You Are Not Alone: You Are Surrounded by Divine Assistance

Main Message of the Sermon:
Pope Shenouda III explains that the spiritual life is not a journey taken alone, but one surrounded by the continuous help of God. Every call to holiness or perfection is made possible only through the power of God and the grace of His Holy Spirit dwelling within us.

1. Christian Perfection and Divine Help:
   Perfection seems impossible from a human viewpoint, yet with divine grace, everything becomes possible. God never commands us without granting the strength to fulfill His will.
2. God’s Constant Presence:
   God never leaves His children; He promised, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” He is with us not only to comfort but also to strengthen and lead us in His triumph, through the Holy Spirit who renews and empowers us.
3. The Work of Grace and the Holy Spirit:
   The Holy Spirit works alongside us in every good deed, placing God’s word in our mouths, guiding, renewing, and comforting us. He speaks through prophets and strengthens believers in their spiritual path.
4. The Help of Angels and Saints:
   Angels are ministering spirits sent to help those who will inherit salvation. They surround and protect us, while the saints intercede and pray for us, often without our awareness. These unseen forces work constantly for our salvation.
5. God Working Within Us:
   God Himself acts in us—purifying, renewing, and cleansing us from sin. When we pray, “Purify our souls, bodies, and spirits,” we acknowledge that this work is done by God’s power, not our own.
6. No Place for Despair:
   Despair is from the enemy, who reminds us of human weakness and forgets divine help. The believer should always remember that “those who are with us are more than those against us.”
7. Faith in God’s Power:
   Just as God was with Daniel in the lions’ den, with the three youths in the fiery furnace, and with David before Goliath, He is with us in every struggle. We should not fear, for God Himself walks beside us and grants us victory.

Final Message:
The believer is never alone in spiritual striving but lives in fellowship with God, His angels, His saints, and the Holy Spirit. Every human weakness is met by divine strength that upholds and saves.