2023.07.02 District Message
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:40-42
This week’s theme is the reward of God and the 25 answers. At least once, you must think about what kind of relationship there is between you and evangelism. Even if you don’t yet evangelize, when you begin to think about it, your direction with God gradually becomes aligned.
Now, God spoke about world evangelization, but the Israelites could not even imagine it. So inevitably, they had to go as slaves—because God’s Word is always fulfilled. Right? When you look at it that way, even though we live each day as if nothing special is happening, God’s plan is being fulfilled through it all. In the Old Testament, prophecies were given about each nation, and every one of them was fulfilled exactly. The Bible prophesied that Egypt, Assyria, and Babylon—then great powers—would all collapse, and indeed they did. Jesus Himself said that “not the smallest letter or the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear.” The Hebrew language is full of small marks, so when He said that not even a dot or stroke would disappear, He meant every detail of God’s Word will be fulfilled.
What if you always thought about evangelism? Or better yet, what if your life were designed so that you could always continue thinking about evangelism? Then a great road would open before you. When I was an assistant pastor, I went to the field every day—it just happened naturally. Now my focus is clearly set: 237, healing, and the summit, which includes the 5000 tribes. These are the three courtyards. And our “three-day weekend age”—this is the evangelism I’m thinking of. Then we begin to see how God fulfills everything step by step.
Evangelism is about doors opening—not so much about producing many results, but about knowing where I am spiritually. It’s an important question to consider. I’ve said this before, but it was such a shock to me that I’ll say it again. When I was in military training, it was unbearably hard. Of course, not only for me—it was hard for everyone. But through that hardship, I discovered something: I realized that “I” didn’t exist there. In the military, the self is erased—but even so, I wondered, “Why do I feel like this?” Then I thought briefly, “Maybe in this unit of several thousand soldiers, God has prepared a disciple.” If so, someone must deliver the gospel. Then it should be someone who can give the gospel accurately.
When I thought that, a miracle happened. It wasn’t instant, but over time God arranged it. Out of several thousand soldiers, though I was the lowest-ranked private, I somehow began giving a message once a week. That’s impossible, yet God made it happen. The officer in charge of ideological training had run out of things to say, so he said, “Does anyone have something to say?” A fellow trainee—now Pastor Kim Dae-ryong in Gyeongsang Province—was beside me and urged me to go up. I hesitated, “Why should I go?” But the officer saw this and called me forward. What could I say in front of thousands? Thankfully, I was standing at the very back, so walking forward gave me a little time to pray. That was God’s work. When I finally spoke, thousands of eyes widened. I myself was amazed at what came out of my mouth. From then on, every week when the ideological session came, the officer said, “You, speak again.” So I began to gently include the gospel, little by little.
Evangelism is where God’s direction and mine meet. Yet for a long time, I didn’t see results. I thought, “Since I’m an evangelist, I must make my department grow.” Sounds right, doesn’t it? But that was completely wrong thinking. I was thinking, “I must make revival happen.” Others didn’t know, but I was spiritually off. What would I do after making it grow? That wasn’t the gospel. When I truly came to understand the gospel and began to receive some answers, compassion rose within me. Even with my dull mind, I could see that the youth knew nothing of the gospel. Without realizing it, I started talking with them. Most middle and high school students are not in their right mind. From what I see, very few live with a clear mind. They’re forced to study, go to school, go home, come to church—just living by obligation. Evangelism aside, could we just leave them like that? Someone must let them hear the gospel, gain strength from prayer, and then study—that’s obvious.
As I did that with the students, doors began to open, and without even realizing it, I began visiting nearly every middle and high school in Busan. I was simply doing that. Theologically, Kosin University in Busan is quite solid, and that’s where I enrolled. From then, I began preparing for evangelism. I saw things beyond description.
If I divide my life into two parts, they are: before knowing the gospel and evangelism, and after knowing them. When I didn’t know, my life was honestly harder than that of unbelievers. Everything was difficult. I kept struggling to escape hardship, but ended up doing the wrong things. To people, it didn’t look wrong, but before God, it was. Then I realized, “I must proclaim the gospel, enjoy it, pray with it, and let others know.” After that, everything changed.
So for you too—it’s not right for a businessperson to abandon their work and just go around evangelizing. A teacher must teach students properly; if they neglect that and just shout “Jesus is the Christ!” people will think they’re strange. That’s not to say don’t evangelize—it means, are you within the evangelism that God desires? That’s what matters.
▣ Introduction: A Cup of Cold Water
Today, in the Bible, Jesus said, “Even a cup of cold water will not lose its reward.” In Matthew 10:40–42, after showing the evangelism field, Jesus said this to His disciples. He said, “Whoever receives a prophet in the name of a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous person in the name of a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward.” So even if you are not a disciple, if you receive a disciple in the name of a disciple, you receive a disciple’s reward. “Whoever welcomes you welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me.” Then He added, “Even a cup of cold water given to one of these little ones will not lose its reward.”
You must think about this at least once—especially when your life changes. For example, when you move from high school to college, think about it. When you go abroad, think about it. When change occurs in your life, without realizing it, you may begin aligning with God’s spiritual direction. The answer isn’t complicated. Someone once asked me, “Pastor, why does my family have two people with spiritual problems? One is hard enough.” It’s because God has given you a sign—He’s calling you to stake your life on that work. Since you didn’t recognize it quickly, He sent another, to make your calling clear.
The Economy of Light
From that moment, the economy of light begins to be restored—not just any economy, but the economy of light.
Darkness and Disaster Broken
Even though you have no strength of your own, because of you, the darkness and disasters collapse.
▣ Main
1. True success
So what is true success?
- 237 – Future generations.
Those who are used for the true evangelism and true missions movement for the 237 nations and the future generations—these are the truly successful ones. Being used to save future generations scattered around the world—there is no greater success. - 100, 1000, eternity.
Evangelism connects to answers that last a hundred years, a thousand years, even to eternity. It may seem small, but that’s how it works. - Slaves, captives, colonies, wanderers.
Why were so many people sent as slaves? Because they were already living as slaves—to Satan, as captives, as colonies, as wanderers scattered worldwide. That’s the biblical account. If you are in the position of saving even one of them, that’s true success. Even if you don’t do evangelism zealously, think about it. If the rest of your life is used to save others, that’s true success.
2. Spiritual warfare
This is entirely connected to spiritual warfare. So, those who never think about evangelism and those who think about it daily—of course there’s a difference. Thankfully, for the past forty years, I’ve been in this stream—not for the purpose of making my church grow, but within the flow of evangelism itself.
- Transcending time and space.
I deeply understand this phrase: “transcending time and space.” The problems of Genesis 3, 6, and 11 are problems that transcend time and space—so the answers and battles we face must also transcend time and space. - Darkness and light.
This is the spiritual battle that shines light into the midst of darkness. - 99.9% – 0.1% absolute possibility.
99.9% of people do not know the gospel or evangelism. But the 0.1% who know the gospel and evangelism change the world. The absolutely impossible becomes absolutely possible. You must be in this blessing—so that one day your future generations’ studies, jobs, and work will stand at the center of saving the world.
3. Spiritual problems – the problem solver.
No matter how great a person is, no one can solve spiritual problems. The reason we engage in spiritual warfare isn’t to fight—it’s because God has called us to be problem solvers. When I go to a field and meet someone, I don’t rush to evangelize; I observe and pray. Soon, I see it—the spiritual problem. I don’t tell them immediately but wait until they ask me; then the answer is powerful. That’s evangelism. It’s an important task. Everyone is going somewhere, but even wealthy people who don’t know God have serious spiritual problems—they just hide them. The day the gospel enters them, they come to life.
When we say someone is good at studying, it usually means they’re good at reading and academics. But the human mind that studies without God can face serious issues. Among those who commit suicide, few are unintelligent. People are often shocked: “That person was so smart—why did they die?” Often, those with high intellect face spiritual problems faster. So we must give them the gospel.
Likewise, popular entertainers or talented musicians—people say they have “charisma,” but spiritually, it means they are extremely sensitive. If no one gives them the answer, what happens? Even in church, they seldom hear the true gospel—only law. So they never find the answer. You are the ones who must give it. You may speak to one person, but that one soul represents the universe and the throne of God.
3·9·3
In summary, this is what we must proclaim: 3·9·3.
- The three offices of Christ.
Through Christ, the curse is broken and the way to meet God is opened. The true Prophet who gives salvation in His name, the true Priest who removes disasters, and the true King who crushed Satan. - The Triune God – the Spirit.
Through Christ, the Triune God works in us invisibly by the Spirit. That’s why Jesus said, “God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” - The throne.
God promised to work with the power of His throne wherever you go. - Past, present, and future.
He promised to completely heal your past, present, and future. This is the third “3.” This is the blessing you are to enjoy entirely.
This is what we pray about, what we proclaim in the “upper room” meetings and team ministries. Simply put, we proclaim these truths—Christ’s three offices, the Triune God working by the Spirit, the power of the throne, and healing of past, present, and future. Prayer is enjoying and transmitting this. As this becomes imprinted in you, works begin to arise. When remnants study while enjoying these powers, they develop true talents—talents that can work in the 237 nations.
▣ Conclusion
Let’s conclude. Then you will gain influence.
70 workers.
Jesus first sent out seventy workers. In the Old Testament, there were also seventy elders. This is important—it means influence over seventy regions and seventy nations.
Regions.
Your studies and work must influence seventy regions—that’s how world evangelization happens.
Nations.
Your influence will extend to seventy nations—it will spread easily.
Right now, the messages we deliver in worship are broadcast to over a hundred nations. In some Muslim countries where preaching the gospel is banned, they still allow broadcasts. So the gospel spreads. As we send messages worldwide, what should we send? Nothing else is needed—just the Word that lets people truly live, delivering it on their behalf.
Churches closing their doors.
If you are praying for this answer, remember: the final mission of our church is to save churches that are closing worldwide. That’s our mission. We must save the closing churches in Korea. While we may have grand dreams for world missions, there are many pastors in Korea who cannot even continue ministry—they are too weak. I hope we can revive them. Of course, we must raise and send capable ministers, but from God’s view, many pastors today cannot evangelize or sustain their churches—they are dying spiritually. We must start by saving them.
If God answers you with the economy of light, nothing will be impossible. Bill Gates, who is involved in the Nephilim movement, recently donated 60 trillion won. The demon-possessed Mormon movement announced last year that they would build massive landmark temples worldwide. If we pray, God can make things happen. Someone once thought, “It would be wonderful if people could fly.” That thought became airplanes. When Abraham heard, “All nations will be blessed through your seed,” he might have thought, “Then something must carry us across the sky!”—but he couldn’t imagine it. Someone later thought, “If we had telephones, the whole world could communicate.” The man who first thought of it was Alexander Graham Bell—his name became the word “bell.” Someone must think it first. When we pray, history begins.
Today, throughout the Lord’s Day, may all healing take place within deep grace, power, and prayer. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that today will be the greatest day of blessing.
Prayer. God, we thank You. Grant us new strength. Open our spiritual eyes to see the mysteries of God. Let this worship become a day of blessing where, through prayer, we experience Your power. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.