Ep 785 - Women as the Turning Point for Peace Part 7
Women as the Turning Point for Peace - December 19, 2022
PDF Printable Text and Images + Testimony Rev. Kevin Thompson
Key Points
With the completion of True Mother and the founding of the Women’s Federation, the male-centered era of power has now changed to the woman-centered era of love.
Fallen humans seek physical pleasure because of the sin of losing purity and spiritual holiness. Paul says sexual immorality is the most obstructive factor to holiness and warns us not to pursue lust like the pagans.
We should control our body and get rid of sexual immorality which harms others and rejects “God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.”
God calls us to live a “holy life,” always occupied by the Holy Spirit. His will and calling for us is to become a noble, perfect and holy individual, couple, parent and owner of the creation attaining the three blessings and thus resembling Him.
Revelations says heaven will “cast” those who commit adultery on a “bed” of intense suffeirng and kill their children.
We need to seriously and repeatedly warn our second generation about this.
A person who seriously studies and comes to embody the word, feels his sins being cleansed and his fallen nature disappearing, comes to yearn for Abel and the church, and experiences God’s presence is being “born again.”
As Jesus put it, he is coming to “see the Kingdom of God” – as are families and churches with such people.
When many people long for him, he enters the growth stage and becomes “trustworthy” to God. When he becomes blessed and comes to long for and adores his spouse and rears a family, he rises to the completion stage.
Such a couple is pure with no self-assertion. They long-for and serve each other and exist 100% for each other. Satan finds no room to invade such a couple.
Transcripts from November 3, 2021 to the present, personal notes from November 11, 2020 until November 2, 2021 and slides from August 29, 2021 to the present are available at MD.Hoondok.com as PDF files.♦
Today I’d like to talk about “Women as the Turning Point for Peace” from True Mother’s Anthology, Book 2.
<This speech was given at the Women's Federation for World Peace USA Turning Point Assembly for the Abel Women's UN, held on October 27, 2012 at the M Resort in Las Vegas> Beloved women leaders! Women are not here merely to help or to be protected by men; rather, they are independent individuals who as representatives of the feminine aspect of God's nature are meant to make men more complete and manly. Centering on true love, women are men's precious partners in love. Men and women are absolutely equal in terms of value. Men and women who unite through the true love that is inherent in the original ideal share equal positions. Also, they attain the right to be with each other wherever they may be. Furthermore, they attain the ideal right of inheritance, where all their property belongs to each equally. Thus, a man and woman, who are brought into oneness through the original love in God's ideal of true love, have been created to become equal beings, centered on true love, by sharing not only the same rank and the right of participation but also their possessions with each other.
Therefore, men and women do not need to confront or contend with each other, because they do not need to imitate the characteristics, dispositions or roles of the other or to covet those things and take them by force. Instead, by giving what they have to the other with true love and completing the other, they can become united as a greater whole and share in a relationship of joint ownership. In the twenty-first century, women should play a major role in world history by serving, together with men, as one of the wheels of the engine pulling the construction of a peaceful world forward. Going beyond a century of power and technology, women will be the central axis in building a new century characterized by its loving, peaceful culture, and their role will be more important than ever before. I sincerely ask you to follow the path of true mothers, the path of true wives, the path of true daughters, and the path of true women leaders who will build a unified world where true freedom, peace, and happiness overflow.
Since the fall of Adam and Eve, human history has been dominated by the archangelic realm led by men. However, with the completion of True Mother and the founding of the Women’s Federation, the age of the male-centered archangelic realm came to an end and a new era of women centered on True Mother has arrived.
The male-centered era of power has now changed to the woman-centered era of love.
Now is the era of love centered on women. The ripe time has come centered on True Mother. So let’s support
LIVING DIVINE PRINCIPLE: The Human Fall 13 - The Physical Fall
• Eve then seduced Adam with the hope that by uniting with him, she could rid herself of the dread and stand before God once again This was Eve's motivation which led to the physical fall.
• Seeing Adam as her only hope of returning to God, Eve turned to Adam and tempted him, playing the same role as the Archangel had played when he had tempted her.
• Adam responded and formed a common base with Eve, and they began give and take action with each other. The power of the unprincipled love generated in their relationship induced Adam to abandon his original position and brought them together in an illicit physical relationship of sexual love.
• When Adam united in oneness with Eve, he inherited all the elements Eve had received from the Archangel. These elements in turn have been passed down to all subsequent generations without interruption.
• What if Adam had reached perfection without having yielded to fallen Eve's temptation? The providence to restore Eve would have been relatively easy.
Seeking for Physical Pleasure is due to the Sin of Losing Purity and Spiritual Holiness
Biblical Expressions
1 Thessalonians 4:3~8
4:3 It is God's Will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality;
4:4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable,
4:5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God;
4:6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.
4:7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.
4:8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
I want to explain and summarize this.
1. Seeking for physical pleasure is due to the sin of losing purity and spiritual holiness.
2. It is God’s Will that we become holy and noble resembling God.
What is our first Blessing? How we can achieve individual perfection. Individual perfection means how we can become holy and noble resembling God and become a temple of God. That is our first Blessing.
3. Becoming a holy individual, a holy couple, producing holy children, and becoming holy parents is God's will, and God has called us for this.
We need to understand three kinds of Blessing. The first Blessing is how to become a holy individual. What is the second Blessing? How to become a holy couple and holy parents and produce holy children. Based on that foundation (it) extends to the nation and the world and becomes God’s Kingdom of Heaven. Finally we can become the owner of all things as a holy person and a holy family and relate to all things. Then all things become holy. That is God’s will centering on the three Blessings.
4. The Bible says that sexual immorality is the most obstructive factor for human beings to become holy beings.
5. It says that in order to become a holy being, you must first get rid of sexual immorality.
In order to become a holy man and a holy woman, the most disturbing (influence) is Chapter Two. We inherit (this) from our ancestors. Even though we want to purify ourselves and have a strong desire to become a filial son and filial daughter, to become a filial man and a filial woman, Satan always invades with a Chapter Two spirit – even though we don’t want it. Very often it appears and disturbs our spirit. How can we deny (this). We inherit this kind of sin from our ancestors.
That is why in order to become a temple of God and to become a holy man and a holy woman, we really need to fight with this kind of Chapter Two spirit. There is no other way. We really need to study God’s word. We need to borrow power from the spiritual world and with that kind of holy spirit power, we need to really subjugate our body. Without learning God’s word and being stimulated by it, it is impossible.
Secondly, we need to have a lot of jeongseong and gain vertical power f rom heaven. Jeongseong power and God’s power are the way to control our physical desires and completely cut off that Chapter Two spirit.
6. A sanctified man and woman should learn to control their own body in a way that is holy and honorable.
7. The Bible warns us not to pursue lust like the pagans, and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.
8. It says that God has not called us to be impure, but to live a holy life; and the adulterous person does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives us his Holy Spirit.
We should always be occupied by the Holy Spirit. When we control Chapter Two, we become very holy. We can have a really divine spirit. Satan cannot invade us as long as we keep that kind of spiritual dignity. ...
To reach divine spirit is our goal, right? Overcoming that kind of temptation and trial from Satan, we really want to purify ourself and become a holy man and a holy woman. Then after starting family we can serve our spouse as a holy man and a holy woman and become a holy couple and produce our children and become a holy father and a holy mother like God. This is God’s will.
When we relate to Chapter Two and immorality, even though externally it looks as if we are very handsome and beautiful, from a spiritual point of view we are very dirty. How can we become a holy man and a holy woman? That is our first Blessing, individual perfection. Secondly, create that kind of holiness in our family and (in the third Blessing) control all things as a holy man and a holy woman, a holy couple. That is our goal.
Hardships that are Consequences of the Physical Fall
The Revelations of St. John 2:22~23:
So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am He who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Wow! Horrible judgment. If you commit adultery and do not repent,
1. I will cast you on a bed of suffering,
2. I will make you suffer intensely,
3. I will strike your children dead.
Wow! What kind of judgment! Adam and Eve fell because of the sin of adultery. What was the outcome. It was really terrible! We already know that. What terrible judgment! Committing adultery is really the greatest sin.
We already know the Divine Principle and Chapter Two, The Fall of Man. That is why we need to keep absolute purity. For those(?) who commit sin, we can hear the confessions of many brothers and sisters in tears. It is difficult to avoid. Their conscience always tells them (their sin). They always feel pangs of conscience. After they commit sin, they regret it so much, but it is already too late. Can you imagine? Such serious judgment! Even though no one judges them, their conscience judges them. Even though Abel may say, “Ok. Ok. You can drink holy wine and remove all your past.” Even though God and True Parents allow (this) – “No more sin. I forgive you,” but many people testify that their conscience is still stricken. They feel the pangs of pain. This adultery sin kills our conscience, kills our soul.
That is why the Principle of Creation and Genesis continually talk about how terrible committing adultery sin is. Why do I remind you again and again? Because we are fallen men, we need to (be) educated. Otherwise we are not aware(?) of the Divine Principle. We will always be invaded by Satan all the time, every second, every moment.
4. I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
We need to teach our second generation, our children, the Fall of Man. Of course, we need to teach them Chapter One about God’s existence and identity, the relationship between God and us. But secondly we need to teach them very clearly about the reality of Satan. Satan and evil really do exist. And how terrible committing adultery is! We need to teach them again and again. (It is) like God giving a warning to Adam and Eve, “If you eat, you will surely die!” That is why we need to continuously educate (them about) these kinds of things again and again.
TODAY’S YOUTH MINISTRY: Who is a Reborn Person?
1. What kind of a person is a person who comes to church for the first time and is reborn? It is a person who hears the words of the Principle and unknowingly wants to go to church often. Spiritually resurrected people originally were people who had no relation to religion at all and had no interest in church at all, but after hearing the Principle, they unconsciously want to go to church or have longing for the Abel figure that introduced the Principle to them. Such a person is a new person. Next, if that person always makes effort to live clinging onto the Word while their fallen nature gradually disappears, then that person has already entered the growth stage. For someone who has tasted the Word and experienced their own fallen nature being cleared, their lives have already changed. Such a person is a person who is already becoming a substantial embodiment of God’s Word.
In the Bible John 3:3 always inspires me. I always need to reflect about it.
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’”
The Bible says that those who have experienced rebirth can see the kingdom of God. Can you see the kingdom of God?
Do you see a clear vision of the kingdom of God? Do you personally have the kingdom of God growing in your heart?
Is God's kingdom growing in your family and are you feeling God's presence? Is the kingdom of God growing in your community and church?
When the number of people born again increases after they enter the church for the first time, (then) anyone who comes to that church can experience God's presence and feel that God is alive and working.
That’s why whenever I think about this Bible verse, (I ask) am I really a reborn person? Or not? What do you feel? Since we joined the church 5, 10, 20, 30 (ago), did we really have an experience of rebirth? Are we really a reborn person? If we are really reborn, we can feel God, we can see him, we can feel God’s presence in our community, in our family, in our church. It is very important.
If we don’t have a real experience of being reborn, then we become really habitual. We cannot grow up properly. That is why Jesus gave this really important guidance about this point.
What reborn people have in common is that after hearing the Principle, they want to go to church without realizing it, or they feel longing for the Abel figure who introduced the Principle to them.
Many have that kind of experience in the beginning. When they join the church, they are so inspired! They want to go to church and stay there, and they don’t want to go back home. I had that kind of experience. That is the formation stage of the experience of rebirth.
We need to revive day by day, become closer to God and True Parents. One who experiences rebirth automatically longs for Abel, longs for God, longs for True Parents. “I really want to revive(?) them.”
A person who is born again is a person who experiences that his fallen nature gradually disappears as he strives to live clinging onto the Word. This is the person who tastes the word and experiences that his sins are cleansed. A person whose life is changing and gradually becoming the substantial embodiment of God’s Word is proof that they are being reborn.
Is our church really the place to be reborn? Are people being reborn? Or not? We need to reflect on that.
Faith of the Growth Stage and Completion Stage
2. Faith of the growth stage means a reliable person when God looks upon them. A person who rises to the growth stage is welcomed at church and they have many people who long for them. Such a person will ultimately play the role of an owner in church. A person with this kind of faith is called growth stage believer. A person who rises to the completion stage faith wants to give True Parents’ marriage Blessing. Families must begin from God’s desire. We must realize families because of God’s desire. Once you enter a family, we ask “how much do husbands know how to serve their wife? How much do wives know how to serve their husband? Do they long for and adore each other?”
A person who enters the church and experiences rebirth gradually grows up to become a trustworthy person in the eyes of God and reaches the growth stage. A person whose faith rises to the growth stage is welcomed at church and they have many people who long for them.
Are we really at the growth stage level of faith? Then many people long for us. “I miss you.” If no one misses us, we are still at the formation stage. When we have entered the growth stage, many people miss us, love us. They express (to us), “Do you know how much I love you? Your presence is like God’s presence.” This is already the growth stage. We become more mature, more embracing, more loving. That is a growth stage believer.
How about your level? How about my own level? We need to know how to apply the Divine Principle to our daily life. This is very important. This Youth Ministry teaches us about the level of our faith. Are we at the formation stage, the growth stage or the completion stage? True Parents teach us so much in detail about where we are now.
After the fall God asked Adam and Eve, “Adam, where are you?” You know the Bible, right? “Adam, where are you? Are you in the hell of hells?” God asks us every day, every moment, “Where are you, Adam? Where are you, Eve? Are you in the formation, growth or completion stage? Are you in the Foundation of Faith or the Foundation of Substance or the completion stage? You should stay at the completion stage! You need to stay with me all the time.” God is always searching for us: “Where are you now?”
A person who rises to the completion stage faith must receive True Parents’ marriage Blessing, and we must realize families according to God’s desire.
God's wish is to have a family. Once you enter a family, we ask “How much do husbands know how to serve their wife? How much do wives know how to serve their husband? Do they long for and adore each other?”
When we start family, it is no longer the formation stage, no more the growth stage. Even though my spirit level has not reached that level, the position of the Blessing is already at the formation stage of the completion stage. We have already entered the era of love. We can no longer go by ourself; we need to go together with our spouse. That is the completion stage.
The Meaning of a Pure Couple
3. A couple must be pure to each other. What is being pure? Being pure means a heart in which there is not even 1% of self-assertion and the wife respects her husband and the husband respects his wife. Just as a baby does not know anyone besides their mother, a person who does not have the concept of “me” is called a pure person. A pure wife has a heart that thinks that she exists because of her husband 100%. Our world of heart is like such a world. A pure husband and wife means people whose hearts are filled with longing and serving only for their partner. Purity means people who do not even have 1% of self-assertion. People who assert themselves are not pure but false.
Couples who have reached the completion stage must be pure to each other. Being pure means a heart in which there is not even 1% of self-assertion and the wife respects her husband and the husband respects his wife.
A pure wife has a heart that thinks that she exists because of her husband 100% (and vice-versa). Our world of heart is like such a world.
Satan finds no room to invade because we are full of longing for our spouse. How can Satan invade? If there is some space, then he can invade. But (when) we really fall in love with our spouse and are full of a longing heart, then Satan cannot invade us.
A pure husband and wife means people whose hearts are filled with longing and serving only for their partner. This was a very important lesson we just learned.
Today I talked about “What is a Reborn Person?”
(Testimony Rev. Kevin Thompson, Reunion Service with Dr. Yong, SF Bay Area church)♦
NOTE: This text and the PowerPoint slides from this speech are available as a link at the top of this text. Transcripts from November 3, 2021 to the present, personal notes from November 11, 2020 until November 2, 2021 and slides from August 29, 2021 to the present are available at MD.Hoondok.com as PDF files. Books of the transcripts and notes are available as PDFs at MDBooks.Hoondok.com.
This lightly edited transcript may contain errors and omissions. Indecipherable, inaudible 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 if understandable. Some repeated phrases have been eliminated.
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.♦