St. John Chrysostom Homilies on Matthew- Homily XII 5

5. Forasmuch then as our house is there, there let us store up all, and

   leave nothing here, unless we lose it. For here, though you put a lock

   on it, and doors, and bars, and set thousands of servants to watch it;

   though you get the better of all the crafty ones, though you escape

   the eyes of the envious, the worms, the wasting that comes of time;

   which is impossible;--death at any rate you will never escape, but

   will be deprived of all those things in one moment of time; and not

   deprived of them only, but will have to transfer them into the hands

   often of your very enemies. Whereas if you would transfer them into

   that house, you will be far above all. For there is no need to apply

   either key, or doors, or bars; such is the virtue [527] of that city,

   so inviolable is this place, and by nature inaccessible to corruption

   and all wickedness.

   How then is it not of the utmost folly, where destruction and waste is

   the lot of all that is stored, there to heap up all, but where things

   abide untouched and increase, there not to lay up even the least

   portion; and this, when we are to live there forever? For this cause

   the very heathens [528] disbelieve the things that we say, since our

   doings, not our sayings, are the demonstration which they are willing

   to receive from us; and when they see us building ourselves fine

   houses, and laying out gardens and baths, and buying fields, they are

   not willing to believe that we are preparing for another sort of

   residence away from our city.

   "For if this were so," say they, "they would turn to money all they

   have here, and lay them up beforehand there;" and this they divine from

   the things that are done in this world. For so we see those who are

   very rich getting themselves houses and fields and all the rest,

   chiefly in those cities in which they are to stay. But we do the

   contrary; and with all earnest zeal we get possession of the earth,

   which we are soon after to leave; giving up not money only, but even

   our very blood for a few acres and tenements: while for the purchase of

   Heaven we do not endure to give even what is beyond our wants, and this

   though we are to purchase it at a small price, and to possess it

   forever, provided we had once purchased it.

   Therefore I say we shall suffer the utmost punishment, departing

   there naked and poor; or rather it will not be for our own poverty

   that we shall undergo these irremediable calamities, but also for our

   making others to be such as ourselves. For when heathens see them that

   have partaken of so great mysteries earnest about these matters, much

   more will they cling themselves to the things heaping much fire upon

   our head. For when we, who ought to teach them to despise all things

   that appear, do ourselves most of all urge them to the lust of these

   things; when shall it be possible for us to be saved, having to give

   account for the perdition of others? Hear you not Christ say, that

   He left us to be for salt and for lights in this world, in order that

   we may both brace up [529] those that are melting in luxury, and

   enlighten them that are darkened by the care of wealth? When therefore

   we even cast them into more thorough darkness, and make them more

   dissolute, what hope shall we have of salvation? There is none at all;

   but wailing and gnashing our teeth, and bound hand and foot, we shall

   depart into the fire of hell, after being full well worn down by the

   cares of riches.

   Considering then all these things, let us loose the bands of such

   deceit, that we may not at all fall into those things which deliver us

   over to the unquenchable fire. For he that is a slave to money, the

   chains both here and there will have him continually liable to them;

   but he that is rid of this desire will attain to freedom from both.

   Unto which that we also may attain, let us break in pieces the grievous

   yoke of avarice, and make ourselves wings toward Heaven; by the grace

   and love towards man of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and

   might forever and ever. Amen.

Be still and know that I am God!

May you be blessed.

+William

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Excerpt of Homilies on Gospel of St. Matthew by St. John Chrysostom

Homily XI: 7    

Thus having said, "He shall baptize with

   the Holy Spirit and with fire," and having there promised great

   blessings; unless you, released wholly from the former things, grow

   supine, he has added the fan, and the judgment thereby declared. Thus,

   "think not at all," said he, "that your baptism suffices, if you become

   ordinary persons hereafter:" for we need both virtue, and plenty

   of that known self-restraint.  Therefore as by the axe he urges

   them unto grace, and unto the font, so after grace he terrifies them by

   the fan, and the unquenchable fire. And of the one sort, those yet

   unbaptized, he makes no distinction, but said in general, "Every tree

   that brings not forth good fruit is hewn down," punishing all

   the unbelievers. Whereas after baptism He works out a kind of division,

   because many of them that believed would exhibit a life unworthy of

   their faith.

   Let no man then become chaff, let no one be tossed to and fro, nor lie

   exposed to wicked desires, blown about by them easily every way. For if

   you continue wheat, though temptation be brought on you, you will

   suffer nothing dreadful; no, for in the threshing floor, the wheels of

   the car, that are like saws,  do not cut in pieces the wheat; but

   if you fall away into the weakness of chaff, you will both here

   suffer incurable ills, being smitten of all men, and there you will

   undergo the eternal punishment. For all such persons both before that

   furnace become food for the irrational passions here, as chaff is for

   the brute animal: and there again they are material and food for the

   flame.

Be still and know that I am God.

In Christ,

+William

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Excerpts from St. John Chrysostom from the Gospel of Matthew speaking on John the Baptist and his exhortation to the Pharisees in calling them a ‘Brood of Vipers’ when they came to see hear him speak in the desert.

Excerpt 1

Homily XI 3:   For to flee from wickedness is not enough, but you must show forth 

also great virtue. For let me not have that contradictory yet ordinary case, that 

refraining yourselves for a little while, you return unto the same wickedness. For 

we are not come for the same objects as  the prophets before. No, the things that 

are now are changed, and are more exalted, for as much as the Judge hereforth is 

coming, His very self, the very Lord of the kingdom, leading unto greater self-

restraint, calling us to heaven, and drawing us upward to those abodes. For this 

cause do I unfold the doctrine also touching hell, because both the good things 

and the painful are forever. Do not therefore abide as you are, neither bring 

forward the accustomed pleas, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the noble race of your 

ancestors."

Excerpt 2

See how for the time he drew them off from their vain imagination about things 

of the body, and from their refuge in their forefathers; in order that they might 

rest the hope of their salvation in their own repentance and continence? See how 

by casting out their carnal relationship, he is bringing in that which is of faith?

6. See you how great is the wisdom of the Baptist? how, when He Himself is 

preaching, He said everything to alarm, and fill them with  anxiety; but when 

He is sending men to Him, whatever was mild and apt to recover them: not 

bringing forward the axe, nor the tree that is cut  down and burnt, and cast 

into the fire, nor the wrath to come, but remission of sins, and removing of 

punishment, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption, 

and adoption, and brotherhood, and a partaking of the inheritance, and

an abundant supply of the Holy Spirit. For all these things he obscurely 

denoted, when he said, "He shall baptize you with the Holy Spirit;" at 

once, by the very figure of speech, declaring the abundance of the grace 

(for he said not, "He will give you the Holy Spirit," but "He will baptize you 

with the Holy Spirit"); and by the specification of fire on the other hand 

indicating the vehement and uncontrollable quality of His grace.

And mark again how he rouses the hearer, by putting that first which was 

to take place after all. For the Lamb was to be slain, and sin to be blotted out, 

and the enmity to be destroyed, and the burial to take place, and the 

resurrection, and then the Spirit to come. But none of these things does he 

mention as yet, but that first which was last, and for the sake of which all the 

former were done, and which was fittest to proclaim His dignity; so that when 

the hearer should be told that he was to receive so great a Spirit he might search 

with himself, how and in what manner this shall be, while sin so prevails; that 

finding him full of thought and prepared for that lesson, he might thereupon 

introduce what he had to say touching the Passion, no man being any more 

offended, under the expectation of such a gift.

Wherefore he again cried out, saying, "Behold the Lamb of God, which bears the 

sin of the world." He did not say, "which remits," but, that which implies a more 

guardian care, "which hears it." For it is not all one, simply to remit, and to take 

it upon Himself. For the one was to be done without peril, the other with death.

In short explanation what is being taught is that; simply believing and fleeing 

from doing wicked things is not enough, we must also bear good fruit, destroy 

the carnal and build the spirit and by God’s grace we are saved. 

Jesus the Christ said: if you love me, keep my commandments.  This is the task 

of every Christian on earth not simply of clergy, monks, and nuns.

Be still and know that I am God!

May you be Blessed.

+William

Monk Michael

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Islam, Abortion, Satanocracy

Islam, Abortion, Satanocracy (Democracy is in fact from Satan, when the majority are immoral you will have immoral laws and a lost nation, simply look around you.)

Islam and abortion cannot be fought by an ungodly people.

Islam will never be checked by a nation that kills it's own children. Far too many people say that there are no early church teachings and nothing in Holy Scripture (Bible) regarding this.

There was in fact much written;


ABORTION

       “You shall not murder a child, whether by [procuring its] abortion or killing it once it is born.” Didache (2:2)

This question has been asked by modern Christians who should know better without even asking; “What does the Holy Scripture (Bible) say about abortion?” We live in a time when just about 46 million babies are aborted in the world each year. Yet very little is said from the pulpit. There is little understanding from the church at large and the people regarding the teaching on abortion, or worse use Holy Scripture (Bible) as a justification for permitting limited abortions. We need a clear understanding about what the Early Christians thought concerning this atrocity - the Didache is helpful in providing one such voice.

      The Didache is very clear in its denunciation of abortion and infanticide. In Chapter 2:2 the Didachist instructs the faithful – those who have chosen “The Way of Life” not to abort their children or kill them after they are born. By contrast, the people who have chosen the “Way of Death,” are described as “…child murderers, who abort what God has formed” (Did – 5:2).

In the first century, there was a number of methods used to end an inconvenient pregnancy or get rid of an unwanted infant; including induced, chemical and surgical abortion for the unborn, and “exposure” of newborn infants. It is astounding that the practice of surgical and chemical abortion, (a kind of “morning after” drug), was so common that the Early Church Fathers had to address the issue in their writings.

There exists, in the writings of the early church, an unbroken chain of condemnation for the practice of abortion and condemnation was for both women and the fathers. When combined with Holy Scripture (Biblical texts) and writings such as the Didache, which are in agreement with the Patristic writings, there exists an unbroken chain of teaching which extends from the early 1st Century Church and on into our modern era – challenging the church today to gain understanding. Some of the Holy Scripture (Biblical texts) regarding abortion can be found below;

        Exodus 21:22-25. Here the Law of Moses is clear; whether intentional or not the premature birth of an infant which results in its death will be punishable by death; “and if men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she has a miscarriage [resulting in its death]…then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life.”

       Psalms 139:13-16 shows God intimately involved in the conception and development of the individual in the mother’s womb. “For you have possessed my reins: you have covered me in my mother’s womb…. My substance was not hid from you, when I was made in secret…Your eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in your book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.”

       Also Jeremiah 1:5 indicates that God is aware of the potential of His people from conception. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I sanctified you…  There can be little doubt the OT served as a foundation for the Patristic writings of Tertullian and the Didache with regard to abortion.

The 1st and 2nd Century writings of the Early Church Fathers regarding abortion is staggering! Early Church documents as early as 70 A.D. are extensive on the subject – this does not include the writings of Holy Scripture or the Didache. Below are some examples;

“You shall not kill a child by obtaining an abortion, nor, again, shall you destroy him after he is born.” – Barnabas (c.70-130)

“We say that those women who use drugs to bring on abortion commit murder… We also teach that it is wrong to expose an infant. For those who expose them are guilty of murder.” – Athenagoras (c. 175).

“Among surgeons‟ tools there is a certain instrument that is formed with a nicely-adjusted flexible frame for first of all, opening the uterus and then keeping it open. It also has a circular blade, by means of which the limbs within the womb are dissected with careful, but unflinching care… (the next comments are omitted due to graphic nature)… ...they give it, (the surgical tool), the name, “killer of the infant” – which infant, of course had once been alive.” – Tertullian (c. 210).

“Indeed the Law of Moses punishes with appropriate penalties the person who causes abortion. For there already exists the beginning stages of a human being. And even at this stage, [the fetus] is already acknowledged with having the condition of life and death, since he is already susceptible to both.” Tertullian (c. 210)

Why then is this still allowed and practiced by many in the church? If you want to defeat an enemy you must yourself defeat the enemy that is within you first.

In Christ,
Monk Michael

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Do we actually believe that today's church can change the world?

My Friends,

To those who love Jesus the Christ, to those who claim to love Jesus the Christ but whose life does not reflect this and to anyone else who wants to hear;

The world and the church are in a serious mess. There are Apostolic churches who claim the creed, there are breakaway from the mainstream Apostolic churches who still claim Apostolic succession while attacking the mainstream churches they broke away from and also attack other breakaway groups as non-canonical.

This is a great word; Canonical, it is used to discredit those that someone else deems as unworthy of being called true Christian. It is used by many to attack others while they themselves claim some sort of succession yet are also called non-canonical by those who they have attacked. We have Eastern Orthodox with Eastern Rite liturgy and we have western Orthodox with Western Rite liturgy and each having issue with not only the opposite but also with others claiming the same rite as being non-canonical. Again this great word in use.  Along with this Orthodoxy we have the Roman church which claims Orthodoxy and yet Rome and the Orthodox church do not get along.

We have those reformed groups or Protestants who some claim Apostolic succession while others scoff at the idea and ridicule the very thought of it. These groups are also divided among many doctrines and not only attack one another but also attack those of any type or sort of Catholicism or liturgical worship. The teachings and doctrines, the theological surmising, the rites and the style of worship differ so much that it is in fact putrid. The correct rite, the canonical status, the once saved always saved, we are working out our salvation day by day, written prayer non-written prayer, we have the Messianic Jew with it's legalism, I'm the only true church no we're the only true church, again this is putrid.

Do we actually believe that we can change the world? The world sees the church just as I have it written above. To add to that it includes the commercialized institution that is called church that demands money to stay in business while it preaches what it does not practice. The church in general is full of corruption; homosexuality, pedophilia, so called men of the cloth who claim celibacy and yet have women on the side, married men of the cloth who have women on the side, or they have young girls or young boys while declaring the world to be corrupt. This is what the world sees.

Yet, we all claim to be followers of the Christ awaiting His return.

Pray my friends and pray hard. The stench of corruption must be removed from the church, all of the corruption from all of the church, we fool only ourselves, I cannot believe that we are nothing more than stench in the nostrils of Almighty God.

Think what you want about me and what I have written, but you had better open your ears and eyes and pray like your life depended on it because it does.

May Almighty God have mercy on us all!

In Christ,
Monk Michael

Seeking a True Church?

My Friends,

Sadly the world is full of serious matters, life and death struggles, haters and attackers of Jesus the Christ and His followers. Many people are seeking Jesus the Christ in truth but do not know where to turn. How many different denominations are there who all claim to be Christian? There are those who claim the one and only true Apostolic succession and yet do not simply disagree on minor issues but disagree on major issues regarding man's salvation as well. Sadly all denominations make the same claim; they are guided by the Holy Spirit. There are those who say that it does not matter where you go as long as you go and "get saved".

Everyone wants a dollar. Some say give what you can and others will outright demand 10% of your earnings before taxes. Understand though, buildings cost money as well as heating and air conditioning so if you worship in a building that has these things then you must understand that these bills do have to be met. The day is coming though when these large places will no longer be truly Christian, they will become state churches with diluted understandings. Sadly, again, this is already true of many. Truth is truth, eventually speaking the truth will become a death sentence. Where will you stand when this happens?

The United States federal government is suing one of it's own states over border protection. The U.S. President is a traitor to the Constitution as well as are most of the elected and appointed officials.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/tsH8xvjTAlo


Where do we go from here? Stay close to Jesus the Christ; very close. Never cease asking for the absolute truth. Seek wisdom and understanding and never tire in asking. Contact me if you would like to talk, pray, ask questions or have suggestions. Remember, verbal abuse through this will simply be deleted.


In Christ,
Monk Michael

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Pray, repent, pray or just forget about it.

My Friends,

What will it take for all of Christianity to become Christian rather than Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, Greek Orthodox, Independent Orthodox, Baptist, Southern Baptist, Pentecostal, Seventh Day Adventist, Lutheran, Anglican and on and on and on.

Do you truly believe that there is One Father, One Lord Jesus the Christ, One Holy Spirit that is recognized within just these groups that I have mentioned above? If you believe that they are represented the same way as the same persons among the groups then you are wearing blinders. As long as this continues there is no hope. There will truly be a remnant saved. Each group, regardless of doctrine will argue with me that they indeed are the true Apostolic church and continue the teachings from the Apostles and yet all are different and claim that the others are in error.

The world mocks the name of Jesus the Christ even more because of this, whether you like it or not this is true. There is in fact One Father, One Lord Jesus, and One Holy Spirit but where are they to be found? The church has become a place of complicated laws with lawyers who represent the Canon Law. Basic understanding is not taught, sin is not spoken against in many places, the church has a message of feel good about yourself no matter who you are as long as you come here on Sunday and make your tax exempt donation to us and we will be kind and smile and never speak on sin, this is our promise.

Again, there will truly be only a remnant saved. The United States is a land of diluted preaching, Jesus the Christ hating government, race baiting politicians making millions of dollars from corporate sponsors to keep the game alive for profit. The entertainment industry hates the Lord Jesus the Christ regardless of how many may try to deny it. This country of the United States, it's government, it's entertainment, and it would appear that many within the church are a cesspool.

There is only one way out. prayer, prayer from the heart, spouting verses of scripture, displaying degrees from theological institutes, formulating profound doctrine is all meaningless. If your heart is not attached to Jesus the Christ, if you refuse to recognize the sin within yourself and work to have it removed, if you are not in daily communion with our Lord from the heart then what you know intellectually is meaningless except to only further condemn yourself, for if you know then you should act. Be doers of the word; is this not the command?

A man who prays from the heart all day and has little more than this intellectually will have much more effect than 10,000 scholars.

Pray, repent, pray and love. There is no other way.

In Christ,
Monk Michael

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