Prevailing and Consecrating Prayers for God’s Goal
“Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth.” (Matt. 6:10)
“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 14:17)
In 1 and 2 Samuel we can see that the Triune God with His embodiment and redemption was fully involved with bringing forth Samuel and David so that the kingdom of God might be brought in. It is crucial for us to see that the Triune God is involved with us today, operating in us to accomplish His will, fulfill His purpose, and satisfy the desire of His heart.
In 1 and 2 Samuel the good land enjoyed by those who cooperated with God became the kingdom of God. In our cooperation with God we need to enjoy Christ to such an extent that our enjoyment of Christ becomes the kingdom of God, in which we reign in life with Christ.
There is no other way to reach the high peak of God’s eternal economy, the reality of the Body of Christ, except by praying. Our becoming the overcomers as the reality of the Body of Christ to be the bride of Christ will close this age, the age of the church, and will bring Christ as the King of glory back to take, possess, and rule over this earth with His overcomers in the kingdom age.
There is an urgent need for some to pray prevailing prayers for God’s goal, as Hannah did, and for qualified ones to be like Samuel—a Nazarite, a priest, a prophet, and the last judge— who was used by God to terminate the confused situation among God’s people and bring in the king and the kingdom. (Crystallization-study of 1 and 2 Samuel, key statements 1-2; msg. 1, I.D.2.a-b, III.A)
Pray for many saints to be motivated by God sovereignly and secretly to pray desperate, consecrated, and consecrating prayers, and to pray prevailing prayers to bring in the kingdom.
The First Place in All Things
“He is the Head of the Body, the church; He is the beginning, the Firstborn from the dead, that He Himself might have the first place in all things.” (Col. 1:18)
There is much information on the internet, some good, some false, about the pandemic. And it is easier on our natural being to stay home and meet by Zoom. But, let us pray that every saint make a decision about returning to in-person meetings by giving the Lord the headship, the first place.
Hall 1 and Hall 2 Retreats
This weekend, from December 31 to January 2, the Korean-speaking saints from Hall 1, District 1 will have a retreat at Oak Glen. The fellowship for the meetings will be on receiving the burden, seeing the vision, and taking action for the increase and propagation of the church. The first session will cover the significance of being a Hebrew to cross the river. The second session will unveil the vision of God’s economy and the normal way of fruit-bearing and shepherding to build up the church. The third session will be a call to action as a branch in the vine, slave, witness, priest, and God’s offering.
Please pray for the spirit of each saint to be stirred up and for all to receive the same burden for God’s move among the Korean-speaking people in 2022.
At the same time, also at Oak Glen, Hall 2 will have a retreat for all languages. The burden is for all the saints to know that the gospel is a corporate matter in which we can all participate with our companions and in our small groups. We are expecting 81 saints (including college and YP) and 21 children to attend.
Please pray for the blending of all the saints so that way may enter into the burden of the gospel together in one accord. Pray for the boldness of all to enter into the basic truths so that we would have the cargo to unload as we participate in the gospel corporately.
The Church in Downey – First Lord’s Table Meeting
We rejoice in the Lord to announce the establishment of the church in Downey. The church will hold its first Lord’s Table meeting on January 2, 2022 from 10:00 am to noon.
The Lord’s move in Downey began in 2019 with prayer, gospel outreach in parks and by door-knocking, and home meetings. A couple and a family moved to Downey that year and another couple in 2020. Today, over 25 saints meet in Downey as a district of the church in East Los Angeles. The saints have in-person meetings, some hybrid, as well as fully virtual meetings to meet the needs of the new ones.
May the Lord bless this beginning of the church in Downey, a local expression of the one Body of Christ, through the churches blending together in one accord on January 2. If you would like to participate in this meeting virtually, click here or use Zoom Meeting ID 752 567 1205.
Bibles for America
As 2021 draws to a close, our hearts are full of thanks to the Lord for all He’s done through BfA. Despite the challenges related to the ongoing pandemic, we believe God has been working behind the scenes to stir up a hunger for His Word in people.
We invite you to read our “2021 Year in Review” report at bfa.org/2021 to get an overview of what the Lord has accomplished through BfA, including reaching many people in the US with free Bibles and people all over the world with Christian e-books.
In addition, a recording of the webinar from December 19, “Preaching the Gospel and Teaching the Truth with BfA Materials,” is now available to view at http://bfa.org/videos/webinar-recording-dec2021 with password gospelandtruth.
May God’s Word continue to spread throughout this country and bring true peace and satisfaction to people everywhere. May He gain our cooperation to preach the gospel and teach the truth.
European Winter School of Truth
This year’s European Winter School of Truth is taking place this week from December 26 to 31, with most of the dozen or so regions offering either in-person or online options. The subject is “God’s Full Salvation.” One burden is to emphasize small groups in the homes, and we believe that the Lord can do much in our households to gain what He is after.
Please pray for the saints preparing for the WST, the willingness of all the YP and parents to participate, and for the Lord’s specific shepherding of each one.
North Africa
North Africa continues to require much prayer. Cairo, Egypt remains the only lampstand in the region. We believe that the Lord desires to spread His testimony in North Africa. We ask all the saints to stand in oneness with the Lord and join us in prayer for raising up many more lampstands in this region.
The Arabic publication work in Cairo has produced several new ministry titles, including volumes of Life-study messages. Such ministry material has proven to be quite attractive to Arabic readers. The current priority of the publication work is the Arabic NT Recovery Version project. We praise the Lord that He is raising up new translators.
To read more about the church life in Cairo, see the December issue of the Lord’s Move to Africa newsletter in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move.
Monday, January 3: Week 2 of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move.
Monday, January 10: begin Meeting God’s Need and Present Needs in the Lord’s Recovery. -
Lord’s Move to Europe: Please visit http://amanatrust.org.uk/page/reports for video and written updates on Europe prepared for the recent December Semiannual Training.
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Living Stream Ministry: The December digital newsletter explains the significance of crystallization-studies, a report on the Recovery Version translation into seven languages in India, and a helpful videos on getting the most out of the Recovery Version App.
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Ways to Give: Information about the church’s online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.