2024.08.04 District Message
Scripture: Acts 2:10
When we were young, Korea was in extreme poverty. It was a situation unimaginable to you now. These days, you can easily buy clothes and live comfortably. But back then, we received relief goods from other countries. Those clothes didn’t fit properly, so we had to sort through them to find ones that roughly suited us. Also, in every neighborhood, milk, cornmeal, and other food were distributed. But when you looked into who was doing all that, it turned out it was churches from overseas sending missionaries. That’s how desperate and miserable Korea was at that time. But when those missionaries came, the gospel movement began to arise all over our country. Churches began to spring up everywhere. Sudden, remarkable change came to Korea. Of course, many scientists, businesspeople, and politicians worked hard. But almost all the national leaders at the time were believers with the gospel. From the president to people like Dosan Ahn Chang-ho, nearly all of them were Christians. Though they were a small number, they played a critical role in saving Korea.
Today’s message is especially significant because after the WRC, many of our multiethnic members will be worshiping in different places. The title is The courtyard of 237. We’ve added one more: The 5000 tribes. In a sense, anyone can reach the 237 nations. But you must pray with special focus for this. The large nations within the 237 are accessible by plane. But here—the 5000 tribes—that’s the real problem. So our goal is to evangelize these 5000 tribes. Realistically, we can’t go there ourselves. That’s why we must raise and send people, or connect with those already there. These people are in South America, Oceania, Southeast Asia, Africa. This is a tremendous answer to prayer. Meeting these individuals is a great path to evangelizing the 5000 tribes.
So how can we accomplish this?
1. Covenant
You simply need to hold firmly to the accurate covenant. The covenant is God’s Word, and that’s why works take place.
2. 237 – 5000 prayer
You must become a person of prayer connected to the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes.
3. Field disciples
Then God will surely raise disciples in the field.
1. Covenant
The phrase that appears most frequently in the Bible is, “The Word of the Lord came to…” That is the covenant. The most repeated expression in Scripture. “The Word of the Lord came to so-and-so.” For example, “The Word of the Lord came to Jeremiah a second time.” At Horeb Mountain, God gave His Word to Moses. This covenant is more powerful than the chip inside your smartphone. Scientific advancement was unimaginable back then, but today, you can view the whole world through your phone. Soon, they’ll develop technology that connects to space. But even greater than that is when God’s Word comes upon you.
1) Genesis 12:1-3
In Genesis 12:1-3, God spoke to Abraham. At first, Abraham took it lightly. “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household.” This isn’t just about moving—it means to look to the whole world. “Go to the land I will show you.” But at the time, Abraham didn’t think it applied to him. When God said, “Through your offspring all nations will be blessed,” Abraham struggled to believe it. He didn’t even have a child, yet God spoke of offspring blessing the nations. It was impossible to believe. So, Abraham faced many hardships throughout his life. But later, when he came to believe this, God accomplished many great works through him.
2) Genesis 39:1-6
Another example is Joseph in Genesis 39:1-6. God’s Word came upon Joseph, and what was that Word? It was this—the courtyard of 237, the 5000 tribes, and the eternal answer. What seemed like small matters transformed into eternal answers. Who could have imagined? The place we lived wasn’t even considered livable due to a massive fire. Older people may remember—it was one of Korea’s most devastating fires. The port still exists in Busan. A fuel tank exploded, engulfing the whole area in flames. Many died instantly. The government, in desperation, told us to wait—there was nowhere to send us. They set up a tent in a vacant field on a mountain and told us to wait there. But someone built a church there. It was an Australian missionary who came all the way to Korea and built a church on that mountain. At the time, it seemed insignificant, but that gospel work turned into an eternal answer.
3) 1 Samuel 1:9-11
Similarly, even though Hannah had no visible answers to prayer, the Word of God came upon her.
4) 1 Kings 18:1-15
When you accurately hold to the covenant, as Obadiah did in 1 Kings 18:1-15, the Word of the Lord comes upon you. That covenant is everything. When you hold to the covenant during worship, especially on Sunday, everything changes.
5) Daniel 1:8-9
When Daniel was taken captive, he didn’t hold onto anything else—just the accurate covenant. He understood why they were taken captive. Fortunately, he was selected as a high-ranking official. At that moment, Daniel resolved firmly in his heart, holding tightly to the accurate covenant.
Most people don’t truly understand the power of the Word. But when you hold to the accurate covenant, it is always fulfilled. The question is: what is the accurate covenant? Many people don’t understand what it means to hold to the accurate covenant. What is it? It’s this—the courtyard of 237, the 5000 tribes, the eternal answer. You must pray with this covenant.
At first, Abraham couldn’t understand. That’s why hardships kept coming. Not small hardships, but situations that felt like death. Even worse, the nephew he brought along using humanism became a source of trouble.
Genesis 13:14-18
One day, Abraham finally realized, “I’ve held to the wrong covenant.” He told Lot, “We are relatives—how can we fight? From today, we separate.” He didn’t demand money. He said, “You choose first. If you go east, I’ll go west. If you choose the plains, I’ll go to the mountains.” Lot naturally chose the more prosperous land, which turned out to be Sodom and Gomorrah—leading to great disaster. Genesis 13:14 says, “After Lot had separated from Abraham…” Simply put, after breaking off unbelief and holding to the covenant.
It may seem distant to you, so you fail to hold to the covenant. Abraham must have thought, “I’m too old for this.” But you hold to the covenant through prayer. Once the covenant comes upon you, you move through prayer.
6) 1 Peter 2:9
That’s why 1 Peter 2:9 says, “You are a royal priesthood.”
Covenant – Light
You weren’t called for anything else but to shine the light. This light isn’t mere electricity—it’s the light of creation. You were called to shine this light to Oceania. To shine this light in dark places. It’s not difficult—just shine the light. “Arise, shine.” The following words are crucial: “For the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” If you don’t shine the light, people in darkness will perish. Understanding this is accurately holding the covenant.
2. 237 – 5000 prayer
From that moment, God begins to work.
1) Acts 2:10
Especially among the early church at Mark’s upper room, Acts 2:10 mentions “visitors from Rome.” I find that term extremely important.
(2) 237 nations – 5000 tribes
In Rome, there were people from 237 nations. They brought 5000 tribes as slaves. The disciples came from among them. I believe Aquila and Priscilla were such people. There’s much evidence for this. Though the “visitors from Rome” aren’t named, it was likely people like them.
(3) Acts 18:24-28
Why do I believe it’s Priscilla and Aquila? In Acts 18:24-28, they asked Apollos, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They asked him about the baptism of the Holy Spirit—the very event that happened at Mark’s upper room. After hearing this, Apollos was greatly strengthened and boldly proclaimed the Word.
(4) Acts 2:17-18 (Future)
In Acts 2:17-18, as they held to God’s Word and prayed, God clearly revealed the future: “Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.” God reveals the future when you accurately hold the covenant and pray for the courtyard of 237, the 5000 tribes, and the eternal answer.
3. Field disciples
What happens next?
(1) Acts 13:1-12
They finally went to the field—the first mission field of Paul.
(1) Acts 13:1-5
They had no worries because Acts 13:1-5 shows they prayed for complete guidance of the Holy Spirit. On Sunday, pray not for other things, but for complete guidance of the Holy Spirit.
(2) Acts 13:6-11
The moment they did, the forces of darkness were broken. Those who practiced sorcery and caused confusion were defeated. You must truly believe this. As you hold to the covenant and pray, darkness is broken instantly.
(3) Acts 13:12
Even the proconsul believed the gospel. Just as national leaders in Korea once received the gospel, the proconsul did as well. It happened at the first mission field. This means God had already prepared such disciples because you hold to the covenant. God prepared disciples everywhere.
(2) Acts 14:14-20
In Lystra, Paul was stoned and left for dead, but he survived. Instead of fleeing, Paul went back to preach the gospel. From Lystra came Timothy—a disciple from that region.
Don’t worry. There are prepared disciples everywhere—in Oceania, on every island. Not seeking them is a tremendous loss. World-changing individuals exist among their future generations.
(3) Acts 16:6-40
Acts 16 contains critical events. As they tried to evangelize, the way was blocked. Most people give up or choose alternatives. But they waited in deep prayer. In a vision, they saw a Macedonian man pleading, “Come to Macedonia and help us.” They met Lydia—a field disciple. While praying together, they healed a demon-possessed girl. Though imprisoned for it, God worked even there.
Philippi (Acts 16), Lystra (Acts 14), Asia (Acts 13)—everywhere, God had prepared people. I’ve seen it on the evangelism field. There are always prepared people—disciples, called workers. We just wait for them to appear. Even on the islands of Oceania, God has hidden many disciples.
(4) Acts 17:6
In Thessalonica, Jason appeared. That became the Thessalonian church—a crucial area with roads connecting to Rome. Thessalonica wasn’t merely conquered—it was interconnected with Rome.
(5) Acts 18:1-4 (Corinth)
There, Paul met Priscilla and Aquila—a miraculous meeting in Corinth.
(6) Acts 19:1-3 (Ephesus)
In Acts 19, they experienced the same work that happened at Mark’s upper room. The sick were healed. They realized they had to see Rome. This was Ephesus.
Conclusion – Concentrated prayer
What’s the conclusion? During worship today, engage in concentrated prayer. During the six days, confirm the covenant. Then again on Sunday, concentrate in prayer, hold the covenant, and confirm it throughout the week. This allows you to see:
1. Absolute covenant
You’ll discover the absolute covenant—the essential covenant you must hold to. That’s how you establish the absolute bartizan.
For me, I held this easily and clearly. There are countless seminaries worldwide, thousands of pastors emerging every year. Yet, the number of churches and believers is decreasing. Future generations fail to understand the gospel. So I held to this one thing—to plant the gospel properly in children, youth, and young adults.
2. 300%
Find the absolute covenant today and, especially for remnants and those in work, receive 300% answers: specialization, field focus, and system establishment. Prepare with 300%. Many struggle by starting carelessly. Don’t follow the world’s way. Prepare properly. Before graduating, remnants must prepare with 300%.
3. 237 – 5000
The standard is this—237 and 5000.
I bless you in the name of the Lord that today will be a deep time of prayer where you gain great strength.
Prayer
Father, we thank You. May today be a day of healing. May it be a day of renewed strength. Let this be a day when the Word is deeply rooted within us. Grant us the strength to hold to the covenant and pray. Bless us to shine the light to the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes. In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.