Church Sacraments, Part 2

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church Sacraments, Part 2 – Chrismation/Confirmation

Objectives:

1. To learn the history of The Holy Oil in The Old Testament
2. To study The Holy Myron in The New Testament
3. To learn The Spiritual Meaning of anointing with The Holy Oil
4. To learn The Fruits and Gifts of The Spirit

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Review

Sacrament means:

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• Invisible grace obtained by
• Visible signs through
• The Holy spirit by
• Ordained priests

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Chrismation/Confirmation

The Explanation of Chrismation/Confirmation:

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• Invisible grace = Confirmed in God by The Dwelling of The Holy Spirit in us
• Visible signs = The Holy Oil / Myron
• Performed by priests or bishops

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• You become consecrated to God for your entire life!

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The Holy Oil History, Consecration

• God requested Moses to make The Holy Oil for consecration

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“Moreover the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: “Also take for yourself quality spices—five hundred shekels of liquid myrrh, half as much sweet-smelling cinnamon (two hundred and fifty shekels), two hundred and fifty shekels of sweet-smelling cane, five hundred shekels of cassia, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, and a hin of olive oil” (Exodus 30:22-24)

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The Holy Oil History, Consecration Cont.

“And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint the tabernacle of meeting and the ark of the Testimony; the table and all its utensils, the lampstand and its utensils, and the altar of incense; the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the laver and its base. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy; whatever touches them must be holy” (Exodus 30:25-29)

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Examples from The Old Testament

• There are examples of a temporary dwelling of The Holy Spirit in The Old Testament by anointing with The Holy Oil

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• Kings = Samuel anointed Kings Saul & David
• Priests = Moses anointed Aaron and his sons
• Prophets = “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:15)

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Examples from The Old Testament Cont.

• Samuel, The Prophet, anoints Saul as a King

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Examples from The Old Testament Cont.

• Samuel, The Prophet, anoints Saul as a King

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“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah” (1 Samuel 16:13)

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Examples from The Old Testament Cont.

• Moses anoints Aaron, and his sons, as priests

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“And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons, and consecrate them, that they may minister to Me as priests” (Exodus 30:30)

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Examples from The Old Testament Cont.

• The anointing of the prophets

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“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound” (Isaiah 61:1)

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Church Sacraments, Part 2 – Chrismation/Confirmation

Objectives:

1. To learn the history of The Holy Oil in The Old Testament
2. To study The Holy Myron in The New Testament
3. To learn The Spiritual Meaning of anointing with The Holy Oil
4. To learn The Fruits and Gifts of The Spirit

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The History of The Holy Myron

• It was first made by Jesus’ Apostles
• St. Mark brought some with him to Egypt
• The following popes made it many times before its full consumption
• Anointment at 36 places (6x6)

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The Coptic Popes Making The Holy Myron

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Pope Tawadros II Celebrates Making The Holy Myron for the 40^th Time in the Church’s History

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The Establishment of Chrismation / Conformation in The New Testament

• Established by Jesus Christ
• Where?

“And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17)

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The Establishment of Chrismation / Conformation in The New Testament

• Where?

“But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me” (John 15:26)

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The Establishment of Chrismation / Conformation in The New Testament

• Where?

“And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained” (John 20:22-23)

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When do we practice this sacrament?

• Right after the sacrament of Baptism
• Example: Jesus Christ
• St. Paul with The Ephesian believers
• The Apostles did this in The Early Church (Didache)

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The Practice of Confirmation

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Church Sacraments, Part 2 – Chrismation/Confirmation

Objectives:

1. To learn the history of The Holy Oil in The Old Testament
2. To study The Holy Myron in The New Testament
3. To learn The Spiritual Meaning of anointing with The Holy Oil
4. To learn The Fruits and Gifts of The Spirit

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Spiritual Meaning of Anointing

1. Head = sanctifies the head, acquires holy thoughts/mind
2. Eyes = sanctifies the eyes to only see holy things
3. Nose = sanctifies the sense of smell
4. Lips = sanctifies the mouth to speak holy words
5. Ears = sanctifies the ears to hear holy things
6. Chest = sanctifies the heart to feel holy emotions

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The Spiritual Meaning of Anointing Cont.

7. Abdomen = not allowing the desire of food to overcome you
8. Back = strengthens your body for matanias
9. Upper Limbs = to only use your hands for what is righteous
10. Lower Limbs = to only use your feet to go to holy places

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How many times does one receive this sacrament?

• Only one time!
• Why?
• The Holy Spirit dwells in us permanently

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• Note: In The Old Testament, it was a transit presence

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A Rare Occasion

• When Elizabeth meets with St. Mary

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• John the Baptist received confirmation in his mother’s womb
• Those who are worthy for Baptism are worthy for Chrismation/Confirmation

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What is the difference between The Old and New Testament?

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The Blessings of The Dwelling of The Holy Spirit

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The Holy Spirit and Ministry

• Kindles the ministry
• St. Peter’s preaching on The Day of Pentecost had 3,000 people believe and be baptized

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The Holy Spirit and Ministry Cont.

• St. Philip’s Ministry to The Ethiopian Minster

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The Blessings of Chrismation/Confirmation

• The Holy Spirit stirs your heart to connect with God
• Prayer (Agbeya)
• Attending Liturgy
• Reading The Bible
• Meditations
• Matanias (Prostration)
• Praises / Tasbeha
• Choir
• Mercy and compassion towards the needy

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Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church Sacraments, Part 2 – Chrismation/Confirmation

Objectives:

1. To learn the history of The Holy Oil in The Old Testament
2. To study The Holy Myron in The New Testament
3. To learn The Spiritual Meaning of anointing with The Holy Oil
4. To learn The Fruits and Gifts of The Spirit

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Fruits of The Spirit

Galatians 5:22

1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Self-control

*everyone should strive to obtain The Fruits of The Spirit

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The Gifts of The Spirit

“There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills” (1 Corinthians 12:4-11)

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DO NOT…

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DO NOT… �Cont.

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30)

• By committing sins
• By being occupied with earthy fun (video games, songs, sports, news, etc.)
• By weak prayers
• By breaking fasts
• By acting cruel and careless about others’ needs/suffering
• By being selfish
• By being grumpy, ungrateful, etc.

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DO NOT… �Cont.

Earthy fun - video games, songs, sports, news, etc.

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DO NOT… �Cont.

Careless about others’ needs/suffering

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DO NOT… �Cont.

Careless about others’ needs/suffering

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DO NOT… �Cont.

House among the tombs

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DO NOT… �Cont.

“Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

• By leading a sinful life
• By encouraging others to sin
• By rejecting messages from God
• By refusing to work with him
• By being hesitant between a godly life and earthy life

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DO NOT… �Cont.

• Example of Leading a Sinful Life – King Manasseh, the Evil King

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He worshipped idols, was taken captive, repented in jail, and God restored him to his kingdom

DO NOT… �Cont.

• Encouraging others to sin

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• King Rehoboam built two golden calf altars and pushed the Jewish people to worship idols and forsake God

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DO NOT… �Cont.

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BUT BE…

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BUT BE…�Cont.

“be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18)

• Always kindle The Holy Spirit within you
• Always ask God in your prayers to fill you with His Spirit
• Prayer!
• Prayer!
• Prayer!

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St. Isaac the Monk

“If anyone thinks he will reach to God without praying, he is fooled by the devils”

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BUT BE…�Cont.

• Read The Bible regularly, consistently, and daily
• Memorize verses
• Memorize paragraphs
• Meditate on characters
• Use verses for daily talk

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“You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you” (John 15: 3)

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BUT BE…�Cont.

• Who does the talking?

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“for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:20)

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BUT BE…�Cont.

• Who does the talking?

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“for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matthew 10:20)

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BUT BE…�Cont.

“not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11)

• Apollos preached Christ at Ephesus, “Fervent in the spirit”

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Ask yourself

• Are you filled with the spirit?
• Filled with the spirit = spiritual person
• Are all your thoughts and deeds spiritual?

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Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Church Sacraments, Part 2 – Chrismation/Confirmation

Objectives:

1. To learn the history of The Holy Oil in The Old Testament
2. To study The Holy Myron in The New Testament
3. To learn The Spiritual Meaning of anointing with The Holy Oil
4. To learn The Fruits and Gifts of The Spirit

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Review Questions

1. List the three categories of those who were anointed with The Holy Oil in The Old Testament
2. When and how many times do we practice the Sacrament of Confirmation?
3. How many times do we get anointed with The Holy Oil and what are the spiritual meanings?
4. List five of The Fruits of The Holy Spirit
5. List five of The Gifts of The Holy Spirit

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Memorization Verses

1. “Do not touch My anointed ones, And do My prophets no harm” (Psalm 105:15)

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• “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption” (Ephesians 4:30)

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• ‘He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16)

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• “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)

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