ПАСТЫРЬ-ПРОПОВЕДНИК

1. The cherished word of the shepherd of the Church. An exhortation to the non-slothful preaching of the word of God This time, from the treasury of the teaching saint’s works, his brief and very saving cherished word to the church shepherds is borrowed (2, p. 74). “The Lord Jesus Christ said: It is fitting for Me to proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, for for this I am sent 170 (Luke 4:43). This, as I am sent for this purpose, must be accepted by our priesthood as an immutable law. And the Apostle commanded them in the person of St. Timothy: Preach the word, be present in season and without season, reprove, rebuke, entreat with all long-suffering and teaching 171 (2 Tim. 4:2). The Lord and the Holy Spirit, who filled the apostles on the day of Pentecost, brought the truth to earth, and it walks the earth. Its guides are the mouths of the priests of God. Whoever of them closes his mouth, forgetting about the duty of evangelizing and the awaiting grief for unevangelism (See 1 Cor. 9:16), he blocks the path to the truth that asks for the souls of believers (See Luke 11:52). Because of this, the souls of believers languish, not receiving the truth, and the priests themselves should feel languor from the truth, which, not receiving an outcome, weighs on them. Relieve yourself, priest of God, from this burden, release streams of Divine words (See John 7:38) for your consolation and for the revival of the souls entrusted to you. When you see that you yourself do not have the truth, take it: it is in the holy scriptures (See John 5:39), and, being filled with it, forward it to your spiritual children, just do not be silent. Preach, for this is what you are called to do. (See Thoughts for each day of the year according to church readings from the Word of God, Monday of the 18th week of the Pentecostal week, pp. 318–319) (2, pp. 74–75). Lord Jesus, Light of the world (see John 8:12), Heavenly Truth (John 14:6), shine the light of Your God-understanding in the minds and hearts of Your disciples, laborers in Your harvest (see Luke 10:2), may they be the intelligent light of the world, creators and teachers of Your words, teaching those they flock to keep everything that He commanded You are to them (see Matt. 5:14–19; 28:20). Open the minds of evangelists, pastors and church teachers to understand the scriptures (see Luke 24:45); make them all elders, good at their calling and work, laborers in word and doctrine (see 1 Tim. 5:17), Thy good servants, nourished by the words of faith and good teaching (see 1 Tim. 4:6), teaching themselves and those they flock to godliness (see 1 Tim. 7), all inspired scriptures and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for punishment, in righteousness, so that God’s people may be prepared for every good work 172 (see 2 Tim. 3:16-17), able to teach salvation to those who are flocked. Thy Word of God, O Lord, is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword and piercing to the division of soul and spirit, members and marrow, and judging the thoughts and thoughts of the heart, before which all is naked and declared 173 (see Heb. 4, 12, 13), may it be for them a spiritual mirror, a lamp for their feet and a light for their paths (see Heb. Ps. 118:105), learning in what way day and night (see Ps. 1:2) and doing the commandments of the Lord, that they themselves and those who obey them may be saved (see 1 Tim. 4:16)” (2, pp. 75–76). 2. Through shepherds, God reveals His will to the flock Among the Orthodox beliefs is that through his shepherds God reveals His will for his flock (3, p. 191). 3. Tribulation is the property of shepherds You are grieving... It's normal. The Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane is the high priest suffering for the sins of the whole world. The priest also becomes a participant in this sorrow and torment, accepting the sins of his parish and those of strangers who come to him. Such is its purpose (4, pp. 252–253). A change of priest, although not always pleasant, does not cause too much trouble. The Lord rules the Church and everything in it. Priests are His instruments. What is needed for anyone, the Lord will give through the priest, whatever he may be, as long as the seeker seeks with full faith and diligently (8, p. 134). Your choice of shepherding is good. There is no higher service than saving souls. There is nothing to be afraid of: they can all be done conveniently. The very work of saving souls is the work of God. Just do not interfere with the work of grace... Have strong faith, good behavior, a prayerful spirit and prudence in external relations. And God will arrange everything. Above all, prepare for preaching. Find the writings of the saints about shepherding and read them. Also a book about the positions of parish priests (8, p. 219). ...I must preach the Kingdom of God, for that is why I was sent. preach the word, be persistent in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering and edification. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. The Word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword: it penetrates to the dividing of soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart... everything is naked and open before His eyes. You might be interested in: