2023.05.28 District Message
Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 3:16
Our members, when I actually have a meeting with them, have many difficulties. I can sense this. Even when I talk with our young adults, once they start sharing what’s inside, many stories of hardship come out. And when I see our remnants, sometimes they seem diligent in what they do, but when their true hearts come out, I can see that they are struggling. Simply put, your children go to school and study, come to church and worship, go home and eat and live, but when they face their real problems, it’s hard for them. That’s the reality, isn’t it? But that reality can become something that determines their future. Isn’t that so?
The new believer you evangelized to may look like they worship well on the outside, but inside they have many difficulties. You have to understand that, right? It may look like nothing on the surface, but that very thing shapes their future. Isn’t that right? Your child may do well at school, do well at church, and eat well at home, yet inside, that child may have many hidden conflicts and worries. They can’t easily talk to their parents or speak about it at church. Then what happens if we just leave them alone? They suffer a great loss. Especially for those of us who know spiritual things, this becomes a tremendous loss.
At times like this, the Nephilim and the three organizations completely use the Nephilim strategy to capture people’s hearts.
Then what about you? We all live speaking moment by moment. When I look at the co-workers I work with, most of them—though they don’t say it aloud—keep worrying about trivial matters. From what I can see, it’s not even a real problem, but they’re shaken over nothing.
These days, as I had anticipated, Buddhism has started offering counseling. They even broadcast it publicly. When someone tells their problem, a monk responds. But according to Buddhist doctrine, that’s actually a serious issue. Isn’t that so? Buddhism has no God. It’s all about “me.” “I become Buddha.” So if you endlessly seek inward, what happens? Humans face limits with age, at death, and even in heaven or hell—limits always come. So seeking within oneself as the center is actually very dangerous.
But the problem is—the level of their counseling is very high. That’s the issue. You’re struggling, right? But Buddhism teaches: “Why is that a problem?” That’s how high their level sounds. Someone might say, “I’m going crazy because of my parents,” and Buddhism replies, “Why go crazy over that?” It sounds lofty. Wow, really, believers gather and talk about trivial things, but these people, even though they have no salvation—it’s dangerous—but they do counseling very well.
So, when I used to teach middle and high school students, I didn’t just preach sermons; I met with them on Saturdays and talked. When communication opens, they start bringing up their personal problems. Right? If it doesn’t get to that level, they can’t walk the life of faith properly. A leader must be someone who can receive another’s problems. Otherwise, they’re not a leader. If a child opens up to me about something they can’t tell their parents—that’s very important.
Once, something happened at school that parents could never imagine. There are violent gangs inside schools—organized delinquents. Not 100%, but we have to acknowledge it—they’re there. They notice your children and say, “That one goes to church. Seems weak.” Then they start to pick on them. One student suffered that way for three years. Three years! By graduation time, that’s serious. But he never told his parents. For him, going to school was like facing death. Those kids threaten horribly. For real—if someone doesn’t listen, they even say, “We’ll cut off your finger.” High schoolers! “If you talk, we’ll kill you all.” So the victims are too scared to speak. Parents don’t know.
When I went to the school for evangelism, that student came and told me. I asked who it was, and he quietly said the name. I looked from a distance—the bully looked older than his age, very handsome, but didn’t study at all. The school had given up on him; even teachers said, “Just don’t cause trouble.” Because they have to manage the school somehow. Within a week, I analyzed everything about that kid. Then I called him. One-on-one. Because if you call such kids in front of others, they act crazy—“Do you know who I am?”—and cause trouble. So I met him one-on-one.
I called him to a bakery. Without a word, I slapped him hard across the face. There was a reason. He was an elder’s son. The school didn’t know. I found out through analysis—he was a church elder’s son. Even the elder was struggling because of him. He was a real delinquent. But when I slapped him, he didn’t move—he just stood still. Then I gave him my testimony of faith. That day, through my testimony, he completely knelt down. God did that. He was changed. Later, teachers called me to thank me, asking what I said to transform him like that.
This is the reality. Abroad, as our remnants testified, more than 80% actually encounter drugs. So in that environment, you can assume the atmosphere is 100%. That’s the era we live in.
What did God say to us? It’s not a matter of whether faith life “works” or “doesn’t work,” or whether there are “answers” or not. What did He say? He said we are the temple of God. This is not a simple statement. You must find the answer in this and teach others to find it too. Only when you make it your own can you enjoy this (the 25 answers). So how do we enjoy and teach this?
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
Then we must first understand this verse: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” The house where a king dwells—what is it? A palace. Right? Whether the house is fancy or plain, if the king dwells there, it’s a palace. If the king travels or hides in a hut, that hut is still a palace because the king is there. But no matter how fine the house, if a beggar lives inside, it’s a beggar’s den. Right? If the Spirit of God dwells in me, then I am a temple. That’s the meaning. We must enjoy this blessing. This is our identity.
Turn all your problems today into blessings. Why? Because I am the temple of God. We all have different thoughts, each thinking we’re right. That’s wrong. If my thought is right, then the other’s thought is also right. If the other’s thought is wrong, mine could be wrong too. Right? “My husband is strange.” Well, if you reverse it, you might look stranger. “My husband nags too much.” If he doesn’t nag, he’ll die—it’s just his nature. Then be thankful!
The important thing is: “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” That’s it—it’s finished.
Remember Joseph and Potiphar—did they get along? No. But Joseph was the temple of God. Because Potiphar was blessed through Joseph, he acknowledged him. That’s our answer. Joseph and Potiphar’s wife—did they get along? Could they communicate? No. She framed him and threw him in prison because he refused her. But Joseph was still the temple of God. Remember that. Then what happened? One day, Joseph became the prime minister. An impossible thing happened.
When you worship today or face anything, enjoy this blessing (the temple of God). If you say, “I can’t live because of that person,” then you’re wrong. God gave that person both weaknesses and strengths. “Why did God, who called me to live within this blessing, let me meet that person?” It doesn’t matter. If they do well, be thankful; if they fail, help them. Either way, “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
In 1 Corinthians chapter 1 (today’s first service), why did Paul say this (1 Corinthians 3:16)? There was a reason when he sent his message to the Corinthian church. Among the many reasons, the main one was division. Division had broken out. Are there no divisions in churches today? Of course there are. And aren’t there conflicts in our lives? Yes. That’s why God says, “That’s not what’s important. What’s important is you, who are saved.” Why? “You are the temple of God.” That means the Spirit of God, who is Spirit, dwells in you. “Do you not know that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” That’s a tremendous message. You must realize this.
In the past, when I couldn’t enjoy this gospel, I must confess with repentance—I used to see my wife strangely. Really. Everything was hard. It was hard for her too because of me. But after realizing and enjoying this gospel and receiving answers, I see that she is the most blessed person on earth. Right? Some pastors’ wives actually hinder ministry because they’re too smart. There are many like that.
We often misunderstand our great blessings just because someone is a bit different from us. I tend to be very organized. Most people aren’t. I used to struggle with that—“Why are things so disorganized?” But that’s no reason to lose hold of important blessings. Yet we often do that by mistake.
Because this message (the temple of God) is so important, I spent 22 minutes explaining it. Because if you don’t understand it, nothing else will make sense.
▣ Main
Then let me briefly introduce the Scripture.
1. Salvation
So what is salvation?
2. Promise
What did the resurrected Christ, who gave us salvation, promise?
3. Mission
And what mission did the Christ, who gave us the promise, entrust to us?
When I enjoy this blessing (the temple of God), these answers (salvation, promise, mission) come. Isn’t that right?
A certain woman once said, “Pastor,”—she was frustrated—“my husband drinks all the time, always comes home drunk.” I understand—it must be painful. Always drinking, coming home late, not setting an example for the children—that’s all true. She said she can’t stand him anymore, even cursed at his clothes. So strange, right? I answered simply, “Deaconess, you’re misunderstanding two things.” “What are they?” she asked. “Your husband isn’t just drinking.” “But he drinks every day!” “Yes, but he’s not merely drinking—he’s wandering. He’s lost his way. Wandering. And right now, drinking is better for him than complete despair. That’s why. More importantly—there’s no one else who can truly pray for him but you. I can’t pray for your husband 24 hours, but you can.” She understood. From then on, she began to see (salvation, promise, mission).
1. Salvation
What is salvation?
1) Genesis 1:26, 27
God the Trinity planted His image in us—not in animals. That’s salvation.
2) Genesis 2:7, 18
God breathed His breath of life into us. We are not animals but human beings. That’s why He gave the blessing of Genesis 2:18.
3) Genesis 3:15
After we lost this (Genesis 1:26–27; 2:7, 18), God gave another promise: “The offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.” That is salvation.
2. Promise
To those who are saved, God has surely given promises.
1) John 14:16
“I will send the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, to be with you.” This may sound meaningless to unbelievers, but to believers, it’s the most important truth. Those who are perishing can’t understand it, but those who give life can. “I have given you the Holy Spirit, the Counselor.” Why? Because humans are spiritual beings. In Scripture, never once does God tell a dog to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Right? You may treat your pets well, but still, He never says to animals, “Be filled with the Spirit.”
2) John 14:26
Then He gave an even more amazing promise: “When you pray, the Holy Spirit will come upon you and make you understand all things.” That’s why we pray. “He will make you understand all things.” Jesus Himself promised it.
3) John 16:13
“He will make you understand the words you have heard.”
4) John 20:22
And at the end, He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
5) Acts 1:8
Finally, on His last platform, He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.” You can’t change the world with human power. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you.”
3. Mission
Then at Mt Olive, He gave the mission. What first?
1) The power of the throne
The blessing of the throne that comes upon me and dwells within me. When you pray today, pray for this.
2) 3·9·3
At Mt Olive, He gave this (3·9·3). The Triune God is with you. The blessing of the throne works through nine powers. He gave the mission to save the three ages to the ends of the earth. Hold firmly to this.
3) The kingdom
When you receive this covenant, God’s kingdom is established in you.
4) Work
And when you enjoy this blessing, the work of God’s kingdom takes place. That is world conquest.
Remnants, begin your studies with this power (main point 3). Don’t argue about doing well or not—just start. No one else can truly help you. Our church leaders—do your work with this power. Don’t be deceived. You are the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells in you. What an amazing message.
▣ Conclusion
(1 Corinthians 3:16)
Then this conclusion (1 Corinthians 3:16) follows.
(Galatians 2:20)
Not only that—since my past cannot disappear, I crucify it, and Christ lives in me. My personality doesn’t change, so I crucify it, and Christ lives in me. My past and scars don’t change, so I crucify them, and Christ lives in me.
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
And I have become a new creation.
That’s what happened. Today was important, so it took longer. Be sure to enjoy this entire message’s blessing. Let’s pray.
Prayer. All day today, as I worship, may the Spirit of God dwell within me. May the kingdom of God be established in every place related to me. As I pray today, may even unknown diseases be healed. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.