- 1 day ago
Eph 3:16-17
16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
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LearningTranscript
00:26It is my initial practice.
00:30To express before I share every reflection with you that I am not a spokesman for the Orthodox Church, but
00:38am merely one who has been totally surprised by the love of God for showing me these eye-opening and
00:45life-saving truths in my personal journey into the missing realities found in Orthodoxy, which are not found in my
00:55years as a teacher and preacher for over 28 years.
01:00As I glean these wonderful truths found in this most ancient faith called Orthodoxy, I am learning even as I
01:09share them with you.
01:10It has truly been a personal journey of conversion, one that has not been without struggle.
01:17After more than 28 years of teaching, I have come to see that many doctrines and principles I once held
01:25within Protestantism left out vital elements of the historic Christian faith, truths that Orthodoxy has preserved, practiced, and safeguarded from
01:36the beginning.
01:37These reflections and sharing, including this one today, which are only what I call a snippet or a piece of
01:45the large puzzle in presenting each part of the principles or doctrines of the Orthodox faith,
01:52which are basically foundational since her beginning at Pentecost 29 A.D.
01:58Yes, her beginning goes back that far.
02:01That was surprising to me, too.
02:04Many people have never heard of the Orthodox Church.
02:08Her beginning and continuity goes back that far and is still alive and well even up to this present day.
02:17It is estimated that there are about 2,600 groups today who lay claim to being the Church or at
02:25least the direct descendants of the Church described in the New Testament.
02:30I was totally surprised when I saw the timeline of the history of the Orthodox Churches.
02:37I encourage you to look and see for yourself how many groups of Protestantism came out of her since the
02:46Great Schism in 1054 A.D.
02:49Well, now, today's title of this reflection is called Entrance into God's Immeasurable Treasury.
02:59It's called Genuine Faith, which opens up the door to his heart.
03:06You see, when God created man, he gave and put inside each one of his most precious masterpieces, precious gifts,
03:16and one of them is called A Desire for the Absolute and for God.
03:23An Archimandrite monk, priest, named George Kapanis, wrote a book on theosis called The True Purpose of Human Life
03:33and shares with us that this gift that God bestows on man is one of the gifts of his image.
03:42He shares that the Orthodox Church teaches that there are around seven major gifts of God's nature,
03:50which he gives exclusively to all of mankind and not to any other creatures in order that man alone could
03:59be an image of God.
04:01These gifts include a rational mind, a conscience, creativity, free will, love,
04:11and the desire for the Absolute and for God and personal self-awareness,
04:18and everything else that puts man above every living creature in creation
04:24and makes him a man and person created in God's image.
04:31No other created being has been given these gifts from Creator God.
04:36Animal creatures have been given instinct.
04:40And saying this, that man is a person by virtue of the gifts bestowed upon him as in his image,
04:48After his image, man is called upon to acquire his likeness.
04:54In other words, theosis, which means partaking of the nature of God.
05:01Creator God by nature calls man to become like God or godly by his grace.
05:08The gifts, the gifts that make us in his image, were given to man by God
05:14in order for him to reach higher and attain likeness to his God and Creator
05:20and not to have an external moral relationship with him, but a personal union with him.
05:27The purpose for all of this, again, is called theosis,
05:32which is a process of coming into divine union with God.
05:36And this, again, is not an external sentimental feeling about God
05:41with warm, fuzzy feelings, dear ones.
05:44This is to be an ontological reality and actually know that God exists.
05:52Ontology is the study of what is real and what it means to exist.
05:58It dives deep to form a root about the existence of God
06:04and becoming like him in his likeness,
06:06which in essence is becoming God or godly by his grace.
06:12Our commandrate, George, shares it well by saying,
06:17Unfortunately, it is not only people outside the church who are ignorant of this,
06:23but also many within the church,
06:26because they assume that the purpose of our life is, at best,
06:31merely moral improvement to become better people.
06:34Yet the gospel, the tradition of the church, and the Holy Fathers tell us
06:40that the purpose of our life is not just that man should become better than he is,
06:46more moral, more just, more self-controlled, and more mindful.
06:50All of these are necessary, but they do not constitute the great and ultimate purpose
06:56for which our maker and creator formed us.
06:59He shares that since man is called to be God,
07:04that is, was created to become a God,
07:07if he is not on the path of theosis,
07:10which again is partaking of the nature of God,
07:14He feels an emptiness within himself.
07:17He feels that something is not going right,
07:20and he is not happy,
07:22even when he tries to mask the emptiness of all other activities.
07:27He may numb himself,
07:29create a more glamorous world,
07:31yet poor, small, and limited,
07:33and he may enclose or imprison himself within it.
07:37He may organize his life in such a way
07:40that he is almost never quiet,
07:43never alone with himself,
07:45surrounded by noise, agitation,
07:48television, radio,
07:50his computer,
07:52seeking constant information about this and that.
07:55He may seek to drug himself into forgetting,
07:58not thinking, not worrying,
08:00not remembering,
08:01that he is on the wrong path
08:03and is strayed from his purpose.
08:05End of quote.
08:06The church fathers tell us
08:09that God became man
08:11in order to make man a God or a God-like.
08:15If God had not put on flesh,
08:18man would not be able to achieve theosis
08:21or the partaking of the nature of God
08:24or uniting with God
08:26and fellowshipping with him
08:27on a one-to-one basis.
08:30But I must tell you,
08:32dear listener and followers,
08:33I had a difficult time with this one.
08:37Man was created to become God.
08:40I struggled with this
08:41when I heard it for the first time,
08:44like I did with many things
08:45that were new
08:47and ruffled my Protestant understanding
08:49of belief and theology.
08:52But when we learn
08:53that the Orthodox Church
08:55is not teaching
08:56that we become like God in his essence,
09:00because God's essence
09:01is beyond the understanding
09:03and comprehension
09:04of his creation,
09:07God can be known by humans
09:09through the divine energies
09:11and operations
09:12of the Father, the Son,
09:14and the Holy Spirit.
09:16We become like God
09:18in image and likeness,
09:20not in his essence.
09:22The Orthodox Church's
09:24definition of the essence of God
09:27is unknowable
09:29because it is the inner being
09:31of God
09:32and is absolutely unknowable
09:35to angels,
09:36to humans,
09:37and it is uncreated
09:39and beyond all comprehension.
09:43You see,
09:44partaking of the divine nature
09:46of God
09:46is not an external relationship,
09:50dear listener and followers.
09:51This is something
09:52that Almighty God
09:54is looking for
09:55in each and every one
09:57of his precious creation,
09:59and that is in you and me.
10:02This is a lifelong pursuit
10:04after God
10:05and growing in his grace.
10:07The grace of God
10:08is not just unmerited favor
10:11or an attitude of God
10:12towards a believer.
10:14Grace is God's uncreated energy
10:17bestowed on man.
10:19It is his power in life
10:21poured out
10:22and experienced
10:23through those
10:23who are living righteously.
10:25God's grace
10:26actually changes a person.
10:29And what I have just expressed
10:31in the beginning
10:33of this reflection
10:34in a nutshell
10:35is to lead us
10:36into what is
10:38the entrance
10:39into God's
10:40immeasurable treasury
10:42is genuine faith
10:44which opens the door
10:46to his heart.
10:48And I am reminded
10:50of what Jesus said
10:51in John chapter 14
10:53verses 15 through 18
10:55when he was about
10:57to depart
10:58and do what he came
11:00to do
11:00and that was
11:01to give his life
11:02on the cross
11:03on behalf of all
11:04of mankind
11:05for the forgiveness
11:06of sin
11:06and for all
11:08who will seek
11:08after him
11:09in developing
11:10a genuine relationship
11:12that develops
11:13into a loving union
11:15with him
11:15to where they can
11:17enter into
11:17his treasury
11:18of divine mysteries
11:20of his loving kindness
11:21and joy
11:22beyond all description.
11:25Starting in verse 15
11:27Jesus said
11:28if you love me
11:30keep my commandments
11:31and I will pray
11:33the Father
11:35and he
11:35will give you
11:37another helper
11:39he may abide
11:40with you
11:41forever
11:43the spirit of truth
11:44whom the world
11:45cannot receive
11:45because it neither
11:47sees him
11:47or knows him
11:48but you know him
11:50for he dwells
11:51with you
11:52and will be
11:52within you
11:53I will not
11:54leave you orphans
11:55I will come
11:56to you
11:57you see
11:58dear ones
11:59God didn't
12:00just give us
12:01these gifts
12:02of his image
12:03for us to have
12:04an external
12:05relationship
12:06with him
12:07but he gives us
12:08his Holy Spirit
12:09to lead
12:10and guide us
12:11into understanding
12:12that there is
12:13more to life
12:14than this life
12:16on earth.
12:18We aren't meant
12:19to have a picnic
12:20with the initial
12:21gifts
12:22which he poured out
12:23into each
12:24and every baby
12:25in the womb
12:26at the time
12:26of conception
12:27but he gave
12:28each one
12:29the knowing
12:30that he exists
12:31and desires
12:32for all
12:33to move
12:34beyond
12:35into
12:35what the
12:37greatest
12:37commandment
12:38in the Old
12:39and the New
12:40Testament
12:40commands us
12:41to do
12:42and that is
12:43according to
12:45Deuteronomy
12:46chapter 6
12:47verse 5
12:48you shall
12:50love the Lord
12:50your God
12:51with all of
12:52your heart
12:52with all of
12:53your soul
12:54and all of
12:55your strength
12:55and this was
12:57repeated in
12:58the New Testament
12:59in Luke
13:00chapter 10
13:01verse 27
13:02you shall
13:04love the
13:05Lord
13:05your God
13:06with all
13:07thy heart
13:08and with
13:08all thy soul
13:09and with
13:10all thy
13:11strength
13:11and with
13:12all thy
13:12mind
13:13you see
13:14loving God
13:15is a synergistic
13:17effort on
13:18our part
13:18God gives
13:20his Holy Spirit
13:21to lead us
13:21into this
13:22wonderful treasury
13:23which holds
13:24the key
13:25to man's
13:26salvation
13:26our dependence
13:28on faith
13:29is connected
13:30to our
13:31free will
13:32which was
13:33one of the
13:34other gifts
13:34that was given
13:35at conception
13:36for every one
13:37of God's
13:38precious creation
13:39called humankind
13:40in Revelations
13:42chapter 3
13:43verses 19
13:45and 20
13:45Jesus says
13:47as many
13:48as I love
13:49I rebuke
13:51and chasten
13:51and therefore
13:53be zealous
13:53and repent
13:54behold
13:55I stand
13:56at the
13:56door
13:56and knock
13:57if anyone
13:58hears my
13:59voice
13:59and opens
14:00the door
14:00I will
14:01come into
14:02him
14:02and dine
14:02with him
14:03and he
14:03with me
14:05there is
14:06an old
14:06painting
14:07and I'm
14:08sure you've
14:08seen it
14:09at one
14:10time or
14:11another
14:11in your
14:11Christian
14:12journey
14:13which shows
14:14Jesus
14:14standing
14:15outside
14:16knocking
14:16at a
14:18door
14:18and why
14:19this is
14:19so interesting
14:20regarding
14:21the door
14:22there is
14:23no doorknob
14:24on the
14:25outside
14:26you see
14:27it is
14:28depictive
14:29in saying
14:30that
14:30Jesus
14:31doesn't force
14:32anyone
14:32to believe
14:33in him
14:33but rather
14:34he has
14:35given
14:35every human
14:36being
14:36free will
14:37or free
14:39choice
14:39to choose
14:40him
14:40as the
14:41redeemer
14:41and savior
14:42and open
14:43the door
14:44of their
14:44hearts
14:45up to him
14:46not everyone
14:47is willing
14:48to conform
14:49and change
14:50their lives
14:51to obey
14:52the high
14:52moral
14:53standards
14:53and purposes
14:54of why
14:55Jesus
14:55Christ
14:56came
14:56and offered
14:57his life
14:58to every
14:58human being
14:59born into
15:00this fallen
15:01world
15:01with these
15:03telltaling
15:04words
15:05our precious
15:06savior is
15:07telling us
15:08that he offers
15:09to each one
15:10the gift
15:10of faith
15:11through our
15:12free will
15:13and it is
15:14up to us
15:15to accept
15:16it or
15:17reject it
15:17he says
15:19I will
15:20come in
15:21and dine
15:21with him
15:22if there
15:23is cooperation
15:24with him
15:25in the synergy
15:26of an
15:27open door
15:28he will
15:29come in
15:30but we
15:31must open
15:32the door
15:32because the
15:33doorknob
15:34is on the
15:34inside
15:35of the
15:36door
15:36and God
15:37does not
15:38force anyone
15:38to cooperate
15:39with him
15:40he keeps
15:41knocking
15:42awaiting
15:43a response
15:43from us
15:44faithful
15:45disciples
15:46are promised
15:47they will
15:48eat and
15:48drink at
15:49a table
15:49with him
15:49in the
15:50ultimate
15:50reality
15:51of the
15:52kingdom
15:52of heaven
15:54our
15:54Lord
15:55is kind
15:56and merciful
15:56to those
15:57who do
15:58not doubt
15:58from stubbornness
15:59or opposition
16:00but rather
16:01from spiritual
16:02weakness
16:03and inexperience
16:04and those
16:05who seek
16:06the truth
16:06and grieve
16:07over their
16:08lack of faith
16:08will receive
16:10divine help
16:11to acquire
16:12the faith
16:12that they are
16:13looking for
16:14remember the
16:15account
16:16in Mark
16:17chapter 9
16:18verses 23
16:20and 24
16:21where Jesus
16:22took pity
16:23on the lamenting
16:24and grieving
16:24father
16:25of the possessed
16:26son
16:26who cried out
16:28and Jesus
16:28said to him
16:29if you can
16:31believe
16:31all things
16:32are possible
16:33to him
16:34who believes
16:34and immediately
16:36the father
16:36of the child
16:37cried out
16:38and said
16:39with tears
16:39Lord
16:40I believe
16:42help my
16:43unbelief
16:44and remember
16:45impetuous
16:46apostle Peter
16:47when the Lord
16:48had compassion
16:49on him
16:50when he became
16:51frightened
16:51of the storm
16:52and began
16:53to sink
16:53when he was
16:54walking on the
16:55water
16:55giving his
16:56hand to Peter
16:57Jesus
16:58gently rebuked
17:00him and said
17:00oh you
17:01of little
17:02faith
17:03why did
17:04you doubt
17:04and neither
17:06did the Lord
17:07reject
17:07doubting Thomas
17:08who wanted
17:09to be
17:10personally
17:10convinced
17:11of the miracle
17:12of the
17:13resurrection
17:13Jesus
17:15having been
17:15so kind
17:16and merciful
17:17as Thomas
17:18his creator
17:19condescended
17:20to him
17:21with his
17:21miraculous
17:22appearance
17:23after his
17:24death on the
17:24cross
17:25but Jesus
17:26did not
17:27praise him
17:27for becoming
17:29a believer
17:29based on
17:30the obvious
17:31proof
17:31of seeing
17:32our resurrected
17:33Lord
17:34but he said
17:34to him
17:35Thomas
17:36because you
17:37have seen
17:38me
17:38you have
17:39believed
17:39blessed
17:40are those
17:41who have
17:41not seen
17:42and yet
17:43have believed
17:44so with
17:46these words
17:47faith
17:48based on
17:49external
17:50experience
17:51has
17:52very little
17:53value
17:53because it
17:54is not
17:55actually
17:55faith
17:56not faith
17:57but rather
17:58common
17:59or rational
18:00knowledge
18:00you see
18:02true
18:02or genuine
18:03faith
18:04is brought
18:05into birth
18:05by inner
18:06experience
18:07and demands
18:08sensitivity
18:09and responsiveness
18:10which blossoms
18:11and shines
18:12into a
18:13divine
18:14spiritual
18:15personal
18:15experience
18:16and on the
18:18other side
18:19of the opposite
18:19of such
18:20faith
18:21we have
18:22the Jewish
18:22scribes
18:23and Pharisees
18:24during Christ's
18:25time
18:25they refused
18:27and stubbornly
18:28refused to
18:29believe
18:29in Jesus
18:30Christ
18:31as the one
18:31God sent
18:32as the Messiah
18:33all that
18:35Christ the
18:36Messiah did
18:36in the
18:37fulfillment
18:38of the
18:38ancient
18:39prophecies
18:40nor in
18:41his
18:41countless
18:41miracles
18:42in raising
18:43the dead
18:43nor his
18:44resurrection
18:45shook
18:46their stubborn
18:47belief
18:47it is so
18:49heartbreaking
18:50to learn
18:50that quite
18:51the contrary
18:52happened
18:53with each
18:54new miracle
18:55and prophetic
18:56prophecy
18:57spoken by
18:58the prophets
18:59that these
19:00men became
19:01more venomous
19:02and hardened
19:03towards our
19:04dear and
19:04precious
19:05savior
19:05they actually
19:07hated the
19:07one
19:08who created
19:09them
19:09and who
19:10came to
19:11offer them
19:11eternal
19:12life
19:12if only
19:14they would
19:15have repented
19:16of their
19:16sinful ways
19:17and we can
19:19see and learn
19:19from this
19:20account
19:21that these
19:21men
19:22who studied
19:22the scriptures
19:23and knew
19:24them
19:24yet denied
19:25and refused
19:26the one
19:27whom God
19:27sent
19:28to deliver
19:29them
19:29to awaken
19:30faith
19:30and faith
19:31within their
19:31hearts
19:32and souls
19:32and because
19:34of their
19:34hardened
19:35consciences
19:36they remained
19:37pig-headed
19:38and sunk
19:39their heels
19:39deeper
19:40in refusing
19:41to humbly
19:42come to
19:42him
19:43and yet
19:44today
19:45we have
19:46adamant
19:47atheists
19:48who refused
19:49to believe
19:49in Jesus
19:50Christ
19:51who would
19:52willingly
19:53deliver them
19:54from their
19:55unbelief
19:55if only
19:56they would
19:57open the
19:57door of
19:58their hearts
19:58to him
19:59as he
20:00continually
20:00knocks on
20:01it
20:01because he
20:02loves them
20:03with an
20:03undying
20:04love for
20:05them
20:05you see
20:07these who
20:08refuse to
20:08believe
20:09and form
20:09their own
20:10concepts
20:11and irrational
20:12ways to
20:13create a
20:14God of
20:14their own
20:15imaginations
20:16and continue
20:17in their
20:18unbelief
20:19because it
20:20is tied
20:21to the
20:21sinfulness
20:22of the
20:22fallen
20:23nature
20:23not everyone
20:25is willing
20:26dear listener
20:28and followers
20:28faith is not
20:30a philosophy
20:31or scientific
20:32idea created
20:33by man
20:33but rather
20:35it is an
20:36instruction
20:36and demands
20:37certain
20:38behavioral
20:38actions
20:39and requires
20:40definite
20:41conformity
20:42remember
20:44at the beginning
20:44of this
20:45reflection
20:45it was
20:46mentioned
20:47that each
20:47and every
20:48little baby
20:49at conception
20:50was given
20:51gifts by
20:51their creator
20:52God
20:53these gifts
20:54again
20:54include
20:55irrational
20:56mind
20:57a conscience
20:58creativity
20:59free will
21:01love
21:02and desire
21:03for the
21:04absolute
21:04and for
21:05God
21:05and personal
21:07self-awareness
21:08and everything
21:09else that
21:10puts man
21:11above
21:11every living
21:13being in
21:13creation
21:14and makes
21:15him a man
21:16and a person
21:17created
21:17in God's
21:18image
21:18and I repeat
21:20this again
21:22saying that
21:23man is a
21:24person
21:24by virtue
21:25of the
21:26gifts
21:26bestowed
21:26upon him
21:27in Christ's
21:29image
21:29and these
21:30gifts that
21:31make us
21:31in his
21:32image
21:32were given
21:34to man
21:34by God
21:35in order
21:36for him
21:37to reach
21:37higher
21:38and attain
21:39likeness
21:40to his
21:40God
21:41to not
21:41have an
21:42external
21:43moral
21:44relationship
21:44with him
21:45but a
21:46personal
21:47union
21:47with his
21:48creator
21:48who loves
21:49him beyond
21:50measure
21:51through the
21:51partaking
21:52of
21:53the divine
21:54nature
21:54of God
21:55it is also
21:57stated in
21:58Psalms
21:59chapter 19
22:00verses 1
22:02through 4
22:02and this
22:03scripture declares
22:04the heavens
22:05declare the
22:06glory of the
22:07Lord
22:07and the
22:08firmament
22:08shows his
22:09handiwork
22:10day unto
22:11day utters
22:12speech
22:13and night
22:14unto night
22:14reveals knowledge
22:15there's no
22:16speech
22:17nor language
22:17where their
22:18voice is not
22:19heard
22:19their line
22:20has gone
22:21out through
22:22all the
22:22earth
22:23and their
22:23words to
22:24the end
22:24of the
22:25world
22:25and in
22:26Romans
22:27chapter 1
22:28beginning
22:29in verse
22:3018
22:31we read
22:32a follow-up
22:33of what we
22:34just read
22:34in Psalms
22:3619
22:36for the
22:38wrath of
22:38God is
22:38revealed
22:39from heaven
22:39against
22:40all
22:41ungodliness
22:42and
22:43unrighteousness
22:44of men
22:44who suppress
22:45the truth
22:46in
22:47unrighteousness
22:48because
22:49what may
22:49be known
22:50of God
22:50is manifest
22:51in them
22:52for God
22:52has shown
22:53it to
22:53them
22:54for since
22:55the creation
22:55of the
22:55world
22:56his invisible
22:57attributes
22:58are clearly
22:59seen
23:00being understood
23:01by the things
23:01that are made
23:02even in his
23:03eternal power
23:04and the
23:05Godhead
23:05so they are
23:06without excuse
23:07because
23:08also they knew
23:09God
23:10they did not
23:10glorify him
23:11as God
23:11nor were
23:12thankful
23:13but became
23:14futile
23:15in their
23:16own thoughts
23:16and their
23:17foolish hearts
23:17were darkened
23:18professing to
23:19be wise
23:20they became
23:21fools
23:21and changed
23:22the glory
23:23of the
23:23incorruptible
23:24God
23:24into an
23:25image
23:25made
23:26like
23:27corruptible
23:28man
23:28and birds
23:29and four
23:29faced
23:30footed
23:30animals
23:31or creeping
23:31things
23:32verse 24
23:33therefore God
23:34also gave
23:35them up
23:35to uncleanness
23:36and the
23:37lusts of
23:37their hearts
23:38to dishonor
23:38their bodies
23:39among themselves
23:40who exchanged
23:41the truth
23:41of God
23:42for the
23:42lie
23:43and worship
23:44and serve
23:44the creature
23:45rather than
23:46the creator
23:46who is
23:47blessed
23:48forever
23:48amen
23:50you see
23:51what these
23:52verses are
23:52talking about
23:53is the
23:54wrath of
23:54God
23:55the wrath
23:56of God
23:57is his
23:57righteousness
23:58and holy
23:59judgment
23:59it is not
24:01a loss
24:01of temper
24:02or a lack
24:03of self
24:04control
24:04but the
24:06revelation
24:06of his
24:07divine truth
24:08his love
24:09and power
24:10that is
24:11confronting
24:11those
24:12who reject
24:12him
24:13all of
24:14humanity
24:15can recognize
24:16natural
24:17revelation
24:18that is
24:19God's
24:20power
24:20or energy
24:21and his
24:22greatness
24:22and preeminence
24:23by simply
24:24observing the
24:26glories of
24:26creation
24:27and still
24:29they stubbornly
24:30reject God
24:31and yet
24:32cannot be
24:33excused by
24:34the claim
24:35of ignorance
24:35for even
24:37the heavens
24:37declare the
24:38glory of
24:39God
24:39Psalms
24:41chapter 18
24:41verse 2
24:42tells us
24:43that the
24:43firmament
24:44shows the
24:45creation
24:46of his
24:47hand
24:47we see
24:49by these
24:49things also
24:50that humanity
24:52by nature
24:52worships
24:53something
24:54someone seeks
24:56to worship
24:56the creator
24:57while others
24:59worship the
25:00creation
25:00the orthodox
25:02church teaches
25:03that being
25:03fully human
25:04is defined
25:05as giving
25:06glory and
25:07thanks to
25:08the true
25:08God who
25:09is the
25:09creator
25:10of all
25:10things
25:11and those
25:12who refuse
25:13to worship
25:14him become
25:15darkened in
25:16their hearts
25:17and consciences
25:18St. Basil
25:20the Great
25:20who lived
25:21in 330
25:22to 379
25:25AD
25:25tells us
25:26by saying
25:27let us
25:28glorify the
25:30greatest of
25:30artists who
25:31has created
25:32the world in
25:33wisdom and
25:33refinement and
25:35from the
25:35beauty of
25:36that which
25:36we can
25:37see let
25:38us recognize
25:38the one
25:39who transcends
25:40in his
25:41beauty all
25:41things and
25:43from the
25:43majesty of
25:44these sensible
25:45things let
25:46us conclude
25:46that there
25:47is eternal
25:48one transcending
25:49all majesty
25:50as through
25:51his power
25:52surpassing all
25:53knowledge
25:55and St.
25:56Isaac the
25:56Syrian who
25:57lived in
25:58613 to
25:59700 AD
26:01in the
26:02most unique
26:03way describes
26:04divine love
26:06revealed through
26:06the creation
26:07by saying
26:08what that
26:10invisible being
26:11is like
26:11who without
26:13any beginning
26:13in his
26:14nature unique
26:15in himself
26:16who is by
26:17nature beyond
26:18all knowledge
26:19intellect and
26:20feel of
26:21created beings
26:22who is beyond
26:23time and
26:24space being
26:25the creator
26:25of these
26:26who at the
26:27beginning of
26:27time was
26:28learned about
26:29through hints
26:30and was
26:30made known
26:31as if it
26:32were through
26:33his mark
26:34by means
26:35of establishing
26:36the fullness
26:37of creation
26:37who made
26:38his voice
26:39heard in
26:39connection
26:40with his
26:41handiwork
26:41and so
26:42the being
26:43of his
26:44lordship
26:44was made
26:45known
26:45the fountain
26:46head of
26:47innumerable
26:48nature
26:49this being
26:50is hidden
26:50for as
26:52he dwelt
26:53in his
26:53being
26:54for ands
26:56without
26:56number
26:57or limit
26:58or beginning
26:59it pleased
27:01his
27:01graciousness
27:02and he
27:02made a
27:03beginning
27:03of time
27:04bringing
27:05the worlds
27:05and created
27:06beings
27:07into existence
27:08Saint Isaac
27:10continues
27:11let us
27:12consider
27:13then how
27:13rich
27:14in its
27:15wealth
27:15is the
27:15ocean
27:16of his
27:16created
27:17act
27:17and how
27:18many
27:18created
27:19things
27:20belong
27:20to God
27:20and how
27:21in his
27:22compassion
27:23he carries
27:24everything
27:24acting
27:25providentially
27:26as he
27:27guides
27:27creation
27:28and how
27:29with a
27:29love
27:30that could
27:30not be
27:30measured
27:31he arrived
27:32at the
27:33establishment
27:33of the
27:34world
27:34and the
27:35beginning
27:35of creation
27:36and how
27:37compassionate
27:38God is
27:39how patient
27:40and how
27:41he loves
27:41creation
27:42and how
27:43he carries
27:43it gently
27:44enduring
27:45its
27:46importunity
27:47the various
27:48sins
27:48and wickedness
27:49the terrible
27:50blasphemies
27:51of demons
27:52and evil
27:53men
27:54dear ones
27:56what we
27:57have been
27:57talking about
27:58is a
27:58loving God
27:59who sent
28:01his son
28:01into this
28:02earth
28:02to die
28:03a horrible
28:04death
28:04on the
28:05cross
28:05so that
28:06all would
28:07open door
28:07of their
28:08hearts
28:08to him
28:09by faith
28:10and might
28:11receive
28:12eternal
28:13salvation
28:14and live
28:14with him
28:15forever
28:15with all
28:16the saints
28:17of God
28:17who truly
28:18loved him
28:19with all
28:20of their
28:20hearts
28:20their souls
28:21their minds
28:22everything
28:23within them
28:24and all
28:25of these
28:26dear saints
28:26who stand
28:27before the
28:28throne of
28:28God today
28:29rejoicing
28:30in his
28:30uncreated
28:31light
28:32shouting
28:33holy
28:33holy
28:34holy
28:35is our
28:36great
28:36king
28:36and lord
28:37jesus christ
28:38is because
28:40they had
28:40genuine
28:41faith
28:41that provided
28:43them entrance
28:44into god's
28:45immeasurable
28:46treasury
28:46of love
28:48metropolitan
28:49hilarion
28:50in his
28:51book
28:51called
28:52the mystery
28:53of faith
28:54tells us
28:54faith
28:56the path
28:57on which
28:58an encounter
28:59takes place
28:59between us
29:00and god
29:01it is god
29:02who takes
29:02us on
29:03the first
29:04step
29:04he fully
29:06and unconditionally
29:07believed
29:08in us
29:08and gives
29:09us a sign
29:11an awareness
29:12of his
29:12presence
29:13we hear
29:14the mysterious
29:15call of god
29:16and our
29:17first step
29:18toward an
29:18encounter
29:19with him
29:19is a
29:20response
29:21to his
29:22call
29:22god may
29:23call us
29:24openly
29:24or in
29:25secret
29:25overtly
29:27or covertly
29:28but it is
29:29difficult for
29:30us to
29:30believe in
29:30him
29:31if we
29:32not first
29:32heed this
29:33call
29:33and this
29:35is saying
29:35that one
29:36of the
29:36first knocks
29:37on the
29:38door of
29:39our heart
29:39faith
29:41opens the
29:41door
29:42faith
29:43is both
29:44a mystery
29:45and a
29:45miracle
29:45and this
29:47is why
29:47that one
29:48person
29:49responds
29:49to the
29:50knock
29:50while another
29:51does not
29:52and why
29:53is one
29:54able to
29:55open and
29:55receive the
29:56word of
29:56god
29:57and open
29:58up their
29:58hearts to
29:59him
29:59while another
30:01person
30:01remains
30:02stone deaf
30:03why having
30:05encountered
30:06god does
30:07one immediately
30:08abandon
30:08everything
30:09and follow
30:10him like
30:10an arrow
30:11of love
30:12pierced
30:12his heart
30:13while another
30:14turns and
30:15runs the
30:16other way
30:16and takes
30:17another road
30:17it is true
30:19that throughout
30:20the ages
30:20people have
30:21come to
30:22god in
30:22many different
30:23ways
30:23everybody
30:24seems to
30:25have their
30:25own story
30:26sometimes
30:27their encounter
30:28may have
30:29been sudden
30:30and unexpected
30:31and sometimes
30:32they had
30:33diverse paths
30:34of searching
30:35doubts
30:36and disillusion
30:36dear listener
30:38and followers
30:39as I
30:40exhort you
30:41I exhort
30:42myself
30:43to not
30:44delay
30:44in opening
30:45up your
30:46hearts
30:46every day
30:47every hour
30:48and position
30:49yourself like
30:50many of the
30:51saints
30:52that we
30:53read about
30:53who have
30:54gone before
30:55us
30:55and left
30:56an arsenal
30:57of wisdom
30:58and a
30:59pattern of
31:00prayer
31:00so that we
31:01too may
31:02walk in that
31:03same steady
31:04faithfulness
31:05cultivating a
31:06life that
31:07listens and
31:08responds and
31:09yields to
31:10the gentle
31:11movements of
31:12the holy
31:12spirit
31:13until our
31:14days are
31:15shaped not
31:16by striving
31:17but actual
31:18communion with
31:19him and
31:20two let us
31:21be faithful
31:22every day to
31:22do our part
31:23as we search
31:25for the entrance
31:25into god's
31:26immeasurable
31:27treasury by
31:29genuine faith
31:30on our part
31:31which opens
31:32the door into
31:33his heart
31:34so that we
31:35might enjoy
31:36true communion
31:37with him
31:38where everlasting
31:39joy is not
31:40only promised
31:41but experienced
31:45you