2026.01.25 Sunday 1st Service
Scripture Reading: Genesis 28:10-24
▣ Introduction_ God has prepared everything, but because people do not believe the covenant, they hold onto the physical, reality, and benefit, and miss the essence.
Thank you. If you go along the pier road next to here, there is a place called Jwacheon-dong. Jwacheon-dong was originally the sea. It is a neighborhood made by filling in the sea. People call it “reclaimed land,” that is how they talk. Our house was there. It was there, and my father was running a factory. The pier was in front. An oil tank exploded at the pier. Of course, people walking by died, and our entire neighborhood caught fire. While we were crawling out from the fire, the city told us to wait at the top of that mountain across from us after they had leveled it. First, pitch a tent and wait. The suffering was beyond words. But only those people lived together in the neighborhood. Everyone knew each other well. To the point of knowing even what people were cooking to eat. There, because it was so hard, my father grew ill and passed away. That was when I was in the 6th grade of elementary school. He passed away, and we had to have a funeral, didn’t we? While we were trying to have the funeral on the mountain, some rough people came by. They said they manage the neighborhood and asked why we were burying him there. That is how things were done in the old days. However, among them, one leader appeared. Fortunately, that leader knew us well. So he said, “Ah, the older brother has passed away,” and told them to leave it be. That is why that place is still his grave today.
When I came down after that, the people in our village said that man became like that because he believed in Jesus. A person similar to a fortune teller said strange things, and our relatives came and said it was because he believed in Jesus. I laughed. Inwardly. Because if I laughed outwardly, it would seem like I was mocking them, so I laughed inwardly. “Mind your own business.”
The man who was like a leader in that village, I was under a person like a gangster. That person also managed the whole neighborhood. So, the son of the man who allowed the grave to be made is a friend the same age as me. I met that friend last Friday. “Your father made my father’s grave for us when I was in the 6th grade. That is why I am buying you a meal.” The reason I am telling this story is that many people in our village who persecuted us for believing in Jesus all failed. Strangely, they all failed. However, now only we are doing world evangelization like this. Knowing that, this friend contacted me.
God has prepared many things for us, but we do not know them well.
1. God who already informed through the Word of Genesis 25:23 – Esau will serve Jacob.
He already informed Jacob. If you look at Genesis 25:23, the Word had already appeared. The older, Esau, will serve Jacob. Even though the covenant was clearly all there, he caused problems over small matters.
Apart from the gospel and the essence, we stake our lives on things that are nothing. This Jacob kept saying, “I will receive the older brother’s blessing first.” “I will live better than my brother.” Fine. Up to that point. However, he always held onto reality rather than the covenant and missed all the essence.
2. The incident of exchanging red bean stew for the birthright
Because of this, a big problem occurred. The older brother was outside; Esau was a strong friend who did hunting and such. Jacob was just at the level of helping his mother at home. Then this older brother came and said, “I am so hungry, give me that stew, the red bean stew, quickly.” At that time, Jacob said, “Sell your birthright to me. If you call me ‘older brother,’ I will give it to you.” So Esau said he would do so. That is how he gave the stew.
3. Jacob who received all the blessings from his father while pretending to be Esau, and Esau who tried to kill Jacob
This Jacob deceived his father again. Covering his body with skins, he said, “I am Esau. Since father’s eyes are dim, please bless me.” So, Isaac, thinking he was Esau, gave all the blessings. You parents have the right of blessing for your children. Right? If possible, it is good for you to pray for blessings for young children. You don’t need to do it every hour, but doing it about once a day at mealtime is also fine. He gave all these blessings to Jacob. However, Esau found out later. So Esau became so angry that he said he would kill Jacob. At that time, he could actually kill him. He came out saying he would kill him.
4. Jacob who missed the important covenant and became a life on the run
So, when the mother saw, it was a big problem. That is why she made Jacob run away. “Go quickly. Run away and get through this crisis. I don’t know when you will return, but at any rate, run away.” That is how he ran away.
How hard must he have fled? While fleeing, the sun set and he fell asleep on some mountain. This is the covenant that appeared then. That is the scripture we read today.
Today, we suffer uselessly because we do not believe the covenant. Even though God has prepared everything, we keep collapsing because of the physical, reality, and calculations of gain and loss.
The reason I told the story of my house earlier is that I knew when I was young. I knew that the people of God’s covenant would certainly do world evangelization. All those people were wrong. Evidence arose there. Of all people, that son contacted me. We talked a lot while eating. We talked about all the things that happened in the past and what we did when we were young. In a way, if I talked to you, you wouldn’t understand, would you? If I said, “Hey, where, that person,” you wouldn’t understand. The conversation just flowed. He confessed with his own mouth. “Hey, all our friends failed and died, but you truly received God’s blessing. Please get me a job.” “Would a job work at your age?” I asked. Then he said, “Kwang-su, make me a pastor.” “You cannot be a pastor.” Conversation doesn’t even work.
Thus, we live missing almost all the important covenants. So we ended up becoming a life on the run. We became a life that is almost always fleeing.
▣ Main_ What God Informed
It is not a life on the run. Here, God informed him of three sure things.
1. God who is always with me
It is not that He was with you only in the midst of difficulties. Right? He proved that He is always with you. That is the first thing. Because he was so exhausted, Jacob collapsed and had a dream. In the dream, he saw a ladder coming down. Isn’t a ladder a bridge for going up and down? This bridge went from Jacob all the way up to heaven. Then he saw the angels of the Lord going up and down. Above it, he saw Jehovah—he saw this.
1) Ladder – Prayer is always connected between us and God. The angels of the Lord run errands for all our prayers (verse 12).
You must remember. It is true that God is with us when it is difficult, but He is always with us. You must believe. This ladder exists. Prayer is always connected between us and God. The angels of the Lord, the messengers, run errands for all our situations and all our prayers. He showed that. Almost no one believes it.
2) The land where you lie I will give to you and your descendants. Your offspring will occupy the north, south, east, and west (verses 13-14).
There, God spoke. “I am the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land where you lie I will give to you and your descendants.” It didn’t end with that. “Your offspring will be like the dust of the earth. So you will occupy the north, south, east, and west.”
3) All peoples on earth will be blessed through you (verse 14).
Then, in verse 14, it says all peoples will be blessed through you. He gave this amazing promise. Jacob is fleeing in a rush now, thinking “I’m going to die,” but God is being with him while holding the greatest promise.
2. God who is with us through the covenant (verse 15)
It is not just that much. Second. He was not just with him. How must it be? He was with him through the covenant. That is why we grasp the Word.
1) I did not know that Jehovah is with me (verse 16).
He was with him through the covenant, and at that time, in verse 16, Jacob woke up. Then what did he say? “I did not know that Jehovah is here with me.” We do not know well. We do not know well that God, who works as a Spirit, is with you. Right? Those possessed by demons know that demons exist, but we do not know that God is with us.
2) This is the house of God and the gate of heaven (verse 17).
Then what did he say in verse 17? “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
3) Bethel – He set up the stone pillow as a pillar, poured oil, and prayed before God (verses 18-19).
So, he set up the stone he had used as a pillow and poured the one jar of oil his mother gave him—that was his only property—and prayed before God. That is why he called that place Bethel.
First, what is the prayer you must grasp? Just as God connected the ladder, He is always guarding and watching your prayers. Wherever you go, God gives you the blessing of Bethel.
3. God who is with us with the blessing called world missions
It is not just that much. He spoke of the third thing. He is with us with the blessing called world missions.
1) All peoples will be blessed through your offspring (verse 14).
In verse 14 today, all peoples will be blessed through your offspring. You must hold this firmly. And what else?
2) If He brings me back, it will be proved that Jehovah is my God, and this pillar will be God’s house (verses 20-22).
“This pillar will be God’s house.” That is what he said. So Jacob received so much grace and was moved, saying, “I didn’t know it was like this.” He makes a vow. “If He surely brings me back, He will truly be my God.” That means it will be proven that He is my God.
3) I will surely give God a tenth (verse 12). – Offering is the recovery of the 3 economies
Then he said one thing. “I will surely give God a tenth.” This is an important story. In the past, Abraham met Melchizedek and gave a tenth. Many churches complain about their budgets. In a way, it makes no sense. If all saints give a tenth, the economy of light and missions all come to life. If all saints see offerings as precious, you will truly recover the 3 economies before God. This is not a story saying “pay money.” It is not a story saying “give an offering.”
That is why I always say this. My mother thought giving offerings was the most precious thing. Preparing in advance in the offering envelope, I understand up to that point. You know crumpled money? She irons it. She irons the crumpled money with an iron and puts it in. I didn’t understand that at all back then. How she could do that when she had so little money, I did not understand. As I continue living, I understand. Ah… God knew our weakness and never once let us be sick. It is a miracle. Not once. A person should be sick at least once, right? We weren’t. God actually opened doors for evangelism wherever we went. It is truly God’s grace. How could doors for evangelism open? They open wherever we go. In the places they opened, the blessings of the 3 economies began to occur. Everyone, you must truly grasp the covenant.
He showed that clearly to Jacob. Jacob is fleeing on a hurried journey.
※ Difficult matters – Do not make a mistake and wait. God will prepare the best thing.
Everyone, do you have difficult matters? Probably not. Do not make a mistake and wait. God will prepare the best thing for you. Right?
1. The time Joseph was in prison
While Joseph was in prison, God prepared the greatest thing.
2. Moses’ 40 years in Midian
While Moses, who grasped the covenant, was in Midian for 40 years, God prepared the greatest thing in history.
3. The time David was on the run – Preparation to establish the nation of Israel completely
During the time David was on the run, God prepared to establish the nation of Israel completely.
4. The time the early church was persecuted – Disciple movement
While the early church was persecuted, God raised up the entire real disciple movement.
※ Summary
Today, you must remember.
1. God is always with us as a Spirit and sends the angels of the Lord to help and achieve His works.
God is not with you only at this time or that time. God is not an idol. He is always with you as a Spirit. You must believe. I am saying He is setting up a ladder through you.
Not only that, God sends the angels of the Lord to achieve amazing help and all of God’s works for you. There are many theologians who do not believe, and they probably won’t have a good religious life. There are many pastors who do not believe. So the church won’t work. Evangelism won’t work. It cannot work. Why? If you do not know the spiritual world, how can you do spiritual things using physical things? Look at the Bible. It says that in the time you are praying here today, in the time you are grasping the accurate covenant, God mobilizes the heavenly armies. That is the first thing.
2. The blessing of Bethel – The place where you have gone is Bethel ( courtyard )
What is the second blessing? Wherever you go, He gives the blessing of Bethel. It is not just a blessing. Isn’t it Bethel, the house of God? It says the gate of heaven was opened there. Right? So what does it mean that the gate of heaven was opened? It means that the place where you have gone is Bethel, the temple.
3. All nations blessed – He gives the blessing of world missions.
And what is the third? All nations will be blessed. He gives the blessing of world missions. You must believe.
▣ Conclusion_ Three Prayers
If so, it is not about whether it works or not, but try praying for three things all day today. Pray just today, today. Because the message will be different next Sunday. What is my evangelism? I’m not saying to do it. Ask. What is my missions? What is my work 300%? If you just ask, answers come.
1. What is my evangelism?
What is my evangelism? In the past, I thought evangelism didn’t fit me at all. What is my evangelism? When I thought about my own state, I realized the door immediately.
2. What is my missions?
What is my missions? Jesus said, “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Jesus said that. “With all authority in heaven and on earth, I will be with you always.” He set a condition. “Make disciples of all nations.” He blessed again. “Go to all peoples.” “In my name, drive out demons.” “When you place your hands on the sick, they will get well.” Then important words come out. It says as they went around, the Lord who sat on the throne worked. That is the blessing you will receive. I am telling you to ask, not just go to evangelize. “What is my evangelism?” It shouldn’t be answered right away. Because this is too important. “What is my missions?” Jesus left after saying this and that, so what about me? You must ask. That is what happens on Sunday.
3. What is my work 300%?
Then the answer follows. My work 300%. Why do I keep emphasizing this now? You cannot do world missions just by attending a workplace now. Remnants cannot do world missions with just the studies they are doing. Even if you cannot do it, we must make our posterity do it. We must make the 300% for them. If we are not careful, our posterity will starve. Would it be okay for your posterity to starve and receive subsidies from the district office? We must make the 300% to do world missions, save others, and save the church. Jesus promised that. God spoke from the beginning. What did He say from the beginning? “I will be with you.” “I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.” And He promised. “Through your seed, all nations will be blessed.” People don’t believe that. They can’t believe it. That is why they suffer. When Abraham believed, what did God say? “He credited it to him as righteousness.” When he believed. The time to believe came. “He credited it to him as righteousness.” He began to build an altar. “Look to the north, south, east, and west as promised. Walk through the length and breadth of it.” It happened exactly as promised.
I am a witness. I am not a teacher who teaches you. I am not even a model enough to show you an example of something. I am a witness. Even the children of a house that is not good, do not worry. I am a witness. It’s okay even if everything collapsed. I am a witness. It’s okay. Grasping only Christ and starting anew. I bless you in the name of Jesus Christ that this blessing occurs first in prayer all day today.
Prayer. We give thanks to God. Let today be the day when the important Jacob received the covenant. Let us see the blessing of God who is with me, the messengers of the Lord, and the ladder. Let us see the blessing of Bethel. Let us see the blessing of saving the nations. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.