Prayer Journal: October 3, 2025
2024 Japan Evangelism Conference, Lecture 1
Scripture Reading: Isaiah 62:6-12
♠Introduction
▶ “I am in the midst of hardship—what should I do?” There may be those who say this. Perhaps some of you would say, “I am struggling because my health is not good.” You must find the answer this time and take it with you. And our pastors and missionaries may be asking, “How can we quickly evangelize Japan?” I believe the answer to that will come out at this conference. And we have our remnants—what kind of remnants should they become?
▶ In fact, everyone asks these questions. Long ago I asked such questions myself. I had to bring revival in the field entrusted to me, didn’t I? But I had no strength. It is easy to talk about, but I did not have the strength to do it. One day I realized it was not only me—nearly all the church members were in difficulty. At that time I realized, “Ah, I and the members cannot receive answers.” Listening to most conversations, they were not of the kind that could receive answers. I was the same. Then it happened—God’s very important Word came to me as an answer. It is an answer anyone can have, but it struck my heart. “How should I pray?” Even in the past I did not really know. You may not know how to pray—back then I did not. I would set a time to pray, but it would not continue.
▶ So I held to one very important Word of God: God has set you as a watchman. Then I realized—if I am a watchman, isn’t that 24? Only then did I understand prayer. Do watchmen set a time for prayer? No. If the people are sleeping and the watchman is guarding, can he sleep? If I must sleep, I must appoint someone to take responsibility and stand in my place, and then sleep. If the enemy invades, the watchman must see and inform. If a fire breaks out in the village, the watchman must see and inform, must he not? From this I received a tremendous answer: God has set you as a watchman. At that word I said, “Oh!” and I came to understand all prayer. Truly. Until then I did not know prayer. To set a place and time to go pray—this did not last even three days. I could not even practice it for three days. “Let’s go pray in the mountains”—at most once or twice on occasion; it did not become a way of life. What kind of watchman is that?
▶ From then on, as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning, I began to pray—unconditionally. And during the day I saw that most people were struggling. They were not entirely wrong, but they could not receive answers. So I turned everything I heard and saw into prayer. And at night I could not help but preach. Others might not know this, but after everything I would go off alone—unable to sleep—and prepare the sermon. Therefore at night I could not help but pray. But that was not it either. It is not that I had to pray and prepare just to preach the next day; rather, at night I came to have prayer time in which I could receive all the answers. Simply doing this, I was astonished—I began to see the Word written in Scripture being fulfilled. I am not saying I did something well or something great; I came to see God’s Word being fulfilled.
▶ Thus the theme this time is “The Watchmen Who Will Save the World—Japan.” This is the theme. Why? Because as I see it, if a person understands what “watchman” means, Japan is the country that has the best conditions to do world evangelization. I have not visited all 237 nations, but I have been to nearly all. Japan has the best conditions to do world evangelization. Do not be discouraged—“God has set me as a watchman!” When you open your eyes, pray; before you close your eyes, pray. There are many hardships—turn them all into prayer. People speak according to their own thoughts—turn it all into prayer. Just doing this, amazing things happen. Doing only this, I began to see what is important.
▶ What did I come to see? I realized that a watchman must know what it means to “keep watch 24 hours.” Right? If you are a watchman, what are you to watch? I came to know this. Then I saw what is important in the Bible.
① Satan (the 12 strategies) — Satan, even now without sleep, is attacking you with twelve strategies.
② Isaiah 62:6–12, Acts 1:1–8, Acts 19:8, 1 Corinthians 3:16 — Therefore there is a promise God has given to the Lord’s servants who are watchmen. In Isaiah 62:6–12 He says, “I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem,” and, “Give Him no rest day or night.” As God gave this Word, I realized—yes. If even one of you today stands as a watchman of prayer, what did Jesus do? He raised tremendous watchmen, and for forty days He explained the kingdom of God—the power of the throne.
Paul understood this. This is a watchman. Ah, I have been the wrong kind of watchman until now. Jesus explained for forty days the power of the throne so that we could overcome the forces of darkness—right? If you hold to this covenant now, the darkness will be broken in the places related to you. So let none of you be discouraged; instead, make the secret bartizan stand within you—by prayer. We cannot do it. That is why Paul also said, “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” Simply put, watchmen are those who keep the bartizan, and (as I will say tomorrow) the secret bartizan must be set up inside me. Do not be discouraged for any reason—start. I have seen living witnesses. They were not highly educated, did not have money, had nothing—yet my mother stood as a watchman of prayer. I saw it. “Ah, this is a watchman of prayer.” How much did the works arise? There is no need to say—those who know, know.
▶Introduction – Witness
At that time, evidence began to appear.
- Genesis 37:11
▶ Jacob. One day Joseph was gone. But Scripture says, “His father kept the saying in mind”—regarding the Word of God spoken to Joseph. Over the disappeared Joseph, Jacob became a watchman of prayer. Right? Joseph was sold as a slave. Yet he became a watchman of prayer. What happened afterward was beyond imagination.
▶ I saw the testimony of this Word. Therefore, never be discouraged. Do not build this bartizan (Satan’s 12 strategies); build this bartizan (Isaiah 62:6–12; Acts 1:1–8; Acts 19:8; 1 Corinthians 3:16). Before setting up a bartizan outwardly, first build the secret bartizan inside you. No one will be able to overcome you. What will not overcome you? The power of darkness will not overcome you—Jesus said so. “The gates of Hades shall not prevail against you,” because as I realized this, I understood that setting up God’s secret bartizan inside me is the beginning of everything. I had many hardships and many injustices, but it does not matter—I am here (in this covenant). Start from today! When will the answer come? Do not concern yourself with that. When will it come? Keep going until it does. Joseph did so. - Exodus 2:1–10
▶ Look at Scripture. All the sons were about to be killed. Moses’ mother—simply put—set up the bartizan of a watchman. You understand? Absolutely unbelievable things happened. What happened? This is that bartizan. People hear it lightly when it is spoken, but Jesus said, “You will be my witnesses to the ends of the earth”—and it happened, didn’t it? If watchmen holding this covenant arise in Japan, the greatest door for world evangelization will open. - 1 Samuel 1:9–11
▶ Another watchman—a woman—arose. Who? Hannah. Hannah became a watchman of prayer. What happened? It was beyond imagination. With that level of power, you will evangelize Japan and evangelize the world. Believe this. Very simply, set up the bartizan by prayer inside you. - 1 Samuel 17:18
▶ Look—Jesse, the father of David. Jesse was a watchman of prayer for David. “Go to the battlefield and be sure to bring back evidence.” When he sent him on that errand, works arose from there. - 2 Kings 2:9–11
▶ Look closely at Scripture—Elisha in 2 Kings 2. Others had no interest, but Elisha alone became a watchman of prayer. Through Elisha, the movement at Dothan arose. Do not lose hold of this. “From today I will set up the secret bartizan of the watchman!” No one knows—so no one can steal it. Many pastors do not believe, so when you pray, works are bound to arise. Many ask, “Pastor, how did you do world evangelization?” I do not know. I simply prayed, and God’s Word worked; God worked, and now world remnants are arising. - Daniel 1:8–9
▶ One day Daniel resolved in his heart. “I will be a watchman who saves this nation.” He understood what Isaiah had said. This was built—so the bartizan of Satan collapsed and this bartizan arose—the secret bartizan was formed within me. You know what happened. Jesus explained the things concerning the kingdom of God for forty days and said, “You will be my witnesses.”
▶Main Point – Then what kind of watchman should we become? How should we begin the blessings as watchmen?
1. The reason for the watchman – “A watchman who saves”
▶ First. What is the reason He called you as a watchman? Why does God call me a watchman—me, who has no strength? Why did God tell me to become a watchman? Why has He prepared this blessing and called me a watchman? You must surely take this with you. What is the reason? He has called you as a watchman who saves.
1) Church members – the Jews (Matthew 12:26–30)
▶ First, church members are perishing. Go and talk much in the church—faith hardly grows, does it? Listen to what church members talk about when they gather—faith does not arise. You must save them. Let me give an example, the evidence: the Jews could not avoid disaster. Right? If you do not understand this, Jesus said it—“Satan has made a house within you,” Jesus said.
2) Those who hinder the gospel (2 Corinthians 10:4–5)
▶ There are so many who even hinder the gospel. Save them. In fact, Peter’s team—one must be careful with those who have just believed. Peter’s team did not evangelize Rome—they hindered the gospel. If an elder becomes a watchman of prayer, he becomes an elder who saves the church; if he does not become a watchman, he becomes a hindrance. What does that mean? He himself does not know. According to 2 Corinthians 10:4–5, Satan has set up strongholds. Right? Remnants, do not hesitate in the slightest. Church members are not receiving answers to prayer. Religious people are becoming more and more troubled.
3) Rome (John 16:11–14)
▶ Rome is not receiving blessing. This is certain. Remnants must take this and go to school, go to study abroad, and learn. In John 16 it says they will be held within the kingdom of Satan—surely. You must know the reason He called you as a watchman: the Jews are destined to disaster—we must block it. Right? The church of the Mark’s Upper Room—crisis has come. We must block it—we must block disaster. Rome—there is nothing to stop it from causing wars; people are being killed every day. We must save them. You must surely remember this.
2. The blessing of the watchman – “Gospel watchman”
▶ These are the blessings you will receive when you become a watchman. You must know this. Therefore He called you as a gospel watchman—not only a watchman who saves, but a gospel watchman…
1) Calvary (John 19:30)
▶ First, at Calvary everything of yours was finished. You must believe this. The moment you truly believe, the darkness is broken. He has called you as this watchman. I will speak more tomorrow.
2) Mt Olive
▶ At Mt Olive He gave you the bartizan/journey/guideposts by which you can receive answers. Right? Others cannot steal this from you. The bartizan/journey/guideposts of the throne—I believe this. I would become the right kind of watchman, but in the past I did not know what kind of watchman to become. Jesus spoke—He explained concerning the kingdom of God for forty days. That is Mt Olive: the power of the throne, the journey, the guideposts…
3) The Mark’s Upper Room
▶ And then what? One day, in the Mark’s Upper Room, you experience the power. “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you”—it is simple. Become a watchman unconditionally.
▶ Remnants who think, “Because of my parents our home is too difficult”—change it all and go. If you do not change it, it will never work. Looking at that, I said, “God has called me as a witness.” In the past our home and church were very diseased, poor, and powerless. From then on I prayed—witness. I have never been sick even once—witness; it is a miracle, is it not? I have no pains—witness. I have never suffered because of money—witness, truly. I have never suffered because the church did not grow—wherever I went, works arose. Absolutely not my strength—the watchman. Believe this. All right? “Alas, I married the wrong husband”—change that thought. There is no hope in the husband—you must think, “I must save him.” Then answers come. “I married the wrong wife”—change that thought. “I must save my wife”—witness. Remember this firmly.
▶ If the gospel movement arises in Japan—(I will speak about this tomorrow)—when a bartizan is set up in Japan, world evangelization will truly arise easily. Among all the countries I have traveled to, there is no country as convenient as this. I did not even learn Japanese—I do not need to learn. I can just go and communicate with gestures—it all works. If there is a supermarket, everything is there. And it is unbelievably convenient. So much consideration has been built into everything. This is indeed a nation that can do world evangelization. Remnants who will do world evangelization should come to Japan and learn many things. Recently in America I scolded them a bit—America is the least considerate place in the world; America must realize this. I am not praising Japan; I am stating facts. Therefore, when Japanese remnants arise, they will greatly help world evangelization. As I said earlier, many remnants came to Korea for training—most collapsed and left. The ones who have remained are the Japanese remnants. Isn’t it amazing? Korean is very difficult, yet they learn it quickly. Therefore whenever I come to Japan, I am very thankful to God, and I am thankful for missionaries like these—missionaries who preach only the gospel. For you, now is the beginning. The three years of Jesus’ public ministry? That is not the starting point—the starting point is from when He spoke on Mt Olive.
3. The answers of the watchman – “Happy watchman”
▶ You are not just any watchman—there is an answer that comes first to a watchman.
1) Summit
▶ First—God has set you as a summit. Joseph did not seek employment—he became the prime minister. He was even taken as a captive, yet became prime minister. David was a shepherd, yet became king.
2) Healing
▶ Why? Because as a watchman you must heal many—you must bring healing. If only this is formed, healing takes place.
3) Special bartizan
▶ And set up special bartizans throughout all Japan. What is a special bartizan? It is this bartizan. This is what Jesus spoke. God has called you as watchmen.
▶ Therefore, for watchmen in this conference—what do you need? What must a watchman build? That will be in Lecture 2 tomorrow. How will you do world evangelization? That will be in the final Lecture 3. Today, make a very important resolution: God has called me as a watchman. I am not envious of great powers—for fearful disasters will come upon them. We must go and help them. For forty years of evangelism I hardly had casual conversations with church members—because there is so much talk that cannot receive answers. Hold to the covenant—so that people may come to life through you—so that you become truly happy watchmen. Let this be the first lecture you firmly hold today.
▶ Even if answers do not come quickly, do not be discouraged. When I held firmly to this covenant, things did not start immediately from that moment. As time passed, I came to know the secret of prayer. In the morning, as soon as I rise, I move—because I am busy. When I open my eyes, there is much to prepare, so I must move unconditionally. While I keep comfortable breathing that restores my health, I keep praying—I have no time, I must prepare quickly and go. From then on, appointments and meetings begin—I turn everything into prayer. As I go, I focus my prayer on the seven bartizans/journey/guideposts. At night I must receive grace in the message I must deliver to you tomorrow—and I must obtain answers. What is Lecture 1 today? I must not talk about myself. It is the blessing of the watchman whom God raised in the most difficult time—for Japanese disciples; it is the mission of the watchman which Jesus Himself spoke—to Japanese disciples. Not all understood—only Paul understood. This secret—for Japanese disciples. It is certain. I have not come to teach you—I have come as a witness. Those who know me know—I was in complete ruin, and He set me as a witness.
♠Conclusion
▶ Therefore start from now.
- 3 Concentrations (engraving)
▶ Begin the 3 Concentrations. Simply put, begin the prayer of the watchman. Then this will continually be engraved. Then it will take root. Later, without realizing it, it becomes your nature. This is called the 3 settings, the 3 answers—they follow. - The throne (7/7/7), the kingdom, the work (darkness)
▶ Then remember now—three things happen every time you pray. Every time you pray, the seven unseen bartizans are formed. Right? Every time you pray, it begins to come upon the journey you must take—to your studies, your job, your work—works arise. Guideposts. Therefore the most important power of the throne at this time—this is 7/7/7. At that time two things occur: upon the place you must go—even before you go—God’s kingdom comes. Jesus explained this—the works of the kingdom take place. What are these works? God breaks the darkness and sends the armies of heaven. It is happening now. - Witness
▶ Do not worry—one day God will set you in that place—the place of the witness. You, as witnesses, will save your families. You, as witnesses, will save your schools. In your workplaces you will save your workplaces. How will you save them? If you stand as watchmen, those with spiritual problems are bound to be healed. From now—from this evening—start. As watchmen—“Give Him no rest”—He explained the things concerning the kingdom of God for forty days—Paul boldly testified to this secret for three months in the school of Tyrannus—then the next answers followed: “Paul, do not be afraid; you must stand before Caesar…”
▶ I bless those gathered here, and Japan, that this will be the best conference—in the name of Jesus Christ. I will pray.
Prayer. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, King of kings, and the infinite love of God, and the present working of the Holy Spirit be with all the disciples who will stand as watchmen, from now to eternity, always. Amen.