Ep 387 - The Mother Of Peace In The Muslim World Part 2
Mother of Peace in the Muslim World #22
Today I would like to speak about “The Mother of Peace in the Muslim World” from the contents of True Mother’s memoir
<Mother of Peace, Page 334-336> The ideal of one human family is Heavenly Parent’s dream and humanity’s wish. The president of Niger is a wise leader, especially with regard to realizing this dream. Through his active support and dedication, the 2019 Africa Continental Summit and Family Renewal Festival took place. These events involved pioneering a path that we had not previously trodden. It was a great challenge and a truly holy undertaking, conducted with the extraordinary support of the government, the nation and the continent. During the Summit, in front of some of the key stakeholders that move this continent, I proclaimed the truth that our Heavenly Parent had been unable to share for 6,000 years. The proclamation that Heavenly Parent’s blessing comes when people are in unity with the only begotten Daughter resonated like rolling thunder not only across Niger but throughout Africa.
Following the Summit’s opening plenary, President Issoufou and I signed the Niamey Resolution in the presence of the 2,000 leaders who were gathered there.
I am fully aware of the dedication of the Prophet Muhammad in establishing the rich religious tradition of Islam and I regard many pre-eminent Muslim leaders I have met as my own sons. Through this event, heads of state and leaders from the Islamic realm came to know me on an entirely new level, as True Mother and the Mother of peace. The Summit was a miraculous event, unique in the history of the Unification movement.
The day after the Summit, the historic Family Renewal and Blessing Festival in Niger took place. Since this was the first Blessing Ceremony I had officiated in a Muslim nation, I prayed with a heart more serious than ever before.
On the morning of the Blessing, the president asked me if I had slept well in my new home of Niger. Happily, I responded that I had slept very well, thanks to the warm and comforting welcome I had received. After we had conversed briefly about the previous day’s Summit, the presidential escort guided me to the Blessing venue.
Diplomatic protocol is sometimes referred to as “a war without weapons.” That is why I call the protocol of Cheon Il Guk, “Heavenly Protocol.” Originally, the prime minister was scheduled to offer congratulatory remarks as the representative of the government during the Blessing. Hence, the protocol for that day was for me to enter the Blessing venue with the prime minister. However, the president of the National Assembly mentioned that, as representative of the people, he should enter the venue by my side together with the prime minister. Faced with this sudden request, the prime minister was taken aback. I decided to update the protocol by having both the prime minister, the representative of the government, and the president of the National Assembly, the representative of the people, stand on either side of me and enter the Blessing venue together. This was a special moment for me as I could feel how close in heart we had become.
Today let’s study again ...
True Mother’s Benediction at the Continental-Level Blessing Ceremony in Niger (Palace of Congress, Niamey, Niger, November 28, 2019)
True Parents have had to walk an indescribably difficult path until they could do so and establish all people as children whom Heavenly Parent can love directly. You know how we have striven at the center of this vast desert where sandstorms rage to seek the righteous people Heaven has prepared, through whom we can find the people and the nations that can be embraced by Heaven.
In this country where 80 percent of the land is desert, You have prepared righteous people from a very long time ago to create the environment where a Blessing Ceremony can be held today. Through this Marriage Blessing, the dream of one family of humanity centered on You, Heavenly Parent, transcending the barriers of religion, race and culture, can be realized.
And when those who have been blessed today are able to stand in the position where they have fulfilled their responsibilities in front of Heaven – that is, when they have fulfilled their responsibilities as messiahs of their own tribes -- this nation will become one that can receive Heaven's blessing and grace.
True Parents are grateful for this and hope that, through these Blessed couples, this country of Niger will become the Heavenly Niger attending Heavenly Parent and become the center of the African continent and its beacon of light and pride.
I pray that the blessed couples of this people and this nation will be able to take the lead in establishing the Kingdom of Heaven of freedom, equality, peace, unity and happiness on earth, which is the beautiful garden that You originally created, and the dream of humankind. I pray and proclaim this in the name of True Parents.
Wow! Our True Mother really loves Africa very, very much! And also our True Mother very clearly proclaimed that this country of Niger will become Heavenly Niger attending Heavenly Parents and become the center of the African continent and its beacon of light and pride. True Mother blessed Niger as a heavenly nation.
Living Divine Principle: Introduction 6 - Need for a New Truth
♦ They were given at various times in history as humankind developed both spiritually and intellectually. The depth and extent of teaching and the method of expressing the truth naturally varied according to each age.
♦ Jesus indicated that God would someday reveal a new truth: "I have said this to you in figures; the hour is coming when I shall no longer speak to in figures but tell you plainly of the Father.”
Based on this EDP content, let’s study Father’s words.
The Secret of the Universe
<215-144> “Nobody knows that God’s heart is filled with agony. For the first time in history I have appeared and revealed this significant mission. Had I not done so, then nobody would know. What a surprising fact this is! Even Jesus did not know this. Even if He had known, He couldn’t tell anyone what was in His heart. Furthermore, no religious leader, no one knew this hidden heavenly secret. For the first time in history, I have appeared before the world and revealed heaven’s secret.”
This is very, very important guidance fromTrue Parents: What is the secret of the Universe? No one knows that there is unimaginable suffering in God’s heart because of the fall of man. God was not only a great God who created the universe, the omnipresent God with the power to do anything, the God of judgment. No one knew how much God, as humans’ parent, was hurt by fallen children and groaned with a nail in his chest. Even Jesus did not know it. And even if he did, he could not have said what was in his heart. None of the religious leaders knew such a hidden secret of the universe.
For the first time in history, Father Moon appeared before the world revealing the secrets of the universe. The secret of bringing back fallen human beings is to first reveal the identity of Satan and reveal that Satan is the enemy among the enemies of God’s love. And he revealed how much God loves us as humans’ parent and how much blood, sweat and tears he has shed today for our perfection.
The secret of this history must be revealed. This is the only way for fallen human beings to truly repent and return to God. Wow! This is really amazing guidance. This is so stimulating! If we do not know that God is a God of sorrow, this is really the secret of the universe. That is why since our True Parents came to understand the secrets of the Universe, that God is a God of sorrow, he could not stop going continuously forward. No matter how tired he was, no matter how much suffering he endured, he could not stop because he discovered that God is a God of suffering, that God is a God of sorrow. That is why his entire life was a tearful life, always trying to comfort God, trying to liberate him, trying to bear Heavenly Father’s heavy cross. That was Father’s life. No one, no saint, nobody discovered this top secret of the universe.
That is why in order to go back to God’s bosom, what should we do? We have to know the identity of God’s heart, God’s reality. This is an important declaration by our True Father. Even Jesus did not know this. Even if he had known, he was unable to express God’s sorrowful heart because at the time he did not have much foundation to proclaim about God’s heart. I am really grateful to our True Parents. They are the ones who revealed the secret of the universe that God is a God of sorrow.
Build a Center That No One Can Take Away
<2-133> “The closer we are to the truth, and the more we come under its spell, the more it will become our center which nobody can snatch from us. Even if the earth were to fall into chaos millions of times and the universe were suddenly destroyed, people whose minds are securely centered on the truth will never be changed or shaken. However, if you are not prepared to accept such a center in your heart, however genuine a truth may appear, you will not recognize it. Even if true life appeared, you would not be able to understand it. Even if true love appeared, you would not be able to understand it. If today’s Christianity is seeking genuine truth, true life, and true love, it must completely deny itself to the end and become a religion that establishes the mind’s center that nobody can snatch away.”
You must know and experience the relationship between God and man for sure. Knowing that God is our parent is what set the center of my heart. When he shakes, everything shakes. Second, if I come from the relationship between God and True Parents and then the relationship between True Parents and me through spiritual experiences, my heart will never be shaken. That is why your center should be very clear. You need to have clear confirmation about who the center is.
The reason why I am shaken in my life of faith, become easily tired and lose strength and leave the church is because I don’t know for sure who my center is. First it was because they (who left the church) were not sure about the Divine Principle. Second, it was because they had no experience with God and the spiritual world. Third, it was because they did not have the confidence in True Parents and the spiritual experience that True Parents are the messiah. Therefore, we have to convince ourself through the Divine Principle and have confidence in the Divine Principle. You must experience spiritually that the Divine Principle is the eternal truth, and by putting that truth into practice in my life, I have to check whether the Divine Principle is the eternal truth or not. You need to get confirmation. Then your center is very clear. When our center is unclear, then everything can be shaken. That is a problem.
Let me explain more about the Bible.
John 14:5-9: 5. Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" 6. Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know Him and have seen Him." 8. Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us." 9. Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'?
This is incredible guidance from Jesus. Jesus clearly stated his identity. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” One of the reasons the messiah came to this earth is to show that God lives, God is alive and works through the messiah. This is why Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen God. How can you ask me to show you God?” The message is that the messiah is a person who is fully united with God and who reveals the invisible God. Therefore, if we truly want to resemble Jesus and be like True Parents, we must show the world that God works through us, God is a living God, God works through us. This (our?) life should be our testimony.
For Morning Devotion to continue to develop and grow, it is enough to show that True Parents’ word is alive, that True Parents’ word is the eternal truth. Then they can give such testimony, “Through hearing True Parents' words, I have had a life changing experience. I have really changed my fallen habits. I really commit more. I am so grateful! I am so thankful! I cannot deny True Parents’ word. I cannot deny that God is a living God. Then our Morning Devotion will continue to develop and grow.
We must not simply believe in Jesus and True Parents. They (?) do not resemble Jesus and True Parents in terms of their belief. By inheriting the love and heart of Jesus and True Parents, I must become the second Jesus, I must become the second True Parents, I must become the second God. Not just believe in him. Believing in Jesus, believing in True Parents without resembling them, without resembling Jesus does not make any sense. We do not focus on believing in Jesus, do not focus on believing in True Parents. Of course, belief is very important. But the most important thing is how I can become the second Jesus; how I can become the second True Parents; how I can become the second God. I try to inherit and resemble Jesus, resemble True Parents, resemble God. Then I will become the incarnation of God’s word and God’s word will become my flesh. That is the purpose of God’s creation. That is the purpose of our life.
Why don’t my children follow me? This is because the parents cannot show God who lives and works in their lives. When we show our children that God is alive, God is a living God, and when our parents see through the parents that God is alive, God is working in their parents’ life, then without exception all children will honor their parents.
Why do people leave the church? This is because the church does not show that God is working through each member’s life. Therefore, the worship service of the church should always be a gathering to testify how God is living and working through our life. This is the point. Christianity is a church to believe, not a church to become like Jesus. Everything flows. We must show Jesus who lives and works through me and God who lives and works. Then the church will develop and continue to grow and will never stop growing.
The era of Cheonil Guk is an era that shows through me that we are the living and working God and living and working True Parents. I am really inspired by Jesus’ words here. Jesus answered, “Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” How can I testify in front of members, in front of my people, in front of all mankind like Jesus? Through my life how can I testify that God is a living God?
That is why every morning I kneel down and pray, “Heavenly Father, through your word, through my activity, through my practice let me show, let me testify that you are alive. Let me testify that you are a living God.” That is the purpose of my prayer; it is one of the goals of my life.
Wherever I go, many people say, “Maybe God does not exist.” Many people say, “I cannot feel God, Heavenly Father.” Wherever I go, I always challenge our members that outside people tell me, “Show me God. Show me God.” That is the same as Phillip who asked Jesus, “Please show me God.”
How can I testify that God is a living God? “Seeing you is seeing God.” Through seeing my spouse, I am seeing God. Then our children will absolutely follow their parents.
John 14:10-12: 10. Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing His work. 11. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 12. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
This Bible verse is very powerful. Our life of faith must show that like Jesus I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Even when I speak, these are not my words, but these words should show what God is saying while dwelling in me. Therefore, to those who follow me, I must show that I am in the Father and that the Father is in me. Wow! Dr. Yong is saying something that is not from him like True Father is in him, like True Parents are in him. This is my wish wherever I go. Through complete self-denial how can I invite God and let God talk, let God express his heart, not my words, not my intention. How can Heavenly Father fully come to my heart and fully express his heart? Then I can show that God is a living God. I want to be that kind of minister. I want to be that kind of continental director: “I am in the Father and the Father is in me.” That means we become completely one.
Jesus’ words can also be interpreted as follows: If I know that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, believe, imitate and practice, I will do the same things that Jesus did. It is said that he can do even greater things than Jesus. That is the parents’ wish: Children should be better than me.” Right? Now Jesus is in the spiritual world: “You should be better than me. You are children of True Parents.” Even True Parents wish, “You should be better than me.” Those who do not believe in God, through seeing you, through your daily life, they can testify that, “Wow! True Parents are amazing!” This era is the era of Cheonil Guk, not only just believing in God. It is time to show that God is alive, that God is a living God.
Today’s Youth Ministry: Symbolic Condition and Substantial Condition
Symbolic Condition and Substantial Condition
This is very important to apply to our daily life, ok?
1. If you make a mistake in a symbolic condition, it becomes a problem in setting a substantial condition. This means that if you do not succeed in the usual training process, you will not succeed in practice.This is because it is just as if we fall spiritually, it will bring about the result of the physical fall. Eve's spiritual fall with the archangel did not stop with the spiritual fall, but also brought about the physical fall with Adam, that is, the actual fall.
That is why symbolic conditions are not simply symbolic conditions. They directly relate to substantial conditions. If you fail when you set up a symbolic condition, you will surely 100% fail in the substantial condition. Those who fall spiritually often watching pornography many times and doing all kinds of things, when they have an opportunity physically and have sexual temptation will 100% fall, 100% fall. That is why assuredly the spiritual fall is more dangerous than the physical fall. That is why you need to prevent the spiritual fall. Otherwise, someday you will surely fall physically. Therefore, symbolic conditions are not only symbolic conditions. Symbolic conditions are connected to the substantial conditions. We can learn through the principle of restoration.
2. Even though God appeared and taught many times through dreams, if I fail to improve my behavior and keep on repeating it habitually, Heaven will directly give me tribulations. It is fortunate if you realize through dreams, but if you do not change your behavior even through dreams, you will suffer in reality. Thus, dreams reveal the person's usual thoughts and habits. Dreams reveal what a person's mental situation is and what kind of person he is.
When I hear a person’s dreams, I know that person’s mentality. I know that person’s behavior and why God showed that dream to that person. I know exactly what that person’s mentality is, that person’s problem, that person’s current situation. I come to understand this through that person’s sharing his dream with me. Even though a dream is a very symbolic condition, it is very much related to the substantial condition.
3. Abraham's mistake in the symbolic offering was indemnified for three generations. Abraham's failure to cut the dove resulted in substantial indemnity prolonged through the three generations of his children and grandchildren. Therefore, know that my one small mistake today can result in indemnity being passed down to descendants as in Abraham's family.
4. Before Abraham offered the 3 sacrifices, he should have completely cut ties with Satan and sanctified himself. Before offering the 3 sacrifices, because Abraham himself was not a condition of separating good and evil between God and Satan, he made a crucial mistake. It is usually easy for people to only externally wonder how not cutting a single pigeon could result in such a big mistake.
Why did God say that Abraham’s descendants had to suffer for 400 years? “What?! That is a simple offering; he just failed to cut the dove. How come he received that kind of punishment?” We cannot simply say that. His heart and mind were not yet clear. He did not distinguish good and evil before offering the 3 sacrifices. That was the problem. We cannot only understand this in an external way. That was a problem.
5. What would have happened if Abraham had cut the dove but not the ram, the offering of the growth stage? If that had happened, it could have simply been restored by Isaac's generation paying indemnity.
(That was) because the formation stage (would have been) ok; (this would have been a) growth stage problem. His second generation could (have) paid the indemnity.
6. Then what would have happened if he cut the dove and the ram, but not the heifer? It might have taken some time to indemnify everything in Abraham's time, but you can think about if the Messiah would have come and succeeded the providence.
7. However, because the formation stage offering was defiled, they could not even think about the start of the growth stage and completion stage providence, so they made a new start with three generations paying indemnity.
That is why small, small things are not a simple matter.
8. If we miss the right time, it will cause a lot of damage in our lives. If someone misses the time in their teens, when they are in their 30s, they will finish work they had to finish in their teens and when they reach their 40s, they will just begin a fresh start and go then to the spirit world.
Once you lose the time, once you miss the right time, then your providence, your individual providence will be prolonged again and again and again.
9. In fact, if we follow the normal course of faith, we should go through the formation, growth, and completion stages centered on the teenage years, 20s and 30s, and then bloom flowers for the remaining life. For example, if you don't study in your teens, it is like staying at that standard for the rest of your life.
10. You need to know that time is not there to just come and go, but to make you grow. Therefore, you should always be grateful for the moment and live victoriously. A fool is a loser. When spring comes, the seeds must be sown. When summer comes, you need to take good care of it. When autumn comes, it should bear fruit well.
11. Nature shows us how we should live. Winter, which symbolizes the spirit world, has nothing I can do. You have to wait until spring because you can't sow, cultivate, and bear fruit.
That is why time is very important. Every day we must make successful. Every day we (should fulfill) our portion of responsibility very, very well. Time does exist for the sake of our spiritual growth. Once we lose the springtime, we need to wait a whole additional year. Can you imagine? Our time is very, very precious.
Thank you very much.