2023.08.06 District Message
Scripture Reading: Genesis 39:1-6
Our church and all the workers in every church are very important people. Also, the pastors, ministers, and staff members in our church and in churches across the nation and around the world are, in fact, the most important people in this age. But how do you perceive that? Among pastors, workers, and leaders, there’s always a certain atmosphere or mindset. How do you feel about it?
Inside the church, there are many people who have been entrusted with important responsibilities. But what are they thinking as they carry out their work? This is extremely important because it is directly connected to the future.
Sometimes, you face problems. At times, you may even think, “There are so many problems.” If there are many problems and you are unaware of them, that shows ignorance. However, if you constantly view everything as a problem just because you see many problems, that borders on a mental issue. It’s close to being an illness. Not knowing there are problems when they exist, or imagining problems when they don’t exist — both are symptoms of the same sickness.
Genesis 39:1–6
What do you think? One day, Joseph was suddenly sold into slavery. It was something he never expected. Usually, we would call that a crisis, wouldn’t we?
“Crisis and the 25 Answers”
A crisis had indeed come. “Crisis and the 25 Answers” is the title of this week’s message. There are three things you must absolutely remember here.
[ 1. Crisis – The 7 Disasters ]
In reality, we face problems and crises. But there’s something important you must be careful about. It looks like a crisis right now. In fact, it is a crisis, but it appears even more like one than it really is. That’s why you need to have a little composure.
Many people fell into the seven disasters of Israel for this very reason.
When you explain the Bible, it’s about the Gospel — and aside from that, it’s also the story of how Israel faced seven disasters. You must realize this quickly. The Bible is not talking about something else. It’s the story of salvation, and it’s also the story of Israel’s destruction. But within that story, not everyone perished.
[ 2. 7 Remnants – Opportunity ]
The people who did not fall into crisis were the seven remnants. For the remnants, this was not a crisis. It was the greatest opportunity.
It’s always the same. The situation may seem like a crisis, and in one sense, it truly is a crisis. But if you misinterpret it, you’ll end up trapped in disaster. However, for those who refuse to see it as a crisis, it becomes their greatest opportunity.
Look at Joseph now. From one perspective, being sold into slavery in Egypt looks like the worst crisis. But in reality, it was the greatest opportunity. Isn’t that true?
[ 3. The Next Generation (Scars or Summit) ]
Now, how you view this reality becomes incredibly important for the next generation.
How the next generation interprets these events determines their future. Those who view these situations as crises end up passing down scars to their children. But those who see them as opportunities raise summit leaders. It’s the same situation, but the result is entirely different.
If you grow up poor, that can become a scar. Isn’t that true? But if you view it properly, it can become the greatest blessing.
I’ll explain this more during the short sermon at the first service, but I personally saw how my parents, the church, and everyone around me suffered because of poverty when I was young. I don’t know what your situation was like, but that was my experience. My parents struggled. Churches I visited struggled. Everywhere I looked, people suffered because there wasn’t enough money.
That’s why I held firmly to a definite covenant. I decided: “I will never fall into that trap.” If you get caught in it, it will ruin you. People like that, even if they succeed later, often face financial disasters.
Isn’t that what happened with a certain president? People asked him, “Why did you take so much money illegally?” and he confessed, “It’s because I grew up in such extreme poverty.”
If you remain stuck in poverty mentally, it will cause huge problems for your descendants.
Parents, you must never say to your children, “We can’t do this because we don’t have money.” Is money your god? If something is not in God’s plan, it won’t happen — no matter how much money you have. But if it is in God’s plan, then He will make a way, even making a path in the sea or rivers in the desert.
Instead of saying, “We can’t because we don’t have money,” you must ask, “What is God’s plan?”
Mothers sometimes speak carelessly. While managing the household, they may say things like, “We can’t afford that. Where are we supposed to get the money?” But children hear those words and they become engraved in their minds and even in their spirits. Those impressions don’t just disappear.
Without even realizing it, children start to believe, “Money is the most important thing.” And if that belief becomes extreme, they may even steal. And it doesn’t stop at stealing — some even take up weapons to rob others. These strange, tragic things happen when wrong ideas become deeply rooted.
This path divides the remnants: will you turn past hardships into scars, or into summit opportunities?
Joseph didn’t just “barely” overcome his crisis — he achieved complete victory. It wasn’t just that he “received answers.” He completely flipped his situation.
That’s why, now that the Remnant Conference has ended, I’m telling all of you remnants: turn every one of your problems into a perfect covenant. Don’t settle for a vague or shallow response.
I’ll discuss this more during the first service introduction, but I studied this topic extensively: “Why are we poor? Why is our nation poor? Why am I living in poverty?” I continued to research this deeply.
That’s why I’m telling you — remnants, if you face problems, difficulties, or crises, don’t just endure them. Turn them into your platform for God’s answers and completely overturn them.
You must not exaggerate or sugarcoat anything. Start with the raw facts, exactly as they are, and aim for the highest goal.
▣ Introduction
From this point forward, things will become even more difficult. In the future, five eras are coming.
1. The Age of Mental Illness
You must not rely on people’s words. An age of widespread mental illness is coming. In fact, we are already beginning to see it.
Don’t trust journalists blindly. Just because someone is a journalist doesn’t mean they are mentally sound — they can “lose their mind” and still write and publish things. Isn’t that true?
You also cannot fully trust politicians. Politicians can also lose their sound judgment. And when they do, they start wars. That’s why God commands us to pray.
The age of mental illness is coming.
2. The Age of Addiction
Since the world has lost its way, you must pay close attention. The age of addiction has already begun.
Children who fall into drug addiction can’t easily escape. This leads to endless cycles of conflict, chaos, and destruction.
3. The Age of Conflict
We are entering an age of constant disputes. The age of conflicts and wars is coming. Nations will rise against nations. Families will fight against families. People will live in constant division.
4. The Age of Ideologies
We are also entering an age of ideologies. People are forming rigid ideological systems — and once they’re set, they never change.
Without the true Christ, transformation is impossible. But experiencing the true Christ deeply is not easy, so people remain fixed in their ways.
5. The Age of Mixture
Lastly, people will increasingly seek to blend everything together to make money. We are entering the age of mixture.
People will say, “All religions are the same.” That’s mixture.
They’ll say, “We should all hold hands and walk together.” It sounds good, but it’s deceptive. There’s a huge difference between unity and mixture. Unity happens in the Gospel, but mixture destroys the Gospel.
We are already seeing this:
“Don’t claim that only faith in Jesus brings salvation.”
“Don’t preach that Christ is the only way.”
This is the reality of the world today.
▣ Main
So then, what covenant must you hold onto in this time?
1. The Triune God – Those Who Know Him Enter the Crisis
First, those who know the power of the Triune God are different. They are the ones who step into crisis instead of avoiding it.
They are not afraid of crises.
Joseph wasn’t afraid when he was thrown into prison. He wasn’t afraid when he was sold as a slave. In every crisis, Joseph did even better.
When you understand the Triune God, the work of the throne, and the kingdom of God, you realize that God’s work is fulfilled through crises. That’s why you don’t have to worry.
1) The Work of the Throne
This is something you must actually experience. For example, imagine God’s throne power begins working in your work field. Imagine miracles begin to happen there. Would you be afraid? Of course not. Fear comes only from not knowing this reality.
2) The Answer
Through all these crises, you will find your answer.
Every single situation —
1. Crisis and the 7 Disasters, 2. The 7 Remnants – Opportunity, 3. The Next Generation (Scars or Summit) —
all of these are connected to finding the answer.
Through crises and problems, God reveals everything you need to know.
3) Globalization
Eventually, you will realize that God placed you in front of kings and rulers to stand as a witness to the nations. God is calling you to world evangelization.
2. The Blessing of the Throne – Those Who Enjoy It
This isn’t just about knowing the blessing of the throne. You must enjoy it.
Enjoy it through prayer. For those who enjoy this blessing, every problem, conflict, and crisis turns into a blessing.
1) Problems → Answers
Every problem contains the seed of your answer.
2) Conflicts → Renewal
Every personal conflict you face is an opportunity for spiritual renewal.
3) Crises → Opportunities
Every crisis becomes your opportunity when you enjoy God’s blessing through prayer.
3. Those Who Relay It – Filled with the Holy Spirit
Third, you must become a person who relays this blessing.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit doesn’t just mean receiving power — it means knowing this mystery and delivering it to others. That’s why the Bible describes it as being filled with the Holy Spirit: you receive power, and you pass it on.
1) Joseph – Saving the World
Joseph, in the midst of his crisis, ultimately saved the world. Isn’t that true? That’s the kind of answer you can receive.
Don’t misunderstand your situation and think, “Oh no, we’re doomed. Our family won’t make it.” That’s a mistake. Things look bad, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. Look carefully — God is working.
2) Obadiah – The Dothan Movement
As you know, Obadiah saved many lives during a time of great crisis.
Because of one man, Obadiah, 100 prophets survived, Elijah and Elisha survived, and eventually the entire Dothan Movement took place.
Obadiah did not view the crisis as a disaster — he saw God’s plan in it. And God used him to prepare the foundation for His greater work.
3) Daniel – Setting His Resolve
Look at Daniel. He was taken into Babylonian captivity. In that situation, he could have been discouraged. He could have given up.
He could have also focused only on succeeding in Babylon, striving for position and wealth. But Daniel didn’t choose either of those paths.
Instead, Daniel resolved in his heart to follow God’s will. He understood God’s plan, and he set his resolve to live for Him — and God raised him up as a witness.
4) Mt Calvary, Mt Olive, Mark’s Upper Room
Through these three events, God’s work to save the world began.
At Mt Calvary, the most important event in history took place — Jesus, though sinless, was crucified for us.
At Mt Olive, the resurrected Jesus gave His covenant and final instructions before ascending.
In Mark’s Upper Room, the believers held onto that covenant and prayed, and the power of the Holy Spirit came upon them.
Through this, world evangelization began — and it started only through the early church that understood Calvary, Mt Olive, and Mark’s Upper Room.
5) The Throne, the Kingdom, and the Work
Jesus left us three promises:
The throne of heaven
The kingdom of God
The work of God
Pray for these three things above all else.
Stop focusing on temporary answers. Imagine wrecking your car completely and then demanding it to be fixed in a week. That’s unreasonable, right?
In the same way, when your life has been spiritually broken, you must allow God’s process to restore you. Don’t demand instant answers. God wants to give you something unshakable — something that cannot collapse.
Just pray. If you continue, without being deceived, God will surely establish it.
Remember this: the hidden scars and worries inside you will eventually steer your entire life if left unresolved.
If unbelief and fear are engraved in your heart, your future will follow that path. But if vision, faith, and assurance are engraved instead, God will lead you into His plan.
From your perspective, it may look like a crisis. But from God’s perspective, it is your greatest opportunity.
▣ Conclusion [God’s Timetable]
This is the moment when God’s timetable is fulfilled.
Moses spent 40 years hiding in the wilderness. During that time, God prepared the best answer for him.
When Elijah gave up and thought there was no hope left, God had already prepared something greater.
The early church lived during the greatest global crisis, but in the middle of that crisis, they accomplished the greatest work in church history.
Isn’t that certain? Hold onto this covenant and wait.
Waiting doesn’t mean doing nothing. It means enjoying God’s promise while you wait. If you don’t, you’ll keep missing God’s timing.
You must gain spiritual strength. Because God’s work is invisible, the answers seem to come from unexpected places.
Don’t try to force results yourself. That’s what unbelievers do — those without the Holy Spirit rely on their own efforts, even if they have to be cunning or ruthless.
But believers are different. We hold onto God’s eternal covenant and enjoy His answers, and through that, we save the world.
Today’s message is the closing message of the Remnant Conference. Remnants across the world must hold tightly to this Word.
To all church leaders and workers laboring for the next generation, your covenant will leave an eternal mark.
I remember when people questioned why I went on a mission trip to Vanuatu. They said, “Why Vanuatu? Why not another country?” But today, the president of Vanuatu has come, and the entire city of Seoul is buzzing. Full security operations are in place.
When we held assemblies there, the government even sent security officers to our event to clear seats and secure the area.
Why? Because they realized something: “This organization doesn’t seek recognition. They truly hold onto the Gospel of Christ.”
So, all workers — do not seek credit.
Missionaries, pastors, teachers — do not do ministry to receive honor. Give all glory to God, and work only for the benefit of others.
If you seek recognition, people will sense it immediately. They’ll feel used — and when that happens, everything ends.
But if they sense genuine prayer, sincere care, and true dedication, God opens doors — not only with them but with entire nations.
Even in the workplace, live and work sincerely. Work for the benefit of the company and for others. Do not focus on showing off or manipulating outcomes for your own gain.
To all remnants: I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ to become witnesses who discover what is true through prayer.
Let us pray.
Prayer. God, we thank You. Allow this time to be when Your covenant is confirmed in all remnants across the nation and the world.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.