Sunday 2nd Service
Title / Scripture: The Deepening Problems of the Age (Matthew 8:28-34)
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Kwang-su
Date / Location: February 13, 2022 / Immanuel Seoul Church
Matthew 8:28-34
28 And when he came to the other side, to the country of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men met him, coming out of the tombs, so fierce that no one could pass that way.
29 And behold, they cried out, “What have you to do with us, O Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?”
30 Now a herd of many pigs was feeding at some distance from them.
31 And the demons begged him, saying, “If you cast us out, send us away into the herd of pigs.”
32 And he said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the pigs, and behold, the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the waters.
33 The herdsmen fled, and going into the city they told everything, especially what had happened to the demon-possessed men.
34 And behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus, and when they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.
[The Problems of the Age]
Demons – Big Problem | Culture + Economy | Various Problems, Etc.
3 Organizations | Demonic Culture | Drug addiction, Mental illness, Addiction
Introduction
1. Two things (Identity – Authority)
1) Acts 13:1-2 – Focused for a few days, and a work of God occurred.
2) Acts 16:16-18 – 1 time (concentrated), 3 days
3) Acts 19:8-20 – 2 years, a work occurred
2. Refusal (Matthew 8:34)
1) Help
2) Healing
3) 4 Instinct (unwilling)
Main
1. DNA change
2. Time schedule
3. Real authority
1 Acts 16:16-20 (3 worldly blessings)
Galatians 2:20
2 Corinthians 5:17
2. 2-person forum (29)
3. Personal forum (>30)
Summary
▷ In the Bible, a few people appear who received special answers from God. God gave special answers to Moses and Elijah. Among pastors as well, people such as Pastor Joo Gi-cheol and Pastor Son Yang-won received answers. There is a reason for that.
Demons – Big Problem | Culture + Economy
Drug addiction, Mental illness, Addiction
3 Organizations | Nephilim Culture
▷ Now there are more and more people who are possessed by demons and causing great problems. And this has fully penetrated by bringing demon culture with it, and has penetrated into the economic realm. The 3 organizations have been completely captured by demons, and Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11 are moving the world. This culture is the Nephilim culture. Among those who have fallen into it, drug addiction, mental illness, and addiction are the most prevalent.
▷ In today’s passage, a demon-possessed man is living among the tombs. The demons recognized who Jesus was and asked Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs. Then the scene appears where the demons entered the pigs and drowned in the water. Seeing this, the people of that region, rather than believing in Jesus, were afraid and told him to leave the town. These kinds of problems keep increasing — what shall we do?
▣ Introduction
1. Two things (Identity – Authority) – There are two kinds of prayer. Prayer in which one enjoys the identity of being a child of God, and prayer in which one exercises authority — both are extraordinary.
1) Acts 13:1-12 — Concentrated for a few days, and a work of God occurred.
2) Acts 16:16-18 — Concentrated for 3 days, and a work of God occurred. When one prays using authority in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, it may seem like no answer is coming because it is not visible, but the answer comes precisely.
3) Acts 19:8-20 — Prayed for 2 years, and a work of God occurred.
2. Refusal – People almost entirely refuse this (Matthew 8:34).
1) Help – If they had seen the power of Jesus, they should have requested his help.
2) Healing – They should have asked Jesus to heal this town.
3) Instinct – Looking at Jesus, they ask him to leave. Those seized by an evil spirit instinctively dislike it.
3. Church – The problem is that the church is currently not prepared.
1) Pharisees – The place that took issue with Jesus casting out demons was the Pharisee church.
2) Dispute (Law) – They kept disputing using the Word and the Law. The church has not discerned this.
3) Matthew 12:1-48 — They call Jesus the king of demons and pick a dispute with him.
▣ Main
1. Change your spiritual DNA – Pray until the fundamental power that God gives appears, so that your spiritual DNA is changed. Even if physical DNA cannot be changed, spiritual DNA can be changed.
3, 9, 3
Use
– Pray two things! Setting within oneself the Triune God by whom spiritual DNA is changed, the 9 secrets of the throne, and the 3 things by which the age is changed — this is identity. Using this is authority. If you do this, an answer will certainly come, or something even better will come.
2. Enjoy the time schedule. – Do not be discouraged; enjoy the time schedule.
1) Beginning (Genesis chapters 3, 6, 11) – This serious spiritual problem began in Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11.
2) End – When does it end? It is always present, everywhere, for eternity.
3) Presence – When Christ is present, a work of God occurs.
▷ Now it has become a demonic culture, and the 3 organizations have made this into a culture and seized the economy. BTS has enormous influence, and they have officially stated that they studied at a meditation school. If we keep on praying, the time schedule will come. There is absolutely no need to be discouraged and no need to be in a hurry. Because Christ has commanded it, it is already finished.
3. Exercise real authority. – Do not try to receive help from others; exercise real authority.
1) Fixed time – Begin this prayer at a fixed time.
2) Deep prayer – Without waiting for answers and without being discouraged, go deep into prayer and exercise it.
3) Conviction – Later, conviction comes — a conviction that you no longer need to pray this prayer, or a conviction concerning the result. Paul prayed and was not healed, but the conviction came: “This is grace!” That Paul changed the world.
▣ Conclusion – Three greater things remain.
1. Matthew 16:16-20 (Three blessings) – My church upon this rock; the gates of Hades shall not overcome it. The keys of the kingdom of heaven.
Galatians 2:20 — The being called “I” is already finished, and it is Christ appearing within me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 — Becoming a new creation, so that even DNA and destiny are changed. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”
2. That time (power, answer) – One must realize how great a power and answer the very time of worship and prayer is. The very resolution to fight against the powers of darkness is already power. Satan, these demons, know well whether one has given up or not (verse 29).
3. Personal forum – Complete works of God occur in the personal forum. New members must not simply be sent away after worship; we must wait until their hearts are fully opened, until they can take hold of the Word for their own lives, until they receive their personal answer.
Transcript
“The Problems of the Age”
Thank you. Let us look at the deepening problems of the age. In the Bible, a few people appear who received special answers from God. God gave Moses a special answer. There are also many prophets, but he gave Elijah a special answer. And in our country, before we came through the Joseon era, among pastors, people like Pastor Joo Gi-cheol, people like Pastor Son Yang-won — he answered them. There is a reason for that.
[Demons – Big Problem] [3 Organizations]
In fact, I myself began praying after I came to know this. Because before that, I could not find a particular reason to pray specially. I thought, if I am in the Word, God will answer me — so why do I need to pray at all? I was at that level of thinking. Now, more and more people are becoming demon-possessed and causing great problems. Some families ask, “Our family member keeps getting possessed by a demon and we are always suffering — what should we do?” Many people ask this.
[Culture + Economy] [Nephilim Culture]
But this is no longer just a problem — it has fully penetrated by bringing demon culture with it. And it has penetrated into the economic realm.
Especially here [Demons – Big Problem], these 3 organizations have been completely seizing this. I used to only attend church and did not know. Then I came to know: “Wow, Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11 are moving the world right now.” From that point, the penetration into this realm [Culture + Economy] — it is completely, right now — this is not the time to speak sad words about demonology and such things. It has fully penetrated the cultural realm. Is this not now the Nephilim culture? Those who know are bound to receive answers. That is why God used Elijah.
[Drug addiction, Mental illness, Addiction]
It does not end there. In the end, those who have fallen into this [3 organizations, Nephilim culture] — nearly all of them: drug addiction, mental illness, those are the most numerous, addiction, cancer comes a bit after that — those are the most numerous.
Looking at today’s passage: “The demon-possessed man was living among the tombs, between the tombs. He was screaming so frightfully and making things so difficult that almost no one would pass by.” So it is written. Then when Jesus appeared, he began screaming, saying “What do you have to do with us, O Son of God?” He recognized who Jesus was. “What do you have to do with me?” Then seeing the herd of pigs far off, “Send us into the herd of pigs” — that is what he said. So the demons entered the pigs and the pigs drowned in the water — that scene appears. Seeing this, the people of that region, rather than believing in Jesus, were afraid and said “Leave our village.” That is the content.
What shall we do? These kinds of problems [3 organizations, Nephilim culture, drug addiction, mental illness, addiction] keep increasing more and more — what shall we do?
I had not thought about this in the old days. When I went to evangelism fields, nearly everyone had fallen into this. I went to America thinking it was an advanced country, but America is even worse. Oh, and all sorts of incidents keep erupting. They still haven’t caught the perpetrator for that case in Daegu where five children went to catch frogs and died. All kinds of speculation — whether a teacher did it or what — those are demon-possessed people. The law can’t do anything about it either, because you can’t catch a demon, so they don’t even know that’s what it is. And before that, there was the case of a newlywed couple going on their honeymoon and someone shot and killed them. Well, the police can’t do anything about that either. They investigate everything — whether there was a grudge or not, what happened in the past. That case, the perpetrator was caught. It wasn’t a grudge — they were driving along and some young people were cutting each other off and had a nerve-wracking confrontation and got into a fight. Because of that. They got into a fight over that, pulled over, and a man who had been out hunting shot and killed them with his gun. The couple. Folks, these days if you’re walking around and someone does something crazy, don’t get angry — just say okay, sorry, and let it go. There are all kinds of people out there now. People with these problems come to church to get better, and some people come to church just to cause trouble — they even come to church, I tell you.
▣ Introduction
1. Two things (Identity – Authority)
There are two kinds of prayer. There is the prayer you offer to God based on your identity. Because you have become a child of God, prayer that enjoys that identity is an extraordinary prayer. It is something you receive, in this manner. This authority is prayer that exercises power, so it is extraordinary. Try it for just about a year.
1) Acts 13:1-12
Looking at the Bible, Acts chapter 13, verses 1 through 12 — concentrated for a few days, and a work of God occurred.
2) Acts 16:16-18
Acts chapter 16, verses 16 through 18 — three days, and a work of God occurred. When you pray using authority in the powerful name of Jesus of Nazareth, because the answer is not visible, you think it is not coming — but it comes precisely. To a degree that would frighten you if you knew. Keep at it. Amazing things will happen.
I personally don’t think it necessarily works like this, but I had been continuously praying for a certain person. God called that person home. I don’t think it was because of my prayer. It was their time to be called, but it happened to be while I was praying. The person was too wicked. I kept praying. I prayed night and day, truly. The person was too wicked. I prayed with eyes open, kept praying as thoughts came to me. God called them home. Of course it wasn’t because of my prayer.
3) Acts 19:8-20
Acts chapter 19, verses 8 through 20 — prayed for about 2 years, and a work of God occurred. You must hold on to this covenant.
2. Refusal
Looking at verse 34 today, people almost entirely refuse this.
1) Help
If they saw the power of Jesus casting out demons, they should have asked for help — shouldn’t they?
2) Healing
And furthermore, they should have said, “Please heal this village and this community; there are so many” — “Please do this.” Why did they look at Jesus and tell him to leave? Why do they say that?
3) Instinct
Those seized by this evil spirit instinctively dislike it. When the topic of Christ comes up, there are people who begin foaming at the mouth. It is astonishing. While doing evangelism, I have experienced much while sharing the gospel of Christ. Indeed, during a meeting, someone was having a seizure — called up front, they followed along with everything else. Only “Christ” they could not follow — they had a seizure when saying it. There are things they cannot say, you see.
3. Church
The problem is, the church right now is not prepared. You must hold on to this covenant.
1) Pharisees
When we look at who took issue with Jesus for casting out demons, it was the Pharisee church. It was the Pharisees who picked the fight. It keeps appearing going forward.
2) Dispute (Law)
They kept disputing every single action of Jesus. And not just plain disputing — they disputed using the Word. Like, “He helped a sick person — he broke the Sabbath.” Something like that. Using the Law constantly for dispute — the church failed to discern this.
3) Matthew 12:1-48
Later it appears. Looking at Matthew chapter 12, verses 1 through 48, it appears. They pick a dispute with Jesus. They call Jesus the king of demons and pick a dispute in this way.
How can this be resolved? Please do not take this lightly, and be sure to recover this (two kinds of) prayer. Amazing works of God are set to occur for you.
Now, do not rely on people — do this individually.
▣ Main
1. Change your spiritual DNA
First. Pray until the fundamental power that God gives appears, so that your spiritual DNA is changed. Even if physical DNA cannot be changed, spiritual DNA can be changed. Since no one can help you, do not rely on others — pray. Be sure to pray.
Let me say it again. Pray two things.
[3, 9, 3]
Set within yourself the Triune God by whom your spiritual DNA is changed, the 9 secrets of the throne, and the 3 things by which the age is changed. This is identity.
Use
What is authority? It is using this. Authority was given to be used — this is using it. Try it. An answer will certainly come, or something even better will come.
You keep praying for a certain person and no answer comes? Something better comes. It comes clearly. Now is the time schedule for you to experience this. If there is someone in your family with a spiritual problem, there is no one to help. Only you. That’s right. And even your family may not be able to help you. It is something you yourself do. Hold on to the covenant and do this (Main 1).
I have said this before. For a person with a spiritual problem, how difficult it is — they cannot distinguish night from day. They have no shame. They just come looking for me. I said to the person: “There is no one who can help you. Only Christ can help you.” And truly, at that time it was God’s leading — I pulled out scripture passages, just the passages. I found only the passages where Christ exercised authority. A work of God occurred.
I pray this prayer much among the 24 prayers. Whenever I see an important problem clearly, or whenever something important arises, I continue.
2. Enjoy the time schedule
Second. Jesus appeared and it was resolved — what does this mean? It means: through Christ, you gain spiritual strength and change your spiritual DNA.
Second. Do not be discouraged. Enjoy the time schedule. You must do this in order to be healed, in order to find resolution. Pray until your spiritual DNA is changed. If the other person does not change and does not change, the work of God will occur differently. If you are praying for your church members, for church leaders, and that person does not change — the answer comes differently.
1) Beginning (Genesis chapters 3, 6, 11)
When it comes to demons now, when did this serious spiritual problem begin? You need to know this. It began in Genesis chapters 3, 6, and 11. That’s right. You must not easily become discouraged or easily give up.
2) End
How long does it go on? When does it end? There is no end. Always, everywhere, for eternity.
3) Presence
Look carefully at the time schedule. When Christ is present, a work of God occurs. Those fierce evil spirits, which people cannot handle — when Christ appears, they tremble and say, “Why have you come to me? Don’t you have nothing to do with me?” That is what they are saying.
Right now, many pastors from other Korean church denominations are listening to my sermons. When the topic of demons comes up, we must not say childish things like whether this is Berea theology or not. It has already become a demonic culture right now. These 3 organizations have completely made this into a culture and seized the economy. You know, the people who are making smartphones right now — they are all people of these 3 organizations. It is enormous. BTS’s influence is enormous, isn’t it. Are those people not the ones who were trained by these 3 organizations. Those friends officially said this: “I graduated from a meditation school.” They said it officially. And you know what they did with that? They seized the economy.
So, among our members there is someone who works with the BTS team. After hearing my message, that person sent me a text message, saying they are praying. I told them to pray. You don’t need to force anything. If you keep doing this (Main 1, 2) prayer, the time schedule will come right on time.
All of your problems are the same. There is no need to be discouraged, and no need to be in a hurry to receive an answer. Keep praying and the time schedule will come. The pigs died? That is not a problem. Because Christ commanded it, it is finished. You must absolutely not be discouraged.
3. Exercise real authority
The more important thing is the third. No matter how much you talk about things in church, it is no use. From now on, exercise real authority. Do not try to receive help from others — exercise real authority.
At the time I was planting a church, there is someone who worked with me — you may know who. At first, what happened was that there were so many sick people and so many spiritual problems. When we held Friday all-night prayer, people packed the room. Whether it was God’s doing, I don’t know why exactly, but people just packed in seeking God’s grace. That was the message I gave at that time. What I did was this: “You are God’s children, saved by God’s grace. From now on, every day, lay your hands on the place of pain and pray for yourselves in the name of Jesus.” Our church — at that time we were a small church plant — but right away the wind blew with several thousand people. The wind-blowing work of God occurred.
1) Fixed time
Pray, everyone. When is a good time to exercise this authority? Whether it is in the morning or at midday, it does not matter. Begin this prayer at a fixed time.
2) Deep prayer
Without waiting for answers and without becoming discouraged, go deep into prayer and exercise it.
3) Conviction
As you keep doing this, later this comes. Conviction comes right on time. And how does the conviction come? The conviction comes: “Now I no longer need to pray this prayer.” Or else the conviction concerning the result — concerning that — comes right on time.
Up to this point, actually do it. Do not listen to what people say, do not be discouraged, do not listen to lies, hold firmly to the Word of God and be victorious. This (conviction) is tremendously important. Paul was praying, kept at it but was not healed — what conviction came? “Ah, this is grace.” It is different for each person. It came to him just like that. So what could Paul not do? He changed the world. And at other times, what kind of conviction comes? The conviction: “Ah, for this I have no need of an answer” — that conviction also comes. Then you don’t need to do it anymore. So, therefore I decided to hold on to this blessing and just pray 24. Even doing 24, 24 is never enough.
▣ Conclusion
Conclusion. Three greater things remain.
1. Matthew 16:16-20
In Matthew chapter 16, verses 16 through 20, when confessing Christ, what did Jesus say? He truly said this: “You are Peter. Upon this rock I will build my church. The gates of Hades shall not overcome you. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” He spoke of three blessings. The statement that keys are given to you is an extraordinary thing. “I started praying because of my child, but one day God gave me the keys.” “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” It does not end there.
Galatians 2:20
Later I came to understand — it is not about whether I am healed or not, the being called “I” is now finished, and God — Christ — is appearing within me.
2 Corinthians 5:17
And finally, what is it? You become a new creation entirely. Seeing this, DNA is also changed and destiny is changed. “The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This kind of thing comes.
2. That time (power, answer) (verse 29)
The tremendously important thing is this: you must realize how great a power and answer the very time of worship and prayer is. Well, something coming is a result. That is not important. The moment you, right now, hold on to the covenant and say “I must pray for my child” — power has already begun. “Both the answer and everything else is important, but I will fight against the powers of darkness” — the very moment of that resolution, power has already begun.
Why is that, do you know? This Satan, this demon — it knows well. Look at verse 29. “What do we have to do with you? Why have you come to us?” — that is what it says. It knows well. It also knows that you will absolutely not give up. It knows even if you give up.
3. Personal forum (verse 30)
The very important thing is the third. Looking again at verse 29: “Crying out, they said, ‘What do we, the Son of God, have to do with you?'” — that is what was said. Looking at verse 30: “Send us into the herd of pigs” — that is what was said. The demon is speaking right now.
Now, look here. Going to church, having meetings, receiving grace, and so on — these build up power. But complete works of God occur in the personal forum. This (personal forum) is tremendously important. I made a brief request today, but: you must not gather new members, hold worship, and then send them away. New members must be cared for until their hearts are fully opened, until they speak of their own lives, until they take hold of the Word. Do you understand? Well, a person of some standing does not easily open up. Then you must wait for them. It is about waiting until the time they receive their own personal answer. We don’t do that for them. For a person with spiritual problems, we do all kinds of telling them this and that. No. Until that individual person says, “Ah, this is how I need to live” — God will work. Usually, even sick people — when you look at those who heal quickly — they are people who say, “Ah, I am no longer afraid of living or dying. Now I will hold on to God’s power and pray, and if God keeps me alive I will be a witness, and if he calls me home I will go.” Works of God occur for such people. In reality, as the days go on, this scene and this message are more and more important. You must hold on firmly here and receive your answer.
With that in mind, from tomorrow, the time of holding on to the covenant and praying becomes an extraordinary time. I enjoy this blessing and so praying makes me very happy. Isn’t that right? How about you? Praying gives me such strength. Because, during that time, spiritually enormous things are occurring. Especially our church leaders who are now getting on in age — since you must be healthy, you need to go even deeper into prayer, breathe long and deep as you do it. You must receive strength. What kind of strength? Because Christ is working, the powers of darkness are being broken — that is what I am saying. That is what is important.
I have come until now experiencing many things through this covenant. Even now I am continuously praying in 24 prayer. I wait, wondering how God will answer. I keep praying. I bless you in the name of Jesus that this week will be a week in which you recover spiritual strength, health, and many things. Let us pray.
Prayer. God, grant that this would be a new beginning in which we believe in your power. Though relying on people is also important, grant that we would recover the spiritual authority of holding on to your covenant. May we keep on praying until our greatest problem becomes our greatest testimony. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.