Spiritual Topics, Part 12

Servants Preparation Curriculum

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Pure Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Pure Heart

“Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Types of Hearts

1. The Good Heart
2. The Evil Heart
3. The Cruel Heart
4. The Exalted/Prideful Heart
5. The Unjust Heart
6. The Traitor’s Heart
7. The Opportunistic Heart

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• All these examples are far from a Pure Heart!

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Good Heart

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45)

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Luke 10

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The Evil Heart

• This heart is full of sin and evil
• Jezebel & Ahab
• This heart plans and spreads evil and damage

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The Cruel Heart

• This heart does not care about others’ needs even when it is easy to please them
• Luke 16 and Luke 7

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The Exalted/Prideful Heart

• This heart exalts itself and looks down on others
• This heart begins to assume it is at the level of God

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Unjust Heart

• Pharaoh ordered the death of the Jewish babies
• Herod ordered the death Bethlehem’s babies

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Traitor’s Heart

• Ahithophel betrayed David
• Judas

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Opportunistic Heart

• Lot’s relationship with Abraham

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Pure Heart

• Definition: It is heart that seeks only God and takes the Lord as the final goal. It is the heart that does not mix the world and God. It is pure in its goals and means.

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• What is meant by The Heart in The Holy Bible?
• Our mind, emotions, will, conscience, etc.

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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No Duplicity

“You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seed, lest the yield of the seed which you have sown and the fruit of your vineyard be defiled. You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. You shall not wear a garment of different sorts, such as wool and linen mixed together” (Deuteronomy 22:9-11)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Characteristics of The Pure Heart

1. The Heart that is occupied with God, His church, and His service
2. The Heart that enjoys spending time in The Spiritual Path
3. The Heart that enjoys The Liturgy
4. The Heart that enjoys The Agbeya
5. The Heart that enjoys Tasbeha
6. The Heart that enjoys The Bible
7. The Heart that seeks Meditation
8. The Heart that shows mercy to the poor, orphans, widows, children, elders, etc.
9. The Heart that seeks service
10. The Heart that does good to everyone they meet

“went about doing good” (Acts 10:38)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Characteristics of The Pure Heart Cont.

• The Pure Heart does NOT:
• hold grudges
• think of revenge
• get jealous
• Insult or degrade others
• make trouble
• engage in foolish argument

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Obstacles To The Pure Heart

• Sin

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• Any sin that grows in my heart will attract others and further everyone from God

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“If I regard iniquity in my heart, The Lord will not hear”(Psalm 66:18)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Obstacles To The Pure Heart Cont.

• Bad Relationships

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“Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

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Obstacles To The Pure Heart Cont.

• Uncontrolled Senses

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• Eyes which look to offensive scenes
• Ears which listen to gossip, rumors, lies, and the private life of others
• A mouth which lies, curses, swears, etc.

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Obstacles To The Pure Heart Cont.

• Cruelty to others

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• Luke 16

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Obstacles To The Pure Heart Cont.

• Wrong Donations

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• Donations done out of requirement and not love
• A lack of feeling towards others’ pain and sufferings

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Obstacles To The Pure Heart Cont.

• Physical Separations

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• Distancing yourself from The Church and her Sacraments

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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How Do We Achieve Purity of Heart?

1. Repentance
2. Prayers For A Continued Repentance
• My Lord, Jesus Christ, have mercy upon me the sinner
3. Thinking About Judgement Day
4. Frequent Self-Evaluations
5. Acts of Mercy To Those In Need
6. Reading and Learning From The Saints

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Liturgy and Purity of Heart

• God requests Purity of Heart:

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“Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Mathew 5:23-24)

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Liturgy and Purity of Heart Cont.

• The Church asks for Purity of Heart in different prayers:
• Vespers
• Tasbeha
• Raising of Incense
• The Absolution

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Liturgy and Purity of Heart Cont.

• The Liturgy of The Word

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• Six readings and the sermon to sanctify the heart and the mind

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

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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The Liturgy and Purity of Heart Cont.

• The Liturgy of The Believers

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• The prayers of Holy, Holy, Holy
• The prayers of sanctification
• Sanctify our souls, bodies, and spirits
• The Introduction to The Fraction
• Make us worthy to partake of Your holy and blessed mysteries …
• The Holies are for the holy
• The prayers before and after communion
• Praising God after Communion

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Spiritual Topics, Part 12 – The Pure Heart

Objectives:

1. To study the types of hearts
2. To define a Pure Heart
3. To see the characteristics of The Pure Heart
4. To witness the obstacles to The Pure Heart
5. To acknowledge how to achieve Purity of Heart
6. To become aware of The Liturgy Purity of Heart

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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In Conclusion

• The person who acquires The Pure Heart lives a holy life, enjoys the church’s prayers, prays the Agbeya, and participates in Tasbeha and service

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• The person with a Pure Heart is kind, generous, and helpful to all
• The person with a Pure Heart does not envy or hold grudges
• The person with a Pure Heart sees God in his daily life and in the little details
• The person with a Pure Heart mediates on God’s plan for his life and feels God’s protection and generosity every day

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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Review Questions

• X

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Memorization Verses

1. X

Lecture X, Servants Preparation Curriculum

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