2025.10.26 Sunday 1st Service
Scripture Reading: Acts 13:1-4
If the first life camp that God gives does not take place, a person becomes fixed in their own thoughts, and the whole Word of God remains unorganized within them. The Word, prayer, and evangelism feel distant to them, and living is difficult. Since God has given us light, that itself is the camp.
▣ Introduction_ When it becomes the first life camp that God gives
Thank you. Once, I boarded a plane going to Seoul, to Gimpo. The time had come, but the plane wouldn’t go. People kept walking back and forth and talking. Since I fly often, a flight attendant who knew me well came and quietly told me there was something to check. But as 30, 40 minutes passed, people became curious. There was no announcement. We were waiting. After a long while, she came again and told me we could go; there didn’t seem to be much of a problem, but a red light was on. They were checking why that red light was on. So we waited again. Then an announcement came that we would depart soon. But the attendant came to me again and told me the reason we were now departing: someone was supposed to put fuel in the plane but hadn’t. I was startled. If they had forced takeoff, the plane would have lifted off with the little fuel left, right? What would happen if we ran out of fuel en route? There were at least 200 or 300 people on that plane—what then? This shows how important the carelessness of a single person can be.
In Gyeonggi Province, a welder was supposed to clear away something that could explode, but he didn’t, and there was an explosion. Seventeen people died; about half were foreigners; he himself died while doing it—because of carelessness.
Once, a helicopter carrying soldiers was landing and crashed. It crashed, and the young soldiers aboard all died. As I briefly watched that news, someone spoke—it was a soldier who had been involved in piloting such helicopters. He quietly told me it happened because the maintenance wasn’t done properly. People fail to put in proper parts. In this way, the carelessness of one or two people can lead to the deaths of many.
Today, what should we do first when we meet a newcomer? If we fail to do that, it becomes like poor maintenance. There are many believers with no answers. What should we do? For church leaders who are facing difficulties, what should we convey first? Let me give the answer first: What is the first life camp that God gives? It is important. What is the first camp? We must let the newcomers know that. If church leaders do not know it, things become difficult.
※ If the first life camp that God gives does not take place, one becomes fixed in one’s own thoughts, and the whole Word of God remains unorganized. The Word, prayer, and evangelism are distant from me, and living is difficult.
Usually, to conduct counseling, I do weekly meetings, and when I read the submissions that come up, I see a common point. That common point appears a lot among remnants, but it is present among adults too. Their own thoughts loom very large, and the Word of God is not organized. It isn’t that they are wrong, but they keep getting fixed on their own thoughts; shouldn’t the whole Word of God be organized firmly? I sense that it is not. If that is so, it is very important. If a child asked like that, we could understand; but what if one has grown older, has become a church leader, and still asks such questions?
※ Since God has given us light, that itself is the camp.
Since God has given us light, that itself is the camp. I came to know, one day and rather late, what the first life camp is. To be honest, though I grew up long in a believing home, I did not know what prayer was. The Word of God—worship and such—those important things did not come to me. So evangelism felt like something far away, and nothing worked out for me. I could not say it to others, but it was hard. Mainly, what was hard was living itself. In this way, my first life camp in God was not established.
1. The whole Word becomes visible.
But once that was established, the entire Word became visible to me.
1) Genesis – The true problem of humankind and its answer
“Ah, where the true problem of humankind arose and what the answer is”—that is already revealed in Genesis.
2) Exodus – We must come out of darkness
“Ah, we humans do not simply need to come out of Egypt; we must come out of darkness. If we do not come out of darkness, coming out of Egypt is useless.” I realized that while reading Exodus.
3) Leviticus – Prayer
Do you truly know prayer? If you know prayer, you can truly overcome; Leviticus explains that.
4) Numbers – The mission of the saved
Do you know the mission of the one who has been saved? That is Numbers. They were not allowed to enter until the twelve regions had been completely scouted.
5) Deuteronomy – The imprinting of the Word given thus far
The Word that has been given thus far must be imprinted. If it is not imprinted in your soul, it is hard for it to live and work. That is Deuteronomy.
6) Since this did not happen, even when judges, kings, prophets, and priests appeared, it did not work, and they went as slaves and captives.
I just spoke of the five books written by Moses; since this did not take place, it did not work even when judges appeared afterward. The monarchy came, but even when kings appeared, it did not work. Even when prophets spoke, it did not work. Even when priests offered blood sacrifices, it did not work. In the end, they went as captives and slaves.
7) The Gospels – Therefore, the answer is Christ.
So what conclusion comes? “Therefore, it is Christ.” I came to that answer. Once I had that answer, the Gospels looked completely different.
8) Acts – The way
Acts becomes the way.
9) The remaining books – The evidence
All the remaining books are the evidence.
10) Revelation – Do not worry even about the great confusion of the last days.
Finally, Revelation says that in the last days great confusion will come, but do not worry.
2. Prayer becomes happiness and strength.
So once I knew the first life camp, I came to know what prayer is, and prayer became such a happiness to me. I will speak briefly about that today, but you must enjoy this blessing. Prayer becomes my strength.
3. The absolute bartizan called “300%” becomes visible.
Then the absolute bartizan called “300%” became visible. Just before I met you, when I saw the absolute bartizan of 300%, I cannot tell you how happy I was. Works kept arising wherever I went. If only my character and vessel had been prepared, it would have been better; since that was not yet so, I suffered, yet works kept arising. So I said, “Ah, this absolute bartizan that God has given is to make 300% no matter what others say.”
▣ Main_ The content of the first life camp
Then what is the first life camp? During His public ministry, Jesus gave a first promise. We must imprint that. It is the promise He gave after finishing everything. After three years of public ministry He had done all things and said, “These are not what is most important,” and then gave this promise. We must imprint it. I found myself thinking, “Ah, that’s right.” Then everything changed. What is it?
1. The first promise of Jesus – Imprint that the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will be with you forever.
This is what Jesus said as He finished His public ministry: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; do not be troubled. You also believe in Me; do not be troubled. Since there is the background of the throne of heaven, do not be troubled. I will soon go.”
1) John 14:16 – The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will be with you forever
And this is the promise He gave—John 14:16 says, “I will ask the Father.” “He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever.” This is a promise made at a grave timetable—just as He was about to finish His public ministry and face crucifixion.
2) John 14:26 – The Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will teach all things and bring to remembrance
Verse 26 says this: “The Counselor”—that is His name—“the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” From this point, I did many prayers for the Holy Spirit to come upon me. “That’s right.”
3) John 16:13 – The Spirit will guide into truth and make known what is to come
John 16:13 says, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth; He will declare to you the things that are to come.” From that time I said, “Ah, I see,” and determined to imprint it.
4) The 24 prayer that imprints (Ephesians 6:18, the watchman) – Enjoy 24, then 25 follows, and the eternity masterpiece is made
To imprint this, I first started fixed-hour prayer. Fixed-hour prayer is good; it’s in the Bible and many do it. But for me, keeping the time is hard. And when doing fixed-hour prayer—when, at what hour, and where—this is hard for me. Then I discovered something important in the Bible by watching how Paul prayed: “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions.” I discovered 24. This is the watchman. If you enjoy 24, then 25 is bound to come, and the eternity masterpiece is bound to be made. Imprint this camp that Jesus has given you.
2. The last promise of Jesus – Take root in the mission of Christ, the kingdom of God, and only the Holy Spirit.
This is the second part of imprinting. There is the last promise Jesus gave. Take root in this. You have imprinted it—now take root: Christ, the kingdom of God, and only the Holy Spirit. Jesus surely promised that you will receive the filling of the Holy Spirit; then you will receive power; then you will be His witnesses to the ends of the earth. While taking root in this and beginning to pray, what emerged?
1) The bartizan of the throne becomes visible.
Within it, the Triune God and the bartizan become visible—the bartizan of the throne. As I kept praying this way, I saw seven bartizans. You may see more, but that is how it was for me.
2) The journey of the throne becomes visible.
As I began to take root in this, I saw the seven journeys of the throne.
3) The guidepost of the throne becomes visible.
At last, I saw seven guideposts. ※ The evangelist’s forty-day prayer—I realized I had been praying wrongly. The message now is to do well in the present. The answer I received from this is the Evangelism School. God called me to Yeongdo, and it became the way to save the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes.
To take root in this, before I came to this church—when I was an associate pastor—I began a forty-day prayer exactly as Jesus did. Saying “Let’s do it together” was of no use. It didn’t work. I had to do it alone. When others who receive answers arise, then we can do it together. At that time, there was no one to do it with, and it wasn’t possible. If one doesn’t know what prayer is, what can one do?
My circumstances were so difficult and frustrating, but that was not the problem. The situation was not frightening. What was difficult was this: “Must I live like this?” That was the hardest part. “Do I have to live like this—scraping by just to make a living?” I prostrated myself before God—every dawn; that time was best then. By the time I came here, I had realized 24 prayer. So I prayed every dawn. I did not know what the answer would be, but assurance came into my heart: “Yes, is not God the One who is responsible for my life, the Lord of my lifetime? Has He not promised Christ? Then with that promise, on Mt Olive at the end He gave the mission—should I not try to do that?” I tried once—no answer. Twice—no answer. Three times—no answer. But there was no need to be discouraged.
Something in me began to change. That is important. First, I came to know that I was praying wrongly. I realized I was praying completely wrongly. It was not that answers had come. My prayer had been, “Send me somewhere so I can live.” I laid that down first—“as God wills.” “What should I do now?” Then, after doing the second forty days, what I realized was, “Do well in the present.” “Yes.” The answer I received then was this, which I said to the pastor: “Pastor, in our church many called workers are hidden. Though the church is spending time on pointless words because of repeated division, there are truly called workers.” The answer I received then was the Evangelism School. “How about we hold an Evangelism School?” The pastor told me to do it. That is the Evangelism School that is moving the world to this day. Then I began praying again, and God called me in Yeongdo. That became the way by which I and you now are saving the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes. Do not be discouraged; take root in this. Be imprinted with the promise Christ has given; take root in the sure mission Christ has given. Until when? Until the answer comes. Yes—until the answer comes.
3. God’s urgent, actual promise – Be formed in nature by the Holy Spirit’s indwelling, guidance, and working.
At this time, the third part comes. God’s promise—His urgent, actual promise—comes upon you. At this time, your nature is formed. You take root in what has been imprinted, and you are formed in nature. That is today’s text. What situation appeared?
1) The indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:1) – 1 Corinthians 3:16, Ephesians 4:30, Philippians 2:13 Do not be deceived.
In today’s text we read of works where the Holy Spirit indwelt. Who appeared there? “Barnabas”—we understand. Right? “Simeon called Niger”—do you understand? That means the African region. “Lucius of Cyrene.” What I understand even less is “Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod.” For a person in whom the Holy Spirit indwells, this is beyond imagination—it is a miracle. From this time, works arose. Actual works began. Even more amazing is Paul, who had gone around capturing and killing those who preached the gospel—he was commissioned as a missionary. Today, what actual answer appeared? The guidance of the Holy Spirit began. It is clearly promised that you are the temple of God in whom the Holy Spirit dwells. Right? “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” Do not be deceived. It says the Holy Spirit has sealed you. Right? God’s Spirit in you has said He will lead you and work in you to will according to His good pleasure.
2) The guidance of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:2) – This is the standard. The one in whom the Holy Spirit indwells receives the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Then what is the conclusion of the first camp? To receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit. For Paul today, fasting is not the standard. The guidance of the Holy Spirit is the standard. He fasted in order to receive the Spirit’s guidance. Then this was said: “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” The indwelling of the Holy Spirit—such a person receives the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Thus the first life camp begins.
3) The working of the Holy Spirit (Acts 13:4)
Then, on the road you travel, the working of the Holy Spirit took place. “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit,” it clearly says. You must receive this blessing.
※ The imprinting that the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will be with you forever, and the taking root that by the power of the throne He will guide perfectly, must take place. By the working of the Holy Spirit, fruit is borne.
You must imprint the promise that the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, will be with you forever. You must take root in the fact that by the power of the throne the Lord’s Spirit will guide you perfectly. And what then? By the working of the Holy Spirit you bear fruit. This is the first life camp you must do first.
▣ Conclusion
1. The prayer that enjoys the first life camp
1) John 20:22 – Pray with the breath that God has given
In John 20:22 Jesus “breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” So I connect every breath I take to prayer. That is good. There are ignorant people who keep picking a fight, but they are the ignorant ones. Nonsense. Such people—let them not breathe. Among the gifts God has given, there is only one I can control at will: breathing. Right? Thinking. Besides those, there is nothing I can do at will. The conclusion comes from God. Then should we not think with what God gives and pray? “He breathed …”
2) Ezekiel 37:9–10 – The time of enjoying this covenant is the time of receiving God’s breath of life
In Ezekiel 37 it says, “Prophesy to the breath.” Yes: “Prophesy to the breath of God.” The time you enjoy this covenant is the time you receive God’s breath of life; the dry bones became an army.
3) Genesis 1:3 – The light of creation
In Genesis 1:3, this light is the light of creation. Arrive at such a clear conclusion. Yes.
2. Only
Then I looked at the adults and the church. I also looked at the church world. I don’t want to say “bad” or “good.” I made a resolution: “Only.” “Only.”
1) Daily concentration in prayer in my life
“It is to concentrate daily in prayer in my life.”
2) Establishing the bartizan, the journey, and the guidepost by the Triune God and the power of the throne
Not other prayers, but living by the Triune God and the power of the throne—establishing the bartizan, the journey, and the guidepost.
3) Daily, hourly, and in every task
“Do this daily, hourly, and in every task.” For three years I worked together in a gathering composed only of those from top universities. They somehow viewed me favorably and called me, and I went and worked with them for three years. I reached a conclusion: “The Triune God’s 7·7·7 bartizan, journey, and guidepost must be within me.” I held the covenant firmly. Today, make your resolution and begin the first life camp.
3. Begin the first life camp.
Next week the second camp will come. Begin the first life camp.
1) Do not worry. Persecution is a new challenge; death is a new beginning; those who were scattered accomplished world evangelization.
Do not worry about anything. We fear persecution. In the Bible, whenever persecution arose, God worked with great answers. Unbelievers, those who do not know the gospel, think that by persecuting they will win. For us, persecution is a new challenge. They think that by killing it ends. Stephen’s death was a new beginning. They thought that scattering everyone would end it. Those who were scattered accomplished world evangelization.
2) The Holy Spirit of God in you
In a word, through the first life camp: you are the temple of God. There is only one difference between the saved and the unsaved. “The Holy Spirit of God in you.” When you are saved, your unattractive face does not suddenly become handsome—there is no such rule. When you receive the fullness of the Spirit and are saved, you do not suddenly grow taller—no. I’ve shrunk by 1 cm. One thing is distinctly different: “Do you not know that the Holy Spirit of God dwells in you?”
3) Make 300%.
Do not be discouraged at all; make 300%. For you, it will become a new beginning.
4) Save the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes and block the plague of darkness.
Why must we do this? We must save the 237 nations and the 5000 tribes. There, spiritual darkness is spreading across the whole world like a disease. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that this week would be when the first life camp begins for you. Let us pray.
Prayer. We give glory and thanks to God. We thank God who has given us the very best. Now help us cast aside other things and restore the things of God. Help us cast aside what is wrong and enjoy only the working of the Holy Spirit. Let a new answer begin in my life. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.