2025.09.21 Sunday 2nd Service
Church Construction Devotional Worship
Scripture Reading: Acts 3:1-12
Because we heal with the gospel, all multiethnic remnants need healing. To insist on building a church is to say we will build a sanctuary that heals. We should always do this, but this week the true remedy is thanksgiving. Paul mainly gave thanks in three ways. He said, “I am so thankful that I came to know the gospel.” To what extent? He said, “What I boasted in until now I consider shameful and harmful.” Many pastors and theologians think they know the gospel well, but Paul said, “Its height, depth, and breadth are immeasurable.” Who knows it better? Some say, “Is only Darakbang preaching the gospel? We also know the gospel.” But Paul said it is immeasurable. As you know, the man John Calvin said at the very end of the Institutes of the Christian Religion that this immense gospel is believed, but it is hard to explain. Whenever Paul called people by name, he did not say simply “So-and-so,” but “So-and-so in Christ,” and he attached a mission to that. When he said “So-and-so in Christ,” or sometimes “our fellow servant So-and-so,” he did so. In Romans 16, when introducing the names, before each person he said “So-and-so in Christ.” He could not help but be used. He was thankful for that.
And he gave thanks for a second thing. He said, “That I can proclaim this gospel—there is no greater blessing than this.” He gave thanks. By doing so, only true disciples gathered to him.
Paul also had a third thanksgiving. He said, “I am thankful that because of this gospel I face persecution and am in the midst of suffering.” Many people cannot say this. So a man named William Barclay expressed the part where Paul says he is thankful for being confined this way: “Paul is now receiving God’s greatest privilege.” He expressed it well. Spurgeon expressed it like this: “It is not that Paul is imprisoned by the jail; the jail is in Paul’s hand.” So he gave such thanksgiving.
Today a man lame from birth was sitting at the Beautiful Gate of the temple—“lame from his mother’s womb,” it says. In other words, it is destiny. So this man chose an occupation; he chose to beg. Because he must have judged that there was nothing else he could do. And it says “daily.” That means he was diligent. And it says he “sat at the Beautiful Gate of the temple.” That means he chose his spot well. If you sit under a bridge, people do not come much. Even to sell hotteok, the location is important. There he begged; some gave coins, and many must have helped in various ways. But even after all that, this man is a beggar. Even if the lame man were healed, he would not thereby become a child of God.
▣ Introduction – The Line of Faith
Today in this introduction, a tremendous line of faith appears. We must give thanks that we stand in this line. Through no fault of their own, children in North Korea stand in a wrong line and are at the point of death. Even at this hour there are many who are struck with incurable diseases, can do nothing, and groan in hospitals. Truly, when I went to a remote area, I thought, “Ah—indeed, where one is can be this important.”
1. Peter’s faith
In this line of faith, where this tremendous event occurred, it is Peter’s faith. Peter was changed beyond imagination. As for me, I do have faith, but for me to look at a lame man and say “Rise”—that kind of faith does not come easily, honestly. There was that deaconess in Seoul who could not use her legs. She came to every one of my meetings, in a wheelchair. Once a certain organization invited me to hold a meeting, and that day a torrential rain poured down. Yet that deaconess—back then she was a deacon—came all the way there in a wheelchair. At that time I should have said, “In the name of Jesus of Nazareth, rise,” but it did not come out. So I said this: “God will surely make you stand someday. Pray.” At that moment such assurance came to me. But after a little while—I do not know the exact date—she came walking to my office. She said God had miraculously made her stand.
But Peter—looking at this lame man—was he not the one who had denied Jesus? Seeing this, I realized something important. It says, “Peter, together with John, fixed his gaze on the lame man.” It says, “He looked intently.” It is recorded that way. “He looked intently” means he had seen him before, but now he saw something while praying. I gained many answers there. He said, “I have no coins, no silver or gold. What I have I give to you.” He said, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk.” Something flashed through my mind quickly. Where the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is first proclaimed, miracles take place—markedly.
The proof is this: I entered Yeongdo and began evangelism, and as the evangelism began to break out, I went to sixteen Russian-speaking countries to give evangelism messages. A pastor who was accompanying me led someone to accept Jesus, and the lame man stood up. Truly. Ah! For this Christ to be proclaimed is an immense event, is it not? Peter believed this and proclaimed it. It is like a miracle.
2. The lame man’s faith
This is the lame man’s faith. He said to the lame man, “Look at us.” Peter and the lame man must have met eyes, since he said, “Look at us.” Then he said, “What I have I give to you. In the name of Jesus of Nazareth I command you, rise and walk.” An astonishing thing happened right there. The door to world evangelization opened.
3. Acts 3:11-12
What is more important is Acts 3:11-12. Originally, if you read to verse 10, the section fits neatly, but I told you to read to here. There is an important word in it. When people were astonished, Peter said, “Why do you stare at us as if we had made him walk by our own power?” While speaking of the ancestors, he said, “The God of our fathers has glorified Jesus Christ. It is in His name that he stands—this is not something we made happen.” It is tremendous faith. Therefore we must give thanks to God who gave us this faith.
▣ Main – The Line of Evangelism God Desires
But there is an even greater reason to give thanks. There is nothing more to be thankful for than this which God desires. We stand in the line of evangelism that God desires. A person like Theophilus did not do evangelism at all, right? Yet he received the greatest blessing. You can see it in two things. While Theophilus was a governor, Luke wrote the Gospel of Luke and sent it to him. And he also wrote Acts and sent it. These are immense books, are they not? Even now works arise through them and they have changed the world. They are simply letters from Luke the physician to Theophilus the jurist. These came into this (the Scripture). That is why every New Year we have a retreat with physicians and jurists together. What is this? Even if one does not go, one is in this (what God desires in evangelism) line. It is important. Even if you do not do a big evangelism movement, the very fact that you are in the line of what God truly desires in evangelism is a great blessing.
1. Healing is absolutely necessary
First. Why is this? Because, as in today’s text, healing is absolutely necessary. This is the reason. Such a sanctuary is needed. It is what happened at the Beautiful Gate of the temple.
1) Destiny healing
What was healed? Destiny itself was completely healed. This is the gospel. If not for this, why would we preach the gospel? It heals destiny.
2) Root healing
It heals the root outright.
3) Incurable disease healing
For ordinary disease, one can go to the hospital. But this healed an incurable disease. By God’s power. You must believe. And you must give thanks. Spiritual works differ from human works. Such works occur. Even ordinary people—if they have strong faith, their bodies revive. This is no lie. If you have strong faith, you rise. You gain strength that can overcome even cancer cells. Then what happens when the Holy Spirit works? That is why this event occurred. We stand in a line of great blessing.
2. Healing by the church/sanctuary
So why must the church and the sanctuary heal? That is what is now being made known at the Beautiful Gate of the temple.
1) Priests
Many priests saw this man. They could not heal him.
2) Scribes
The scribes, who are said to be so learned, knew this man.
3) Pharisees
Originally, the name itself means those who are separated and great. The Pharisees knew this man. They did not heal him. They could not even think of it. This overturned that.
4) 237–5000
One more thing to remember is that this was a period when Jews from all over the world gathered. By law, Jews scattered throughout the world were to come to keep the Passover. And they did not come alone; they brought those whom they had evangelized. That is why there were Gentiles there. It is that field. It was overturned there. On that day, 237–5000 was overturned.
3. The church/sanctuary God desires
And the third reason is this: do not think of the present as difficult, but what is it that God most desires? What content is it? What church and sanctuary—since the sanctuary is a facility—what is it that God most needs and desires?
1) Multiethnic
On that day, just as in today’s text, it was a day when multiethnic peoples were present.
2) Three courtyards, the three-day weekend age, holy meditation
So now the present church lacks the three courtyards that save these people; it lacks the three-day weekend age that heals them; and though they must go out into the world and win, it lacks the holy meditation age that enables them to win. These parts were all fulfilled at once. This land needs healing. This land needs a church that heals. The multiethnic peoples have many difficulties; they need healing. Those who do evangelism and missions must not be deceived. And you must prepare differently. Someone in China said, “It would be good if there were a school where our children could receive education.” He explained the reason. After studying in China for a long time, their (thinking) does not change. So he said it would be good to have schools like RGS or RLS. So I told them to establish them. It is not difficult. That is how much these people have inside of them.
By the power of the Holy Spirit alone, if we do not do this (Main 3), it cannot be done. Knowing this, we must prepare. Is much facility necessary? Likely not. If you know, it is enough. Do you know how people crossing over from North Korea come? Our remnants cannot even imagine the pain with which they cross. The little children and the women come here almost at the risk of their lives. What is the inside of those people like? I am not trying to say whether we are abnormal or not; I am saying these people need healing.
3) Rest – Summit
And now the most important parts are these: they must first find rest here when they come. When they come to this church, they must find rest. And in the end these people must be made into summits. That is why we say to build the sanctuary. As it is now, our multiethnic peoples do not find rest when they come here, and they have nowhere to go. Even so, they are remarkable. They push in and eat, and do things like that. To eat, they must stand in line. In the future, we will need to change many systems, will we not? In order to save such people. When remnants come to our church, they should find rest. And they should not go after only playing; they must go as summits. Otherwise, they cannot win when they go out into the world. Now, what is more important than this? Therefore you must pray with thanksgiving.
▣ Conclusion – [God’s Gaze]
Then what conclusion comes? Where is it that God is looking? This is important. Where is God’s gaze? Of course, God sees the whole universe. But where is His interest? There are several things.
1. Those who see the age
Those who see the age. Why do we keep talking about the three courtyards, the three-day weekend age, and holy meditation? We are preparing for the age. As you know, the three organizations are a century ahead. It is a full century. Our church is a century behind. Then the actual gap is two centuries. We cannot win. We must open these eyes. We can do it fully; if we gain spiritual strength, we can do it fully.
2. Footprints
So we must leave footprints. “Wow, so this is the gospel. Ah, so the evangelism movement is done like this. Ah, prayer must be done like this.” We must leave them. This is what God desires.
3. The sick
While you pray carefully: Is there a church now where the sick can go? There is none. We must prepare.
4. The disabled
Is there a place where the disabled can go? The parents of the disabled say this: “My wish is for that child to die before me, and for me to die after.” If I am not there, what will that child do? There is no church that can take responsibility for that. So our nation wants to build many facilities for the disabled. And churches keep not wanting to do it. I do not know why they dislike it, but anyway they dislike it. Buddhism aims for that and digs in. Catholicism aims for that and digs in. So now the disabled are all taken and dominated by Catholicism and Buddhism. That is fine up to that point, but as a policy they are building community welfare centers with hundreds of billions—nearly a trillion won—to revive local regions. Those who can use them are chosen by open call. At that time civil servants give hints among themselves. If a church has applied? No. Because they usually dislike churches. Everyone knows. They deliberately give them to Catholicism or Buddhism. That is how it is maintained. Things have come to this. There is nothing. You truly must pray like this.
5. Remnants
A church where remnants can come comfortably.
6. Multiethnic
A church where the multiethnic can come as if it were their own home. We must quickly create such systems. That is why we combine our strength to build the sanctuary, because it is what God desires.
7. Nobody
More importantly, nobody can go and nobody can do it. This work. No one can save someone like the lame man at the Beautiful Gate of the temple. We go there. In simple terms, it is Nobody. We go where nobody can do it.
Therefore, looking at these few things, you must find them. My gospel. You must find it. My prayer. If you do not have it, you must find it. For the sake of your health, you must find it. For the sake of your studies, you must find it. My evangelism, my missions, my sanctuary—you must find them.
Though it is not necessary to go that far, when I went to a large church in America, they had revealed all the names of the people who had given offerings. As I saw it, it did not seem biblical. But if you do that, people will naturally give more. They installed it with that in mind.
Even if we do not do that, we set up the system of my church that God desires and save the people of the world. Sometimes what we do casually and as if it were merely natural for us becomes life-changing for the other person. A man who went to prison twenty times was being transferred to another place, and in the meantime someone preached the gospel to him. This man’s life changed. He just heard the gospel. The one who preached it must have simply preached because it was natural to preach the gospel. We do not know what will happen.
Someone handed out a gospel tract, and the tract flew about. This person picked up the tract. He was so weary he intended to commit suicide. By chance he picked up that tract. It said, “Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden.” It said, “I will give you rest.” For us it is something we always hear, but for this man it was a word that struck his chest and head. He was lying down intending to die. That man was changed. It is Sundar Singh, whom you know well.
A man named Mackenzie, since he was Australian, entered Vanuatu to evangelize. He became ill there. When he became ill he could not remain and came out. So he asked, “Is there a country as difficult as Vanuatu? I will go again.” That country is Korea. At that time, it was so. Remarkably, those people are great, but those who push and send them are also great. He came again. He arrived in Busan, and this man fell ill again. So he went back. Then his daughters said, “We will do it.” They left everything they were doing in Australia and came, saying they would do it here in Busan, Korea. The church they founded is Ilsin Church. I came out of there. It was in our village.
No one knows. No one knows the dedication you make. The offerings you give are the economy of light. I understood that: “Ah, this is the economy of light. Ah, this is the missions economy.” It is a timetable we cannot know. The important fact is that you are now in a timetable known only to God. Be thankful. As this thanksgiving continues, many eyes change.
As I mentioned before, this person is an elite—a physician—and by appearance you can tell he is an elite. And he is good-looking. But when you look at his face, it is full of discontent. There is no thanksgiving. So everything is just discontent. The primary cause arose in the home. The husband does not believe in Jesus. He does not come to church. They do not get along. He keeps wanting to go out for recreation. He keeps drinking. Civil servants gather and drink all night and come home. So this is conflict. I said to that deaconess, “You must give thanks. As I see it, that man is a remarkable person. No one knows how well he may believe in the future. As I see it, it is not drinking. He is simply wandering. He is seeking something. The only person who can help him is you. Shall I then follow your husband around and help him? I cannot do that. You must do it. You are thinking wrongly. I am thankful that a man like him has a person like you beside him.” What will you do if you meet an unbeliever? He will go like that forever. He is a smart man. This person understood exactly. He said he was sorry. From then on he came to early-morning prayer for several days. This husband changed. He came home drunk at 2 a.m. and asked for water, and while giving him water she said, “Thank you.” Though drunk, he said, “What are you thankful for?” She said, “I am thankful that you are alive and not dead.” She said, “I am thankful that though you drank so much, God has kept your health.” It is nothing special. But this man thought about something. Change occurred. As I had expected, change occurred and he believed even better. True gospel thanksgiving changes our eyes and changes people. I will pray.
Prayer. We thank You, God. Let much of God’s grace be restored even this week. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.