Ep 622 - A Life Of Gratitude Part 2

Expand the Environment for Witnessing - July 9, 2022

PDF Printable Text and Images + Testimony Cassie Sosa

Today is already Saturday. 

Now you have seen much news from Japan. The death of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in a shooting has drawn the world's attention. Not only that, including the war between Ukraine and Russia, the world is facing many difficulties both internally and externally. The whole world is facing a time of chaos more than ever. In times like these, our movement should become more united with True Mother as the center and offer prayers and devotion for the world and humankind more than ever before. 

Unity is really important. How we can support our Mother’s leadership and unite together and go forward.

Recently I have been meeting with the major ACLC ministers at the Clifton church and have asked them to commit to study EDP through one on one education. I think some of them are strongly determined to study (EDP). I want to get a minimum of 12 ACLC ministers to study EDP more and more and strongly learn EDP and then teach other ministers. When they become very stable understanding the Divine Principle clearly, when any persecution or other problem comes, they can become very strong. That is my motivation. You need to guide your ACLC ministers to study the Divine Principle more.

Today I’d like to talk about “Expand the Environment for Witnessing” from True Mother’s Anthology, Book 1.

We learn great lessons through history. And we always determine that we will not repeat the failures of the past. I imagine that before Jesus came 2,000 years ago, the Jewish people would have thought the same. They also would have thought that when the time came they would not do something like fail, but in the end, they wound up failing. I am sure you know well about how Christian history unfolded. Today what kind of position are we standing in? Like the Jewish people 2,000 years ago aren't we also making a historical failure and losing hope? If not, do we have a strong determination and attitude not to make the same failure again a second time? 

Just before True Father left for Danbury, he said, “You must not complain. Keep your position and be grateful, and when you become completely one through gratitude, a great miracle will happen.” You are well aware of the work of True Father. True Father came to the position where he should have been attended. 

If the people of the world had accepted True Father earlier, his course would have unfolded quite differently. But True Father received opposition from the people of the world and has walked a lonely course of suffering. 

But what is sure is that no matter what kind of opposition and persecution there was, True Father was fulfilling God's Will. True Father always invested everything for Heavenly Father's Will and never retreated even slightly. Having heard the testimonies of the elder members, you all know the course that True Father walked in the past. He was never indebted to anyone, and as he lived he erased the debts of other people. He always lived for other people. 

When True Father went into Danbury, I felt him making a resolute determination in his heart. If people had carried out their portions of responsibility well, True Father would not have walked such a difficult, strenuous path. Instead of a path of opposition and suffering, it would have been a path of glory as a victor. However, True Father walked a path of unspeakable suffering. He considered that path the path of destiny, and he always forgot about his personal concerns and focused on comforting God. He lived offering God happiness by finding the best possible path in any situation. (1984.07.31, Belvedere Training Center) 

As True Father was entering Danbury, he told members not to complain, no matter what the situation. Then he told them to become completely one through gratitude. And when they become completely one through gratitude, a great miracle will happen. 

True Father was a person who showed us the model of how to (have) gratitude in any difficult situation. Even while being imprisoned six times, Father did not complain, and since he thought of that path as the path of destiny that he himself had to go through, he did not try to avoid it. 

This is really incredible and beautiful. 

And whenever he faced the path of suffering under unimaginable torture, he was convinced that through such suffering he could pay all indemnity as quickly as possible. And he said that he was more grateful in front of heaven because he believed that the way was a shortcut to liberate God and all humankind.

Therefore, no matter what difficulties and unhappiness come, we, too, should go on that path like Father, thinking that this path is the path of destiny that we must go on behalf of God, True Parents, and our ancestors with gratitude. 

Even though True Father received opposition from the people of the world and has walked a lonely course of suffering, the reason Father was able to fulfill God's will (was) because he was able to be grateful to heaven under any circumstances. 

True Mother testified that even as True Father went to Danbury Prison, he considered that path of destiny, and he always forgot about his personal concerns and focused on comforting God. He lived offering God happiness by finding the best possible path in any situation. 

Wow! Our Father is really amazing. Our True Mother is really amazing. Through persecution and opposition and difficulty Father said, “This is the shortcut way to liberate God and all humankind. This is my destiny (that) I need to go (through) and overcome. This is the fastest way. Never mind. I think God wants to bless all humankind. God is helping me (with this) shortcut.” He had that kind of determination.

I love his concept. This was his destiny. “I happily, willingly go this way.”

True Mother is talking about a life of gratitude.

LIVING DIVINE PRINCIPLE: The Principle of Creation 57 - The Position of Humans in the World of Creation; The Central Medium and Harmony 

The Mediator and Center of Harmony of the Cosmos

• Second, God created human beings to be the mediator and the center of harmony of the cosmos. 

• When a person's flesh and spirit unite through give and take action and become God's substantial object partner, the corporeal and incorporeal worlds can also begin give and take action with that person as their center. They thus achieve harmonious integration to construct a cosmos that is responsive to God.

• A true person acts as the mediator and center of harmony between the two worlds.

• Third, God created human beings to encapsulate in a substantial form the essences of everything in the cosmos. 

• God created the universe by projecting and developing the pre-existent prototype of the human internal nature and external form into countless substantial forms.

• The human spirit encapsulates all of the elements found in the incorporeal world, since God created the spirit world as the unfolding of the spirit's internal nature and external form. 

• The human body encapsulates all the elements of the corporeal world, since God created the material realm as the unfolding of the body's internal nature and external form.

• Accordingly, since human beings within themselves are the essences of all things in the cosmos, each person is a microcosm.

Father’s words:

How to Unite the Universe

<29-128> If humans are able to unite with God, all of creation will come to form relationships with God. That relationship is not one of opposites, but rather a subject-object relationship. It is a super universal relationship. Because the absolute relationship is centered on the absolute being, the realm of this relationship cannot be escaped. Therefore, the person who is able to unite with the absolute being and creation will bring about the natural unification of the universe. 

If humans are able to unite with God, all of creation will come to automatically form relationships with God and humans. Therefore, humans are the mediators that unite God and all creation. 

True Father said that if humans unite with the absolute God, they will bring about the natural unification of the universe. Therefore, humans are the medium that unites God and all things, and it is the mission of the Messiah (to be the mediator?) between God and all things (all people?). 

For God to have a reciprocal relationship with creation, He has to go through human beings, and for the creation to have a reciprocal relationship with God and receive His love and dominion, it must go through human beings as well. 

Therefore, in order to unite God and all things, you need to know that human beings are absolute beings before God and all things. 

Humans are the Central Axis of Harmony

<29-133> How did the world of creation come to be? It came into existence because of me. For whose sake does it exist? It exists for us, to give us joy. Humans need to become the stimulus for creating their own happiness. This is developed through the idea of higher love. Human beings become the central axis of harmony when they love creation, which then returns beauty to them. 

What is God’s ultimate purpose for creating the universe? For whose sake does the world of creation exist? It came into existence because of me. God created the universe because of me, because of you.

In other words, the purpose of the existence of the universe is to give us joy. God’s purpose for creating the sun and moon, the ocean, and the beautiful stars and the universe was all because of me. 

Therefore, as the owner of creation, when humans enter the stage of loving creation and creation returns beauty, human beings become the central axis of harmony. 

The subject partner has the responsibility of giving love, the object partner has the responsibility of returning beauty. Creating happiness is human’s responsibility. That’s why we must serve all things. 

Then all of nature will definitely return incredible joy, beauty and happiness to us. 

The Family is the Central Axis of Harmony

<29-142> The family is the central axis of harmony for all things. Representing all people and all families, it becomes the central axis of harmony for the tribe, all races and all nations. If we are able to restore the nations, the spiritual and physical worlds will naturally come into unity. This is how it works theoretically.

I think this content is really important. Some of our members do not understand what the central axis of harmony is.

What position are human beings in, between all things and God? It is the central axis of harmony. The center of harmony here does not mean some perfected individual, but it means the family becomes the central axis of harmony for all things. 

This is very clear. (This is) based on the couple and on the family.

The family is the central axis of harmony for all things, the center of harmony representing all people and all families, it becomes the central axis of harmony for the tribe, all races and all nations, even all things. 

The important thing here is that Father said (that) when one nation (Cheon Il Guk) is restored, it becomes the standard. Since it becomes the model of Cheon Il Guk, the spiritual world and physical world will naturally come into unity. Father said you don’t need to worry about how to restore the entire world and all of humankind; just create one model nation. If God restores one model nation, one sovereignty, one people centering on God, then don’t worry. The spiritual world and physical world will naturally come into unity. They will gradually, naturally come into unity. Soon the whole world (will be able to) unite together. 

That is why Heavenly Parent’s and True Parents’ ... (ultimate) wish is what? To restore one nation, one sovereignty, one people. Once we have set up one nation, everything will go on very well. We don’t need to worry about the rest. How much True Parents emphasize this issue! 

True Mother is really paying attention to uniting North and South Korea so that it becomes God’s substantial nation. That is ours and True Parents’ cherished hope. That is God’s utmost cherished hope. That is why we really need to pray for our father’s land, Korea. 

TODAY’S YOUTH MINISTRY: During the Formation Stage, You can Restore Your Original Nature if you Carefully Follow the Law of the Word

The Law of the Word and Dominion Over the Body

1. The course of the Providence of Restoration is the course of recovering the original nature that was lost due to the Fall. The first course for human beings to recover their original nature begins with the formation stage. In the formation stage, we must obey the words of the Principle and restore my original heart. In this first stage, we must be absolutely obedient to the law of the life centering on the Word. In short, we must make our body obey our mind. To do that, we must make the body receive dominion and freedom from the original mind. When the original mind obeys the law of the Word, the body is meant to follow. However, when we do not obey the law of the Word, the body goes on the path of death and cannot escape the power of death. Therefore, in the formation stage, the law of the Word must be brought to life. Also, in the formation stage, there is no way to control our body unless we are constantly stimulated by the Word through the life of Hoondok. 

The human fall was ultimately not obeying God’s Word and forgetting His Word. Due to forgetting the Word, we lost our original mind and came to live a life centered on fallen nature. 

That is why the word is very important. God told Adam and Eve, “Do not eat the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.” But once Adam and Eve forgot God’s word, all (kinds of) chaos and problems occurred, right?

In order for such human beings to return to God, we have to recover our original nature centered on the Word. Therefore, we can recover our original nature through hearing, reading, and practicing the Word a lot. 

That is why the first stage for human beings to recover the original nature begins from obeying the Word. Therefore, in the formation stage, we must absolutely obey the law of the Word and be brought to life. Without thinking of the Word as precious, there is no way for fallen human beings to be resurrected. 

As you know, recently I invited the hoondok champion, Mr. Chaen, and we have breakfast together (every day). Oh my goodness, his sharing is really incredible! I am realizing what the substance of God’s word is. There is no other way to restore our original mind without the word. That is why I keep on emphasizing reading the one-, three- and twelve-hour EDP content – because the word is the basic thing. When our movement get’s back to the original point, when we really can focus on studying the EDP, our movement surely can revive again. The basics are important. What is basic is our attitude and concept, (investing) our jeongseong and studying the EDP. Those are the most important things. 

Why do we feel limited in raising our ACLC ministers? Because they don’t go through a more internal course. God’s restoration course is from external to internal to more internal. We (should) not just bring our ACLC ministers to attend an event. That is fine. But we need to bring them to a more internal course. Everybody goes through the 43 days, but that is not enough. What is the more internal course? Let them learn our True Parents’ philosophy which is the Divine Principle. That is why recently I am so excited to see each of the ACLC ministers come to the Clifton Church. I met them personally and convinced them to study the EDP one on one. All of them met me and (resolved) to study EDP one on one, not just 3 or 4 times a week. Let’s focus and bring them somewhere to focus in a two-day workshop from morning to evening. Let all of them learn the Divine Principle thoroughly. When they learn the EDP content clearly, they can use the one-on-one material to teach other ministers. 

That is why I want to expand our ACLC movement through teaching the Original Divine Principle. Otherwise our movement will be very external. We need to follow True Parents’ education style from external to internal, internal to more internal. 

What is more internal? Educating and cultivating our heart. That is why I am very inspired that all our brothers and sisters are working very much on teaching the Divine Principle one on one. When everybody becomes a lecturer, anyone can witness using the text book, the Original Divine Principle.

If you follow the Word well and put it into practice, you can be resurrected and grow, but if you do not obey the law of the Word, the body goes on the path of death and cannot escape the power of death.

We must never forget that to save, resurrect and grow humans, God will surely do so through his word. 

Therefore, to fallen human beings, the Word is life and God’s love. In that sense, it is extremely important for the hoondok life to be settled in the formation stage. 

Apply the Law of the Word to my Original Nature 

2. While following the law of original nature through the Word, we must always test how our original mind works according to the Word. When I try to live according to the law of original nature centered on the Word, I can test whether my body really tries to live according to the habits of my old life or whether it is trying to live centered on my original nature. For this reason, those who live with the mind as the subject always feel the battle between the body and mind very sensitively. The Apostle Paul pointed out that the Jews claimed to live according to the law, but they actually lived according to the flesh. So the Apostle Paul lamented that human beings are miserable and going through hardships. This is because the mind is not able to do as it wants but repeats the unwanted behavior of the body. Those who believe in this battle feel the battle between body and mind very clearly. 

In the formation stage, when you hear God’s Word and come to understand it, you need to see how the Word influences my original mind. I have to test whether the Word really comes to me and becomes life to me, so that joy springs up and gives me strength in my life of faith. 

Therefore, in the formation stage, your attachment to the Word must be strong. You must (make) God’s Word your top priority. When you bring the Word to life and (make) it a top priority, check (just) how much you can control your body. Does God’s Word enter me and come to life in my spirit? Does it really become strength? Or am I unable to overcome my habitual life? 

The Apostle Paul pointed out that the Jews claimed to live according to the law, but they actually lived according to the flesh, so he lamented that human beings are miserable and going through hardships. This is because the mind is not able to do as it wants but repeats the unwanted behavior of the body.

Human Beings’ Conscience and Original Mind Absolutely Exist

3. When we do not know the law of the Principle well, we are unaware of the fact that the mind and body are fighting and having conflict. We simply think that such contradiction of the human being is natural. However, after hearing the Word and knowing the law of the Principle, we come to distinguish the desires of the mind and body. What would happen if we did not follow the law of the Principle centered on the Word? It will cause great confusion. For example, if there were no laws of sleeping and waking, no traffic laws to get to and from the streets, and no basic moral rules about how to live, it would cause a lot of confusion. When we set a rule to get up at 5 and are late, our conscience becomes aware of becoming upset. However, if there were no laws of original nature, there would also be no pangs of conscience or sense of guilt. However, the important thing is that all human beings, without exception, have a conscience and an original mind. 

When the Body Follows the Laws of the Mind, 

you can Maintain Spiritual Health

4. If God had not instilled in man the original mind, no one would have any sense of guilt. However, human beings’ original mind clearly exists. And in the end, no one can deny that everyone must follow the original mind. Also, when you live together in a relationship, you come to realize that there are laws of original nature that each must obey. If you only think of yourself and do not live for the sake of others, you immediately feel that our original nature is undignified. However, if you try to give something to others and live for the sake of others according to the laws of original nature, you will feel great joy. On the contrary, when we cannot have a happy relationship with our parents or between siblings or neighbors, there will be anxiety and pain. Just as our body must obey the law of the mind to maintain spiritual health, our original mind must obey the laws of heaven. Just because my body doesn't know the law of the mind, I will quickly realize that if I treat my body recklessly, there will be pain. In this way, I know that the laws of the Word helps me to recover my heart.

My dear brothers and sisters, human beings’ original mind clearly exists. Also, anyone knows that if you do not follow the original mind, you will definitely feel pangs of conscience and come to realize that there will be indemnity. (You should) know that God created us so that our original mind makes us have to live for the sake of others.

God created us that way. If we live for the sake of others centered on our original mind, we can definitely get incredible happiness and joy. Many people do not know this point. 

 That is why if you try to give something to others and live for the sake of others according to the laws of original nature, you will experience feeling great joy. 

Therefore, when you live centered on the Word and according (to) the laws of (the) original nature, you cannot deny becoming joyful and grateful and happy. 

Romans 8:5-8 says, “Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” 

Wow! In the life of faith at the formation stage, we must always be centered on the Word and follow the laws of original nature. Just as our body must obey the law of the mind to maintain spiritual health, our original mind must obey the laws of heaven. Just because my body doesn't know the law of the mind, I will quickly realize that if I treat my body recklessly, there will be pain.

That is why the beginning stage is very important. During the formation stage you can restore your original nature if you carefully follow the law of the word. The word is the beginning. 

That is why I emphasize the importance of hoondokhae. The Hoondok life has to become our habitual life. Then I am telling you guaranteed, our spiritual life can gain incredible strength and power to control our physical body.

LIVING TESTIMONY: I’m a Living Testimony for Whom Anything is Possible

(Testimony of Cassie Sosa, CARP Las Vegas)

We need to create a beautiful environment of love and heart. Then any new guest who comes will feel, not just through God’s word but through the environment, brothers and sisters’ love. They really can realize many things.♦

(Response to sharing) What is the best way to pay indemnity? That is appreciation. Father said what Satan dislikes the most is gratitude. Anyone who has a heart of gratitude Satan cannot invade any more. That is the power of gratitude. The best way to kick out Satan is gratitude.♦

I would like to encourage all our brothers and sisters to pray for our prime minister Abe. He did a really great job. (Although) there are many kinds of opinion, he really contributed to God’s will. I think we need to have a special prayer condition for him. Then we can liberate (him), and he can help God’s providence more than before.♦

NOTE: This lightly edited transcription may contain errors and omissions. Indecipherable or uncertain words and guesses are tagged with a “(?)” and indecipherable phrases, with an ellipsis “...”. First, second and third person pronouns have been left as spoken if the meaning is clear, and other apparently Korean English expressions have been preserved. Some repeated phrases have been eliminated. This text and the PowerPoint slides from this speech are available as PDF files at the top of this text. Audio only is available at anchor.morndev.com, spotify.morndev.com & audio.morndev.com. Notes or transcripts of Dr. Yong’s Morning Devotion speeches from November 11, 2020 through March 29, 2022 are available as six paperback books at cost at Lulu.com/Shop -- search for Dr. Chung Sik Yong -- and as PDF downloads free of charge at MDBooks.Hoondok.com.♦