The Devil Can Manipulate Our Thoughts. Sermon by His Eminence Metropolitan Demetrius

[@cpucilowski]

Today I am finally sick of myself. I have been tormented with a split heart, or split soul. Satan has tossed me about and finally, I’ve had enough. This sermon found me through God’s grace. I will listen to it again. The Evil one knows my weaknesses and spins me into confusion, hatred, indecision, and cravings. I have a lot of work to do. May God have mercy on me, a sinner!!!

[@mantis8856]

I have a similar struggle as well. I got random moments of clarity then goes all again into a confusion. It's weird when even my memories on observing certain things ,before that i was mindful about, vanish.

[@petervandolah5322]

You're not alone ...

[@px3979]

I live with soo much regret and find myself tormented by the regrets. It really is a living hell. I must forgive all my enemies including my self.

[@makingsmokesince76]

Take it to your Heavenly Father, lay it at Christ’s feet and repent in the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of humility, that He may cleanse and heal you in Jesus’ name.

[@agiasf7330]

P X, regret is a good starting point, if it leads to repentance. Repentance saves us. Regret & remorse do not. Even Judas had regret & remorse, but it did not lead him to repentance. It led to despair, which is terrible. Let not your regrets lead you to despair, but rather, like St Peter, to repentance. What is repentance? Repentance is to re-orient ourselves to God. We sin when we turn away from God. We repent when we return to Him, we re-orient ourselves to Him, we struggle against temptations (& we will have temptations until we draw our last breath) to draw ever closer to Him. That is what it means to fight the good fight. We are to do this until we die. We are never to give up, we are never to despair, no matter how many times we fall. Each time we fall we humbly seek forgiveness, get up, re-orient ourselves & keep struggling, keep fighting, keep going, & in this way, by His grace, keep drawing closer to Him until we die. That is what we are called to do, that is the Christian life, that is the warfare we are to wage as Orthodox until we die, so that we may be in & with Him in eternity. This life is only a preparation for eternity. Its purpose is to prepare us for eternity. May our eternity be with the Lord! Do not despair! Hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, His Love, His mercy, His forgiveness, His desire to save us, if we want to be saved. He will not force salvation on us. He gave us freewill & respects our freewill. We must want it. Not just say we do, but really want it. We must want Him, really want Him. If we do, we will struggle to keep His commandments. And when we fail & fall, we will repent. Until we die. He sees our struggles. He helps us in our struggles. He is with us in our struggles. May the Lord save you & us all!

[@DFMoray]

Hey if you have regret at least you know you aren’t a sociopath. Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

[@clbaird40]

You are not alone in this. Regret is powerful on our spirit.

[@emiitchi4232]

I feel I’m in hell

[@evfrasiamartushev505]

Thank you to whomever video records Metropolitans sermons🕯️it is a great thing to have whilst in these times. To have Guidance across seas☦️

[@catherinemacdonald7906]

Amen thank you

[@artdanks4846]

AMEN! And it is a great thing to also have this guidance across time, as it is being listened to a full year later! Thank you! ☦️

[@jeremiahbond2810]

Thank you for this. I always appreciate the Good news! We have always owed the Lord God Almighty. From the day He gave us breath. And we will always owe Him for that great gift. All other debts are insignificant in contrast.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Glory to God!

[@tennesseegirl5539]

Lord, have mercy on me. Thank you and bless you, Holy Metropolitan 🛐

[@Yakov_EPH-6.12]

Powerful and beautiful sermon ❤

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

[@TobiasFlavius]

Amen 🙏. Christ is in our midst.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God bless you.

[@TheLorraineclelland]

Our biggest enemy is our own thoughts and emotions. If our thoughts trigger emotions, these thoughts become embedded in our hearts, which must be kept pure. Hence, I must first pray for mercy and forgiveness for that side of my soul. ....I think. 😢

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God help us.

[@PaxettreugaDei]

I Dont know alot about orthodox traditions and culture. I have been listening to hymns because it helps me feel peace and found these sermons today. I am so filled with indignation and anger and lust of the flesh today. Dont give up on your battle against The evil one. You aren't the only one feeling like you are failing Our Humble perfect Savior and God if any of you are experiencing these blind emotions. Love you all, Thank you very much for the Sermon. Trust is what's needed.

[@mannss42884]

This is such a good sermon for me who battles mentally with easily being offended and desiring to want to share my own thoughts and opinions. Although I do highly regard the Saints and what the Church has to say about all matters. So much that the fact that my life doesn't line up with the early church it torments me.... but I feel my own obsessive thoughts can torment me and the demons can have a hay day within those thoughts. I pray that the Lord through thr holy life giving sacraments will transform this lowly body and mind and make me humble before I pass over. Great, wonderful sermon! What a ugly thing Pride is... and oh how we fail. But humility is beautiful. Lord have mercy. On me a sinner.

[@maryhowsrd3381]

Amen

[@blackbette07]

Lord have mercy on me a sinner. I hold grudges and struggle to let them go. Yes I must pray for them.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Deliver us Oh Lord from our delusions.

[@fr.jacobwojcik3608]

Thank you Despota! Thank you for your love and concern for us. ☦️

[@camilobayonamanosca1615]

Thank you for this sermon, its as if you were reading moments of my life, May the Lord Jesus Christ keep giving you wisdom, to save the masses☦️Amin

[@deborahboucha9375]

Thank you for this beautiful sermon🙏🏻May your life as a priest be blessed 🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God bless you. Thank you.

[@virginiachryssikos5630]

Your Eminence, the Holy Spirit sweetly speaks through your calm & lucid manner of speaking. I am thankful to Christ for you.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Pray for us!

[@OrthodoxChristianTreasures]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Amen!

[@DeeOne777]

Thank you for your spiritual guidance. God bless U 💜🙏🏽💜

[@behindenemylines3149]

Absolutely cut to the quick. Lord have mercy! Many Years, And God Bless His Eminence!

[@seta2382]

Humbly, I thank You.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Christ is Risen! God bless you.

[@ctos71]

This sermon has helped me in so many ways. God bless you all and Thank God for Δέσποτα ☦️🙏🏾

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God bless you. Thank you.

[@Subeffulgent]

This is great. Thank you for all that you do in Christ. May God bless you and your family

[@grunerteedaughter3298]

God bless! ☦

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God bless +

[@MeMe-rw7kk]

It’s so hard in everyday life. 😞 I’m not worthy I fall everyday again and again.

[@ИвайлаКотуклиева]

Всички сме така!С Бога напред!

[@ts-ou6nu]

Needed to hear this today God bless Ethiopian Orthodox ❤️☦️🇪🇹

[@lucycastro9428]

Amen! We gotta crawl before we can walk. Thank you your eminence. 🙏

[@jonnaborosky8836]

Thank you, Your Eminence. May our Lord Jesus Christ reward you richly for all your effort on our (your flock and your listeners) behalf. Please remember to pray for my brother's blessed repose (Fr. Hariton) and for me. Mother Anastasia of The Sacred Hermitage of St. Paisius.

[@pooky1474]

Just came across this video. I like your teaching. I needed to hear this. Thank you and God bless.

[@iwannabeacatechumen7584]

God Bless and Strengthen the orthodox church.

[@jimw5142]

Amen. Thank you for this message. Its interesting how I came across this page,, im moving to cobleskill/Schoharie in a few months. Im not Orthodox but I can't get enough of this teaching. I hope after I move I can say hi to this man. I feel I can talk for hours about God to him. God bless

[@АлександрАнисимов-э5п]

Спасибо за проповедь.

[@qxa7878]

I live with depression and OCD, who make my thoughts be my worst enemy. Thank you

[@OrthodoxTradition]

May God save us all.

[@Eve90]

I understand... Keep making the choice to believe that God is good, merciful, benevolent, compassionate, and kind. Grip and cling hard to God when you feel the enemy pulling you by your waist. May God have mercy on us all.

[@sinfulyetsaved]

Help me to forgive, Lord have mercy.

[@ivygarcia9525]

Amen! Glory to God and praises to Him, for the mouth through which His truth comes! 🙏☦️💞

[@foofight2169]

Thank you for this teachings

[@maryhowsrd3381]

Angel of God be at my side. Jesus help us forgive VIOLENCE even those who murder our hearts as well my husband and my family sister husband she was murdered by him w infant And the rude comments of fallen away orthodox Christians be forgotten aftrr we are forgiving..m We can learn when we see masks fall off a " friend" face beware pray keep going w Christ forgive and go find friends of ngood company. If we are in crisis God is our best friend. And remember we are not alone we have holy Angels even in crisis. I've never seen Angels though. Pray for courage when offended. This is good lesson 🙏 humility. St Macarius 🙏 us . Lord open my eyes

[@lightoftheworld7398]

God Bless!✝️☦️

[@mrsmarple2655]

Господи Иисусе Христе Сыне Божий Помилуй нас грешных 🙏💖🕊️

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Амин.

[@gloriawheeler2802]

☦thank you for this sermon today.it had me do some serious understanding. God bless you, and grant you many years.. It is a continuous thinking, of this message,, q to remember God's love and HIS laws. I pray that those who wondered away, remember GOD, with their heart come back HIM. ☦GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST.

[@maryhowsrd3381]

Amen

[@billylogsdon2984]

God bless you,and thanks.

[@suestrantzalis6934]

Amen 🙏 Χριστός Ανέστη 🙏

[@dorinmicu7511]

🙏🙏🙏 God bless !

[@GiaXenakis]

Please keep me in your prayers your Eminence. The struggle is great.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God help you!

[@georgiosrigas4207]

The idea of the Devil or any external force directly manipulating our thoughts is a complex one, laden with theological, philosophical, and psychological implications. In many religions, including Christianity and Islam, the Devil or Satan is seen as a malevolent entity capable of influencing human behavior, including thoughts. Some religious traditions believe the Devil can directly plant thoughts in people's minds or even possess them, though most emphasize that humans still have free will and the power to resist such influences. May the glory of Jesus Christ shine brightly in your life eminence Metropolitan Demetrius and in the world around you. Amen!

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us. Amen.

[@tracycameron5099]

Thankyou !!!

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God bless you.

[@practicalphilosophy9031]

🙏💙🙏

[@zenaidaoftarsus]

Amen

[@vessietaylor]

💞...🕯

[@ElenaPetrovsky-je8hk]

I always thought that the devil could not read 0ur thoughts unless we invite him

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Yes, that is correct.

[@annatolipashalidispalombo7905]

Amen I love this. Its not about our religious title. We must still have a Christian heart. Amen. I love this. I am Greek Orthodox but I love visiting all Orthodox Christian Churches. I love also visiting American Christian churches were I feel the Holy Spirit. I love to see how people worship. I have a different heart. I love all people and I can feel Christ in so many people. I love learning. Thank you for your words. I appreciate them

[@Swiss-s4b]

💟💟💟May the Lord bless you Anna. I am Catholic and I pray that one day we will all be united One in Truth and in Christ, if God wills that. May the Holy Spirit purify His Church. See you in Heaven 🥹

[@lauri_with_cats]

thank you

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Thank God.

[@thatwatchtower2095]

💛

[@issuhagos7940]

Thanks for leading us the right way. · Thank you for the word you spread and the lives you touch. God bless you ! 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@bartsimpsonnft4387]

Oh, my life is a constant battle with my flesh. I know the truth JESUS is truth. Why do I battle myself since childhood, I know my faults I want to be saved but I do not deserve it. Is the Christian life this constant torment?

[@OrthodoxTradition]

We have hope in Christ Jesus. Go to confession, repent, and correct yourself. The Lord wishes your salvation.

[@themeek7499]

So is faith believing in the spirit world we serve as humans, that there is good and evil in spirts, and that we must learn to discern ?

[@mikec6733]

I don't have any enemies Or perhaps the Devil is my enemy, in which case, shouldn't I pray for him ?

[@tomasomaonaigh7659]

Given all that's happened these past few years, is our government not the enemy of the people?

[@jasonsanders8091]

Only great saints can do that.😮

[@OrthodoxChristianTreasures]

Most Holy Theotokos please help me.

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Amen.

[@ElenaPetrovsky-je8hk]

Evil exists everywhere just like slander especially doing lent and these people come to church to pray and gossip

[@qxa7878]

4:33 wow

[@OrthodoxTradition]

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me.

[@WinkThatCouture]

Good sermon but too bad it’s from a non-canonical church (not part of the greater Eastern Orthodox Church but in fact, schismatics).

[@OrthodoxTradition]

The ones who pray with the heretics are non-canonical according to the Orthodox Church. The voice of your Patriarchs are not the voice of the Saints of the Orthodox Church. The saints would never call the Roman Catholic church "the other lung." That's just one example of many.

[@WinkThatCouture]

@@OrthodoxTradition That's not true. There are many saints who saw lots of canons being broken but not one of them left the church. Please name one saint who left the church or declared those who broke canons not to have any grace. How do you know that your own bishop doesn't break one of the canons? Following the canons to a T does not make a group the true church.

[@paulgentile1024]

@@OrthodoxTradition thank you for the great sermon..☦️

[@paulgentile1024]

@@OrthodoxTradition yes...amen

[@artdanks4846]

​@@WinkThatCouture - Forgive me if I am mis-applying Scripture, as I am neither clergy nor theologion. But to my understanding, the entire 3rd Chapter of 2nd Timothy seems to describe the situation here. The so-called "canonical" churches have "a form of godliness", while at the same time are "denying the power thereof" (verse 5), in that on many crucial points they have strayed from the Fathers, Saints, Holy Councils, and Canons of our Holy Church. St. Paul continues in this verse to instruct us, "from such turn away". The GOC, and other so called "schismatic" groups, have chosen to do just that. They have turned away from, and disassociate themselves from the heretical teachings "Ecumenical Orthodoxy". So the real question is: who has really created a schism? Those who have stayed with what the Church of all times and places has always taught and believed? Or those who continually change their practice and beliefs in order to line itself up more with the "modern age" around us?

[@catherinecarter8987]

Your Eminence, Thank you so much dear Blessed Father Demetrius. This timely reminder is so helpful to me. In Christ, Catherine. 🤍☦️🙏

[@OrthodoxTradition]

God bless you+

[@brianlembcke9129]

Amen