2023.08.27 District Message
Scripture Reading: Acts 9:15, 19:21, 23:11, 27:24
Through your prayers, the President of Vanuatu successfully came through a dangerous surgery. We thank all who labored much, and we ask for your continued prayers so that he may be completely restored to even greater health.
We have many things to do, but what you must always remember is that we must do the things that must be done.
Acts 9:15
Paul became successful because he did what God specifically commanded him to do. Now, for your remaining life, and for our starting remnants as well, you must find what must be done. That is why we pray. And that is why we keep confirming God’s Word. It was delivered, “He is a chosen instrument to carry My name before Israel and many kings.” Therefore Paul had no reason to hesitate about what more he should do.
Acts 19:21
So he found that answer: “I must also see Rome.” This is what Paul said. But he said it according to God’s Word.
Acts 23:11
He had to stand in court. At that time God encouraged what Paul had said: “Take courage.” When he stood in court, “You must also testify in Rome.” This is the life of faith. When we accurately hold to God’s things within the Word, God confirms it.
Acts 27:24
On the way to Rome he met a storm. Even then God sent an angel and gave a word, “Paul, do not be afraid.” Because it was so dangerous, “Do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar.”
This (Acts 9:15, Acts 19:21, Acts 23:11, Acts 27:24) is accurate life of faith. Therefore, until you receive an answer, it is fine not to act. You must keep asking questions. This is the flavor of the life of faith. At times you may need to ask pastors or others, but more important than that is that I keep praying and receive the answer. At that time, this (Acts 9:15) is what you will first see. When that is seen, age does not matter, region does not matter, academic background does not matter.
Absolute (answer)
Then what on earth did he discover? He discovered this: the absolute answer. When I look at most who live the life of faith, they do not seek this (absolute answer) but are zealously doing things that are not very important. Thus, in Korea, 44% of churches are churches where members do not gather. Your life must not turn out like that. No matter what you hear, it is of no use unless you hold to the covenant within God’s Word; and 60 to 70% are non-self-supporting churches. Shamefully, pastors are being poured out while the number of church members is decreasing. They have not seen this (absolute answer).
When you worship, put everything else aside, hold to the covenant accurately, and find this (absolute answer). Moses was 80 years old—he had already lived his life. “I cannot do it anymore,” Moses said. At that time God commanded the absolute answer. And when one ages, this tends to happen. Elijah also did so. “I cannot do it anymore.” He was so weary that he said, “Now take me.” On Horeb, God commanded him to do what must be done. And it took place accordingly.
Answer of 25
Therefore, at all times in order to receive this (absolute) answer—the very answer becomes the 25 answers. This means it is not our timetable. In fact, although you could despair, there is no need: by your strength you cannot do world evangelization. By our strength even workplace life is hard. Therefore He said He would give another power.
▣ Introduction
1. Content
It is enough to firmly hold only to the important covenant God gives. Then what is the content by which we receive the absolute answer? There must be this content. There must be content in order to accomplish the absolute answer.
2. Method
And what is the method?
3. Power
And what power must it be? Jesus explained this at the very end.
4. Content (Acts 1:1 — the resurrected Christ)
Not simply Christ, but Christ whom they met risen. Even now what you must be assured of is this: if you pray in the name of Jesus Christ, answers come. Why? Because He is living even now. What Jesus asked most at the end was, “Pray in My name.” In the Gospel of John He says, “My name is the Father’s name.” It is an astounding statement. So Peter said, “What I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” Surely answers come. You must believe this.
5. Method (Acts 1:3)
What is the content? The kingdom of God. No matter how much difficulty you face, it is all right. Answers come. This (Acts 1:3) comes. He went as a slave, yet the kingdom of God came upon him. Right? He went to prison, yet the kingdom of God came upon him. This is our method. Because God does not change, it is the same then and now.
6. Power (Acts 1:8)
What power is it? Only. It is not possible by anything else. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.” This is extremely important.
What is called “absolute” exists only with God. Therefore we pray to God.
▣ Main
Then we must briefly summarize five items.
1. Absolute sovereignty — Covenant
Because we are not the absolute one, we believe in God’s absolute sovereignty. You must believe. God has set the date of your funeral. Right? Why were you born in Korea? It is God’s absolute sovereignty. Why was the President born in Vanuatu? It is God’s absolute sovereignty. Right? Therefore, what comes out within absolute sovereignty is the covenant called Covenant. When you hold to this covenant, one answer comes.
“Preview”
It is shown in advance. “Ah, when I held to the absolute covenant, from that time it was shown to me in advance.” How good is this! This faith—you must surely restore it. You believe God’s absolute sovereignty and hold to the covenant, and when you hold to this covenant, it is shown to you in advance. This is what Paul said in advance: “I must also see Rome.” This is what Paul said—not spoken casually, but a statement that came out within the covenant. Therefore now you need to succeed for the sake of the gospel.
2. Absolute plan — Vision
Then the absolute plan is seen. This is what we call Vision. It is different from what worldly people call vision. It means you have seen the absolute plan. This is vision. Some, I see, go out and evangelize with great zeal. Because of my gentle disposition, I cannot do so. I do not go out until I find God’s absolute plan. You must find this.
“Possess beforehand”
When it becomes so, what answer comes? You come to possess beforehand. You must go out having already possessed; if you have not possessed it, you must search for it.
As I have said before: whom do I most respect? Not a president—the one I most respect. Not professors. On the bus—the one selling goods. Wow. I truly come to feel respect. Why? I can absolutely not do it. I do not know—no one would offer this, but if someone said, “Would you like to try being president?” I might be willing. Right? But if someone said, “Would you like to be a peddler on the bus?” I could never do it—because of embarrassment. In one sense my personality is poor, but it fits Scripture well—like this (“preview,” “possess beforehand”). You must have it (“possess beforehand”) in order to go; if not, you cannot go.
A term of today—bartizan. If you do not know the word “bartizan,” you will not know what “24” means. Right? Therefore, at the 237 Center we will not “just evangelize.” We graduate only those who set up the absolute bartizan. From what I see, when I look at the evangelism reports you bring up, most are not the absolute bartizan. Thus how much you suffer! Then look carefully. Have you seen Acts 13:1–4? When the evangelism door was completely shut—Acts 16:6–10—“Go to Macedonia”—have you seen it? Before the movement of Tyrannus, in 19:1–7, what took place was exactly what happened in the Mark’s Upper Room, right? Start with that.
You must do business this way as well. When I see close friends who do business, I say, “Do not start unless you are prepared 300%.” I say, “If you start (without it), disaster.” What is 100%? My expertise. What is another 100%? The system. What is another 100%? The field. Then you receive answers even as you start. Especially our young adults must remember.
3. Absolute covenant — Dream
When the absolute plan is seen, then the Word comes to you each time—absolute covenant. We call this Dream. Unbelievers call a vague aspiration “dream,” but not us. It is God’s absolute covenant. Joseph held to the covenant so surely that it even appeared in his literal dreams.
“Enjoy beforehand”
We call this enjoying beforehand. I am convinced that among our remnants there will arise figures who will move the world in various places. They will arise. We are merely the platform. Your prayer becomes the platform. When, one day, remnants who move the world begin to arise here and there, it is different.
4. Absolute journey — Image
Now, when the absolute covenant is seen, from then you can go rightly. We call that the absolute journey. If you go this absolute journey by our own strength, you will be similar to others. You must go by the Spirit of creation that God gives, by that power. This was called Image. We often use the word “image.” God originally created man in His own image; that “image” word is this (Image) term. Then what happens?
“Conquer beforehand”
Before you even go, you have already conquered beforehand. You must surely enjoy this blessing.
5. Absolute goal — Practice
Then you will reach the goal that God made—the absolute goal. We call it Practice because we must actually enjoy it. Because we must produce the actual work, we use the term Practice.
“Fulfilled beforehand”
It is already said to be fulfilled beforehand. He did not say, “I will give you the land you tread,” but, “I have given (it) to you.” That is right. Those believers without faith grumbled in the wilderness, but those with faith said the land of Canaan had already been given to us by God. Yes. This is the important covenant. It has been fulfilled beforehand.
We call this (Main Point 1–5) CVDIP; it is the absolute answer that comes out within God’s sovereignty. All of this (Main Point 1–5) is the absolute answer. Have composure, and know that you have the qualification to receive such blessing.
So then, especially when I look at Koreans, why do we lose to other nations? Because we let trivial things steal our entire life. Foolish, is it not? We let trivial matters steal all of God’s blessing; therefore we cannot enjoy what is ours—foolish. If you are to repent, you must repent of that first. Many do not even know the meaning of repentance; the greatest word of repentance is “Return to God.” It is the greatest word. I was zealously holding to what was not God’s… That is a crime among crimes, a mistake among mistakes. You must know that you are not such a being. It is written that God called you before the creation of the world. Right? Already. How could it be “before creation”? With our minds it is impossible, but with God’s mind it is possible. How does He choose all people before creation? Because He is God—thus He is God.
▣ Conclusion — [ The throne, prayer, the Word ]
Therefore such a conclusion comes to you: the power of the throne. Enjoying this is prayer and the Word.
These must be connected. When these are connected, you come to enjoy many covenants. At that time, within prayer, you come to enjoy God’s covenants. And when you see the flow of the covenant, you come to follow the flow of the Word. Is that not so? Therefore the reason we come each week to worship is to follow the flow of the Word. You must surely do this. It is not that you are listening to a pastor’s sermon—you are following the flow of God’s Word. Then the absolute blessing is continuously seen, and answers that transcend time and space arise.
From now on such things will take place in our church. From now on that power will come upon our church leaders. From now on those works will come out through our posterity. Therefore, even if at times your children are a little shaken, do not push them too much—encourage them. And there are times when children deviate. I do not see that as “deviation.” Simply put, they are trying a personal challenge once. Right? One can also call it deviant behavior, but it is a release of a certain amount of energy. They themselves do not know, and we do not know well, but those teenagers around their early teens—they contain infinite energy. We must not restrict that.
From now on, regarding the three courtyards, when the remnants gather we must change our thinking a bit. We must make it so that the children truly find their own, reveal their own before God, and discover and enjoy what God has given. Why? They themselves do not know. How would they know? They do not know. If our parents, church, and adults restrict that, it must not be so.
A child visited a wealthy home and, seeing a very expensive organ, kept touching it. The parents kept scolding him: “Do not touch things in others’ houses.” The owner saw this—called the child—and taught him the organ. Who was it? Handel. We keep restricting many things by our own thinking. Long ago in school, someone saw an old computer monitor—back then we did not have them in our country. The one who saw it was Bill Gates. He exclaimed, “Wow!” As a child he saw it and said, “Wow!” That turned the 20th century upside down—with help even from the Nephilim. What a ridiculous sight.
In the church we restrict everything. We appear to live the life of faith well, but we keep restricting. When remnants come, we must lead them to discover themselves infinitely, to speak their own stories, to receive God’s grace—set their direction this way. But we keep restricting.
God has a plan for our posterity. I bless you in Christ Jesus’ name to enjoy the greatest blessing of laying down the platform for this. Let us pray.
Prayer. God, let today be a day when, by Your mighty hand, we can challenge toward the things that are Yours. Grant our remnants the spiritual strength to enjoy what is Yours without limit. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.