Category: Today’s Word

Romans 16:25-27. Now to him who is able to establish you in accordance with my gospel, the message I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, ²⁶ but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith— ²⁷ to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

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Living in the presence of God 24/7 will inevitably lead to His appointed time of glory and power being revealed in your life for the sake of the gospel. When you enjoy the presence of the Triune God and follow His covenant day by day, there comes a time when God does what no human effort can accomplish. His power, wisdom, and grace are displayed through your life, not for your own glory, but so that Christ may be made known. That is His 25th hour.

Because the mystery of Christ was revealed to you by the eternal God, the work He began in you is also eternal. Your salvation is not temporary. Your calling is not temporary. The kingdom you belong to is not temporary. Everything God accomplishes through the gospel carries eternal significance.

If your life can be used as God’s chosen instrument to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth, there is no greater life to live. This is the life of a witness of Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit to testify of Him wherever God sends you (Acts 1:8). Such a life brings everlasting glory to your Father in heaven.

Like Priscilla and Aquila, when the purpose of your profession, business, studies, or career becomes evangelism and world missions, everything you do gains eternal value. Though they were tentmakers by occupation, they lived for God’s kingdom. They opened their home, supported the ministry of the gospel, risked their lives for God’s servants, and helped raise future leaders for Christ (Acts 18:1-4; Romans 16:3-4). Their names continue to be remembered because they invested in what would last forever.

When God gave us faith in Christ by His grace, He had something eternal in mind—our salvation, “the end result of your faith” (1 Peter 1:9). Therefore, we must not live merely for the things of this world, which are passing away. Wealth fades. Positions change. Human praise disappears. But God’s kingdom remains forever. This is why Paul urged believers to set their hearts on things above rather than on earthly things (Colossians 3:1-3).

Scripture reminds us of who we are and what we are living for: “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” (1 Peter 2:9).

We are not laboring merely for temporary rewards in this life. We are living for eternal rewards in God’s kingdom as Paul wrote: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:19-20).

To Paul, the people who came to Christ through the gospel were his greatest reward. He looked forward to the day he would stand before the Lord with those whose lives had been transformed by the grace of God. They were his joy and crown (Philippians 4:1). Nothing brought him greater satisfaction than seeing souls saved and disciples established in the faith.

The Lord Jesus Himself confirmed this eternal principle:

“‘Truly I tell you,’ Jesus replied, ‘no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come eternal life’” (Mark 10:29-30).

God never overlooks anything done for His kingdom. Even the smallest act of service done with a heart for Christ will be remembered by Him:

“Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward” (Matthew 10:40-42).

Thus, today matters. How you think matters. How you pray matters. How you respond to people matters. How you live before God matters. Every moment carries eternal significance because it is lived before the eyes of our eternal God.

Fill your heart with godly sorrow rather than worldly sorrow. Worldly sorrow leads to despair and death, but godly sorrow leads to repentance and salvation, leaving no regret (2 Corinthians 7:10). When your heart breaks over what grieves God’s heart, lives can be saved and eternity can be changed.

Therefore, cherish and enjoy the eternal realities that God has already given you today. Enjoy the presence of the Triune God:

“May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).

Hold firmly to His living and eternal Word:

“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever” (Isaiah 40:8).

Look for those whom God has prepared to save through your life:

“When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48).

And embrace the blessing promised to the evangelist:

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

We have only one life to live. Compared to eternity, it is but a moment. It is too short to spend pursuing things that will soon disappear. Instead, let us devote our lives to what God desires most—saving this generation through the power of the gospel and passing the covenant on to the next generation.

To that end, let us remain rooted in the complete covenant of God. Let us enter deeply into prayer and enjoy Christ daily until no person, circumstance, problem, or condition can shake us. Let us discover the true happiness of living in God’s presence and the true strength that comes from His covenant.

Then, like Paul, let us continue to “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14).

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Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see the eternal blessings You have prepared both here on earth and in Your kingdom. Help me to enjoy Your presence, hold firmly to Your Word, and live for what truly lasts. May my life become a witness of Christ who brings glory to You and blessing to others. Use me to save the people You have prepared and to leave behind an eternal legacy through the gospel. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

Praise — “Come Thou Fount”

Confession of Faith
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 there He will come to judge the living 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.

Message — “The First Ministry of Jesus Christ and Our Beginning” (Matthew 4:1-11)
Transcript…Video

Prayer — 7 Bartizans · 7 Journeys · 7 Guideposts

2 Kings 19:35. That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp. When the people got up the next morning—there were all the dead bodies!

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What happens when you commune with God who dwells within you 24/7, enjoy Immanuel—God with us—every moment of your life, and trust the God who works all things together for your good? In time, you will experience what can only be called God’s “25th hour.”

The 25th hour is God’s time. It is the moment when He reveals His power beyond human limitations. It transcends time and space. It is not produced by human effort, intelligence, experience, or resources. It belongs to the heavenly realm, where God accomplishes what no person can achieve. It is the hour when God displays His glory for the sake of His covenant and the advancement of the gospel.

Moses experienced God’s 25th hour throughout his life. It began when God revealed His covenant to him at Mount Horeb. The Lord said:

“The elders of Israel will listen to you. Then you and the elders are to go to the king of Egypt and say to him, ‘The Lord, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God'” (Exodus 3:18).

At that time, Israel had been enslaved in Egypt for more than four hundred years. Humanly speaking, there was no possibility of freedom. Yet Moses held firmly to God’s covenant of the blood (“sacrifices”) concerning the coming Messiah and His promise of deliverance. As he stood upon that covenant, the power of God was displayed throughout Egypt. The impossible became possible. What could not happen for four centuries suddenly became reality—the Exodus. That was God’s 25th hour.

Moses witnessed it again at the Red Sea. Trapped between Pharaoh’s army and the sea, the Israelites had nowhere to go. Fear and despair overwhelmed the people, but Moses stood upon God’s promise. Then Scripture records:

“Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them” (Exodus 14:19).

Soon afterward,

“Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided” (Exodus 14:21).

No military strategy, political alliance, or human wisdom could have opened a path through the sea. This was God’s intervention. This was God’s 25th hour.

Even in the wilderness, while the Israelites repeatedly grumbled and complained, Moses continued to witness God’s extraordinary work. He received the Ark of the Covenant, the Tabernacle, and the mystery of the Three Festivals. He witnessed God’s provision, guidance, protection, and countless miracles. In every situation, God revealed His covenant and His power.

The people of unbelief never saw beyond their 24 hours because their eyes were fixed on their circumstances. Their thoughts were dominated by visible realities. The people of faith, however, saw something greater, invisible, and eternal. They saw the reality of the Triune God at work in every situation. Therefore, they witnessed God’s 25th hour.

King Hezekiah also experienced God’s 25th hour. When the mighty Assyrian Empire threatened Judah, every human option disappeared. Yet instead of surrendering to fear, Hezekiah held onto God’s covenant and prayed:

“Now, therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone” (2 Kings 19:19).

Notice the focus of his prayer. He was not merely seeking survival. He desired God’s glory to be revealed among the nations. He entrusted the fate of his kingdom to God alone.

That very night, God answered: “That night the angel of the Lord went out and put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand in the Assyrian camp” (2 Kings 19:35).

One night changed everything. What no army could accomplish, God accomplished in a single moment. That was God’s 25th hour.

Later, when Hezekiah faced a terminal illness, he once again sought God:

“When Hezekiah heard this, he turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember, O Lord, how I have always been faithful to You and have served You single-mindedly, always doing what pleases You.’ Then Hezekiah wept bitterly” (2 Kings 20:2-3).

Again, God intervened. His life was extended, demonstrating that God’s authority reaches even beyond sickness and death. The God of the 25th hour remains sovereign over every circumstance.

The believers listed in Hebrews 11 also experienced God’s 25th hour. Many endured persecution, suffering, imprisonment, torture, rejection, and hardship. Yet they continued to trust God’s covenant. Scripture says concerning them that “the world was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:38). Their circumstances varied, but they shared one thing in common: they believed God’s promise more than what they saw with their eyes and experienced with their bodies.

The Apostle Paul recognized many such people in Romans 16. As he concluded his letter, he mentioned faithful believers who had witnessed God’s work alongside him (Romans 16:1-23). Some were benefactors. Some were fellow workers. Some labored tirelessly. Some risked their lives for the gospel. Others served quietly behind the scenes. Yet each one experienced God’s power by devoting themselves to God’s kingdom and covenant. They all witnessed God’s 25th hour.

As believers, we belong to the kingdom of God. Our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 1:3). The 25th hour exists in that heavenly realm. While we live on earth, we are not limited to earthly realities. Through Christ, we have access to the authority and resources of God’s kingdom.

Jesus declared: “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19).

God desires His people to experience His 25th hour. Through it, He brings healing to the broken, restoration to the lost, and hope to a dying world. Without the power of the throne, it is impossible to overcome the powerful forces of darkness at work in this world. But when God’s kingdom breaks into our lives, what seems impossible becomes possible.

This is why God has called you to experience His 25th hour. To that end, He has revealed the mystery of Christ—the secret hidden for ages and generations but now made known through the gospel (Romans 16:25-26).

As you continue to hold onto the covenant of Christ, remain in prayer, and wait upon the Lord, God will give you undeniable evidence of His presence and power. He will lead you beyond the limitations of your 24 and into His 25th hour. Through your life, people will come to see that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

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Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see Your 25th hour. Help me hold firmly to Your covenant and wait upon You in prayer. Enable me to see beyond my circumstances and trust in Your heavenly plan. Display Your glory and power through my life so that many may come to know Christ. Use me as a witness of Your kingdom in this generation and beyond. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

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What fills your mind and heart 24 hours a day, seven days a week? What occupies your thoughts when no one is watching? What do you return to again and again in moments of pressure, disappointment, and uncertainty? The answer to these questions will largely determine the direction of your life and future.

If your heart is dominated by old scars, bitterness, anger, fear, and unbelief 24/7, those things will eventually shape your decisions, relationships, and outlook on life. Left unchecked, they will lead to discouragement and destruction. But if the Word of God’s grace fills your heart 24/7, you will find strength, wisdom, and victory regardless of your circumstances. God’s Word transforms the way we see and respond to life.

Our circumstances often reveal the true condition of our faith. When difficulties arise, what comes out of us exposes what has been stored within us. Actions rooted in unbelief bring confusion and destruction, while actions rooted in faith lead to life, salvation, and God’s guidance. God desires that we trust Him and His power in every situation, not merely when things are going well.

When we face crises, our standard must be God and His Word. The moment we begin to interpret our circumstances through our own understanding, emotions, or experiences, we will lose sight of God’s purpose and promises. Consider the Israelites standing before the Red Sea:

“As Pharaoh approached, the Israelites looked up, and there were the Egyptians, marching after them. They were terrified and cried out to the Lord” (Exodus 14:10).

Why were they terrified? Because all they could see was Pharaoh’s army advancing toward them. Their eyes were fixed on the problem rather than on God. As fear filled their hearts, they began to blame Moses:

“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” (Exodus 14:11-12).

Fear, discouragement, despair, blame, complaint, and unbelief became their response. Rather than remembering God’s covenant and mighty works, they returned to memories of their former bondage. Their hearts remained in Egypt even though their bodies had left.

Moses stood in the same situation. He saw the same sea, the same enemy, and the same danger. Yet he saw something that no one else saw—the sovereign hand of God at work. He spoke faith-filled words rooted in God’s covenant:

“Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:13-14).

Moses did not focus on the crisis before him but on the God who was with him. He believed that his life was in God’s hands. He trusted the God who had already demonstrated His power through the plagues in Egypt. Above all, he believed in God’s covenant and His promise to bring His people into the land He had prepared for them through the coming Messiah.

The crossing of the Red Sea became a dividing line between faith and unbelief. The people of unbelief complain, regret, and blame 24/7. The people of faith seek God’s purpose and experience His power 24/7.

The people of unbelief live in fear, anxiety, and constant uncertainty. The people of faith stand before God in quiet confidence and experience His peace regardless of their circumstances.

The people of unbelief look to the world for answers. The people of the covenant wait expectantly for what God is about to do, even in the midst of impossible situations.

This is why our faith in the gospel must be more than mere words or religious knowledge. The Apostle Paul said that the gospel came “not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). Only this kind of faith can overcome the world: “Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God” (1 John 5:5).

Our continual trust in our heavenly Father makes all the difference. Faith opens our spiritual eyes so that we may see our lives from God’s perspective rather than our own. Faith does not guarantee that everything will happen according to our desires. Rather, it enables us to seek God’s will and trust His wisdom in every situation.

Remember that nothing happens by accident in the life of one whom God has chosen. Even difficult circumstances are not wasted. God uses all things for His purpose. Paul testified, “What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12). What seemed like setbacks became opportunities for God’s kingdom.

The same is true for you. God has brought specific people into your life so that they may encounter Christ through you. He has allowed certain situations so that the gospel may be proclaimed where Christ is not known. He is leading you into a life that increasingly exalts Christ in everything you do, say, and experience.

Therefore, enjoy God who dwells within you 24/7 (1 Corinthians 3:16). Enjoy God who is with us 24/7, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). Enjoy God who works all things together for your good 24/7 (Romans 8:28).

When you live in this reality, rejoicing becomes possible in every season. Prayer becomes natural. Thanksgiving becomes your response in all circumstances. This is the life of worship 24/7—a life centered not on changing circumstances but on the unchanging presence of God.

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Prayer. Father, thank You for being with me 24/7. Open my eyes to see every circumstance through Your Word and promises. Help me not to be controlled by fear, scars, or unbelief, but by faith in Your covenant. Teach me to enjoy Your presence, trust Your guidance, and experience Your power every day. May my life become a testimony that exalts Christ in all things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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

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Jesus did not come merely to change our behavior or improve our way of life. He did not come simply to make our circumstances better or meet only our emotional and physical needs. Nor did He come to establish another religion for people to follow.

He came to make us new.

Jesus came to re-create us and give us new birth. To accomplish this, He went to the cross and died in our place. When He died, we died with Him. When He rose from the dead, we were raised with Him into a new life.

Because of what Christ has done, God placed us “in Christ” when we believed that Jesus is the Christ. Through Him, God adopted us into His family as His beloved children (Ephesians 1:5). He did not leave us in the family of the devil but rescued us and brought us into His own household.

Scripture declares that everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God (1 John 5:1). This means that you now have a completely new identity. Your failures cannot change it. Your weaknesses cannot erase it. The opinions of others cannot redefine it. Your name is written in the Book of Life, and no one can remove it.

The Holy Spirit Himself continually testifies that you are a child of God (Romans 8:16). God delights in you and rejoices over you with singing (Zephaniah 3:17). He watches over you with eyes like blazing fire (Revelation 19:12), never losing sight of your life or your future.

Like a loving Father, He bends down to listen to your prayers (Psalm 116:2). He gives the greatest gift to His children, the Holy Spirit, every time they cry out (Luke 11:11–13). Jesus promised that no one can snatch you out of the Father’s hand (John 10:29). Therefore, do not allow your circumstances, your emotions, your achievements, or your failures to define who you are. Do not be deceived by the lies of the world or the accusations of the devil. You are precious to God.

Because you belong to Christ, you now have a new freedom. You are no longer under the dominion of your former master, the devil. Through Christ, you have been completely set free from the law of sin and death by the law of the Spirit of life (Romans 8:2). The chains have been broken. The prison door has been opened.

God has already declared you holy and blameless in His sight through Christ (Ephesians 1:4). Since God Himself has justified you, no accusation can ultimately stand against you (Romans 8:33). Satan may accuse, and your conscience may condemn, but God’s verdict is greater than every voice that rises against you.

Therefore, stop dwelling on the past. It is finished. Jesus carried your sins to the cross and paid for them completely. Your guilt has been removed. Your shame has been covered. Your condemnation has been canceled. The record of your sins has been wiped away by His blood.

The victory that Christ won over sin, death, and Satan is now your victory. His righteousness has become your righteousness forever (2 Corinthians 5:21). Claim that freedom today. Walk in it. Enjoy it. Give thanks for it.

Not only do you have a new identity and a new freedom, but you also have a new purpose. The Holy Spirit empowers you to stop living merely for yourself and to begin living for Christ, who died and rose again for you (2 Corinthians 5:15). Your life is no longer centered on personal success, comfort, or recognition. It is centered on God’s kingdom and His eternal plan.

Seek Christ first. Seek the kingdom of God. Depend on the power of the Holy Spirit. As you do, you will experience the blessing of uniqueness. You will see what others cannot see. You will discover opportunities others overlook. You will go where others refuse to go and accomplish what others believe is impossible because God is working through you.

Through the re-creating power of the Holy Spirit, go to your family, workplace, school, community, and even to the ends of the earth as a witness of Christ (Acts 1:8). Wherever darkness reigns, bring the light of the gospel. Wherever people are bound, proclaim the freedom found in Christ. Wherever there is despair, reveal the hope of God’s kingdom.

May God use your life to transform today’s culture of darkness into a culture of light through the power of the gospel.

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Prayer. Father, thank You for making me a new creation in Christ. Help me to live according to my new identity, enjoy the freedom You have given me, and fulfill the purpose for which You saved me. May Your re-creating power be evident everywhere I go, bringing the light of Christ into places of darkness and turning a culture of darkness into a culture of light. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Acts 11:19-21. Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. ²⁰ Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. ²¹ The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

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The Bible says that you have been uniquely created: “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). You were created in the image of God with purpose and value that no one can take away.

The Bible also says that you have been uniquely blessed: “God blessed them and said to them, ‘Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground‘” (Genesis 1:28).

Before humanity accomplished anything, God blessed them. His desire was not merely for people to survive but to thrive, multiply, and reveal His glory throughout the earth.

You have also been uniquely chosen: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you” (John 15:16).

Your salvation, calling, and mission did not begin with your decision. They began with God’s eternal plan. Long before you knew Him, He knew you, chose you, and prepared good works for you to accomplish.

And you have been uniquely sent: “Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.‘” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Every child of God has a mission. The Lord who sends us also promises to be with us wherever we go. Because the gospel God has revealed to you is unique, you will see what others cannot see, go where others will not go, and do what others cannot do.

Peter and John saw something that everyone else missed in the beggar sitting at the temple gate (Acts 3:1-12). While others saw a man who needed money, they saw a soul bound by a deeper problem. They recognized the spiritual reality behind his suffering and offered him what silver and gold could never provide—the name of Jesus Christ. Through the gospel, the man was saved, healed, and restored.

Philip saw God’s heart for Samaria (Acts 8:4-8). Most Jews wanted nothing to do with Samaritans. Yet Philip remembered the Lord’s covenant in Acts 1:8, where Jesus specifically mentioned Samaria, and he went where others refused to go. He proclaimed Christ in Samaria, and the city was transformed. Demons were driven out, many were healed, and “there was great joy in that city” (Acts 8:8).

Paul saw what others failed to see in Macedonia (Acts 16:6-10). Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, he recognized an open door for the gospel and crossed into Europe. His life’s ambition was to “preach the gospel where Christ was not known” (Romans 15:20). He entered synagogues, cities, and regions that many avoided, explaining and proving that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 17:1; 18:4; 19:8).

Paul’s covenant journey did not stop there. He continued to hold firmly to God’s vision throughout his life. Even when imprisoned, beaten, opposed, and misunderstood, he never lost sight of God’s promise concerning Rome (Acts 19:21; 23:11; 27:24). Eventually, he arrived in Rome and fulfilled the mission God had prepared for him:

“For two whole years, Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Acts 28:30-31).

May God open our eyes to see what He wants us to see before others see it. May He stir our hearts to go wherever He sends us and to do whatever He calls us to do.

Even after Stephen’s martyrdom and the persecution that followed, many believers still did not understand God’s heart for the Gentiles. They scattered throughout various regions, but “none of them preached the word except to Jews only” (Acts 11:19).

Yet a few believers from Cyprus and Cyrene saw beyond traditional boundaries. They arrived in Antioch and “began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus” (Acts 11:20).

While others focused only on their own people, trapped by nationalism and prejudice, these believers saw God-ordained opportunities. God used ordinary believers who were willing to cross boundaries to reach people whom others had ignored.

The result was extraordinary: “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord” (Acts 11:21). A church was born in Antioch—a church that would do what no other church had done before:

“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers … While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off” (Ac 13:1-3)

The church in Antioch desired to do what the Holy Spirit wanted. Instead of holding on to their most gifted leaders, they obeyed God’s voice and sent them into the mission field. Humanly speaking, it may have seemed like a loss. Spiritually, however, it was the beginning of one of the greatest mission movements in history.

Wherever Paul and his mission team went, they witnessed the blessing of uniqueness—the advancing kingdom of God. They saw lives transformed, communities restored, and the gospel accomplish what no human effort could achieve.

In Philippi, a slave girl who had been tormented by an evil spirit was set free through the authority of Jesus Christ. A Roman jailer who had been moments away from taking his own life heard the gospel and was saved along with his entire household. Lydia opened her home, and a church was established there (Acts 16:13-40). What began as a small mission journey became the foundation of God’s work in Europe.

In Ephesus, Paul taught daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus, investing himself in raising disciples and proclaiming the Word of God. What appeared to be an ordinary teaching ministry became a movement that impacted an entire region. As the gospel spread, people turned away from idolatry, and lives were changed:

“This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord … the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power” (Acts 19:10, 20).

This is the blessing of uniqueness. When God’s people hold on to His covenant and follow His leading, they become channels through which His kingdom is revealed.

God has called you to enjoy the blessing of your uniqueness, which He prepared long ago. His plan for your life is not ordinary. He has placed you in your family, workplace, school, church, and mission field for a reason.

Do not settle for the temporary things of the world. Continue to enjoy Christ, the kingdom of God, and the filling of the Holy Spirit. These are the eternal blessings that no circumstance can take away.

Forget what lies behind and press on toward what God has prepared ahead. Yesterday is gone, and tomorrow has not yet come. Today is the day God has given you. Today matters. Confirm the Word God has given you today, and hold on to it in prayer.

Because you are a precious child of God, His blessing of uniqueness is hidden within every circumstance, every meeting, every problem, every conflict, and every crisis. What may appear ordinary to others may be God’s prepared answer for you. Discover it. Experience it. Enjoy it. Then share it with others.

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Prayer. Father, open my eyes to see what You want me to see. Lead me to the places You want me to go and help me do the work You have prepared for me. Thank You for creating me with purpose, choosing me by Your grace, and giving me the blessing of uniqueness through the gospel. Help me to enjoy Christ, the kingdom of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit every day. May my life become a channel through which Your kingdom is revealed to the world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

1 Corinthians 2:1-2. And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. ² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.

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Some say that the gospel is not inclusive. They struggle to accept the claim that there is only one way to God. In a world that values tolerance and pluralism, many prefer to believe that all religions are essentially the same—different paths leading to the same destination, all seeking salvation through good works, moral living, or spiritual effort.

Paul wrote this letter to the believers in Corinth, a city filled with competing philosophies, idol worship, and religious pluralism. The people of Corinth were accustomed to many gods and many ways of worship. Yet Paul’s message was unmistakably clear: there is only one Savior—Jesus Christ.

Paul was not an ignorant or narrow-minded man. He was one of the most educated scholars of his day, trained under the renowned teacher Gamaliel. He possessed exceptional knowledge, eloquence, and human wisdom. If anyone could have argued for a sophisticated religious system based on human achievement, it was Paul.

Yet everything changed when he encountered the risen Lord Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. On his way to persecute those who followed “the Way,” Paul came face to face with the One he had rejected. From that moment on, he realized that all his accomplishments, credentials, and religious zeal were worthless compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8). He concluded that the only knowledge that truly mattered was the knowledge of Jesus Christ—His death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead.

What caused such a dramatic transformation?

By the grace of God, Paul came to understand the fundamental problem of the human race. He realized that humanity’s condition was far more serious than ignorance, poverty, injustice, or lack of education. Behind every problem stood the spiritual realities of Satan (Revelation 12:9), original sin (Romans 3:23), and separation from God (Genesis 3:1-6). No amount of human effort, religion, morality, or philosophy could solve these problems.

At the same time, Paul discovered that the entire Old Testament pointed to one person—Jesus Christ. He was the offspring of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). He was the true Ark through whom humanity could escape judgment (Genesis 6:14). He was the reason God called Abraham and promised blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). He was the ultimate sacrifice foreshadowed throughout the sacrificial system (Exodus 3:18). He was Immanuel, “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14).

For Paul, the Scriptures suddenly became clear. What had once been hidden was now revealed. Every promise, prophecy, sacrifice, and covenant pointed to Jesus of Nazareth as the Christ.

He also understood why, on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah disappeared while Jesus remained (Matthew 17:1-8). The Law and the Prophets had fulfilled their purpose by pointing to Christ. Only Jesus remained because only Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. Paul had finally found his True Prophet who reveals God, his True Priest who reconciles sinners to God, and his True King who defeats Satan and reigns forever.

Then Peter’s bold confession before the Sanhedrin made perfect sense: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Out of all the people, Paul could not forget Stephen. He had witnessed Stephen’s unwavering faith and had approved of his execution. Yet even as Stephen was being stoned to death, he remained confident in Christ. Looking back, Paul understood why Stephen was willing to die. Stephen had discovered something worth more than life itself—Jesus Christ (Acts 6:8-8:1).

Once Paul realized that Jesus was indeed the Christ, his life could never be the same. Everywhere he traveled, he reasoned with people from the Scriptures, “explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. ‘This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,’ he said” (Acts 17:3).

His message never changed. Whether speaking to Jews or Gentiles, scholars or laborers, rulers or prisoners, Paul proclaimed only one message: “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).

More importantly, he lived what he preached: “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

Having discovered the One thing that truly mattered, Paul considered everything else secondary. His personal ambitions, comfort, reputation, and even his life itself became insignificant compared to the mission God had entrusted to him. As he testified:

“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24).

This does not mean that Christians no longer need food, shelter, relationships, work, or other blessings. Rather, it means that when we have Christ, we possess the source and substance of every true blessing. As Paul wrote, Christ is “the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:2-3).

This is why Jesus gently corrected Martha when she was consumed with many concerns:

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her‘” (Luke 10:41-42).

The Lord desires to be the only One at the center of our lives, not because He needs anything from us, but because He knows what we truly need. He alone can satisfy the deepest longings of the human heart. Everything else can be lost, but what Christ gives can never be taken away.

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Prayer. Father, like Paul, I resolve to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Open my eyes to see that Christ is the fulfillment of all Your promises and the answer to every fundamental problem of life. May You be the center of my thoughts, my desires, and my purpose. Let the proclamation of the gospel become the reason I live. Help me treasure Christ above all things and faithfully testify to Your grace wherever You send me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daniel 6:10. Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day, he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

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Those who live a single-minded and wholehearted life continue to hold firmly to God’s covenant because they trust the future that God has prepared for them. Their faith is not determined by present circumstances but by God’s unchanging covenant. That is why Daniel continued to pray just as he had always done, even when he knew that the consequence of praying to God was death in the lions’ den.

When Judah fell before King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, Daniel understood the rightful reason for the destruction of God’s people—the complete loss of the gospel and covenant. Because he saw the root problem clearly, he resolved not to defile himself with the idols and culture of Babylon (Daniel 1:8). Daniel also realized why God had allowed him to be taken captive and placed in a position of influence within the Babylonian government. God had sent him there for the restoration of the gospel and the salvation of nations. He understood that God’s plan extended far beyond his personal success or comfort.

The same principle applies to us today. Unless we discover the reason for God’s calling and His purpose for our lives, we will remain trapped by the standards, fears, and values of the world. But when we realize God’s absolute plan, we gain the spiritual strength to save our families, workplaces, communities, and nations with the power of the gospel.

Daniel continually enjoyed his identity as a child of God in all circumstances. Whenever opportunities arose, he boldly exalted God before kings and rulers. When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded the interpretation of his mysterious dream, Daniel did not draw attention to himself. Instead, he declared, “No wise man, enchanter, magician or diviner can explain to the king the mystery he has asked about, but there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries” (Daniel 2:27-28). Daniel’s confidence came not from his own abilities but from his relationship with the living God.

He also exercised the authority God had given him. When King Belshazzar was terrified by the writing on the wall, Daniel courageously delivered God’s message without fear or compromise. He confronted the king’s pride and idolatry and announced God’s judgment upon Babylon (Daniel 5:22-28). That very night, God’s word was fulfilled, and the Babylonian kingdom came to an end (Daniel 5:30).

In the same way, God has entrusted His church with the authority to proclaim His message to the world. Before His ascension, Jesus declared, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:18-20). We have not been called merely to survive in this world but to shine the light of Christ in the midst of darkness.

May God open our eyes to see the world as He sees it—a world filled with spiritual darkness, idolatry, suffering, and people living under the deception and power of the enemy. May we realize why God has placed us in our families, churches, schools, workplaces, communities, nations, and generations. We have been called for such a time as this.

God answered Daniel’s unwavering faith exactly as He promised. When Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den, God sent His angel and shut the mouths of the lions (Daniel 6:21-22). What seemed like certain destruction became an opportunity for God’s glory to be revealed. Daniel not only survived; he became the instrument through whom God testified to an entire empire.

As a result, King Darius himself proclaimed, “I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel” (Daniel 6:26). Through one man’s faith, disasters were blocked, lives were saved, and the name of God was exalted throughout the world.

Therefore, do not be afraid of the world as you proclaim the gospel in your mission field. The same God who protected Daniel remains sovereign today. He is able to send His angels, surround His people with heavenly armies, and accomplish His purpose through those who trust in Him. Like Daniel, let us see the age of idolatry clearly and make a firm resolution before God to stand for the covenant regardless of the cost.

Daniel’s life was also marked by continual thanksgiving. Even when a death sentence had been issued against him, “three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Dan. 6:10). Thanksgiving is possible only when we recognize God’s absolute sovereignty and trust His plan in every circumstance. It is one of the most profound expressions of faith and one of the most powerful weapons against Satan’s attacks (Romans 16:20).

Do not be shaken by circumstances. Turn every problem, conflict, and crisis into prayer. Daniel’s influence was so evident that even King Darius, a pagan ruler, recognized the source of his wisdom and strength, saying, “May your God, whom you serve continually, rescue you!” (Dan. 6:16).

Do not allow fear, discouragement, or worldly pressures to hold you back. Hold firmly to God’s promise: “Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).

Let us continue to teach and proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ (Acts 5:42). As we do, the Lord Himself will work with us and confirm His Word through the evidence of His presence and power (Mark 16:20). Like Daniel, may we live a single-minded life for Christ, a wholehearted life for the gospel, and a life that leaves behind an eternal testimony for the glory of God.

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Prayer. Father, help me to live a single-minded life for Christ and a wholehearted life for the gospel. Open my eyes to see Your absolute plan and give me the faith to follow it without compromise. Help me enjoy my identity and authority as Your child, turn every circumstance into prayer, and give thanks in all situations. May I boldly proclaim that Jesus is the Christ and shine as a witness of Your kingdom wherever You have placed me. Let Your presence, wisdom, and power be evident in my life so that many may come to know You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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. ⁷ 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, ⁸ 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. ⁹ 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.

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When you discover the true worth of the gospel, you will no longer live for temporary success, comfort, or recognition. You will live a wholehearted life for the sake of the gospel.

Like David, you will live with a God-given cause (1 Samuel 17:29). While everyone else saw Goliath as a giant to fear, David saw an opportunity to reveal the glory of God. A person who holds onto God’s covenant is not shaken by crises or opposition because he sees God’s greater purpose behind every situation.

Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, you will refuse to bow before the idols of the age. Even in the face of death, they stood boldly by faith and confessed:
“But even if he does not… we will not serve your gods” (Daniel 3:18). True faith is not conditional. It does not depend on circumstances or visible answers. When the gospel becomes your absolute value, you gain spiritual boldness that overcomes the pressure of the world, even the fear of death.

Like Paul, you will consider your life worth nothing compared to the mission God has entrusted to you: “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24). Paul’s life was centered completely on Christ and world evangelization. Nothing could stop him—not persecution, imprisonment, hunger, rejection, or even death.

When Paul was stoned in Lystra and left for dead, he miraculously rose up and went back into the city (Acts 14:19–22). Why? Because there were disciples there whom God had prepared, including a young disciple named Timothy (Acts 16:1). Paul understood that one disciple raised correctly could save future generations and an entire age.

This is the kind of life God has called you to live. Having discovered the greatest treasure in Christ, the Early Church lived with wholehearted devotion:

“Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God, and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved” (Ac 2:46-47).

Like Caleb in Today’s Word, you are called to conquer the mission field God has given you. Because of one man of faith, “the land had rest from war.” When you hold onto God’s covenant, people around you will come to experience the true rest found only in Christ.

On the way to the promised land of Canaan, Moses sent twelve spies to explore the land (Numbers 13:1–33). Although they all saw the same land, ten spies returned with a negative report filled with fear and unbelief. They focused only on the giants, fortified cities, and impossible circumstances. Only Joshua and Caleb remembered God’s covenant.

The Israelites became deeply discouraged. In fear and despair, they wept, grumbled against Moses, and even talked about returning to Egypt. At that critical moment, Joshua and Caleb boldly proclaimed words of faith that would change the course of the nation (Numbers 14:1–9). God then gave this promise concerning Caleb:

“But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it” (Numbers 14:24).

Caleb held onto this covenant for forty-five years. Through every hardship, wilderness journey, battle, and delay, he never let go of God’s promise. This is true faith, a lifelong covenant journey.

When you place God’s Word in your heart and make a resolution of faith in every season of life, God will surely fulfill His promises. He will give eternal answers through your life and allow your faith to be passed on to the next generation. Therefore, always choose faith. That was the decision Caleb made again and again throughout his life.

When Israel finally faced its last major battle against the Anakites, Caleb—now eighty-five years old—stepped forward in faith. Though advanced in age, his spirit had not weakened because he had spent his entire life holding onto God’s covenant.

Caleb trusted completely in the promise God had given him when he was forty years old. He understood the true reason for conquering Canaan. It was not merely about gaining territory or defeating enemies. It was about restoring the blood covenant of the promised Messiah and preparing the way for world evangelization. Caleb saw beyond the physical battle and held onto God’s eternal plan.

For this reason, he followed God wholeheartedly throughout his entire life. He witnessed the mighty works of God during the Exodus, at the Red Sea, in the wilderness, and at the Jordan River. Every event strengthened his faith in God’s covenant.

Even after Moses died and Joshua became the new leader, Caleb humbly submitted himself to God’s order and pledged his loyalty to Joshua (Joshua 1:16–18). He did not seek a position or personal gain. He simply believed that God would fulfill His promise and lead His people into the land of Canaan.

Caleb knew exactly what stood before him—the Anakites and their large fortified cities. Yet he looked beyond visible reality and held onto the greater reality of God’s presence and promise. Therefore, he boldly confessed: “The Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said” (Joshua 14:12).

His faith never wavered. Caleb was both humble and bold. He did not trust in his own strength but in the power of God who had called him. God responded to this man of faith by sustaining him with extraordinary strength throughout his life. Caleb testified:

“So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 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” (Joshua 14:10–11).

God is searching for a remnant like Caleb today. There are still countless places where Christ is unknown and where people live without the gospel. Therefore, renew your faith in God once again and focus your life on what God desires most—saving lives.

God has already given you the ultimate cause for your life. He has also revealed the only way to save the world: Christ (Acts 1:1), the kingdom of God (Acts 1:3), and the filling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8).

As you hold onto this covenant, God will use your life to transform your mission field, your church, and even this age. He will turn the culture of idols into the culture of the gospel. Through one person of wholehearted faith, God can bring rest, healing, and life to many.

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Prayer. Father, help me to live a single-minded life for Christ and a wholehearted life for the gospel. Like Caleb, help me to hold onto Your covenant without wavering until the very end. Strengthen my faith to overcome every circumstance and help me continue to walk as an evangelist who saves lives. May I enjoy the blessing of Your presence throughout the entire day and be used to change my mission field and this age for Your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Praise
Great Is Thy Faithfulness

Confession of Faith
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 there He will come to judge the living 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.

Message
2026.05.23 Core
World Public Servants Missions Conference Lecture 3
「Hidden Missionary」(1 Kings 18:1-15)
Transcript …Video

2026.05.23 Scattered Disciples
World Public Servants Missions Conference Lecture 4
「Booking Public Servants of the 5000 Tribes」(Genesis 45:1-5)
Transcript …Video  (Also at the end of the Core message)

Prayer
7 Bartizans · 7 Journeys · 7 Guideposts