How Can We Receive Answers to Prayer?

May 25, 2025
Pastor Ryu Kwang-Su


Judges 21:25. In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as they saw fit.


When I think about life, I realize there are small joys we all experience—like passing an exam or getting a driver’s license. I still remember how good I felt the day I got mine, but that feeling faded quickly. Even big milestones like buying a car or a house bring happiness for a few days at best. But there’s one thing I absolutely must stress: the experience of God answering your prayers.

This is not a luxury—it’s essential. I’ve seen it in real life. I’ve seen the children of mothers who never ceased praying grow up with blessing. I’ve seen churches pastored by people of prayer thrive. I’ve seen entire family lines blessed because of one praying father. So I can tell you confidently: you must experience this for yourself.

But here’s the sad reality—about 99% of people live without really receiving answers. They may not say it aloud, but I can see it in their lives. They’re not living like unbelievers—they’re living worse, trapped in struggle without clear answers. And when prayer goes unanswered, deep spiritual problems follow. Spiritual problems don’t discriminate; they can hit anyone. But I’ve noticed that people who know God answers prayer see things differently. They live differently.

That’s why I won’t make this complicated today. I want to go straight to the point: you must receive answers.

First, you must become a person who has the power of prayer. Think about it: if you had true prayer power, what could stop you? If your children had prayer power, they would be fine wherever they go. If you yourself had it, no situation could overwhelm you. That’s why this is urgent—you must have this power.

Looking at Scripture, we see how Israel suffered under the Philistines during the time of the Judges. They had been set free from Egypt, but they failed over and over. We admire Gideon and his 300 warriors, but if you read carefully, you’ll see that wasn’t a true victory in human terms. God chose 300 cowards—not elite warriors—because He wanted to show that He was the one fighting for them. Even so, Israel suffered. Why? Because they lacked real faith and real prayer.

Then why don’t we receive answers? It’s simple. Judges 21:25 says, “Everyone did as they saw fit.” That’s it. People live according to their own thoughts, not by God’s.

Let me explain. The moment you think without praying, you’ve already fallen into Genesis 3: self-centeredness, separation from God. Right now, some of you are probably distracted even during worship, thinking about your own problems. That’s exactly when you fall into the trap of relying on your own thoughts. This is why prayers go unanswered.

There’s plenty of biblical evidence. Look at Joseph’s brothers—they lived by their own thoughts. Instead of trusting God’s plan, they grew jealous of Joseph. They thought, “Why does our father love Joseph more?” They didn’t see the bigger picture. As a result, they lived bitter lives, eventually having to rely on Joseph for food.

Or look at the Israelites in the wilderness. They complained, wanting to return to Egypt. They thought they had it better there, forgetting that Egypt was slavery. They never received true answers; instead, they perished in the desert.

Even King Solomon fell. Blessed beyond measure, he began to think he could strengthen his kingdom by marrying foreign women for political alliances. But those women brought idolatry into Israel, and soon the kingdom was divided and ruined. It was a disaster that started because Solomon trusted his own wisdom rather than God’s word.

And it didn’t end there. Assyria invaded the northern kingdom, enslaving the Israelites. Later, Babylon destroyed Jerusalem and carried the people of Judah into exile. This repeated cycle of failure happened because “everyone did as they saw fit.” They trusted their own judgment instead of seeking God’s will.

So how do we receive answers to prayer? The key is simple but profound: pray as God sees fit. Prayer is not complicated; it’s spiritual science. Even new believers can do this. Don’t pray according to your emotions or logic—pray according to God’s will. Ask, “What is God’s view? What is God’s plan in this situation?” This simple shift flips the entire spiritual realm.

From my experience and study, one person holding onto God’s covenant is enough. Think about Joseph again. Despite being sold into slavery and imprisoned, Joseph saw everything through the lens of God’s covenant—world evangelization. That’s why he never despaired. Becoming a slave and then a prisoner wasn’t a setback; it was part of God’s process. Joseph even stood before Pharaoh and said, “I can’t interpret your dream, but God will reveal it.” That’s the heart of true prayer—seeing and depending on God, not yourself.

Jochebed, Moses’ mother, faced an impossible situation. Yet instead of despairing, she saw through God’s plan. That’s how Moses was preserved and prepared to deliver Israel. If you see your hardships as the path to God’s plan, everything changes.

Hannah, too, began by praying for a son for herself, but her prayer matured. She shifted to seeking a Nazirite for God’s kingdom—and through that prayer, Samuel was born, and Israel’s spiritual landscape changed.

Isaiah stood alone and overturned empires because he held onto God’s covenant. Today, I urge you to do the same: don’t view life through your eyes—view it through God’s.

Second, one person who knows God’s method is enough. God has already shown us His method: the three feasts—Passover, Pentecost, and Ingathering—representing salvation, the Holy Spirit’s power, and our heavenly background. Those who know and center their lives on this are aligned with God’s method.

That’s why the Israelites built the tabernacle, a place of 24-hour prayer and worship. Daniel understood this; he prayed three times a day facing the temple, no matter the cost. Prayer aligned with God’s method opens the way.

The Ark of the Covenant also shows God’s method—holding the unchanging Word, God’s provision (manna), and God’s life-giving power (Aaron’s budding staff). One person who understands this mystery can change everything.

Finally, one person who knows the background God gives is enough. The throne of God is our true background—the power, guidance, and protection we rely on. Jesus taught us to seek first the kingdom of God, not to worry about our daily needs. That’s our first answer—God’s kingdom reigning in our lives.

The early church held onto this truth even when persecuted. They didn’t pray for easy lives; they prayed for the kingdom of God to come. And it did.

Throughout history, prayer has changed nations. Rome persecuted Christians for 250 years, yet the prayers of faithful believers eventually led to Christianity becoming the empire’s official religion under Constantine. That didn’t happen overnight; it was the fruit of countless unseen prayers.

In conclusion, I challenge you: prayer changes everything. It destroys darkness. It brings the power of the throne. It establishes the journey and guideposts God has set for you. I’ve seen it in my life—through hardship and perseverance—and I’m here to tell you, your prayer can change the world.

Don’t ever be discouraged. Don’t look at your situation through human eyes. Pray through God’s eyes, walk in His plan, and experience the answers that only He can give.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I bless you to begin this journey today.

Prayer. May God work to open our spiritual eyes. Do not let us be deceived. Let us taste the work of God by holding the mystery of the throne that moves the world. Let us become witnesses who save the age of global darkness. May the one person sitting here today save the field. In the name of Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

The Unchanging Word – The Unchanging Disciple

Sunday First Service Message
May 18, 2025
Pastor Ryu Kwang-Soo


Joshua 14:6-15. Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear. I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’

¹⁰ “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! ¹¹ I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹² Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

¹³ Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. ¹⁴ So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. ¹⁵ (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest from war.


※ What Must Come First – We must first discover the fact that each individual has God’s never-before-and-never-again answer and blessing. Our new believers are beginning their walk of faith—what should they begin with? And our church officers have much experience. What must they seek first? This is especially essential for remnants. What must they find first? We also have people from many nations here. What must they carry with them? Of course, it is the gospel—but what kind of gospel is it?

As you know, ten emperors reigned over 250 years, and during that time, countless Christians were martyred under Roman rule. The reason was simple. They called Christ “Lord”—the word “Kyrios.” But Rome forbade that word. “Kyrios,” meaning “Lord,” was to be used only for the Roman emperor. That’s why they were killed unconditionally. What would you have done?

During that time, a woman believed in Jesus as Lord—a believer in Christ. She resolved in her heart, “No matter what happens, I will believe in Christ as Lord. I have just one wish—to pass this faith down to my son and disciple. That is my mission. I cannot do great things. I will simply hold on to this faith.”

One day, Rome—the nation that ruled the world—crowned a new emperor. And this new emperor declared Christianity the state religion. “From now on, our Lord is not the emperor, but Christ. We declare our national religion to be faith in Christ.” This happened in 313 A.D.

This occurred about 400 years after the fall of Israel. And who was that emperor? He was the son of that woman who vowed to keep and pass on the gospel. His name was Emperor Constantine. What an astonishing event.

So today, what must you discover? Last week, we spoke of Joshua’s prayer that made the sun and moon stop. The Bible records this as a never-before-and-never-again event. Of course—if the sun and moon kept stopping, what would happen? That event ended there. But there is something more important: You must discover the never-before-and-never-again answer and blessing God has for you.

That woman never imagined her son would become emperor. She certainly didn’t expect him to declare Christianity as the national religion. She simply thought, “I will guard the gospel and pass it on to my son. That is my never-before-and-never-again task.” She discovered it.

If you are a church officer, this doesn’t take long—it’s simply a matter of discovery. If a remnant discovers it early, it marks the beginning of success—of answers. Among the 7 remnants, some discovered it early, some later—it doesn’t matter.

Now, as we enter today’s passage, we’re encountering something very important. What is it? When people are hurt, their scars eventually surface. And when those hidden scars emerge, they can become so severe that people lose control.

Some scars from childhood emerge after marriage and cause problems in the home. There are various types of scars. Some people suffer so much they cannot function in daily life. Some take their own lives due to these scars. All sorts of things happen.

To understand today’s passage, we need to go back to an event that took place 45 years earlier, when Moses sent out twelve spies to explore the land. When they returned, ten of them—each representing one of the twelve tribes—said they could not enter the land. If ten out of twelve session members oppose something, what happens? It gets rejected. If ten out of twelve approve, it goes forward.

They said, “The enemy cities are too strong—we will die there with our women and children. We cannot go.” But two men—Joshua and Caleb—said, “No, this is the land God has given us. A land flowing with milk and honey. We must take it.”

Moses sided with the two, not the ten. Moses said, “Let us go. We are going to the land of Canaan.” That land—where the people trembled and refused to enter—was called the hill country of Anak. Do you see the connection? As the Israelites journeyed through the wilderness, those without faith were filled with scars.

When they heard the report about the Anak hill country, the entire people wept—not just complaints or grumbling, but public weeping. Isn’t that how people are? Children cry not because something is seriously wrong, but because of deep-seated scars. The whole nation wept at the thought of the Anak region.

Now, they were standing in front of that same land. So, when it came time to fight and conquer it, they cast lots. “Who will go?” No one wanted to. The old wounds from 45 years ago returned. “We won’t go,” they said. Then Caleb stepped forward and said, “Give me this hill country.” That’s today’s passage.

In my view, Caleb is an even more remarkable figure than Joshua. Caleb was no ordinary man. If two people served under Moses but only one rose to leadership, wouldn’t the other become bitter? Both were aides to Moses—his right and left arms. Joshua became the leader, and Caleb was not chosen. But Caleb showed no bitterness—only loyalty. He continued to serve Joshua. And in every crisis, Caleb stepped up. He was that kind of person.

▣ Introduction

So today, how do we discover this never-before-and-never-again answer? Caleb’s heart was different. First, let’s look at what he saw.

He saw what the Word and the power of God truly were. So even when something seemed absolutely impossible, he saw that God’s absolute plan made it possible.

He also knew that spiritual answers must come first. He knew that among all answers, spiritual answers must come first. This is important and emphasized repeatedly.

He knew that the Lord being with him was the answer – the three feasts
The most important thing in the wilderness was the three feasts. Through the blood covenant (Passover), they were set free. The background of the freed person is the throne—Feast of Ingathering. Their journey was filled with the power of the Holy Spirit—Pentecost. Caleb knew this was the true answer.

He saw that behind the covenant, God’s kingdom and works followed, and the covenant was fulfilled afterward. Today, when you hold to the covenant, God’s kingdom and works will follow. Caleb saw this over a period of 45 years.

Ask this question: What is God’s never-before-and-never-again reason for calling me? This answer will come to you. For me, I received a simple answer. Some people receive it over a lifetime—it differs from person to person. You must ask this today.

(1) Remnants – As you start your life, ask: What is God’s unique and never-before-and-never-again plan for me?

(2) Church officers – Elders, deacons, ordained deacons—your remaining life may be short. Then ask: “What is God’s unique and never-before-and-never-again plan for me?”

(3) New believers – Like Rahab, some new believers realize it immediately—and history begins to move.

Because Caleb knew this covenant, he survived and changed his generation. Our remnants must resolve today. No excuses. No background is needed. Even a poor family is okay. You need no one’s help. Make a firm decision and hold to the true answer. “I have no background.” That’s fine—perhaps even better. Hold tightly to the covenant, like Caleb.

▣ Main

How did Caleb receive such a never-before-and-never-again answer?

1. What to confirm – He took definite fulfillment of God’s Word as his evidence. This is what you must confirm. How was God’s Word fulfilled along your journey? Though it may seem like nothing, a never-before-and-never-again answer will begin in your life.

1) Caleb held on to the covenant of the past.
Verse 6 says, “Then…” He refers to the past: “Didn’t the man of God speak to you at Kadesh Barnea?” He brings up that time. “Others said we couldn’t go, but you and I gave a different report.” And he refers to Moses as “the man of God.” “Do you not remember the Word he gave us?” He held tightly to the past covenant.

2) He held on to today’s covenant.
From verses 7 to 11, Caleb speaks about today’s covenant. He says, “I was 40 years old then. I gave my report with sincerity. The others discouraged the people, but I was faithful to the Lord and said we could go. Moses told me that land would be my inheritance.” In verse 10: “Now, behold! I am here today. I am 85 years old but still alive and well.” This continues in verse 11.

3) He held on to the covenant for the future.
This is in verse 12. “Though I am 85, if the Lord is with me, I will surely take that land. Send me.” Caleb, at 85, clearly spoke of the past, present, and future covenant.

When you hold today’s covenant, lifelong answers will begin. Without this, Christians grow weaker over time—that should not be. But today, simply by praying, doors to the 5,000 tribes are opening. God’s Word works. I believe this year’s World Remnant Conference will be amazing.

2. Do not be deceived – When you see God’s absolute plan.
Second, how did Caleb pray? He wasn’t deceived by his environment—he held on to God’s absolute plan. First comes the covenant—he held tightly to it, past, present, and future. That may seem simple, but it changes everything. Then, hold tightly to God’s absolute plan.

1) He saw Satan’s reality.
He saw the fortresses of the giants. While others were afraid, Caleb saw through them—he saw the reality of Satan.

2) He saw that our life and future are in God’s sovereignty.
Through all this, Caleb saw that our life and future are not in Satan’s hands but under God’s sovereign rule. He was certain of this.

3) He saw the site where hearts melted – Satan’s identity.
They saw the people’s hearts melt in fear. That is the true identity of Satan. If you go forward with the covenant, darkness will break and tremble—but we trembled instead. So go forward with God’s absolute plan. Never-before-and-never-again answers came not only to Joshua but now also to Caleb. You must take this with you today.

3. What to be assured of – A certain future.
Lastly, what must we be assured of? A certain future. Regardless of life or death, we must devote ourselves.

1) Exodus was coming out of darkness, not just from Egypt

2) The wilderness journey wasn’t suffering—it was filled with evidence.

3) Entering Canaan was heading into God’s absolute future—world evangelization.

So Caleb’s heart was different.

As for me, over the past 40 years—really over 30 years of evangelism—what I’ve found most difficult is that people try too hard to show off in front of God. There are so many people like that. They put too much effort into looking good and claiming positions. All their energy is focused on that.

I’ve worked in that kind of environment for 40 years. That’s why my expression is the way it is—not smiling, not frowning. Even when I encounter absurd situations, I must endure without showing it. Even when I’m overjoyed, I must not get too excited. As if nothing happened.

But the work of God continues. Right? Nothing can block the gospel.

※ Do not be discouraged. Hold on to the never-before-and-never-again covenant that remains. In other words, what God has given only to you—Caleb realized this early on. That’s why he served as Moses’ assistant. That’s what he decided: “This is what I’ll live and die for.”

So he served as Moses’ attendant. After Moses passed, he served as Joshua’s attendant. He was Joshua’s friend. Do you know what he said to Joshua? “Just as I served Moses, I will serve you.” What a great man. And he also said, “If anyone stands against you, I will not leave them alone.” He supported Joshua like that.

When they stood in front of the Anak hill country again—where they had once been terrified—the people wavered again. Caleb rose up and said, “Give me this hill country.” He always appeared in moments of crisis.

During the events at Kadesh Barnea and every major crisis, Caleb went to the battlefield. Today, you must hold to this covenant.

▣ Conclusion
There are so many great pastors—highly educated, wonderful people. But I asked a simple question. Because I cannot do complicated things, I asked something simple: “Lord, evangelism and world evangelization are not really happening—please let it take place.”

People don’t even know what evangelism is. Evangelism is not something you do. It’s something you see. You see the work of God. Missions is also something you see.

We try to do it ourselves, and that’s why it doesn’t work. But it’s about witnessing God’s amazing works. So I determined, “This is what I must do for the rest of my life.” I held on to that as my never-before-and-never-again answer.

When I go out to the field, I see so many difficulties. Nothing else would work. As I often say, this church was my last station, but I had the opportunity to learn from many other places. Most of them don’t know what evangelism really is. That’s why they suffer. If you don’t know what evangelism is, that’s a serious issue—it means you don’t know the gospel.

So we must teach the remnants. We must tell them ahead of time. You’ve come this far by the grace of your parents, but now it’s time for you to receive answers enough to carry out world missions. You must build the three courtyards and receive answers great enough to save the world. To do that, you must discover the never-before-and-never-again blessing that God has given only to you. You definitely have it.

I gave this sermon when I was still an assistant pastor. When I said, “Each of you has a never-before-and-never-again blessing,” one elderly deaconess said, “Do I have one? He says we do…” But then she received an answer. Her spiritual eyes began to open.

One day she went to find her granddaughter and saw her playing with other kids at the playground. She had seen it before, but this time, her spiritual eyes were opened. So she made puffed barley snacks—healthy and delicious. A single scoop becomes a whole sack.

She gave these snacks to the kids at the playground. The kids loved it. So she kept giving them. The parents saw and realized it wasn’t harmful. So this deaconess began to evangelize to the children. She said, “This is my never-before-and-never-again calling.” And it truly was. Eventually, the parents began to believe, too.

Now look at the teams in America participating in the three-courtyard movement. When they quietly met with the American children, they found that all of them had spiritual problems. When they evangelized and led the children to accept Christ, the children changed. Before that, they hadn’t even spoken up. But after receiving Christ, they began to talk about their issues. That’s how the gospel began to enter the American community. What is that? That is the never-before-and-never-again blessing.

This week, even just thinking about this will bring answers. That’s how it was for me. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that you may recover the never-before-and-never-again blessing of Caleb.

Prayer. God, we thank You for giving us this important covenant. Let this be the day we hold on to the covenant that will surely be fulfilled. Help us to see Your absolute plan and allow us to see the covenant that shows us the future. Let this be the week we receive the never-before-and-never-again blessing that remains for us. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.

The City Tightly Shut

Sunday First Service
Speaker: Pastor Ryu Kwang-Soo
Date: May 11, 2025
Place: Immanuel Church (Seoul)

Joshua 6:1-7. Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets. When you hear them sound a long blast on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout; then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.” And he ordered the army, “Advance! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”


Today, what answers must we receive?

If we hold on to the accurate covenant, believe, and pray, then the answer has already come; the fulfillment begins afterward. Jesus said, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24). At first, I didn’t really understand what that meant.

Today, if you hold firmly to the accurate covenant, believe, and pray, then the answer has already come. The fulfillment starts after that. This is such an important promise. What you need to do today during worship is simply hold on to the accurate covenant, pray, and imprint it upon your heart with faith. That alone will bring about incredible work of God. If you’ve grasped the accurate covenant, then be confident, believe, and pray. Worship and prayer are about seeing God’s absolute plan and absolute possibility within what seems absolutely impossible.

As we go through life, we often face situations that are incredibly difficult—circumstances that seem absolutely impossible. What should we do then?.

Jochebed, a woman of prayer, encountered a situation that was absolutely impossible. Pharaoh had issued a law commanding that every Hebrew—every Israelite—baby boy be killed. There was no way to stop it. No one could defy Pharaoh. It was a hopeless situation. But in that moment, she looked to see what God’s absolute plan was. Clearly, the total destruction of the male children of Israel was not God’s plan. She realized something: “God’s absolute plan is for our descendants to leave Egypt and go to the Promised Land.” That’s when the absolute possibility became clear. She saw it: “There’s only one way for my son to survive—he must enter the palace.” She found the answer. In this way, our spiritual eyes open to see God’s absolute plan. The day we see that is the day we truly worship. Seeing that is prayer.

The City of Jericho. Absolute impossibilities may stand before us, but God’s absolute plan is hidden within them. And when we see that, absolute possibility comes into view. That is the key.

It’s not about forcing things through with sheer willpower—“If I just try hard enough, I can make it happen.” That’s not faith. And saying “It’s impossible, I give up”—that’s unbelief. Saying “I can do it” is humanism. The real question is: “How will God do it?” That’s when our spiritual eyes are opened. What do we see?

“The city of Jericho was tightly shut up; no one went out and no one came in.” But they had already received a report through Rahab. The people of Jericho had lost heart—they were terrified. “Their hearts melted. They even lost their minds. Jericho was paralyzed, completely shut down.” That was the answer. Their spiritual eyes were opened to see it.

This is why we can say, “I give thanks even in the midst of hardship.” That kind of confession comes from this truth. An absolutely impossible situation unfolds before you—but you discover God’s absolute plan within it. Then, you begin to see the absolute possibility that only God can bring about. Opening your eyes to see that—that is prayer. That is worship. And once you see it, the answer is already there.

So today, the key answer to prayer for you is this: Tear down the Jericho walls of darkness, disaster, and Satan.

Introduction

Let’s get right into it since time is short. The question we must start with is: Why? Before we talk about how the walls of Jericho will fall, we need to understand the why. There are three key points.

Was Egypt a successful nation? We have to settle this question first. If we don’t answer this correctly, everything else will be misunderstood. At the time of the Exodus, Egypt suffered great disasters. But were those really disasters? Let’s quickly analyze it. From what I see, those weren’t just random calamities—they were God tearing down the forces of darkness over Egypt.

Israel, led by Moses, performed miracles and came out of Egypt. But was that truly success? Was that real deliverance? Unless they came out of the spiritual darkness, even the Exodus itself would have been meaningless. That’s what we must confirm first.

Why did God keep them in the wilderness for 40 years? This is extremely important. There’s an important message here—five key points came out of this period:

1) Genesis
The Book of Genesis shows us why problems came into the world in the first place. It contains the answers. We must check: Do I really know and enjoy that answer? How deeply have I entered into it?

2) Exodus
Again, the issue wasn’t merely about leaving the land of Egypt. The real Exodus means coming out of spiritual darkness, curses, and great disasters. That is what the Book of Exodus is truly about. And all of that—this deeper meaning of Exodus—was recorded and revealed throughout the 40 years in the wilderness.

3) Leviticus
What’s next? Why was everything centered on the tabernacle? Why did Aaron’s staff bud? That’s what the Book of Leviticus explains. We need to understand this. It reveals the true meaning of worship. This is where we must make a clear decision: “All my answers must come from worship.” That’s why pastors and servants of God must never preach their own words. They must speak the Word that God fulfills. It wasn’t about Aaron. It wasn’t even about the staff itself. Life—a bud—sprouted from that place where God fulfilled His Word. That’s what Leviticus is all about. We need to understand this.

4) Numbers
Why the twelve tribes? Why did they scout the twelve regions before entering? That’s the message of the Book of Numbers. And it’s extremely important.

5) Deuteronomy
What needs to be prepared before entering the land of Canaan? What must be ready before we go into the world? Those truths must be imprinted, rooted, and become our nature. That’s what the Book of Deuteronomy teaches. We must not lose hold of this.

Why did God command them to tear down Jericho? We need to ask this third question and understand the reason. As we move forward, yes, we need knowledge—but what we truly need is God’s power. Why? Because the walls of Jericho represent something absolutely impossible to tear down by human effort. That’s why we need the power of God.
And God said, “Go forward with that power.”

So today in this introduction, I haven’t been speaking my own thoughts. I’ve been pointing out that we often cling to things other than God’s Word—and that’s what needs to be corrected.

Main Message

So then, how did God command the Israelites to bring down Jericho? There are three key points you must hold onto today.

1. Hold on to the Absolute Evidence
In verse 4, God said, “Follow the Ark of the Covenant.” But we must not interpret this as simply following a physical object. It means: Follow holding on to the absolute evidence of God. Cling to God’s unshakable proof.

What does this mean? Hold tightly to the evidence God gave during the Exodus, and the evidence that has come through the wilderness up to now. With that in hand—circle Jericho. That’s the command. You need to know why. Like we said in the introduction: Why were they enslaved in Egypt? There was a reason. Egypt was not a successful nation. It was a nation of disaster, provoking wars. That’s exactly where the gospel needed to go. So the answer is no—Egypt was not a nation of success. That’s why they became slaves. There was a purpose in their slavery. That’s also why God kept them in the wilderness for 40 years—to uncover this truth.

What does verse 1 say? “Because of the Israelites, Jericho was tightly shut up; no one went out and no one came in.” And then God said: “March around it, following the Ark.” In other words: March holding firmly to the clear evidence God has already shown you. Why? Because God’s Word always fulfills what it declares.

What does verse 2 say? God declares: “I have already given Jericho into your hands—along with its king and mighty warriors.” He didn’t say, “I will give it to you”—He said, “I have already given it to you.” Then He says, “Follow the Ark. Don’t fear Jericho.” What is God saying here? He’s giving you clear and undeniable evidence: “Jericho, its king, and its mighty men—I have delivered them into your hands.” This is the absolute assurance God provided.

When you encounter moments that feel hopeless or overwhelming—
that’s precisely when you must hold on to God’s absolute plan and His covenant. Even when a human word seems reasonable or comes true,
God’s Word doesn’t just come true—it unleashes the power of creation itself.

2. Move Toward the Absolute Goal
What is the second thing God says? We find it in verse 16. What should you hold on to? It’s not just “I will give you this city.” It’s “I have given you this city.” What does this mean? Entering the land of Canaan is God’s absolute goal. This is not about an empty, abstract “I believe”. It’s about holding onto God’s absolute evidence and moving toward God’s absolute goal. There’s no hesitation here. Even if it means dying on the way, you must move forward. Why?

The seven nations that entered Canaan completely turned the land into a kingdom of idols, causing destruction worldwide. God is sending His people to take action. Go quickly to recover the land and heal the spiritual issues. This is the absolute goal.

This is the method to bring down Jericho. “Carry the Ark of the Covenant and march around the city.” This is holding on to God’s absolute evidence. “I have already given it to you. Now follow the Ark.” This is the absolute goal.

Within Canaan, there were 31 kings—these are the leaders of idol worship. And it’s not just about entering the land of Canaan. God says: Enter, recover the land, and bring the gospel to the entire world. This is the higher calling and absolute goal of God’s plan.

Hold firmly to that goal. No matter what anyone says, march around Jericho. These three courts, the Three Day Weekend Age, and the Holy Meditation Age—these are all part of God’s absolute goal. That’s what we must embrace and pursue, unwaveringly, as we move forward.

3. Absolute Answer
The third instruction is this: What does God say in verses 2 and 10? In verse 2, and especially in verse 10, we see a critical command: “March around the city without saying a word.”And on the final day, “shout together as one.” These two key commands are given in verse 10.

What’s the problem for those who don’t receive answers? They speak when they should be silent and remain silent when they should shout. That’s the issue. “March every day, once around the city.” Imagine what the people inside Jericho must have thought. Here comes the nation of Israel, the people who conquered Egypt, the ones who parted the Red Sea and the Jordan River. And now they’re just marching around the city!

“Don’t say a word as you march.” Why? Because if someone were to speak out and question the plan, that would be disastrous. “What are we doing? Are we just walking around? What if they throw rocks at us? What if we die like this?” This would ruin everything. That’s why God says: “Don’t open your mouth. Just march silently.”

On the final day, when you reach the end of the march, then you must shout together as one. This is the absolute answer. This command emphasizes faith and obedience without doubt or speaking against God’s plan.

Jericho is brought down with three key elements: Absolute Evidence, Absolute Goal, and Absolute Answer. These are the tools used to bring it down.

In verse 6, it says, “Set the seven priests in front.” This is an important statement. The servants of God must become leaders in 24-hour prayer.

In verse 7, it says, “Set the armed men in front of the ark.” What does this mean? It refers to the mission and blessing of key workers. “The servants of God must carry the Ark of the Covenant and march before the people. The key workers must also march in front of the people, carrying the Ark of the Covenant.”

Shout When the Trumpet Sounds on the Last Day (Verse 5) In verse 5, it says, “When the great trumpet sounds seven times on the last day, shout together.” And “the city will fall.” Something incredible happened. There are many scientific explanations, but right now, we’re not in a science class. The city collapsed completely.

Today, as you hold onto the covenant, there are a few things you must always remember. Absolute impossibilities exist in both small and large areas of life. But what is God’s absolute plan? When you see His plan, you will see His absolute possibility. At that moment, your spiritual eyes will open. “Ah, it’s finished. God is doing this. Jericho has already been destroyed. The land of Canaan has already been given to us.” Then, why did we live as slaves in Egypt? Why were we held in the wilderness for 40 years? Why not just take us directly? Why did we have to cross the Red Sea, and why were we made to conquer Jericho and cross the Red Sea? Once you understand the reason, it becomes a great answer.

One day, the Jericho in your path will fall. The spiritual Jericho must fall. That’s what will happen. Therefore, “Follow the Ark of the Covenant.” Hold onto that absolute evidence. Follow it. There’s nothing else. No matter what others say, the goal of reaching the land of Canaan is God’s purpose, and He will remove everything standing in your way. “Don’t speak, just keep walking.” Wait for the absolute answer. This is the message.

Today is the day to bring down the walls of Jericho. It’s the day to break down the powers of darkness around you through prayer and the Word. As you worship today, you need to find this truth. Why? Because if you try to memorize all of this and carry it with you, it’s impossible. You don’t need to do that. By next Sunday, you’ll be worshipping again, so why should you try to memorize everything? Today, you need to receive an important answer. Today.

What is today? It’s the day to break down the walls of Jericho. That’s all you need to hold onto. The city has already fallen. It needs to be brought down. Today, you will silently and powerfully break the powers of darkness around you through prayer and the Word. There’s no battle to fight; you’re just walking around, praying, and the walls of darkness are falling.

Conclusion

Let me introduce a few people who must survive.

There were only two people who saw Egypt and entered the land of Canaan. There were many others, but only Joshua and Caleb saw Egypt and entered Canaan from the very beginning. God established them firmly and kept them alive.

Who else did God keep alive? It was the next generation born in the wilderness. God saved them and brought them into the promised land. They didn’t experience the struggles their ancestors went through in Egypt. They were born in the wilderness. So, the 40 years might have seemed long, but during that time, God was restoring everything and imprinting it on the next generation. He brought them along into the land.

Another very important point is found in verse 17: “Save Rahab the harlot and her family.” This is deliberately recorded. Rahab and her family were brought into the land. Though it seemed insignificant, Rahab entered the land of Canaan and later married. She has children, and from her line, a man named David is born. This is part of God’s hidden plan, a mystery of the gospel’s power that is beyond our understanding. We can’t comprehend it fully. This is the blessing we must receive.

Today, the matter is settled. Today, we will destroy the dark stronghold of Jericho through prayer. That’s all. Once we say “Amen,” it’s done. Next week will bring another new grace. Today, amidst God’s Word flowing, we need to hold onto the covenant. Make a decision today. Whatever happened last week belongs to last week, but today, make a decision to recover your health, strength, and spiritual power. Today, in this time of worship and prayer, bind the darkness and completely bring down Jericho. Receive that answer today as you go.

I have shared this before, but when we hold onto a covenant, even if we once thought something was impossible, the responses will keep coming. It’s quite amazing, isn’t it? From when I was young, I thought something would never work out, but when I held onto God’s covenant, responses kept coming. I’ve experienced it. The Word of God is alive and working.

When I was younger, evangelism was very difficult for me. Even now, my personality hasn’t changed much in that regard. How could I go somewhere and evangelize, talk to someone? I couldn’t do it. Maybe if someone pushed me into being a public figure, I might try, but I could never go out on the street and sell something, even a simple item. I would be too embarrassed. So how could I evangelize?

But one day, I realized that evangelism had nothing to do with me. That was a big breakthrough. Honestly, I didn’t understand what prayer was. My life had to be in prayer, but I didn’t understand what prayer truly meant. I had heard that God’s Word is alive and works, but I hadn’t experienced it. So, there seemed to be no reason to attend worship or hold onto the Word. That was the life I lived.

But one day, it dawned on me. It wasn’t a big or dramatic decision, just a simple realization: “I should be able to pray, shouldn’t I?” I asked myself, “If God’s Word is alive and is being fulfilled, shouldn’t I experience it? That’s what worship is, right?” And then I realized: “I should be a witness. That’s what evangelism is.” Once I realized that, God’s responses started coming.

I pray that today will be the day you receive that same strength. May you experience this power in Jesus Christ’s name. Let’s pray.


Prayer. May today be the day of great importance. May today be the day when the walls of Jericho fall. May the strongholds of darkness crumble. What we cannot do, may the darkness before us fall at the presence of the Ark of the Covenant. In the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.