The Words of Our Testimony Being Our Living
“Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” (Acts 5:20)
“And we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.” (Acts 5:32)
When the angel of the Lord rescued the apostles from prison, he said to them, “Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life” (v. 20). We need to pay attention to the word this, for it indicates a particular life. The Greek word rendered “words” here is rhema, denoting the present spoken word, not the constant written word. Therefore, the angel was saying to the apostles, “Go and speak the present words of this life.”
What life is indicated by this life? It is the divine life preached, ministered, and lived by Peter that overcame the Jewish leaders’ persecution, threatening, and imprisonment. This word indicates that Peter’s life and work made the divine life so real and present in his situation that even the angel saw it and pointed it out.
The apostles were not told to speak of the divine life in a doctrinal way. Today certain Christians may talk about life, but their talk is altogether doctrinal. We need to seek mercy and grace from the Lord so that whenever we speak concerning the divine life, we speak the words of the very life we live. This means that the divine life becomes our daily life. It is this life that we should minister to others. (Life-study of Acts, 2nd ed., msg. 18, p. 140)
SCYP Winter Blending Conference
The 2026 SCYP Winter Blending Conference was held January 10 to 11 in Anaheim. Many young people from Northern California also joined. In total, approximately 900 young people and serving ones participated. From LA, around 60 saints (35 YP, 25 parents and serving ones) attended.
The topic was “Nuggets and Gems to Strengthen Our Life of Pursuing Christ” and the four messages focused on developing a personal life with the Lord and becoming those who actively pursue Him in this age. During these meeting times, multiple sessions were also held specifically for parents. The serving ones had a deep sense that something precious was deposited into all our young people. Please pray:
- That every young person would come to treasure the “gems” they received from the Word this weekend and be encouraged in their daily walk with the Lord.
- That the YP across LA would be blended together and companionized with at least one or two others.
- For every young person to enjoy the experience of overflowing to the saints from the conference this Lord’s Day and have a sweet taste of sharing in the meetings.
SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference
The Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference is this weekend, January 16 to 18, at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. The sessions are open to all the saints. Messages will be spoken in English and Spanish with side-by-side translation. Meeting times are Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 3:00 and 7:00 pm, and Lord’s Day 9:30 am. Child care for K–6 will be provided only at the Church in Anaheim District 3 hall. Please see more details at conf.socalspanish.org.
Please pray for the Lord to bless all the practical services and release the saints to attend with open hearts to hear what the Spirit is speaking to the churches. Pray for the Lord to bless this special time with His presence, His smile, and His fresh speaking full of life and light.
FTTA Middle-age
The Middle-age Training (FTTA-MA) is to help the saints grow in the divine life; be constituted with the truths; develop capacities in the gospel, shepherding, and prophesying; and build up a proper character. The training is intended primarily for ages 35 to 65 but is open to all ages with fellowship.
February 24 is the application deadline for the spring term. Please ask the Lord to release many from across North America and burden them for the FTTA-MA that they may be prepared for His further move.
Poland – Gdańsk
Gdańsk is a city in northern Poland on the Baltic coast, just under an hour by car from the nearest local church and four hours by car from Warsaw. Recently, a couple in Poland moved to Gdańsk to labor there at the main university. In November, when some from the Warsaw campus team visited, they contacted several students and met a teacher of Chinese language who had been in the church life in Asia for a number of years. This teacher has become very useful in obtaining rooms on the campus for the saints to meet in, and she has a heart to care for the students. At the end of this month, a gospel team from the FTTA will spend time in Gdańsk. Please pray:
- That the Lord will reach more seeking ones in this city through the FTTA gospel trip and that two more families will migrate and live near the university.
- That the Lord will raise up a lampstand in Gdańsk to spread His testimony in Poland.
Italy – Gospel Trips
The third round of Torch Relay gospel trips to Turin and Bologna have concluded. May Satan be put to shame to the uttermost, and the Lord raise up many lampstands in Italy!
For Bologna, please pray:
- That the Lord would use the many new ones contacted to raise up a testimony in Bologna and that there would be a way to shepherd these ones regularly, one-on-one, so that none would be lost.
- For the nearby cities of Ferrara and Rimini. May the Lord strengthen the family in Ferrara and connect them with the new ones. May the Lord gain a seeking group of believers in Rimini.
- That the Lord would burden some saints to migrate to Bologna to strengthen and continue the labor for His move in Italy.
For Turin, please pray:
- For the saints to be strengthened to live Christ daily and experience the church life from house to house.
- For the more than 30 new ones contacted during this first gospel trip to have regular feeding appointments and be connected to those who will come on subsequent gospel trips and the local saints.
- For the Lord to raise up a lampstand in Turin.
The next Torch Relay trips will be from January 16 to 26 in Vicenza (including Padua) and Turin. Saints in LA may participate by giving via The Church in Los Angeles designated for “Italy Olympics.”
Cambodia
Last month, border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand displaced more than half a million civilians in both countries. Thirty-eight saints in northern Cambodia have fled to safer areas. A ceasefire agreement signed on December 27 appears to be holding, but many are nervous about returning home.
Pray for the safety of the saints on both sides of the border who have been affected, and that the Lord would shepherd them and supply all their needs. Pray for the white horse to run in the midst of this uncertainty and upheaval.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of our guided reading through the Book of Acts.
- Bibles for America’s new blogpost “Two Important Greek Words in the Bible: Logos and Rhema” is available to read and share at bfa.org/blog.
- Upcoming Feasts: A schedule of LSM conferences and trainings in 2026 is posted at lsm.org/events. The International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference will be February 13 to 15 in Anaheim.
- Lord’s Move to Europe: A presentation given at the 2025 December Semiannual Training on the Lord’s present move in Europe is available at lme.org/reports.html.
- FTTA Graduation: A video of the recent graduation is available for a limited time at ftta.org.
- LSM Digital Resources: Living Stream Ministry’s many digital resources, including recorded hymns and free booklets, may be enjoyed at lsm.org/daily.
- GTCA: To learn more about the burden for migration and 2026 target cities, visit gtca.us.
- Ways to Give: Information may be found at www.churchinlosangeles.org/
members/offerings.