Category: Today’s Word

Philippians 2:5-11. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:

The name of Jesus is not ordinary. It is the name of the Christ who emptied Himself, died for our sins, crushed the head of Satan, and was raised in glory. Yet many believers do not understand what the name of Jesus can do. That is why they struggle through life like unbelievers, living aimlessly without knowing the mission God has given them.

Though they are children of God, some continue to follow the ways of this world, falling into Satan’s schemes and, without realizing it, serving his purposes. Scripture warns that such people may be saved, but “only as one escaping through the flames” (1 Corinthians 3:15).

It is therefore of utmost importance to know who lives in you: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” (1 Corinthians 3:16). The One who bears the name above every name now dwells in you.

In the name of Jesus, the works of the devil were destroyed (1 John 3:8). God has given you authority to resist and bind Satan in Jesus’ name. You can use His name to set people free from darkness. Through the name of Jesus, a new and living way has been opened to God (John 14:6). When you call on His name, doors that were closed will open, because Jesus holds the key of David. “What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open” (Revelation 3:7). Believe this, and you will see the glory of God (John 11:40).

In Jesus’ name, the Holy Spirit came to dwell in you. Jesus said, “The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26). The Spirit brings you the peace of Christ—a peace the world cannot give. So do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid (John 14:27).

In Jesus’ name, God’s angel armies are mobilized to serve you, carrying out His will. Scripture says, “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Hebrews 1:14). These unseen hosts respond to the authority of Christ, surrounding your life with protection, delivering you from danger, strengthening you in weakness, and preparing the way for God’s plans to be fulfilled. Just as angels surrounded Elisha with horses and chariots of fire (2 Kings 6:8-23), they also encamp around you today, reminding you that you are never alone and that the power of heaven stands with you in the name of Jesus.

Therefore, pray continually in the name of Jesus, and God will open doors for you to proclaim the mystery of Christ (Colossians 4:3). Wherever you go, in Jesus’ name, evil spirits are cast out. Acts 16 records how Paul, knowing the power of that name, commanded an evil spirit to leave a slave girl—and it left her immediately (Acts 16:16–18). Like her, countless people live today under the power of the devil (Acts 10:38). This is why God has called you: to exercise the authority Christ has given you—to drive out demons and overcome all the power of the enemy (Mark 3:15; Luke 10:19). To do so, you must first “bind the strong man” in your mission field (Matthew 12:29).

Scripture also declares that all creation submits to the name of Jesus: “By the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body” (Philippians 3:21). Why? Because Jesus is the Creator God: “Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made” (John 1:3).

The name of Jesus transcends time and space. Today, God still displays His power in that name wherever the gospel is preached. Chains are broken, lives are restored, and nations are shaken when His name is proclaimed. So, worship His name today. Submit to the authority of His name. In all circumstances, acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord of your life. And proclaim His name boldly to all nations.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for the name of Jesus Christ, the name above every name. By the power of His name, I know I will overcome the world, break the chains of the enemy, and bring people back to You. In Jesus’ mighty name, Amen.

Isaiah 58:11. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

When life feels overwhelming and uncertain, where do we turn for guidance and strength? Our Father has promised to guide our lives by His Spirit until He brings us home. When we follow His leading through the Word, we become like “a well-watered garden, a spring whose waters never fail“—sustained, fruitful, and alive even in seasons of drought. He will be our strength and supply everything we need as we walk with Him.

Scripture warns that Satan schemes against us, working tirelessly on every front of life. Because of that, the Spirit of Jesus walks with us at every step. Living with a continual awareness of His presence opens us to the incredible power of God—power that protects, directs, and provides beyond what our eyes can see. We will not be afraid because we see that “those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (2 Kings 6:16).

If you try to steer your life by your own wisdom, you will run into despair and failure: “There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). And if you rely only on other people to guide you, you risk falling into the same errors they carry: “Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into a pit?” (Luke 6:39). Human solutions are limited; only the One who lives in you transcends time and space and knows the end from the beginning. Rely on His wisdom and power.

We are weak, but the Spirit strengthens our weakness and helps us when we do not know what to pray (Romans 8:26). He prays within us in groans too deep for words, and the Father, who knows every heart, hears and answers. God cares for you more than you can imagine, so cast every worry on Him and rest in His care (1 Peter 5:7). Worrying accomplishes nothing—in fact, it is dangerous, because the devil seeks to consume those who live in fear and anxiety (1 Peter 5:8).

Always confirm what you sense the Spirit saying by the Word of God. Scripture is the Spirit’s map and the absolute spiritual guidance. Let the Word be the standard by which you measure everything in life. When the Spirit’s prompting lines up with God’s Word, move forward with confidence—but if you are uncertain, wait on the Spirit, for His leading always comes in God’s perfect time (Acts 13:1-3, 16:6-10, 16:13).

Stop letting the voices of culture and popular opinion shape your decisions. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5–6). God’s guidance is patient, clear, and often confirmed by peace, Scripture, and good fruit.

Jesus promised that the Father would give you another Helper, the Holy Spirit, to be with you forever (John 14:16). This Spirit is not distant but lives in you, teaching you all things and reminding you of everything Jesus has said (John 14:26). He does not speak on His own but guides you into all truth, declaring what is yet to come and making known the heart of the Father (John 16:13). With the Spirit as your Counselor, Teacher, and Guide, you never walk alone—the living God Himself walks with you, leading you step by step.

Prayer. Father, thank You for guiding my life through Your Spirit. Thank You for the peace and rest that the world cannot give. Teach me to listen for Your voice, to test all things by Your Word, and to follow wherever You lead. Use me and lead me to wherever You want me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Romans 16:20. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Salvation is not merely about going to heaven after this life—it is about living in the fullness of God’s promises in the kingdom of God here and now. Salvation means bearing fruit in every season, no matter the circumstances, because God enables you to enjoy the gospel daily.

God equips you with His Spirit, strengthens your faith in His Word, and uses you to bring multitudes to Christ. As Paul wrote, “He always leads us as captives in Christ’s triumphal procession and uses us to spread the aroma of the knowledge of Him everywhere” (2 Corinthians 2:14).

But you must be aware of your enemy. The devil seeks to exploit your weaknesses. Scripture warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). He masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), and he mobilizes evil spirits to enslave people’s spirits, souls, minds, and bodies (Mark 5:1–10; Acts 16:16–18).

Using politics, culture, and economics, he blinds the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4–5). He is organized, relentless, and strategic, carrying out schemes against believers (Ephesians 6:11–13), attacking on every side (Ephesians 6:16).

Yet, for those in Christ, victory is certain. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work” (1 John 3:8). The offspring of the woman has crushed the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). By His blood, the Lamb has broken the grip of sin and death (Exodus 3:18). Immanuel, born of a virgin, has set His people free (Isaiah 7:14).

Jesus of Nazareth, anointed by the Spirit, went about healing those oppressed by the devil (Acts 10:38). Every time the devil advances against a believer filled with the Spirit of God, he is defeated. Do, do not be afraid—the devil fears you when you stand in the name of Jesus, the True King. Resist him, and he will flee (James 4:7).

This is why you must always stay on the offensive. Keep watch, remain steadfast in prayer, and do not grow weary. The promise is sure: “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet” (Romans 16:20). Claim the victory of Christ every day.

But what about temptations and trials? God allows them, yet never without a plan as Scripture confirms:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Temptations are inevitable, but falling into them is not. Charles Spurgeon, a famous English preacher, once said, “We cannot help the birds flying over our heads; but we may keep them from building their nests in our hair.”

For the believer, nothing is wasted—not even trials or temptations. God works all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28). He turns problems into opportunities, temptations into blessings, and trials into victories. So pray as Jesus taught: “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matthew 6:13).

Prayer. Father, I rest in Your peace today, trusting that You will lead me into victory in every circumstance. Help me not to fall into unbelief when I face troubles. Open my eyes to see the plans You have hidden within them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Isaiah 43:25. I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

God loved you so deeply that He could not bear the broken relationship caused by sin. The Bible says, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). His love came first. For His own sake, He blotted out our transgressions and remembers them no more (Isaiah 43:25).

Like the father waiting for his prodigal son to return, God has been waiting for you. His arms are open, ready to forgive. All you need to do is come home, accept His grace, and give thanks for His mercy.

God wants you to live in the assurance of forgiveness. He sent His Son, Jesus—the True Priest—who entered the Most Holy Place with His own blood. “God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness” (Romans 3:25).

We sinned against God, but He met His own righteous standard through Christ. It is like standing in a courtroom, guilty of every charge, when the judge not only declares the sentence but steps down from the bench, removes his robe, and pays the penalty himself. And that judge turns out to be the father. This is what God has done at Calvary. We broke the covenant (Genesis 2:7), but God laid all our guilt on His Son (Isaiah 53:6). When Jesus declared, “It is finished” (John 19:30), the debt of sin was paid in full.

Because of this, you are the most blessed person on earth. Through the cross, you have been set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). God finds nothing against you. He has removed your sins as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12). He has trampled them under His feet and hurled them into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:19).

If guilt and shame still weigh on you, go back to Calvary. Meet the One who loved you and gave Himself for you. He cut away your sinful nature, endured the cross, and silenced the accuser forever. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). God has canceled the charges against you. You are justified, holy, and blameless in His sight.

Always remember your identity in Christ. Do not let the devil deceive you into living in fear. You are free in Christ—so live in that freedom. Live a life worthy of the gospel, and “sin no more” (John 8:11). “Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh (Galatians 5:16). Resist sin to the point of shedding your blood (Hebrews 12:4). Carry the message of this freedom to others who are still enslaved by sin.

Prayer. Father, I thank You for setting me free from the law of sin and death through Your Son, Jesus Christ. I believe that when I confess my weaknesses and wrongdoings to You, You forgive me and purify me through the precious blood of Jesus shed on the cross. With the freedom I now have in Christ, help me to stand as Your witness to those living in fear and bondage under sin. In the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

Jeremiah 33:3. Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.

As parents lovingly pay attention to their children, so our heavenly Father bends down to listen to our prayers. The psalmist declared, “Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath!” (Psalm 116:2, NLT). God’s heart is always inclined toward His children, and His desire is for us to live a life of prayer.

He has made us His temple where His Spirit dwells (1 Corinthians 3:16). And Jesus Himself said, “My house will be called a house of prayer” (Matthew 21:13). When our lives truly become a house of prayer, the presence of the living God is revealed through us. Then the nations will know God’s presence in our lives: “Then the nations will know that I the Lord make Israel holy, when my sanctuary is among them forever” (Ezekiel 37:28).

The guarantee for answered prayer rests on one foundation—the name of Jesus. He promised, “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24). This is the name that broke the power of Satan, removed the root cause of our sin, and transferred us into the kingdom of light.

Prayers offered in the name of Jesus are powerful and effective (James 5:16). When we pray in His name, God sends forth His heavenly armies—angels invisible to our eyes—to carry out His will (Hebrews 12:22). That is why prayer is not limited to our words or our strength; it mobilizes heaven itself.

Through prayer, God promises to answer with things beyond imagination: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” (Jeremiah 33:3). Nothing in your life is by accident. Every trial and circumstance comes under the hand of the One who made, formed, and established the earth (Jeremiah 33:2). He is in control and has specific plans for you.

God will open your eyes to see the reality of a world covered by darkness, plagued by disasters and brokenness (Jeremiah 33:4–5). Yet through your life of prayer, He will proclaim His remarkable secret—the mystery of Christ (Colossians 2:2–3).

God will bring health, healing, peace, security, and forgiveness wherever you go with the gospel. Your life will bring Him renown, joy, praise, and honor before all nations. The world will see the abundant prosperity and peace God provides, and they will stand in awe of Him (Jeremiah 33:6–9).

So never be discouraged when you pray. Remember, even when you do not know what to pray, the Holy Spirit intercedes for you: “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans” (Romans 8:26).

Prayer. Father, I thank You for bending down to hear my prayer. Thank You for answering in ways beyond my understanding. Teach me to pray continually and to wait expectantly, trusting in the name of Jesus. In Your Son’s precious name, Amen.

1 John 5:11-13. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. ¹³ I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.

Believing without foundation is blind faith. Believing in something false is mere superstition. But true assurance is not based on human opinion, feelings, or tradition—it rests on God’s unchanging testimony. And His testimony is clear: “Whoever has the Son has life.”

Does this really mean no religion is necessary? No good works required? Only faith in Jesus Christ? Yes. Eternal life was lost when mankind fell under the power of sin, death, and Satan. To restore us, God sent His Son as the True King to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8), the True Priest to remove the curse of sin (Mark 10:45), and the True Prophet to lead us back to God and deliver us from hell (John 14:6).

If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, you are set free from the power of Satan, sin, and death. When you trust fully in His finished work—His death on the cross for your sins and His resurrection from the grave—the blessing of salvation becomes yours.

By His grace, God has adopted you as His child (John 1:12). As His child, you have every right to enjoy the privileges of adoption: the Father’s love, the Son’s fellowship, and the Spirit’s guidance. Each day, you can open the door of your heart to Jesus and enjoy fellowship with Him (Revelation 3:20). And as you walk with Him, God is shaping you into a vessel for His great purpose—world evangelization.

Do not remain bound by your past. On the cross, all of your sins—past, present, and future—were placed upon Christ. God canceled your guilt and declared you righteous in His sight. He has set you free forever from sin’s power:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24–25)

Today, know where you stand. You are in the most secure place in the entire universe—in the hands of the Triune God:

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27–30)

Do not be deceived by your weakness, the lies of the world, or the schemes of Satan. Nothing can touch your eternal life in Christ. God’s love is everlasting, and His promises are unshakable. He gave His one and only Son for you so that you may never doubt His heart.

God wants you to live every day in confidence, not uncertainty. Eternal life is not something you might receive one day—it is already yours in Christ. This is the testimony of God. This is your assurance.

Prayer. Father, thank You for Your amazing love for me. Help me to rest in Your promise and live each day with the assurance of eternal life in Christ. In Your Son’s precious name, Amen.

Acts 1:6-8. Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”

⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, everything changes. The resurrected Christ knew this, which is why, at His ascension, He gave His disciples the promise of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). Jesus knew that human strength, knowledge, and zeal were powerless to overthrow the ruler of the kingdom of the air (Ephesians 2:2), the devil, and to accomplish world evangelization.

Only the Spirit’s power from the throne of the Triune God could transform ordinary people into bold witnesses of the gospel. That is why Jesus emphasized that the utmost importance in the believer’s life is to experience the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit.

When the Spirit of God comes upon you, He fills you with assurance, conviction, and boldness (Acts 2:1-17). Consider Peter. Before Pentecost, he denied even knowing Jesus three times. Yet after being filled with the Holy Spirit, he stood before crowds and rulers, declaring with power that Jesus was the Christ.

At the temple gate, he invoked the name of Jesus, and a crippled man who had never walked rose to his feet (Acts 3:6). Peter saw, for the first time, the reality of Christ’s power flowing through him—not because of his own strength or godliness, but because of the Spirit’s filling. He said to the crowd,

“Fellow Israelites, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? … By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3:12, 16)

The same Peter who once feared now proclaimed Christ without hesitation. Even when arrested and threatened, he declared:

“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)

The leaders saw that Peter and John had no special training, yet they also saw something undeniable: “These men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13).

Amid unspeakable persecution, the Early Church did not pray for safety or comfort. They prayed for boldness: “Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness” (Acts 4:29). God answered by filling them again with the Holy Spirit. The result was a community marked by great power, deep unity, sacrificial generosity, and unstoppable witness (Acts 4:31-35).

This same Spirit is what the church needs today. In a broken and hostile world, He fills us with His power and makes us strong, firm, and steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). Through His filling, the gospel spreads not just in words, but with power, conviction, and joy (1 Thessalonians 1:5).

When filled with the Holy Spirit, we live with a God-given mission. The apostles appointed men like Stephen and Philip to serve, but the Spirit empowered them to proclaim Christ with wisdom and courage. Stephen’s testimony cost him his life (Acts 7:54-60). Philip’s preaching brought great joy to Samaria and even reached the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:4-40). In each case, the Spirit fulfilled the promise of Acts 1:8: the gospel reaching the nations beyond Jerusalem and Judea.

The Spirit also transforms the church into God’s instrument for world missions. He changed Saul, once the enemy of the church, into Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (Acts 9:15). He shifted Peter’s heart through Cornelius (Acts 10) and raised Antioch as the launching ground for global missions (Acts 13:1-3). God’s plan has always been to change individuals so they can change the world.

For this reason, evangelism and missions are not optional—they are God’s greatest desire. The Christian life without evangelism is empty to God. He did not entrust this work to angels but to His children because evangelism is the greatest blessing and privilege. Sadly, many believers live without knowing this blessing, following the ways of the world, which is the deception of the devil.

We have only one life, and it is too short to live for anything less than God’s desire: saving this generation and passing the covenant of Christ to the next. That is why we must remain in Christ, enter deeply into prayer, and enjoy Him until no circumstance can shake us. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is the only way to live this life of mission and witness.

Prayer. Lord Jesus, I thank You for the promise of the Holy Spirit. Fill me with the power of the throne so I may live as Your witness. Open my eyes to see what others cannot see, send me to places others will not go, and accomplish through me what no one else can do. Use me as Your instrument of the gospel, for the sake of this generation and the next. In Your mighty name, Amen.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

▣ Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

8) I will make you a summit.

9) Go to the nobodies, to the wasteland.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

▣ Conclusion – Change Your Thinking.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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