growing. A church where there are no ulcers, where there are no scandals, where there are no squabbles, where there are no carnal ambitions. That's when the great growth of the church begins.
Acts. 6:7
And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples greatly multiplied in Jerusalem; and many of the priests submitted to the faith.
You know, everyone who enters the church didn't remain a convert. He did not become a parishioner. He became a student. They were immediately brought to home group: "We will teach you the Word of God, teachings. We will teach you prayer."
Thank God that today God is knocking on our hearts so seriously and saying: "Church, you must be baptized into the Word of God, you must be baptized into prayer."
If a church cannot abide in the word of God and in prayer, then God is not going to do anything with that church.
Ignorance, lack of spirituality, religiosity - these are the brakes on Awakening.
But when in the church we respect Divine revelation and respect the Divine presence, then God makes us a powerful instrument for Awakening.
Stephen, full of faith and power, worked great wonders and signs among the people.
Note that miracles do not happen inside the church. Not only inside our conference walls.
Stefan went out to the people. Into the crowd Some have argued, some have objected, but no matter what, a person filled with faith and the Holy Spirit will work signs and wonders.
My God, where are these guys? Where are these workers? Where are those who have already lagged behind demagogy? Who can preach without a microphone, who can go into the crowd and right on the square, right at the crossroads, right at the bus stop, can approach people and say to blind eyes: "Open up!"
"God, fill us with faith and the Holy Spirit, so that the people see in us Your reflection, Your glory. God, revive the apostolic times. Revive those times when people knew You, when people did not joke with You, when people did not play church, when people did not juggle their calling, when they seriously dedicated themselves to Your service.
God, we want to imitate these leaders who preached Your word to the people! God, capture such Stefans today! God, capture these heroes today. I'm begging you for it. Remove shame from the church! Remove shame from the church! Envelop us with Your strength! We are hungry for You. We crave miracles. We want your glory!
Come, Lord, baptize us with Your power!"
Stephen. I'm looking at this giant. I want to imitate his faith. He did not rush into position. He didn't say, "When I become a pastor, then I will be filled with faith and the Holy Spirit. When I become an apostle, then I will work miracles!"
Position will not shut us out of God's presence. Whoever you are: supply manager, or usher, or administrator. Whoever you are, you have the right to enter into God's presence. You are the temple of the Holy Spirit living in you! And here age does not play a role. Here the profession does not play a role. Faith plays a role here.
"God, fill me with faith! Fill me with strength! God, I want You. I want to be the letter of Christ. I want to be the salt of the earth!"
Raise up, Lord, these brave boys and women. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever!
Heb. 13:7
Remember your leaders who preached to you the word of God, and, looking at the end of their lives, imitate their faith.
I take my hat off to these heroes. May my faith have at least some of what this great man had.
Acts. 6:9-10
Some of the so-called synagogue of the Libertines and Cyrenees and Alexandrians, and some of Cilicia and Asia entered into dispute with Stephen;
But they could not resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke.
Confrontation, heavy oncoming critical fire.
So what?
And who told you that you will be greeted with applause and flowers? Who told you that everyone will love and kiss you?
Friendship with the world has always been enmity against God. And friendship with God has always been enmity against the world.
And a great many religious leaders gathered from the synagogue and began to argue with Stephen. There was such an open debate.
They invited Stefan to some television program and they wanted to put him down, they wanted to trample him, tear him to pieces.
But when Stefan entered the studio, the great God came with him, the Holy Spirit came. Stephen was an instrument in God's hands. And all the arguments of his opponents melted like spring snow. And all these clever speeches disappeared like morning mist.
And when Stefan opened his mouth, everyone understood: this is a special person, this is wisdom, this is the Holy Spirit.
"God, raise up these people today. We want to imitate their faith today. They were deacons. They did housework, but they had time for the word of God and for prayer.
God, forgive us for our laziness and carelessness. Forgive us, because we have no arguments to justify our defeat. God, touch us."
And this open dispute turned into a great shame for all religious competitors. They were brought down. Because to those people who know God, He gives the mouth and wisdom, and no one can resist and contradict them.
But they did not want to admit their shame. And then the technology of black PR came into force: they started the most insidious and cruel war. Having not won a victory in an open duel, they switched to forbidden terrorist methods.
Acts. 6:11-12
Then they taught some to say: We heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God.
And they aroused the people and the elders and the scribes, and attacking, seized him and led him to the Sanhedrin.
When people refuse to accept defeat, they resort to dirty vicious methods. They have their own teaching, they have their own school to prepare false witnesses. And they said, "He blasphemes God; he blasphemes Moses."
Arrest license. They took him, seized him like a criminal, wrung his hands and dragged him to the Sanhedrin…
"Beholding the end of their lives, imitate their faith..."
What does faith look like? Living in faith is not the life of a superman. Vera, she looks like this: unkempt, rushing through the oncoming traffic. Maybe even bruised. But there is something invincible there. There is something indomitable and inextinguishable. And there is the Holy Spirit and the great faith of God.
They seized him and presented false witnesses.
Acts. 6:13-14
And they presented false witnesses who said: This man does not stop speaking blasphemous words in Holy place this and the law.
For we heard him say that Jesus of Nazareth would destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.
And there, as if from a broken sewer, mud was pouring, undeserved slander, compromising evidence that was insane and absurd: "He wants to change our customs .."
And despite the fact that everything around was breathing threats ...
Acts. 6:15
And all who sat in the Sanhedrin, looking at him, saw his face as the face of an angel.
Great God, teach us to look at Your glory and be transformed into the same image!
The heavy fire of criticism, insults and death threats did not extinguish this God's fire in him.
On the contrary, as the fire in the taiga from the wind grows even larger, so here, from the oncoming threats, the fire of God kindled and spread even more. And the one who looked at Stefan no longer saw his face, but saw the face of the Angel.
God, give us these hearts, give us these eyes. Give us those angelic faces.
"Beholding the end of their lives, imitate their faith."
And today we look at this great teacher who preached the word.
Acts. 7:1-2
Then the high priest said, Is this so?
But he said: men, brethren and fathers! listen...
You will ask: "What is a person full of faith?"
- This is a man full of wisdom and knowledge about his people, about his God. He has an amazing memory, amazing logic. He spoke about the roots of the coming of Jesus, about how it all began, and up to the last events.
There was no hypocrisy here. And he, turning to them, in the eyes said:
Acts. 7:51-56
Cruel! people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! you always resist the Holy Spirit, just like your fathers, so do you.
Which of the prophets was not persecuted by your fathers? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now become traitors and murderers, -
You who received the law while ministering to angels and did not keep it.
Hearing this, they were torn in their hearts and gnashed their teeth at him.
But Stephen, being filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
And he said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.
It wasn't a bedroom where you could kneel beside a soft bed and try to break through.
This was not a conference where brothers and sisters, united in faith, seek the face of the Lord.
It was something else. It was the worst place to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
People who gnashed their teeth in hatred. Here, not only the controlling forces, here is the spirit of death, here are the executioners. And the expression on their faces said: "You live the last day. You live the last hour."
"Looking at the end of their lives..."
The end of life speaks of the price of all life. Who finishes it.
Stefan didn't tremble with fear. He didn't compromise. He didn't cling to life.
When he raised his eyes to heaven, he said: "I see the heavens open. I see the Lord, I see the glory of God. And heaven is dearer to me than earth. And heaven is more desirable to me than prosperity on earth."
And Jesus looked down at this hero and said: "Stefan, I have prepared for you a great reward. Although your life on earth is short, but you left a deep mark. And heaven will honor you. He who overcomes will inherit everything."
God was above him, God opened the heavens.
"Lord, teach us to walk with You. Teach us to love You more than anything in the world. God, break our shells, anoint our eyes with eye ointment so that we can see Your miracles. Looking at the death of Your heroes, we desire to be transformed into the same image .
Raise up courageous ministers who could leave a deep mark on history. Who would not cling to life, who would not cling to human glory, who would despise death, who would never bend before the system, but who would bend this system before the power of the great living Lord!
God lift us up God, resurrect us! Remove from us shame and disgrace. Bring back to the church what was there in these times! God, we ask You for this."
Stephen's last hours. Every look and every cry of his opponents proclaimed: "You are a corpse! You will not see the evening! Your church will not meet you. Your church will not count another fanatic!"
But he could boldly say that the blood of the slain righteous is the seed of the coming Awakening. And when a righteous person dies, it is like a grain that falls into the ground. And if it remains alone, it will not bear fruit. But if it dies, it will bear much fruit.
Acts. 7:57-60
But they, shouting with a loud voice, plugged their ears, and with one accord rushed at him,
And they led him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses laid their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul,
And they stoned Stephen, who prayed and said: Lord Jesus! receive my spirit.
And, kneeling down, he exclaimed with a loud voice: Lord! do not impute this sin to them. And having said this, he rested.
Remember your leaders who preached the word of God to you. And looking at the end of their lives, imitate their faith.
We do not know this execution. We don't know about these pains. This is not the electric chair for you. This is not a shooting or hanging.
A person is tied hand and foot, and people who hate him with every fiber of their soul choose bigger stones. And the blow of each stone responds with crazy pain in all his being. And the instinct of self-preservation paralyzes all speech.
But there was something different here. Here the instinct of self-preservation was silent, and the Holy Spirit shouted: "Lord, receive my spirit. I love You. Well, if you have to leave this world through this gate, then I accept this cup. I will drink it to the bottom. You suffered on the cross "I imitate You. I love You. I have no malice against the executioners. Do not impute this sin to them, for they do not know what they are doing."
We have heard this prayer somewhere before.
And under a hail of stones that turned him into a pile of meat, into a continuous mess, the life of one of the great heroes, one of the great mentors, one of the greatest servants of God, ended.
Looking at the end of his life, I feel ashamed of my problems. I often feel ashamed of my pain and suffering. I want to stand up and say, "Enough! Stop being a child. Stop being weak. It's time to become strong, like those who went before us."
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
He worked miracles yesterday. He wants to work miracles today. And forever and ever.
When one star in the sky of human history goes out, God kindles new stars.
Stephen was stripped of his clothes and placed at the feet of another young man named Saul.
Youth. How old was he? Maybe up to 20. And he watched. He was pleased with this picture: that's how fanatics end up. And this young man did not understand and did not guess that a little more time would pass, and he would sit on this empty saddle, in person.
Let's pray, friends. I really want to imitate these guys. I so wish that we would not run out of knights, that in today's awakening the heroes would not go home.
"Lord, let the laborers come out! Jesus, if you could raise such Stephens yesterday, raise them today too! Raise these brave and strong people.
Today we dedicate once again our whole life to Your service. May our lives glorify You. May our life glorify You! Let our life be your advertisement! May You not be ashamed of us!
God, we won't bend under this world! We will bend this world before Your name, and every knee will bow before You! Make us an omen of the doom of all pagan systems! God, make us Your letter!
Church, open your heart, pray. Be filled with faith, be filled with the Holy Spirit.
God, raise heroes! God forgive us for compromises! God, forgive us for lack of faith, for cowardice, for desertion! We are back!
Remove shame from us! Take off our sackcloth! Envelop us with Your strength!"
If you've never taken risks for Jesus, make up your mind and say, "I will take risks! I will go further than I have gone! I will dig deeper! I will bring glory to my Lord!"
And beholding the end of their lives, adjust your lamps! Gird up your loins! Strengthen your weak legs!
We need samples. We need people to inspire us.
Looking at the end of their lives ...
I remember now another great man. The end of his life at 33 and a half years. This is the flowering of life. And in such years to live and live and love. But he hung on a cross, nailed down. Blood flowed from His feet and from His hands. But unearthly great love flowed from His eyes. He knew what He came for. He knew that there was no other way to save this world than through his own life, through his own death.
"Thank You, Jesus. We want to imitate You. Teach us to go through Gethsemane as You went through it. Teach us to go through Calvary the way You went. Teach us to go to heaven the way You ascended. For You are our the way, the truth and the life."
Thank the Lord for the end of His life, for His death, for His resurrection. He will change us. He will make us strong. We will not yield to sin. We will not back down from the devil and demons. We will do the will of God on this earth. We will work wonders and signs among the people. We will destroy the works of the devil and establish the Kingdom of God here.
By the grace of God, every country and every nation, and often even a city, has an enlightener in its history. The Lord raised His chosen ones from among the people and through them enlightened His people with the light of faith.Rome praises Peter and Paul, through whom they believed in Christ Jesus, the Son of God; Asia, Ephesus and Patmos-John the Theologian; India-Foma; Egypt-Mark; every country, city and people honor and glorify their mentors who taught them the Christian faith.
The Holy Apostle Paul commands us: “Remember your leaders who preached to you the word of God, and… imitate their faith” (Heb. 13:7). Heeding the call of the holy Apostle, today we glorify and bless the enlightener and baptizer of Rus', Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir.
The all-merciful eye of the good God looked down on Prince Vladimir - and reason shone in his heart; he comprehended the vanity of the idol's delusion and sought the one God who created all things visible and invisible. He was inflamed in spirit and desired in his heart to be a Christian and convert all his land to Christianity. By the grace of God's love for the human race, this was fulfilled. Entering the holy font, Vladimir was reborn from the Spirit and water, and he commanded all his people to be baptized in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Since then, our land began to glorify Christ with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
The sun of the Gospel enlightened our land, temples were destroyed, churches were erected, the cross sanctified the cities, idols fell down and icons of the saints appeared, the bloodless Sacrifice began to ascend, the incense offered to God sanctified the air.
Prince Vladimir is a complex historical figure. In his face, we can see ourselves today, as in a mirror, with all the complexity of our characters, the variability of our behavior, with ups and downs. The Lord was pleased to choose just such a person in order to fully reveal in him the miracle that holy faith works with people.
What gave the Christian faith to Prince Vladimir and our country? The sinful and violent pagan Vladimir became God-fearing in nature. His conversion to Christ was genuine, intimate, profound. The transformation of his character and the break with sin were amazing. “Thou hast found the priceless beads of Christ, who chose thee, as the second Paul, and shook off blindness in the holy font both spiritually and bodily,” the Church sings about him.
Holy faith changed Vladimir, helped him to hear the word of the Lord spoken to King Nebuchadnezzar by the prophet Daniel and, according to this word, arrange his life: “Atone for your sins with righteousness and your iniquities with mercy to the poor” (Dan. 4:24).
Almsgiving to people gave him great boldness before God as a true servant of Christ. In this we are confirmed by the words of Scripture: “Mercy boasts in judgment” (James 2:13); “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” (Matthew 5:7); “He who turns a sinner from his false path will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). If the Lord God gives such a reward for the conversion of a single person, then what bliss did Prince Vladimir find?! After all, he not only turned to Christ himself, but also, as a sovereign and leader, he took care of the conversion of his people. From him, as from a flaming fire, the fires of faith were lit in the hearts of his people. Faith cleansed the people from the gross delusion of idolatry, changed people's mores. In the Christian faith are the origins of our national culture. Faith laid the foundation for our writing, painting, and architecture. Faith brought humane principles into the life of our people, into the family and society. The faith that the Lord gave us through Prince Vladimir was a worthy sowing that brought worthy fruits of the spirit. She glorified the hosts of saints - our compatriots who intercede before God for our land, for our holy Church, for our people.
Blessing the Enlightener and Baptist of Rus', a constant intercessor before God and our intercessor Equal-to-the-Apostles Grand Duke Vladimir, let us, brothers and sisters, keep the Orthodox faith and build our lives according to the Gospel. All this requires work and effort, but God is with us, who gave us the priceless gift of faith and helps us grow in proportion to the age of Christ. The prayerful help of the Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince is with us.
Knowledge alone is not enough to keep faith. One can perfectly know the Holy Scripture, its sacred decrees - and be a bad Christian. A real Christian will be the one who, in addition to knowledge about faith, about God, about the Church, adds church experience, true Christian life.
Let us pray to the all-good God, who enlightens and sanctifies every person who comes into the world, so that through the prayers of our Enlightener, Holy Prince Vladimir, He will strengthen our faith and help us, conquering everything vain, sinful and worldly, to be worthy children of our holy Church and Fatherland, heirs of eternal life.
