- Matthew 18:1-10 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? 2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, 3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. 4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. 5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. 6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. 7 Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! 8 Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. 9 And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. 10 Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven.
May 5th is ‘children’s day’ [in Korea]. Today, in observance of children’s day, I will deliver a message about ‘children and teenagers’ as part one. When it comes to people, the future of their physical world and their spiritual world is determined by them learning well, taking action, and growing from the time ‘they are ten years old until they turn twenty.’ In order for people to succeed, they must be invested in, taught, raised, managed, and be given the great Word so they will take action on them at the time they are young. When people are young, their thoughts are simple. So they take action in earnest and with focus on whatever they see and whatever they hear.
Among the things I learned from the Holy Son, there is ‘something that I took action on especially while treating it as life.’ Children and middle and high school members under twenty must surely know this, memorize it, and take action on it.
People turn out according to how they are made. With people, whoever they may be, their lives are determined by how they make themselves. They turn out according to how they are made and used according to how they are made. If you want to make yourself great, then it is to make [yourself] by taking action according to the Word of God, and the Holy Son.
With food, merchandise, houses, and buildings, they all turn out depending on how they are made according to the purpose. Whether you are children or middle and high school students, [the way you turn out] depends on you making yourself. [The outcome] changes according to how you make yourself. If you just watch TV, just look at obscene materials, just read novels or comic books, just play, just engage in worldly love, live anyway you want, and just look at, listen to, and are exposed to the rotten culture of the world, your brains will be formed according to those kinds of thoughts and your ‘body’ will also follow those thoughts and act like that. And when you grow up, your brain will become hardened that way and will be formed exactly according to how you made yourself.
The body becomes hardened according to ‘your thoughts and actions’ and the spirit also become formed exactly according to ‘your body’s thoughts and actions.’ You, who are children and teenagers who are under 20 years old must really make yourselves. Once you are more than 20 years old, your brain becomes hardened and so it is hard to make yourself. The time to make yourselves into the most ideal [beings] is before the age of twenty. When you are making yourself, since you cannot see everything about yourself on your own,
- You should make yourself while praying.
- You should make yourself while listening to the Word valuably.
- You should make yourself while doing it together with the Lord.
- You should make yourself while working together with the people-of-mission who are appropriate for each time.
Once you have made yourself, that joy and happiness cannot be expressed with words. Just as objects, food, and houses all must be made by hand in order for them to become made, lives must take action with their bodies. Only then do they get made. So that you are appropriate to be used by God, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Son, you absolutely must make yourselves. Both the young adults and adults must become ‘children’ once again, become ‘teenagers’ once again, and absolutely make yourselves by putting this message into practice. This is the Word that everyone must surely put into practice.
Part 2 of The Message
The key point of the message for part two is this: It is to really do things ‘at the right time.’ It is hard to climb up an uphill road, right? When you have work to do but don’t do it at the right time, that is like climbing up an uphill road. So it is hard. You have to take action on top of the basic foundation of having made yourself. Then from that time on, ‘your power’ begins. Whether they are people or objects, if they are not made, they are unable to ‘exhibit their powers.’ [People and things] exhibit their ‘powers, abilities, and talents’ only as much as they are made.
Even if it is God, even if it is the Holy Spirit, even if it is the Holy Son, They [only] give the Word, the materials to take action on; They cannot take action on YOUR behalf. Even if food is cooked for you, eating must be done by you. In the same way, it is by you, yourself, hearing the Word and taking action on it -like you eat meals- that you make yourself plump with grace and gain both spiritually and physically. With the Word you must also rebuke yourself and also take action while commanding yourself and instructing yourself.
The greatest thing you must do in taking action is ‘starting.’ If you do it, it is ‘creation.’ Although there are difficulties and opposition every time you start, you must be determined and do it. Even if you do start, you will be weak at first. However, later, you will be prosperous. You have to start. Then you will see the end. It is start and finish; it is alpha and omega. Like sowing seeds in the spring and harvesting in the fall, everything you do in life is alpha and omega. You have to get started. Then you will fulfill ‘the purpose,’ which is the end. You must sow ‘perfect thoughts’ in the field of your hearts.
Perfect thoughts come from ‘the perfect Word.’ And you must sow ‘a perfect life’ by doing perfect actions. Even if you do the physical things, which you like, the only things you are left with in the end are ‘aged bodies’ and ‘corpses.’ You must make the gains by sowing and starting eternal things.
Victory or defeat is determined by how much you do your responsibility of starting ‘at the right time.’ If you start, you will gain right away! I hope that each of you will hurry up and start ‘the things you have not been able to do until now.’ Right now is time to start. I hope that you will hurry up and start.