Prayer Journal: December 1, 2025
16. Feb. 2025 Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 2nd Service
237 Missions Department Devotional Service
Scripture Reading: Exodus 2:10-20
Thank you. We often ask many questions like, “What work should we do?” That is important too, but God does not desire that in that way. You do not need to worry about that. You may also ask questions like, “How should we do missions?” However, in reality, we do not have the ability to do missions. Moses struggled for 80 years, but not a single thing was accomplished. Today became the day when God called Moses.
God holds the covenant. This is the most important thing. No matter how earnestly you work, if you lose hold of the covenant, you have lost everything. And with that covenant, He sets the path. Then, through you, He has the goal of saving others. Today He gave that covenant. In Exodus 3:10–20 there are many very important words. “I AM WHO I AM.” That is what the name “Jehovah” means. The word “Jehovah” is the same as “Yahweh,” and it means “the One who exists by Himself.” A tremendous message has been thrown to us in today’s passage.
[ The voice of Horeb Mount ]
And so today that place is Horeb Mount. The important thing is, “How can we hear the voice of Horeb Mount?” In order to hear the voice of Horeb Mount, you must absolutely consider three things in a big way.
[ Now (covenant) ]
What is happening right now, at this moment, to you? Now. When you have now held to God’s covenant, direction, and goal, what is happening? Most people do not believe this, but you must believe it. At the very beginning of today’s worship, the first words were, “God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.” In other words, “God is not like this (wet towel), something you can see with your physical eyes. He is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in the Holy Spirit and in the truth.”
[ 1. Trinity ]
Then at this very time, such works of the Holy Spirit are taking place. The Triune God. This is very important. While you are worshiping here, He is working by the Holy Spirit in every place related to you. This is called transcending time and space. When you truly and accurately hold to the covenant, works take place in your children.
[ 2. Binding the darkness (Satan, evil spirits) ]
At that time, even though we have not gone there, the darkness is bound. You must always remember this. When we hold to the covenant, when we worship, when we pray, this is what is happening right now. When we say darkness is bound, it means that the forces of Satan and evil spirits are being bound. Right at this time.
[ 3. Throne, kingdom, works (angels, messengers, armies) ]
Right at this time. While we are simply praying here, the power of the throne appears. This is the promise of Jesus. The kingdom of God is established. And the works of the kingdom of God take place. At this time, God sends His holy angels and messengers. It is the same spiritual beings, but when they deliver the message, we usually say “messengers.” And when they help, we call them “angels.” And when they fight in your urgent matters, the Bible expresses them as the “heavenly armies.” Unbelievers hate these words. Why? Because we say we bind Satan. They are serving Satan, and we say we bind him. Right? And those who actually worship idols are afraid. Because Satan is being bound. However, many theologians and pastors dislike these words. I do not know the reason. If we remove this, there is no meaning at all in our worship today. I hear this rumor often: “On the days when the pastor comes, more people come. On the days when the pastor does not come, many seats are empty.” So I wondered, “Is it because they are from Seoul?” But they say Busan is like that too. That is foolish. Even if we do not have time, we can fully utilize the message. Through broadcast or materials. However, on the Lord’s Day, you must receive answers regarding everything in your life. So what if the church is far away? It does not matter at all. Why do you go on a picnic? Why do you cause such a fuss and accidents and go on a picnic? The family must make a spiritual picnic and come. In the future, if we do not find the answer for the three-day weekend age, it will be a big problem. If we do not know the three courtyards, the churches of the world will close their doors. You must remember this. When I came here, I had assurance about this. The pastor here before was an excellent pastor, but the church was so far away that people did not come, and the church could not handle it. Right? He was a very excellent person, but the members could not follow. I was assured. “Our members will climb up even if the church is built on a cliff, hanging onto a rope.” Right? And indeed, you have all climbed up holding the rope, like this. But in reality, we received many requests like this: “Pastor, we need many members to gather, but because you preach different messages for first and second services, all the members attend both, so could you simply do first and second service with the same sermon—easily put, kirikai in Japanese—sharing the same content?” There were many such requests. Many people do it that way. If they do, it profits them in a financial way. They can secure a large number of people. I do not think that way.
Believers must truly enter into prayer from early dawn until night. We must teach the children. Because we do not know this, we cannot overcome those who keep the Sabbath. Among the Jews, if someone keeps the Sabbath carelessly, it is a very serious matter. In that way, the Jews have taken one-third of the Nobel Prizes in the field of science, where we have not received even one. So at least on the Lord’s Day, you must accomplish tremendous works in your life. You must teach this to your children. While we are worshiping, these things (Trinity, binding the darkness, throne, kingdom, works (angels, messengers, armies)) are taking place.
[ When ]
Then, mainly when—when do these things (Trinity, binding the darkness, throne, kingdom, works (angels, messengers, armies)) take place?
[ 1. Good times ]
Sometimes we have good things happen. When we are joyful, when we are glad, even at such times, these works take place.
[ 2. Difficult times ]
But look at Moses today. When things were truly difficult, God accomplished even greater works. We said it was difficult, and Moses said it was difficult. But in reality, that time was the best time. It was a better time than when he was in the palace.
[ 3. Evangelism, missions ]
So he saw evangelism and missions in terms of time. That is why we hold this missions dedication worship today. While these things (Trinity, binding the darkness, throne, kingdom, works (angels, messengers, armies)) are taking place now, God works especially at these times (good times, difficult times, evangelism and missions). God worked in accordance with the timing of when the doors of evangelism and missions opened for all seven remnants. These things (Trinity, binding the darkness, throne, kingdom, works (angels, messengers, armies)) are always happening.
[ How ]
Then, how does He mainly work? He mainly worked in three ways.
[ 1. Prophecy (Exodus 2:1–10) – fulfillment (Exodus 3:18) ]
When the prophecy, the covenant we have held to, is given to us, that Word is fulfilled. For example, Exodus 2:1–10 is the message he heard from his mother. This has been fulfilled today. It appeared to Moses. The passage we read today is when Moses was at Horeb Mount while the Israelites were perishing, and God appeared. Earlier, although we did not read it, He said, “I have seen the misery of My people.” Also at Horeb Mount He appeared in the midst of the fire. But when fire burns, it usually spreads like this. Instead, it did not go out and burned in one place continuously. While Moses was watching that, the voice of God came. “Moses, Moses. This is holy ground, so take off your sandals.” At that time, sandals were one of the symbols expressing one’s status. Even for us, when we do something important, we say, “We will do it with our bare feet.” “Take off your sandals.” Moses was shocked at that moment. Then He said, “Bring My people out. Go and tell him that you will offer the sacrifice of blood.” And what He clearly commanded was, “Tell the elders. And tell the people. And go and tell the king.” He will not listen, but “I am Jehovah.” This word (Exodus 2:1–10), what he heard in his childhood, has been fulfilled.
[ 2. Problems – answer ]
Also, what had been a problem in my past suddenly and one day comes to me as an answer.
[ 3. Crisis – life mission ]
Also, I thought I was facing a tremendous crisis, but God’s presence came at that time. Not just presence, but He gave a great life mission.
You must never lose hold of this. That is why you pray 24. So, with this covenant, throughout this week you must pray to confirm the blessings. We keep losing hold of things throughout the week, but during the week, answers are absolutely taking place, so we pray to confirm them. Why?
▣ Introduction_ Fulfillment
The covenant is absolutely fulfilled.
[ 80 years ]
Though it seemed as if it was not happening, today it was fulfilled after 80 years. Exactly. In his childhood, and now he is more than 80 years old, and he thought everything was over. It was not over. There remains an absolute plan for you. You must not listen to the voice of Satan. Especially for our elderly saints, elders, and deaconesses, there remains a special prayer plan. People do not know this. People do not know anything. In the Bible as well, God’s work was fulfilled through those who deeply prayed, like Hannah and Jethro. Right?
But because they do not know the value of prayer, because they do not know prayer, they think, “Old people, oh, those people…” This is the same thinking as unbelievers. Right? For unbelievers, what matters is youth, strength, earning money. Is that not so? When we began here in Busan, women with no power, deaconesses, prayed all night. They are still praying. Of course, members of the National Assembly are distinguished people, but what if only such people were in our church? Who would come and pray there? They would be too busy fighting. Still, I am thankful to our Elder Choi Jong-hwan here, because when he heard that I was encouraging our prayer teams, I said, “Yes, indeed, those who pray are different.” I had not even thought about it, but the answer came exactly.
1. Palace – knowledge
He spent 40 years in the palace. He learned many things. But that was not the answer. Right? In the palace, he learned much knowledge. He used his head a lot. He thought he would succeed. But it was not so.
2. Midian – Word, prayer
He became someone who had to flee to Midian. There, Moses restored the Word and prayer. It had to be so. In Midian, he restored the Word and prayer, and he received many things, blessings. He himself did not know, and you do not know it now, but you have received them. Yet this was not the answer either. One day, at eighty years of age, he saw it.
3. Wilderness – 40 years
God told him to go along the wilderness path for forty years. This is the real thing. So it does not mean that this time (palace) is unnecessary; it means it is not the answer. The voice given to Moses, as you know, resulted in what? The Bible records that there was no one who received more answers than Moses. So those who have no answer and those who are old must not think that way. You must completely change your thoughts. “I was in an extremely difficult state.” It is okay.
10 miracles
Through Moses, the 10 miracles took place. The whole world was astonished. Right? These 10 miracles are what astonished the world. First of all, there is a river that flows down from above. It is a famous river. The Nile River. Where does this Nile River flow into? It passes through Egypt. Then it flows down into Sudan. It is a famous river. It is Egypt’s god. There are many songs about the Nile River. Right? Moses performed a miracle and turned it into blood. The world was stunned. The king was shocked and said, “Forgive us. Pray for us,” in this way. By performing ten such miracles, he freed the Israelites and sent them out.
Ark of the covenant
On their way, there came a time when the Israelites were in a state of starving to death. God sent manna and quail. As a memorial, they put manna into a jar. On the way, the Israelites were shaken. The majority of them were shaken. Do not worry. The covenant does not change. At that time, He gave them the Word carved on stone tablets that would never disappear. Some people think, “What is so important about worship?” When they said that, Aaron’s staff, which led the worship, was stuck into the ground and it budded. They kept that. That is what is called the “ark of the covenant.” Wherever that ark of the covenant went, works arose. All of that was the answer through Moses.
Three feasts
And He gave them the eternal promise. Salvation. It is the Passover. The work of the power of the Holy Spirit. It is the Pentecost. The background of the throne. It is the Feast of Ingathering. These three feasts. Truly amazing. All of this was through Moses.
Tabernacle
Why do we build and prepare the temple? It is the tabernacle movement. The tabernacle, importantly, had three courtyards. You must remember this. In the tabernacle, they did not extinguish the 24-hour fire. This is important. Why are the servants of the Lord precious? They kept the 24-hour fire burning and stayed on standby. On their garments they engraved the names of the twelve tribes and prayed. That garment is called the “ephod.”
All of these (10 miracles, ark of the covenant, three feasts, tabernacle) came out entirely through Moses. And it did not end there.
(Deuteronomy 6:4–9)
“Pass these truths on to the next generation.” What will you give to your children? To what extent did He tell them? “Let them tie it on their foreheads. Let them bind it on their wrists. Put it on the walls so they can see it. Let them see it even while running. Let them see it even while lying down.” These are very important words. Imprint it so that they completely triumph.
▣ Main Message
All of this has appeared for you today (in the opening and introduction), has it not?
1. God + my covenant
When God’s covenant and my covenant are aligned, works begin.
2. Direction + my plan
When God’s direction becomes my plan, works occur. No matter what, when God’s direction becomes my plan, works take place. Do not be discouraged. Do not listen to what people say.
3. Goal + my life
When God’s goal becomes my life, works take place.
1. God + my covenant
- Horeb Mount
This is the confession at Horeb Mount. Even at that time, this (the alignment of God’s covenant and my covenant) had not yet taken place. - Exodus 3:18–20
He even said, “Go and offer a sacrifice of blood. I will be with you with My mighty hand.” But it still did not align. “I cannot do it. I cannot.” - Exodus 4:24
In Exodus 4:24, God tried to call Moses away. At that time he finally said, “Ah.”
When I went to Japan, Missionary Kang Myeong-ju had come back from the brink of death with cancer. When I went, he came to the airport to greet me. While we were talking about various things, he said this: “When I stood before death, nothing helped.” That is true. It is the word of someone who experienced it. It is an important word. “When I stood before death, nothing helped.” Only the gospel helps. Apart from God being with us, there is no way.
2. Direction + my plan
- Pillar of fire, pillar of cloud
When God’s direction becomes my plan, God does not work in a small way. When it was cold at night, He protected them with a pillar of fire, and when it was hot during the day, with a pillar of cloud. Why? Because the direction was aligned. - Exodus 14:19
In Exodus 14:19, He sent the angel of the Lord to go before them and guard them from behind. Do not be discouraged, but pray. - Center
At that time, the entire center was the tabernacle. Even the direction of their homes was toward the tabernacle. Their prayer was the tabernacle. In this way, they began to receive answers.
3. Goal + my life
And God has a goal. When that becomes my life, from that time on, other things happen. Three things are fulfilled.
- Exodus
Exodus is God’s plan, no matter what anyone says. You come to see this. - Canaan
No matter how many difficult things occur in the wilderness, entering Canaan is God’s plan. No matter what anyone says. Why is that? - World evangelization
“Go there and do world evangelization.” This is God’s plan. You must absolutely hold to this covenant.
▣ Conclusion_ [ Paul ‧ team ]
Now, as we continued doing this covenant, it kept being cut off, and finally someone appeared who properly fulfilled it. Right? Who is that? It is Paul and his team. Paul mainly fulfilled this covenant, and he went to seek the sick. He went to the sick, and you must hold this covenant. Sick people, do not be discouraged; there are three things you must do first.
1. Acts 13:1–4, 16:6–10, 19:1–7
Acts 13:1–4. He did this first. What did he do? He received the perfect guidance of the Holy Spirit. Nothing else works. He experienced the perfect working of the Holy Spirit. Even if the doors were shut, it was fine. He came to know the perfect turning point. Before going out on missions, he was able to experience the very works that had taken place in the Mark’s upper room. Sick people, do not be discouraged; do healing breathing 24, morning, noon, and evening, while continually praying. Do not worry. You must experience this.
2. Acts 13:5–12, 16:16–18, 19:8–20
Then amazing things happened. The darkness was completely broken. Evil spirits were cast out, and the works of healing came upon those possessed by evil spirits. Incurable diseases that doctors could not heal began to be healed. This is missions. Finally, what happened?
3. Acts 19:21, 23:11, 27:24
“You must also testify in Rome.” Yes. Because there are 237 nations and 5000 tribes there. “Take courage. You must also testify in Rome.” Paul boarded a ship to go to Rome to stand trial. The name of that ship was the “Alexandrian ship.” As that ship was going, Paul, being a man of prayer, said that because they would meet a storm and die, they should stay there for a time and then leave. No one listened to that word. The captain said that it was nonsense. The owner of the ship also. The centurion who was in charge of leading them, whose name was Julius, felt uneasy. When he asked the owner, he said it was not true. When he asked the captain who was steering the ship, the captain said it would be fine. This explains the world today. As the ship went, it met a storm. Moreover, it met a typhoon. Everyone was about to die. For fourteen days they met the typhoon. It was so severe that day and night could not be distinguished. It was so severe that they did not know how many days had passed. It became like that. At that time, God spoke. “Last night, the angel of Jehovah stood by me and said…” What did he say? “Paul, do not be afraid. You must stand before Caesar.” Yes.
As long as you still have your calling remaining, there is no one who can block you. As long as our church has its calling, there is no one who can block it. There is no one who can block your posterity. I bless you in the name of the Lord Jesus that this week will be a week of receiving great grace. Let us pray.
Prayer. God, we thank You. We thank You that even now is the time when the covenant is being fulfilled. Let us confirm many answers this week. We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.