2025.09.07 Sunday 2nd Service
Scripture Reading: Acts 8:26-40
Thank you. God gives us the greatest opportunity. This is multiethnic missions. We must know this reason. Even the new family members must know this reason for their life of faith to begin. And our long-standing church leaders must also know this reason to properly fulfill their mission. What is the reason? We all think we know. “Ah, it must be for world evangelization.” But there is a deeper reason. That is why Jesus, from the very beginning, emphasized a part that seemed impossible to understand.
▣ Introduction
[Matthew 6:10, 6:33, Matthew 10:7, Acts 1:3, Acts 19:8]
What did He emphasize? When they asked Him to teach them to pray, He said, “Pray for the Kingdom of God to come.” The disciples could not possibly understand what He meant. “What is He talking about?” So He emphasized it again: “Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” We must understand these words, but the disciples did not. So in verse 32, He even told them, “You don’t need to ask for this or that like unbelievers do.” And later, when sending out His disciples, He said, “Evangelize.” And specifically, “Proclaim that the Kingdom of God has come near.” Then, for forty days before His ascension, He spoke to them for the last time. During those forty days, He explained about the Kingdom of God. But they did not understand the reason. No one could grasp it. Yet in Acts 19:8, we see that Paul understood it. Paul, it says, “spoke boldly” about the Kingdom of God — not merely explaining it lightly, but powerfully and courageously. Even though Jesus Himself had passionately explained it for forty days, Peter never preached about it this way. But Paul proclaimed it with great strength and urgency.
[The Last Days = A Battle Between Two Kingdoms]
From the ascension of Jesus to the day He returns — this period is called “the last days.” When we say “the end times are near,” it means we are nearing the completion of these last days. The term “last days” refers to the entire period between Christ’s resurrection and His second coming. During this entire period, an unceasing battle takes place between two kingdoms — even though most people don’t realize it. But when Christ returns, that will be the end. Until then, the battle between the two kingdoms continues relentlessly. That is why Paul called this a spiritual war. Even now, this battle is taking place. Those who know this receive answers even when they remain still. But those who don’t know this — no matter how hard they try — gain nothing; in fact, the more they try, the more they lose. This battle between the two kingdoms is still happening today. When you understand this, you will quickly realize, “Ah, this is missions!” Let us look closely at what kind of battle this is.
[Destruction (Deception)]
Right now, Satan continues to deceive humanity. He relentlessly drags people toward destruction. If you were to compare it to human terms, Satan is like a swindler — deceiving people and pulling them step by step toward destruction. When did this deception begin? From the very beginning — and it continues even now.
[3, 6, 11]
This begins in Genesis 3. In the Garden of Eden, the deception was: “You will be like God.” That’s the core. And pastors must especially be careful here. “If my ministry succeeds according to my plans, then I’m doing God’s work well” — is that really true? Elders, you must also beware: “If things are going well among us, then we must be doing well” — is that truly correct? Do you realize that this very mindset has caused divisions throughout churches worldwide? Do you know that this is Satan’s strategy? Yes, this is Satan’s scheme — making “me” the center. If salvation depended on me, we’d all fail. Even if you perfectly kept every law, you cannot be saved. That’s right — even if you kept them all, it wouldn’t work. Why? Because original sin would still remain unresolved. If salvation could come through the law, then there would have been no need for Christ to come. That’s how serious this is. Satan uses “me” — my pride, my desires — and leads us straight into destruction. That was the incident in Eden. And before we realize it, without thinking, we live guided by our feelings, our desires, and our possessions — and that leads us straight into becoming “Nephilim,” spiritually captured by Satan. This is how he deceives. It looks like power, doesn’t it? “See? Even without believing in God, people seem strong and successful.” They say, “Let’s build a tower, a city, and make our name great.” That was the Tower of Babel. And this continues even now. But everything built apart from God eventually collapses. This deception is still ongoing.
[13, 16, 19]
But when Satan fails to trap someone easily, he begins to rage violently. There are three stages here. People begin to groan, struggle, and thrash about — but we often mistake this for “effort.” We see someone suffering and say, “Oh, they’re really trying hard.” But no, this is not effort — it’s desperation. People are trapped in Genesis 3, 6, and 11, and they are simply groaning under that weight. And yet, we misinterpret their struggle as perseverance. This is what is recorded in Genesis 13, 16, and 19. These are the stages where people become ensnared by Satan, bound by fortune-telling, trapped in idol worship, and ultimately facing death. Eventually, after trying everything and failing, people simply give up.
[John 8:44, Exodus 20:3–5, Mark 5:1–10, Acts 8:4–8, Luke 16:19–31, Matthew 27:25]
At this point, people have entered the path of destruction. There are six key spiritual states here. First, we become powerless, completely dragged around by the devil. We are unable to resist. Over time, without even realizing it, people begin to worship Satan. Exodus 20:3–5 warns us of this. At first, it seems harmless — but then mental problems arise. Later, in Mark 5, we see a man who had completely lost his mind. It becomes uncontrollable. Stress builds up, and sickness follows. Acts 8:4–8 describes this vividly. This is how Satan establishes his kingdom. That is why Jesus so urgently explained the reality of God’s Kingdom. While we are living on earth, this is where the battle is. Once you leave this life, it’s over — the outcome is sealed. Salvation must be received while your soul is still in your body. Once your soul departs, there is no second chance. That’s why the body is so important. Even heavenly rewards are given only for what we have done while alive — there are no rewards after we leave this world. But there’s an even more shocking truth: even while alive, many people are already living in hell without realizing it. They haven’t reached eternal hell yet, but they are already under its background. They don’t even know heaven and hell exist; they think they’ll find out “once they get there.” That’s the deception. Life under this background is life in hell. Some people say, “If you believe in Jesus, you’ll go to heaven when you die.” That sounds correct, but it’s incomplete. The truth is: if you believe in Jesus, you become a child of God now — before death — and you begin to enjoy the background of the throne now. Then, when your body passes away, of course, you go to heaven. But without Christ, no matter how good someone seems, they are not a child of God — their background is hell, and their life is already one of spiritual suffering. When they die, they inevitably go to eternal destruction. And here’s the even more tragic part: Satan doesn’t just attack you; he targets your descendants too. This is certain. Do not be deceived. The spiritual problems you fail to resolve now will pass directly to the next generation. But if you break these chains, God will turn your life into a powerful platform and raise you as a great worker.
Continuing with the complete, faithful, line-by-line translation from where we left off — following all your instructions exactly.
[John 16:11–14, 2 Corinthians 4:4–5, Matthew 12:26–30, 43–45]
In John 16:11–14, it says that Satan holds us completely captive and reigns like a king over our lives. In 2 Corinthians 4:4–5, it says that Satan, though he is not God, blinds people’s minds and acts as though he were God. In Matthew 12:26–30, we see that Satan has completely built his house within us. Then, in verses 43–45, it says that when someone casts out demons through rituals, the house becomes “clean and empty,” but because it is empty, seven more evil spirits enter. That’s what Scripture says, and that’s exactly what happens. People think they’re free — but now seven more demons take control. Do you see what this means? This is how Satan fully captures people’s lives.
[Christ]
That is why God gave us His urgent covenant. There was absolutely no other way. Human effort could never solve this problem. There’s a hymn that says, “We cannot succeed even by crying, nor by patience.” That’s exactly right. No matter how hard you cry, you cannot overcome this. No matter how much you repent, you cannot escape the grip of Satan on your own. No matter how much strength you muster, you cannot defeat him. It is impossible. The solution is simple: believe. Believe this truth and it will be done. God, wanting to save us, sent Christ. And Christ came and gave this message. Why? Because this was the only way.
[The Throne, the Kingdom, the Work]
There is a reason Jesus gave us this message. He was showing us: “Your background is not hell — your background is the throne.” This reality is happening now. No matter how difficult your situation looks, you must not worry. This work is already taking place. No matter how amazing or capable a person may seem, if they are separated from God, they are still in Satan’s grip. And this reality is still unfolding today. This trap of destruction is being passed down even to our children. But the moment you receive salvation, the power of the throne begins to work within you. This is not just a theory — this is the only true solution. You must believe it.
Think about it: if a thief boards a pirate ship, no matter how “kind” he seems, he’s still a thief, isn’t he? In fact, a good-hearted thief working under a pirate captain is often even more dangerous. In the same way, we were on the wrong ship. That’s why God moved us. Scripture says, “You have crossed over from death to life.” This transfer has already happened. These two spiritual realities — destruction and salvation — are happening now. This is why the Bible says not to be discouraged. God is accomplishing His work right now. When we pray, the power of the throne works, and God’s Kingdom comes upon us. Through God’s Kingdom, His will is fulfilled. Believe this truth. Every blessing is contained in this reality.
[Bartizan, Journey, Guidepost]
So what must we do? From now on, the bartizan of the throne must become yours. The bartizan of the throne must be firmly established within you. Then, you will walk the journey of the throne. And along the way, you will set up the guideposts of the throne — powerful markers where the darkness will be broken.
[Watchmen]
That is why God has called you as watchmen. Without the bartizan, you cannot be a true watchman. Without it, you’re not guarding anything; you’re deceiving others — you’re like a swindler. Even if someone seems upright and admirable, if they are following Satan’s schemes, they’re deceived. But when you follow God’s works, you become a true watchman. This battle between the two kingdoms is urgent and happening now.
▣ Main Message — All Blessings
If you truly understand this, God gives you all blessings. It’s okay if they don’t come immediately. In fact, it’s better if they don’t. Think about today’s praise — how graceful and precious it was. I always say this: if we measured the true value of these choir members, we should pay them ten million won per month! That’s how valuable their praise is before God. And for the conductor? If we were to value their skill, we’d give them one hundred million won per month. But what would happen then? Fake conductors — real swindlers — would flock to the church for money. That’s why we don’t do that. The real servants of praise receive almost nothing, maybe just a little help for transportation, but nothing more. Why? Because they serve from the heart, offering their lives to God in true worship. That is why we must understand: quick answers are not always a blessing. If blessings come too fast, all the wrong people will come running — and the work of God will be hindered.
1. To Whom
God brings all blessings — but to whom? First, we must see who receives them.
[Those Who Block Disasters]
The blessings are given to those who will block disasters. Without them, there is nothing to carry forward. This is very clear.
[RT7]
Think of the seven remnants — RT7. How did God use them? Look at Joseph. Where is Joseph right now? It might sound extreme, but Joseph’s exact position determined God’s timetable for the entire world. Why? Because Joseph was the one who would block disasters. This is certain. Where David was positioned also mattered greatly. Without further explanation, you understand this: God gave all blessings to those who would block disasters.
2. What
Second, what exactly did God give? This is very important.
1) The Angel of the Lord (verse 26)
Today, a remarkable phrase appears: “The angel of the Lord.” God mobilizes His angels like this. In verse 26, it says, “The angel of the Lord…”
2) The Spirit of the Lord (verse 29)
The second phrase is in verse 29: “The Spirit of the Lord said to Philip…”
3) The Spirit of the Lord (verse 39)
And the third phrase appears in verse 39: “The Spirit of the Lord took Philip away.” Though the words sound similar, the context and the situation are different.
The angel of the Lord appeared and told Philip: “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. There you will meet an important Ethiopian official who came to Jerusalem to worship.” He wasn’t on a sightseeing trip — he came to worship and was returning home, reading the book of Isaiah. Imagine if the angel of the Lord spoke directly into your life today — what blessings would unfold! These blessings are happening right now, but so many people miss them. Don’t miss them.
Then, in verse 29, the Holy Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” Philip obeyed, approached, and asked: “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” So Philip explained the prophecy about Christ. After hearing, the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” Notice: Philip didn’t tell him to be baptized — the eunuch himself asked for it. Then verse 39 says, “The Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again.” This shows us something important: your ministry has a beginning and an end, but its results are eternal. We must never forget this. All blessings are here.
3. When
Third, when does God fulfill this work?
[Slaves, Captives, Colonies]
Why did God allow His people to become slaves in powerful nations? Why did He allow them to be taken as captives and ruled as colonies? There is a reason.
1) 237
To prevent total destruction, God sent them into nations connected to the 237 nations of the world. And today, He calls us to reach all 237 nations.
2) 5000
God commands us to penetrate the 5000 tribes that are spiritually unreached. Among them are the remote islands of Oceania — miracles are waiting there. We must go into these unreached fields.
3) TCK, CCK, NCK
And we must find the abandoned remnants there — the TCKs, the remnants trapped in cultures of darkness. There are still nations without written language. Some have no shoes, never brush their teeth, live in extreme poverty, and are completely outside the global cultural flow. Yet God is calling us to them. Those who go will surely see God’s works.
▣ Conclusion — [Preparation]
Therefore, we must prepare sincerely. What preparation?
1. A Place of Rest for the Sick and Weary
We must build a proper system inside the church where spiritually sick people can come and find healing. A place where they can pray alone, receive personal counseling, and rest. It doesn’t require much — just a quiet space, even a single small room. Right now, remnants have nowhere to rest. We must create such spaces. This isn’t about facilities — it’s about spiritual eyes. Truly sick people have nowhere to turn for help, so they end up going to cults and heretical groups. Our focus shouldn’t be on criticizing those groups — we must make sure people don’t need to go there in the first place. Likewise, multiethnic families need a place where they can feel, “This is my home.” We must prepare such spaces.
2. Miracles
When we do this, we’ll witness miracles. Think about missions trips overseas: we go, we evangelize, and a disciple emerges. But then, to raise that disciple, we must invest years of training, eventually bring them to Korea, pay for their travel, teach them, and then send them back to their nations. That takes so much time, effort, and money. But today, God has already brought these multiethnic disciples to us. This itself is a miracle. But we must be careful: we must not teach them the wrong thing. If Philip had taught the Ethiopian eunuch the Law instead of Christ, he would have been cursed. Philip explained Christ — nothing else. The eunuch was baptized and returned to his nation, becoming an instrument of God’s work. That is a miracle.
3. One Person — One Nation
Those who came here are now returning to their nations and doing God’s work 100 times better than we could. I am constantly amazed. Those who went to Peru, Vanuatu, Bangladesh — they were here, and after understanding their mission, they are now powerfully evangelizing their countries. This is a miracle. In truth, even one person can change an entire nation. You — one person — can pray for one nation and see God’s works there.
We must understand why God brings all answers. Until Christ returns, the invisible battle between the two kingdoms will continue. We are in this battle. That is why your future generations must be equipped with spiritual strength. But many parents fail here — they give their children everything except spiritual power. And as a result, our children collapse under extreme pressure. Especially in competitive environments, children are being crushed. Some even lose their minds. There was a case where a son of a wealthy businessman completely broke down mentally, came here, and was healed. It’s not about blaming success; it’s about realizing what’s missing: spiritual strength. Without it, no amount of worldly success can save you.
That is why we must raise remnants who truly understand the gospel and live victoriously in prayer. And when multiethnic disciples come to us, we must help them discard all worldly motives and understand the true gospel. Like Obadiah in Scripture, when they return to their countries, they must return not just with “knowledge” but with spiritual power to save others. This is our mission: to save people, nations, and future generations. Without multiethnic missions, the world will fall into greater spiritual darkness.
Look at the physical world today — pollution, disease, and global crises spread everywhere. That’s serious, but far more serious is the spiritual pandemic spreading worldwide. There is only one cure: Christ. Darkness does not fear your strength. Satan is not intimidated by your skills. He laughs at your wealth. But Satan trembles before Christ alone. May you enter into this great blessing this week in the name of Jesus Christ.
Prayer. Father God, we give You praise. Allow us to triumph in the battle between the two kingdoms. Let Your Kingdom be established to save the entire world. Let Your Kingdom come upon our future generations. Let Your Kingdom be fulfilled among the multiethnic peoples. We pray in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.