I sincerely desire that our remnants and our church leaders quickly enter into the timetable where they happily enjoy prayer. Prayer should never be a burden, an obligation, a formality, or a ritual. Prayer is not something legalistic or mechanical. Prayer should become the most comfortable, happiest, and easiest time for you — and at the same time, the most important time of your life.
I hope that our church leaders and our remnants become people who can draw the blueprint of their entire lives through prayer — envisioning everything God desires and receiving His answers within prayer.
Pastor Ryu once shared his testimony about this. He said that before he truly understood the gospel and before he properly understood the covenant, worship was boring. Worship felt long, so he couldn’t focus, and during worship, his mind wandered elsewhere.
Especially among church workers — education staff, assistant pastors, and associate ministers — many of them would be busy doing other tasks during worship: ushering, organizing things, moving around, handling logistics, and so on. But the time of worship is the most important moment, and yet they couldn’t focus properly. Pastor Ryu confessed that he was like that too in the past.
He also confessed that he didn’t understand prayer. And furthermore, he didn’t give offerings at all. Not because he hated giving, but because he had no money to give. He reasoned, “If I don’t have any money, of course I can’t give offerings.” He didn’t realize the spiritual importance of offering and emphasized three points about this in his testimony.
Last week, you heard this, right? He said that he couldn’t truly worship, couldn’t pray, and couldn’t give offerings — and above all, he didn’t understand their importance. He even joked, saying, “If the church were full of people like me, the church would completely collapse.”
But now, Pastor Ryu says he’s received all the answers in these areas.
Even an evangelist like Pastor Ryu had those struggles, which means it’s natural that we, whether church leaders, adults, or children, might also experience the same. You can be an honest, sincere, kind, polite, disciplined, and trustworthy person — you can excel in many things — but if you do not pray, it ultimately has no meaning at all.
Not being able to pray is like not being able to breathe. If prayer doesn’t take place, it means you are disconnected from the God who sits on the throne. Spiritually, your lifeline is cut off. That’s how serious this is.
By God’s grace, I’ve personally experienced many answers in this area. That’s why I now desire for our remnants, future generations, and church leaders to enter into this blessing. If you can enjoy happy prayer, everything else is finished.
When we say “happy prayer,” it’s not just one more spiritual habit. Inside this phrase, everything else is included: evangelism, the gospel, worship, discipleship, field ministry — they’re all rooted within prayer.
Some might say, “Isn’t everything contained in the gospel already?” Of course, but for those who truly have the gospel, prayer becomes the natural result. The gospel is the foundation; prayer is the enjoyment of the gospel.
If you cannot enter this stage, no matter how knowledgeable, educated, or well-trained you are — even if you hold a Doctorate in Theology, even if you’re a world-renowned missionary — the moment prayer becomes burdensome or dry, everything begins to break down.
And if prayer isn’t working but things seem to go well anyway? That’s actually the most dangerous place to be. Without prayer, any so-called success will eventually collapse.
We are not praying the prayers of unbelievers, nor the prayers of religious people. We are children of the covenant. Our prayer must be the prayer that moves the throne of God — a prayer where the works of the kingdom of God happen at the “25th hour”.
If prayer doesn’t reach the 25th hour, we might as well learn from Muslims, right? They pray five times a day, without fail. Look at Buddhists — they go around their pagodas with intense devotion, bowing 108 times, chanting for hours.
But our prayer is different: we must pray the prayer where works of eternity happen — where the power of the throne is revealed.
Think about it. In life, we face so many difficulties, hardships, failures, slanders, imprisonments, persecutions, sickness, accidents, financial struggles, and family problems. These are real situations, not just textbook examples.
Can you acknowledge that all these things are actually God’s answers, God’s blessings, God’s method, and God’s message for you?
At first glance, they look bad, right? But if God is sovereign and if He loves you, then nothing in your life is a mistake. If these hardships are allowed by God, then there is an answer and a purpose hidden inside each one.
If you believe this, then these problems are not just problems — they’re actually answers. And if they’re answers, you don’t even need to pray for them to be “removed.” Why would you pray for God to take away something that is already His blessing?
That’s where many people misunderstand prayer. Most people spend their energy praying for their problems to go away. But that shows we’ve missed God’s perspective.
True faith acknowledges that everything that happens to me is under God’s perfect sovereignty. Even if God disciplines me, it’s still a blessing — because it proves that I am His child.
This is why many of us must rethink prayer. There are many Christians today who are still praying religious prayers. They pray like unbelievers: always asking God to solve problems, meet needs, and fulfill personal desires.
But Jesus taught us differently. In Matthew 6, He warned us about praying like the Gentiles — babbling, showing off, and trying to manipulate God. Instead, He said: “Go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is unseen. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
This is the prayer Jesus taught — a prayer of deep concentration, where you shut the door on distractions and focus on the Father alone. This is the prayer that moves the throne.
When you pray like this, you’ll experience joy in prayer and happiness in prayer. That’s the message I want to share with our remnants and church leaders. If we can truly enjoy this prayer, the works of the kingdom of God at the 25th hour will absolutely take place.
That’s when evangelism and missions begin to flow naturally. That’s why the Bible constantly speaks about the gospel, prayer, and evangelism — because they are inseparable.
World evangelization isn’t something we “do” by our own effort. When 24-hour gospel and 24-hour prayer meet, the 25th hour begins — and God Himself carries out world evangelization. We simply enter into His works.
Alright 🙂 I’ll continue translating the second half of the sermon in full, maintaining the same style, terminology, and flow — completing the entire English manuscript without skipping anything.
So, last week we looked at the prayers of unbelievers, and today we’re looking at the prayers of the religious. But we must realize something important: as God’s covenant people, we should not be praying like unbelievers or religious people.
We must quickly put aside those old patterns because we are not unbelievers and we are not religious people. We are the people called to fulfill world evangelization.
Why Many Christians Pray the Wrong Way
This is why we need to carefully examine religious prayer. We must ask ourselves:
“Is my prayer life more like that of a religious person than that of a covenant child of God?”
Last week, when we examined unbelievers’ prayers, we had to check ourselves. The same goes for today. We must ask:
“Am I praying in a way that reflects the covenant — or am I simply following religious habits?”
Christianity is not a religion.
The difference between the gospel and religion is simple:
- In religion, humans try to reach God by their effort, morality, or works.
- In the gospel, God comes down to us by His grace to save us.
Religion says, “If you live right, if you act righteously, God will bless you.” But the gospel says, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” That’s why God sent Jesus Christ — as the proof of His love — to save us by grace alone, through faith, without conditions.
God didn’t negotiate with us. He didn’t wait for us to clean up our lives. He came down unilaterally, in His mercy. That is the gospel.
Why Prayer Becomes Religious
So why do so many Christians still pray religiously? It’s not because they lack sincerity, or because they haven’t tried hard enough, or even because they sin too much.
The reason is simple: failure to hold onto the covenant.
If you don’t firmly hold onto the covenant — that Jesus is the Christ, the One who has completely finished the problem of sin, Satan, and separation from God — then prayer will naturally turn into a human-centered, need-based activity.
Look at the examples in Scripture:
- Matthew 16:13-14 — When Jesus asked, “Who do people say I am?”, the disciples answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” They failed to see Him as the Christ.
- Matthew 17:4 — At the Mount of Transfiguration, Peter suggested building three shelters, showing he still misunderstood Christ’s identity.
- Luke 24:13-17 — The disciples walking to Emmaus were discouraged, thinking all hope was lost, because they didn’t yet understand that Christ’s death and resurrection had fulfilled everything.
When the covenant isn’t firmly held, prayer automatically becomes self-centered, emotional, and problem-focused. It becomes religious prayer.
The Bread Problem – John 6
We often quote John 6 because it illustrates this perfectly. After Jesus performed the miracle of feeding the 5,000, people were amazed and began following Him. But why? They wanted more bread.
They thought, “If we make Jesus our king, He’ll solve our economic problems, He’ll heal us, He’ll bless our nation!” They didn’t understand that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah who came to solve the fundamental problem of sin and death.
They followed Him for the bread, not for the covenant. That’s why Jesus said, “You are looking for me not because you saw the signs I performed, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.” (John 6:26)
This is religious prayer — pursuing God only for material benefits, not for His eternal plan.
Religious Fruits vs. Gospel Fruits
Religious prayer produces religious fruits — and they’re very different from gospel fruits.
For example, someone used to lie 100 times a week but now only lies 10 times. That’s good, but it’s not the gospel. That’s just behavioral modification — a religious result.
Gospel fruits are different. The gospel brings about the miracle of re-creation — changing a person’s nature from the inside out, transforming their identity and giving them true spiritual authority.
Religious people live with themselves at the center — focused on personal effort, personal blessing, and personal gain. But gospel-centered prayer is Christ-centered and kingdom-focused.
When Prayer Becomes a Burden
If we misunderstand prayer, we make it into a burden. We think:
“I must pray at least one hour every day.”
“I must pray three hours a day to be faithful.”
But who decides how much is “enough”?
If someone prays two hours and fifty minutes instead of three hours, does that mean their prayer “doesn’t count”? Of course not.
Prayer is not measured by time or quantity — it’s measured by alignment. If your prayer topics don’t match God’s heart, you’re wasting time, no matter how long you pray.
What matters is not how much you pray but whether your prayer flows from God’s covenant. If you’re aligned with His will, even a single short prayer can move heaven and earth.
The Prayer That Moves Heaven
This is the prayer we must restore — prayer that moves the throne.
When you pray this way, you enter into true freedom. You don’t need to pray out of guilt, duty, or fear. You’re simply joining God in what He is already doing.
This prayer isn’t about forcing God to do something for you. It’s about aligning yourself with His will, so that His power flows through your life naturally.
This is why we must enjoy prayer 24 — not as an obligation but as a natural, joyful relationship. When you enjoy this kind of prayer, you enter into 25-hour prayer — the place where God’s works, God’s timing, and God’s answers unfold beyond human limits.
Spiritual Authority in Prayer
When your prayer aligns with God’s will, you gain spiritual authority. Look at Scripture:
- God sent angels to Hezekiah, Elijah, Paul, Peter, and Abraham when they prayed the prayer of the throne.
- These weren’t casual prayers for personal needs — they were covenant prayers, completely aligned with God’s plan.
- That’s when heaven mobilized — when prayer connected to God’s heart.
If you’re praying only for material things — money, health, success, recognition — why would God send His angels? But when your prayer is about God’s kingdom and His glory, all of heaven moves.
Special Prayer vs. Covenant Prayer
Some people misunderstand “special prayers.” They think prayer is about fasting, all-night vigils, loud crying, or extreme discipline. But special prayer by itself isn’t what moves heaven.
Take the example of our current prayers for temple construction. We’re not praying simply because we want a bigger building. We pray because God has given us a covenant: the restoration of the 237 Healing Summit Temple.
We’re not praying out of human ambition; we’re praying because it is God’s plan. That’s why this prayer connects directly to the throne of God.
When prayer flows from the covenant, it is never burdensome — it is joyful, peaceful, and powerful.
Discerning True Answers
Finally, remember this: not every “answered prayer” is from God.
- Unbelievers receive answers, too.
- Religions like Islam, Buddhism, and cults see real results from prayer, meditation, and rituals.
- Satan can also give “answers” — material success, worldly power, and temporary satisfaction — to keep people from seeking God.
This is why we must discern carefully. True answers bring you closer to Christ, deeper into the gospel, and more connected to God’s kingdom plan.
We are not called to religious prayer. We are called to prayer that moves the throne — prayer that enjoys God’s presence, aligns with His covenant, and releases His power into the field.
When you enjoy this prayer, you enter into 25-hour works. The light of Christ begins to shine through you, breaking down the strongholds of Satan wherever you go. That is the establishment of God’s kingdom.
This is how world evangelization takes place. It’s not about our effort — it’s about entering into the works God is already doing.
Today’s message about religious prayer is not just about rejecting legalism; it’s about recovering the true essence of prayer. Hold onto this covenant. Meditate on it. Confess it. Make it your prayer.
Then you’ll experience what Jesus meant when He said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33)
Prayer
Father, we hold onto Your covenant and come before You in prayer — not holding onto our problems, desires, or purposes, but holding onto Your Word.
Let us no longer live as religious people, but as covenant people who pray the prayer that moves the throne.
Align our hearts with Yours and let the light of Christ shine through us to establish Your kingdom in every field.
In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.