Prayer Journal, September 1, 2025
(2024.09.03 237 New Family Field Worker Training
Scripture Reading: Galatians 2:20
▣ Introduction
This week’s “Newcomers & Commissioned Workers” message is extremely important. I always say it’s important—but this time, it truly is.
Why can’t so many nations and so many people come out of spiritual problems? You must find this answer and give it to newcomers. Last Sunday, a newcomer who’s a journalist texted me: “Pastor, the first-service message (‘A Christian without Christ,’ Sept 1) was the best message.” I thought, “He’s more committed than many long-timers—and he’s new!”
For our newcomers, the very first thing is this: “Completely settle the past.” If this isn’t settled, the struggle continues.
Prologue — The Gospel (Christ)
To do this, don’t miss the most important core: What is the Gospel? Who is Christ? You must present this correctly.
1. Gen 3:15 / Gen 6:14 / Ex 3:18 / 1 Sam 7:9 / Isa 7:14 / Matt 16:16
Gen 3:15 — The fundamental problem is solved: the woman’s offspring will crush the serpent’s head.
Gen 6:14 — Unconditional grace: whoever is inside the ark lives.
Ex 3:18 — Suffering doesn’t end on its own; go and offer the blood sacrifice—otherwise the hardship continues.
1 Sam 7:9 — “Return to the LORD.” At Mizpah, Samuel offered a lamb’s blood sacrifice. Philistia attacked, but God toppled them by a miracle of nature—and they never invaded again.
Isa 7:14 — Still, God’s people fall again. So: “The virgin will conceive and bear a son, and call his name Immanuel.”
Matt 16:16 — Even then, people miss it. Near the close of His public ministry, Jesus first asked, “Who do people say that I am?” (a brilliant question). The disciples answered: John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets—i.e., that’s what they themselves thought. Then Jesus asked, “But you—who do you say I am?” When they were silent, Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus told him not to tell anyone yet.
2. The start of the problem—still happening now
If you don’t teach newcomers why we need Christ, they’ll never truly come out. Everything else is noise. “What good is it if you gain the whole world but lose your life?” Jesus said.
The moment you grasp this even a little, darkness collapses. Darkness must be broken. How can churches, homes, and lives be revived if darkness isn’t bound? God truly knows—and the forces of darkness know even better. They must conclude, “I can’t touch this person; I can’t operate in this church.” If instead they think, “I can play here; I can carry this person along,” nothing will work.
Gen 3 / 6 / 11 — This is how it began. Humans by nature center on “me,” and Satan hooks that.
Acts 13 / 16 / 19 — People then thrash about with religion, idols, and many works. It still doesn’t work.
Six states — People fall into six snares. This is still ongoing.
3. The Jews—Seven Disasters (0.1%)
You must tell them: the Jews missed this Gospel and suffered the seven disasters. Yet every time, God raised the few who enjoyed Christ and used them to restore things.
4. The Early Church (Gal 2:11–20)
Even the Early Church often failed to enjoy the Gospel’s power—the apostles included. God used Paul to state it plainly. Not that the early believers were discarded, but for world evangelization, God uses those who truly grasp the Gospel. That’s Gal 2:11–20 (last Sunday’s message).
Peter — Paul pleaded with Peter: “Why are you making trouble in the church over Jewish customs? Why insist on circumcision and avoiding meals with Gentiles?” (Peter had withdrawn out of fear.) Gal 2:20 is crucial.
James — James’s associates also pressured: “Follow Jewish law; be circumcised.” Many pastors still talk like this.
Barnabas — Even Barnabas was swayed. Paul didn’t merely “point it out”; he rebuked him. Then Paul declared, “I have been crucified with Christ… Christ lives in me.” You know the verse—but this is the backdrop: Paul, in anguish, confronted Peter.
Phil 3:1–21 — Paul’s confession: “What weakened Christ among the Jews? The privileges I once prized—I now count as loss, as rubbish. I have nothing to boast; I only pursue that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Earthly things? Our citizenship is in heaven. And the Name to which all things must submit has been given to us.” Unless newcomers receive this, they cannot grow.
5. The Medieval Church
Power & money — They bowed to power and money.
Marian veneration — They devised strange devotions. The issue isn’t Mary per se; it’s that without Christ as the answer, people will always invent something to worship.
You must give the answer—then darkness is broken. Satan knows Christ better than you do; that’s why he blocks you from hearing and enjoying Him. If a newcomer asks, “How do I evangelize?”—no need for a manual: If Christ is truly your answer, it happens. “How will I be healed?” Don’t obsess—if Christ is truly the answer, darkness falls. Make this your life’s task and pass it to newcomers; most believers never really receive it.
Work / People / Field — Where do people drop it? When work comes, they drop the Gospel; when people issues arise, they drop it; when they get to the field, they drop it—and then start saying odd things. In the medieval church, they needed money for the temple and “cleverly” sold indulgences—blocking the Gospel. They preached works like the Jews. But salvation isn’t by works; it’s by grace through faith—because nothing else can defeat darkness. Otherwise people remain bound for life. You must shine the light.
No need to ask, “How?” If the light of Christ is truly in me, isn’t it done? Shine and enjoy Him.
▣ Main Message — The Past (Wounds)
Because this was lost, people can’t let go of the past. The Achilles’ heel? Wounds—and many can’t overcome them.
1) Wounds
How do they begin?
1. Childhood — Often with things that seem “nothing.” A first child adored by everyone suddenly experiences the birth of a sibling; all eyes shift, and the older child feels crushing despair. If spiritually weak, damage can come right then—a wound that never fades. Wise parents should prepare the older child to welcome the baby (have someone else carry the infant in; invite the child to greet the baby, help, etc.). Many families also idolize the firstborn; younger siblings quietly carry lifelong wounds.
2. Parents — If a child judges parents as incompetent, it becomes a deep root. As adults they become aggressive, attacking leaders when they spot faults—subconsciously reliving parental pain. They become negative.
3. Illness / Disability — Not small wounds.
4. Accidents / Incidents — These leave trauma.
5. Spiritual problems — The most fearful—coming “for no reason,” yet inevitable apart from the Gospel.
Only the Gospel heals—not “just enough,” but when the Gospel is declared as finished: like Paul—“I died. My thoughts, my claims, my stance, my interests—none are needed. Christ lives in me.” Then works begin. This is vital for newcomers. When you explain Christ, the example you choose matters.
(Here followed an anecdote of rebuking a former co-worker’s complaints by reminding him of God’s grace in sparing his life for evangelism—i.e., don’t live by people; end it in Christ.)
2) Turning wounds into a platform
It’s hard to do alone; in Scripture, parents and ministers helped provide this platform.
1. Gen 37:11 — Jacob “kept” Joseph’s dreams in his heart. True healing happens when a person’s heart truly connects to God’s Word and Christ.
2. Ex 2:1–10 — Moses’s mother gave him the covenant: blood, Levite identity—fulfilled 80 years later.
3. 1 Sam 1:9–11 — Hannah set Samuel apart as a Nazirite, a leader to save the world. He slept by the ark and heard God’s voice.
4. 1 Sam 16:1–13 — Leaders/parents planted the exact covenant in David—so Goliath and Saul didn’t terrify him.
5. 1 Kgs 19:18–20 — What God spoke to Elijah was passed to Elisha—and answers started immediately.
6. Isa 6:13; 7:14 — Though Israel becomes worse, remnants will survive; carry this Gospel (only Immanuel breaks darkness).
7. 2 Tim 2:1–7 — “My son… Be a good soldier, an athlete, a farmer—God will give you understanding in everything.”
3) Turning the past into blessing
We can help provide the platform, but they themselves must enjoy the blessing.
1. The 7 Remnants — Each turned severe crises into blessings because they had a platform.
2. The Early Church —
Matt 16:16 — Peter’s confession;
Acts 4:12 — No other name for salvation;
1 Pet 2:9 — You are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a chosen people—to declare light to those in darkness.
3. Gen 1:3; John 1:1–11; Matt 5:13–16 — God has given you the light of creation. Christ, the Light, shone on you. You’re not told “become light”; you are light. “Arise, shine; the glory of the LORD is upon you.” Enjoy this yourself—and help newcomers sense that Christ the true King, Priest, and Prophet has crushed all darkness.
▣ Conclusion — Explaining how to enjoy 7/7/7
(We’ll cover more in Part 2.) Teach them how to enjoy the 7 watchtowers / 7 journeys / 7 milestones.
1. Inevitable / Necessary / Absolute
“What’s come to you is inevitable—because the Light must come. It’s necessary—it must become your answer. And it’s absolute—God’s grace.” People chase everything and still end in darkness. Help them see what’s truly needed.
2. Watchtower—Watchman
God will raise a watchtower in you—that’s prayer. God becomes your Watchman, and you become a watchman who shines light to others.
3. Platform / Watchman-Tower / Antenna
As you keep this watchtower, God will give you a platform—not business “as before,” but a platform that shines light, a tower with a watchman, and an antenna where life is revived, connection occurs, and spiritual strength is received.
This is the first thing newcomers must know—and you must know it even better. As you keep walking, you’ll find your lifelong covenant. Wait for it. While listening to Sunday sermons, what you must enjoy for the week will emerge. Don’t miss it. Through broadcast and your prayer journal, you’ll see today’s word align—then you’re walking rightly. “How do the headquarters messages and my field match so exactly?” That’s healthy faith.
I bless you in Jesus Christ’s name to pass this blessing surely to every newcomer. Let’s pray.
Prayer. Thank You, God. Grant us a new beginning. Send us quickly to help newcomers truly enjoy Christ, so they come completely out of darkness. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.