Genesis 2:15-18. The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”
The Blessing of Eden – The Answer 25
This is not recorded in any other book—it is recorded only in the Bible. All blessings were found here (in the Garden of Eden), but the problem also started here. The blessing God originally gave us was here. And the place Satan attacked was also here. It was here that Satan caused Adam and Eve to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil and led them to not trust in God. That very event still happens today, which is why the Bible becomes the complete answer. I have read many books, but the answer concerning this (Eden) is found only in the Bible.
As you all know, the things happening in America now are the same. The concerns we have about America stem from the fact that it’s almost repeating what is written in the Bible—following the patterns of the empires mentioned in Scripture. The first message Satan gave in this movement was, “Don’t believe in God.” Then he said, “You will be like God.” It’s the same now—New Age says, “You will be like God.” Freemasonry also engages in spiritual channeling and Nephilim-like movements. All three organizations are like this. Especially the Jews—they’re rebuilding the Tower of Babel. It’s all strikingly similar.
That is why God sent Christ—to restore to us the blessing of Eden.
▣ Introduction – Answer to Prayer
There are a few elements in receiving answers to prayer. There are three key elements in receiving answers:
1. [Thoughts and Heart] – our inner world
2. [The Throne] – the heavenly blessing that is beyond us
3. [Genesis 1:27, 2:7] – God’s image in us, the breath of life and power that God gives.
These (thoughts, the heart, the throne, Gen 1:27 & 2:7) come together, and that is when answers to prayer come.
[Picture]
So then, you must clearly draw this picture. For decades, what have I prayed for? Spiritual power, intellectual power, physical power, economic power, manpower (40K, 400K, 10 million disciples)—I continually prayed for these. But though all are important, this (thoughts and heart) is most crucial. Why? Because the blessing of the throne and this (Genesis 1:27, 2:7) do not change. It is we who constantly change, so the problem lies in this (thoughts and heart). The throne never shakes. And this (Genesis 1:27, 2:7)—the answers God gives—never change. So the thoughts you hold onto will eventually turn into answers.
Just how important is this (thoughts and heart)? Back in our childhood, most of us didn’t have telephones. But a few households did. In our village, our elder’s house had a phone, so all urgent messages would go there. Even though the elder told us we could use it, we always felt bad for doing so. That’s how it was.
One day, someone must have thought: “Why not carry the phone with you?”—an idea we never imagined. We only thought, “It’s inconvenient to borrow someone’s phone,” but not once did we think, “Can we make it portable?” That’s how powerful thoughts are.
When I first pioneered the church in Yeongdo, one deacon had a mobile phone that was bigger than this microphone. And calls would cut in and out because the system wasn’t stable. I thought, “This isn’t very good.” But look now—people carry tiny phones everywhere and do everything with them.
That’s how powerful it is. When thoughts and heart align with the blessing of the throne and the power God gives (Genesis 1:27, 2:7), answers happen.
▣ Main Message
So to enjoy this, there are a few things we must know:
1. Restoring Eden
To restore the lost blessing of the Garden of Eden, what must we know?
1) Genesis 1:27, 2:7, 2:18
We must restore the image of God and the breath of life and power that God gives. That is when the Garden of Eden is restored.
2) Genesis 3:1–21
But it was in Genesis 3 that all of this was taken away. And when it was taken, problems continued to come.
In the message outline, there is a drawing. It shows the Mediterranean Sea, Mount Hermon, the Jordan River flowing down to the Dead Sea. That area is Israel. To the right is Arabia, and to the north are great empires like Assyria. Southward is Egypt. Surrounded by these powers, Israel was constantly attacked. But if Israel truly understood the gospel and was strengthened, those very paths would become ways of blessing. Because they had no strength, those paths became channels of attack. So when we lost hold of Genesis 3:1–21, difficulties came from all sides.
Some people get COVID and don’t feel it—they’re healthy. I know three people who died from COVID. They were weak. It’s the same spiritually. If you’re strong spiritually, you can withstand attacks. But if not, you fall.
3) Genesis 3:15
That’s why God gave a simple answer. “The offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.” That means He will break the authority—not kill, but destroy its power.
2. Christ – Focus on the Answer
Now there is an answer that comes to you through Christ. From now on, focus on that answer. What is that answer? Three things:
1) The Triune God – [Spirit]
The Triune God works invisibly by the Spirit. Where? In our thoughts and hearts. That’s important. That’s why every worship begins with: “God is Spirit.” And, “Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” “God is Spirit” means He’s not a visible idol. But people don’t understand—they only think of what’s visible.
2) The Power of the Throne
The power of the throne comes upon us. Focus on this. That’s why we worship. Even if just on Sundays and truly worship, that’s enough. It’s best not to listen to people’s words on Sundays. Focus on prayer. If you listen to people, you’ll fill your thoughts and heart with human words. Whether those words are right or wrong, if they fill your thoughts and heart, you lose this (power of the throne) blessing.
3) Three Ages
Human means can never solve the past. Christ is the One who solves the past, present, and future:
Ephesians 2:1: “You were dead in your transgressions”—solving the past. Your mother may have had spiritual problems and became a shaman. That passes on to children. It doesn’t disappear. Christ is the only one who resolves this.
Ephesians 2:2: “Followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air”—freedom from the present spiritual bondage.
Ephesians 2:6: “Seated with Christ in the heavenly realms”—solving the future
3. Passing on the Blessing
This doesn’t end with us. We are now called to pass on the restored blessing of Eden.
1) To me – Identity and Authority
The blessing that came to me turns into identity and authority. “Do not doubt. Do not be discouraged”—this means don’t allow your thoughts and heart to be shaken. Pray earnestly. Discouragement doesn’t change reality, but it changes this (your thoughts and heart). Worry changes nothing outwardly, but it changes your inside. That’s why problems come.
2) To your life – With, Immanuel, Oneness
So don’t be discouraged. Pray, and this blessing begins to appear in your life. What does that mean? The evidence of “God with me” appears. The evidence of “God with us,” Immanuel, emerges. You thought you were suffering, but that becomes your answer. You thought your family background was a problem, but because of it, answers come. That is the blessing of “oneness.”
3) To your mission field – Source
Now it begins to flow to your mission field. What happens then? Just like four rivers flowed out from Eden, the source is restored. Transformation begins at the very root.
▣ Conclusion – Worship
Don’t miss this. A time will come when the Word from worship becomes 24.
〔24〕 Entrust everything to God and go into 24 (constant prayer). That’s enough. We can’t do it with our strength. Go 24.
〔25〕 Then, the answer of 25 comes—answers beyond our ability. When I was about twenty, I saw a movie called “The 25th Hour.” Some of the older ones here might know it—Anthony Quinn starred in it. It was a movie where someone survived an absolutely hopeless situation. Even though it was made by unbelievers, you’d think, “Wow, that wasn’t human power. That was heaven’s help.” That’s the answer of 25.
〔Eternity〕 The covenant you hold onto today will be connected to eternal answers. No one expected Rahab the prostitute to be saved. But when the Israelites entered Canaan, she went in with them. She got married there. From that line came children. And from that line came King David. No one would’ve imagined that. And from David’s descendants, in the flesh, came Jesus Christ. That’s what it means.
The covenant you hold onto today is eternal. Most people can’t understand this. But it’s the truth. The covenant Rahab held onto—look how far it reached. She probably didn’t even know. You may not realize it now, but the covenant you hold onto will be eternally fulfilled.
May you experience healing today in deep prayer during worship. I bless you in the name of the Lord that the kingdom of God will come upon all the places connected to you during this time of worship.
Prayer. God, we thank You. Let today be a day of new grace. Let this be a day we receive the strength that comes from You. Let it be an hour when our spiritual eyes are opened with Your power. May this be a time when You give new strength to those going through difficulties or sickness. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.