Scripture Reading: 1 Samuel 17:1-47
Our church leaders are aging, and our remnants are preparing for the future. That’s why this is extremely important.
▣ Introduction, So right now, we are doing two things.
1. Thought – Prayer
We’re all thinking about something, right? When we think a lot, memorize many English words, and study hard, our brains develop. Before, we knew nothing, but after studying English all night, it started to make sense. So we develop—but that doesn’t mean we gain power. The brain only gains strength when it rests. You must remember this. You have to turn your thoughts into prayer. When you do, your thoughts come alive. But if you stop at your own thoughts, there’s a limit. Even if your thoughts are right, you’ll end up stuck within them.
[ Brain ]
That’s when the brain starts taking fatal damage. You must remember this.
2. Breathing – Long
There’s one more thing you’re doing without realizing it: breathing. You’re doing it right now, and you’re also thinking without knowing. These two things—thought and breathing—are extremely important. When someone is struggling in the hospital, you don’t give them supplements first—you put on an oxygen mask. Yet most of you do this without any conscious awareness. That’s why remnants’ brains develop in function, but their strength keeps diminishing. The reason well-educated people suffer from spiritual problems is that their brains lack strength. That’s why your breathing must be long enough to become prayerful and peaceful.
24, Rest, Peace, Strength, Happiness
Our church leaders especially must be able to do this—prayer—24 hours. 24 doesn’t mean working non-stop. It means resting 24 hours a day. It means your body may be busy, but your spirit is peaceful. That’s very important. It means enjoying great strength throughout the day. And when you do that, not only do you enter rest—you become happy.
You must discover this. Not so you can live longer, but so you can live in good health. Without the strength of prayer, it shows. How? If your pride is hurt even a little, you start to shake. Some say, “They don’t recognize me—I’m leaving.” But if you have this strength, it doesn’t affect you. Even if someone disregards you, you’re fine. Without this strength, if your husband disrespects you, you get upset. “Who do you think you are?” But if you have this strength, and your husband disrespects you? You laugh. “My husband is doing comedy again.” It’s a good thing—it’s hard to create such laughter. “My wife is doing comedy again.” That’s how it becomes. It shows. The strongest demon is the “demon of hurting your feelings”—because it attacks your pride. And there are many people like that.
You need to do this. You need to have health to do God’s work. These two things—thought into prayer and long breathing—are gifts from God. Please remember this. Peacefully. Right now, as you pray peacefully, turn everything into prayer. Slowly, breathe long enough for it to become prayerful and peaceful. If that doesn’t happen and a difficult event occurs, what happens? Your breathing gets even shorter. When something urgent happens, our breath shortens. But when we look out at the distant mountains, we breathe deeper. When we look at the ocean or the forest and say, “This is so nice,” we naturally calm down and breathe longer.
You must intentionally turn all your thoughts into prayer. You must remember this. Remnants—if you want your brain to come alive, you must do this (thought into prayer, long breathing). If your breath is short, all seniors here are slowly losing lung capacity. Because you’re not doing deep breathing. Also, you need to activate your intestines, but since you never do, your intestines are painfully waiting. I didn’t talk about breathing before because I was worried that people would say something, but now it’s fully backed by science. Doctors have started to speak up. Once they speak, it becomes medically validated. Your brain will degenerate. That leads to mental illness, depression, or dementia. But the greatest strength is the work of the Holy Spirit. You must pray.
This year, doors to the 5,000 people groups are opening. Many talents from the 5,000 tribes are entering. That’s rare. It’s because of your covenant and prayer. That’s why Satan is furious right now—his insides must be burning. “Those guys… now they’re bringing in the 5,000 tribes. I told them to stop with just the remnant movement, but now they’re dragging in the 5,000 too!” If Satan truly exists, that’s what he’d say. And I not only believe he exists—I’ve experienced him. He exists.
24
So when problems come before God, there’s no one else to blame.
1. Repentance
Repent. Before God. When and how much? 24. And repentance isn’t just for one area. Why isn’t my business working? Reflect—24. That’s also repentance. Why can’t I study? Something has to change. Repent. And then what?
2. Strength (Prayer)
You must enjoy this—strength (prayer)—24 hours. You must. Isn’t it so peaceful? Just do it as in the Introduction. And then what?
3. Binding
Bind the darkness—24 hours. This is what you must discover and relay this week. Never be deceived. If you fall ill, there’s no one to help you. Your family may worry, but they can’t help. If you suffer spiritually, no one can help. This darkness sees that your work has no gospel—and if there’s no gospel, it’s an easy attack. They’ll rush in. No one can help. You must have this strength. And when you do, what answer comes?
Image
Why do I intentionally use the word image? Because it refers to the image of God’s creation.
「The image of creation」
It’s the same word used when it says God created man in His own image. We commonly use “image,” but this is what it really means.
1. Platform
If you continue enjoying this (Introductory) prayer, this will gather in you. The power of the Triune God gathers and forms the platform.
2. Watchtower
And when it gathers, strange things happen—your work revives, your church revives, even people around you revive. Why? Because there is light. That’s the watchtower.
3. Antenna
And it doesn’t end there. Spiritual energy begins to rise. The five powers begin to rise. That’s what we call the antenna. You must enjoy this blessing.
Even now, just sitting without this will wear you out. But if you enter into prayer with this message, breathing slowly in a way that restores health, everything changes. Our elders’ representative prayers are important. You should enter into prayer with them—don’t just sit and wait. Enter into praise, too, when it’s time to praise. It makes a big difference.
▣ Main point [ Reason ]
So what main point emerges? Why must we receive this blessing? Three reasons are given.
1. Ephesians 2:2
Because this is the strength that overcomes the ruler of the kingdom of the air. What’s the second?
2. Transcendence of time and space
Because it’s the power that overcomes the forces of darkness that transcend time and space. If you understand this prayer, even if your children are in America or China, your prayer connects to them.
3. Bartizan
Because this power must become your bartizan. This is the answer that comes. The first reason is Ephesians 2:2—idolatrous temples, war-torn nations, media chaos. You must overcome this. That’s why a person named Joseph emerged. It’s possible. We are more privileged than Joseph. Moses realized it late in life. Before that, he thought succeeding in the palace would be enough—but it wasn’t. He aged. Then a crisis hit. He thought there was no hope. But no—it was at age 80 that he realized it. That’s when ten miracles came through Moses. Samuel understood this and began the Mizpah movement. And Samuel raised someone like David. Without this, hardship will come again. They became captives in Babylon. And then figures like Daniel, the three friends, and Esther emerged. In the final moments, Jesus gathered His disciples and planted the covenant of Calvary, the Mount of Olives, and Mark’s upper room.
▣ Conclusion
1. Studies
If you continue praying like this, your studies will follow the pattern in the introduction.
2. Job
Likewise, your job will transform the same way.
3. Business
Your business will transform the same way.
Now, when the 5,000 people groups begin flooding in from overseas, there will also be trouble. Korean people—though they don’t evangelize well—are world-class at complaining and picking fights. Japan once said, “Don’t bother with Chosun. They’ll destroy themselves.” And they were right. We fought each other so much, we didn’t even notice when others were building guns. While we were walking around in straw shoes, we didn’t know trains were running. At that time, Japan already had trains running under the sea. We couldn’t win. I saw escalators in Europe and was shocked. We carried things on our backs while they had escalators. We must not pass this misery to our posterity.
So this week, pray over this entire message. Make it yours and truly gain strength. Our elders, ordained deacons, and deaconesses must gain strength. We don’t need anything else, right? That’s how we save the remnants. All day today, may you be restored in health, strength, and all things through this prayer. And in that sense, our church is in a good location. So is Immanuel Seoul. Great locations. So may this be the best day ever in the name of Jesus Christ.
Prayer
God, we thank You. Please bless our remnants and congregation members. Lift both hands and bless the remnants and families scattered around the world. Grant our church leaders Your special five powers. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray, Amen.