2025.08.31 Sunday 2nd Service
Church Construction Devotional Worship
Scripture Reading: Haggai 2:6-9
We must carry the secret of continually enjoying answers through the Word. The person who did this best was David. Because the temple David prepared was destroyed, God commanded that the temple be rebuilt.
[Word (watchtower)]
What you must never miss on Sunday is this: always hold to the Word living and working. This has existed from of old. We call this the watchtower.
[Prayer (journey)]
And prayer must actually be living and working. Only then can you go on the journey.
[Evidence (landmarks)]
And real answers actually took place. Real evidences arose. These are landmarks. David was the one who enjoyed this best. Then, as you continue this covenant, what answers arise?
[Triune God, darkness, the Kingdom]
At such times, the Triune God surely works invisibly—now. When you hold to this covenant, darkness is broken even before you go anywhere. If you know this, you cannot help but pray. Those who don’t know this find prayer very difficult. At such times the Kingdom of God and its works are surely fulfilled. In fact, this is what Jesus taught: “Pray for God’s Kingdom to come—don’t do other things. When darkness is bound, the Kingdom of God has come.”
[Lifetime prayer topic]
At such times, your lifelong prayer topics and answers become connected. So what naturally came out for David was temple construction.
“Build a New Temple” (Haggai 2:6–9)
Since the temple was gone, build a new one. We read Haggai 2:6–9 today. When we receive God’s Word and read the Bible, the greatest caution is that we tend to interpret with our heads, and that feels understandable—that’s the mistake. The Israelites had not even returned yet—only just starting to come out—yet God said, “Build the temple first.” Even when they came out of Egypt, before they had even arrived, He said, “Bring out all you have and make the tabernacle.” It doesn’t make sense, does it? Because it doesn’t make sense, people do not believe. And if it did make sense, it wouldn’t be God’s Word. To the fleeing Early Church He said, “Do world evangelization.” Which proved right in the end? God’s Word did. So when we view this covenant—building the new temple from now—the answers David had are even more important.
You, too, must start like this now. Today some of you worship briefly here and go; some worship all day; and some don’t come to the sanctuary at all. What must those who worship all day hold to? These three must be confirmed (Word/watchtower, evidence/landmarks, prayer/journey). If you just look at the flow, you can grasp exactly where you are now. When this continues, your lifelong matters become visible. And, between these two sides, what is happening now is this (Triune God, darkness, Kingdom). It’s tremendous. Because I believe that for certain, I think, “Nothing else is needed. No need to use humanism—just pray.” What do I mean will happen? World evangelization. If world evangelization does not happen, it is not an answer. Eating a lot? You can go to a restaurant and eat a lot—how is that an answer? Earning lots of money? Conglomerates make lots of money; how many receive disaster with their money—how is that an answer? Through you, darkness must be broken and world evangelization must arise—that is an answer.
Many churches are closing and wandering now. I believe that is wrong. European churches have closed; young people are caught in drugs and wholly in homosexuality. I consider that a curse. In many advanced countries, churches are shaken and closing en masse; with so many closing, mental illness is spreading. Failing to block that is the greatest sin and curse. If your studies are used for world evangelization, there is no greater blessing, right? For our church officers, many professionals, and remnants—if your work is used for world evangelization, there is no greater blessing.
▣ Introduction: Causes of the temple’s destruction
We must know the causes of the temple’s destruction. There are several.
- Solomon
First, it began with Solomon. When the temple was properly built, doors to the whole world opened—but they didn’t know why. If you truly build the temple God desires, all the doors of the world open. To what extent? The kings of the world considered it their wish to meet Israel’s king. That’s how it was. Chief among their interests was to see the new temple. Those who don’t understand these answers (above) fall into confusion—so many people coming. Thus Solomon made a mistake: he summoned and linked global talents. He brought in men and women—many talents—by the thousands into the royal court.
Solomon thought he had achieved great success. He didn’t realize this blessing was because of the temple; he thought he had tremendous wisdom. His later regret appears in Ecclesiastes. But in reality, he did wield such power. The foreign talents asked Solomon, “We’re so bored and weary. The kings ordered us here, but we’re struggling—we can’t even get around. We have a request: allow us to serve the gods we serve.” At their earnest plea, Solomon made a mistake, thinking it reasonable: “Right, you must be bored—okay.” Especially in Jerusalem, idols spread over the whole city. Then the nation split.
This was the starting point of the temple problem. You must know what the temple is, that we must build it, and what answers we should receive—know the roots well.
- Hezekiah
Second, because of King Hezekiah. He was remarkable. As soon as he became king he contacted Assyria: “We can’t send tribute anymore. My father sent it, but why must we pay you? You are your nation; we are ours. We will not send it.” A bold king. Mighty Assyria replied, “Fine—wait,” and marched with 185,000 troops. Hezekiah defeated them—by prayer, to summarize. The whole world was abuzz: “How did they defeat Assyria?” Later he fell ill but again overcame by prayer. He is one of the three good kings—David, Hezekiah, Josiah.
One day there was a banquet in the palace—like today’s summit meeting of world presidents. They gathered in Israel to congratulate Hezekiah. Many asked, “How did you defeat Assyria? And how did you overcome your illness?” At that moment, the faithful Hezekiah made a mistake. He should have said, “By the Lord God’s grace I prevailed.” Instead, he gave them an exact tour of the palace—then the temple: “This is our temple,” showing it off. Worse, he showed the royal treasury (the private storehouses). People easily become like that—“This is who I am.” Among the guests, a Babylonian strategist thought, “This is tremendous. I will one day take it.” With time, they invaded, took all the sacred articles, burned the temple—everything.
Those are distant causes.
- The three courts – the three feasts
The real cause? The three courts and the three feasts disappeared. World missions stalled; they could not preach the gospel to the nations; they could not heal the sick. God naturally removed it. So around 600–580 B.C. (various datings), they wiped out the temple. They took all the talented people into captivity—leaving those of little value. The smart ones were summoned to the palace—that’s Daniel. As we saw in the first service today, someone like Ezekiel was not in the palace but dragged to the field. This is the temple issue. Please hold this in your heart and pray. However you may think, those small works among the multiethnic now will later be tied to eternal blessing—you will see later.
▣ Main
What kind of new temple should be built? Since we must pray over this during the week, briefly:
- David’s temple
Build the temple David received by covenant.
1) The ark of the covenant
Restore the temple that housed the ark David so longed for.
2) Most Holy Place and Holy Place
Restore the temple that had the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place.
3) Tabernacle-centered, tent of meeting–centered, tent-centered
In the wilderness before David, they lived wholly tabernacle-centered. And what they did most was worship. Yet their wisdom was the greatest in the world. The most sacrificial offerings were given there. And they seized the economy. As people gathered, it became tent-of-meeting–centered. More: the doorways of every house were oriented toward the tabernacle. Tents, too. Restore this.
- A temple for all peoples
Second, rebuild a temple that will save all peoples. It’s simple—mentioned earlier.
1) The era of the three courts
These three courts—saving the nations, the children, and the sick—were crucial. Not just that: open the era of the three courts. Such a time had not existed—therefore, open it.
2) The fire of 24, the Fri–Sat–Sun era
Light the fire of 24. What is that? The Friday–Saturday–Sunday era. Light the fire.
3) The era of meditation, the blood sacrifice
Truly open the era of meditation that will save the world. Here a very important term appears: consider most important the offering of the blood sacrifice.
Try it. Many still don’t understand. Many pastors scoff: “We know the gospel too—what more?” It’s not “knowing” the gospel. This is enormous. Without this, you cannot overcome the absolute disaster. Through your prayers, much labor has been given in our Immanuel Seoul Church this year. Works are unfolding where darkness over the 5,000 people groups is being broken through the multiethnic.
- The future temple
Rebuild the temple that will save the future. Why?
1) A temple that will block disaster
Prepare a temple that will block worldwide disasters. Even your small work is a ministry that blocks disaster. Hold it spiritually, powerfully, and remember. Pastors nationwide—when you go to preach, you don’t need to preach my sermons or invert previous messages. Proclaim the Word that blocks disaster, which God is fulfilling. A pastor who “preaches well” is not what’s good. What is “well”? Crafting words? That’s bad. Whether they understand or not, deliver the most important things of God’s Word. We must block disaster. As I carry on this covenant, even writing one song a year is hard. But praying much over it—I wondered, “Can this be done, being so hard?” Yet, “That’s your thought—do it by the covenant.” Right? It remains in history. A temple to block disaster.
2) 237–5000
A temple that will save 237 nations and 5,000 people groups.
3) RT
A temple to save remnants—especially TCKs who have lost their way; CCKs living in a darkness culture where the gospel is not heard at all; and even children with no culture at all—NCKs.
I say this with apology, but some lively children came, and they brushed their teeth for the first time in their lives here. Imagine the environment—yet that was one of the better places. Those who came didn’t even know where or how they were sick. They came to attend a conference, and we were led by the Spirit to have them get comprehensive medical checks—everyone had illness. A former president came near death and left alive. We didn’t try to do anything special; simply, love looked after them. Simon has come back to life three times. He even asked to take me as his elder brother—fine. There are many such cases.
We haven’t done anything “well.” By the conscience of faith, if it is the gospel, then we must see the gospel go into them. It’s not about us or our church doing well. Now that these many multiethnic people have come here by such an opportunity, we must help them hear the gospel, be trained, and go to evangelize.
▣ Conclusion
What does the conclusion say? “Thus says the LORD: I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. It is the word of the LORD.”
- Heaven-and-earth upheaval
“Heavens and earth” simply put means a cosmic upheaval. This gospel will truly shake heaven and earth. - Shaking of the nations
And, “I will shake all nations.” Not only the land. - Glory
More importantly, “The latter glory will be greater than the former.” That is the promise.
Now, holding to this (above) covenant, you must surely seize lifelong answers this time. You must experience at least once what the power of the Word is. You must confirm how the work of the Word moves your business and your studies. Even now when I think of it, I can hardly understand how God’s Word would work like this. “Ah, it works like this.” I’m thinking we must organize it well and pass it to the next generation.
You must make one resolution to restore such important things. From the beginning until now I have been the same: “What cannot evangelize, poverty, ignorance, sickness, and incompetence—we will change that.” I resolved that. Those new to faith and those alone in faith—resolve to completely change your family line before our next generation. If my work and industry cannot be used for world evangelization, then change it. Change it. When many ministers hold to this covenant, figures begin to arise. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that this answer will continue throughout this week. Let us pray.
Prayer. We thank You, God. Grant new grace this week. Give new strength to all who attend worship. Bestow special grace on those who are sick and cannot attend. Work with the power of the heavenly throne for remnants scattered across the world. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.