2023.05.07 District Message
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:1-3
What is the important method of God that we must know? If we know this, we receive the 25 answer. It is extremely important, right?
Long ago in Busan, when we were worshiping at Immanuel Church, someone kept stealing people’s bags. Watching like this, when they saw a bag that looked a bit nice, they would think, “There is probably some money,” and take it during prayer. So such things kept happening. In Busan we realized, “Ah, there is a thief.” So we used our broadcast cameras and caught them—it was a child. I must have rebuked them and such, but from then on they didn’t steal bags anymore. Also, on the path up to the place of prayer, since the forest and mountain were nice, shady bad people kept hiding there. So I gave instructions, “Unconditionally cut all the small trees and grass, and install electric lights everywhere.” Then there was not a single strange person. If you do not know, thieves keep coming; but the moment you know, from then on they do not come. What do I mean by this? We have to know why God gave us God’s method.
▣ Introduction—Satan’s Method
It is only in the Bible. Because it is only in the Bible, other people do not know. Since universities cannot teach it, even after graduating from college, spiritual problems are not solved.
1. Eden (Genesis 3:4-5)
It is three things. In Eden, Satan completely collapsed humankind—Satan’s method. It is in no book, only in the Bible. This is Genesis 3:4-5. Knowing that humans care only about themselves, he came and said, “If you eat it, you will be like God.” That is what he said.
2. The Nephilim Incident (Genesis 6:4-5)
Then came the time of Noah’s flood—the Nephilim incident. Satan knows well that humans care only about themselves and only about what is theirs. Knowing that, he attacked. So without even realizing it, people were seized by Satan. They themselves do not know. Many people who do religious life and idol worship do not realize that they become demon-possessed. Even Japan’s prime minister still does not know that if you keep bowing to something that has been set up, that neighborhood becomes a demon neighborhood. Because it is only in the Bible, they cannot know. Shamans are not wrong about that part—when a shaman pounds the drum, demons come. That is what we call the Nephilim incident.
3. The Tower of Babel Incident (Genesis 11:1-8)
The third thing is the Tower of Babel incident. People, when their name is made known, gain strength. Even when there is no benefit, they feel empowered. If someone recognizes me, I feel so good. Whether it is right or wrong, if someone recognizes me, I feel so good. If I did something right and someone does not recognize it, I feel bad. Satan knew this and attacked: “Let us join our strength and make a name for ourselves.” That is the Tower of Babel. They were completely ruined, and because of this, world problems began. Satan is still doing this today. As the days go by, the earth keeps getting more difficult—the more science develops, the more difficult it becomes.
Christ
Therefore, God gave His method, and that method is Christ. You must catch this quickly. If you know this, the darkness is bound to flee. “Ah, but it did not flee for me.” Do not worry—another answer comes. People do not really know what is what. “Ah, I pray, so why am I not healed?” Paul was not healed. “Ah, is it because he had no power?” Paul healed others, so he had power, but he himself was not healed. Because of that, Paul’s eyes were opened to world evangelization. There is nothing that “does not work.” Because we are in God, we must not miss this. Even if this follows you, it is fine—because you have been saved.
(1 John 3:8) “The Son of God, Christ, appeared to destroy the works of the devil.”
(John 14:6) “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Because we must come out of this, He said it. Who can understand such words? They cannot, but you must. Because they do not understand, their faith life never works. It is frustrating, and when you look at church members’ worries, they are all the same—always. Why does a mentally ill person keep saying the same thing? It is the same. Someone is like this, someone is like that—it is all nonsense. If you just come out of this, it does not matter.
(Mark 10:45) This is what has driven us into disaster until now, but He came as a ransom to abolish every disaster. This is God’s method. If our church leaders know this well, you can really give an answer to those you meet. If you do not know this (Christ; 1 John 3:8; John 14:6; Mark 10:45), you cannot give a true answer, no matter how long you go to church. The one who knows this is fine whether an answer comes or not. The one who truly knows this actually says the opposite. Blind Fanny Crosby said, “Ah, now I am fine even if my eyes do not open.” “Formerly, my prayer topic was that my eyes would open, but now it is not—I do not need to see.” From that time on, messages came out that moved the world. Her hymns—“Even if I walk all day through a parched land, I am not weary,” and “All the way my Savior leads me”—were born from that realization. She truly realized it. Crosby’s hymns will not disappear until the earth disappears. We keep thinking that only what we “get” is the answer. It is not. That is just our beggar mentality from the old days of poverty—beggars must get something to eat first. Many people practice faith that way. Even if answers do not come, it is fine. The fact that you are within God’s covenant—that is the answer. The fact that you exist—that is the blessing.
This time, the speaker of Vanuatu’s parliament had a heart problem and was completely healed. I thought, we must save that region and nation. To accomplish evangelization, God prepared a person of great blessing. Just then, our country caught on and everyone started seeking him—it is important. There was a big stir. We were going to pay the hospital bill, but they came and said they would do it. I told the staff, “You don’t have to, but if you do, we are thankful.” That is not what matters; what matters is that he lived. Why? Because we must save the fourteen island nations. Our country is competing with Saudi Arabia to host the Expo this November at the UN, and those fourteen pure countries of Oceania hold votes that matter. They have now caught on. But we are not about politics—we believe God prepared those people to be used preciously for the evangelization of fourteen nations, and that is why He is answering now. It is completely God’s guidance and answer.
With this (Christ; 1 John 3:8; John 14:6; Mark 10:45), it is finished. God’s method is Christ, and how is it presented today? We cannot solve this (the introduction): original sin. Because of this, personal sins come out, and we cannot solve them. Christ solves this—it is tremendous. We cannot come out of darkness unless we are saved. Therefore, God sent Christ to break this and pull people out. What is promised in the Old Testament, even when they held only to the promise, works arose. What recorded the fulfillment of the promise is the New Testament. From this came the twelve problems, and He ended them all.
▣ Main
1. Faith
First, know Christ and believe. You must not believe without knowing. If someone rings your bell, you do not open the door unconditionally—you first check who it is. You believe knowing. Christ before eternity resolved even your family line’s problems. That is not just words; the problem of the family line comes to you, but He ended it. The incarnate Christ saved me; that is why we use the word “receive.” When we pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the darkness collapses. The resurrected Christ—when we pray in that name, Satan trembles. The coming Lord—He ended even our worries about the future. The Judge—your background will never change. Christ came to resolve that completely. No matter how kind, the child of Satan must go to hell; a citizen of Satan cannot be issued a visa to heaven.
2. The Platform
If this blessing is simply believed, what happens? It becomes a platform for me, and fruits of evangelism begin to arise. (Matthew 4:19) “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In Genesis 12:1-10, no matter how Abraham struggled to believe God, it did not work—until one day he realized he was in this state. From Genesis 13:14-18, history began; he began to build altars. Then, from Acts 5:1-10, the unbelief like that of Ananias and Sapphira that always followed him completely collapsed. They were struck not just because of the offering but because at that crucial timetable they did it before people and were seized by Satan. They were completely cut off from the Early Church, but through it came great blessing.
3. Constitution—Conquest
Eventually, this becomes your constitution. When Christ becomes your constitution, conquest begins. It is not that someone has no faith; it is that it has not yet become their constitution. Do not judge but wait for them. Having lived in the old way all their life, when one day this disappears, it becomes their constitution. From Genesis 22:1-20, though God had given the covenant from Genesis 3:15, only when it became Abraham’s constitution did God test him: “Take Isaac to that mountain and offer him as a sacrifice.” It was baffling for both Abraham and Isaac. But God provided a ram; Isaac lived after being completely shocked. If you almost die and live, you never forget. Isaac came to have a definite gospel constitution. From Genesis 26:10-24, when he farmed, he received a hundredfold; when his well was taken, new springs appeared; when he suffered, the blessing of Rehoboth arose. Why? Because only then can world evangelization be done. Hold to the covenant. You may think, “I can barely eat—how can I do world evangelization?” but the blessing is already there; we just missed it.
In Exodus 3:18, Moses already knew, but one day he experienced it on Mount Horeb. From then on, the darkness of Egypt began to collapse. In Isaiah 7:14, “When there is complete destruction, I will give the blessing of Immanuel.” “The virgin will conceive and bear a son. Believe. You will call His name Immanuel.” In other words, “Christ, not a mere man, will come and break all darkness. Believe.” Among those who believed was Daniel—he moved the king. In Matthew 16:16, Peter, though unlearned, said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God,” but later collapsed. Yet by the covenant of Christ, beginning from the Mark’s upper room, he experienced it. From then on, God gave Peter power to move the world. That is why the pope’s miter and staff today symbolize Peter’s image—that was Peter’s level.
▣ Conclusion—Christ—The Key
Because this is important today, I spoke at length. I will finish quickly. Christ is the key that opens the door of the Throne—not just any key, but the key that opens the Throne itself. Test it today by prayer. The darkness, curses, and disasters that topple you will be bound in the name of Jesus Christ during worship today. (Acts 1:1, 1:3, 1:8) This is the conclusion of the Bible. The rest are just answers—Christ, the kingdom of God, only the Holy Spirit. When difficulties come, no one can understand you, but with this key you can move the Throne. May you receive this answer all day today. There is no need to hold to useless, false forms of faith. Hold to the words Jesus spoke.
Prayer. We thank You, God. Let Your kingdom be accomplished all day today. Because of even one person who attended worship today, let the region, the field, the family, and the nation live. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.