Prayer Journal: December 6, 2025
02. Mar. 2025 Immanuel Church Sunday Worship 1st Service
Scripture Reading: Exodus 15:19-21
▣ Introduction. Thank you.
1. The importance of praise
1) If there is no praise, worship becomes complete darkness
What would happen to our church if there were no worship department, transportation department, and praise department? Many departments are important, but there is nothing as important as the worship department and the praise department, because they allow us to worship with grace. What would happen if we offered today’s worship service with no praise?
So I request this as much as possible from every worship part: let us have praise and then go directly into the sermon. I am not giving a lecture. Because I am proclaiming the Word of God, we must give praise that glorifies God and then immediately deliver the message. Even now, if you look at each part, there are still extra comments thrown in like, “This message is going out to the whole world and so on…” That should be said first, and then after the praise, the sermon should begin.
If your hymn and the praise we just heard were not there, worship would become complete darkness.
2) Ezekiel 28 – The fall of the angel who praised God → shaking the world with music
In Ezekiel chapter 28, the angel who used to praise God fell. So Satan shook the whole world with music. You roughly know this. Right now there is nothing like music when it comes to shaking the world. The reason we go and shake the United States, Japan, and Europe is because of the Korean Wave—songs.
3) Praise moves the throne of the LORD. Healing takes place. Praise is a special prayer that changes my life.
So today we must hold a special covenant and, through hymns, move the throne of the LORD, and also experience healing through praise. Praise is a special prayer that changes my life.
(1) Crosby, who, in extreme circumstances, held onto the gospel and discovered hymns
That is what Crosby did. In an extreme situation where no one could help her, she held onto the gospel and discovered hymns.
(2) If personal worship and public worship are restored → you will receive answers like David, Paul, and Luther, who were people of praise
What would happen if your personal worship is restored and public worship is restored? You will surely receive answers like David. David was a man of praise. You will receive answers like Paul. Contrary to what you might think, Paul was a man of praise. You will receive answers like Martin Luther. Luther was a man of praise. So this week we must hold onto an amazing covenant and think deeply about it.
2. The restoration of hymns is the restoration of worship
We have almost lost our hymns. These days on Sundays, when we worship, the CCTV is watching you. Because of this, your image is exposed worldwide, one by one. If at that moment you are picking your nose or something, it all gets caught. But if you look, there is one common thing: men do not sing praise. Usually, you cannot tell whether they are singing or just waiting. But when you look at those who properly praise, there are some men, but most of them are women. That is why women live longer than men. And children—when you look at them, they clap and praise like this. Also, when you go to special gatherings—these are not regular worship services but conferences—men sing even less than women, and there is a group that sings even less than men. Who would that be? The pastors. They sit like this (arms crossed) during praise. They sit there as if they are angry. So I thought, “Ah, that must be what people mean when they say someone has grown old.”
We must restore hymns. Honestly, I confess this in good conscience: in the past, when I used to drive alone, before I had secretaries, there was a time when I drove myself. In one sense, that can be comfortable, because I was alone. There are so many wonderful songs. There are classical pieces. The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, the Bolshoi Choir—when I listen, they are incredible. And there are many good pop songs and secular songs. So after finishing a conference, I would need a bit of rest, having finished something big, and then I would drive home. I would drive slowly. If it takes someone else one hour, it would take me two or three hours. Just slowly. That itself was a rest for me.
The problem was what I turned on in the car. What do you think I played? In that precious time, that rest time, I confess honestly that I never played hymns. Hymns did not feel fitting for that atmosphere. I listened to pop songs that fit the mood, or important classical music. Even I, who was traveling around doing world evangelization and evangelism movement, was like that.
Then one day, even after listening to all that good music, something was missing. It should have quenched my thirst like water, but rather it made me more thirsty. So I said to myself, “Ah… I must restore set-time worship.” So, when I finished and was going or coming, or when I woke up in the morning and headed out—how good is that time? I would think about one passage of the Word and offer set-time worship alone, and that was when I began to sing hymns. And I realized, “Wow!” No song could compare with that. Then I understood, “When this worship is restored, that is when hymns are restored.”
3. Praise that leaves an amazing memorial – The praise of Moses and Miriam after crossing the Red Sea
Even if we leave everything else aside, today’s title is “The Praise of Moses and Miriam,” and it is the praise they sang after crossing the Red Sea. This praise leaves an amazing memorial. Why? Because they had crossed the Red Sea.
Long ago, there was a man named Yun Geuk-yeong. He has passed away now. He composed many songs—around 600. He left many songs, but among them is one everyone knows, “Half Moon (반달).” “Across the blue sky, the Milky Way, and the white small boat…” It describes what you see in Japan, and he turned it into a song. Another one is, “Shall we go to the sea to catch fish? Shall we go to the river to catch fish?”—a children’s song. All of that was written by Yun Geuk-yeong.
What happened once he composed these songs? They continued to be passed down. Up until Korea’s liberation, they were passed on, and even after liberation, they continued. Children sing them in elementary school. That is why I compose a remnant song every year. I turn the lyrics into song.
▣ Main. What happens when we praise
So, today we must at least keep this in our hearts once and restore it.
1. When you praise, the blessing of the throne comes upon you and glory returns to God.
That is the first point. What happens when we restore praise? The blessing of the throne comes upon us and glory returns to God.
1) Psalms 22:3 – The LORD who is enthroned on the praises of Israel
In Psalms 22:3 it says, “Yet You are holy, You who are enthroned on the praises of Israel.”
2) Psalms 150:1–6 – Let everything that has breath praise the LORD
In Psalms 150 verses 1–6 it says, “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”
3) Ezekiel 28 – Restore the praise that was stolen when the angel in charge of music fell
In Ezekiel chapter 28, when the angel in charge of music fell, praise was stolen away. We must restore that praise.
4) Praise that moved the power of the throne
(1) David’s praise – Psalms
Psalms has around 150 psalms, right? About one-third are by David. All of those are David’s praises. It is tremendous. They moved the world. They moved the power of the throne.
(2) Paul’s praise – In prison
Paul was in prison, a very painful place. What did he do there? He offered worship and praise. A miracle took place.
Therefore, we must really praise. Of course the choir must do well, but you must also praise well. It is a tremendous time, so we must pray for the choir. Their praise, in God’s eyes, is no ordinary praise. Right?
(3) The praise of Moses and Miriam (Exodus chapter 15)
“In the LORD is my strength and my defense and my salvation; He is my God, and I will praise Him”—that is in verse 2. We did not read it all today, but it says, “I will exalt and praise my father’s God.” These are Moses’ words in verse 2. “He hurled the chariots and army and commanders into the Red Sea”—that is in verses 4–6. We did not read all of it today, but it says, “At the blast of the LORD’s nostrils the waters piled up.” It says, “At the breath of the LORD’s nostrils, the surging waters stood up like a wall.” Verse 8 records this. “Who among the gods is like You, LORD? Who can perform such mighty wonders?”—that is the idea in verse 12. Then they say something important: “The nations will fear the LORD.” That is in verses 14–15. The passage we read today is Miriam’s praise—his older sister.
When you praise, the throne moves through the most amazing kind of prayer, and the work of establishing the kingdom of God takes place.
2. When you praise, darkness is broken, healing takes place, and God’s power is transmitted.
Second, what happens when we praise?
1) When you praise, darkness is broken.
When we praise, not only does glory return to God, but darkness is broken. You must absolutely remember this.
You have heard the phrase “four-sided siege” (사면초가), right? It refers to when all four sides are blocked. “There is nowhere to go, nowhere to turn.” When completely surrounded, people say “사면초가.” Why did that phrase arise? It came from a war between the Han kingdom and the Chu kingdom in ancient China. Han won. That is why we call Chinese characters “Hanja” (漢字)—“the writing of Han.” If Chu had won, we might call them “Choja” (楚字). Han won, and then Han completely surrounded Chu. All that was left was death. “End them now.”
But how did Han make Chu surrender? They completely surrounded them and blocked all four sides, leaving them no place to go. At that time, the Han soldiers began to sing the songs of Chu. Those songs were called “Choga” (楚歌). So, from all four sides came the songs of Chu—hence “사면초가,” “four sides filled with the songs of Chu.” The Han soldiers were clever. They wanted to reduce the killing and make them surrender. As they kept hearing their own songs from the enemy, the Chu soldiers’ hearts melted, and they surrendered. That is where the phrase “사면초가” came from.
When we praise, the forces of darkness melt away. How important is this? That is praise. Restore praise. From today, praise properly. We must restore praise.
Also, there is the kingdom of this world, the kingdom of Satan, and the kingdom of God.
2) When you praise, because the background of the throne and the work of the kingdom of God are established, healing power comes upon you.
Furthermore, what happens to us? When we praise, healing power appears. This healing power comes to us as the background of the throne and as the work of the kingdom of God, so tremendous works of healing arise.
3) God’s power is transmitted to others and to the next generation.
And not only that. Through praise, God’s power is transmitted to other people and to the next generation. The best way to transmit something is through song. Right? The best way is praise. That is why, when Korea resisted Japan long ago, they composed songs and sang them continuously.
So praise is what moves the throne of God—that is the first point. Second, praise is what breaks darkness, heals us, and revives the next generation.
3. God used the people and the churches that restored praise.
Third and last: God used the people who restored praise. God used the churches that restored praise. Look carefully in the Bible.
1) The people of praise God used – David, Paul, Martin Luther
Among all the many kings, God used David. David’s desire was to build the temple and have a vast choir of tens of thousands praising the LORD. That was his prayer. It was that way in every age.
Paul was truly a man of praise. He often used the word “praise.” “Praise be to the God and Father…” David also said, “Let us praise the LORD.”
You know what happened with Martin Luther, the man who led the Reformation. Because the Roman Catholic Church emphasized works so heavily, even now they emphasize works. As they kept emphasizing works, what happened? The gospel disappeared. That is how people are. If you keep emphasizing works, the gospel becomes unnecessary. Then wars and disasters arise all over the world. At that time, Martin Luther declared, “We are saved by the gospel. We are saved by believing in Jesus Christ. This salvation, this gospel, is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes. The righteous shall live by faith.”
When he said this, the religious institution—today’s Roman Catholic Church—used its legal power. They sentenced Luther to death. But people still do not know who it was that kidnapped Luther while he was in transit and took him to a safe place. Someone captured him in the middle of his transfer and brought him to a castle. I went there with Elder Han Dong-hoon and Deaconess Lee Eun-suk as guides. Elder Han showed me, “This is where Luther stood and was tried.” It was quite moving. “Ah, so it was here.” But since he was kidnapped while being moved, no one knew where he had gone. They had put him in a castle. We also went to that castle.
What did he do there? A remarkable work took place. He translated the Word of God so that people could read it. During the day he disguised himself as a hunter, and at night he translated the Bible. Do you think Satan stayed still? He kept attacking. Luther was under such spiritual attack that he once threw his inkwell at the devil. Of course, the devil did not get hit—the ink splattered on the wall. That was the level of spiritual battle.
Even then, it was not enough. So Luther prayed and wrote the hymn, “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, a bulwark never failing.” It means his musical level was not ordinary. With that praise and prayer, he overcame Satan. He completed the translation of the Bible there, and the world was turned upside down. The light of the gospel shone to the entire world.
I asked the elder, “We learned in school that he threw an inkwell at the wall, but I don’t see the stain.” He replied, “A thief stole that piece of the wall.” “Ah, I see.” He said even the table had been stolen, and they replaced it with another.
2) The music war – Will we collapse the world with music or save the world with music?
Now it is a music war. Will we bring down the world with music, or will we save the world with music?
(1) Pray that praise may be done properly, and give offerings dedicated only to the choir.
This is what I hope. Among our remnants, if any of you decide to earn money, then pray and give offerings dedicated only to the choir. Since we budget for the entire year as a whole, we cannot set the whole budget only for the choir. Our choir members labor so much, but we cannot adequately compensate them. Right? Our conductors also serve so sacrificially, but we only give them a little for transportation or similar. It is like that now. We must prepare in such a way that great teams can gather and truly praise. Right? That is not the conductor’s fault or the choir’s fault. It is our fault. So we must pray that praise can be done properly. Since people like to hear about money, I am saying, “Give offerings.”
(2) The churches in Europe that died because praise and worship died – In every age, praise has saved the world.
You will see this if you check. In Europe, there were people who gave all their possessions and said, “Use this only for praise, not for anything else.” So they built tremendous venues. At that time, in Europe, if there was a certain church that did a certain praise, people would say, “Let’s go there.” That was the culture. But as that praise died and worship died, the churches in Europe died. There is no gospel. In each age, praise has saved the world. We must pray.
(3) Restore with prayer the praise that Satan has stolen.
There are amazing musicians among us, but they are holding back. We cannot even provide a setting for them to present one piece. Our next generation is growing up. They should be standing on great stages and performing, but there is no opportunity. So praise has been taken away. Satan has stolen praise. We must restore it. We must restore it through prayer.
▣ Conclusion. Healing takes place through praise (Psalms 103:20–22).
David said this: “Praise the LORD, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His word.” “Praise the LORD, all His heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will.” It is true. Healing takes place through praise.
I have seen this personally—once through video and once with my own eyes. There was a man with cancer. The cancer had spread to other parts of his body. The doctors said there was no hope. Since there was no hope in the hospital, he left. “You may only be able to endure a few months,” the doctors had said. He left the hospital and went to the mountains alone. He walked the mountains barefoot, went to clean places, and ate good herbs. He stayed there. Even in that place he stayed barefoot. He completely recovered. It is natural. As he breathed fresh air and walked barefoot constantly, he was continually reviving his body. The cancer cells attacked, but he kept reviving his system, so there was a battle and he won.
In my days as an evangelist, there was a place called “Mucheoksan Prayer House” near Gimhae in Busan. The mountain is called Mucheoksan, and an elderly woman ran the prayer house. There was not even a proper path to go up; we had to walk up. Why did I go? Because I heard that patients were getting healed and coming back down. I thought, “That is interesting. Let me go see.” When I went, I saw that it was very biblical and very medical. She was an elderly woman, and what did she do with the patients? She prayed and sang hymns with them all day long. All day long she sang hymns and prayed, clapping her hands like this. What do you think happened? After a few months, they were healed and went back. Their nervous system and body were being revived. So I thought, “Ah, of course.” They were praying and singing hymns. Such things happen. But I also thought, “That director is amazing,” because she stayed with one patient like that all day. That is truly remarkable.
※ Restoring prayer and praise becomes the most important power for us. When we go into the deep place of praise and prayer, God does the rest.
For us, restoring prayer and praise becomes our greatest power. We must restore them. When you praise, you call out to God. You express your desires. You can praise when you are alone. Then you change the world. Even if you do not go that far, there is much time for praise on Sundays, right? The choir sings, but there is also a lot of time when you sing hymns. If you just do that properly, it is enough. Then, in the remaining time, go into the deep place of prayer. As for your future, there is nothing more to say. If you go deeply into the praise and prayer that God gives, then He will take care of the rest.
I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that today will be the beginning of a great victory.
Prayer. We give glory and praise to God. We give thanks. Help us to restore prayer. Help us to restore praise. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.