Caesarea Philippi

Prayer Journal: October 13, 2025
23. Jul. 2024 237 Tuesday Disciple Training, Message 1
Scripture Reading: Matthew 16:13-20


▣ Lecture 1: The Repentance Movement and Christ (Matthew 16:14)

Introduction
Out in the global field right now there are many who are sick and thirsty.
The three organizations are booming tremendously by exploiting this. And yet, if you look at America, churches are decreasing. What will happen if this continues? What should we be doing 24 about? Churches are losing because they are doing 24 on something else. What on earth is the problem? There are a few elements in places where churches grow greatly, right? We must do a ministry that gives life. Only those made alive can go on living; you cannot live where things are dying. And whatever anyone says, the Word must work in the church. If these two do not happen, it is already not happening. Then third, an evangelism movement must arise. And many people must come to church and be healed. Cutting out all these things—how badly are American churches failing? Now, after finishing their pastorates, they almost hand the churches over to others. Simply put, they failed to raise associate ministers. Strictly speaking, there is no one to serve as associate ministers. Such an urgent situation has come.

Then when was the timetable when Jesus spoke at Caesarea Philippi? It was after He completed three years of public ministry, with only the cross remaining. So He asked. They mostly gave wrong answers. So when Jesus heard Peter’s confession at that time, didn’t He immediately speak right afterward? He said He would bear the cross. And the very Peter who had just made the confession said, “That shall never happen to You.” It is at about that level. So shocked was Jesus that He said, “Get behind Me, Satan!” Perhaps this is the reality of our churches now. Thus, when He spoke at Caesarea Philippi, there was one extremely important point, right? It means they did not really understand what Jesus had been saying for three years. They hardly understood. Hence all sorts of things came out. During the three years of messages, Jesus told them to throw everything away and said one thing. The Holy Spirit, right? He said just one thing.
And He emphasized this also at the final pulpit.
Then there are a few points we need to look at.
This is Lecture 1 in brief. They said He was like John the Baptist. The repentance movement and Christ—if you do not make this clear for people, it will not do.
All of it comes out of Matthew 16:14.

Extreme Eschatologists (Sense of Guilt)
Repentance is, of course, something we must do, but what do we need to look at in the introduction? That extreme eschatologists keep appearing.
John the Baptist can be seen as relating to the future, but he is closer to this side (extreme eschatology).

Main—Because it was needed in each era.

1. Needed in every era
He did what was needed in each era.
1) Matthew 11:11
About John the Baptist, Jesus said, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than” him, right? He was different from ordinary people.
2) The wilderness
He was one who cried out in the wilderness.
3) Sin
He rebuked the king’s sin and died. That is tremendous. But the question Jesus asked was not about that now.

2. The essence
What is the real essence?
1) Jesus—the Christ
2) Jesus—Lord
3) Jesus—Savior
The real essence is that Jesus is the Christ, Jesus is our Lord, Jesus is the Savior—this is what He was emphasizing now.

Of course we must repent of what we did wrong; we are not saying to neglect this. Thus, in every era they appear. In the case of extreme eschatologists—John the Baptist being a representative, big example—when you look closely, while claiming extreme eschatology they also insist that we must repent. They push this (extreme eschatology) so strongly—stronger than the Gospel—that they trap everyone in a sense of guilt. Bound by guilt, they can do nothing. If one thinks that is repentance, it is a huge mistake. Right? Before God, we are to live a life of becoming Christlike, following God’s Word—not to be seized by a sense of guilt every day; God did not teach us that way. In the past in Korea, when you saw older people praying and singing hymns, they would frown and weep loudly—then they considered that they had received grace. So bound were they that even on a picnic they sang “I Need Thee Every Hour,” and wept. Weeping does not accomplish it. There is a hymn “Even if I weep, I cannot.” It must be Christ.

As this part weakens, strangely the doors of churches around the world begin to close. Churches must have invisible power—the power that gives life. If pastors’ sermons lean toward this side, you will die. Right? We are not saying, “Do not do this (sense of guilt).” What is God’s purpose? If your child does something wrong and lives every day like this (in guilt), is that the parent’s purpose? You should help them realize it quickly, come out of it, and go rightly.

3. Life
Thus, for churches worldwide—our life is clearly important.
1) Justification
We are not saved by repenting. Right? God saved us—by grace; therefore, out of thanksgiving, we live a life of sanctification. Not out of fear of someone. Out of thanksgiving—naturally. Do you give offerings to church because you are afraid? You do it out of thanksgiving. Do you do it to receive blessings? No. You do it out of thanksgiving. If we do not teach this, it will be a big problem. In the past, it was often said in church that giving much offering brings blessing—that is true. But is that why we give? No, right? Even if we were to give all our property and our bodies, and yet we have not, we feel sorry and give out of thanksgiving.
2) Sanctification
The key of sanctification is to be evangelized by the Gospel.
3) Glorification
Eternal sanctification will continue.
This is our life. You may fully understand this, but where we place the emphasis is important. When it says, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,” on which word should the emphasis be? For some, the emphasis is on “only”; for others, on “Holy Spirit”; for others, on “witnesses.” It can differ from person to person. This creates differences in your church movements and many other things. If your church is not doing well and keeps struggling, it is because something lacks the power that gives life. When church members hear the pastor’s sermon, they must come alive. Right? If they hear the sermon and their hearts die, there is no crime like that. We must remember this. So they said He was like John the Baptist; Jesus did not say, “That’s right.” Because they had deviated from the very fundamental movement of the church, the Gospel, and what God desires—such words came out. And they will keep coming out.

Conclusion: 237–5000 people groups (Sin)
Then what is our conclusion? In the 237 nations and among the 5000 people groups, they are all trapped in sin without even knowing it. Almost all of them. What they most need is to be rescued by giving them the Gospel. When we started evangelism in Yeongdo, there were a few places where the evangelism movement arose greatly, and what kind of house were they? That is not something anyone can do. You need power.

He was a boss who supplied makgeolli and liquor throughout Yeongdo. When we went to hold a service and arrived at the house, the smell of liquor was strong. When this person came to understand the Gospel, would he not have thoughts rise in his heart? He asked me, “What should I do about this (liquor business)?” I did not talk about this (sense of guilt). I might have resolved it quickly by talking about this (guilt), but I did not. I spoke to him about this (life). God will surely give you a way to resolve this; I am not telling you to sell liquor forever. In less than a year he shut it down; then he had nothing to do, right? He became a bus driver in that neighborhood. That household did the Gospel movement very much.

Thus God—indeed the 237–5000 people groups—are all trapped in that. Then in Japan, when you go, you see most churches are small, but the Full Gospel Church was big when I went. Of course, in the long term, it may differ, but at that moment the Full Gospel was large. Now, the women suffering in bars and such who moved from Korea to Japan—there are many, right? These people do not go to that church. Where do they all go? They go to where they do this (philanthropy). What do you think? If that is a global phenomenon, what do you think? That is why we resolved to do the evangelism movement. In order to rescue them, we must not start with talking about that; we must first bring the Gospel. As such things kept happening, we kept emphasizing evangelism. Now, in churches worldwide, the evangelism movement has all but stopped. It is a big problem. In a sense, even this life is what God gives. The 237–5000 people groups around the world do not even know what this is. They have no idea what original sin is, what personal sins are, what the sin of idol worship is—no idea at all. We must basically let them know the Gospel. (The end)

▣ Lecture 2: Three Years—The Holy Spirit (Power of the Word) → The Mystical Movement and Christ

The second key for your church to come alive is your pulpit. Right? Not the building. If, by hearing your sermon, members obtain answers and receive healing, they will come alive. It is the power of the Word. What came out here? They say He was like John the Baptist—this is Lecture 2. If you truly want to revive the church, you must do this. The mystical movement and Christ—all of it appears in Matthew 16:14.

Introduction: Mystical Movement—Mysticism (Unhealthy Mysticism—Living in Delusion)
In every era there has been a mystical movement. Right? Here is the fact you must remember: God’s power is mysterious, is it not? But that does not mean we move into mysticism. If we emphasize that, it becomes an -ism. So if we teach this wrongly, people will die trapped in guilt. If we teach it wrongly, they must live their entire lives in delusion. Though there is God’s Word, they live in delusion. Some people look very faithful and say, “Apart from God’s Word, I fear nothing.” That sounds good, but it is what those who are the least receptive say. Right? After doing whatever they want, they say, “As long as God knows.” True, in one sense that means they do not care about people, and it may look like good faith, but in some respects there is no greater delusion. And then, in every era, even this came out—very unhealthy mysticism. It arises like this.

Main Message

1. Elijah
Who is the representative figure here? In fact, what answer did Elijah carry?
1) 1 Kings 18:1–15
In 1 Kings 18:1–15 he raised figures like Obadiah and raised prophets—he was a tremendous figure.
2) 1 Kings 18:16–46
In 1 Kings 18:16–46, at Mount Carmel, which you well know, he won a tremendous spiritual battle.
3) 1 Kings 19:1–21
In 1 Kings 19:1–21, at Horeb, he heard God’s tremendous voice, and there were works that blocked disasters. Such power belongs to God! Yet, even so, you cannot place this before Christ. And these mystical powers cannot be placed before the Word. Therefore, pastors are here too, and you all must go out and give messages, must you not? The Word must come alive. Whatever anyone says, only if the Word comes alive at the pulpit will the church members come alive. Then you must receive the power to live by the Word. This year we began with the 5000 people groups—how many doors are opening now? The Word must live and move.

2. The essence—Watchmen
What essence did Jesus speak of? In itself: You are watchmen!
1) Bartizan
Therefore, you build bartizans.
2) Journey
With these bartizans you must be made to go on the journey.
3) Guidepost
It is about eras and regions. You must pray to erect guideposts that will give life to these. You go carrying this.

3. The seven timetables
More important is the seven timetables. What are they?
1) Three years of public ministry
As Jesus concluded His public ministry of three years, He said, “It is for your good that I am going to the Father; now it is good because I am with you, but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, will work upon all; that power will conquer the world.” That is the first timetable.
2) Mt Olive
What then? He called them to Mt Olive and gave them the mission. Wherever you are, you must hold to the mission. Right? It shows. There are many who have worked a long time in church and then fall into trials. Right? Many received tremendous blessings. They failed to hold to 1–2. They failed to hold to the mission. Right? If you truly work in the church, you ought to receive tremendous grace. Right? Otherwise, that is foolishness. They miss everything. Many who worked at headquarters fell into trials and left. It is because they failed to hold to the mission. Now here we have RTS, RU, and our various parts, do we not? They are extremely important. If you, here, do not receive the filling of the Holy Spirit and fail to find the mission, you become a failure. Right? You must truly come to your senses and receive grace. Why do they miss it? I went as an associate and they made me a pastoral intern and the church paid me a salary. How could I miss this opportunity? Right? Where else is such a good opportunity? The church made a good-for-nothing like me, who had no ability, a pastoral intern. Did I create it? They told me to run the Sunday School they had set up—if I could not do that, I would be a fool. So I truly prayed and did my best. I simply did my best and was so thankful. Do not miss it. The second timetable is the mission of Mt Olive, is it not?
3) The Mark’s upper room
What is the third timetable? The Mark’s upper room, is it not?
4) Worship
What then is the timetable? Worship, is it not? Right?
5) Daily
What is the next timetable? Daily, is it not?
6) Fixed times
What then is the timetable? The fixed times, is it not?
7) 24/25/Eternity
Then 24/25/eternity.
You must experience it. You must experience the Word. Today you only need to hold to the covenant. “Ah, in our church, is the Word bringing works? God, give me Your Word!” You only need to pray this. Right? Long ago, I always asked three questions: “Why is the church poor?” It was poor. “Why are we so unable to evangelize? Why are there so many sick?” “God, give me the strength to do that errand!” Would not works arise just by doing even that?

Conclusion: Beginning/Process/Conclusion
What conclusion comes here? You must remember this: begin everything with the Word. When the Word works, then move. In every process, go where the Word is fulfilled. Conclude everything also with the Word. The Word is living and active; to Timothy it was said the Word is perfect. In John 1 it says the Word is God; God created the heavens and the earth by the Word; it can divide soul and marrow—yes. I believe even cancer can be healed by the power of the Word. Why? Because it says it divides soul and marrow. You must hold to today’s lecture and do this. How frustrated must Jesus have been to say this? “Tell no one.” That means, do not speak of it yet.

▣ Lecture 3: Evangelism Movement—Power of Prayer → Philanthropy and Christ

The third is the invisible power in the church. Church revival requires that the evangelism movement arise. We might say, “We raise the evangelism movement,” but that is said from our standpoint; what must happen is that the evangelism movement arises. They say He was like Jeremiah—philanthropy and Christ. In every era there has been a philanthropic movement.

Introduction—Philanthropy (A movement of loving people)
What is philanthropy? It is a movement of loving people. Good. But if we are not careful, it can break the oneness of the Gospel.
It feels a bit awkward to say this of someone deceased, but he is so worthy of respect. He was a famous doctor in Korea. Who was it? In fact, he was the first person in Korea to create medical insurance. As an individual—since the nation could not understand—he created Red Cross medical insurance himself. Who is he? Dr. Jang Gi-ryeo. Because he was in Busan, we know him well; he also treated my mother a lot, so we know him well. He was a great person, and he held separate Bible studies in church. You know his thought, right? It is not bad. It is this (philanthropy). He had philanthropic thought. Something of the balance within the church was off. It would be normal for members to be moved by the pastor’s pulpit sermon, but his lectures were much better than the pastor’s sermon. I went and listened once, and I did not think so. The most important thing in church is worship. The most important thing is God’s Word. Right? Whatever good thing there may be, it cannot precede the Word. However remarkable, it cannot precede Christ. If your ideology precedes Christ, you are not a Christian. Right? The movement of loving people—it is not a bad thing!

Main Message

1. Jeremiah
You know Jeremiah, do you not? What is his nickname? The weeping prophet, is it not? Yes.
1) Jeremiah 33:1–9
In Jeremiah 33:1–9, you can see how much Jeremiah was a man of prayer.
2) Lamentations 4:1–5
In Lamentations 4:1–5, you see how earnestly he prayed in tears. That is not to say it is bad.

2. The essence
But the essence of faith that Jesus spoke of now is not that.
1) Confession of faith—The rock
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”—upon this confession He said, “You are Peter [rock].” We must not lose this.
2) My church
“I will build My church”—upon that confession—“and I will give you the keys…”
3) Authority
And, “The gates of Hades will not overcome you!”

3. The five foundations
In your church there must surely arise the movement of five foundations. Of the twenty strategies, fifteen are systems. What are the five foundations? In every church, the Darakbang movement must arise. Restore it. Every believer’s home must be a mission home. All our meetings must be Gospel team ministry. Do you not do other team ministries? Instead of other team ministries, if you do Gospel team ministry only for three years, that person will be completely changed. From what I see, people do not do Gospel team ministry. They start with Gospel team ministry and then end up with people-team ministry. At first they speak of the Gospel; later, they wrap up with wrong things and misunderstandings in team ministry. At first they talk about Christ; later, they return talking about others. I have seen many such workers. They do not receive answers. We must do only Gospel team ministry. Only then will that person change. Yet people miss all this. Your workplace must become a professional church. In the seventy regions where you are, regional churches must arise. We must do this. The remaining fifteen are systems!

When such movements arise in the church, it will come alive. It is not that we tell them to do evangelism; the works of “being done” arise. That is important. Just do three things. Give messages that give life. By the Word, make them gain strength; and in practice, have them gain the power of this prayer—it was said to “wait.” Then you will receive the filling of the Holy Spirit and be witnesses to the ends of the earth.

Conclusion: A camp festival where destinies change
What is the conclusion here? Why were we told to pray? We cannot do world evangelization by our own power. Only by the Holy Spirit—by that immense, invisible power. Therefore the conclusion of these five is that destinies must be reversed. If destinies have not changed—when an individual’s destiny changes, the evangelism movement continues to arise. There are many churches now that are growing, representative churches—you know many, right? Such churches can be left alone and they will be fine. Therefore, on Friday all-nights and on Wednesday services, a camp festival should occur. Do it during the three-day weekend age. Pastors must surely do camp festivals. Ninety-nine percent live hearing unbelief-talk. If this one percent does the camp festival, that becomes light.

We must remember this. If the one percent speaks the Word that receives answers, they will save the ninety-nine percent. People are forced to do church life and are all dying—so to speak. That should not be so. I must truly gain strength at church. You must do this. This is extremely important. As for the invisible revival of the church—though there are many blessings—what must occur? Many people must gain the power of healing. Without this, it will not do. So, as they keep listening to the pastor’s sermons, I must keep receiving healing. That is normal. Otherwise, why come to church every week? Having been saved, if you come to church and pray, you should continuously receive answers to prayer. That is normal. We must quickly come out of what is not normal. We must see that the Word continues to be fulfilled. We must make this invisible.

Lecture 4: Healing Power → Legalism and Christ

This is Lecture 4. Legalism and Christ.

Introduction—Law/Legalism
We must make this clear. The Law is necessary. Legalism is not necessary. The Law is God’s Word that makes us realize the Gospel. The Law is within God’s Word. It makes us realize the Gospel; it makes us know that we are sinners. But legalism is not necessary. What is an -ism? It is to emphasize this. The Law is to make us realize—it is like going home: you need a road to go, do you not? When you first go, you need a map; but would you carry the map every day?

Main Message

1. Disaster
Legalism brings disaster. Study legalism. I will give just a few proofs.
1) The Jews
The Jews. No people have received disaster like the Jews. Why? God gave them the Gospel, but they hid that and did something else. And when someone of the Gospel appears, they label them a heretic. That is astounding. Because there are a few with the Gospel—one or two—among them, they must be sent as slaves and captives. Only the Gospel can shine light and remove global disasters, but since they will not go, they must be scattered as wanderers. In their midst are those who have the Gospel.
2) Muslims
Jews without the Gospel and Muslims without the Gospel are the same. Right? The same. What is the difference between Muslims and Jews? Muslims also say they believe in God; it is that the way is different. These people have tremendous regulations. They will perish.
3) Roman Catholicism
Frankly, though it may offend, the nations that embraced Roman Catholicism all perished. North America, where the Gospel entered, moves the world; South America, where Roman Catholicism entered, became a global beggar. It is clear. Who made the Philippines like that? Roman Catholicism made it like that. Who made European churches close their doors? Roman Catholicism did that. Roman Catholicism must repent. They keep exalting Mary, do they not? That is wrong. We must exalt God; we must exalt Christ. Pretending otherwise, they exalt Mary. They have received a very strange spirit. Now the whole world is covered in darkness. There is no Gospel. Today, I hope this will be the time for you to hold to the covenant.

2. Era—Message
The Law is only the message for an era.

3. Eternity
But the Gospel is eternal. We must make them know this. What is the Gospel?
1) Healing the 237
It is to heal the 237 nations. They must be healed. Their ideologies must be healed, their thoughts must be healed, their culture must be healed, and their diseases must be healed.
2) Healing the 5000 people groups
We must heal the 5000 people groups. We must heal them through the holy meditation movement. There must be God’s plan. In Vanuatu right now, God is continuously holding on to important people. At last, these people have entered healing ministry. For the 5000 people groups, this is absolutely necessary.
3) TCK, CCK, NCK
Especially look: TCK—posterity in third-culture contexts; CCK—posterity dying in entirely different culture zones like North Korea; and those dying where there is no culture zone at all; they must be healed. Thus, Caesarea Philippi is extremely important. Later, in the second session, we must look at what happened in the Mark’s upper room.

Conclusion
This is the conclusion. Though there are many things, Jesus spoke this way. He explained the method.
1) Only (Uniqueness, Re-creation)
He said, “Only.” This is the method. “Only”—in fact, it is the same word, and what follows it is “Uniqueness” and “Re-creation.” These, in fact, follow. Jesus spoke this directly.
2) Waiting
Only, waiting, challenge…
3) Challenge—to the ends of the earth
How do we challenge? “To the ends of the earth,” Jesus said so. Do “Only,” and it will be done.
Therefore, today also, in fact, since we are here all day until the afternoon, do not pray for other things; begin the full-fledged prayer for the church to come alive. At this time, what do people miss? During Sunday worship, when you hold to God’s Word and pray, “Believe that you have received it already!” Right? Through the pastor’s sermon you hear God’s Word—“Believe that you have received it!” The moment Joseph held to the covenant, he received it. Right? The moment Moses received the command at Horeb, he received it. We must believe this. The moment David was anointed, he had already received it. The same. “You will be My witnesses to the ends of the earth.” We will pray.

Prayer. God, we thank You. Let this be a day wholly of prayer. Let it be a time of healing. Let it be a time of power. Let it be a time when the darkness is broken. Let Your kingdom come in every place. Let only the Gospel be testified. Let the healing movement arise. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.