2024.09.22 District Message
Scripture Reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10–14
The most important thing in our life of faith—yet something we can miss.
[ Hell ] – darkness
[ Heaven ] – [ throne ]
We hear a lot of talk like this (hell, heaven), don’t we? It is often taught that if you believe in Jesus, you go to heaven. That is correct. But what we must surely know is this: it is not merely that a person who is not a child of God goes to hell—while living on this earth that person is already in darkness. Before they ever go there, life becomes hell. The moment one becomes a saved child of God, it is not only that one will go to heaven; during one’s life on this earth there is the blessing of the throne in which the works of the kingdom of God are accomplished.
This (heaven) is our home. For example, what happens if a Korean abroad has an accident? What if they are kidnapped? It doesn’t just become news and get ignored—Korea immediately dispatches officials. They are sent at once to negotiate and speak. The reason is that the person is Korean. Americans do even more—you’ve heard the story of a single private; if one person is in trouble, the nation mobilizes fully to find him.
Background
It is because this (hell, heaven) is our background. You must believe this. People often don’t believe what is important and keep believing what isn’t.
[ (Kingdom) works ]
Because this is your background, Jesus promised that the kingdom of God would come and that the works of the kingdom of God would be accomplished. “The kingdom of God will be accomplished”—this means that every time you worship today, it is accomplished. Every time you pray, it is accomplished. That is tremendous. At a glance it may look as if answers are not coming, but it is not so.
As I mentioned last week, I have never had the experience of praying and then an answer “suddenly arrived.” When we pray, does a bundle of money drop from the ceiling? Of course not. But from 30 years ago until now, God has answered precisely. Astonishingly so. He has answered exactly according to the Word. You must believe this.
Children
You are children of God. Because you are saved children of God, you have this blessing. In this way the (throne (kingdom) works) are accomplished.
「Ten Foundations」
Among these, there is a great blessing God has given us: the Ten Foundations. These are certain. What is the first foundation?
1. Absolute sovereignty
God’s absolute sovereignty. Why were you born in Korea? God’s absolute sovereignty. When were you born? God’s absolute sovereignty. When will you and I depart this earth? Within God’s absolute sovereignty. Among these, your salvation is within God’s absolute sovereignty. You must believe this. Whatever happens, there is no need to be shaken. God’s absolute sovereignty.
2. Absolute method – [ Christ ]
And within God’s absolute sovereignty there is a method He used. What is that method? Christ. He sent Christ to save us and to let us enjoy this blessing in His name. It is God’s absolute method. Therefore we do not merely believe in Jesus; we believe in Jesus Christ. The word Christ is a tremendous term. It is the name that has shattered disaster, darkness, and the hellish background. This becomes the foundation.
In my life of faith up to now, I have seen many who stopped attending church—right? Many do not receive answers. I cannot know every reason, but that is what they say. And I have seen countless people move from church to church. In a word—what does that mean? They are shaken. There is no need to be shaken. Today you have received the name that, by God’s absolute sovereignty and by God’s method—Christ—has resolved all things.
So what did the people in Scripture who truly received answers do? They were taken to Babylon and faced death. How did they respond? “Even if we die, it’s fine.” That cannot be stopped. Darkness collapses there. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who were on the verge of death, said, “We cannot bow to idols. God will deliver us.” The next words are fearsome: “Even if He does not, it’s fine.” That is where works arise. Do not be shaken. Being shaken is what causes the greatest loss. Even students cannot study well if they are tossed about while growing up. In the life of faith, though we are shaken, we overcome.
Who saved Korea? Japan dominated our nation—changed names and did many things. Among the most absurd was this: “Bow at the shrine.” For idol worshipers, that may seem acceptable since it is the same to them. The problem was they demanded that the church do it, too—remarkable, isn’t it? They installed a shrine in the church and said to bow. Most pastors were afraid. The pastors gathered and passed a resolution. The presiding moderator then was a man named Hong Taek-gi. He declared that bowing at the Japanese shrine was not idolatry but a state act. Because they were afraid—afraid of death.
Do not fear. They passed it, struck the gavel three times, and it was done. The vice moderator then led pastors to commit idolatry. At that time, as you know, Pastor Ju Gi-cheol said, “No!” He insisted it was absolutely impossible. The phrase he left was “determination unto death.” “We die once. We are born once and die once. How can I bow to an idol and live?” So the Japanese arrested him—imprisoned him and tortured him severely. He died in prison. People then must have thought in fear, “What should we do?” But after that, the Korean church was transformed into a church that evangelized the world. After liberation, figures like Pastor Ju Gi-cheol became heroes of faith. God’s absolute method.
3. God’s work – the Holy Spirit
Third: God’s work—indeed, we can call it His absolute work. What is it? One word is enough: by the Holy Spirit. God works invisibly by the Holy Spirit.
1) Absolute sovereignty – the Father
2) Absolute method – [ Christ ] – the Son
3) God’s work – [ the Holy Spirit ] – the Holy Spirit
Then what terms emerge? The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. In that order.
4. Guarantee – the Word
God has given us a guarantee. What is it? God’s Word. Therefore, there is no need to be shaken.
5. God’s temple [1 Corinthians 3:16]
Next, what is it? He promised something important—the fifth. He called us God’s temple. The reason is that God’s Spirit dwells in you. That is what it means to be saved. I’m sorry, but you can never be ruined. “Do you not know that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
For 30 years of evangelism I have faced all kinds of threats, fraud, and intimidation. Those people perished; I am alive. One by one they each fell. When I heard the news—perhaps my character isn’t ideal—I felt a bit of joy. You know that feeling when you think, “Serves them right.”
Do not be shaken. The Word does not change. “Cry out, ‘The word of the LORD stands forever’”—that is Isaiah 40:6, 8. “Not the smallest letter or stroke will by any means disappear from the Law”—that is Matthew 5:17–18. Exactly so. The Ten Foundations are tremendous.
6. Mission field [ the place you are ]
The sixth foundation: whatever you face, it’s fine. The place where you are is the mission field. Do not be deceived. “What about my home?”—that’s deception. The remnant says, “Because of my parents.”—that’s deception. It does not matter. If someone born into a bad home, with a poor background, holds to the covenant, that person will succeed even more greatly. The place I am is the mission field.
7. Life and death, prosperity and adversity
Seventh—understand each point simply. God governs our life and death, prosperity and adversity. He has been responsible for your life thus far and will be responsible for what you will live. So in Psalm 119 it says He watches over all our sitting and rising.
8. God’s providence – a life with an appointed time
The eighth foundation is God’s providence. All of us live on this earth until the date set for us to go to God’s kingdom. Every one of us has an appointed time. It is certain. Therefore there is no need to worry about whether we should live or die. It is set.
9. Throne
The ninth foundation: for you who are saved, as mentioned before, God has promised this (the throne). One day you will go there. We enjoy this blessing and then go. What is worship? Worship is enjoying the blessing and power of the throne. And then later we go there (to the throne).
10. Reward
Then the tenth foundation emerges. For everything you do for evangelism and to save people, you will not lose your reward—not even a cup of cold water will lose its reward. It is clearly stated so. These foundations are certain.
When we began the evangelism movement—it was 30 years ago; more than 30 now, nearly 40. I was in Yeongdo for 37 years alone. Before that, while I was an associate pastor, I trained our young adults. During many evangelism trainings, I discovered these Ten Foundations. They are certain—even if 7 billion people deny them, they are true. Many people say things like, “If you speak well, blessings will come.” That doesn’t matter. You are already included here (the Ten Foundations). Some people have a bad temperament, others a good one—no matter. “We need the blessing of meetings with people.” It sounds right, but it is not so. You are here (in the Ten Foundations).
▣ Conclusion – [ Faith ]
These (Ten Foundations) are given by God’s grace. How then do we receive them? By faith. “Abraham believed God’s word, and that faith was credited to him as righteousness.” You must believe. Do not believe what is false—you must believe the Word. Believe the spiritual reality. Then today’s worship time becomes an extraordinary time. This (throne (kingdom) works) is accomplished. Because during the time you pray and worship, this (throne (kingdom) works) is accomplished, this (darkness) is broken. It will surely be so.
I have seen the children of parents who truly pray. There is a common thread—they are surely used. Some people lived their lives of faith in odd ways, but because their parents prayed much, later I saw that they were used. A certain elder and deaconess couple I know are truly people of prayer. They had three sons, and none of the three believed. But the elder and deaconess continued to pray—praying for the three sons. The elder passed away first, and we went to his funeral. Remarkably, during the funeral service, all three sons received grace in the same way. They were turned around. We thought, “How amazing. Can a person change like that?” But they did.
I bless you in the Lord’s name that this Sunday will be a Sunday when you gain great new strength. God gives new grace every day. Let us pray.
Prayer. God, we thank You. Thank You for letting us see the Ten Foundations. Grant us the waiting that enjoys the kingdom of God in any circumstance. Make us witnesses who accomplish the works of the kingdom of God. We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.