Tag: deliverance

The Blessing Ceremony of the Unification Church Is Not Simply a Wedding

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1939

The direction of world civilization will develop as it circles around the globe. In other words, civilization moved from the continental civilization of Egypt, to the peninsular civilization of Rome and Greece, then to the island civilization of Britain, and reached the continental civilization of America. The continental civilization is now moving west, crossing the Pacific Ocean, passing through the island civilization of Japan, and ultimately culminating in the peninsular civilization of Korea to connect with Asia. The culture consolidated here is a profound one, and it will lead to a new world. (115-171, 1981.11.10)

Cheon Seong Gyeong 1239

The Blessing Ceremony of the Unification Church is not simply a wedding through which a man and a woman come together and form a family. Until now, all weddings were solely for the sake of the people getting married. But our wedding ceremony is significant and necessary to set a condition to indemnify the past and return joy to God. Therefore, we conduct our ceremonies in a sacred and splendid manner. Divine Principle clearly explains to us that our wedding ceremony alleviates God’s bitter grief that was caused by the Fall of Adam and Eve. It goes beyond the standard of husband and wife, which Jesus was unable to attain. (22-212, 1969.2.4)

Help and Deliverance

2. Deliverance from Danger and Death

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

God appears as a rescue boat at the dire moment of death. (6:152, April 19, 1959)

We humans are completely foolish. But we have a friend in God, who is infinitely wise. His heavenly host—countless spirits—accompany us and provide reinforcements. When we think about this, we can be grateful.
    I really understand the feeling of David as he stood before Goliath, on the verge of the showdown. He was bold and strong. He knew God’s protection would bring him victory in the battle. Things turned out well because he faced his enemy with this thought in his heart: “When you strike, you will be the one who breaks, not me.” (203:192, June 24, 1990)

President Reagan was shot, yet he did not die. During the attempt on his life three people were shot, one critically, and it was thought that he might die. But he also survived. Do you know why? Pope [John Paul II] was also shot, yet he too survived. Reverend Moon has similar divine protection. Sufficient [spiritual] foundation has been laid. (116:155, December 27, 1981)

Who guides the course of war? People start wars, but God guides their outcome, bringing recompense [for aggression]. However, it is not God’s will to build a peaceful world through arms. (103:184, February 25, 1979)

When we pursue a public purpose, if Satan attacks us, God will come to our aid. If we are united with God at that point, Satan will have to retreat… and those who oppose us will disappear. This is what Satan fears more than anything. As more and more individuals, families and even nations welcome the Messiah and do the will of God, Satan grows weaker; and when the world welcomes him, Satan will disappear. Therefore, to prevent his own destruction, Satan places us in life-threatening situations and makes us shed blood on the battlefield. We should survive it. (329:287, August 11, 2000)

When Satan imprisons a citizen of Heaven within his barbed wire fence, at the proper time God will destroy that fence and reclaim him. Since he is a citizen of heaven, Satan has no right to contest his release. On the contrary, God will demand that he pay compensation for imprisoning an innocent person.

    God can rescue His people at any time, but He waits until the time is ripe; then He will liberate everyone and demolish Satan’s prison.
    Even in the worst case, should you die, you can be confident of your destiny as you carry with you the thought, “I was born a citizen of Heaven, I lived as a citizen of Heaven, and I died for God’s Kingdom.” You will surely go to God’s Kingdom in the spirit world, where all the heavenly spirits will welcome you with cheers. (98:162, July 16, 1978)

If you are doing God’s will, even prison is an opportunity to receive blessings. The day you enter prison can be a day of hope. The day you are handcuffed can be a day of hope.
    When I went to prison, I had joyful heart; I was even whistling. I found everything was prepared to welcome me. People there were waiting to receive my teachings. When I felt hungry, someone brought me food. The Bible records Elijah’s miracle of being fed by ravens. In my case, communists brought me food; God moved them by mobilizing the spirit world.

On August 1, 1950, more than 100 B-29 bombers bombed Heungnam Prison Camp [where I was incarcerated], damaging it severely. Because God had alerted me that this was about to happen, I protected the other prisoners. God told me that He would protect anyone who stayed within 12 meters of me, so I instructed my followers to stay close by. While the bombs were exploding, I was in silent meditation. I did not think about the bombing; rather I was contemplating the ideal world that would come in the future. It would be a cosmic loss to God if someone like me, who was fulfilling a mission for restoration, were taken to the spirit world. For this reason, God wanted to protect me at all costs; indeed, He was obliged to do so. (35:189, October 13, 1970)

Heungnam was the first place where U.N. troops landed in North Korea. It was because the Son of God was there, and God was urgent to rescue him. The communists were gathering groups of prisoners and taking them out of the camp, promising them food but in fact intending to execute them. The prisoners did not know it and even fought with each other to go, tempted by the promise of a good meal. But I knew of the deception and thought, “You are going on your final path, but I shall not die. Even if all of you die, I shall not. No matter what tragedy and misfortune I face, even if I am led to the execution ground, I shall survive somehow!”
    On October 12, 1950, about 70 prisoners who were serving sentences of at least 7 years were taken to a mountain some 7 miles away from the prison camp and executed. Since I had been sentenced to 5 years, I knew that two days later it would be my turn to be taken. Given that circumstance, God must have hurried to rescue me. On the evening of the 13th, I looked outside and saw that the situation had already changed. Rumors spread that UN troops had landed in Heungnam, and the communist guards were busy packing their belongings. The next day, October 14th, they were gone and we remaining prisoners were free. We then set off on the road to the South. (22:129-30, February 2, 1969)
About the Korean War

You Who Believe; Remember the Grace of God on You

Luke 9

14 There were about five thousand men in the crowd.

Jesus said to his disciples, “Have the people sit in groups of fifty.” 15 They did this, and all the people sat down. 16 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and fish and handed them to his disciples to give to the people.

17 Everyone ate all they wanted. What was left over filled twelve baskets.

1 Kings 22

48 Jehoshaphat had seagoing ships built to sail to Ophir for gold. But they were wrecked at Ezion-Geber and never sailed. 49 Ahaziah son of Ahab offered to let his sailors go with Jehoshaphat’s sailors, but Jehoshaphat refused.

50 Jehoshaphat died and was buried beside his ancestors in Jerusalem, and his son Jehoram became king.

51 Ahaziah son of Ahab became king of Israel in the seventeenth year of Jehoshaphat’s rule in Judah, and he ruled two years from Samaria.

52 Ahaziah disobeyed the Lord, just as his father, his mother, and Jeroboam had done. They all led Israel to sin. 53 Ahaziah worshiped Baal and made the Lord God of Israel very angry, just as his father had done.

Richard: Jehoshaphat obeyed God, while Ahaziah did not. The main battle is not right vs left, but God vs no God.

Help and Deliverance

2. Deliverance from Danger and Death

O you who believe! Remember the grace of God on you, when there came down on you hosts; but We sent against them a hurricane and forces you could not see: but God sees clearly all that you do. Behold! They came on you from above you and from below you, and behold, the eyes became dim and the hearts gaped up to the throats, and you imagined various vain thoughts about God! In that situation were the believers tried; they were shaken as by a tremendous shaking…
    And God turned back the unbelievers, for all their fury; no advantage did they gain; and enough is God for the believers in their fight. And God is full of Strength, Able to enforce His will.29
    Qur’an 33.9-11, 25

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord :
I will sing to the Lord , for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a man of war;
The Lord is his name.
Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea;
and his picked officers are sunk in the Red Sea.
The floods cover them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
Your right hand, O Lord , glorious in power,
your right hand, O Lord , shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send forth your fury, it consumes them like stubble.
At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up,
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, “I will pursue,
I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil,
my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword,
my hand shall destroy them.”
You blew them away with your wind,
the sea covered them;
they sank as lead
in the mighty waters.

Who is like thee, O Lord , among the gods?
Who is like thee, majestic in holiness,
terrible in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
Exodus 15.1-11

They threw them [Paul and Silas] into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s fetters were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, and brought them out and said, “Men, what must I do to be saved?”
    Acts 16.23-30

Arms pinioned, was I thrown down in a heap.
The elephant violently was goaded in the head.
The elephant ran away trumpeting,
Declaring, “To this prostrate figure am I a sacrifice;
Lord, in you alone lies my strength.”
The Kazi urged the mahout to goad on the elephant,
Threatening, “Mahout! I shall cut you to pieces!
Goad and drive the elephant!”
But the elephant, meditating on God, would not move:
In his heart was lodged the Lord.
The people queried, “What offense has this
holy man committed,
That in bonds he is thrown to be trampled by an elephant?”
The elephant bowed again and again to the heap before it.
The benighted Kazi did not realize this;
Three times he ordered this trial
But his hard heart still was not softened.
Says Kabir, The Lord is my guardian.
In absorption in Him lies His servant’s life.
    Adi Granth, Gaund, Kabir, p. 870 (Sikhism)

World-honored Lord and Perfect One,
I pray thee now declare
Wherefore this holy Bodhisat
Is known as Kuan Shih Yin [Hearer of the Cries of the World]?
To this the Perfect One replied
By uttering this song:
The echoes of her holy deeds
Resound throughout the world.
So vast and deep the vows she made
When, after countless eons
Of serving hosts of Perfect Ones,
She voiced her pure desire
[To liberate afflicted beings].
Now hearken to what came of it—
To hear her name or see her form,
Or fervently recite her name
Delivers beings from every woe.
Were you with murderous intent
Thrust within a fiery furnace,
One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power
Would turn those flames to water!
Were you adrift upon the sea
With dragon-fish and fiends around you,
One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power
Would spare you from the hungry waves…
Were you amidst a band of thieves,
Their cruel knives now raised to slay,
One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power
And pity must restrain their blows.
Suppose the king now wroth with you,
The headsman’s sword upraised to strike,
One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power
Would dash the sword to pieces.
Were you close pent by prison walls,
Your wrists and ankles bound by chains,
One thought of Kuan Yin’s saving power
Would instantly procure release…
True Kuan Yin! Pure Kuan Yin!
Immeasurably wise Kuan Yin!
Merciful and filled with pity,
Ever longed-for and revered!
O Radiance spotless and effulgent!
O night-dispelling Sun of Wisdom!
O Vanquisher of storm and flame!
Your glory fills the world!
    Lotus Sutra 25 (Buddhism)

How Can You Receive God’s Protection?

Cheon Seong Gyeong 771

Consequently, the all-knowing God had to take responsibility for this. Who initiated the providence for salvation? God did. God initiated the providence for restoration and He also had to initiate the providence for re-creation. (228-268, 1992.7.5)

Richard: God sees our plight and ultimately has to take responsibility to teach us the true way of life. Everyone must study the Original Root Substance of the Principle which teaches us the path that humanity must trod.

Cheong Seong Gyeong 1405

Through this ceremony, the environmental conditions necessary for all humankind to be able to participate in the Blessing have been created, and all people connected to the mainstream ideal can now belong to You through attending it. This amazing and incredible miracle has been wrought, not just by the work of the Unification Church but also by the joint efforts of Yourself and the spirit world. Therefore, I hope and pray that You can forever hold the victorious dominion and sovereignty of eternal love and glory gained from this ceremony, and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on earth and in the spirit world through the liberation achieved by this Blessing. All humankind connected to the 360 Million Couples can now unite in heart and strive to achieve the unity of mind and body, husband and wife, and within the tribe, race, nation, world, and cosmos. These couples have been established as the nucleus representing the True Parents on earth and the family in the garden of Your love. They have been blessed in order to complete the Kingdom of Heaven on earth with the sovereignty of the love central to the ideal of creation, which has been Your eternal dream.

Richard: Everyone must receive the Blessing from True Parents.

Help and Deliverance

1. Help in Times of Trouble

Teachings of Rev. Sun Myung Moon

How can you receive God’s protection? God does not protect a person unless he has something that endears him to God. What do you have that would draw God to relate to you? Does God need your money? Does He need your power? Knowledge? God desires but one thing: love. Therefore, love gives us the privilege to move God. When He relates to us out of love, He can alter our destiny. Love can move God.
    Do you think that God will forsake people who are truly striving to love Him? What if, out of love for Him, they place themselves in miserable circumstances? Will their lives end in misfortune? On the contrary, their troubles will become a condition to turn their miserable situation into a fortunate outcome. Therefore, those who endure misfortune on the path of loving God are fortunate people. It is even more fortunate for them if they are happy to follow this path. When God sees them braving waves of misfortune throughout the world as they search for God’s love, He thinks it most wonderful.
    When I was in prison in North Korea, I endured severe torture. Yet the more severe the torture was, the stronger I became. I thought, “Go ahead, you… The more you torture me, the more God will love me.” With that attitude, although I was destined to die, I lived. Have this attitude, and, you can make your crooked way straight.
    To overcome, we need but one thing. Our path of life may be troubled, insecure, full of the misery and with only fleeting pleasures, yet on this path we can bind the power of death and go beyond death’s misery. What is the path to overcome all these trials and go safely straight to the goal? It is the path of loving God. Is there any other way? When we are ready to live and die for the love of God, God will be with us and protect us. (67:175-76, June 3, 1973)
 
Our mind seeks the world of the heart. Even radio waves do not operate just anywhere; they require a receiver that is tuned to resonate with the signal. It is the same with people. As long as a person has a true conscience, a true loving standard, and a foundation of Heaven’s heart, then wherever or whenever he goes, even in conditions of oppression and misery, he will unexpectedly find a way to survive and even prosper. Even when misunderstood and mistreated, he will find a way.
    The path to life cannot be found in comfortable circumstances. No one ever achieved an historical revolution, an historical discovery, or an historical success in a comfortable place. They began in circumstances where they stood face to face with death. In such situations, God reached out to them.
    Therefore, when someone is about to encounter God, he will meet with a crisis. It may be material—an accident or a financial disaster. It may be a problem with other people, or it may be a problem of the heart. At that time, if he shouts out, “I will go this path no matter what,” and goes forward resolutely, he will be able to lead others who struggle with similar kinds of problems. (7:333-34, October 18, 1959)
 
When we cannot go one step further, yet are willing to endure still more, God appears and blesses us, saying, “My son, my daughter, you don’t have to endure any longer. You can rest now.” This is the path of our restoration course. As we endure on our journey with hymns of thanksgiving, God comes to us and tearfully says, “Where else can I find a son or daughter like you? I will now appoint someone else to carry on for you.” Then He gives us a place of rest and heavenly rewards from His fatherly heart. (44:29, May 4, 1971)
 
We should know at what point God works with us and at what point Satan is likely to attack us. There are always these two kinds of works. In fulfilling the will of God, people should climb up by their own efforts to the point where God can help them. That is the human portion responsibility. God gets directly involved only after human beings have reached a certain level; he does not help them below that level. As we approach that level we may receive a little help, but only when we reach it does God provide us with maximum support.
    When you spin a hoop vertically on a stick, the hardest thing is to get the hoop to go over the top. As it spins upward, it almost comes to rest on top before it accelerates on the way back down. Likewise, you assemble your efforts on the way up and strain to go over the top… Yet you could not have made it to the top based on your own efforts alone. You could succeed because God added His power to yours.
    However, at the top, Satan waits in ambush. At the moment you reach the goal, God no longer supports you. If He did, it would be in violation of heavenly law. At that moment, when God lets you alone, you are liable to face Satan’s attack. God and Satan each keep to their own territory and do not interfere with each other.
    In other words, when you are making effort to fulfill your mission, you can gain God’s help. But at the moment of success, you will face Satan. But because God and Satan do not appear at the same time, when it is time to face Satan, God withdraws. This is unavoidable. In order to give you the opportunity to fulfill your portion of responsibility, you must go over this test because of the law of human responsibility and because human beings are responsible to subjugate Satan. Knowing this, you should be alert at this critical point. It is when problems most commonly arise.
    Then, you will meet another problem when you are coasting downhill. Having reached the summit, it is easy to relax and descend without making effort. If so, you will just continue to descend. But like spinning a hoop, to reach the next top you have to add more force on the downward cycle. The more force you exert as the hoop goes down, the faster it rises as it loops back up. From this perspective, know that you need God’s support while you are descending just as much as you need His help when you were climbing. Yet since you are still in that dark area where Satan holds sway, you have to make a special prayer condition for a certain period of time; otherwise God’s help will not be forthcoming. By this method, you can gain an added spurt of Heaven’s power to rise up even faster towards the next goal.
    Such is a formula. For instance, after the Israelites enjoyed a time of blessing, it was followed by a time of oppression. Without fail, after each blessing they faced attacks from Satan. (73:268-70, September 29, 1974)
 
As we followed the path Thou hast walked,
we found it was the path of the cross.
Yet as we continued on this untraced way and struggled with the heart of pioneers,
we discovered it was not the way of destruction.
People ridiculed us, but Thou didst encourage us.
Many people opposed us, but Thou didst comfort us.
So many times Thou didst counsel us, saying, “I am with you,
and the billions of saints in the spirit world are protecting your way.”
(16:50, December 26, 1965)