2025.09.07 Sunday 1st Service
RTS Sunday
Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 18:1-15
▣ Introduction: First Receive Strength and Answers
Today is the day when we keep RTS Sunday across our nation and the world. As I prepared the message, I especially thought, “Today is the day to receive double economic blessing.” I always prepare my offering in advance, so since we need to give to our church and also to RTS, we receive double blessing. Now, we should of course pray for RTS today, but first you must obtain that strength. While we live, there are times when we face very great difficulties.
In today’s text, such a thing had never happened in history. King Ahab kept 850 false prophets of Baal and Asherah right in the royal palace. That alone would have been bad enough, but he actually killed the true prophets with the sword. What should we do at such a time? No one could defeat the king or resolve this difficult problem.
The figures who appear then are Elijah and Elisha, but the even more important figure is the church leader Obadiah. Obadiah made a critical decision. But how could he do this? What is the answer you must firmly hold today? It is not most important to ask what the crisis is and what we should do.
1. Obadiah, who possessed the secret of prayer called 24, 25, and eternity
Obadiah possessed the secret of prayer called 24, 25, and eternity. Today you must surely hold to this. Those who have received the answer of God’s power need nothing else. Problems, conflicts, crises—they are not fearful.
1) David
Let me mention just one remnant as an example. David, from his youth, already had the ability to enjoy God’s answers. You must pray for this today. Because he had this power, nothing became a problem.
2) Hebrews chapter 11
Hebrews chapter 11 gathers only people of faith. Verse 38 records this: “People of whom the world was not worthy.” They are not afraid.
3) Paul
Especially someone like Paul—what came before evangelism? “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions.” In 2 Corinthians chapter 12 he says, “Whether I was in the body or out of the body I do not know,” indicating how deeply he entered into the power of prayer. You must surely discover this.
2. The answer Obadiah received – 300%
To put it simply, Obadiah, a church leader, first received two kinds of answers to save the ministers.
1) A person prepared 300% as a disciple of evangelism
He was Elijah’s disciple of evangelism who served God. As I put it, he was prepared 300% as a disciple of evangelism.
2) A person prepared 300% as a servant to the king
Another thing: he was a servant of Ahab. Remarkable, isn’t it? Elijah and Ahab were enemies—sworn enemies. Obadiah was a person who received 300% of the answer as a court servant. This is the key. This is the key you and the remnants must hold today. He was Elijah’s disciple—and at the same time a servant trusted by the king. Does nothing come to mind? Elijah and Ahab were enemies. Here an important matter arises with Obadiah. Today you must pray, “Grant me the power and answer to accomplish world evangelization and to save the world.” Nothing else will do.
When David received answers, no problem troubled him. In Israel’s history the greatest problem came, and Obadiah stepped forward to resolve it. He risked his life to save the ministers. He was a person prepared 300% as a disciple of evangelism, and 300% as a servant.
3) 300% – Filled with the Holy Spirit
I always emphasize this: What is 300%?
(1) Me 100% prepared
It means that what God has given concerning me is prepared 100%.
(2) The field 100% prepared
The field is prepared 100%. Isn’t that right?
(3) The future 100% prepared
The future is prepared 100%. If you cannot find this, it is a serious matter. You will not accomplish world evangelization. You might barely manage to get by, but is that God’s will? No. All remnants and church leaders must firmly hold the covenant. Seeing that 300% power, I am convinced this is being filled with the Holy Spirit. That is the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Therefore Obadiah held this covenant exactly.
▣ Main Message: Obadiah Who Enjoyed Three Things in the Age of Crisis
1. The hidden provider for 100 disciples
In this age of crisis he enjoyed something important—first, he was the hidden provider who concealed and raised 100 disciples. Isn’t that amazing? He hid 100 prophets whom the king had ordered to be killed.
1) The servant most trusted by Elijah and most needed by the king
How is this possible? He was the most faithful disciple to Elijah and the most needed servant to the king. This is the answer. To our young adults and remnants: when you go out, don’t say, “People ignore me; at the company they…” Don’t say you’re upset. It means I am not necessary. Isn’t that so? Get a grip. If people say I am not needed, who is wrong? Not those people—I am. The more wicked people are, the more they like those who are necessary. You must hold this firmly. In Ahab’s eyes, Obadiah was an extremely necessary servant. Do you think Ahab truly didn’t know that Obadiah had hidden 100 prophets? I think he knew. How could he not? Yet Ahab did not kill Obadiah. And Obadiah was Elijah’s most trusted disciple. This is the one who hid the 100. What happened then?
2) The intermediary role in the Mount Carmel incident
The Mount Carmel incident broke out. As the provider who hid the 100 disciples, he then played the intermediary role when the Carmel event erupted. What was it? Elijah asked Obadiah: “Tell King Ahab. Do all the go-between work.” Why? Because he was the one who could. “Tell him that we will hold a spiritual battle on Mount Carmel with the 850 false prophets to see who is true.” Then Obadiah said, “Are you trying to have me killed? If Ahab finds out I hid 100 prophets, I will die; and now you want me to say this too?” Elijah spoke with assurance: “The king will see me. Go and tell him.” Think about the situation.
Obadiah went and told him: “Let’s have a spiritual contest on Mount Carmel to determine whether the prophets of Baal and Asherah are true or the faith in the LORD is true.” Who told the king? Obadiah did. And King Ahab said, “Okay.”
3) Complete victory in spiritual warfare
Thus a tremendous spiritual battle took place on Mount Carmel. They won a complete victory. All the false prophets were executed. The forces of darkness were utterly broken. Because of one man, Obadiah, who knew what the ministers of the LORD must do, such things happened.
2. The hidden supporter of the 7,000 disciples
Second, Obadiah was the hidden backer of the 7,000 disciples. He had already served as the provider of the 100; now he stood behind and supported the far greater number—the 7,000. At this time the evidence of Mount Horeb arose.
1) When Elijah, who faced the crisis of death, collapsed under the broom tree
After defeating the false prophets, the palace should have surrendered—but Jezebel said, “Kill Elijah.” “Kill Elijah at once.” In his urgency Elijah fled. He fled without eating or sleeping. As you know, exhausted, he collapsed under a broom tree. Then he prayed honestly: “God, I can’t do this anymore. Everyone has forsaken You, and I alone am left. I am going to die. Just take me.” That was Elijah’s prayer. Then God sent His angel to touch Elijah, heal him, and give him food.
2) The Word given at Mount Horeb
Receiving that strength, Elijah traveled not just forty days but forty days and nights to Mount Horeb. There God spoke: “I have 7,000 disciples besides you. Raise up Elisha. Appoint him as your successor. Do not worry. I will replace King Ahab.” God said He would change him. Such an astounding work began again at Mount Horeb.
3) Obadiah, the hidden supporter
Who was the hidden backer and supporter in all this? It was Obadiah. This does not mean you must do many things. If you receive the strength God gives, you can do what is needed. You must hold that covenant.
The God who was with Obadiah is with you; hold that covenant now. However much other theories are attempted, they are wrong. You must hold the covenant accurately. If you receive the strength God gives, you can save the church. Only the strength God gives can save my family line. RU and RTS, and RTS throughout the world, can be raised. This is what is being made known now.
From this point, other works began to arise. To what extent did Obadiah receive answers? He was not merely the provider for 100; he was the backer of the 7,000. This is the answer you must surely hold.
3. The disciple who mobilized the heavenly army
Third, he was the disciple who mobilized the heavenly army. Where? In the city of Dothan. The connection extends even to this. This is now beyond the 7,000; countless disciples and the heavenly armies are mobilized.
1) Elisha, who from the beginning received this power of God as his heavenly mandate
Elisha from the beginning received this power of God as his calling and heavenly mandate.
(1) Setting out to follow Elijah, abandoning everything at the greatest crisis
At the greatest crisis, when Elijah called him, he abandoned everything without condition and followed. It was his heavenly mandate.
(2) Elisha, who without calculating followed to the end and sought a double portion of the spirit
Others calculated—how to eat, how to live—but not Elisha. He followed to the end, even to the Jordan. What did he say? “Grant me a double portion of your spirit.” That is what must be asked.
(3) Elisha, who initiated the Dothan movement
Such an Elisha finally initiated the Dothan movement.
2) The prayer power Elisha possessed
What happened? To what extent did Elisha have the power of prayer? He knew where the Aramean army was coming and going. In such matters there was a backer—Obadiah.
The king of Aram said, “It seems there is a spy among us. Wherever our army goes, the Israelite army lies in wait and strikes us. What is this?” Then one wise servant said, “No, it is because of the prophet named Elisha. He is a man of much prayer and knows all our movements. We must eliminate Elisha.” So the king of Aram ordered, not “Kill Elisha,” but “Capture Elisha alive and bring him.” Since the king commanded, and Aram was a great nation, armies came and surrounded the city to seize Elisha.
But in that city, a great number of disciples had gathered and were praying. Scripture records: “Those who were with us—the heavenly hosts—were far more than the Aramean army.” The servant whose eyes were darkened cried, “Master, we are in great trouble! The Aramean army has surrounded us.” Elisha said, “O LORD, open this servant’s eyes.” These are different eyes. When his spiritual eyes were opened, heavenly armies surrounded the Arameans on the outside. To the extent of Elisha’s power, he prayed, “Strike the Aramean army with blindness.” And they were all struck with blindness. Leading those blinded soldiers, they were brought along, thinking, “We are doomed.”
What happened? The king of Israel asked Elisha—note, in the past King Ahab killed prophets, but now this king called Elisha “My father.” He asked, “My father, what shall we do with these troops? Shall we strike off their heads and send them back?” Elisha said no. They set before them good food and held a feast. What do you think happened? “O LORD, open the eyes of the Aramean army.” Their eyes were opened—and a banquet had been prepared in abundance. Do you think they would attack again easily? Scripture records, “The Aramean raiders did not come into the land of Israel again.”
3) The devotion of one believer who knows God’s power completely saved the age.
The devotion of one believer who knows God’s power completely saved the age.
There is no time. You must make a decision today. Students, if you go out without this power, you will struggle all your life. Do not be deceived. Do not be deceived by people’s words. Hold to God’s Word. Truly. I have seen many: believers who are utterly pressed by poverty, people who cannot even maintain themselves. What is evangelism? There are so many who cannot even sustain themselves. This must change quickly. Young adults must make a decision now. If you do not decide now, you will cause your descendants to suffer even after you marry. Decide now. There is no excuse. Because Obadiah possessed this power, it was not only 100 or 7,000—there arose a work that saved the whole Aramean nation. You must make this decision. Therefore we must raise RTS throughout our nation and the world to produce such disciples and ministers who know God’s power.
▣ Conclusion: Resolution
1. Hold to the covenant
We have an RTS team meeting at 1:30 today; I plan to speak then. I have seen since I was young: it is not otherwise. We can save the world by God’s power. Hold this firmly as your covenant today.
2. Resolve.
So you must decide. What do I mean?
1) Grant us the strength to see God’s power within events.
“Grant us the strength to see God’s power within events.”
2) Let us not miss the age, like Obadiah.
“Let us not miss the age, like Obadiah.” We must pray this.
3) Grant us the strength to win without fighting.
To the point that Elisha knew even where the Aramean army was coming. Without fighting, they simply toyed with them. Win without fighting. “Grant us this strength.”
3. Be resolved and pray
I prayed with resolve. I had seen the adults. Having seen once is enough. I saw the adults and was convinced it could not be otherwise. I always say this: I passed through six places. It was not otherwise. The seventh church is our Immanuel Church—Busan and Seoul here. Without God’s true power, it cannot be done. World evangelization cannot be done. What is world evangelization? People say, “I can barely survive.” This must change quickly. You must pray this week: “God, grant me power sufficient to raise RTS disciples across the nation and the world.” That is God’s will.
1) The church leader who helped Martin Luther
Let me give just one example. One church leader staked his life to save the minister in this age of crisis. This changed the world. Who was it? The church leader who helped Martin Luther. It is tremendous. When I see that, I see that history was transformed.
2) The Australian believers who helped Missionary Mackenzie
Another miracle occurred. A man named Mackenzie first went to Vanuatu as a missionary. He became ill. Understandable. He fell ill in Vanuatu, but there were people who did not abandon him and helped Missionary Mackenzie. Where did he come? He came to Korea—to Busan, no less—and again became ill. Ordinary laypeople, church leaders, would have abandoned a person so ill. But they helped him again. Later, even when he could no longer work, they still helped him. Do you understand? Many of you would have recommended that he resign. His daughter came instead. Those daughters, seeing how poor Korea was—women dying in childbirth—first established a hospital to help them. At that time they had no means, so they went to the U.S. military base, obtained surplus beds, and outfitted the hospital. I began to attend church there, and now it is connected to Vanuatu. Do you know what that place is? It is a gate to the 5,000 tribes. Ah—how wondrously God works. Those Australian believers who helped a few ministers—these people turned the world upside down.
3) Our prayer
You must know that value. And without any other reason, you must hold the promise of the power God gives. “In the remaining years of my life, let me raise many seminary students among the many of the next generation who will correctly proclaim the gospel and send them into the world.” You must pray this. “Thus let us experience God’s power.” There is no other way. “Let us experience God’s invisible power. Now mobilize the heavenly army that You sent to Elisha.” This is our prayer. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that today will be a day of great answers.
Prayer. We thank You, God. Grant us the ability to raise seminary students; grant us the ability to revive RTS; grant us the ability to restore and raise the RTS movement throughout the world. Let today be the start. We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.