2023.06.04 District Message
Scripture Reading: Acts 18:4
This week’s passage is Acts 18:1–4. Of course, we must go out for missions. However, what must come first is that the place where you are now is the mission field.
There are God’s mission fields that we must go, but that comes later. The place where you yourself are right now is the mission field. To make that possible, you must receive this (25) answer.
▣ Introduction
You must experience this at least once in your life.
1. The accurate covenant
What is the accurate covenant that God has given me to save the world? You must hold onto this. There are many covenants, but what is the accurate covenant that God has given to me? If my words sound complicated, you can just listen to what Jesus said.
1) John 19:30 – Calvary (the beginning) – It is finished
Jesus said that all the problems that existed in the Old Testament age had been resolved. This is the covenant of Calvary. This is extremely important. He said, “It is finished,” yet things still do not work out for us. Though Jesus declared it finished, there are still many difficulties for me. That is where it begins. This is the part we constantly miss. You must always remember this part. (1) Problems – Even your children, though they may not express it, have many problems, and you likely think the same. When I meet people, most of them speak more sincerely about their problems than about the grace they received from God’s Word. That is the mistake. Those who hold onto the wrong covenant cannot receive answers. Your children are holding onto problems while leaving behind many blessings. Isn’t that so? If you ask, “Why do you hold onto the problem when so many blessings are there for you?” they only get more discouraged. This must be realized through true forum and true prayer. Almost everyone I have met—practically 100%—is trapped in this. What they see as problems, I see as nothing, yet they see them as problems. What must we do? God desires to give blessings, but people keep calling them problems. “But a very serious problem came to me—what should I do?” Without exception, through every serious problem, God has accomplished great works. Hasn’t He? Without exception. In a way, you only need to hold to the covenant and wait. Isn’t that so? If you hold to the accurate covenant, then you only need to wait. But if you have held to the wrong covenant, you cannot afford to just wait. (2) Conflicts – Most people say, “Christ finished everything,” yet they live bound in conflict—24 hours in conflict. When I used to teach middle and high school students and let them pray, they prayed well. But when I talked with them personally, it was clear they were trapped in conflict. So, I began counseling them one by one. (3) Crisis – If crisis has come to us, that is truly the timetable. It takes time to make people understand this. Jesus said, “It is finished.” If you cannot discover this, you will keep wandering, though you may not say it aloud. This is why this first point of the introduction is so necessary for believers.
2) Acts 1:3 – Mt Olive
When you hold onto the accurate covenant, then what follows is the covenant of Mt Olive—the covenant Jesus gave. You must understand this accurately. For me, though Christ had finished everything and I was a child of God, my church and my home were not doing well. Then I thought, “This is not mine; that’s their issue.” The adults were so troubled and conflicted, arguing among themselves. I thought, “That’s their issue, not mine. It’s not something I should meddle in. I just need to hold onto the covenant and pray.” That one short moment changed everything. Otherwise, we easily fall into problems, conflicts, and crises because that’s all we see. When this is resolved first, the covenant of Mt Olive gives the mission to enjoy and proclaim God’s kingdom and blessings that the world can never give. People often ask, “How can we do that?” Jesus answered simply: “Wait.” Jesus said, “Wait.” But we cannot wait. “Wait”—but not just any waiting. “Wait for what the Father promised.” What did He promise? He promised to give the power of the Holy Spirit. “Wait.” That is the answer.
3) The Mark’s Upper Room – (Experience)
Third, they gathered in the church with this covenant—that was the Mark’s Upper Room. When this happened, they could not help but experience it.
2. The period of no answer
More important is the second point. Even after receiving answers, persecution arose from every side. At that moment, people make their second mistake, thinking, “There is no answer.” The best timetable for you is not when a bag of money drops from the sky the next day after prayer, nor when your cancer disappears overnight after worship. Such things rarely happen. This “no-answer” period is the most important timetable. But during this time, people start doing other things.
1) Isaiah 60:20–22 [The time]
God said in Isaiah 60, “I, the Lord, will do it swiftly in its time.” This word is important. Yet we mistake this for no answer. It is indeed no visible answer, but it is the key moment. This is the hardest part of faith life for believers. “But still, my situation is urgent—what can I do?” When the time comes, God will act swiftly, for He said so.
2) Ecclesiastes 3:1–10 [The season]
Ecclesiastes 3:1–10 says that everything has its season and its time. You must realize this.
3) Acts 1:6–8
Jesus also said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.” Though it is difficult, it is not yours to worry about. “Wait for what the Father promised. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you, you will receive power and be My witnesses to the ends of the earth.”
3. The fulfillment of the Word
Then the third stage comes. Even if our faith is weak, at this point, we will receive the answer. The fulfillment of the Word takes place, and life begins to revive. “Ah, the Word truly is God’s Word.” When the Word is fulfilled, assurance follows. But because people miss points 1 and 2, they never reach this. Most people lose hold of the accurate covenant, so they never experience fulfillment. During worship today, just hold onto the accurate covenant that God has given to you. And remember, no answer is not no answer—it is waiting. Whether it comes quickly or slowly is also in God’s hands, so we wait. Then the Word will surely be fulfilled. When the Word is fulfilled, everything comes to life. The first thing that comes alive is me. “Ah, I see now.” The Word is fulfilled clearly, precisely, and personally.
1) Genesis 1:3
The Word of creation works as light.
2) John 1:1–14
“The Word was God, and the Word became flesh.” It means the Word came upon us.
3) Hebrews 4:12
Then we realize, “The Word of God is living and active.”
Since you are God’s children, anyone can do this. It’s not that you didn’t know the accurate covenant, but you failed to hold it. That’s how it happens. When I was a student, I prayed wrongly, asking God for money, thinking, “If I have financial blessings, I can study abroad.” That was a wrong prayer. How could an evangelist restore the economy? It was an unreasonable prayer. Then I realized I was making problems out of nothing and inviting conflict and crisis. At that moment, though it seemed minor, God used it to change my life. “Right, I was making problems out of what were no problems and praying meaningless prayers. How absurd that a student would ask for wealth instead of studying!” At that moment, I truly understood evangelism. “Right, you must first properly evangelize and proclaim the gospel. Why are you chasing money?” Because of that, God allowed discipline until I realized.
▣ Main Message
From this point on, the answer is simple.
1. Yourself
You yourself become the mission field. Isn’t that true? Because you have received the answer, you yourself are the mission field.
2. The family
Your family becomes the mission field.
3. The field (work)
When you go to work, your workplace becomes the mission field. Global missions come after that. Missions begin with yourself, your family, and your field. The rest can be explained through lessons, but the most important part about yourself is revealed in today’s second service message.
1. Yourself (1 Corinthians 3:16)
“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” This is the important message of the 237 second service. You must receive this answer.
2. Family (understanding)
Your family changes into a mission field. You must have proper understanding about the family. Isn’t it wonderful when a husband and wife communicate well and have good conversations? We think that’s ideal. But what if communication doesn’t work? If both husband and wife are very intelligent, they often cannot communicate. Only when one yields or seems to sacrifice can there appear to be communication, but that’s not real. And is human-level conversation the goal? No. We are misunderstanding something. Should your wife obey you unconditionally? That’s already wrong. Must your husband be entirely under your control? That’s also wrong. Your wife is not yours—she is God’s daughter. Your husband is not your possession to manage—he is God’s son. People have tremendous misconceptions here, and that’s why happiness disappears. Once you realize this, your family becomes a mission field. Some say, “Why did God give me a disabled child? What sin did we commit to deserve this suffering?” You are misunderstanding. Look more broadly. Are there any churches in Korea doing ministry for the disabled? Almost none. That’s why God gave you that child—to save the disabled. Many churches only do welfare work to receive government funding, but real ministry is rare. Parents of the disabled worry the most because in their gatherings, they often find only Buddhist monks leading. Churches are absent. See this rightly. Because this age has so many spiritual problems, and because people do not realize, God gave your family a spiritual problem to awaken you. You must realize this. Life on earth is short before we go to eternity, so calculate correctly. When studying the Word through cell or Bible lessons, if you fail to give proper understanding about the family, conflicts will continue. Some pray, “Lord, strike down my unbelieving husband and fill me with the Holy Spirit.” How can you receive the filling of the Holy Spirit like that? What that really means is, “Lord, half kill my husband.” If God said “Okay,” that would be serious trouble. You must pray patiently. We mistakenly think that smooth conversation between spouses is a sign of good communication, but unless it is through spiritual eyes and spiritual connection, it will not work.
3. The field (work) (darkness)
Go to your field — darkness is reigning everywhere, disguised as if it were right. You must discern this. Unbelievers live only for one purpose: to live well and die well — food, clothing, and shelter. There’s nothing more. Their level of thinking and speaking is slightly higher than animals, but without understanding the spiritual world, they are the same. You must understand this. That is why we go into the field and work. Even quietly, if you understand, answers come. Isn’t that true?
▣ Conclusion – The Throneization
Your current address must be the throneization of the field. Without this blessing, nothing else matters. Your present location must become a field upon which the blessings of God’s kingdom descend. How? Simply through prayer. Jesus said, “This kind does not go out except by prayer.” Jesus did not teach preaching first, but He did teach prayer. Among all the examples Jesus showed, the most frequent was the example of prayer. Perhaps I’ve spoken a bit quickly, so it may be difficult to grasp all this at once. Reflect deeply, and truly pray. Yourself, your family, your field—they are not what you think they are. Everyone has their own thoughts; each person sees differently, so only God’s work can change them. Go to Japan — they say all religions are the same. There’s nothing to say to that. Without the blessing of the throneization where God’s kingdom comes, that nation can never be evangelized. That’s why God has given you this blessing of prayer.
May today be the day when, holding onto the accurate covenant, you begin true prayer — the day when a hundred years of answers arise in your life. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ.
Prayer. God, we thank You. May healing arise throughout the day as we worship. May Your kingdom come upon all the places connected to us as we worship. May today become the day we gain spiritual strength through worship. May all darkness, Satan, and unbelief be bound today. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.