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John 1:12. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.

Mankind was created as a spiritual being to live in fellowship with God. Our true purpose, joy, and peace are found only in Him. This is why meeting God is the solution to every problem in life.

The Creator God became man to be with those He created. The moment anyone receives and believes Jesus as the Christ, God gives them the right to become His child (John 1:12). Their identity changes instantly—from being a child of the devil to a child of God (John 3:2). This transformation does not come by human effort, desire, or decision, but by being born of God Himself (John 1:13).

God’s choice and plan for His children existed even before creation. Before anyone had done right or wrong, He chose us in Christ (Ephesians 1:4). Even before Adam and Eve fell into sin and came under the curse of Satan, death, and hell, God already knew you and called your name while you were still in your mother’s womb (Isaiah 49:1). That is why you never need to fear or worry—your position in Christ is eternally secure.

Through the cross, all of your past, present, and future problems have already been settled (Ephesians 2:1-6). You no longer live under the law or the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16-18). The good work God began in you will continue until the day Christ returns (Philippians 1:6). Thus, nothing is more urgent or necessary in life than meeting the living God.

If you believe in Jesus as the Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16). You have become His temple, a dwelling place set apart for Him. Nothing can destroy you, for you have been set free from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2). God has given you a spirit not of fear, but of power, love, and self-control (2 Timothy 1:7). You are no longer bound to live by your feelings but by the eternal promises of God’s Word.

Abandon your own thoughts and ways. Let go of selfish motives and throw off legalism. The eternal light of God has been restored in you (Genesis 1:3; John 1:9). Chaos, emptiness, and darkness no longer define your life (Genesis 1:2). You now live with the assurance that Christ lives in you (Galatians 2:20). By faith, trust in Him daily as your Master—the One who loved you more than anyone and gave Himself for your salvation.

One of the greatest privileges you have in Christ is the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17). God has poured His love into your heart through the Spirit (Romans 5:5). The Spirit of God knows you fully and leads you on paths you have never walked before. He reminds you of the Word of God, rooting it deeply in your heart so that you may know His will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect (Romans 12:2).

When you feel weak and do not know how to pray, the Holy Spirit Himself intercedes for you with groans too deep for words. The Father who knows your heart understands the Spirit’s prayer, for He always prays in line with God’s perfect will (Romans 8:26-27). That is why you can walk through the darkest valleys with peace, knowing that the Lord is with you to renew your strength and guide your steps (Psalm 23:3). He will lead you through waters and fire, and nothing will overcome you (Isaiah 43:2).

The Spirit of God empowers you with unstoppable strength. Like wind and fire, His presence fills you with courage, removes your weakness, and equips you with wisdom the world cannot comprehend (Acts 2:1-13; Acts 4:13). When you ask God for wisdom, He gives it generously without finding fault (James 1:6).

God made you a child of light (John 12:36). Walk as a child of light (Ephesians 5:8). He made you the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), so that through your life, others may see the light of the gospel. As you continue to experience His presence and power, you will stand as a spiritual summit, bringing life and salvation to those around you.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for being with me, guiding me, and empowering me through Your Spirit. May Your presence be real in my life every day, so that those around me may see the light of the gospel through me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Prayer Journal: September 12, 2025
December 15, 2024 Immanuel Church Sunday Worship First Service
Scripture Reading: Colossians 2:16-19

▣ Introduction

Thank you. Right now, because the pastor is away, there are many churches worshiping with us by video. There are also churches where, even when the pastor is present, they join together as one community for the first service.
※ You must ask what God has prepared for me today and go home holding the covenant you will pray with for the week.

When you come to church, you should ask, “What has God prepared for me today?” At first you may not see it, but it will become clear. Then you should take this with you for the week: “What covenant will I hold and pray with?” Since you can’t memorize the whole sermon, this is what you must do. If this becomes imprinted, it becomes a bartizan.

There are many similarities between Korea and Israel. First, both are about “70% mountains.” Both “like white clothing.” Also, both have been “male-centered and firstborn-centered.” Among these similarities is a difficult common trait: we do not know how to wait. That is why the Israelites went crazy wandering forty years in the wilderness and died there. Christ came, but they could not wait three years and made a mistake. Koreans also tend to be impatient. That’s why the phrase we use the most is “quickly, quickly.” Even abroad, people doing business with Koreans all know “quickly, quickly.” When I went to the Philippines, I even saw a boat at the beach with “빨리빨리 (quickly, quickly)” written on it in Korean. This causes us to miss many things.

There is something you must take with you today—especially our remnants must remember this. On June 25, 1950, war broke out in our country. In terms of visible reality, North Korea secretly pushed down at dawn on Sunday. That was the reality. But in fact, that is not the whole story. The truth lay elsewhere: we were swept into the strategic power struggle of the great nations. The Soviet Union pushed it, so they got dragged into coming south. There is an even greater truth. What is it? It was an ideological war. Therefore we must open our eyes to the spiritual reality. When we chase only what is urgent, we miss everything that matters.

As you know, Joan of Arc—the young girl who saved France—was burned at the stake. Why? The true story lies behind the surface. When a sixteen-year-old girl said she would go to war, people didn’t believe her. But there was one person who did. That person backed Joan of Arc and said, “Go,” and with that backing he became king. Once he became king, he fought with the one who would otherwise have become king. That is the real story: behind reality there is a more fearful hidden fact. And behind that, the truth emerged: English bishops sentenced Joan of Arc to death. Why? France and England were at war, and England lost—to Joan of Arc. That is the truth. So they issued the sentence of burning at the stake. The English bishops handed down the sentence. The girl pleaded, “Let me be tried in the ecclesiastical court where the Roman emperor sits,” but they refused. You must open your eyes to such layers; that is how the seven remnants won everything.

1. Reality – The Jews branded the early church that had the gospel as heretical.
The Jews branded the Christian gospel and the early church as a heresy. That is the visible reality.

2. Fact – Jews trapped in legalism
But the more important fact is different. The Jews were bound by legalism. Whether the early church was at fault or not didn’t matter—they hated it because they did not understand the gospel. “How can you be saved by faith? You are saved by works.” On that “fact,” they kept fighting. And because they had power, they pushed it through.

3. Truth – Lacking any spiritual power, the Jews made rash, fleshly judgments and caused disasters
The deeper truth is this: the Jews had no spiritual power. So they made hasty, fleshly judgments and caused disasters.

4. A covenant chosen well once brings a 100-year answer.
Remnants must go into this world where reality, fact, and truth are all entangled with schemes. If you look carefully at the Bible and history, a covenant chosen well once brings a 100-year answer. May that answer be upon you.

▣ Main Point – Eyes to see reality, fact, truth, and the spiritual reality

1. Do not be deceived by man-made reality; win with the platforms God gave (vv. 16, 18) – 10 Platforms
So then, our saints—and especially our remnants—need eyes to see reality. Reality, according to verse 16, is what people fabricate. In today’s passage, the Israelites were fixated on eating, drinking, what they saw, and fleshly thinking. In verse 18, all of this is called vanity. What pained Paul most was not persecution. What he feared most was not persecution. It was the so-called apostles inside the church who kept spreading something that was not the gospel. So he pleads: do not be tested over worthless things like eating and drinking. Don’t be deceived by staged displays of piety—people acting as if they believe well. Don’t talk merely according to what you saw, according to the flesh, according to your thoughts. That is what the text warns against. Today’s “reality” is something people have just put together.

1) God’s absolute sovereignty – Believe it. When you hold the covenant, the 100-year answer comes.
We must believe in God’s absolute sovereignty. When you hold the covenant, a 100-year answer comes. I am a witness of this—not of skill, but of experiencing God’s covenant. Who governs our life and death and blessings? God does. Even the life of the person who refuses to believe in God—God calls it back.

2) Christ – Because we could not solve our original sin, God sent Christ.
Because we cannot resolve our original sin, God sent Christ. It is God’s method.

3) The Holy Spirit – Because we cannot save ourselves or the world, He promised the Holy Spirit.
We cannot save the world. We cannot even save ourselves. Therefore He promised the Holy Spirit. Believe this.

4) God’s Word – He gave us a sure guarantee.
He gave us a sure guarantee: God’s Word.

5) God’s temple – God’s Spirit dwells in you.
He promised: “You are God’s temple,” because “God’s Spirit dwells in you. Do not worry.”

6) Where I am is the mission field – I will be with you everywhere you are.
“I will be with you wherever you are. That place is your mission field.” No matter how hard your place is, it is your mission field.

7) The Lord of life and death and blessings – God knows everything about me.
“God knows your sitting down and your rising up.” How amazing is that?

8) A time-limited life – Humans leave this earth once.
“Every human will leave this earth once.”

9) The afterlife
“And there is an afterlife. Do not worry.”

10) The evangelist’s reward – Those who proclaim the gospel will not lose their reward, not even for a cup of cold water.
“The one who proclaims this gospel will not lose the reward, not even for a cup of cold water.”

What did I just explain? I explained the 10 platforms. Believe them. Whenever it is hard, hold to God’s absolute sovereignty and the 100-year answer will come. Do not be shaken. Even when difficulties seem to come, hold the covenant of God’s absolute sovereignty.

2. Before the “facts” people speak from their own position, hold God’s absolute plan (v. 18) – 10 Secrets
Reality is like that—but we cannot live by it. There is something more important than reality: the fact behind it. The latter part of verse 18 says, “People act according to their own thoughts and will; they live according to the flesh and fleshly thinking, not realizing it is vanity.” That is the fact. People always speak from their own position. What must you do today? Hold to God’s absolute plan. Are you facing great trouble? Believe in God’s absolute sovereignty and watch what happens. People speak from their position; we must hold firmly to God’s absolute plan.

1) Independence – You will survive alone because I am with you.
God promised, “Wherever you go, I am with you.” You will survive—even alone.

2) Spiritual reality – I will deliver My plan to you wherever you go.
Wherever you go, God will deliver His plan to you.

3) Reverse thinking – The answer is on the opposite side.
The answer lies on the opposite side, in the unexpected place, in what has been hidden.

4) Synergy – Because of you, many will come to life.
Because of you, many people will live.

5) Crisis – Do not fear; go into it.
Do not fear the crisis; go into it.

6) No competition – I will make it so that no one can overcome you.
“I will make it so that none can defeat you.” This is God’s promise.

7) I will give you the power of re-creation.

8) I will make you a summit.

9) Go to the nobodies, to the wasteland.

10) I will make My absolute plan known to you.

Believe this. These are the 10 secrets. I always practice this in prayer. Your confession of faith—aligning your words with God’s Word—is extremely important. When I open my eyes in the morning, I do not simply get up. If you are older, do not just spring up with your back. I lift my legs and “jump” up lightly. And I say, “God, be glorified today.” From that moment, prayer begins together with breathing. I look in the mirror and say, “You are a child of God. You are an evangelist. You must do world evangelization.” Speaking this way becomes a great answer to me.

3. Before the truth that exposes human limits, hold God’s absolute covenant (v. 16) – Christ
Then we go one step further and face truth—and truth can feel even harder. What do you see? You see the limits of man. At best, verse 16 shows people concerned only with eating and drinking. At that time you must hold God’s absolute covenant. What is that covenant? Christ. You understand? It is the absolute covenant.

1) Genesis 3:15 – The woman’s offspring will crush the serpent’s head.
Even when you feel pressed on every side, believe: “The offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.” When you say “Amen,” the darkness is broken.

2) Genesis 6:14 – Whoever enters the ark will live.
There are no conditions: whoever enters the ark lives.

3) Exodus 3:18 – On the day the lamb’s blood was applied, they came out freed from Satan, curses, and spiritual problems.
“Moses, take My people and offer the sacrifice of blood.” This is the absolute covenant. Nothing else is. Why? Pharaoh could not understand it. He resisted to the end, but on the day the lamb’s blood was applied, Israel came out. On the day the blood was applied, the darkness was broken. Believe this.

※ Because original sin does not disappear, God sent Christ.
The Jews did not understand this. They did not even understand original sin versus personal sins. Personal sins can be restrained even without believing in Jesus—simply by not committing them. A thief does not need to believe in Jesus to stop stealing; then the personal sin stops. But original sin does not disappear. Therefore God sent Christ. On the day you apply the blood, you come out—free from Satan, from curses, from spiritual problems.

4) Isaiah 7:14 – During captivity, the Immanuel promise.
Even when they still would not listen and went into captivity again, God said, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son and will call Him Immanuel.” Hold firmly to this.

5) If you become imprinted with Christ, it is finished; if you take root in the journey of Christ’s throne, you succeed; if you set up the guideposts of Christ’s throne, revival breaks out – Satan tries to block this.
Why do we keep losing hold of it? Because Satan knows how to destroy you. If you are imprinted with Christ, it is finished. If you take root in the journey of the throne of Christ, you succeed. If you set up the guideposts of the throne of Christ, true revival breaks out—in business, in work, and in the church. Satan tries to block precisely this.

4. Seeing the spiritual reality that everyone is trapped in spiritual problems, God will make you walk the absolute journey where He is with you and makes you grow (v. 19) – The bartizan of the throne, the journey, the guidepost
Finally, remember this: God has made you see spiritual reality. Everyone is trapped in spiritual problems. In the latter part of verse 19 it says, “God will make you grow.” This is crucial: “God will be with you and make you grow.” People’s words can comfort, but God saying, “I will make you grow,” defines the absolute journey. Hold this firmly.

1) God will set up within you the bartizan of the throne that collapses the darkness.
From then on, God will set up within you the bartizan of the throne that brings down the darkness. How is disease healed? Replace the toxins that have entered. This is extremely important. That is why I have urged you to keep long breathing. God replaces the bartizan of Satan’s darkness within us. This is the absolute covenant. It is not difficult at all—change it by prayer.

2) The journey of the throne – If you do 24, you will see 25. If you reach eternity, the world changes.
One day, as you are praying—if you continue in 24—you will see 25. Remnants, even if you truly pray just five minutes in the morning, works will arise. Busy saints, do not worry: if you simply worship properly on Sunday, hold the covenant, and pray, works will arise. If you go on to 24, 25, and eternity, then truly the world changes.

3) Wherever you go, He will set up the guideposts of the throne and bring revival—because we must do world evangelization.
Wherever you go, God will set up guideposts of the throne, and that brings true revival. God gave Isaac a 100-year blessing—because He had to accomplish world evangelization. He blessed Paul’s team with eternal things—because He had to accomplish world evangelization.

Hold this today: before reality, win with the platforms God gives. You cannot defeat all the “facts” of the world—so win with the secrets God gives. When you truly see the truth, we realize we have no hope in ourselves; so take the absolute covenant God gives—Christ. From then on, walk the journey Christ gives: bartizan, journey, guidepost. Simply keep it as 24. Do not worry, do not try to fix everything yourself—just keep 24. One day, God’s kingdom comes—that is 25. And one day, you see what no one else could do—eternity. This is called challenge. This is re-creation.

▣ Conclusion – Change Your Thinking.

Remnants, remember this: starting today, in prayer—this is important—change your thinking. Change it.

One day I changed my thought: “We are so poor.” I changed it to, “I don’t have money now, but I am not poor.” As a child I said, “I don’t have money, but that doesn’t mean I am poor,” and then I began to see the field and received so much grace.

Another day I changed my thought: “It’s okay whether I am healthy or not. If I am healthy, I will preach the gospel; if I am not, I will simply go.” I changed it. From then on, I was never truly ill—though it would have been okay even if I had been.

1. Only the gospel – Because everything is contained in it
Change your thinking to only the gospel. Why? Because everything is in it. If you cannot understand this, you are not a Christian.

2. Only prayer – If you don’t know this, you do not understand the spiritual world
Only prayer. If you don’t know this, you don’t know the spiritual world.

3. Only evangelism (witness) – If you don’t know this, you don’t understand the world
Only being a witness, only evangelism. If you don’t know this, you don’t understand the world—so how will you live?

※ Even when you face a hard world, do not be mistaken; you must have eyes to see reality, fact, truth, in order to see the spiritual reality.
Remnants, do not be shaken. Even when you meet a difficult world, do not be mistaken. You must have eyes to see reality, fact, and truth—then you will see the spiritual reality.

I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that very important answers will overflow to you this week.

Prayer. Father God, we thank You. Make this a new week in which we gain spiritual strength. Make this a new week in which we receive new grace. For the saints suffering hardships, grant them Your strength. For those suffering because of people or circumstances, comfort them. Heal the sick. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Hebrews 11:6. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Some people say, “I used to believe and go to church, but not anymore.” Tragically, this is not uncommon. Even among those who still attend church, many do not genuinely believe in God or trust in His power. Their faith is superficial, and their hearts are far from Him.

This is why Jesus lamented over the spiritual condition of His people when He asked, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Jesus foresaw a time when genuine faith would become rare.

Many attend church faithfully, but deep inside, they do not live in the reality of God’s presence. They follow rules, perform rituals, and carry the name “Christian,” yet they have not encountered the living Christ. What they practice is not a living faith but a lifeless religion. Jesus warned us about this kind of life, describing its dangers in Matthew 12:43-45:

“When an impure spirit comes out of a person, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that person is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

This is the tragedy of a religious life without Christ. The heart may appear “cleaned up” on the outside—attending services, keeping traditions, and avoiding visible sin—but if Christ does not dwell within, the soul remains empty. That emptiness attracts greater bondage, deeper suffering, and restlessness, allowing evil spirits to make it their home.

No matter how long someone has been involved in church, if they have not tasted the grace and peace of God, their Christian life will become burdensome. The Word of God will seem irrelevant and powerless to them because they have never experienced it as “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). Over time, their walk grows dry, joyless, and exhausting, leading to discouragement and despair.

What God desires from us is not empty religion but faith: “Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). God wants us to believe in Him wholeheartedly and love Him with all our heart, soul, strength, and mind (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Our Heavenly Father grieves when we approach Him with cold, routine religion rather than living faith. Listen to His words of lament over His people:

God rejects lifeless rituals because they do not flow from a heart that trusts Him. When we follow a religion without living faith, we cannot understand spiritual truths or experience the fullness of what God has freely given us through His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:12). Our lives remain separated from His glory (Romans 3:23), and we are left vulnerable to discouragement, doubt, and defeat. This is the strategy of Satan.

However, there is hope. God works powerfully in the lives of those who truly believe that He is real and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him (Hebrews 11:6). When you believe in Christ and rest in His promises, you please God.

He delights when you enjoy what He has freely given through His Spirit—assurance of salvation, forgiveness of sins, answered prayers, guidance from the Holy Spirit, and ultimate victory over the evil one. When you fully trust Him in every situation, you bring joy to His heart.

God is not impressed by outward appearances; He looks at the heart. Come before His throne confidently, just as you are, seeking His grace and help. He will fill you with strength, renew your faith, and use you to bring His salvation to the world—just as He did with those who came before us, the people of faith who trusted Him completely.

Choose faith, not religion. Choose to trust God’s power, not your own effort. Choose a living relationship with Christ, not a lifeless routine.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for the gift of faith in Christ, which gives me confidence and assurance in my salvation. Help me to live a life that pleases You, holding firmly to Your promises. Teach me to trust You more deeply, to walk by faith and not by sight, and to rest in the power of Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-21. Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. ¹³ Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. ¹⁴ And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. ¹⁵ Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray continually, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good.

We often lose sight of the blessing and joy of salvation in our relationships with others. Misunderstandings, selfishness, and hurt can steal the peace God intends for us. That is why the first thing we must always do is to rejoice in the unending grace of God in Christ, our ultimate bartizan. Only then can we walk on our covenant journey with the power of prayer and establish heavenly guideposts in our mission fields with thanksgiving.

To this end, God has called us to be His church, the body of Christ. Just as the health of the human body depends on the proper functioning of every part, so the health of the church depends on the unity and maturity of its members. Only when each part is healthy can the entire body thrive. God blesses His people as a community, not just as individuals. When His children walk together in love and humility, His blessings flow abundantly. This is His principle of blessing.

The way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ should be different from the way unbelievers treat others. God calls us to live by a higher standard, placing the needs and interests of others above our own (Philippians 2:3-4). This is not optional; it reflects the heart of Christ, who humbled Himself to serve. When you live this way, you become a channel of His grace and goodness.

Keep your heart always filled with the joy of salvation. Do not allow circumstances, disappointments, or the actions of others to steal the joy Christ has given you. Enjoy the Giver, not just His gifts. When the seventy-two disciples returned to Jesus, rejoicing over their authority over demons, He reminded them: “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20). Your greatest treasure is not what you accomplish but who you are in Christ.

Never stop praying. Your Father’s throne is always open to you. Prayer is not a ritual but a living connection with the One who rules heaven and earth. Through prayer, you enjoy your identity and exercise your spiritual authority as God’s child. Jesus promised that whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19). Your prayers can move the throne of the Triune. Stop worrying about your life and start praying instead.

Your heavenly Father, the Creator who formed and established the earth, invites you to call on Him, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” He longs to reveal His plans and purposes as you seek Him in prayer.

No matter what happens, always be thankful. In every situation, God’s will for you in Christ Jesus is good, perfect, and unchanging. Scripture reminds us that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). This includes you. Even in trials and temptations, do not doubt His love and faithfulness. Ask and discover His plans in His Word.

Remember Daniel’s example. When the decree was signed forbidding prayer, Daniel did not panic or hide. He went home, opened his windows toward Jerusalem, and prayed three times a day, giving thanks to God just as he had done before (Daniel 6:10). Daniel’s gratitude and faith unlocked God’s power in his life. Like Daniel, keep trusting God and remain thankful, even when circumstances seem against you.

God has plans for your life. He does not intend to harm you but to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Hold on to His promises and trust His perfect timing. Thanksgiving opens the door to deeper faith and greater blessings.

Do not ignore the voice of the Holy Spirit when He prompts you to act. When He leads you to pray for someone, obey. When He sends you to share the gospel, follow without hesitation. Do not dismiss the Word of God when it speaks to you, and do not grieve the Spirit by pursuing fleeting things that cannot last. Instead, set your heart on the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). Always remember that you are a child of God, led by His Spirit and called to live a life that bears witness to Christ.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for Your love, even in the midst of problems and trials. I know that You have plans to give me hope and a future. Fill my heart with gratitude and my life with reasons for thanksgiving. Teach me to trust You fully, to love others deeply, and to walk closely with You each day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.