2023.08.20 District Message
Scripture Reading: Acts 1:8
When we compare our childhood with today, there are many differences. However, the principle remains the same. Things keep developing, so naturally, there are differences, but the principles have not changed. For example, there were exams back then and exams now — that has not changed. Today’s remnants cannot even imagine it, but when I was young, exam papers weren’t printed as they are now; they were made with mimeograph machines. Because they were copied with mimeograph ink, the letters were never perfectly clear. Sometimes words showed up, and sometimes they didn’t. That was the technological level of Korea back then. Since the ink used for mimeographing soaked through, you couldn’t print on both sides of the paper.
Later, when I repented, set my heart right, and started attending church properly, I noticed there was no church bulletin. I wanted to make one, but it wasn’t easy. So I began studying how to make it better. I researched how to print clearly on both sides. Eventually, I found that printing shops had machines that could handle double-sided printing. So I learned it and, for several years, I personally made all the church bulletins. The church appreciated it because suddenly we had properly printed bulletins. It might sound simple — writing the content, copying it, and carefully printing both sides — but it was actually a lot of work.
Then suddenly, I was drafted into the army. In the military, it’s not easy to avoid field training and be assigned to headquarters, because there are many soldiers more qualified than I was. Yet, surprisingly, they called for me to come to the administrative office. There were many high-ranking officers, including the commanding officer. My job involved preparing reports and documents, but the papers made with their mimeograph machine were a complete mess. Since I had been making church bulletins for years, I cleaned up their process and prepared perfect reports. When they saw the new quality, the entire administrative office was shocked — even the commanding officer. It wasn’t really anything extraordinary, just clean documents, but when the reports reached the headquarters, even the top staff reacted with surprise. Something so small had such a great impact.
This is why I share this story: re-creation. I didn’t create anything new; I simply found a better way using what already existed. That’s re-creation — and it leads to the 25 answers. Today, foreigners are coming into Korea in great numbers, and this will only increase. Although Korea is a little late, the government is now introducing policies to help foreigners study, work, and settle here successfully. But I believe it will still be difficult for many of them to live comfortably in Korea — especially since even most churches have no proper measures in place. That’s why our church must prepare well. This is part of restoring the three courtyards, and especially for our foreign members, this is where you must discover the blessing of re-creation and the 25 answers.
Five Strengths
You must discover this blessing through the five strengths. In some ways, this is simple. If you can identify what people truly need most, it becomes much easier. You’ll find it everywhere, often in unexpected places. Personally, I discovered how to turn this into the blessing of re-creation. Wherever I went, I didn’t accomplish something huge; I simply found what was most necessary and met that need — and God’s works arose. I believe the same applies in companies, churches, and anywhere else.
When I became an evangelist, I was assigned to serve in a very prestigious church. The church was well-known, but in reality, there was so much work to do. For example, their membership registry was completely unorganized. So the first thing I did was to clean up the registry, because I needed to know the members in order to evangelize effectively. While doing this, I discovered hundreds of potential evangelism contacts hidden in the records. It may seem like a small thing, but it created a big impact. People began calling me, saying things like, “I was so discouraged, but I got a phone call from the new evangelist and I feel so thankful!” Something so small created great spiritual fruit.
I once met a foreign member who wrote this during a counseling session: “When I was in Seoul, the church treated me very well, but after moving to Busan, I feel disconnected.” This shows how important small details are. We often think we need to achieve something big, but the greatest answers are hidden in small things. Of course, we must attempt big works, but the secret is in taking care of the small needs. Most multiethnic members and many people in general are not looking for grand gestures — they are burdened by small inconveniences and personal difficulties. When those are resolved, the door to evangelism opens.
Necessity
Especially for you and for our multiethnic members, once you develop these five strengths and become a person who meets what is most necessary, you will have victory anywhere. Why was Joseph appointed as prime minister? Because he was needed. Why was Obadiah, who didn’t obey the king’s orders, spared instead of being executed? Because he was needed. Why did God choose to use the Galilean disciples? Because they were needed. God does not use those who are unnecessary. Become someone God needs by holding onto the covenant.
I call this the answer of re-creation. We are not here to compete. Of course, competition exists, but our goal is not rivalry; it is re-creation. We should strive to do our best, but our greatest focus is on discovering the values worth giving our lives for. The world teaches us to fight and seize opportunities, and while there is some truth to that, our greater calling is to save others. That is re-creation. Even if you think you lack ability, there is someone who needs you. Someone who may not excel in studies may still be needed greatly. Conversely, someone highly educated may not be needed at all. What matters is not your abilities or possessions, but whether you discover where God has placed your necessity. No matter where you go, there is always someone who needs what God has placed inside you.
Before coming here, I served as an associate pastor in a church where conflict was constant. Elders would come to church ready to argue, even preparing topics to fight over during early morning prayer! Naturally, the church struggled. Even when new believers came, no one paid attention to them because everyone was too busy fighting. It was tragic because many of these members had recently accepted Christ. Among them was a missionary named Son Se-man, whom I often praise. He had returned from abroad and quietly sat in the congregation one Sunday. I was leading a small group Bible study, and I noticed him paying close attention. That day, a new believer sat in the front, desperate to learn but didn’t even know how to find Bible passages. Within five minutes, Son moved over, helped him locate verses, explained them, and befriended him. After service, he continued sitting under a tree outside, spending the entire day teaching and helping him. That one day was more impactful than attending church for an entire year.
Receiving God’s answers and blessings is not difficult. Why? Because they are hidden in small things. But small things are actually the greatest things. Many tragedies happen because small things are ignored. Seventeen foreign workers died at their workplace simply because no one addressed minor safety concerns. Before the Seongsu Bridge collapsed, warnings about cracks were ignored. Before the Sampoong Department Store disaster, people reported structural weaknesses, but officials dismissed them. Even in recent floods, people warned multiple times about overflowing water levels, but nothing was done. These events remind us: re-creation is not inventing something new; it is discovering what God has already prepared for us.
▣ Introduction — 2 Corinthians 5:17
We are a new creation. We were once destined to perish, yet God has re-created us. We were under curses, bound to die in sin and disease, but God re-created us through Christ. We were unworthy of salvation, but God saved us anyway. That means unimaginable blessings are already hidden within us — but many do not realize it.
▣ Main Point
1. Freedom from the Old
First, re-creation means being set free from the old. It means escaping from the past. What is the old? The traps revealed in Genesis 3, 6, and 11 — Satan’s greatest snares. Re-creation begins when we are freed from these traps.
2. Power of the Throne
Second, re-creation means the power of the throne comes upon us. Where does this power work?
1) Genesis 1:27 — In your life.
2) Genesis 2:7 — In your spirit.
3) Genesis 2:1-18 — In your entire living environment.
This blessing is astonishing. Yet many waste their time focusing on negativity, criticizing others instead of giving life. Re-creation means God’s power begins working inside you.
3. Answers
How does this happen?
1) Only (1•3•8)
Re-creation comes when you hold onto only Christ, only God’s kingdom, and only the Holy Spirit. Especially for our foreign missionaries, this is the most important blessing.
2) Uniqueness
When you receive this, you’ll experience the answer of uniqueness.
3) Re-Creation
Finally, the most necessary answer comes: re-creation itself. You must remember this always.
No matter where you are, this applies. One man moved into a messy, neglected neighborhood. Quietly, without telling anyone, he woke up early every morning to clean the streets. Eventually, the entire neighborhood was touched and transformed. Another example is “Sheeb,” a janitor at the largest steel company in the U.S. He cleaned so diligently that people thought the factory had been rebuilt. He kept getting promoted, not because of special skills, but because everyone loved having him there. Eventually, he became the personal secretary to the company president, and later, he was even entrusted with ownership. Why? Because, as the president said, “If I need technical experts, I’ll hire them. But the God inside you is what this company needs.”
Do not be discouraged. Wherever you go, God has prepared blessings of re-creation for you to uncover.
▣ Conclusion — Prayer
Through prayer, we enjoy the answers of re-creation. Open your spiritual eyes. Even if you work under someone else’s authority, live in a way where the company thrives because of you, not perishes because of you. Wherever the Immanuel family goes, life must arise. Wherever remnants go, healing and restoration must take place. That is God’s will. If, instead, your workplace or ministry weakens because of you, something is wrong.
These blessings are always hidden in advance. I once visited a church that had been stagnant for years. Nothing was happening. Instead of giving long lectures, I quietly found a handful of committed members and began evangelizing with them daily. Within months, revival broke out. Even the elders were amazed, saying, “I don’t know what’s happening, but our church is suddenly growing!” God’s works arise naturally when we uncover His prepared blessings.
Final Steps for Re-Creation
1. Organize the Word
Hold firmly to the Word and organize it daily. From there, true clarity comes.
2. Organize Prayer
When the Word is organized, prayer naturally aligns, and guidance begins to flow.
3. Organize Your Life
At that point, God’s blessings of re-creation begin to organize your life completely.
4. Build the System
This is where the system of only, uniqueness, and re-creation is established. Then God’s works naturally follow.
5. 237 • Healing • Summit
Finally, the doors open for the blessings of the 237 nations, healing, and becoming the summit. At first, it may seem like a dream, but as you walk in this covenant, you will see it fulfilled.
I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to discover the blessing of re-creation and the 25 answers this week.
Prayer. Father God, we thank You. Allow all of Your people across Korea and the world to restore the blessings of re-creation You have prepared for them. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.