Prayer Journal: November 17, 2025
09. Feb. 2025 Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service
Scripture Reading: Genesis 50:15-21
▣ Introduction
Thank you. Today, looking at Joseph’s confession of faith, we must receive grace.
1. In times of despair, when you have lost yourself – discover the accurate blessing God is giving you. In reality, Joseph became a slave in the midst of despair. There are times when a person falls into despair and says, “I do not even know who I am anymore.” Joseph was suddenly sold as a slave, so he had no hope and did not even know who he was.
1) If you just grit your teeth and endure, it becomes a sickness. At such a time, if you just force yourself to endure, it becomes a sickness.
2) If you leave it alone, you lose everything. When despair comes to us and we just say, “I don’t know,” and leave it as it is, we eventually lose everything.
3) If you struggle and thrash around, it becomes an even greater loss. On the other hand, if you struggle and thrash around, it becomes an even greater loss. There are times when we fall into exactly this kind of situation. In such a time, Joseph discovered the accurate blessing that God was giving.
4) Because it is hard to find the accurate blessing God is giving, people hold onto a wrong faith, have a wrong assurance, and seek wrong experiences. But this blessing is difficult to find. Most people end up holding onto a wrong kind of faith. When answers do not come, they think, “I guess God does not answer my prayers.” Many people also cling to a wrong assurance. And because you can have “experiences” anywhere, they try to live by those wrong experiences. This is important.
2. How to discover God’s blessing in times of despair – hold onto the accurate covenant given to your ancestors. When despair comes to us, how can we discover God’s blessing? That is the key. You must absolutely do this. When great despair comes to me, how do I discover God’s blessing there? This is very important. There is a covenant that God gave to the ancestors. We must find the Word, and there is a covenant He gave to the forefathers. There were four great incidents. What were they? He made them know the covenant through these incidents.
1) When they were seized by Satan in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) – the offspring of the woman, Christ who will crush the serpent’s head, must become mine (Genesis 3:15). In the Garden of Eden, they were completely seized by Satan. At that time, God gave the covenant: “The offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.” You must hold onto this covenant. Christ will crush the authority of Satan. This must become your own.
2) The incident of the flood of Noah (Genesis 6) – “If you enter the ark, you will live. Build an ark for yourself, for your descendants, and for life” (Genesis 6:14). Then a second incident arose: the flood of Noah. At that time, God said, “If you enter the ark, you will live.” “Build an ark. Build an ark for yourself. Build an ark for your descendants. Build an ark to preserve life.” A very important answer was given.
3) The Tower of Babel incident (Genesis 11) – “Leave Ur of the Chaldeans and go to the land I will show you. You will be the source of blessing, and all nations will be blessed” (Genesis 12:1-3). Next, the Tower of Babel incident occurred. It collapsed completely. At that time, God said, “Leave Ur of the Chaldeans. Go to the land I will show you. I will make it so that no one can stand against you. I will make you a source of blessing. Through your offspring, all nations will be blessed.” He gave this promise.
4) Mount Moriah (Genesis 22) – the ram instead of Isaac, blessing for all peoples on earth, the gate of their enemies (Genesis 22:13-18). And what was the final incident? On Mount Moriah, God led Abraham to offer Isaac. But if he offered Isaac, Isaac would die. So to make sure they would never forget, God prepared a ram. With that, He gave a promise: “Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed. Through your offspring you will possess the gate of their enemies.” This was given.
This field came to Joseph. Joseph held tightly to this covenant. You cannot hold onto a wrong covenant. He firmly held onto the accurate covenant. Just as the Word was given to you today, if you simply hold onto that, anyone can hold onto it correctly. Why? You must believe this: God has given you the authority to overcome the power of darkness. He has given you the blessing of building the ark that blocks disasters. He has promised that you will not remain under the collapsed Tower of Babel, but that you will leave Ur of the Chaldeans and go to the land of the covenant to do world evangelization. And the key that changes that destiny is the ram. So He said that through the one who realizes this He will surely accomplish world evangelization. What do you think? Joseph came to Egypt as a slave. This is exactly that.
3. When you find the accurate answer, your thoughts change. Once you find the accurate answer, your way of thinking changes first. From today, you must receive the blessing of having your thoughts changed.
1) The death of his mother – a foothold. Even the death of his mother became a foothold.
2) The threats of his brothers – preparation of a vessel. The threats of his brothers became the complete preparation of a vessel for Joseph.
3) Prison – the road to success. He was even thrown into prison because of Potiphar’s wife. That was actually the road to success.
4) The betrayal of the cupbearer – God’s timetable. In the prison, the cupbearer betrayed him. That was God’s timetable. In this way, his thoughts were completely changed.
※ If you remain in excuses, scars, complaints, and lamentation, you will never receive answers. When I look at remnants, most of them make excuses: “My family is like this, my parents are like that…” That is what they say. I tell them, “If you do not change that way of thinking, you will never, ever receive answers.” Right? You cannot receive them that way. Your thinking must change. If Joseph had been trapped in the scar of saying, “I have no mother—how am I supposed to live?” and spent his time weeping in that scar, he would not have been able to do anything. If he had lamented, “Why would my brothers do this to me?” nothing could happen. If he had cried out, “I did nothing wrong—why am I being sent to prison?” there would be no way forward.
4. The confession of faith of one who holds the accurate covenant. When you, who now hold the accurate covenant, make a confession of faith:
1) Answers for 100 years, 1000 years, and eternity – a witness. That confession will bring answers for 100 years, 1000 years, and even for eternity. You must believe this. This is what we call a “witness.”
2) It brings about tremendous works – world evangelization. The confession you make will bring about tremendous works. That is what we call world evangelization. You must not lose hold of this. If today you hold onto the accurate covenant and change your thinking, amazing things will take place.
3) It changes destinies and brings about a work that shines light in the darkness. You must remember this again. The confession of faith made by a person who holds the accurate covenant is not just any confession. It brings answers for 100 years, 1000 years, and eternity, it changes destinies, and it brings about works that shine light into the darkness. Joseph showed this as evidence.
▣ Main – Joseph’s confession of faith
1. The confession of faith made in the family – it saves the family line. First is the confession of faith made in the family. What was Joseph’s confession of faith in his family?
1) The sun, moon, and stars bowed down to me – world evangelization. He confessed that the sun, moon, and stars bowed down to him. His brothers came to hate him intensely. They thought he had gone crazy. He was speaking about world evangelization. His brothers were so angry that they cursed and rebuked him.
2) “It was not you who sold me, but God who sent me ahead of you” – the covenant is surely fulfilled. Then one day, as you know, his brothers tried to kill Joseph but instead sold him. How was this fulfilled? No one knew. Jacob wondered, “Did Joseph really die? What happened to him?” Parents have a sense when a child dies. Joseph had just vanished. Then one day, an amazing event took place. Joseph became the prime minister of Egypt, the man who moved the world. His brothers were shocked. They trembled in fear. At that time he said, “It was not you who sold me, but God who sent me ahead of you.” This news was delivered to his father. What do you think Jacob thought when he heard this? God’s covenant is surely fulfilled. Right?
3) Israel – Jacob who blessed Pharaoh. In this way, the entire family of Israel, seventy people in all, came down to Egypt. They were given the safest land, the land of Goshen. The aged Jacob came leaning on his staff, leading the seventy members of his family into Egypt. His son was prime minister. When he arrived, leaning on his staff, and the family of this powerful prime minister came, Egypt must have been in an uproar. Even the king himself honored this family. When Pharaoh welcomed Jacob’s family and met him, the Bible records one thing: this Jacob is Israel. Right? As soon as he met Pharaoh, Jacob lifted his hands and blessed him.
※ The confession of faith made while holding the accurate covenant is surely fulfilled. It was the gospel that made Joseph victorious. The confession of faith that you make while holding the accurate covenant is surely fulfilled. This was not Joseph making himself victorious; it was the gospel that made Joseph victorious.
2. The confession of faith made in the field – the blessing of the throne appears and the field is saved. Second, the confession of faith made in the field brings out the blessing of the throne. What happened in the field? The confession in the field is not just with the mouth. It is seen.
1) Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in everything. “The Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in everything he did.” “Potiphar saw that the Lord was with Joseph and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did.” The blessing even reached the fields. As long as Joseph managed things, God blessed even the fields. These tremendous evidences began to appear. Today, if you hold onto the accurate covenant, every prayer you offer will surely be fulfilled. Turn despair into God’s blessing. You must not merely endure. Since God’s plan is surely within your despair, turn it into God’s blessing.
2) The warden entrusted all the work of the prison to Joseph. This Joseph, who had been falsely accused, was thrown into prison. But again, works arose there. The warden in that prison entrusted all the work of the prison to Joseph. Such things were taking place.
3) The incident of the officials being put into prison – it became the event that changed Joseph’s destiny and the world. In the midst of this, as you know, the king’s officials, the cupbearer and baker, were put into prison. This became the amazing turning point that changed Joseph’s destiny and the world.
※ You are the remnant, the pilgrim, and the conqueror – the confession made while holding the accurate covenant reveals tremendous power. When you hold the accurate covenant and pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the power of darkness is broken (Luke 10:19, Mark 3:15). You are the remnant, the pilgrim, and the conqueror. The confession you make—your confession while holding the accurate covenant—reveals tremendous power. You must believe this. So Jesus promised, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions.” As soon as He called them, He said, “I have given you authority to drive out demons.” This worship today is where you hold this covenant and pray. Even during worship, works arise. When you hold onto this covenant accurately and pray in the name of Jesus Christ, the power of darkness is broken.
3. The confession of faith of the fulfilled covenant – it becomes world evangelization, the work of the kingdom of God. Third, the confession of faith made with the fulfilled covenant becomes world evangelization. This is not just any confession of faith. The confession made in the family saved the family line. The confession made in the field saves the field. The confession of faith made with the fulfilled covenant ultimately carries out world evangelization. It accomplishes the work of the kingdom of God.
1) “God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires” (Genesis 41:16) – “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God?” (Genesis 41:38). It is connected to world evangelization. So when Joseph met Pharaoh, the first conversation is recorded. Pharaoh asked, “Can you interpret dreams?” Joseph replied, “I cannot do it.” This is a very precious statement. “But God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” Then Joseph explained the dream, the interpretation, and even the policy. At that time, the king said, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the Spirit of God, in whom there is such wisdom and power?” “Let us make this man prime minister. Let all the people and the nation move according to his word.” So Joseph personally sold the grain. As prime minister, he had to greet all the important figures and leaders who came from each country. He sold them the grain. This became an amazing event connected to world evangelization. The accurate covenant you hold and the confession you make reveal amazing power. You must believe this. This is why you worship again today. The prayer you offer in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is set to break the darkness.
2) “It was not you who sold me, but God who sent me ahead of you to save lives” (Genesis 45:5). While Joseph was doing this, people from all over the world came to buy grain—and his brothers came as well. Joseph wore splendid garments as prime minister, so his brothers did not recognize him. Who would imagine that the brother they had sold as a slave had become prime minister? They did not even think of it; they simply came to buy grain. Joseph saw them and recognized that they were his brothers. What do you think he did? The Bible records that before revealing himself to them, Joseph went into an inner room and wept loudly. Then he came out and spoke to his brothers, telling them that he was Joseph. His brothers were shocked. They trembled and begged for their lives. At that time, Joseph said, “It was not you who sold me, but God who sent me ahead of you to save lives. Do not be afraid.”
3) “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good; I will take responsibility for your children” (Genesis 50:20-21). The passage we read today goes even further. At last, Israel—Jacob—passed away. He gave instructions for his bones to be carried up later and left a will, and when Jacob died, Joseph wept loudly over his father for many days. His brothers became afraid. They thought, “Joseph’s weeping as prime minister is not just ordinary grieving. Now we are finished. He spared us only for our father’s sake; now that our father is gone, we are dead.” For they had done great evil. At that time, Joseph spoke the words recorded in today’s passage: “You intended to harm me,” he said, acknowledging their evil, “but God intended it for good. Do not be afraid.” And he added, “I will take responsibility for all of your children.” This is Joseph’s confession up to this point. God’s amazing evidences began to appear.
▣ Conclusion – What you must carry with you today
1. One in whom the Spirit of the Lord dwells – cultivate 300% strength (fullness of the Holy Spirit). Especially for our young adults, there will be many times when the world outside feels dark. And when our remnants go out and begin to live in the world, there will be times when they feel completely at a loss. You must build up strength. Become “one in whom the Spirit of the Lord dwells”—in simple terms, cultivate 300% strength. That is the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
2. Every path is the journey – go without fear. Build up that strength and go. Go without fearing anything. Every path you walk is part of the journey.
3. In my difficulties and crises – discover the accurate covenant. Answers will come for 100 years, 1000 years, and eternity. So you must remember this today. What are my difficulties? You must never lose hold of that question. What crisis am I in right now? Do not try to avoid it or force your way through it; you must discover the accurate covenant there. You must have this experience. Only then can you go as a witness to save others. The covenant you hold in this way will receive answers forever. It is truly mysterious. I have testified dozens of times. The covenant I held onto in childhood has continued to this day.
1) Disease – healing people with spiritual problems all over the world.
2) Poverty – restoring the economy of light to the level of world evangelization.
3) Inability – world evangelization. In childhood, the things that hit me the hardest were these: “Why are people suffering so much from sickness? Why is there so much poverty? And now that I go to church, why is it that the church cannot evangelize and has no power?” In that, I saw God’s Word. I did nothing else—I simply held onto the Word. If God is the Creator, how can it be right for me to remain in poverty? If God is almighty, how can it be that sickness renders a person completely powerless? From the beginning to the end, God speaks of world evangelization; how can it be right that the church is unable to evangelize? I realized that I had been holding onto the wrong covenant. I did only one thing: “Ah, I have held onto the wrong covenant. I must hold onto God’s accurate covenant.” World evangelization is God’s will. Right? Restoring the economy of light to the level of world evangelization is God’s will. Healing people with spiritual problems all over the world is God’s will. I only held onto the covenant, and answers kept coming. Joseph held onto the covenant of world evangelization, which his brothers failed to hold, and works arose. In the remainder of your life, you must have this experience. The covenant you hold sometimes comes as an answer for 100 years, sometimes as an answer for 1000 years, and sometimes as an eternal answer. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that today, as you worship all day, this will be a day of blessing in which you discover what is truly important. Let us pray.
Prayer. Thank You, God. Let Joseph’s confession of faith become my confession today. Let me see Your absolute plan in the midst of despair. Let me hold onto Your accurate covenant and work with Your power. Let today become that timetable. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.