Introducing the “Desert of the Heart” Prayer Community!

[@elusivemayfly7534]

Fr. Paul radiates positivity. He is certainly a bee!

[@mrsapostate]

Last night was the first time I offered a prayer to St. John the Forerunner and Baptist! Then I wake up to this message. Wow. "Wondrous is God in His saints!" -Psalm 67:36

[@slavplaysgames]

Your bf ,husband whatever is hanging w a heretic david wood not to mention he your man dressed up as a woman .ccc you guys make a clown show of God .Also your username .. ccc

[@talktalk147]

John the Baptist is dead right? Can a spirit pray for us and make a request for us?

[@talktalk147]

The Bible does not record Jesus explicitly saying that dead people can't pray. However, there are several teachings and references in the Bible that suggest the state of the dead and their inability to interact with the living world or influence it through actions like prayer. Here are a few relevant points: Biblical References: 1.Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” - This verse indicates that the dead are no longer conscious or active in earthly matters, which implies that they cannot pray or influence the living. 2. Psalm 115:17 “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence.” - This suggests that the dead do not participate in worship or prayer, as they are in a state of silence. 3. Luke 16:19-31 - The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus**: In this parable, Jesus describes the rich man in Hades asking Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his family. Abraham replies that there is a great chasm between the living and the dead, preventing any interaction. While not directly about prayer, it implies a separation between the living and the dead, with no influence or communication possible. 4. Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” - This suggests that after death, individuals face judgment rather than continuing activities like praying. Theological Perspective: Christian theology traditionally holds that after death, the soul goes to a state of rest or awaiting judgment, depending on one's belief system. During this time, the soul does not have the same interaction with the living world, which would include actions like praying for earthly matters.

[@TheActualCorrectOpinion]

@@talktalk147Yes.

[@slavplaysgames]

@@talktalk147 do you think saints are just some kind of a lame spirit you imagine from a movie ? What a disgrace

[@zzzaaayyynnn]

I love the idea of this online community, Fr. Paul. I'll be watching on a regular basis. And taking your advice.

[@KatWomanHikes]

I was fixin’ to say the exact same thing! ☦️☦️☦️

[@Lord_Have_MercyX3]

“the communists understood the power of prayer better than we do.” Feels like a strike directly to my core. Glory to God for this message.

[@metanoiajuice]

Prayer is the best play in our playbook.

[@seeker2219]

11minutes in and i am allready satisfied with the wisom i´v recieved from this. And yet i have 40 more minutes to go, that is a blessing to me. Very nice video. God bless

[@e.creasman3198]

Wow! Don’t battle the old man. Strengthen the new man. 🤯 ❤

[@IIZCHAOS]

I really really needed this today farther. I've been struggling so much lately and felt distant, and my grandma is dying and I've just fallen away into my old passions and struggled with prayer. I prayed for help about it today and then this vidio came up and I'm now in tears. God bless you Fr thankyou.

[@hannahbaker3080]

What a radical community, I will be following these uploads, thanks so much for this wonderful prayer ministry, Father Paul!

[@Mark-r8m4m]

Thank you Father, I need this. I am a recent convert to Orthodox. I had been so deceived in my life and beliefs and I need every bit of Orthodox life and prayer practice that I can get. Thank you and may God's light shine on you in the darkest of days.

[@ericschantz4275]

Fr. Paul, this is exactly what I have prayed and hoped for. Thank you so much. May Heaven consume you, as well.

[@fujikokun]

Thank God for you Father. If my husband and I become Orthodox, it will be entirely because of you (and the Holy Spirit). You are helping my husband to understand things in a way no other Orthodox apologist has been able to, and your videos are keeping me afloat right now as my life lately has been full of tragedy and struggle. Thank you for your ministry which is doing so much good.

[@slavplaysgames]

Just read lives of saints and pray "Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me" unceasingly and you will be guided i know i was and still am .

[@hannahbaker3080]

Father Paul was a huge help on my journey, and still is. I do believe he was my first or second introduction to orthodoxy years ago when he was interviewed by Matt Whitman and that seed turned into a full orthodox life in communion with the church, praise God!

[@joshuamiller9853]

Thank you so much for this lesson. I’ve been really struggling to pray for a couple months. I’ve never been so convicted and uplifted simultaneously.

[@ირაკლიმაისურაძე-ნ8დ]

God bless orthodoxy amen❤

[@SamuelAyanaw3]

Thank you Father Paul for this enlightening video.

[@NotBlandBlandina]

So timely, was just rereading the Way of the Pilgrim 🙏

[@ORTHOPRAXIA33]

You have such a way with words Father! Thank you!

[@mrsapostate]

❤❤❤ Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! ❤❤❤

[@phillipbingham487]

verrrry deeeep.. but beautiful....teaching and preaching like this is some of what makes me glad to be Orthodox

[@Aardwariorr]

Thank you fathers and saints and all might father and the theotokos panagia holy virgin mother of Jesus savior of humanity 🙏 ameen

[@giorginyc]

Thank you for these lecture series! Unfortunately not many priests talk about importance of the Jesus Prayer or the prayer of the heart, or giving practical advises on it.

[@ChristosAnesti]

Wow this was beautiful needed this at this exact moment such a real way to deal with Theese things

[@PrayersfromtheRedwoodForest]

so much to learn here

[@Max-go4sx]

Beautiful sesion love your work God bless you.

[@JustinBrasfield-dk8kt]

Truth - the main attacks are going to be tiredness, distractedness, boredom, disinterest - yes -

[@OneOfTheAncients]

Greetings fr paul, thank you for your spiritual vitamins ☦️📖

[@s.d.berquist6866]

I love this! We are doing something similar at our parish. God Bless, brothers and sisters and Fr. Paul.

[@emilius.525]

What an amazing talk full of so much truth.. God Bless ☦️

[@johnmcallister9094]

Thank you ❤

[@OrthodoxIslands]

Greetings fr paul ☦︎ God bless you.

[@calebmellet5062]

Greetings Fr Paul, it's been a delight watching your videos. I recently finished your series on catechesis, it was truly enlightening. I look forward to participating in this prayer community moving forward. God bless from South Africa 🙏🏻

[@HolyBalkans]

God bless you

[@virginialopezrey6860]

I thank God for you, Father! I needed this message today.

[@thefuzzytongue]

Nice lesson. thank you! Also thank you for repeating the question so those watching later can understand. ❤

[@kathycc88]

Very helpful advice, specially on the humble repentance focused and centered on Christ. God bless you 🙏

[@bungiecoocoo]

Community is a good name. Reminds me of koinonia.

[@mrsapostate]

Fr. Paul, can you link what you will be reading?

[@georgeyanez8092]

Fr. Paul, tuning in from the East Coast, will there be an email list with suggested readings etc... I ask because it seems if we watch the videos we may be behind.

[@KatWomanHikes]

Oooh great idea!

[@deadpenitence]

Thank you for this series, Father! I am enjoying it already. Can I ask, regarding A Night in the Desert of the Holy Mountain and the Elder, if it was Metropolitan Hirotheos himself who confessed who the Elder was? My priest and I were having this very discussion a few weeks ago, pondering who he was. I had a quick look and it seems like St Sophrony moved from Mt Athos to Paris after 1947 and then onto Essex in 1959, and Metropolitan Hirotheos was only born in 1945, so I'm a bit confused 😅 did St Sophrony have another period of living on Mt Athos? Apologies for my ignorance, or if this has been discussed in a subsequent video

[@nbinghi]

Thank you for this, Father Paul. Will the community be through zoom meetings or some other kind of platform? Thank you.

[@sifrah5607]

i really wish i could talk to a priest

[@anawilliams6500]

What is stopping you...find a way if you really wish. Nothing to loose. Find and orthodox church go inside on Sundays wait until the end speak with the priest and see if you get connected, confess and if you don't feel any changes never go back...is that simple. If feels good to get rid of some...

[@jasonbryan3135]

The sola scriptura delusions are strong from some in this chat. Hang in there Father. I'm tempted to jump in, but Protestantism reasons in a circle. Let us be strong in the faith. As Saint John Chrysostom says: “Let us astound them [the pagans] by our way of life rather than by words. For this is the main battle (megale mache), this is the unanswerable argument, the argument from conduct. For though we give ten thousand precepts of philosophy in words, if we do not exhibit a life better than theirs, the gain is nothing.” You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

[@mikemacelfresh4532]

As a baptized christian but not Orthodox, can I have permission to join this community?

[@PrayersfromtheRedwoodForest]

what are you waiting for? come in all the way! I was baptized last week its the best thing thats ever happened to me to convert to eastern orthdoxy

[@dianelevy419]

HOW DO I JOIN THIS COMMUNITY?

[@yn3401]

Please 🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@acekoala457]

Missed out on calling it "Deseret of the Heart"

[@travp1288]

where can we find this icon? Would love to add it to our corner... thank you for this video and pulling people together in prayer in this way. The idea of 'strengthen the new man' is unbelievably insightful, thank you again and for opening up this idea to all of us.

[@talktalk147]

The Bible does not record Jesus explicitly saying that dead people can't pray. However, there are several teachings and references in the Bible that suggest the state of the dead and their inability to interact with the living world or influence it through actions like prayer. Here are a few relevant points: Biblical References: 1.Ecclesiastes 9:5-6 “For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten. Their love, their hate and their jealousy have long since vanished; never again will they have a part in anything that happens under the sun.” - This verse indicates that the dead are no longer conscious or active in earthly matters, which implies that they cannot pray or influence the living. 2. Psalm 115:17 “It is not the dead who praise the Lord, those who go down to the place of silence.” - This suggests that the dead do not participate in worship or prayer, as they are in a state of silence. 3. Luke 16:19-31 - The Parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus**: In this parable, Jesus describes the rich man in Hades asking Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his family. Abraham replies that there is a great chasm between the living and the dead, preventing any interaction. While not directly about prayer, it implies a separation between the living and the dead, with no influence or communication possible. 4. Hebrews 9:27 “Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment.” - This suggests that after death, individuals face judgment rather than continuing activities like praying. Theological Perspective: Christian theology traditionally holds that after death, the soul goes to a state of rest or awaiting judgment, depending on one's belief system. During this time, the soul does not have the same interaction with the living world, which would include actions like praying for earthly matters.

[@nelsonfashogbon3018]

Shalom Father Paul. Please could you point me as where I can purchase your red prayer rope. I am really interested in purchasing one. I would appreciate the guidance. God bless

[@MicahMarshall4Truth]

Hey! I actually make prayer rope bracelets. I’d be happy to make and send you one at no cost to you. Let me know if you would like one and I’ll give you my email or phone number. It would be a blessing to do this for you!

[@aidenplock6731]

Hello, Father thank you for this reflection, could you help me understand the differences between theosis and divinization, as I can't seem to find an in-depth answer anywhere, possibly due to my lack of searching. St. Nektarios of Aegina pray that the Father may grant us humility.

[@silouanlane319]

Generally divinization is used as the English translation of theosis. If an Orthodox uses it, they mean theosis.

[@kostakosta7464]

Hi. Which archdiocese is this priest under? thank you

[@annca]

said I won't write anything anymore, but YT recommended the video and listened to it while driving. This kind of sermon Fr.Paul, is the reason I followed you (with the exception of some slips), with love for the wisdom and intelligence you show, and that's why I took the liberty to write you everything I wrote about worship and prayer to icons, saints, etc. And in everything I said, it is not related to drama and the desire for "argument", but to the truth, and I still hope that one day you will see the light and to the realization of some wrong practices in the Orthodox Church. Yes, Romania being one of the most orthodox countries in the world, these customs are practiced strictly, being the order of the day. The problem is that when all these parishioners who practice these things, do not know even 20% of what is written in the Bible, they do not understand God, they understand more about the worship of icons, prayers to the saints, and this is due to the priests which misguides parishioners. Do you really not see a problem with this? All you priests will one day give a great account before God, what you have guided people to do and how much you have helped them to reach God, in forming a relationship with God, not with the saints, for that it is not the saints who bring salvation.. And I am convinced that this is not only the case in Romania, but also in other countries all over the world and many churches. And another thing to point out most of the people in the prisons prayed to Lord Jesus Christ, not to the saints, that's why they came out, as you mentioned in another video, that they came out stronger spiritually and not broken. God bless.

[@frpaul]

@@annca To reject the hundreds of millions of Christians who all, universally, for 2,000 years, understood the Faith in a particular way in favor of your personal understanding… against the likes of clairvoyant and wonderworking Saints… can, I’m sorry to say, only be described as delusion based in pride. Do you think you understand the Faith better than Elder Cleopa? Or St Paisius Velichkovsky? Or St John Chrysostom? The Scriptures tell us that the Church is the pillar and ground of the truth. So which Church do you belong to? Can it be found continuously in history? Can it produce figures who work wonders like the Apostles? Your personal understanding cannot be greater than the 2,000 year old continuous Tradition of Orthodoxy. You are not greater than the Church… no one is… for the Church has the Holy Spirit as Her Guide and Christ as the Head. Only pride would set a person “above” that. Please understand: I write this as a loving warning.

[@Blueray93Romania]

Typical Romanian that chose to follow the confort and easiness of one or more of the myrriads of protestant sects, instead the faith of your ancestors brought to us by the Holy Apostles Andrew and Phillip. You have very little knowledge on church history and notions such as soteriology, christology, ecclesiology and dare to write such a message? You fail to see the irony, don't you? Romanians, attracted by the degeneracy of the west, are leaving Orthodoxy either for secularism or for some sect of protestantism, whilst the west, sick and tired of heresies and atheism, is embracing the True Faith brough to us by Christ, in His Church, namely Orthodoxy.

[@fujikokun]

There is no way you could come away from Father Paul’s teachings with a lack of a deep understanding on Christian fundamentals such as love of God, faith in Christ, saved by grace, and repentance. Why are you complaining to him about what other priests are doing? He is following and preaching the Orthodox faith in its fullness, and if they are not, that’s not his responsibility.

[@annca]

@@frpaul You made a good point Fr., traditions, and that's all they are, Christ established Christianity and His teachings are not in accordance with these traditions. Also, what all the saints you mentioned have in common is the life they lived with God, not the prayers made to other saints, guiding people to Christ. So what I am saying is not a personal understanding, but of all those who have followed the teachings of Christ. I'm all for honoring the lives of the saints, talking about their Christian journey to encourage others to do the same, but there's a big difference between honoring them and praying to them. Even if their soul is alive, it is no longer their duty to turn others to the Lord. As proof that even Abraham did not pray to God saying to the rich man, I quote "They have Moses. If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not believe even if someone rises from the dead." So, in addition to showing that there is communication between them, and that those who do not believe will be infidels to the end even if they had hundreds of other proofs, it also brings out the fact that those who live on earth play a role in leading others to repentance, not those who are no longer on earth. Their mission was while they were alive on earth, in their time. Unlike you who are alive on earth and guide people to God. Once our soul leaves the body and it reaches the dust, our sins cannot be forgiven and our role on earth is over. What we leave here is the way we lived our lives, being an example for others, good or bad, depending on what everyone chooses. And I'm sorry you misunderstand me, because where you see pride, I see truth. And it is not about me, but about the preservation of the Scriptures and I care enough to point out these wrong practices installed in the Orthodox Church. Because I have listened to and dealt with several priests and you are one of the few that I see doing this more than a career, but a calling, taking this work seriously, and living the life of faith in a authentic way.

[@annca]

@@fujikokun I painted something that he mentioned in other videos and I wanted to make a connection with what he also teaches others about saints and icons. If you don't understand what I'm talking about, then move one.

[@joylarson9040]

Perhaps focus on Christ?

[@frpaul]

@@joylarson9040 ??? Did you listen to the talk???

[@josephmary969]

17:20

[@duruyucel]

30:56 - 31:46 👌👌👌