2026.05.24 Sunday 1st Service
「The Promise Given to Those Who Remain」(Is 66:12-24)
▣ Introduction
Thank you.
1. The covenant to hold on to when crisis comes and there is no one to help — the remnant
There are times like this for us. Times when it feels as though everyone is calculating and there is no truth. And there are also times when it feels as though everyone is betraying you. Or there are times when you receive a great wound. There are times when crisis comes and you feel as though there is no one to help.
1) The Babylonian invasion and Israel taken captive
A great hardship fell upon the nation of Israel. It was the time of King Zedekiah. Babylon invaded and gouged out both of King Zedekiah’s eyes. On the grounds that he was not obeying them well enough, they tore out his eyes. They bound that king with ropes and dragged him all the way to Babylon. They destroyed the temple in Jerusalem. It is horrifying. And among the people, those who were capable were taken captive. They were dragged away there.
But when that happened, some people also fled to other nations. Some even went as far as to naturalize themselves into powerful nations. And what is even more absurd, some people turned away from believing in God and fell into idol worship. At such a time, what word must one hold on to? What covenant must one hold on to at a time like this? This is not an old story — because the Word of God is fulfilled for eternity, it is also a present story. There is no way to receive an answer, I am in crisis, and there is no one to help. The very people I truly believed in betray me and run away. What must be done? What word must one hold on to — that is what I am asking.
The remnant.
2) It is natural
Why did such things happen?
The first thing to know is this — it is natural. What the Bible and history both give evidence of is that 99% of the people left. Ask them — they have reasons. “This is why we are leaving.” But there is a 1% who are the remnant. These people have no reason. Those who left have reasons. This remnant has no reason. God did world evangelization through these people. This is not my own saying. And it did not happen only once. It was always present in the Bible. It was always present in church history. For various reasons, people all leave God. Yet there is a very small minority — the remnant — who are holding on to this covenant.
3) One whom God has set apart (Remnant)
Today you must hold on to this covenant. I am the remnant who saves my family line. You must hold on to the precise covenant God has given. I am the remnant who saves the field. The Remnant right now — those Remnant who are alone in foreign countries — do not worry. I am the remnant who will save this region. That is certain. It is okay to be lonely. It is okay to have no one to help. Not just any remnant, but one whom God has set apart. And so in English this is also called Remnant.
2. What God blessed the remnant with
Today He blessed the remnant. “He will make peace flow to you like a river.”
※ Without knowing the gospel, offering oxen and sheep and burning incense is the same as murder and idol worship.
Today there was not enough time to read everything, but what does verse 3 of chapter 66 say? Verse 3 speaks to those who ran away. “What is the use of slaughtering an ox for sacrifice? Without even knowing the gospel, what use is it to slaughter an ox for sacrifice? It is like committing murder. Without knowing the gospel, what is the use of offering a lamb? It is like breaking a dog’s neck. What is the use of burning incense? It is like idol worship.” Those are words spoken to those who ran away. They are words spoken to those who have departed from God.
1) He will make peace flow like a river and overflow to the nations.
And then comes the blessing — “He will make peace flow to you like a river. And also cause it to overflow to the nations.” Hard to believe, isn’t it? Not looking at my own abilities. It has already been fulfilled.
2) As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you.
To what extent? “As a mother comforts her child.” A mother never condemns her own child. That’s right? Even when told the child did wrong, she doesn’t believe it. Even if it’s true, she thinks it was a mistake. A mother tries to help her child. A mother tries to save her child. It should be as a father comforts a child, but it says as a mother comforts a child. Much will come to mind.
3) When the time comes, He will gather the nations and peoples.
“When the time comes, He will gather all nations and peoples. He will make His glory known through you to the nations.” What does that mean? “He will make this light of glory known.” You may not be able to believe it.
(1) People sunk in darkness
But people are sunk in darkness, aren’t they? They don’t even know why they are living. Two things keep on increasing. Mental illness and suicide — they keep increasing. A person who has a mental illness did not get it because they wanted to. That’s right? It is not their fault. The dark environment made them that way. That’s right? You cannot simply say, “That person is a bit crazy.” Someone who commits suicide — it is not something to mock. Captured by this darkness, with the hope of living cut off, they made that wrong choice themselves. Because this light was not shone.
(2) Be resolved
You must be resolved. God has set me apart as a remnant to shine light into the darkness. Without doubt. If you hold that covenant, the answer comes. No other answer is of use. Eating well and living well — you don’t even need to believe in God for that. It’s because disasters have come crashing in. That’s right? Darkness is serious. Continuously in America, the number of people wandering the streets has begun to increase. Compared to about ten years ago, it has doubled. In Japan, the number of people who don’t go outside but stay quietly in their homes has increased. Some don’t even open the door when their family brings them food. The fact is that this is actually increasing. I was quite shocked — this time when I was in Japan, I saw that Missionary Kim Yeong-gon was doing the work of feeding Japanese children. There were no one to feed the children — I’m not sure of the reason, but with no one to feed them, they were going hungry. There must be reasons. In any case, there are many children going hungry in that advanced nation, Japan. Children gathered from Taiwan, Europe, and America — the majority of them are tormented at night. We absolutely cannot just judge and criticize them. They are captured by darkness, and it is not their own fault. It is because they are gripped by darkness that this happened. It is Israel’s fault — that is what this says. So they were taken captive. It is the church’s fault — that is what this says. So the temple was destroyed. Is God playing games? He is telling us something right now.
This is the promise given to the remnant.
3. The Bible — three kinds of readers
The Bible has three kinds of readers.
1) What reaches even unbelievers
There are parts that even reach people who have received no salvation at all. “You did this right, you did this wrong — you will be punished.” That kind of content exists. It reaches even unbelievers.
2) What reaches only the saved
However, the Bible has parts whose purpose is only to reach the saved. The blood covenant. This — someone who has not received salvation simply cannot understand it. Christ. This is something only the saved can take in.
3) The message given to those who will move the world
However, there is a separate message given to those who will move the world. That is what has come out right now. You don’t even need to memorize it. You only need to believe.
▣ Main
There are three things.
1. One who holds the secret
First, what is it? He revealed a secret. This prophecy and its fulfillment right now — it is a secret. Why they became captives, when they became captives, when they would return — this is a secret, I tell you. When that happens, there are several things that are promised.
1) You will survive alone.
In any situation, you will survive. Even when alone, you will survive.
2) Spiritual reality
In many respects, you must see spiritual reality. This must be absolutely remembered.
3) The opposite side
God’s plan is almost always in the place you did not expect — on the opposite side. Not knowing this, people keep searching elsewhere. It is in a place you would never have imagined. They were taken captive, yet the answer is right there. That’s right? Almost always. They went to prison, and the answer is there. It is beyond imagination.
4) No competition
There is no need to compete. You will end up saving other people. You win without fighting. Without even having fought.
5) Nobody
There is no one to help me. Nobody. Yet God is guiding me.
Think about it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego confronted the king, and there was no one to help. Most people think that using humanism day and night is the way. Those people set the frame. To kill Daniel. That’s right? There is no one to help. Strangely, there are people who kill others and try to make things their own way. There are figures like Haman. This cannot be overcome, I tell you. But God makes it possible to overcome. It is a secret.
2. One who holds the background
And the second. It is not only a secret that is held. There is a background. A winning background — you must hold this.
1) The power of the throne
What is the first of it? The power of the throne is yours. Isaiah chapter 6. That’s right?
2) The power of the gospel
Only the power of the gospel overcomes darkness. Isaiah 7:14. We know this.
3) The power of the Word
“The power of the Word. The Word of the Lord will never pass away. Those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength.” By only waiting on the Word, strength will be gained. Isaiah chapter 40.
4) The power of prayer
The power of prayer — it was explained, and that is the background. “When you pray, I will do a new thing. Do not remember the former things. Do not think of things of old. The reason — I will do a new thing. I will make a way in the wilderness. I will make rivers flow in the desert.” That is God’s power, and enjoying it is prayer.
5) The power of restoration
“He will restore the world with light. Those who have fallen into darkness.” That is Isaiah chapter 60.
6) Bartizan
And “He has set you as a bartizan who moves God, who moves the throne.” That is Isaiah chapter 62. That is our background.
7) The remnant (Isaiah chapter 66)
And today He has made a final promise. Hold it firmly. If you listen to the voice of demons and do not believe the Word of God, what will happen? People listen to the words of men — why not the Word of God? You must hold firmly to the Word of God. This covenant was held and prayed upon. This must be absolutely remembered.
3. One who is not deceived
The third. Do not be deceived. Things keep coming up that cause you to be deceived again.
1) Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
They gathered all the former military, ministers — in our terms, former politicians — and built a shrine. Bow down there — that is what it is. Satan does that. In Egypt they set it up and said bow down. That is how it comes. In Rome they set it up and said bow down. In the old days Japan set it up and said bow down. It is the same. Satan has no distinction of Japanese-made or American-made. It is the same. The same thing happened.
Everyone was bowing, and only Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused. They were not deceived. A person gets deceived by the atmosphere. What is even more absurd is that the king was flustered and asked why they had not done it. The king liked those three men very much. So he said, “Just do it once. Just once.” “O king, we have no need to answer you in this matter. The Lord will deliver us.” That comes up next week. “But even if He does not.” You must not be deceived. We keep getting deceived. Reality is frightening — there is nothing to fear, yet it feels frightening and so on.
Yet they won completely, didn’t they? The king himself praised the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.
2) Daniel
Sure enough. The evil things these wicked people do are always the same. Then and now. Because Daniel was doing well, they did every vile thing to kill Daniel. That is how it always goes. There is nothing to fear. It is to be expected. What else is there for those sunk in darkness to do? That’s right? It is natural. Daniel was not afraid at all. First, in order to kill someone, they need to create the conditions to do so. They found Daniel’s weakness — hiding and watching around the clock — around the clock, searching for others’ weaknesses, around the clock. Looking carefully, he was praying. They seized on that as a weakness. And then they went to the king and knew how to persuade him. What did they say? “The king is the god of our nation. Anyone who serves something other than the king must be killed.” If a child of light had heard those words, they would have objected. But these are children of darkness, so hearing those words felt wonderful to them. “Yes, I am the king, and I am the god.” A law was set. Anyone who serves a god other than the king — the death penalty. And so the king stamped his royal seal on it. The king’s royal seal is a ring stamp. He stamped it. And then they brought the accusation. Daniel was caught.
Daniel did not waver at all. You must not be deceived. Receiving the death sentence, he knelt three times a day, facing toward the temple, and prayed with thanksgiving — so it says. He prayed with thanksgiving. He had to enter the lion’s den. That is what the law said. The king suddenly realized — “I was played by schemers.” There was nothing he could do. The law was the law.
But as Daniel was about to go into the lion’s den, the king spoke to Daniel. “May the God whom you always serve rescue you.” And then he threw him into the lion’s den. And also, there was a law. After throwing someone in — if after one day they were not dead, they had to be released. So very early in the morning, the king went to find him. Having been counting the hours precisely — because he cared so much for Daniel, he was anxious — watching the time. When the time came, he spoke. Do you know what he said? “O Daniel, servant of the Most High God.” That is the kind of thing our Remnant must hear. That’s right? “Has the God whom you always serve been able to deliver you?” If there is no sound, that means he is dead. That’s right? The king called out, heart pounding with anxiety. He called only once, and from inside — what did he hear? The voice of Daniel. “O king, live forever.” That is the greeting a servant gives to a king. “Last night the angel of the Lord shut the mouths of the lions, and they have not harmed me.” The king gives the order. Pull Daniel out. And those who had accused Daniel — they were thrown in. The Bible records it like this. “Those people were thrown into the lion’s den, and before their bodies even hit the ground, the lions had devoured them all.” Like a volleyball being tossed up and caught.
3) Esther
Esther — the same. Do not be deceived.
One who holds the secret. One who knows the background. One who is not deceived.
▣ Conclusion
But why does He do all this? The conclusion has come out.
1. 237
In verse 12. “He will cause the light of glory to overflow.” Because that is what must happen. And verses 12, 18, and 19 — this light must be shone upon the nations. That is 237.
2. 5000
And what does verse 19 say? “Shine the light to the distant islands.” That is the 5,000 tribes. That’s right? So God cannot help but bless the remnant.
3. What happens during worship, prayer, and crisis
Do you know what is happening right now? During the time you worship and pray — during the time you are facing crisis — God sent angels that transcend the fourth dimension to protect the three young men in the fire. Daniel must have prayed when he entered the den. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must have prayed when they entered the fire. It is recorded that God certainly sent His angel and sealed the mouth of the lion.
Why don’t people believe? There are many who don’t believe. Because they haven’t died yet.
You’ve heard stories of people dying, haven’t you? From beside them. I have seen many dying people. Because I served as an assistant pastor for a long time. There is no exception. An unsaved unbeliever — the devil comes and drags them away. They say so with their own mouths, I tell you. A saved person — an angel comes and escorts them away. It is astonishing.
So even right now, during the time you are praying, God sends His angel to protect you.
Last week, many answers were also fulfilled. I sent our music team to the island nations. Go. Play together with them. Only then will you understand the situation. That is 100%. Field 100%. It was not merely a matter of receiving grace when they went. The Solomon Islands, Vanuatu — everyone was deeply moved, in the midst of grace. While they were doing that, the president came out in person, and politicians encouraged them. Looking at the photos this time, Kim Jeong-hun was treated completely as a distinguished guest. At home in Korea he is always treated poorly, but going there he was received as a distinguished guest. And it was not just that. The place with the greatest influence is the Solomon Islands, as you know. In the Pacific War, the Solomon Islands is the region where 3,000 of our soldiers died. A certain person who attended a mission conference there asked me to pray for them, so I prayed. I could feel that this person was resolved to preach the gospel. And then that week, this person became the Prime Minister of the Solomon Islands. And it was not just — “He became prime minister, how wonderful.” He sent us a document, I tell you. He said that as the answer to that prayer at the time, he is now prime minister, and could we please send a celebratory message. What is even more remarkable is that I had not remembered it, but he kept all the photos we had taken together and sent them to us. The door to 5,000 tribes is opening. Today, let the light shine upon the island nations, upon those distant islands. So He said: I will take responsibility for you. I will comfort you as a mother comforts her child. Not peace that overflows, but peace like a river. Today, you don’t have to do everything. You can hold on to just one covenant and pray for just five minutes. Let us pray.
Prayer. Thank God. Thank You for giving us the grace to shine light upon those who are sunk in darkness. Let this light shine throughout the whole world. Let the peace of the Lord flow like a river. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.