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Changing the Direction of Our Lives

2 Corinthians 5:14-15. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

Many people think that believing in Jesus is simply choosing one religion among many. Others assume that committing their lives to Christ means they will have to give up everything they enjoy and live under strict rules. Even some believers struggle with the fear that living a godly life is too difficult and that following Jesus means losing everything. But this is a misunderstanding that comes from not knowing the core of the gospel.

The truth is, when we give our lives to Jesus, God doesn’t call us to abandon everything; He calls us to change the direction of our lives. It’s not about giving up your job, your possessions, or your dreams. It’s about letting God reshape your purpose. You can still keep your career, your resources, and your relationships—but now they are aligned with something far greater than yourself: God’s kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33).

This is the key difference between religion and the gospel. Religion says, “Give up everything and try harder to be worthy.” The gospel says, “Jesus gave everything for you, and now you live for Him because you are already loved and accepted.” We no longer live for ourselves because Christ’s love compels us (2 Corinthians 5:14). His love is not distant or theoretical; it was demonstrated at the cross, where He took our place and bore our sins.

When Jesus died, our sinful nature, worldly ambitions, and misplaced pursuits died with Him. Through His resurrection, we were raised into a new life with a new identity and a new purpose. That’s why Paul says it is only right that we no longer live for ourselves, but for the One who gave everything for us. Paul captures this mindset perfectly in his letter to the Colossian believers:

“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God.” (Colossians 3:1-3)

When this truth takes root in your heart, your entire perspective on life changes. You realize that your true home is in heaven and that your greatest blessings come from above, not from the temporary things of this world. Earthly success, wealth, and recognition no longer control you because your identity and security are anchored in Christ.

And when your focus shifts to the eternal, you find a new strength to face life’s challenges. Paul experienced incredible hardships—persecution, imprisonment, rejection, and suffering—yet his faith never wavered, as he writes:

“We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)

Paul’s life was far from easy, yet his joy remained unshaken because his direction in life had completely changed. Even from prison, he encouraged others, writing, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). His strength didn’t come from himself but from Christ, as he boldly declared, “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

This same transformation is available to you. When despair, trials, or crises come, you are not left to face them alone. God invites you to “give all your worries and cares to Him, for He cares about you” (1 Peter 5:7). What the enemy intends for harm, God uses for your growth and His glory. Problems are not obstacles meant to destroy you—they are God-ordained opportunities for you to experience His power and discover His plan.

So stop worrying and start praying. Trust that God is working behind the scenes in ways you cannot yet see. Hold onto His promise in all circumstances:  “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28). That includes you.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for changing the direction of my life when I believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. Teach me to live no longer for myself but for the One who died and rose again for me. Help me fix my eyes on the realities of heaven and trust Your plan in every circumstance. May Your perfect will be done in my life today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Restore the Economy That Has Been Stolen

2024.11.30 Core Message
Scripture Reading: Genesis 1:27-28

Restoring the Economy That Has Been Stolen. Right now, you can see that everything has been taken away by the three organizations.

▣ Introduction _ Genesis 1:27, 28
When God first spoke, He created us in His image, and there was God’s first command. “Subdue it, rule over it, and be fruitful.” This part is what we must restore.

  1. Prophecy
    So, among those who believed this prophecy, very few restored this blessing.

1) Genesis 3:15, Genesis 22:1-21 – Joseph
In Genesis 3:15, God prophesied the amazing Gospel: “The offspring of the woman will crush the serpent’s head.” And God also told Abraham, “Through your seed, all nations will be blessed.” He spoke about the ram as well. But very few fulfilled this; one of them was Joseph. Joseph went to the land of Egypt and became a person God used to make Him known to the entire world.

2) Exodus 3:18 – Moses
In Exodus 3:18, it was Moses.

3) Isaiah 7:14 – Babylonian remnants
Truly, very few people experienced this Gospel movement. But for those who held onto the covenant, works definitely arose — Isaiah 7:14. It was the Babylonian remnants who received the covenant of Isaiah 7:14. Through them, world evangelization arose, and a great work took place.

  1. Peter’s Confession – Matthew 16:16-20
    Peter confessed this covenant in Matthew 16:16, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” He received an incredible blessing that cannot be changed: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Even when he ran away, Jesus came to restore him and gave him the covenant again. And then in verse 20, He said, “Tell no one.” This part is extremely important.

3. Matthew 16:20
Why did He tell them not to speak to anyone? This is very important.

1) 7 bartizans

2) 7 journeys

3) 7 guideposts

After Jesus’ resurrection, He gave them the true bartizans, journeys, and guideposts. At that time, He told them to go to the ends of the earth. But first, they had to wait. They had to go with this power.

[Paul – his team] (Acts 19:8)
Amazingly, the one who truly fulfilled this was Paul and his team. In Acts 19:8, Paul quoted exactly what Jesus taught.

▣ Main Message
To these people, to this team, God restored three kinds of economy.

  1. The economy of light
    First, He restored the economy of light to those who held onto the covenant.
  2. The mission economy
    Second, He restored the mission economy. We must be able to do missions, right? We must study enough to do missions and build up our work enough to do missions.
  3. The remnant economy
    The remnant economy. These three are very important blessings of economy.

1. The economy of light – (light)
Now, to have the economy of light, what must we know? We must know what the light is.

1) Genesis 1:1-3
The economy of light comes from Genesis 1:1-3 — “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” He first shined the light of creation.

2) Isaiah 60:1-3
In Isaiah 60:1-3: “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

3) John 1:11, 12
In John 1:11, it says that Jesus Christ came as the light: “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

[Only Gospel (Offering)]
So, when a church focuses on only the Gospel, offerings given there become part of the economy of light. This is critical. There are churches that truly hold to only the Gospel. When making decisions about church administration or any matter, do not ask, “Is this advantageous to me?” but rather, “Is this advantageous for the Gospel?” Always choose based on what benefits the Gospel. That is “Only Gospel.” If you do this, God will pour out the economy of light. Just watch and see.

So, for Pastor Song, since he is in this blessed timetable, he must focus only on the Gospel. Everyone uses the term “only Gospel,” but when making decisions, we must choose the Gospel-centered way.

That’s why I told Pastor Song, “Create three separate worship services.” First, one service just for the congregation, the first service. Second, have a separate worship just for the multiethnic people, where no Koreans attend. There are two reasons for this. First, if Koreans attend, it becomes harder for the multiethnic people to freely receive strength. Second, the message gets hindered and doesn’t flow clearly. They can attend the first service, but for their own separate worship, Koreans should not be there.

Third, have a service just for the sick, with direct messages for them. No need for extra people there except for translators. Do not let unprepared visitors attend; they often disrupt the environment and discourage the sick from coming back.

If Pastor Song establishes these three worship services, the church will become strong. The goal is not becoming a big church, but a church must grow when it focuses only on the Gospel. Then the economy of light will come.

  1. The mission economy
    To have the mission economy, we must know what missions are:

1) The plague of darkness
Missions block the spiritual epidemic — the plague of darkness spread by Satan.

2) Globalization of disasters
Disasters are spreading globally, and missions block this.

3) Cultural domination by Satan
Missions confront and stop the cultural influence of Satan.

4) Hell’s background
Everyone outside Christ lives under the background of hell. Missions deliver people from this state.

5) Salvation — the background of the throne
Lastly, missions reveal salvation and the background of the throne. This is missions.

[Only Evangelism]
God pours the mission economy into the churches focused on only evangelism. Think about it. If this towel is dirty, you throw it away. But if this towel contains precious jewels, you treasure it and entrust it to someone reliable to deliver. Likewise, God entrusts the mission economy to those who are trustworthy — those who focus on only evangelism.

This Sunday, I will talk more about this during service, but you must truly save the church. Most believers do not know how to pray and have not been evangelized. When problems arise, they lose the Gospel and only follow their own thoughts — that’s Genesis 3. That’s why we must absolutely hold onto only the Gospel, only evangelism.

  1. The remnant economy — the scattered ones, sojourners, and remaining ones
    To understand the remnant economy, you must first know what a remnant is. God raised remnants for a reason:

1) The remaining ones (Gospel)
Remnants are those who remain with the Gospel when everyone else loses it.

2) The ones who remain (Power)
Remnants are those who continue to stand because they know God’s power.

3) The ones who will remain (Culture)
Remnants are those who will remain in the future and change the culture through the Gospel.

4) The ones who will leave behind (Future Generations)
Remnants are those who will leave behind the Gospel, God’s power, and the covenant for future generations.

To such people, God pours out the remnant economy.

[Mission — Future Generations]
Among the scattered, sojourners, and remaining ones, God raises those who will focus only on missions, especially among the future generations. God pours the remnant economy into them.

These three restorations are not about simply eating, working, and dying — everyone does that. Rather, the people who truly restored them were Paul’s team. Paul understood Jesus’ message in Matthew 16:20 about the 7 bartizans, 7 journeys, and 7 guideposts. And those who helped Paul understood as well. When Paul said, “I must also see Rome,” the disciples all aligned with him — these are the people mentioned in Romans 16.

God poured the mission economy onto them — He poured it abundantly. If you have time, look up the ICC Commentary (International Critical Commentary). It is a difficult academic commentary, and one author spent decades just writing about Romans. It talks about Priscilla and Aquila — I read it, and it was incredible. They have a tomb in Rome, and they used their tremendous wealth to save the world. They devoted their lives to supporting Paul and still received incredible blessings.

Some people refuse to give offerings, but then where is their wealth stored? If it’s not in heaven, they have nothing. That’s when I realized: faith is the budget, and blessings are the settlement. I understood this when I read that commentary.

Wednesday Worship Service: August 27, 2025

Hymn
Fairest Lord Jesus
Friedrich von Spee

Fairest Lord Jesus,
ruler of all nature,
O thou of God and man the Son,
Thee will I cherish,
Thee will I honor,
thou, my soul’s glory, joy, and crown.

Fair are the meadows,
fairer still the woodlands,
robed in the blooming garb of spring:
Jesus is fairer,
Jesus is purer
who makes the woeful heart to sing.

Fair is the sunshine,
fairer still the moonlight,
and all the twinkling starry host:
Jesus shines brighter,
Jesus shines purer
than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior!
Lord of all the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor,
praise, adoration,
now and forevermore be thine.

Confession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father Almighty,
…Maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, Our Lord,
…Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,
…Born of the Virgin Mary,
…Suffered under Pontius Pilate,
…Was crucified, dead, and buried.
He descended into hell.
The third day He rose again from the dead.
He ascended into heaven,
…And is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty;
From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
The holy universal Church,
The communion of saints,
The forgiveness of sins,
The resurrection of the body
And life everlasting. Amen.

Scripture Reading
1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.

Message
Life of Evangelish Camp
Pastor Ryu Kwang Su
Full Transcript

♠ Introduction — First, You Must Receive God’s Answer
The most important thing in evangelism and missions is this: you must first receive answers yourself. If you do not receive answers, you cannot do evangelism or missions. Evangelism and missions are not something you do; they are something you see.

When you hold onto the covenant of “Living the Life of Evangelism Camp”, God promises to give you the blessing of the watchman (1 Peter 2:9). The verse says He called us to declare His marvelous light. But here’s the problem: many people miss this blessing because they don’t know what answers to receive or what answers actually are.

♠ Main Point — What Kind of Answer Must I See Happening Now?

1. The Content and Background of the Watchman’s Life (Acts 1:3)
The Triune God is with you right now. When you truly hold onto this, three things always happen:

1) Wherever you go, the forces of darkness collapse.
2) Wherever you stand, the blessing of the throne follows.

This is because you are walking on the path of the 7 bartizans, 7 journeys, and 7 guideposts — it is inevitable that this work arises.

Your roots, imprints, and nature are transformed wherever you go.
You move with the power of Only → Uniqueness → Re-Creation.
You live within God’s start, process, and finish.
You go as the remnant, the pilgrim, and the conqueror.

This is precisely how the early church changed the entire world.

2. The Watchman’s Timetable — The Living Work of God (Acts 1:8)
God’s Word is living and active right now. Do not lose hold of this for even a week. Today, even prayer is living and working.

You must see this:

You must see the blessing of prayer at work today.
You must see the doors of evangelism opening right now.

Hold firmly to the covenant so that the Word is alive and working.
Enjoy the power of prayer so that its strength flows into every part of your life. Then you’ll begin to see the works of evangelism and missions unfolding before your eyes.

How do you experience this?

1) Every Day (Strength) — Receive new spiritual strength daily.
2) Every Hour (Confirmation) — Confirm God’s answers at work in you hour by hour.
3) Every Situation (Masterpiece) — In every matter, create 300% masterpieces that testify of God’s glory.

3. The Watchman’s Camp — Eternal Works (Romans 16:25-27)
God has hidden eternal things for you, and at the right time, He gives them to you. How do you enjoy this? Through the 7/7/7 camp lifestyle:

1) 7/7/7 Camp — Wherever you go, hold onto the covenant of the 7 bartizans, 7 journeys, and 7 guideposts, and set up camp there.
2) 7/7/7 Masterpieces — Wherever you go, create spiritual masterpieces built upon this covenant.
3) 7/7/7 Light — When Paul’s team entered any field, they went with the light of Christ to heal and restore. When they left, they left behind a light-bearing system that continued shining long after.

This is why Paul’s ministry produced unprecedented, unseen masterpieces.

♠ Conclusion — What Is This Light?

The light that God calls you to proclaim is not just symbolic — it is deeply spiritual and eternal:

1. Light of Creation (Genesis 1:3)

> “And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.”
> Jesus Himself is the Word made flesh, the Creator and source of all life.

2. Light of Glory (Isaiah 60:1-3)

> “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.”

3. Light of Salvation (John 1:11-12)
Jesus came as the Light. “To all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God.”

4. Light of the World (Matthew 5:13-16)
Jesus declared: “You are the light of the world.” You don’t need to “try” to shine — just shine naturally.

5. Light to Be Proclaimed (1 Peter 2:9)
You were called for this very purpose — to declare His marvelous light to the world.

24 / 25 / Eternity — The System of the Watchman

  • 24 — How will we establish 2,000 multi-site churches? By raising 24-hour watchmen in every one of those 2,000 regions. The watchman must live in 24.
  • 25 — When we live in 24, the power of the throne begins to work. This is the 25 blessing: God’s infinite power at work beyond human ability.
  • Eternity (00) — Through this, you leave behind an eternal masterpiece. This is what we call the 300% answer — the works of God that overflow beyond all measure.

Forum & Prayer

Making Peace with Others

Proverbs 16:7. When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone’s way, he causes their enemies to make peace with them.

As your relationship with God deepens, your relationships with others will also begin to change. Our connection with Him directly affects how we relate to people. An uneasy relationship with God naturally leads to tension and misunderstandings with others. But according to Today’s Word, when you live to please God, even your enemies will be at peace with you (Proverbs 16:7).

When your heart is aligned with your Father, He will give you the strength and grace to embrace anyone, even those who have wronged you. You will find the power to rise above conflict and overcome difficult relationships. Some people may be hostile to you because of your faith, but God is able to soften even the hardest hearts and turn them toward peace in His perfect time.

No matter what challenges arise, you will experience the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Even when you make mistakes, God’s Spirit will gently lead you back to the path of righteousness, restoring you and helping you walk in His will.

God promises that in all things, He works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). This includes your relationships, your struggles, and even your failures. In every circumstance, you can declare with confidence: “I can do all this through Christ, who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13).

When you enjoy a close, intimate relationship with God, loving others becomes a natural response. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands (1 John 5:1-2).

When you are in love with someone, you naturally want to listen, understand, and please them—it does not feel burdensome. In the same way, when you truly love God, it becomes natural to obey Him and love others. His Spirit transforms your heart, making His commands not heavy but joyful.

This is why Scripture reminds us: “We know that we have passed from death to life because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death” (1 John 3:14). Loving others is evidence of our spiritual life in Christ. And when you share the gospel, you demonstrate the highest form of love, because you are offering eternal life to those around you.

Through Christ, God has entrusted you with a powerful mission—the ministry of reconciliation:

“All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are, therefore, Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him, we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:18-21).

Your calling is clear: make peace with others, and help them make peace with God. This is not a duty but a divine privilege. When you live this way, your life becomes a reflection of Christ’s love and an invitation for others to encounter Him.

God’s design for your relationships is not rooted in conflict, resentment, or bitterness but in reconciliation, forgiveness, and restoration. As you walk closely with Him, your heart will overflow with love, and your life will become a channel of His grace. This is the joy-filled life God has promised:

“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete” (1 John 1:3-4).

Ultimately, everything begins and ends with your personal relationship with God. When your heart is fully surrendered to Him, His love will naturally flow through you to others. As His ambassador, your life becomes a living testimony of His grace, forgiveness, and power. Every word you speak, every act of kindness you show, and every prayer you lift up carries eternal impact. Choose today to abide in Him, walk in His peace, and become a vessel of His reconciliation and love in a world desperately searching for hope.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for making peace with me through Your Son, Jesus Christ, who bore my sins on the cross. Teach me to reflect Your love and forgiveness in every relationship. Use my life to share the message of reconciliation with those You have placed in my care. Help me walk in Your peace and extend it to others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Blessing of the Evangelist

2024.05.28 – 237 Tuesday Disciple Training Lecture 3 – Field Gospel Message Lessons 74
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:40-42

♠Introduction
Before our next meeting, I’ll probably introduce the textbook to you through a broadcast. There was a lecture series we once started at Sooyoungro Church, bringing pastors together — I plan to use that as a reference for some parts.

Today, we complete this entire volume of the Field Gospel Message. Therefore, there are three things you must always remember:

① Start (Bartizan)

Whenever you start anything, you must accurately understand God’s Word and His plan — this becomes your bartizan. But there’s a critical question here: whose bartizan are you standing under? Is it Satan’s, or is it God’s?

Right now, nearly the entire global church is trapped in spiritual idol worship. That’s why the first lesson today is this: if you understand this core point, you’ll begin receiving countless answers automatically.

I’m almost embarrassed to share testimonies because they’re so abundant. If someone asks me to share, I hesitate — it’s not because I did anything, but because I can’t handle the magnitude of what God has given me. This isn’t my doing; it’s God’s work.

And you, pastors and elders, are the main agents meant to enjoy and testify to this blessing.

② Plan (Challenge)

Today’s second point: God’s plan is absolute. Because His plan is certain, we must challenge based on it. Don’t miss this.

Moses didn’t stubbornly drag the Israelites out of Egypt on his own initiative — he moved according to God’s absolute plan. Paul didn’t go to Rome because of personal courage or ambition; he went because God’s eternal plan demanded it.

This plan must be discovered in every setting — whether in small matters, big matters, your pulpit, or your daily work.

③ Finish (Resolution)

The third point: how do you finish? With resolution.

Your life must be built this way:

  • Establish your bartizan correctly from the start
  • Challenge toward God’s absolute plan
  • Make a firm resolution to conclude your life in God’s will

In a sense, this is the same principle in life, sermons, and evangelism:

  • Introduction → Main Point → Conclusion
  • Start → Process → Finish

The same applies to evangelism. When you enter a field, you first tear down the wrong bartizans and establish God’s. The same principle applies to your work and every area of life: build the foundation correctly, challenge God’s plan, and finish entirely in Him.

Introduction — Resolving to Finish in God’s Way

So what does it mean to finish in God’s way?

1) Resolve for Yourself and Your Work

You must decide concerning yourself and your work — the calling God has entrusted to you. Though each person’s situation differs, there is one common key:

(1) “Natural,” (2) “Inevitable,” (3) “Absolute.”

This is the essential answer you must find.

If you’re thinking, “Why is my business struggling? What do I do?” — you’ll never find the answer that way. You must instead discover the “natural” reasons: “Why am I here? Why this situation?” That’s inevitability.

Then comes absoluteness: What absolute blessing is hidden here?

The 7 remnants discovered these truths:

  • “Why did Israel become slaves in Egypt?” Naturally, they lacked power and the gospel.
  • “Why was it me, in this time, in this place?” Inevitably, God chose you.
  • “What is left for me?” The absolute covenant.

Those who fail to see this complain and blame others — that’s foolishness. Problems arise because they were bound to come. Ask instead:

  • “Why now?” — That’s inevitable.
  • “Where is God leading me from here?” — That’s absolute.

2) Resolve for God’s Plan

From this point on, decide to live according to what God has prepared. When you do, His provisions become visible.

(1) Slavery / Captivity / Colonization / Scattering
Why did God allow slavery, captivity, and exile? To restore the gospel they had lost.

(2) Culture / Level / Capability
Why did God send His people into strong nations? To see and surpass their advanced cultures and standards.

(3) 237 Nations & 5,000 Tribes (0.1%)
Even now, God sends you to strategic fields because of the 237 nations and 5,000 tribes. That’s why He raises the 0.1% to influence the world.

(4) 7/7/7 → 24 / 25 / Eternity
This leads us to the essential key: the 7 bartizans, 7 journeys, and 7 guideposts — but to truly enjoy them, you must enter 24 / 25 / eternity. This isn’t burdensome — it’s the joy of enjoying what God has already given.

(5) Calling (Mission)
Finally, God has given you a specific mission:

  • ① Your work
  • ② Your church
  • ③ World missions

This blessing is natural, inevitable, and absolute. You must discover it.

3) Resolve for the Future

Your last resolution concerns the future: this is about the next generation.

(1) Three Courtyards (Work)
The three courtyards must never be lost:

  • Courtyard of the gospel
  • Courtyard of healing
  • Courtyard of the next generation

Especially you elders, deacons, and church leaders — build your life’s direction on this foundation. Don’t realize too late. Begin now and prepare the future.

(2) The Three-Day Weekend Age
Even your work and ministry must adapt to the coming three-day weekend age (Friday, Saturday, Sunday).

(3) 237 Nations / 5,000 Tribes
God is preparing the evangelization of all peoples through:

  • Remnants
  • TCKs (Third Culture Kids)
  • NCKs / CCKs — globally scattered covenant people

When you align your prayer with these resolutions, answers come naturally. Keep these in your prayer consistently, and not only will your health recover, but God will give you the five powers — spiritual, intellectual, physical, financial, and manpower strength — and authority over the forces of darkness. Through this, unprecedented works will arise in your church and field.

♠Main Point

Now we come to the main point: if I cannot do this by myself, yet God has already prepared everything, what is the conclusion?
The answer is found in Matthew 10:40-42: the blessing of the gospel-bearer.

“Even a cup of cold water given in the name of a disciple will not lose its reward.”

If you receive a disciple in the name of a disciple, you receive a disciple’s reward. If you assist a prophet, you share in the prophet’s reward. When you receive those sent by Christ, it is as if you receive Christ Himself.

1. Privileges Given to the Evangelist (Matthew 10:1)

Among many privileges, focus on these from Matthew 10:

  1. Authority to drive out impure spirits
  2. Authority to heal every disease
  3. Authority to restore what is weak

(Reference: Mark 16:15-20)
Whenever you encounter those who are sick or oppressed, proclaim the gospel clearly, and help them pray with this authority.

2. Qualifications of the Evangelist (Matthew 10:3-4)

Verses 3-4 list the qualifications of God’s chosen evangelists:

  1. Chosen ones
  2. Weak ones
  3. Poor in spirit
  4. Faithful ones

(Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:18-31)
God deliberately chooses the weak so that His power alone is revealed. Our qualification isn’t based on human strength — we are qualified because God has already given us His gospel and entrusted us to proclaim it.

3. Method of Proclaiming the Gospel (Matthew 10:5-15)

  1. Seek the lost (vv. 5-6)
  2. Proclaim the kingdom of heaven (v.7)
  3. Set the oppressed free (v.8)
  4. Do not worry about daily provision (v.9)
  5. Bless the households you enter (vv. 12-15)

The core method: declare the kingdom of God wherever you go.

4. Warnings About Persecution (Matthew 10:16-33)

Jesus prepared His disciples in advance:

(1) Conduct wisely (v.16) — Be gentle as doves, yet wise as serpents.
(2) Expect persecution (vv. 17-23) — Even families, workplaces, and friends will misunderstand and oppose you at first. But your testimony will eventually lead many to faith.
(3) Do not worry about what to say (vv. 19-29) — God will give you the words.
(4) Do not fear — Not death, not hardship, not rejection. God even numbers the hairs on your head and values you far more than sparrows.

5. The Blessings of the Gospel-Bearer (Matthew 10:34-42)

  1. New things after proclaiming the gospel (vv. 34-36)
  2. Whoever loses their life for the gospel will find it (vv. 37-39)
  3. Oneness with Christ (v.40) — To receive the gospel-bearer is to receive Christ Himself.
  4. Unfailing reward (vv. 41-42) — Even a cup of cold water given in His name will not go unrewarded.

♠Conclusion
Therefore, understand this clearly: you are an evangelist. You are not just “someone.” Especially you church leaders — you are God’s chosen instruments.

  1. Your Work — Save people through your work and industry.
  2. Your Church — Save those who have failed within the church. Those you help in their darkest hour will never forget you.
  3. Your Field — Raise key disciples and leaders in your workplace and mission field.

These three together — saving people, failures, and leaders — lead directly to world evangelization. This is exactly what Paul and his team did.

Prayer. May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the power of the Holy Spirit rest upon every evangelist called to save the future generations — from now until eternity.
Amen.

 

The Life of a Mature Christian

1 Peter 2:2. Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

As soon as you are born again by the Spirit of God, your life begins to change, and you will begin to see the evidence of God’s work in you. God restores His broken relationship with you in a personal and unique way, filling your heart with His presence and confirming that you now belong to Him.

As you continue to “crave pure spiritual milk,” which is the Word of God, you will grow strong in your salvation (1 Peter 2:2). Just as a newborn baby depends on milk for growth, your spiritual life depends on feeding daily on God’s truth. The more you abide in His Word, the more your faith matures and your heart becomes aligned with His will.

First, you will know with certainty that you have been given the right to become a child of God. This right was granted to you the moment you received and believed in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord (John 1:12). Your identity is no longer tied to the family of Satan—your past, your failures, or what the world says about you—you now belong to the family of God.

You will also realize that you are no longer on a path to destruction because the Spirit of God Himself dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Creator of the universe, the One who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence, now lives in you! His power, His wisdom, and His presence are with you at all times.

But if you do not know the authority you have as a child of God, you will continue living like a beggar or an orphan, defeated and powerless. That is why the Word of God is so vital—it reminds you of who you are and what you have been given in Christ. God’s promises equip you to walk confidently in His calling, knowing that your Father has already provided everything you need.

Because the Spirit of God is leading your life, you no longer need to live in fear or anxiety about tomorrow (John 14:26–27). His guidance is constant, gentle, and perfect, just as the Good Shepherd leads His sheep beside quiet waters and restores their souls (Psalm 23:1–3). Trusting His leading will bring you peace even in the midst of uncertainty.

Not only that, you have been given the incredible privilege of prayer—the ability to ask God for anything according to His will (John 14:14). The Holy Spirit Himself works powerfully in you and through you, interceding on your behalf and strengthening you in every circumstance (Romans 8:26). When you pray in Jesus’ name, holding onto the promises in God’s Word, the heavenly armies of God move on your behalf, and your prayers rise before His throne like incense (Revelation 8:3).

Whenever the devil attacks you through temptations, lies, and spiritual battles, take heart—he cannot prevail against you. His weapons will fail because Jesus has already won the victory. At the cross, your True King crushed the head of the ancient serpent, and when He rose again from the dead, Satan’s power was forever defeated. Stand firm and use your spiritual authority over all forces of darkness (Luke 10:19), knowing that nothing can separate you from God’s love (Romans 8:37–39).

From this moment on, set your heart and mind on things above, for you belong to heaven (Philippians 3:20). While you live on this earth, you are under the blessing, authority, and protection of God’s kingdom. This world is not your final home—you are a citizen of heaven, sent here with a divine purpose.

That purpose is the critical task Jesus entrusted to you: to testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18–20). Sharing the good news and leading others to salvation is the highest calling and greatest privilege you could ever receive. Through this, you will experience the ultimate blessing of all—being used by God to save lives and expand His kingdom.

The same Lord Jesus who saved you now lives within you, and He has given you the power of God to fulfill His calling. His divine power has granted you everything you need for life and godliness through your relationship with Him. By His glory and goodness, He has given you exceedingly great and precious promises so that you may share in His divine nature and live in freedom from the corruption caused by sin (2 Peter 1:3–4).

This is the kind of abundant, victorious life God desires for you—a life rooted in His Word, guided by His Spirit, secured by His promises, and filled with His presence.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for inviting me into a new life with You and restoring my relationship with You through Your Son. Help me to crave Your Word daily and desire Your presence above all else. Lead me by Your Spirit, strengthen my faith, and use my life to testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ in all circumstances. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

To Overcome the Spirit of False Prophets

2024.05.28 – 237 Tuesday Disciple Training Lecture 2 – Field Gospel Message Lessons 73
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 6:10-20

In our first session, we confirmed why answers come and why they do not. If there are idols inside us, or if we have satanic bartizans built up within us, we cannot receive answers.

Sometimes, yes, pastors can be a source of grace for believers. But when church members receive answers themselves — especially when elders receive answers — the pastor gains real strength. It gives pastors a stronger sense of identity in ministry and fills them with great grace.

For me, there are unforgettable moments. I used to assume that pastors preaching and evangelizing was natural. But when I witnessed lay members doing these things, I was deeply shocked. I didn’t express it outwardly, but inwardly, I felt as if something inside my life had shifted.

One example comes from a man named Hwang ○○ from Busan — he’s now with the Lord. This man was a 5th-degree black belt in Taekwondo — essentially, an instructor. You want to see how much this man treasured the gospel? When he went to serve in the military, naturally, he should have written down that he was a 5th-degree master — but he didn’t. He just left it blank. He thought to himself: “I must focus on sharing the gospel while I’m in the military.”

By God’s grace, the officer teaching Taekwondo there was transferred elsewhere, so people began searching for someone who could replace him. That’s when they found out he was a 5th-degree master, and he became the instructor in the army. Because of that, he didn’t have to go through the usual drills — he taught soldiers Taekwondo directly. And through that, he began evangelizing.

He showed me a list of the names of those who accepted Christ in the military and asked me to pray for them. After leaving the army, he ran his own Taekwondo academy, but he did something unusual: he put up a sign saying, “I’m not very skilled, so only those who believe in Jesus, or are willing to believe, should come. If not, don’t bother coming.”

And yet, God blessed him so much. He taught Taekwondo while preaching the gospel on a chalkboard to students, and because he was excellent at what he did, his academy grew rapidly. At that time, in Busan city, his academy had the largest number of students among all Taekwondo schools. Everyone in Busan knew who he was. Seeing someone like that… it moves you. He lived entirely centered on the gospel. It left a deep impression on me.

Here’s another story. At the time, I was an associate pastor, and he was just a regular layperson. One day, he got promoted to a high position at a bank. Naturally, his church celebrated, his family celebrated — everyone congratulated him. But two weeks later, he came to me on a Sunday and said, “Pastor, I’m planning to resign.”

I asked, “Why? You just got promoted!” Everyone else was happy for him, but he explained: “I once prayed to God and made a covenant — one day, I would become a missionary.” And as he thought about it during this season of being celebrated, he realized: “Isn’t this the time to go? If I wait until I’m old and retiring, going to missions just because I have nothing else left… would that be right?”

It shocked me. I told him I’d pray. When I asked, “Where are you planning to go?” he said he didn’t know yet. Usually, when people prepare for missions, they pick the country first, right? But he said, “I’ll go wherever God sends me after my interview.”

When I asked him about financial support, he said, “We do not accept missionary support.” That shocked me even more. “What? You’re going as a missionary with no external support?” He said, “I’ve been preparing personally.”

Soon after, he told me he would be leaving for the Philippines to enter graduate school. He said, “Please pray for me — I have one month left to pass my driver’s license exam.” I told him it would be difficult. Back then, if you failed the test once, you had to wait a month before retaking it, and I had failed once myself. I even joked, “Jo Eun-Taek failed 11 times.”

But his reply stunned me: “Pastor, I’ll pass.” I asked, “How are you so confident?” And he said, “Because God knows I only have one month.” And sure enough — he passed. That was a layperson.

There was another young adult in the same church — a successful businessman and a true man of prayer. He lived completely for the gospel. When he started his first store, he specifically chose the worst commercial areas of Busan, where shops were struggling and failing, and he opened there intentionally. He prayed, set up worship, and invited God’s presence into those places. And incredibly, business began to flourish.

By the time he had opened his fourth store, he came to me and said: “Pastor, last week I fasted.” I asked, “What happened? Did something bad occur?” Normally, people fast when there’s a crisis. But he said, “No, nothing happened.”

So I asked why, and he replied, “I’ve started becoming greedy. And that frightened me. So I fasted for a week and prayed to God, confessing my greed and asking for forgiveness.” He told me, “Whether my business succeeds or fails, I leave that to God. If I make money, I’ll give offerings, support missions, and continue evangelizing.”

What could I say to that? These lay believers understood why God was giving them answers. And that was what I taught during our first session: many criticize idol-worshiping nations, but the reality is that the idols and bartizans inside us are far more terrifying. What are we going to do about them? That’s what we addressed first.

Introduction — Challenge (Plan)

Now, in this second session, we must discuss something very important: if we are certain of God’s will, we must challenge boldly. The problem is, many of us challenge without first being sure of God’s will. Among all challenges, what’s the very first one?

Today’s message title is: “Overcoming the Spirit of False Prophets.”

1) Identity (No Excuses)

The very first challenge is your identity. Who am I? That’s the starting point. God has called us — do you understand how important that is? There is no excuse for not responding to this calling.

(1) Parents — Look carefully at the parents who raised the remnants. Look at the challenges they made — they’re remarkable. Take Moses’ mother, for example. She made a decisive challenge. She entrusted Moses to God, sending him into Pharaoh’s palace, believing God would use him to evangelize Egypt.

(2) Leaders — Look at the leaders who raised the 7 remnants. They were incredible, too.

(3) The 7 Remnants — Among them, the 7 remnants…

(4) The Early Church — And then look at Paul and the early church…

(5) Romans 16 Members — Finally, the people in Romans 16 made their own decisive challenges.

Before engaging in spiritual battle, you must first receive this answer. Once even one of you properly stands within the covenant and receives God’s answer, that’s it. Pastors must hold firmly to the gospel, and church leaders must receive God-given answers. That is where your challenge begins. Once God’s plan becomes clear, challenge boldly. This is the second secret you must never forget.

2) God’s Preparation

How do we challenge? There are many things we could say, but the most important challenge is this: challenge what God has already prepared. God has laid the foundation — we simply step into it.

(1) Acceptance / Transcendence / Answer (7 Bartizans) — Accept everything, transcend everything, and find the answer. Challenge until the answer comes. This is called the 7 bartizans. Wait for them, and you cannot fail.

(2) Acceptance / Transcendence / Response (7 Journeys) — First comes the answer, then comes the response. This is called the 7 journeys. We must enjoy what Christ has given us. Don’t worry about anything. Accept everything. Even those who try to harm you — accept them. They cannot succeed against you. Even when someone does wrong, God Himself will correct them.

(3) Acceptance / Transcendence / Solution (7 Guideposts) — After transcending everything, what’s next? Sharing the solution. This is called the 7 guideposts.

You must enjoy this blessing constantly. Today’s first session was about the starting point of our lives; this is the lifelong goal we pursue.

3) Spiritual Battle

Third, where must we challenge? In the arena of true spiritual battle.

(1) Satan Kneeling — When you truly enjoy prayer, the first thing that happens is this: Satan kneels before you. Even more important than Satan being bound is this — Satan bows before Christ, and therefore under your authority in Christ.

(2) Satan Bound — Once Satan has knelt, he must be bound.

(3) Satan Driven Out — And finally, Satan is driven into outer darkness.

This is the essence of spiritual battle. When this happens, tremendous works will arise without fail. Your faith and prayer are sufficient for victory.

Alright — I will continue translating the rest of this sermon completely from where we left off, starting from the Main Point through the Conclusion and Prayer, following your formatting, terminology, and numbering exactly.

Main Point

Now, let us move into the main point. The answer here is this: we must overcome the spirit of false prophets. But how can we overcome if we are not properly equipped? This isn’t simply about “false prophets” themselves, but rather the spirit of false prophets.

1. Why can we not avoid spiritual battle? (John 15:18-19)

  1. Why it is unavoidable
  2. Who the world truly is
  3. Who you truly are
  4. What it means to belong

the midst of so many circumstances, we must understand this truth: we cannot avoid spiritual battle. It is an unavoidable fight. In John 15:18-19, Jesus Himself explained it:

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated Me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. But because you do not belong to the world — because I have chosen you out of the world — that is why the world hates you.”

What does this mean? The “world” here represents the system controlled by Satan. So the meaning is this: “The world that belongs to Satan will hate you.”

And why? Because you belong to Christ. And if you belong to Christ, the enemy is Satan, who rules the world. The one who owns you determines who opposes you. Since you belong to God, and the world belongs to Satan, this is a battle you cannot escape.

That’s why Paul also said:

“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, authorities, and powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

2. Satan’s strategies and methods of attack

We must understand how Satan works and how he challenges believers.

1) 1 Peter 5:8-9

The Bible says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” He actively seeks believers to attack and destroy. But notice the verse just before that: “Cast all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

This isn’t just saying, “Don’t worry.” It’s saying: “Completely surrender your concerns to God.” When you don’t, Satan uses your anxieties as an entry point to attack you.

2) 2 Corinthians 11:14

Satan disguises himself “as an angel of light.” He appears attractive, convincing, and even “holy,” deceiving countless believers and churches.

3. How we must equip ourselves (Ephesians 6:10-18)

▷For more detailed explanations, refer to the Field Gospel Message, p.126.

Paul clearly instructs us to equip ourselves for battle:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Our fight is not against people, flesh, or blood — our fight is against spiritual powers of darkness. And Paul lays out how to arm ourselves:

  • Helmet of Salvation — This is absolute assurance of salvation. Without this, you cannot overcome. When hardships come, we proclaim: “The gospel is the answer.” When problems arise, we declare: “The gospel is the solution.”
  • Breastplate of Righteousness — Cover yourself with the righteousness of Christ, not your own works.
  • Shield of Faith — Deflect every fiery arrow of doubt and fear.
  • Sword of the Word — Use the Word of God to cut through deception and lies.
  • Belt of Truth — Secure everything with the unchanging foundation of the gospel.
  • Shoes of the Gospel of Peace — Be ready to take the gospel wherever God leads you.
  • Prayer at All Times — After putting on all the armor, we are commanded to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions.”

This is how we stand firm and fight. Without equipping ourselves this way, we cannot overcome the spirit of false prophets.

4. Paul used the Roman military as an illustration

Paul used the example of Roman soldiers to help us understand this spiritual battle. Think of how soldiers prepared:

  1. Protective gear — to guard against attacks.
  2. Defensive tools — to shield themselves when under assault.
  3. Offensive weapons — to strike back when needed.
  4. Guarding responsibilities — to hold their ground firmly.

Just as Roman soldiers never stepped onto the battlefield without being fully armed, believers must never enter daily life unequipped spiritually.

5. The attitude of those who engage the enemy

What posture must we take when entering battle? Scripture gives us two key passages:

1) 1 Corinthians 15:47-48 (and concluding verses 57-58)

At the end of this chapter, Paul declares: “Your labor in the Lord is never in vain.” In Christ, not one of your efforts is wasted. You will never lose your reward.

2) 1 John 5:4-5

This is God’s promise: “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.”

Victory belongs to those who hold to this covenant.

♠Conclusion:

Morning / Night (Strength) — Noon (Everything / What You See — 10 Platforms, 10 Secrets)

From now on, you must absolutely secure your morning and night time. These are the times when you restore spiritual rhythm and strength through prayer. Without them, you cannot stand.

Interestingly, even people deeply entrenched in idol worship have their own “quiet hours” where they meditate, pray, or draw spiritual strength. But here’s the difference: for us, this strength comes from God alone.

The true challenge happens during the day — in the field, at work, at school, in real life. That’s why you must turn everything you face into God’s blessing. This is the prayer of the evangelist:

“God, help me turn every person, every event, and every circumstance into Your blessing.”

This is exactly what Joseph did. Being sent to prison was not failure — it became the pathway to his greatest success.

Moses, when exiled in Midian, wasn’t hiding — God was preparing him to restore the covenant.

David, when being hunted, wasn’t defeated — it was God’s process of shaping him into the greatest king.

Elijah, though seemingly suffering under King Ahab, experienced the greatest victories — defeating Aram without even fighting.

Israel’s captivity in Babylon wasn’t the end — it became the starting point for saving the 237 nations and the 5,000 tribes.

And in the era of the fiercest persecution, the early church received the greatest answers. The clearest example of this is Paul.

For you listening to today’s message, hold onto this: people without the gospel will say countless things. But you must respond like this: “God already knows everything.” That’s where the secret lies.

  • The 10 Platforms — your unshakable foundations.
  • The 10 Secrets — the hidden keys for your journey.

Holding onto these makes your steps the walk of the evangelist.

That’s why it doesn’t matter how few members your church has. If even one of you receives God’s answer, history begins in that church. Build just a few solid bartizans, and God’s work will surely begin.

From now on, enjoy this. When you worship, when you listen to the message, when you deliver the message — enjoy it to the fullest.

For me, during worship, especially when we sing hymns, I offer deep prayer between the lines. That’s when I pray my most important prayers. It’s such a precious time.

Enjoy these blessings every moment. This is your strength. This is your challenge.

Take this to heart. After a short 10-minute break, we’ll conclude with the final wrap-up.

How to Overcome Crises in Life

2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

Today’s Word comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthian believers, written to strengthen and encourage them as they faced various crises in life:

“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:17–18).

Paul reminds the believers that their struggles are temporary but that God is preparing for them an eternal house in heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1). He reassures them that God has already given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come (2 Corinthians 5:5). Because of this promise, Paul urges them to live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).

God did not give us an incomplete, uncertain, or confusing gospel; from the very beginning, His plan of salvation has been perfect, complete, and unchanging. The message of the gospel comes with power, clarity, and absolute assurance because it is not based on human wisdom or effort but on the finished work of Jesus Christ, who bore our sins, died in our place, and rose again to give us eternal life. The moment we believe in Him, the Holy Spirit confirms this truth in our hearts, and as Paul declares in Today’s Word.

We were once children of the devil, living under sin and destined for eternal destruction. But Jesus changed our destiny forever through His death on the cross and His resurrection. In Him, our old identity is gone, and we are made new. Through His perfect sacrifice, we have been reconciled to God, adopted into His family, and given the privilege of living as His beloved children for all eternity. Now, instead of condemnation and separation, we have received forgiveness, freedom, and the promise of eternal life with Him.

When Jesus became a curse for us on the cross (Deuteronomy 21:23), He removed every curse from our lives. In Christ, the sins and wounds of your past no longer define you. You are completely free from the power of original sin, generational sin, and personal sin (Ephesians 2:1). Through His blood, you have been fully forgiven, completely restored, and permanently set apart as a new creation in God’s kingdom. Now you can live in the freedom and authority that come from belonging to Christ, no longer bound by guilt, shame, or the power of the enemy.

For our sins to be forgiven, a sinless person had to die in our place (1 Peter 3:18). That is why the Son of Man gave His life as a ransom for us (Mark 10:45). Jesus, our True Priest, entered the Most Holy Place once for all—not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own precious blood—to obtain eternal redemption for us (Hebrews 9:12). By this sacrifice, He liberated us from the law of sin and death, setting us free forever.

So, do not dwell on your past mistakes or regrets. Instead, believe in the One who declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Rest in the peace that comes from knowing your salvation is complete. Trust that God has removed your sins as far as the east is from the west and remembers them no more (Psalm 103:12, Hebrews 8:12). Walk each day in the confidence and joy that come from being fully accepted, fully forgiven, and fully loved by your Heavenly Father (Hebrews 4:16).

God has also set us free from the problems of our present reality. Through His resurrection, Jesus—the True King—defeated Satan, the one who holds the power of death (Hebrews 2:14). Because He reigns, we no longer have to follow the patterns of this world. We have victory over sin, over fear, and over the schemes of the enemy. Scripture declares, “Everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4–5).

So give all your worries and anxieties to God, for He cares deeply for you (1 Peter 5:7). Do not let the enemy plant seeds of fear or unbelief in your heart. Stand firm in the authority Christ has given you, and when you resist the devil by submitting to God and His Word, he will flee (James 4:7).

Finally, we have been freed from the fear of the future. When God raised Jesus from the dead, He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 2:6). Jesus, our True Prophet, opened a new and living way for us—from death to life, from hell to heaven (John 5:24). Our eternal address has been changed forever: He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves (Colossians 1:13).

Even while we live on earth, we belong to God’s kingdom (Luke 17:21; Philippians 3:20), and Jesus has given us the keys to unleash the power of heaven through prayer (Matthew 16:19). One day, He will take us to the place He has prepared, where we will be with Him forever (John 14:1–3).

You have been saved by grace through faith in Christ—and even that faith is a gift from God. Your salvation is not based on what you have done; therefore, there is no room for boasting (Ephesians 2:8-9). Instead, your transformed life becomes living evidence of God’s grace for future generations. His kindness and the amazing richness of His grace to us who belong to Christ Jesus will be displayed for all eternity. God has prepared an important task for you: proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Ephesians 2:10).

Do not let the crises in your life move you; instead, move them by the power of the gospel, affirming who you have become in Christ.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for allowing crises in my life to bless me. Help me stand on the firm foundation of my salvation found in Christ. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Can Living a Good Life Lead to Salvation?

2024.05.28 – 237 Tuesday Disciple Training Lecture 1 – Field Gospel Message Lessons 71
Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2:8-10

♠Introduction

So, people struggle and strive, and when religion doesn’t work, they come up with something else that sounds good. This isn’t necessarily a bad statement in itself, right? It’s just something they pulled out. This is a phrase brought forth by churches that do not proclaim the gospel: “Just live a good life!” Is that correct? Of course, I’m not saying we should live wickedly. But understand this clearly — the idea itself isn’t bad. However, this teaching was pulled out to keep people from realizing the gospel.

A typical example of this is the traditional Christian church of the past — the Catholic Church. They taught the same thing back then, and they’re still saying it today: “You must do good deeds.” At first glance, it sounds wonderful. But what happens? It weakens Christ. “You must volunteer. You must achieve merit. You must give large offerings if you want to be saved.” They even sold indulgences. They made people confess their sins to humans through penance and confession — is repentance done before people? That’s Catholicism. Before God — that is the proper way. You must teach this clearly.

1) The thoughts of ordinary people — “No matter what religion you have, as long as you live a good and sincere life, that’s enough.”

▶This is what many people believe. Generally, they’re taught: “If you sincerely follow any religion, isn’t that enough?”

2) Jehovah’s Witnesses — “If you keep the laws God gave, you’ll be saved.”

▶Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that if you keep all the laws, you’ll be saved.

3) The Jews (Pharisees) — “By keeping the law and performing works, you’ll be saved.”

▶The Jews believed salvation comes through keeping the law and performing religious works.

4) Buddhism, Tenrikyo, and similar religions — “Perform good deeds to repay for sins (or bad karma).”

▶In Buddhism, Tenrikyo, and similar religions, they teach that “because you must repay your sins, you must do good deeds.”

▶These four teachings sound good, don’t they? For someone who has not received salvation, these statements seem correct. Right? For unbelievers, these statements sound right. And Satan sees these statements as correct too — because through them, people fall into destruction. That’s the tragedy.

Then they twist things further: “Oh, then are you saying we should commit evil? Should we ignore God’s commands? Should we just live however we want?” No, of course not. Where in the Bible does it say to live recklessly? This matter determines whether the entire world lives or dies.

If you, the believers, church leaders, and pastors, fail to understand this, it is a disaster. This is a historical matter that impacts the entire world. Simply put, the Pharisees grabbed hold of this teaching and ran with it. They said: “You’re saved by faith? Are you crazy?” That’s what they were saying: “Saved by faith? You must be insane!”

To unbelievers, whose words sound right? The Pharisees’. And Satan entered into the medieval church and corrupted it. And when you hear what the medieval church taught, at first, their logic even sounds more convincing than Luther’s. People said, “That Luther fellow has lost his mind. He divorced, and his wife is even a former nun! He’s a sinner!”

Isn’t that what they said? But “forbidding men and women from marriage” — that’s a Buddhist rule, not a biblical one. That is not the gospel. Yet the Catholic Church used that doctrine to execute people like Luther. To the general public, Catholic teachings sounded correct: “How can you say you’re saved by faith alone? You must earn salvation!”

If you stopped 100 random people on the street and asked, “How is a person saved?” — 100 out of 100 would answer: “By doing good deeds.” That’s the reality.

▶Because of this, the worldwide church has been corrupted again and again. And now, in these last days, the real heresies are using this very teaching as their weapon. They say: “Those churches aren’t saved — they’re always fighting. You need to live sincerely. You must keep God’s commands. We’re in the last days!” And many people fall for this message.

False teachings say, “You must act righteously. You must donate. You must perform good works.” Sounds great, doesn’t it? But the core of it is deception. Among these, the most notorious example is Shincheonji. Their teaching is “airtight” in the sense that it appears flawless — it’s exactly what Satan does.

This is how they develop entire doctrines and “new revelations,” saying: “Only by believing in Jesus can you be saved. What are you talking about?” They mock the gospel. Catholicism still claims, “You’ll only know at the end whether you’re saved or not — so keep donating until the last day.” Clever, right? It generates massive amounts of money.

They sold indulgences and became wealthy. Everyone is covered in sin, so everyone pays up. And within Catholicism, no one dares lift their head before the priest — because the priest knows all their sins from confession. In Protestant churches, believers sometimes argue with pastors, but in Catholicism, they wouldn’t dare. If the priest glares at you, that’s the end of the conversation — you won’t get “forgiveness” otherwise.

I once asked a Catholic core member: “Why do you perform penance and confession?” And they answered, “Well, it’s not exactly penance; it’s more like spiritual counseling.” I said, “Really?”

1. Why do they still suffer continuously and repeatedly?

▶Yet their suffering continues. Why is that?

1) John 3:1-9

▶In John 3:1-9, a man named Nicodemus, an outstanding religious leader, came to Jesus. He came at night — perhaps because that was more convenient for him. He was a man of high status. The first thing he said was, “Rabbi” — not “Lord.” He respectfully praised Jesus: “I know that the things You do would be impossible unless God were with You.” But Jesus didn’t thank him. Instead, He gave what seems like an unrelated answer:

“Unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Nicodemus was shocked. He asked, “How can someone be born again? Can an old man enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?” Jesus, astounded, replied, “Even if you went back into your mother’s womb, you cannot be saved. Unless you are born of water and the Spirit, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. The wind blows wherever it pleases; you hear its sound but cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going — so it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Jesus then said, “If I tell you about earthly things and you don’t understand, how can you understand if I tell you about heavenly things?” And then came this crucial statement:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

Nicodemus quietly left after this conversation, deeply unsettled. We don’t know what happened to him afterward.

2) Acts 3:1-11

▶Here we see the man crippled from birth sitting at the Beautiful Gate. He chose that spot carefully. Why? Because location matters. If he sat under a bridge, no one would help him. But at the temple gate, people gave generously. He relied on donations to survive, and others even carried him there daily and took him home afterward.

People gave him coins — and that’s fine. Some even organized aid so he could survive — and that’s fine too; it’s a form of good deeds. But Peter did not give him money. No matter how many coins this man received, he remained a beggar. No matter how much wealth he accumulated, he was still crippled. And even if he wasn’t crippled, without salvation, he would remain spiritually dead.

That day, Peter looked at him intently and said, “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

At that moment, everything changed. His fate was overturned. That is what the gospel does. The gospel doesn’t merely make the cripple walk — it changes destinies.

2. The Pharisees and the world do not know four crucial truths

▶So what exactly do these people fail to understand?

1) They do not know what original sin is

▶First of all, they don’t know what original sin is. This is astonishing, isn’t it?

(1) Original sin — Because they don’t understand original sin, what happens? They believe salvation comes through keeping the law. But in reality, they do not understand the Bible at all. This all comes from the problem in Genesis 3. What happened there? Was it just about eating a simple fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? “If God didn’t want us to eat it, He shouldn’t have made it!” But that’s not the issue.

The problem is that Adam and Eve broke God’s covenant and were deceived by Satan. God gave the fruit as a sign of His covenant, but they were completely captured by Satan. As a result, they became Nephilim, living corrupted lives, and eventually reached the Tower of Babel. Because they don’t know this problem, they cannot understand salvation.

(2) Personal sins — Flowing from original sin are personal sins. Since people live centered only on themselves, they harm others and fall into endless sins.

(3) The sin of idol worship — And there is also the sin of idol worship. These three — original sin, personal sins, and idol worship — are the truly massive problems. The consequences are catastrophic.

2) They do not understand the state of sin

▶The Bible explains exactly what state humanity is in because of sin.

(1) The spiritual state under original sin (Ephesians 2:1)
▶In Ephesians 2:1, the Bible says very clearly: “You were dead in your transgressions and sins.” Spiritually dead. The spirit itself has died. This is the spiritual state caused by original sin.

(2) The result of original sin (Ephesians 2:2-3)
▶And what else? In Ephesians 2:2-3, it says we followed “the ruler of the kingdom of the air.” That’s terrifying. We became, by nature, “children of wrath.” That’s why humanity ends up unknowingly serving Satan. You must explain this clearly.

3) They do not understand what salvation truly is (Ephesians 2:1-6)

▶They don’t know what salvation really means. Salvation means that God “raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms.” That’s salvation — being lifted out of spiritual death into eternal life with Christ.

4) They do not understand what faith really is (Ephesians 2:8-10)

(1) Faith vs. mere trust or conviction
(2) Christ’s merit vs. our efforts
(3) God’s grace vs. human works

▶What follows naturally here is faith. But what kind of faith? In Ephesians 2:8-10, Paul says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith.” Notice carefully: we are not saved by faith itself — we are saved by grace, and faith is simply the means. It’s the channel through which God’s grace flows. Salvation is entirely a gift of God.

If you don’t understand this, you cannot understand life at all. Missing this truth doesn’t just mean you don’t know God — it means you don’t even understand the true purpose of your existence.

If you firmly establish this bartizan of truth, your work, your church, and your entire life will come alive. Do this for real.

5) They misunderstood the life of faith

▶Because they didn’t understand faith, they misunderstood the entire Christian life, treating it like just another religion. It sounds nice, but it cannot lead to salvation.

(1) Works are never the condition of salvation — they are the result of it
▶Good deeds are not the basis of salvation. That’s clear, right?

(2) Works are an expression of gratitude
▶Good works are an expression of thanksgiving, not a condition for salvation.

(3) Works are a confession of faith
▶Good works reveal our confession of faith, but they are never a prerequisite for salvation.

▶In the end, when people misunderstand this, they shift the focus of everything to human effort, returning right back to Genesis 3. “If you believe, you are saved” — but if faith itself becomes a human work, even that turns into self-centeredness. Scripture doesn’t teach this. Instead, it says: “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith…” And remember this too: “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.”

3. To experience the power of salvation

▶And from this point forward, what happens? We begin to experience the power of salvation. What kind of power is this?

1) Life (Ephesians 2:1)

▶“You who were dead in your transgressions and sins, He made alive.” You gain life itself.

2) Deliverance (Ephesians 2:2)

▶You once followed the ruler of the kingdom of the air, but now you have been rescued and set free. That’s deliverance.

3) Confidence and trust (Ephesians 2:7-10)

▶In Ephesians 2:7-10, God promises that “in the coming ages, He will show the incomparable riches of His grace.” That’s why we place our trust in this covenant. And this is why world evangelization takes place.

♠Conclusion: The greatest idol — “Man” (Philippians 2:6-11)

▶Now, let’s conclude. The greatest idol isn’t found in a temple — it’s found inside people. That’s why there’s so much disaster. I become an idol. My possessions become idols. Money is an idol. Success is an idol. Everything can become an idol — and that’s why people perish.

▶These days, I’ve noticed that some people who left our church criticize me fiercely. But I’m actually grateful for one thing: they’ve effectively reduced Ryu Kwang-Soo to a person of no value in their eyes. And that’s exactly how it should be — I must have no value. For that, I’m genuinely thankful. This is God’s timetable.

If I appear “too great,” I can’t continue proclaiming this gospel. If I stand “too high,” God’s glory is hidden. God’s name must be exalted, not mine. My teaching must remain rooted in Scripture; my own bartizan must never be built. That, I am truly grateful for.

We must be willing to endure many insults. The name of the Lord must be exalted without limit. Right? Even Christ Himself suffered — so how could we expect to avoid suffering? Christ, though sinless, suffered on the cross. And we — lacking so much — have no excuse to avoid hardship.

Christ humbled Himself, suffered, and was crucified. Yet He became the King of kings and the Lord of lords. That name must be proclaimed to the entire world.

▶We must block the spiritual pandemic that is spreading across the whole world. This is your calling. I believe that as long as you firmly hold onto this mission, answers will come even if you stay still.

God knows whether your efforts come from pure devotion or from personal ambition. Your fellow believers know it. Your elders know it. And your wives — the pastors’ wives — often know it best. Satan certainly knows it, too. And Satan is never deceived, because his specialty is deception. He deceives believers constantly.

That’s why, pastors, never become discouraged. Don’t be shaken. Say this to yourself:

“Even if I starve to death, I will hold only to this gospel covenant!”

Make the kingdom of darkness kneel. Works of God will arise. A new beginning has come. We must go to the 5,000 tribes. I will pray.

Prayer. God, we thank You. We thank You for granting us salvation. Allow us to proclaim this gospel of salvation to the entire world. Forgive our weaknesses and shortcomings, and fill what we lack. Fill our inability with Your power. Work within us so that we may speak the things of God. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Rescue Those Trapped in Idol Worship

2024.05.28 – 237 Tuesday Disciple Training Lecture 1 – Field Gospel Message Lessons 71
Scripture Reading: Mark 5:1-10

♠Introduction:

▶Today, we will look at Lessons 71 through 74.
In our first session, we will focus on rescuing those trapped in idol worship, because there are many such people. Also, can people be saved by living a good life? It may seem insignificant, but it is important. Today, I must first speak a little about idol worship. You must understand this in order to receive answers to prayer. Anything outside of what Christ has taught is an idol.

①No answers, spiritually diseased people – Therefore, there are two things you must absolutely remember first. There are those who receive no answers. They continue living a life of faith, yet there are no answers. They continue holding onto the Word, but nothing happens. In the end, nothing works.

②Colossians 3:5, 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 – If your thoughts become greater, that is an idol. In Colossians 3:5, it says, “Greed is idolatry.” Paul was speaking of something on a very deep level. Physical idols are an obvious matter, but if the thoughts of your heart become greater, that is idol worship. Should that really be the case?

③7/7/7 – There is also this (7/7/7). And there are many spiritually diseased people. You must know the standard for how much you should fight for these people. This is not simply a matter of heart idols — in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, it says that they have established bartizans of idols. These must be destroyed. Once you do so, that is enough. Christ came because God Himself came, didn’t He? Right? What Christ spoke is God’s Word. When Christ expressed anger, it was God’s anger. Christ revealed God’s heart in everything He spoke about changing. This (7/7/7) is what Christ left for us. This (7/7/7) must be sufficient. Anything beyond this is idol worship. So you must always remember this.

▶Once you understand this, answers will begin to come upon your work, no matter what anyone around you or in the church says. People speak and act based on their own thoughts without knowing this. You must firmly hold onto God’s Word.
Now, your church must begin receiving answers powerful enough to carry out world evangelization. Right? It is already happening, and has happened, but there must be even greater answers. I don’t know what concerns you may have, but perhaps, in God’s eyes, what you are concerned about may actually be an idol. Right? God will destroy it, yet we cling to these things and hesitate to let them go. This is the difference between Paul and Peter. Peter, frankly speaking, was somewhat ignorant, wasn’t he? He kept doing foolish things. Simply put, he had this attitude of, “Hey, do you know who I am?” He had that in him. So when Paul rose up, Peter responded, “Fine!” He seemed to imply, “I’m one of Jesus’ direct disciples; I’m the top disciple among them, you know that, right?” There was this dynamic. At that point, Paul responded: “I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.” That was the answer he gave. If you are not careful, this can become an idol bartizan. You, who must carry out world evangelization, must absolutely remember this.

▶Introduction – Now then, how can we enjoy this blessing? There are three things we must do. From now on, you can start applying them.
First, ①Follow the fulfillment of the Word — not the fulfillment itself, but follow the fulfillment of the Word. Most people don’t do this. Elites, especially, are prone to fixing their plans and pushing forward accordingly. But you must have enough discernment to realize how much of a loss that brings. It’s a great loss. Follow the fulfillment of the Word.
Second, ②Follow the flow of answered prayers — the fulfillment of the Word also has a flow.
And third, ③Follow the flow of evangelism answers. This is essential. Follow this flow. No matter how correct your arguments are, if you deviate from the essence, there will be no answers. No matter how great a church leader’s suggestions are, if they do not align with the essence of the evangelism movement, I’m sorry to say this, but in God’s eyes, it is subject to destruction. You must know this. If you do not, you may work tirelessly, yet end up with no fruit at all.

  1. Follow the fulfillment of the Word
    ▶So, there are many passages about following the fulfillment of the Word…

(1) Acts 2:1-47 – They completely followed the fulfillment of the Word. From start to finish, “When the day of Pentecost came,” fifteen nations gathered there. At that time, Peter proclaimed God’s Word, and the promise spoken through Joel was fulfilled. He delivered the greatest sermon. Then it says they “devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching,” and afterward, “every day in the temple courts and from house to house.” That’s how it went. So, even if it’s not this exact phrase, you should recognize, “Ah, I can see the Word being fulfilled here.” Go in that direction. No matter how small your congregation is, it’s okay. If the Word is fulfilled even in one or two people, history will take place. But if 1,000 people gather and it doesn’t align with the fulfillment of the Word, that is failure.

(2) Acts 3:1-12 – When Peter saw the lame man sitting by the Beautiful Gate of the temple, he didn’t just see an ordinary person. Where did Jesus first tell them to begin? From Jerusalem, then Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. That is what Jesus said.

(3) Acts 8:4-8 – In Acts 8:4-8, the work in Samaria began…

(4) Acts 19:21 – And then from Antioch, Acts 19:21 shows us the direction toward Rome. You must always keep this in mind: follow the fulfillment of the Word. Otherwise, the declaration, “Thus says the Lord,” will have no meaning at all. Right? The Word of God is alive and active, but it must have relevance to you. I’ll talk more about this tomorrow during the RTS special lecture, but if the Word is truly living and active, what becomes most important?

  1. The flow of answered prayers
    ▶Then, we see that answers to prayer continue to occur, don’t we?

(1) Acts 13:1-12 – That’s why you must always explain this: when they went out for the first evangelism, it was the complete work of the Holy Spirit. This is not simply repeating the same content. You must keep teaching this principle, and you must enjoy it yourself.

(2) Acts 16:6-10 – After reaching a turning point in Macedonia, up to verse 40, God led them there — Lydia, the demon-possessed slave girl, and the incident at the prison — all of these events unfolded. Right?

(3) Acts 19:1-21 – In Acts 19:1, up to verse 7, what happened in the Upper Room of Mark’s house was repeated exactly. Up to verse 21, tremendous things happened — the flow of answered prayers came. Paul then boldly proclaimed the kingdom of God, and this is precisely what we see on Mt Olive and in the Upper Room of Mark. Naturally, miracles happened, and the sick were healed. And what came next? “You must also testify in Rome.” That’s right. That’s the direction they went. If you enter this flow, you have truly entered the highest blessing. No one can block you. Right? In fact, there is nothing to worry about.

▶Now, if you do not follow God’s Word and you do not follow the flow of answered prayers, you are among the people described in the introduction. One day, when you grow older, you will realize that your life has failed. It won’t be too late, but at that point, that’s it. Then, after barely holding on, you’ll just go to heaven. What else can you do? But there will be no fruit. The global church is showing us evidence of this right now. Even massive churches in the U.S. have collapsed because they did other things instead of focusing on this (7/7/7).

When I first visited the U.S., I went to one of those famous churches — the Crystal Cathedral, founded by Robert Schuller. You’ve probably heard of it, right? Some Korean pastors have strongly criticized his sermons. I went there with interest, and I saw that the church building was truly magnificent. As I walked through the courtyard, the ground was lined with marble tiles, and engraved on each tile was the name of the person who donated. I thought, “Wow, incredible!” Anyone would want to give if their name would be displayed there. They even color-coded the tiles based on how much you donated. It was truly impressive. I’m not criticizing them — I’m concerned.

If you only break free from this (introduction), you’ll realize it’s not about “I can do it.” Schuller taught that there’s no such thing as despair and that “you can do it.” Sounds wonderful, right? But then, why would we need Christ? Despair exists. That’s why God sent Christ. Right? This is what’s truly important.

  1. The essence of evangelism
    ▶Follow the essence of evangelism. That’s why we must hold onto these three things:
    ①Consideration, ②Communication, and ③God’s guidance.

(1) Consideration (7 Bartizans) – The greatest secret to consideration is the 7 bartizans. We can afford to be considerate because we possess this (bartizan). Without this, you cannot afford to be considerate — because being considerate would lead to losing everything. But if you have this (bartizan), none of that matters. Therefore, those who are considerate are truly powerful. Right? Those who forgive have a future. With the 7 bartizans, you can’t help but be considerate.

(2) Communication (7 Journeys) – What is the secret to communication? Why must we communicate? Because we must walk the journey. Once communication happens, everything is resolved, but we must communicate because we’re on this journey. This journey is tremendous, and it belongs to you.

(3) Guidance (7 Guideposts) – What is the secret to God’s guidance? These are the 7 guideposts.

▶You must clearly enjoy and relay these blessings. Once you do, everything becomes an answer: sitting is an answer, standing is an answer, even breathing becomes an answer. And those who block the gospel? Even their breathing is sin, and their eating is sin. Why? Because they breathe and eat in order to hinder the gospel. If someone boards a pirate ship, whether they’re good or bad, they’re still pirates. Right? In fact, the “good” pirate is worse, because he uses his morality to deceive others. If you’re on a pirate ship, you shouldn’t act righteous, right? Aboard Satan’s ship, even being “kind” causes greater damage.

You must enjoy these truths now and relay them clearly to your members and the disciples you meet. From here, answers will begin to come. Do not worry because of your personal goals or circumstances.

▶Field Gospel Message, Lesson 71: Rescue Those Trapped in Idol Worship (Mark 5:1-10)
Now, let’s look at Lesson 71. How should we understand this? Naturally, people fall into idol worship, don’t they? If true disciples and believers do not understand the introduction, of course unbelievers will be trapped. That’s why, in the end, they end up completely possessed and lose their senses. This is the result we see. So what must we do? We must rescue these people, but in order to rescue them, we need the spiritual power to do so. This is precisely what the introduction is about. Never lose hold of this. Even now, God is fulfilling His Word. Right? Even now, God is answering prayers. Correct? Even now, God is accomplishing His work of salvation. Therefore, I must remain inside this flow (Word / Prayer / Evangelism). But this (introduction) must be destroyed. To have an idol bartizan inside of you is unacceptable — it must be torn down. Many people still hold onto these things.

▶Satan (evil spirits) delight in idol worship (Satan worship)
So when we look at this part, we must understand clearly. In one word, idol worship is doing what Satan likes. And the scary thing is that people don’t even realize they’re doing it. Without knowing it, they are worshiping Satan. Naturally, destruction follows. Now, if a church engages in Satan worship, what will happen? Of course, it will collapse. You must understand this so you can save people in the field and give them the correct answers. It’s very clear: if you just destroy these bartizans, the fact that you are alive itself becomes an answer. This is how it must be.

And in the church, when the congregation grows larger, all sorts of unnecessary things come in. None of that matters. If they do not realize this, they are bound to collapse. Right? You don’t have to go out of your way to harm them, but neither should you be overly desperate to help those who are already collapsing because of idol worship. Right? They’re falling because of idol worship anyway.

▶Personal testimony
I experienced something like this in my early ministry days. I used to travel around and hold revival meetings. One time, I went to a big church to preach at their revival. I happened to look at the church’s history booklet and saw something written there. On the very first page, it said: “This church was founded when a certain elder donated land and built the church.” Of course, that was just recording history.

But because my sermon that day was about idol worship, I mentioned it during the message. After the meeting ended, we went to have a meal together. At the dining table, one of the elders wasn’t eating at all. He was one of the key elders in that church. I asked him, “Elder, why aren’t you eating?” He looked upset and replied, “Pastor, I was so shocked by today’s sermon. Our senior pastor must have told you to say that, right?”

I said, “Elder, it has to be one of two things: either I made a mistake, or God told me to say it. If I was wrong, I will repent before God. But if God told me to say it, then it’s a different matter.”

The truth is, most people live their life of faith entirely for themselves. That has nothing to do with this introduction. Naturally, there are no answers. And if there are no answers, we begin living like unbelievers. The problem is, we don’t just live like unbelievers — we end up serving unbelievers. That’s exactly what happened to Israel. They ended up serving Egypt, and Egypt, in turn, served Satan. The same principle applies today.

So I told our important team members this today: “When we work overseas, do not try to force what we want. Do what they can do. Don’t try to make us the main actors. Help them become the main actors instead.”

▶Main point — Why does the Bible forbid idol worship?
Now, let’s get into the main point of this passage. Why does the Bible repeatedly warn us not to engage in idol worship? That’s important. Every religion teaches idol worship. Every religion practices it. Then why does God alone tell us not to do it? This is a crucial point.

1. It brings disaster (Exodus 20:4)

▶First, idol worship brings disaster. If it brought blessings, God would command us to do it, right? But idol worship brings curses. Why is that?

1) The purpose of the Exodus (Exodus 9:1)

▶In Exodus 9:1, God says, “Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.” That’s a terrifying statement when you think about it.

2) The purpose and promise of God calling Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3)

▶God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldeans, a land filled with idols. He told him, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s household.” Completely leave everything behind. “Go to the land I will show you. I will make you a great nation. I will bless you, and whoever blesses you, I will bless. Whoever curses you, I will curse. Through your offspring, all nations on earth will be blessed.” That’s how serious idol worship is. We must rescue these people. That’s why we evangelize and do missions.

3) Idol worship is easy for all people and nations, but why did God forbid it?

▶Why did God forbid it? Because idol worship brings destruction. Any nation, any people can easily fall into it, so the Bible specifically says, “Do not do it.” Why?

(1) Matthew 4:8-11 — Worship that should go to God ends up going to Satan
In Matthew 4:8-11, Satan tempted Jesus, saying, “I will give you all the kingdoms of the world if you bow down to me.” Incredible, right? Satan dared to say that to Jesus Himself. But Jesus replied, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.” So, for believers, the most critical thing is worship. Satan’s main goal is to replace your object of worship. He wants to steal your worship from God. That’s why when you fail in worship, you lose everything. If you cannot receive answers in worship, you’re already off track.

(2) Exodus 20:4 — Destruction upon the third and fourth generations
And what else? Those trapped in idol worship face problems up to the third and fourth generations. Even if a child did nothing wrong, if the parents engaged in idol worship, the child suffers. Even the grandchildren suffer. If the parents served shamans, demonic problems are passed down to their descendants. This is Satan’s work. That’s why God commanded us not to worship idols. You must explain this cause clearly to people.

And yes, idol worship does bring answers — but not from God. Satan works there, so supernatural things happen. Just look at criminal gangs — they have power. Does that make them righteous? Of course not. Even thieves and violent people have “power,” but that is the power of darkness. If you mistake that for God’s power, you are in deep trouble.

2. It leads to constant suffering

▶And then what happens? From this point on, strange pains and suffering begin to come.

1) The suffering of the idol worshipper himself (Mark 5:1-10)

▶In Mark 5:1-10, we see a man completely seized and possessed, losing all control over himself. That’s the state idol worship eventually brings you into.

2) The suffering passed on to others (Acts 16:16-18)

▶And it doesn’t end there. In Acts 16:16-18, we see how demonic possession spreads — this girl brought confusion and suffering to many others.

3. Suffering accumulates more and more (Matthew 12:43-45)

▶What’s even more frightening is that suffering begins to pile up endlessly. You must explain this clearly. In Matthew 12:43-45, Jesus speaks of this, though the Pharisees didn’t understand a word He was saying.

1) The condition of church members without life (Matthew 12:43)

▶In verse 43, the evil spirit wanders through arid places, seeking rest. In simple terms, these are spiritually dry, complaining hearts — and evil spirits invade them, attacking relentlessly.

2) The foolishness of idol worshippers (Matthew 12:44-45)

▶And what happens next? It gets worse and worse. People perform rituals and exorcisms, but instead, seven more demons come in. Jesus explained this clearly, but the Pharisees couldn’t understand Him at all. They said, “What is He talking about? Why is He talking about demons? Is He the prince of demons or something?”

Isn’t it amazing how identical this is to today’s churches without the gospel? They speak using exactly the same arguments as the Pharisees, word for word. When you see denominations today that block the gospel, their language mirrors that of the Pharisees. It’s shocking.

That’s why, to save these people, you must be filled with the Holy Spirit, as Jesus commanded. In other words, you must arm yourself with what Christ has given. That is what being filled with the Holy Spirit truly means.

4. To save those possessed by demons

▷Refer to the detailed diagram in the Field Gospel Message textbook, p.124.
▶There is an illustration there. Demons constantly attack us, don’t they? Satan attacks us. Can demons enter believers? Yes, they can. The Bible says so. In Ephesians 4:27, it says, “Do not give the devil a foothold.” In Acts 5:3, Peter says, “Why has Satan filled your heart?” Demons can enter.

▶If you look at the diagram, you’ll see that although we have our will, demons are always trying to invade us. When we keep giving them opportunities, we eventually get entangled. Once entangled, we become trapped. Over time, we are seized entirely. That’s why the very first thing Jesus said when calling His disciples was: “I have called you so that you may be with Me, so that you may go out and preach, and so that you may have authority to drive out demons.” That’s the order. You must explain this to others.

Long-term unbelief, long-term oppression, long-term torment from demons — none of that matters once the bartizan is built. “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.” That’s what has been established.