2025.06.15 Sunday 1st Service
Scripture Text: 1 Samuel 3:19
▣ Introduction: Incurable disease, depression, and difficult circumstances.
Thank you. Perhaps you have an incurable disease. You’d be distressed. Someone may be struggling with depression. Others might be in challenging circumstances. May those of you in such situations take the answer with you today. Hannah was a person who had an incurable condition—she could not bear children. She was so tormented that, with Peninnah continually provoking her, she fell into a state of depression almost to the point of mental illness. On top of that, the nation itself was undergoing great difficulty. You must take this critical answer with you today.
1. In times like this, people either pray the wrong way or think something that is not an answer is an answer.
When we are in such situations, we often pray incorrectly. And often, we mistake what is not an answer as if it were an answer.
1) Abraham thought material needs were the answer.
Initially, Abraham had not yet received the answer, but he kept mistaking non-answers for answers. God had already spoken an amazing answer to him in advance: “Go to the land I will show you. Through you, all nations will be blessed. No one will be able to stand against you. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you.” Even with all this, Abraham kept thinking that food, clothing, and shelter were the answer. As a result, he brought hardship upon himself.
2) People in the wilderness thought barely surviving was the answer.
When we have spiritual problems or are in a certain state, we often bring about our own hardships. It was the same in the time of Egypt. The people going through the wilderness thought that just surviving was the answer. Many people think this way. Even though God had already prepared amazing things—the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, the three feasts—they couldn’t see those as the answer, and instead thought survival was the answer.
3) They thought defeating the Philistines was the answer.
In today’s passage, the Philistines constantly oppressed them. So, people thought defeating the Philistines was the answer. But that is not it. The answer is to build strength to overcome the Philistines, prevent their attacks, and ultimately evangelize them.
2. The way to receive the answer
At this time, people like Hannah and Samuel received the answer. How can one receive the answer? This is important. You must take this with you today. Hannah found it, passed it on to Samuel, and Samuel discovered it.
“But I have an incurable disease—what can I do?” There is a way. There is much evidence. “How can such an illness be healed?” There is only one way. Many people truly suffer from depression. Some people suffer severely from spiritual afflictions. It’s not just that they avoid life; when they try to live it out, family problems arise. Many are tormented like this. Some are in agony because of mental illness. On top of that, their field is difficult. Their workplace is hard. The nation is struggling. This is how it is. You must find the important answer today. What happened to Samuel? While praying, he heard God’s voice—what happened through that?
The temple and the ark of the covenant were not what mattered. God’s temple and God’s bartizan came upon Samuel first. “From that day on, not one word of Samuel’s fell to the ground.” Before going into the main message, you must first find the answer.
1) First, build the bartizan of the Lord within yourself.
Are you suffering from depression? Do you have spiritual difficulties? Don’t worry at all. You can’t remove it by trying to. First, build the bartizan of the Lord within you.
2) Make yourself into the temple of the Lord.
To put it more concretely, make yourself into the temple of the Lord.
3) Let the Word of God dwell in you. Wait for the Holy Spirit to work.
More precisely, make it so that the Word of God dwells in you. Wait for the Holy Spirit to work. Never give up. Don’t do other things. I’ve seen cancer patients who were given up on by hospitals be healed. Why? Because the bartizan of the Lord was established in them. Just as physical illness can come from shock, so can the body be healed through the fullness of the Spirit. Such things happen.
Remnants and our church officers, your lives are precious. Build the bartizan of the Lord first. Let the temple of the Lord be established in you. All other words are wrong. Jesus said they are thieves and robbers. Let the bartizan of the Lord be established in you.
▣ Main Message
1. Samuel, upon whom the bartizan and temple of the Lord came, and the Word was fulfilled – the heavenly mandate
First, Samuel experienced the tabernacle, the temple, and the bartizan. This is the key.
1) Samuel lying near the ark of the covenant
In chapter 3, verse 3, it says, “Eli lay in his usual place.” The Word had been cut off. Eli lay in his own place, and Samuel lay near the ark of the covenant. The aged Eli lay in his own place, but the young Samuel lay by the ark. This is the answer. There is no other way.
When you have an incurable disease, will the doctor help you? Will your family help you? There is no way. When you suffer spiritually or have tormenting afflictions, who will help you?
2) Samuel heard the voice of God
At this moment, young Samuel heard the voice of God. But since he had never experienced this before, he wondered, “What is this sound?” The same voice came three times. Then, when he told Eli, Eli realized, “Ah, God is speaking to you. Listen carefully and tell me.” So he instructed him, “Say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”
This is an enormous covenant.
3) From that day on, none of Samuel’s words fell to the ground.
“From that day on, not one of Samuel’s words fell to the ground.” In simple terms, the heavenly mandate came upon him. Right? Don’t be discouraged. Don’t do other things. Don’t listen to other voices. If you have an incurable disease, a spiritual illness, or are in confusion, there is no one who can help you. So, the bartizan and the temple of the Lord were truly established. The Word came upon him.
※ 1 Corinthians 3:16
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?” This is certain. We must look at this the other way around. In simple terms, it’s like God is saying to a shaman, “Don’t you know that it’s not the Holy Spirit but an evil spirit dwelling in you?” Change it. Don’t you know it’s the spirit of Satan bringing destruction? Change it. There’s nothing more important than this. Why must we endure? Because it must be changed. Why shouldn’t we do other things? Because it must be changed. This is the key. This came upon Samuel. No further explanation is needed. You should begin that prayer today.
2. The prayer of Samuel, who possessed the bartizan and temple of the Lord, did not fall to the ground (1 Samuel 3:19).
Second, the prayer of the temple and bartizan of the Lord has now begun. “Not one word fell to the ground”—this means prayer began, and the answer came.
1) Samuel’s prayer with the bartizan and temple of the Lord became spiritual warfare.
This turned into powerful spiritual warfare. Samuel’s prayer, who had the bartizan and temple of the Lord, did not fall to the ground—what happened through this?
(1) When the Philistines attacked and stole the ark – Samuel’s prayer
The Philistines invaded. In the midst of saving people, Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas, died. That wasn’t all. The ark was completely taken. Someone from that scene ran to report the news. When Eli heard it, he was so shocked that he fell backward and broke his neck. The ark was taken. Can you believe it? What was Samuel doing? That’s what’s important.
Just before this, it says that not one of Samuel’s words fell to the ground. Right? Samuel’s prayer did not cease then.
(2) Disaster came upon every place the ark arrived
The Philistines recklessly took the ark. They placed it in a region called Ashdod. Why did they take it? Because they knew of the history behind it. They placed it in the temple of Dagon. The next morning was chaos. The idol Dagon had fallen face down—with its head and hands cut off. Disasters began striking the region.
They had done something unthinkable—taking the ark. Samuel was praying during all of this.
The prayer of one who possesses the bartizan and temple of the Lord is different. The Philistines were so terrified they had no choice but to move the ark to Gath. Gath was a place where giants lived—people with special military training. In simple terms, Goliath’s hometown. So they moved it there. Even greater disaster began. People were collapsing overnight. Some were afflicted with infectious disease.
So what did they do next? They moved the ark to Ekron. When it arrived in Ekron, the people were in an uproar. “Why did you bring that terrifying ark to our city? Are you trying to kill us all?” They protested and rioted. But they still brought it. The place became a sea of disaster and death.
(3) The ark returned
The Philistine leaders gathered and held a meeting. “We must return the ark. But we can’t just return it—we must send a guilt offering and repent.” So the ark was returned.
2) The prayer of one in whom the bartizan is established and who has become the temple
What was Samuel doing? Your hidden prayer—just one of those—can break down darkness like this. It’s not just that the power of God comes upon you. That prayer begins to influence elsewhere. Build the bartizan of the Lord. Do not fall into despair if you have depression—build the temple of the Lord. Let the Spirit of the Lord come upon you. Let the Word of the Lord be planted in you. When this comes upon you, it becomes the heavenly mandate and also your calling. Begin this prayer now. One in whom the bartizan is established and who has become the temple—their prayer never disappears. Remember this.
(1) On this rock I will build My church (Matthew 16:18)
When Peter confessed, Jesus said, “You are the rock.” That means you are the rock. “On this rock, I will personally build My church.” In the original language, it says, “I Myself will build My church.” That’s why it cannot be defeated.
(2) The gates of Hades will not overcome it (Matthew 16:18)
“The powers of darkness, the gates of Hades, will not overcome it.” They can’t. Why? Because the bartizan has changed. This is important.
(3) I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 16:19)
“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.” Yes.
I once told someone with mental illness something like this. As I’ve said before: “You will never be healed.” They became discouraged. But I said, “If you know why you will never be healed, then you can be healed.” What’s the reason? “You keep placing yourself in spiritual pain. You blame your husband, your wife, someone else. It’s not that. It’s not the Philistines’ fault. It’s not Eli’s fault. It’s that the bartizan is missing within you.”
3) Calling
Samuel received and grasped this from his mother. Of course he did. “Not one of Samuel’s words fell to the ground.” The important Word of God began to come upon Samuel, and he was victorious in prayer over great events. He won without fighting. This is something ordinary people don’t understand. What does that mean? Can a pig understand a diamond ring? Can a dog understand an expensive gem? Without the Spirit of God, how could they know?
When this bartizan is established, even hidden prayers bring victory. His mother was the evidence. Samuel was the evidence. Experience it. “I will begin this prayer. I will become a temple where the Word of the Lord comes, and a bartizan of the Lord.” This is what we call calling.
3. Mizpah Movement
Third. This is not the end. The mission of the one in whom the temple bartizan is established now arises. That is the Mizpah Movement, which will be next week’s sermon. The Mizpah Movement arises. That mission appears.
1) Throw away all idols and come before the altar.
“All Israel must throw away idols.” “All Israel must come before the altar.” We’ll look at this next week. Because we must hold to the covenant.
2) God who struck down the Philistines in advance
The Philistines heard the news, but God had already struck them down.
3) Spiritual power that wins without fighting
“As long as Samuel lived, there was no war.” While Samuel was alive, the Philistines could not invade. This is the tremendous power to win without fighting. It means spiritual power. Spiritual power cannot be ignored. Because this power is with them. Not just the Philistines—darkness itself cannot approach.
You must build this power. We must raise the remnants. What remnants think as children—that lasts forever. Our church officers are important people. You must absolutely cultivate this power. Especially those of you ministering to multiethnic people—so many of you labor. That labor will never be in vain. This power must enter the multiethnic peoples.
※ What happens when parents pray with spiritual power?
You know what happened when the parents began praying with this power. When Joseph spoke of world evangelization, his brothers mocked him. But when Joseph said that, while his brothers mocked, Jacob treasured it in his heart. What must Jacob have thought later? Joseph’s dream, the covenant, was treasured in his heart, and then the son was gone. The brothers brought his bloodied robe. They lied, saying he was torn by wild beasts. How must Jacob have felt?
Then one day, news came—Joseph was alive. How must Jacob have felt? And he had become prime minister, ruling over the world. When Jacob heard that, what must he have thought? The powerful prime minister Joseph’s family—his children—went to Egypt. Joseph had prepared the land of Goshen.
At that moment, Jacob’s thoughts are revealed. Naturally, he would meet the king, since he was the prime minister’s father. Upon meeting him, Jacob raised both hands and laid them on Pharaoh’s head and blessed him. What does this mean? Pharaoh bowed his head and received the blessing. That was Jacob.
Your prayer does not end. Right? As you know, the prayer of one woman named Jochebed—what did that bring about? The greatest answer in all of church history came through Moses. Right? What happened through the prayer of one woman named Hannah?
▣ Conclusion
Let us conclude.
1. Matthew 4:19
Jesus, who fulfilled everything, said this: “Come, follow Me. I will make you fishers of men.”
2. Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Jesus said this.
3. Mark 3:13-15
It says the Lord called those He wanted. The reason He called them: “That they might be with Him. That they might preach. That He might give them authority to drive out demons.”
4. Matthew 28:18, 20
The risen Lord said: “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” How? “With all authority in heaven and on earth.”
5. Mark 16:19-20
In Mark 16, it says the Lord seated at the throne was with the disciples as they moved.
6. Acts 1:3
What did He promise last on the Mount of Olives? “With the throne, the kingdom of God, and with that work, I will be with you.”
※ Cultivate fundamental strength.
There’s no need to delay. On this Lord’s Day, all day, pray this prayer: “Grant me a bartizan to save my family line, the world, and the field. Let that sure covenant and temple come upon me.” Healing will occur.
What is the standard? It’s not just curing illness—but making it disappear entirely. You must cultivate fundamental strength.
Drug addicts say they can’t quit. They want to use it again. I heard the testimony directly. The Word of God and the Holy Spirit came upon him, and he couldn’t even remember why he had used drugs. “Why did I even do drugs?” he said. He couldn’t understand. He had no desire.
So he now visits prisons and shares the gospel. The Gospel is being testified. “I have depression.” Don’t worry. Change the bartizan. “I have a terminal illness.” Change the bartizan.
May today be your greatest day—in the name of Jesus Christ, I bless you. Let us pray.
Prayer
Lord, grant new grace this week. Grant new strength. Grant new grace and answers. In Jesus Christ’s name we pray. Amen.