About fasting and almsgiving
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Behold , it is written over the Christian people on the earth , on this start of restraint day , to leave off fat and savory food and those that are desirable for the body . Seven days ago , it is said that the Christian man stopped eating meat , and today it is said that he would have stopped eating cheese and eggs until the feast of My Resurrection ; however , it is only said that , as who is to teach man what the true fast is , the true life established by the saints and fathers fed with My Spirit , since they have left on the earth a written heavenly and saving order to be known and then to be loved by those who boast about that they are Christians , that they are baptized in Christ and clothed within Him ? Oh , this is hard for the man baptized with My name upon him . The man is drawn to all the things of the world and he is tempted by them at every step and hour , and those who lose the gift of faith because of their disobedience from God , they do not need much to scatter all their Christian stature and to receive for it the wages of disobedience , the wages of their unbelief .
Oh , people of My word , you do no longer have a day when you have to stop from eating meat , cheese and eggs , for you have listened to Me and renounced the world with respect to food , clothes , pleasures and your whole body , and you have given to Me as My house and kingdom . However , you have to keep away from oil ( Food cooked with oil , r . n .) during this time of fast . Oh , rejoice and enjoy with all your heart , with all your soul and mind , and be like that during all this time and know to whom you give your joy and your pleasure , as you have to dedicate them to Me , and to crown with them your love of God , your coming to My side , My people . That is why I am asking you to be careful with your words and to have a holy conduct ; you should have love for these , son , for now a holy time begins and everything you may work and bring to Me has to be mingled with peace . I urge you to be diligent within your soul , but also within your body , for your body bears everything and it needs redemption , and for this redemption much labor is needed , much and not little , as much work is needed .
Oh , sons , do not complain about your body , do not satisfy its desire , as much abstinence is needed against your body , because the body took the man out of paradise , from the house which I made him even from the foundation of the world , and when I set him in its happiness , and I gave him to fulfill in it the law of happiness , the law of paradise , to which man should have listened without murmuring ; however , man did not listen , and disobedience to God has got a high price , well My people . May this fear of falling away from the obedience to God be like an eternal awakening , oh , sons , for behold , man did not stay awake for it and lost it , sons . Oh , let man not take after another man to disobey God , as behold what happened in paradise if the two in the garden took after each other and disobeyed !
I , the Lord , bestow blessing over those who start the time of the fasting from food , according to the power of their love and faith , but all should pay great attention because if they are not gentle and humble in their heart and then with the word of their mouth , then they will not fast according to the truth , as from the treasure of one ’ s heart one ’ s mouth speaks , and not otherwise , and in this way it is seen what the heart has , what treasure is in it and where it has got its treasure .
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