Regional Worship Service
January 25, 20-26
Scripture: Genesis 3:7-9
What happened to human beings after the fall? You must first understand this: the fall mentioned in the Bible does not refer to simple ethical misconduct. Being cut off from God is the definition of the fall, which is also called sin and evil. While the world views sin as an action, the Bible defines sin as leaving or not believing in God. You must interpret good and evil through this lens.
The world’s standards are based on human righteousness, but according to the Bible, knowing and believing in God is good, while not believing in Him is evil. Being cut off from God means falling into a state of sin where a person lives only for “bread” or physical survival. Because physical needs are never fully within our control, this life is defined by constant worry. In this state, people turn to religion, but religion without the Gospel becomes an idol—a “Satanic bartizan” or stronghold within them. Even kind, diligent, and law-abiding people possess this internal stronghold, making them children of the devil who are subject to “Satan 25.”
My prayer is a constant confession: “God is my strength, my shield, and my help in times of trouble. He is my mountain fortress, my focal point, my light, and my salvation. He is my Shepherd, my bartizan, and my everything. I look only to Him.” God is our refuge because no place in the world is truly safe. While money and science have power, the name of Jehovah is the ultimate strength and the shield that blocks Satan’s attacks.
Continual confession leads to “only” and “concentration.” We focus “only” on the fact that Jesus is the Christ and concentrate on the throne rather than the problem. This is what we call “Gospel 24” and “Prayer 24.” This leads to “25”—the power of the kingdom of God from the throne—which allows us to save the field, the people, and future generations.
God opened the way to the throne when Jesus died and the veil of the sanctuary was torn. This is the living way for those who believe. However, if our internal Satanic bartizan is stronger than our focus on God, we cannot walk this path. Confessing that “Jehovah is my strength” is an admission that I am nothing and that only God can help me. When I look at my own abilities, I lose strength; when I look to the Lord, I am restored. I encourage you to set aside time in the morning, day, and night to experience this.
Currently, many churches have fallen into the trap of praying only for money and food. We must recognize the signs of the fall within ourselves—the hindrances that stop us from going toward God. The fall began with one man, Adam, but Jesus completed the work to reverse it. In Genesis, we see the first signs of the fall: Adam and Eve avoided God, hid, and were filled with fear. This same pattern appears today when people attend church forcibly or look for ways to escape worship.
The fall also leads to shifting responsibility. Adam blamed the woman, and the woman blamed the serpent. This pettiness and blame-shifting dominate our world and even occur within the church when people judge others. This happens because humans are born into this state. According to Hebrews 2:15, those without Christ live as slaves to the power of death held by the devil, regardless of their education or social status.
The consequences of the fall are evident. The serpent was cursed above all livestock. Though it may have once been an animal familiar to humans, it became a chilling figure that people now instinctively dislike or, strangely, worship as an idol. The woman was given the pain of childbirth, and Adam was told the ground was cursed because of him, requiring hard labor for survival. They were expelled from Eden, and a flaming sword now guards the entrance, signifying that no human can restore paradise or find true happiness on earth through their own success.
We should not envy those in this state or compromise our faith to match their whims. Through the principle of representation, we were all born as descendants of Adam—spiritually cursed and separated from God. Just as we cannot change our biological lineage by choice, we cannot change our spiritual state through effort. The only way is to die and be born again. When we believe in Jesus, our “old self” dies on the cross, and we are reborn as children of God with a new status, authority, and mission.
Adam’s sin became everyone’s sin, and through him, death reigned. Romans 3:23 reminds us that everyone is a sinner from birth. Under the devil’s influence, people are told they can be their own masters or become like God, but this only reinforces their status as servants to the devil. This is the fundamental spiritual problem and the cause of all visible problems and unhappiness. No human method can solve this.
God came to earth as Jesus to solve this fundamental problem. This work is “the Christ,” which is the Gospel—the only good news for humanity. When we share this truth, the Holy Spirit provides wisdom and moves hearts. This is the essence of world evangelization. We must continually enjoy this blessing. It is by God’s grace alone that we have discovered this and become people of prayer. I bless you to truly enjoy the blessings of the throne.
Jesus is the Only Way to solve these fundamental problems. As the True King, He fulfills the promise of Genesis 3:15: “He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel,” destroying the authority of Satan. As the True Priest, He fulfilled Mark 10:45: “the Son of Man… to give his life as a ransom for many,” solving the problem of sin and curses. As the True Prophet, He declares in John 14:6: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me,” meeting the need for humans to meet God again.
Prayer. God, we thank You for making us be saved. Thank You for making us know the gospel of Jesus. We thank You for the grace of making us escape from the state of the fall. We lived as children of Adam, but we thank You for making us children of God. Please make us know why this world is perishing. Please let us speak the answer to people who are perishing without even knowing the reason. Please let us enjoy the status and authority of God. Please let us enjoy life and mission. Please let us go toward the throne every day through the Word and prayer. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.