2023.06.11 District Message
Scripture Reading: Psalm 139:1-8
40 years ago it was. If it was 40 years ago, that’s quite long ago. I went to a church called Pyeonghwa Church as an evangelist. When I went there, even now I always think of a person—Deacon Park Dong-jin, who is a woman. Though the name is a man’s name, she was Deacon Park Dong-jin, and at a glance she looked so neat. Her husband was an executive at a large company. This family was very well-off. The house was large and all that. But on that house they had put up a small sign. It was written in English. Looking at the English, it said “LABO.” “How strange,” I thought. Since it was near the church, I saw it while making home visits and looked into the contents inside. This deacon was an English teacher. When the neighborhood children came back from school, she called them in. She accepted no more than 30. But they kept flooding in. The moment the kids came in, they had to speak only English. Forty years ago. At first the kids had a hard time. Later they all did well. That’s how she taught.
She didn’t take money. She was wealthy. The goal was evangelism. Evangelize the children and evangelize the parents. Some people even came to church just to be able to send their children there. It was astounding. She did it alone. There wasn’t even a second person—just one person. I was so shocked. “Wow, that’s really something.” Because the deacon alone brought in thirty children, the house was bustling. Everything was in English. So I thought, “Ah, one person is that important.” Among parents with thought, the elites, they brought all their children there. That was already 40 years ago.
[ Stumbling Block ] – Absolute Sovereignty
What is your worry? Today turn that worry into the greatest opportunity. In trying to do so, stumbling blocks arise. Isn’t that so? When I try to do something, there are many stumbling blocks. We must first resolve this, and the way to resolve it is to believe in God’s absolute sovereignty. We are not unbelievers. Because we are God’s children, we believe in God’s absolute sovereignty. God governs the life of every person, therefore we believe in God’s absolute sovereignty. That’s how I am. In which country you will be born and in which country you will die is within God’s sovereignty. What will become of your future is within God’s sovereignty. Isn’t that so? If you believe in absolute sovereignty, all interpretation changes. Even when problems came like to Joseph, because he believed in God’s absolute sovereignty, the interpretation changed. Right? He made Potiphar’s house succeed. Who would dislike that? Try saving the company after you enter a company. Why would the boss dislike it? Isn’t that right? If someone is entrusted with a task and they revive that side, who would dislike that? Simply put, Joseph became so pleasing in Potiphar’s mind. “Wow, how did such a person come? Watching him, I see he believes in God.” It became like that. Immediately, “You are not at the level to be a slave. Don’t be a slave; take charge of our whole house as you see fit. Be the steward.” Of course. From beginning to end Joseph believed in God’s sovereignty, and therefore he knew that going as a slave was the most important timetable.
Then your past, today, and future change. You see differently. Your enjoyment changes. I’ve always said this. When I was young, I saw that people, including my parents, lived so hard. Watching that, I found it strange. How could they be that poor and that struggling—always sick. From what I saw, almost everyone was like that. I pulled myself together. “I must believe in God. I will change that.” Right? Hold to the covenant. “I will change that. Why must we always be poor? We must change it.” Isn’t that so? We must do world evangelization. “Why must we always be sick, do nothing, and collapse?” It’s not so. Even church revival doesn’t happen. We must change it. That’s why I started evangelism. God is bound to work.
We call this God’s reign and the 25 answer. It may seem like the absolute answer doesn’t come, but that’s not so. Your sure thinking must change into faith.
▣ Main
1. [ Hidden Bartizan ] – The Path of Faith
Therefore we build a hidden bartizan that cannot be seen. This is to follow the path of faith. Ours is not just any faith. We follow the path of faith that believes in God’s works. Because this is a hidden bartizan that cannot be seen, it is very important. Even if two people do the same work at a workplace, there is someone who is overly conscious of the boss and of people and works like that, and there is one who does his own work whether someone sees or doesn’t see. The hidden part is different. Isn’t that so? This faith is not just any faith; as it says here, it is saving faith. This faith is not just belief among friends. Not that, but the faith that believes in God’s power. It is sure that God governs our life and death, prosperity and adversity. It is the faith that believes that. Therefore there is a path for those people.
1) Patriarchal era (Genesis 22:1-21) In the early patriarchal era, as you know, Abraham believed that if he offered his son, God would bring him back to life. It says so in Hebrews. In Genesis 22, where he offers his son, it says he believed that God would bring him back.
2) Monarchical era (Daniel 1:8-9) In the era of kings, the hardest thing was being taken as captives to Babylon. Even then, as you know, already in Daniel 1:8-9, because there was God’s absolute plan, they set up the bartizan firmly and said they would walk this path of faith.
3) New Testament era (Acts 1:14) So it is the same in the New Testament era. Through those who believed in God’s absolute covenant, starting with John the Baptist, the world was changed. Therefore I regard Acts 1:14 as extremely important. To you it may look like nothing. This (Acts 1:14) looks like nothing. These (Acts 1:14) people. That’s a misreading. Therefore the Jews thought these people were powerless and persecuted them at will. Right? In Rome they simply arrested and killed them. It was a mistake. These were the people who evangelized the world. No one knew. This is the hidden bartizan. You must surely believe. If you have this covenant, before business this (hidden bartizan) is important. Before studies this (hidden bartizan) is important. Do I have a bartizan, a hidden one, firmly set in me? That must be there, and with that you now study and do business. This (hidden bartizan) part is very important. It is faith that believes what is sure.
4) Early Church (Paul) Especially look at the Early Church. Among them a special figure—Paul—was special.
Spiritual realm. They were people who knew the spiritual realm. As you worship today, seeing the Word, and praying, you must hold to all God’s covenants and make them sure. They will be fulfilled. Therefore, when I was a young evangelist, I held to a sure covenant. “I will do world evangelization. Why? Because it is God’s will.” Isn’t that right? It is God’s primary will. “Wherever I go to church, people will be saved and arise; we must come out of spiritual and physical poverty.” Those being ordained this time, together with those previously ordained, hold to what God regards as most important. Now increasingly foreigners are flocking to our church. In Seoul there are even more. Going out to do missions is important, but let the missionaries do that, and you must set up such a bartizan. Right? Set up a bartizan so that foreigners who came may clearly understand the gospel before they return. That is more important. You must set up a bartizan so that they go with the power of prayer. Simply put, you must give them a platform, a watchtower, and an antenna, and send them. Do that. God delights in that most. Even if answers do not come, there is no way they will not come.
2. [ Bartizan to Demolish ] – [ Unbelief ]
Secondly. You must surely remember. There is a bartizan to demolish. Some things you must demolish. What is it? Unbelief. Do not follow this path under any circumstances; demolish it.
1) Kadesh-barnea (Numbers 14:1-10) In the very important wilderness called Kadesh-barnea, most people committed unbelief. They said, “We cannot go.” God’s command was “Go,” but they said, “We cannot go.” This is what is in Numbers 14. “We cannot go. We went and saw giants and fortresses—cities, fortified cities. We cannot go taking women and children.” Of the twelve who were sent, ten said that. That means it was the majority’s opinion. “We cannot go.” God said to go. Two, as you know—Joshua and Caleb—said they could go. They saw what was important. It was a land flowing with milk and honey; it was the land God gave to us, originally ours. Isn’t that so? It had been taken. And they knew something even more important. Their hearts had already melted. People with some sense had all run away. In a sense the cities were empty. “We can go.” That’s what they said. Their eyes were different. Whatever disease it is, whatever spiritual problem it is—if you demolish this (bartizan to demolish – unbelief), it’s done. Demolish this bartizan of unbelief.
2) Achan, Korah, Balaam And look. There are always people like Achan and Korah. Achan—stealing in the gaps. Korah—gathering with rebels and mounting an opposition movement. Balaam—the prophet who took money and ran errands to curse God’s people. Do not follow this path. All these people died in the wilderness. See also in the Bible.
3) Ananias, Sapphira In the New Testament, Ananias and Sapphira—deceiving the Holy Spirit—such things happened.
4) Cornelius Even in the Early Church, the church that had received grace, regarding Peter’s visit to Cornelius’ house, they made up talk and caused a commotion. It makes no sense. They should have said, “What the risen Christ spoke has been fulfilled.” Instead they said, “Why did you go to the house of a Gentile and eat?” They said things that make no sense. This much our old ways of thinking have many things that make no sense. Wherever you go, demolish such (Main 2) bartizans.
3. Bartizan of Life (Taste)
And you must truly taste it. Now set up the bartizan of life. That is the three todays.
1) Prayer What is today’s prayer?
2) Word What is today’s Word?
3) Evangelism What is today’s witness?
This is to actually taste it. Whether answers come big or small does not matter. This means that within this everything else follows. I have thought about this (prayer, Word, evangelism) for 40 years. Everything follows. I came here 30 years ago. After meeting you, we have continually done evangelism, the gospel, prayer, and the Word. Then in your lifetimes we have now met our final battle. Build a church that does not exist on earth. Next week the dedication service title for Immanuel Seoul Church will be like that. Restore what has been absent for 2,000 years. What will that be? God cannot help but be pleased. There is a way to receive answers, and there is a way that answers are bound to come. Isn’t that so? A restaurant owner doesn’t succeed just by trying hard. There is a restaurant that is such that customers are bound to come. Right? Set up the hidden bartizan. Then actually demolish the bartizan of unbelief. Then in your work, studies, and field, set up the actual bartizan—the bartizan of life. This (Main 3) is life. If you understand the gospel, you need nothing else. Only then can you save everything. If you understand prayer, nothing is a problem. Why? Because you save everything.
▣ Conclusion 〔Everything〕
Do not be deceived; one of you can save everything. Do not be deceived. This is not an illusion. If one of you can pray, you can change everything. If one of you has spiritual power, you can overcome all power. Isn’t that right? If you truly have spiritual power, the forces of darkness are bound to collapse. Because you possess spiritual power, the forces of Satan are bound to be driven out and bound. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that today, as you worship all day long, may a great healing arise, may you gain great spiritual strength, and may this be a day of deep time. Let us pray.
Prayer. God, let today also be to us a day of new grace. Let it be a day to gain unseen spiritual power. Let us set up a bartizan that completely demolishes darkness, curses, unbelief, and disasters. Let the bartizan of unbelief collapse in our field. Let works of healing arise while we pray today. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.