Ep 391 - Torrential Rain, Tears Of Joy Part 3
Torrential Rain, Tears of Joy #26
I came to Kentucky yesterday. About eight guests are expected to come. The second 50 state tour starts today with the Leadership Seminar. Today is the first day, so it has a lot of meaning. If there is a state where a seminar is prepared, I will go any time.
I took the Corona Test again yesterday. The result was negative. Thank you all for your prayers and jeongseong.
Today I would like to speak from True Mother’s memoir “Torrential Rain, Tears of Joy.”
But after we had driven a few meters onto the field, a miracle occurred. The heavy rain suddenly stopped. The crowds moved into the unsheltered stands to see me and, and instantly we saw the stadium was packed. I once again felt gratitude for our joyful Heavenly Parent who is always working behind the scenes. We opened the roof of the car and Prophet Radebe and I waved and greeted the rapturous crowd. The cheers and shouts of the audience were incredible. It truly was an amazing sight. Prophet Radebe looked at me and proudly said, “Mother! The whole stadium is filled.”
I went on stage to officiate the Blessing Ceremony. For the first time in human history, we held a continental Blessing Ceremony, with Africa the first continent to receive the honor.
One hundred sixty two couples representing 54 countries, consisting of 54 newly-married, 54 already-married, and 54 religious, governmental or tribal leader couples, took the stage. Seated on the stage were more than 100 representatives, including five current heads of state and official government delegates. Among the Blessing participants and VIPs were six former heads of state, 12 parliamentary speakers, 140 parliamentarians, 219 traditional rulers, 127 major religious leaders, and more than 80 media representatives from 30 countries.
Among them was the king of South Africa’s largest tribe, the Zulus. The Zulu tribe is famous for resisting conquest by European forces and for playing a key role in shaping the identity and tradition of modern-day South Africa. Assembling such a galaxy of distinguished couples and witnesses on stage added to the significance of the Blessing Ceremony.
I officiated the Holy Water Ceremony with the heart of blessing a reborn continent, “Heavenly Africa,” a continent of hope and blessings. Prophet Radebe came onstage to receive the holy water bowl and assist me. Rather than emphasize protocol based on his position, Prophet Radebe gladly assisted me. I strongly felt that he was, indeed, a filial son whose only desire was to help his mother.
Following the Holy Water Ceremony was the proclamation of the Blessing and the Blessing Prayer. On this blessed day, I poured out my heart for Africa’s sake: “The hope of countless prophets, kings and traditional rulers on this continent is to usher in the day of lasting peace by attending Heavenly Parent. I earnestly pray that this continent will be blessed by Heaven.”
As I prayed, rain started again. We all felt that these were not tears of sorrow but God’s tears of joy. Prophet Radebe later said, “The rain falling like a waterfall in South Africa during the Blessing symbolized Heaven’s tears of joy. The rain washed away God’s pain over Africa’s misery.” I was also moved by Prophet Radebe’s testimony during his welcoming address:
“Today is a special day of Blessing for the African continent. We all extend our heartfelt welcome to True Mother, the only begotten Daughter of God, who brings together all the races and peoples of the world. Today, I believe a new future is opening for South Africa and Africa. She is indeed our True Mother.”
The continental-level Blessing Ceremony was a great and historic triumph. What a perfect finale for 2019, opening the gates into 2020! When no one else believed in national restoration, we set the stage for the heavenly nation and the heavenly continent. We pioneered this uncharted course and gained a great victory for Heaven at the continental level. It was truly a miraculous day.
True Mother is showing us how she struggles at the forefront more than anyone despite her age of (almost) 80-years-old. Only True Mother can truly love the souls of the African people and liberate them. True Mother, you have worked so hard! Thank you, our beloved True Mother.
Living Divine Principle: Introduction 7 - New Truth and God’s Revelation
Today will be the last (in the) series of the Introduction to the Divine Principle.
♦ This ultimate life-giving truth, however, cannot be discovered through an exhaustive investigation of scriptures or scholarly texts; nor can it be invented by any human intellect. As is written in the Book of Revelation, "You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.“ (Rev. 10:11) This truth must appear as a revelation from God.
♦ Resolving the fundamental problems of human life and the universe
1. Triumphed over millions of devils
2. Intimate spiritual communion with God
3. Meeting with Jesus and many saints
♦ God has sent one person to this earth to resolve the fundamental problems of human life and the universe. His name is Sun Myung Moon.
♦ He fought alone against millions of devils, both in the spiritual and physical worlds, and triumphed over them all.
♦ Through intimate spiritual communion with God
♦ And by meeting with Jesus and many saints in Paradise, He brought to light all the secrets of Heaven.
Based on this EDP content, let’s study Father’s word.
<201-339> “People of the entire world must pay attention now. The teaching of Rev. Moon of the Unification Church is the truth for the salvation of the world. They are words of true love and life, which are needed eternally for humanity. If the Savior is coming to save the world, he should not judge humanity with a rod of iron. You cannot make even one person give in by hitting him or her.”
<John3: 16> God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
The Divine Principle revealed by True Parents is not the truth for any one individual or religious group. You must know that the Divine Principle is the truth for the sake of the world and all mankind. That is the reason the Bible said God sent the messiah to the earth because he loves the world, not because he loves one religious group or only one country.
True Father said, “If the Savior is coming to save the world, he should not judge humanity with a rod of iron.” If God (were to) forcibly subdue fallen human beings, he (could force) all mankind to surrender in just five minutes. Imagine not giving air for five minutes! There is no one who will not surrender. The way to subdue Satan and subdue the enemy is not by force, not by beating. That is why God’s providence always takes a long time. It cannot employ force. It is only possible through the word. This is very important. How can we save all mankind? It is only possible through the word, the Blessing and true love -- and consistent education. There is no other way. If Heavenly Father were to (have) used his own power, he would already have restored the world. But God cannot do it because God is a God of true love. If he were to hit someone and cause that person to surrender, this does not make sense. Surrender is by True Love. God is a God of true love.
My Final Words for Humankind
“True Parents have already prepared the last words I will give to humankind. These have been prepared based on my triumphs over six or seven life-or-death situations, including six periods of unjust imprisonment. I am leaving behind eight textbooks and teaching materials for humankind to use for all eternity. Altogether, these are published in almost a thousand volumes.”
“They are The Sermons of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon, Exposition of the Divine Principle, Cheon Seong Gyeong [Heavenly Scripture], The Family Pledge, Pyeong Hwa Shin Gyeong [Messages of Peace], True Families—Gateway to Heaven, Owner of Peace and Owner of Lineage, and World Scripture. These are textbooks you will have to read and study even after you go to the spirit world. They are not just teachings that come from the mind of one person; they are textbooks and teaching materials that teach the heavenly way that God has granted to His suffering children for their salvation.”
True Parents emphasize once again that the Divine Principle is not just a teaching that comes from the mind of one person. They are textbooks and materials that teach the heavenly way that God has granted to his suffering children for their salvation. The eternal truth of God can never come from any fallen human brain. The limit which fallen human education can reach is the top of the growth stage. The truth that goes beyond the archangel’s realm and enters the realm of perfection can only possibly (be given by) the messiah who comes from God’s direct lineage. That is why Jesus said, “I am the only way, the only truth, the only life.” This eternal truth needs to come from God’s direct blood lineage. He (Jesus? True Father?) is God’s only begotten son, right? That is why the Divine Principle can solve any problem. If someone had already discovered the eternal Divine Principle or truth, it would already have solved (all) the problems. Why has the world become worse and worse and worse and chaotic, a very serious situation? So far, no truth, no doctrine, no dogma has solved our problems. That is why one cannot find the solution. This truth needs to come from God’s only begotten son. This is really amazing. Fallen man cannot solve the problems. That is why we really appreciate our True Father who really discovered this eternal truth which is the Divine Principle and His word.
“You should now set up the hoondokhae study tradition in your families using the books I have mentioned. That is the tradition where three generations of a family start each day by reading Heaven’s word, and lead a life of practicing what they read, with a new heart. Let’s create a world where people in the spirit world and the earthly world can both attend True Parents at the same time, and read the word on the heavenly path together.”
If you truly love the Divine Principle, your character will surely change. When fallen man, fallen human beings are dominated by the word of God, through resurrection they change their spirit and the body becomes sanctified from the temple where Satan resides to the holy temple where God resides. The will of the providence is to be realized only when humans believe and practice the word of the providence of resurrection as their portion of responsibility.
“Once this happens, no matter how hard Satan may try to worm his way in to infest your lineage, once he encounters the hoondokhae tradition he will find no room to move. If a family is aligned with God as at high noon, where no shadow is cast and still does not receive God’s blessings, who then could ever be deserving of them? When such heavenly families fill the earth, the world will automatically become the heavenly kingdom on earth and in the eternal spirit world, fulfilling the vision of ―one family under God.”
If You Set up the Hoondokhae Study Tradition in Your Family….
Then what happens? Very, very important. How much Father emphasizes the importance of Hoondokhae! Especially before he went to the spiritual world, he showed a model (of) how to become the champion of Hoondokhae. If you set up the Hoondokhae tradition in your family, then what happens?
1. Satan will find no room to move.
We can only defeat Satan by God’s word.
2. Your family is aligned with God as at high noon, where no shadow is cast
… because True Parents’ word is the eternal truth. When you study True Parents’ word and when you have a habit of the Hoondokhae tradition, your heart will always be aligned with God. There will be no shadows. And God can directly intervene with each of our family members.
3. Your family can create a world where people in the spirit world and the earthly world can both attend True Parents at the same time
When you carry on the Hoondokhae tradition in your family, all of your ancestors come down and participate together with you and listen to God’s word. They can grow through Hoondokhae. That is why you need to remind yourself that you are not alone. You need to take care of more than 20,000 of your ancestors. You are no longer an individual figure; you are very much a public figure. We need to understand that point.
4. Your family will receive God’s blessings.
My wife and I struggled with how to keep this Hoondokhae tradition. When our children were young, we really tried our best to do Hoondokhae. In the beginning it was not easy. However, when we set up this Hoondokhae tradition in our family, it was really incredible. After Hoonddokhae each one of the children shared about what (had) happened in school. She (my wife?) said that they report and every day they are sanctified by God’s word. They received clear direction from God’s word: “This is wrong. This is right. You need to do this.”
Father’s word is so powerful! If we had not set up the Hoondokhae tradition in our own family, I think our three children would never have received the Blessing. That is why I am the one who received God’s blessing the most in my family. Now four generations live together and read Hoondokhae. They don’t just read and pray and finish. It is the same as the Morning Devotion style, sharing their appreciation, then reading Father’s word. Sometimes my wife and I explain what (the reading) means. Then after that, we ask them to share their reflections after hearing God’s word. Then they report their daily life. It was very, very beautiful.
I am telling you, if we set up the Hoondokhae tradition in our family, it is sure, according to my experience, we will receive God’s blessing. If you start your own family Hoondokhae and the children are already ten years old or eleven, that is already too late. You need to start from a young age and (then it) becomes a good habit. You need to educate them very well about the importance of of Hoondokhae. Satan always (tries to) brainwash us 24 hours a day, day and night. Satan says, “Have sex! Have sex! You need to look at pornography.” That is why if young children do not study God’s word, they are possessed by pornography, possessed by the Internet, all kinds (of stuff). That is why Father says, “If we do not educate (people), it is easy for any human being to become evil.” Father said, “As long as we set up the Hoondokhae tradition, Satan will find no room to move.” That is why I always ask my spiritual children, “Do you have the Hoondokhae tradition in your family or not? If you start(?) Hoondokhae in your family...
5. The world will automatically become the heavenly kingdom on earth and in the eternal spirit world, fulfilling the vision of ―one family under God.
Why did Adam and Eve fall? Because they listened to Satan’s word. In order to overcome Satan, we need to listen to God’s word. Otherwise, if we do not listen to God’s word and we do not set up the Hoondokhae tradition in our family, Satan will do his own style of Hoondokhae. Whenever he finds space and time, (he) will invade you and give you temptation. Satan works very hard for 24 hours (a day). How about our members? They do not even do one hour of Hoondokhae. Can you as second generation guarantee that you will keep purity? It is impossible.
Surrounding us everything is a really evil environment, the environment of fornication. That is why you always need to think about setting up the Hoondokhae tradition in your family. “Oh, our children are still babies. Maybe we can do this later.” I am telling you, “later” is too late. Start from infancy together (as a family). Even though they cannot understand, they can participate together. If we have that kind of beautiful Hoondokhae tradition, I am telling you, God always protects us. Surely your family will receive a lot of God’s blessings.
Today’s Youth Ministry: Read the World of Heart of the Central Figure of the Providence
… centering on Abraham’s family.
1. Before offering the symbolic offering, Abraham gave his wife Sarah to Pharaoh to establish his faith, and before offering Isaac, he suffered the pain of giving away his wife again to Amalek.
2. Abraham was prepared to give his wife to the king of the Gentiles, but would he have thought that she would return to his bosom? In the Bible, there is no record of Abraham’s heart when he gave up his wife to a Gentile, and of his world of heart when Sarah had to leave him, her husband, and fall into the arms of the king of the Gentiles.
3. However, consider how unspeakable the circumstances and heart must have been when we reflect on their position and circumstances on the situations of that time. We only tried to understand the central figures in a Principled way, but did not know the deep story behind it.
4. Abraham's wife Sarah had to leave her husband's arms twice. Based on these incidents, it can be seen that God and Satan fought a battle for love over humans. God and Satan tried to take a high level of love from each other.
5. What we can see here is that unless you have a high level of heart, you cannot escape Satan's realm of love. Therefore, you can overcome any trials when you always have a high antenna of love and heart and have a longing heart for God more than anyone else. The quality of Sarah's love for God and her husband was so high that she was able to be freed from the king of the Gentiles.
Can you imagine this? Sarah had that kind of heart. Her quality of love is really amazing! Actually she prepared to die. Abraham (would likely be) killed also. In that kind of situation, it was very, very serious. Can you imagine that Abraham needed to give his beloved wife to a king? Can you imagine that? How much Abraham loved his wife, Sarah. How did Sarah overcome this kind of trial? Her quality of love is really, really high. She loved God so much! She loved her husband so much! There is no gap between God and Sarah, between Abraham and his wife, Sarah. They were completely united. That is why Satan could not attack them. He needed to release Sarah.
What is the best way to separate (from) Satan? You need to upgrade your level of love. You need to upgrade it. Your quality of love is very important. If your quality of love (is such that) you still love your own situation, your own material, your own material, then you will not be able to overcome, and Satan will finally attack and invade you. You will become the servant of Satan. In order to overcome this kind of trial, what is the best way? You need to have a high antenna of love and heart, really loving God, really loving your husband. Then Satan cannot find any space to attack. He cannot find it. What is the best way to separate from Satan? We need to upgrade our level of heart. When Satan looks at me, “Wow! This guy completely belongs to God!” Then Satan cannot dare challenge to attain me. “Look at this guy. The level of his heart is very, very high. He or she does not belong to me.” Then Satan gives up. But if Satan looks at you and says, “I can challenge this guy. His faith is unstable, shakable. I want to challenge and attack him.” That is why he has many, many trials and problems. Right?
What is the best way to separate from Satan? Love God more than anything else. Love True Parents more than anything else. Have a longing heart between husband and wife and completely become one. Then even if Satan attacks, he cannot completely invade that couple. Love! Love! Love! “How can I upgrade my quality of love higher and higher?” Then Satan will not be able to challenge any more.
6. If you do not know the circumstances and the world of heart behind Adam’s family, Noah’s family, Abraham’s family, Jacob’s family, Isaac’s family, Joseph’s family, Moses’s family, Jesus’s family, etc., you cannot know the world of God's heart working behind them. We should not only learn True Parents' formula course for Satan’s external submission.
7. We must become filial sons and daughters who experience and understand True Parents' inner circumstances, difficulties, pain, and world of heart. You should know that the world of restoration is ultimately about restoration of heart.
8. Inheritance is, after all, about the legacy of the heart. The most important thing we should inherit from God and True Parents is the inner heart, not just the external tradition. We need to know how much Jesus loved God and mankind as he died on the cross. Also, we need to know how much True Parents hoped for God's liberation, how much they loved God, and how many tears they shed after they came to Earth. In addition, we must know True Parents' love and hard work for mankind.
9. It is easy to show off or stumble if you try to follow the tradition and culture externally without thinking about the legacy of the heart.
Just following external traditions like God’s Day, True Parents’s Day, Unification Church traditions, of course, external tradition is very important, but the most important thing is how to inherit God’s heart. How can we inherit our True Parents’ heart? Just now we read True Mother’s memoir content. Even though she is nearly 80 years old, she still goes to Africa and invests and invests and invests and invests. How can we inherit that kind of heart?
If you inherit the heart of God and True Parents, external things automatically follow. You can inherit everything. Why did Ham fail? Because Ham did not inherit Noah’s heart. Right? Why did Jesus’s disciples scatter when Jesus was crucified on the cross? They never understood the heart of Jesus. That is why what is the most important thing? Heart. Between husband and wife, between parents and children, among siblings and between Cain and Abel. The most important thing is how to build a heartistic relationship with each other. Wow! I really want to inherit from Heavenly Parent and True Parents.
Today we learned very beautiful things from all our central figures.
Thank you very much.