Week of February 6
Our Need to Be Renewed in Our Inner Man Day by Day
"And He who sits on the throne said, Behold, I make all things new." (Rev. 21:5a)
"Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16)
The Christian life is a life of being renewed; we need to be renewed in our inner inner man day by day. In our experience we are in the process of becoming a new creation by being broken and renewed. In the sense of being in Christ, we are a new creation, but in actuality in our daily life, we are not that new because we do not yet have Christ as the only One who occupies us, fills us, and is our life, nature, appearance, and expression.
All the sufferings that God has assigned to us have one unique purpose—to renew us. The renewing of the inner man takes place as the inner man is nourished with the fresh supply of the resurrection life of Christ. As our outer man is being consumed by the killing work of death, our inner man—our regenerated spirit with our inward parts—is being metabolically renewed day by day with the supply of resurrection life.
We need to experience and enjoy the renewing capacity in the resurrection life of Christ so that we may be renewed in our inner man day by day. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 5, V, B, B.1, C.2, D, D.1, E.4)
Southern California Young People Blending Conference
"That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:7)
This coming weekend, from February 11 to 13, there will be a hybrid YP Blending Conference for the young people across Southern California. Pray that all of our young people would gather to be blended and be encouraged by the kindness of God.
Bibles for America
Last October, we asked for prayer regarding an issue that prevented some people from being able to order their NT Recovery Version. We made improvements to the user interface in December and were also able to improve the performance of our ads on social media. We're happy to report that since then, we've seen an increase in Bible orders—we've shipped out nearly 3,000 more Recovery Versions in January than in December. We're continuing to make improvements to the ordering process, but are thankful to the Lord for the progress that has already been made.
Please pray that copies of the NT Recovery Version would continue to go out unhindered to seeking people all over this country.
Vietnam
The Vietnamese-speaking world encompasses more than 97 million people within the country and more than 4 million overseas. The publication work in Vietnam started in the late 1960s when some brothers there began to translate the ministry to supply the saints, who were all in Christianity at the time. This labor of love continued through the early 1980s when the saints officially started the church life.
In 2006, after fellowship with LSM, the publication work officially began with 3 full-timers. Currently there are 9 full-timers, along with some volunteers, to feed nearly 4,000 saints in the country. To date, 235 titles have been translated.
In November 2020, Rhema Vietnam was established with the burden of reaching the seeking ones, especially Christians, who account for 8.5% of the country's population, despite limited freedom. Thousands of e-books have been downloaded and over 400 people have asked for printed sets.
Please pray for:
- The Lord to grace the saints laboring in this work abundantly: pray that they would serve Him and the Body in His rest and under His yoke.
- The preparation of the Old Testament translation project: pray that the Lord would preserve the serving ones' being and consecration.
- The future translation projects, especially the high peak of the divine revelation titles.
- The saints to have their appetite preserved and capacity enlarged to receive even more riches of Christ through this ministry.
To read more, see the January issue of LSM's newsletter or the most recent issue of the Lord's Move to Asia newsletter in English and Chinese.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- International Chinese-speaking Conference: Online from February 18 to 20. Please follow announcements in each hall concerning how to participate.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made a series of free e-booklets available to read and share with others at http://www.lsm.org/booklets.
- 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.
Week of January 30
Fellowship and Petition
"One thing I have asked from Jehovah; that do I seek: to dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire in His temple." (Psa. 27:4)
"Thus says Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel and the One who formed him, ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands, command Me." (Isa. 45:11)
The meaning of prayer is to absorb God. The more we contact God, the more we will absorb Him, and the more we absorb Him, the more we will enjoy Him as our light and our salvation. The meaning of prayer is also for us to express God. In Psalm 27:4 David says that he desired not only to behold the beauty of Jehovah but also "to inquire in His temple." To inquire is to let God speak within us so that the words spoken to Him in prayer are actually God's speaking within us, God's expressions.
During the first aspect of our prayer, we enter into fellowship with God, who then anoints us with His burden for the work and reveals His intention to us. The second aspect of our prayer is then to inquire of the Lord by petitioning Him concerning His will and His burden for the work. Then we carry out the purpose of prayer by coordinating with God to co-work with God. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 4, I, III, V)
Let us pray for all the saints to learn to coordinate and co-work with God through prayer!
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
A new term of the special training on the eldership for elders and responsible brothers in Southern California begins this Saturday, February 5 on Zoom. Through regular corporate gatherings, group times, and personal study, the burden is to strengthen the present eldership and responsible brothers in the churches, to perfect and raise up the next generation of leading brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way. Please pray:
- For the Lord to abundantly grace and strengthen all the participants—both new and returning ones—and become their perseverance and faithfulness to present themselves absolutely to this training.
- That an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California will be ushered in as all the brothers are attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion.
- That the Lord will bless this ongoing training so that all participants will be perfected further for the Lord's testimony in Southern California and for the building up of the church, the Body of Christ.
FTTA Middle-Age Training
The Spring 2022 semester of the FTTA-MA is scheduled to begin on March 21 in Anaheim. Registration is still open. The application deadline is March 1.
In the FTTA-MA, saints of different races, nationalities, and languages, come together to be perfected in an atmosphere of blending to usher in the reality of the Body of Christ for the one new man.
Please pray that the Lord will stir in the hearts of many saints in the Lord's recovery between the ages of 35 and 65 to rise up to redeem the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and seize the opportunity to be trained and perfected. For more details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
FTTL
The Spring 2022 semester of the Full-time Training in London will begin on February 7. Please pray that the Lord will have a way through the FTTL to raise up the university graduates in Europe to be living members of His Body and overcomers for His bride.
Atlanta – Meeting Hall
Please continue to pray for the timely progress of the church in Atlanta's meeting hall building project and for the financial need to be met. As the Lord leads, saints may give through the church in LA with designation for 'Atlanta Meeting Hall' or directly at http://meetinghall.churchinatlanta.org. More information is posted at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
India – Translation Work
The translation work of the NT Recovery Version into the major Indian languages began in 2013. After years of training and labor, the translation of the entire NT (including verses, footnotes, outlines, and cross references) into Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Mizo is now complete. Praise the Lord!
A final proofreading with 64 volunteers per language is taking place from January 3 to February 5. The final typesetting will be done at the end of this period, and the files will be sent for printing.
Please pray for:
- The health, accommodation, food, coordination, and blending of the all the saints during this period of serving together.
- The Lord to grant the translation teams the needed wisdom that the Recovery Version in these languages will provide the best utterance for the revelation in the divine Word, that it may be expressed in these languages with the greatest accuracy.
- The Lord to use this translation to spread His word among the Indians to save tens of millions of Indians to be among the great multitude standing before His throne and be part of the fulfillment His eternal purpose.
To read more, see the December issue of LSM's digital newsletter, "Having This Ministry...".
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- All-LA Prayer Meeting: A recording of the fellowship on young people and college students from the all-LA prayer meeting on January may be viewed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean.
- Living Stream Ministry: The January digital newsletter includes a consideration of pray-reading the Word of God and an introduction to a new print series, Historical Evaluations of Christian Thought.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made a series of free e-booklets available to read and share with others at http://www.lsm.org/booklets.
- 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.
Week of January 23
Faith and Love
"Whom having not seen, you love; into whom though not seeing Him at present, yet believing, you exult with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory." (1 Pet. 1:8)
"Looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…" (Heb. 12:2)
"For in Christ Jesus… faith avails, operating through love." (Gal. 5:6)
Faith and love are two inseparable, excellent virtues of the believers in Christ. Faith is for appreciating, substantiating, and receiving the unlimited riches of the Triune God. Faith is given to us by God so that by it we may receive Christ, the embodiment of the Triune God, and thereby enter into the Triune God and be joined to Him as one, having Him as our life, life supply, and everything.
Love is for experiencing, enjoying, and living out the immeasurably rich Triune God. Love issues out of faith and enables us to live out all the riches of the Triune God in Christ with those who have believed into Christ with us in order that the Triune God may have a glorious corporate expression.
We need to develop and perfect our faith in the Lord and our love for Him—the One whom we have not seen. We love Him whom we have not seen because of believing, that is, because of the faith that has been infused into us through our hearing of the living word. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 3, II.A, B-B.1, C-C.1, I, A.1.b)
Church in Los Angeles
As we continue our transition toward in-person gatherings in our respective meeting places, let us look to the Lord for doing so safely without fear or anxiety. Let us continue to pray for one another and for more saints to be shepherded back to the enjoyment of in-person meetings and "face-to-face" fellowship (2 John 12). May the Lord gain our true worship and receive all the glory!
Atlanta – Meeting Hall
In June 2020, during a period of social unrest, the meeting hall of the church in Atlanta, Georgia was set on fire by arson; 95% of the building interior was damaged.
The church in Atlanta plays a strategic role in southeast region as many regional and extra-regional conferences are held at its meeting hall. Rather than merely restoring the hall, through fellowship it seems prudent to enlarge the footprint and perform certain upgrades to meet the Lord's present and future needs; such as expanding the conference capacity to 1,500 and adding a 10,000 sq. foot second floor for children's meetings and classrooms. The total project cost is $9 million; $5.5 million are still needed.
Please pray for the timely progress of this building project and for the financial need to be met. As the Lord leads, saints may give through the church in LA with designation for 'Atlanta Meeting Hall' or directly at http://meetinghall.churchinatlanta.org.
Baltic-Nordic Conference
The upcoming Online Baltic-Nordic Conference from January 28 to 30 will be hosted by the churches in the Baltic States (Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania). Five selected messages from the recent semiannual training on 1 and 2 Samuel will be ministered. It is a wonderful opportunity not only to be constituted with the truth, but also for the Russian- and English-speaking saints to be blended for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Please pray for the Lord's rich blessing on this time of fellowship, and pray that many saints will be able to participate in this online conference.
Cairo, Egypt
Living Stream Ministry and the Arabic publication work in Cairo will be presenting all our Arabic ministry books and booklets (over 80 titles) at the upcoming 2022 Cairo International Book Fair, to be held January 27 through February 7. This year we have been given a corner booth, which means more foot traffic and more opportunity for contacting seekers. Thank the Lord for this provision.
Please pray for this book fair, asking the Lord to bring His chosen ones to the booth, to open their hearts to His Word in the ministry, and to give the serving ones a door of utterance to speak forth all the words of this life. A report from last year's Cairo Book Fair is here.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 3 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- All-LA Prayer Meeting: A recording of the fellowship on young people and college students from the all-LA prayer meeting on 1/11 may be viewed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean.
- Living Stream Ministry: The January digital newsletter includes a consideration of pray-reading the Word of God and an introduction to a new print series, Historical Evaluations of Christian Thought.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made a series of free e-booklets available to read and share with others at http://www.lsm.org/booklets.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of January 16
God's Good Pleasure to Meet His Need in This Age
"For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13)
"But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love." (Eph. 4:15-16)
God's good pleasure, His heart's desire, is to meet the demand of this age, which is God's need in this age. What He needs is the Body testimony, which is the reality of the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem. This is to fulfill the Lord's heart's desire according to His word concerning the building up of His Body.
We are being perfected in this present age to become functioning members of the Body of Christ. The church as the Body of Christ is brought forth when all the one-talented ones are functioning. Each member of the Body of Christ has at least one talent. Today the building up of the church hinges on the perfecting, building up, and raising up of the one-talented ones. God is recovering the most difficult thing today, which is the fulfillment of Ephesians 4:11-16. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 2, I, A, C-D, D.3, E)
May the Lord gain the functioning of all the saints for the building up of His Body to meet His need today.
LA Young People & College Students
Following last week's prayer meeting, let us continue to stand with our young people and college students in prayer. Please pray for the following matters:
- That the Lord would be their peace and joy from all anxiety, cover their health and safety, and shine brightly from them to their friends and classmates.
- For the preparation of the SoCal YP Blending Conference from February 11 to 13, that it would be a help and encouragement to all.
- For the follow-up and fellowship with many new students on campus and the further connection of our college students with community saints in small groups and the church life.
- For the Lord's wisdom to all the parents and serving ones in balancing safe yet engaging activities for our students in light of the pandemic.
South Africa National Student Training
The upcoming South Africa National Student Training takes place January 24 to 30. The timing of this training is strategic, since it universities across the country start the academic year in February. Many students will attend in-person and we hope the Lord could have a way to reach more freshman this year.
The general subject of this training is "Rise Up and Build." Currently, 26 students have signed up. It is an encouraging number considering it will be the first full-time, in-person student training in two years. A number of students are still quite new among us and this will be their first time attending such a training. However, we do need the saints' prayer, as already a few registrants have cancelled in recent days. Please pray that the Lord would:
- Release everyone who signed up, as well as any still on the fence, to attend this training in the best condition to receive the divine dispensing!
- Prepare the hearts of the first-timers and that they would get more built up with the other students.
- Bless all of us with one accord, whether full-timers, community saints, or students. Lord, make us a net to catch men alive for You!
Zurich, Switzerland
For a long time there has been a burden for migrations to six important European cities to strengthen or raise up churches. Zurich is one of these. The urban area population is about 1.8 million. At least four couples will soon migrate to Zurich, two this month. Some of these are native Europeans; others have been in German-speaking church life for many years. Ask the Lord to supply all the practical needs for their moves, and to bless the development of the church life in Zurich.
This year the saints in Zurich started to read the New Testament with footnotes on a 2 year schedule. Pray that all the saints enter into the enjoyment of reading and that through this enjoyment they will rise up and function in the church life.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- All-LA Prayer Meeting: A recording of the fellowship on young people and college students from last week's prayer meeting may be viewed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made a series of free e-booklets available to read and share with others at http://www.lsm.org/booklets.
- 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.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of January 9
Cooperating and Working with God for His Will and Purpose
"Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth." (Col. 3:2)
"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is." (Eph. 5:17)
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord." (1 Cor. 15:58)
God can carry out on earth what He has planned in heaven only when He has people who will cooperate with Him. God needs to gain people on earth who will cooperate with Him and work with Him according to His mind. As long as there are those who are of the same mind as God and are willing to work with Him, God's work will be carried out on earth.
As members of Christ's organic, mystical Body, we are either expressing Him or limiting Him. The Lord needs to bring us to the point where we have nothing to hinder Him from doing whatever He wills. Once the Lord has brought us to a place of total responsiveness to Him, He will have a free and unhindered way to accomplish His will. Then there will be nothing that God cannot do to carry out His purpose on earth. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 1, I.A.1-2, B.3.a-b)
College Students in Los Angeles
Although UCLA and USC have postponed the start of in-person classes until at least the end of January, a good number of students are already in Los Angeles and able to gather for fellowship. CSUN starts towards the end of January as well. Please pray that:
- The students would not be discouraged but would enjoy the Lord from the very start of their semester/quarter.
- We would have solid follow-up with many new students from last quarter/semester, quickly re-establishing regular fellowship with them.
- Students could be further connected with community saints in small groups and brought into the church life.
- We have the proper balance of safe yet engaging activities for the students in light of the pandemic.
Young People in Los Angeles
Let us stand with our young people in prayer as they continue to navigate the effects of the pandemic on their lives, education, and mental health. Please pray for the following matters:
- On Tuesday, January 11, LAUSD begins its spring semester. Other schools in the Los Angeles area have already begun or will be starting shortly as well. Pray that the Lord would be peace to the young people from all anxiety, cover their health and safety, and shine brightly from them to their classmates.
- From February 11 to 13 there will be a hybrid YP Blending Conference for the young people across Southern California. Pray for the preparation of this conference, and that it would be an encouragement for all of our young people to go on in the Lord together.
SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference
The Southern California Spanish-speaking conference is this weekend, January 14 and 15. Conference meetings are 7:30 pm Friday, and 4:00 and 7:00 pm Saturday, spoken in Spanish with translation to English. Conference outlines and the Zoom link will be available Wednesday at http://www.socalspanish.org. There is also a meeting for children and parents from 11:00 to 11:45 am Saturday at the same Zoom link, in English with translation to Spanish; the subject is "God Cares for Us." Unlike other years, the YP blending conference will not be held simultaneously, but will be February 11 to 13.
Pray that the Lord bless this time with His presence and with His fresh speaking full of life and light.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made their rainbow booklets available as free e-booklets to read and to share with others. They are at http://www.lsm.org/lifes-principle where there is a menu with links to six more e-booklets.
- Living Stream Ministry: The December digital newsletter explains the significance of crystallization-studies, a report on the Recovery Version translation in India, and helpful videos on getting the most out of the Recovery Version App.
- 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.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of January 2
The Christian Way of Financial Management
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24)
"Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, they will give into your bosom. For with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38)
The reason we are in darkness and are not in the light is that there is the entanglement of money. If we can solve this problem, many other problems will be solved... The gospel has been "bottled up" like water kept in a bottle, and money is like the cork of the bottle. If money does not go away, water will not come. If you do not give away your money, you will not even be able to live a proper human life. A person has to open his eyelids before he can see. In the same way, if money does not go away, a person cannot see the Lord.
The Christian way of managing wealth is completely different from that of an unbeliever. The Christian way of financial management is the way of giving. The unbeliever's way is the way of accumulating... What we receive depends on what we give. In other words, the Christian way of financial stewardship is to receive according to what we give. Worldly people give according to what they have received, but we receive according to what we give. Our inflow depends on our outflow. (CWWN, vol. 49, ch. 28)
Being Revived Every Morning to Be Renewed Day by Day
"Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16)
In Matthew 13:43 the overcomers are likened to the sun shining forth in the kingdom of their Father. The sun rises afresh every morning. If we are to be the overcomers, the sun, we must also rise up every morning to be revived by the Lord.
The Christian life does not only have one day. We are being renewed day by day. This means that day after day we have to be revived by the Lord. Yesterday morning we may have had a revival, but this morning we need another one, and tomorrow we need another one. Every year we need three hundred sixty-five revivals to be renewed day by day. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 2, "Being Renewed Day by Day")
College Campuses in LA
This week we have 15 FTTA trainees related to LA joining us to serve for one week, mostly at UCLA. We also have a few new full-timers who have joined the team. Please pray that we would all be blended and built together for the Lord's move on our college campuses.
UCLA classes resume this week and USC next week. In the midst of so many changes in the environment, we need to pray that we could reconnect right away and face-to-face with our students. In these times of uncertainty, we need much prayer to reach even more new students! Pray also for the Lord's wisdom and covering of everyone's health as our students and full-timers return to campus.
Denver, Colorado
A large fire near Denver has destroyed more than 500 homes. Some saints in the church in Denver had to evacuate but none suffered loss of property nor harm; all have returned home. The church in Denver has some cases of COVID and requests our prayer for that. Also, they desire that all of this turn into an opportunity for the gospel, since many people were directly affected or shaken by the fire.
Philippines
In mid-December a typhoon swept through the Philippines and caused much destruction and damage to a number of church meeting halls and saints' homes. Those who wish to give for recovery from this disaster can do so through the church in LA or by following instructions at http://churchinanaheim.org/donations. Designate your offering for "Philippines Typhoon Relief."
Russia
The church in Rostov-on-Don was established in 1994. Today the church has approximately 90 saints. The city has a population over one million and 39 universities, the largest of which has about 56,000 students. The brothers in Rostov-on-Don found a suitable meeting facility for a little over 400,000 USD (with remodeling). The Russian-speaking churches have donated 200,000 USD. The final payment is due by May 1. You may give through the church in LA or LME (http://www.lordsmove.org/offerings.html). Designate your offering "Rostov Meeting Hall."
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move. Next week, we begin Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference: January 14 and 15 on Zoom. The three conference messages will be spoken in Spanish and translated into English. For schedule and details, see http://socalspanish.org.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry: has made their rainbow booklets available as free e-booklets to read and to share with others. They are at http://www.lsm.org/lifes-principle where there is a menu with links to six more e-booklets.
- 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 helpful videos on getting the most out of the Recovery Version App.
- 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.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of December 26
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.
- 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.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of December 19
December 2021 Semiannual Training
The Semiannual Training for the churches in LA and Santa Clarita is taking place this week on the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Pray for the saints to receive and respond to the Lord's burden in His up-to-date speaking, and to participate as much as possible in study times. Pray that through this training the Triune God will operate more in us to accomplish His will, fulfill His purpose, and satisfy the desire of His heart.
FTTA
Last weekend, 50 trainees graduated from the FTTA and 6 trainees graduated from FTTA-XB. Please continue to pray for all these ones to follow the Lamb wherever He may go. Pray also for many college graduates and young working saints to answer God's call to go to the FTTA next term. A video of the graduation meeting is available for a limited time at http://ftta.org.
Bibles for America
In light of this past year's many challenges, Bibles for America hosted a special webinar with a particular fellowship concerning the Lord's commission to the church to proclaim the gospel and teach the truth. The webinar also went over how to acquire BfA materials such as gospel tracts, NTs, and books to give away, as well as how the Lord has made a way for BfA to continue reaching people with God's Word in 2021. A recording may be viewed at http://biblesforamerica.org/videos/webinar-recording-dec2021 with password gospelandtruth. May God's Word continue to run throughout this country, and 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 for young people is being organized regionally and run locally, with most of the dozen or so regions offering an in-person or online option from December 26 to 31. The subject is "God's Full Salvation." 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.
Europe
Please continue to pray for the raising up of the Lord's testimony in major European cities and particularly the migration of burdened saints to six designated cities—Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Rome, and Zurich. More details on these cities can be found at http://lordsmove.org/reports.html.
The Lord's Move to Africa
The December 2021 issue of the Lord's Move to Africa newsletter reports on the Arabic publication work in Egypt and the church life in Cameroon. Read more in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Training verses or repeat Week 12 of CS of Joshua, Judges, Ruth.
Monday, December 27: 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. - No Prayer Meeting: To make way for the semiannual video training, there will not be a church prayer meeting on Tuesday, December 21. It will resume on December 28.
- 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.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of December 12
Let Us Exhibit Christ!
"Make a joyful noise to Jehovah, all the earth. Serve Jehovah with rejoicing; come before His presence with joyful singing." (Psa. 100:1-2)
Our meetings are not religious gatherings, in which one person is the pastor and the rest are "pew members." Instead, they are the gathering of the living members of Christ, who continually experience, enjoy, and live Christ as their everything. Whenever we come together, we come with our portion of Christ in a joyful and exulting way. Sometimes we can be joyful in a quiet yet living way. However, just as parents like to see their children being joyful and active, God often desires that His people make a joyful noise to Him, proclaiming, "Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!" (CWWL, 1968, vol. 2, p. 371)
Taking the Way of Life by Living by the Sense of Life
"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the spirit is life and peace." (Rom. 8:6)
"Enter in through the narrow gate… Because narrow is the gate and constricted is the way that leads to life, and few are those who find it." (Matt. 7:13-14)
With Joshua, Caleb, and all the judges we see the move of God in power. In contrast, the book of Ruth is a book of life. In the Lord's recovery we should not take the way of the judges to be powerful and to do a great work. If we take the way of power instead of the way of life, whatever we accomplish will mean nothing. It is crucial for us to see that only life can bring forth Christ. This was accomplished by Ruth and Boaz, persons of life, who took the way of life.
The divine life is the highest life, with the richest, strongest, and keenest feeling. This feeling is the sense of life. The sense of life guides us, governs us, controls us, and directs us, causing us to know whether we are living in the divine life or in the natural life and whether we are living in the flesh or in the spirit. We need to live by the sense of life—the feeling, the consciousness, of the divine life within us. (Crystallization-Study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, msg. 12, I.A-D, D.2, VI.B, C, VI)
May all the saints learn to live by the sense of life to take the way of life and remain on this way!
December 2021 Semiannual Training
The Semiannual Video Training for Los Angeles will be held online beginning next Monday, December 20. The training will cover 1 and 2 Samuel.
Ask the Lord to prepare all who have registered to be good listeners and absorbers of the word, and to participate as much as possible in study times. Pray that through this training the Triune God will operate more in His people to accomplish His will, fulfill His purpose, and satisfy the desire of His heart.
FTTA Graduation
"Because out from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen" (Rom. 11:36). The virtual graduation for the FTTA Fall Class of 2021 is this Saturday, December 18 at 10:00 am, followed by a recognition of the FTTA-XB (Boston Extension) at 12:00 pm. The video links will be at http://www.ftta.org. Please pray for the Lord's leading of:
- all 50 FTTA and 6 XB graduating trainees to follow the Lamb wherever He may go;
- the brothers in planning for how the Spring term would be carried out; and
- many college graduates and young working saints to answer God's call to go to the FTTA next term.
BfA Webinar
This past year has been challenging on many fronts and has highlighted man's desperate need for God. In light of the present situation, Bibles for America will host a special webinar with a particular word spoken concerning the Lord's commission to the church to proclaim the gospel and teach the truth.
You are warmly invited to attend this Zoom webinar on Lord's Day, December 19 from 3:00 to 3:45 pm. As an aid to the saints to participate in the Lord's commission, we will go over how to acquire BfA materials such as gospel tracts, NTs, and books to give away. We will also review how the Lord has made a way for BfA to continue reaching people with God's Word in 2021.
To attend live or to be notified of the recording afterward, please register here.
Kentucky
A very large tornado went across Kentucky on Saturday. At least 70 people, perhaps more than 100, died and a large number of buildings were destroyed. None of the destruction was near Lexington or Louisville, where the two churches in the recovery are located. Please pray for the Lord to comfort all who were affected and to bring them to full salvation.
European Winter School of Truth
This year's Winter School of Truth for young people will be organized regionally and run locally, with most of the dozen or so regions offering an in-person or online option from December 26 to 31. The subject is "God's Full Salvation." Parents are encouraged to register and participate, because the different arrangement for the truth school this year has enabled us 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.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 12 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 2. Beginning December 27, we will use Material Offerings and the Lord's Move for two weeks, then proceed to Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Living Stream Ministry: The November digital newsletter contains enlightening reports on the publication work in Africa, the impact of the pandemic on LSM feasts, and the purpose and usefulness of The Holy Word for Morning Revival series.
- Children's Work Conference: Recordings of the November 13 sessions are available for all parents and serving ones at http://scyp.com/children. Translations into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish are available.
- 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.
Prayer, Week of December 5
Joined to Christ for the Body of Christ
"But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we serve in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter." (Rom. 7:6)
"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit." (1 Cor. 6:17)
At the beginning and at the end of the portion of Israel's history from Joshua to Ruth are two prominent persons typifying Christ. These persons are Joshua and Boaz, who signify two aspects of one person. At the beginning Joshua typifies Christ in bringing God's chosen people into God's ordained blessings. As typified by Joshua, Christ has brought us into the good land, has taken possession of the land for us, and has allotted the land to us as our inheritance for our enjoyment. Christ has gained the good land for us, and eventually, He is the good land for us to enjoy. At the end Boaz typifies Christ as our Husband for our satisfaction.
As the regenerated new man and the wife to Christ, everything we are and do is now related to God, and God is brought forth by us as the fruit, the overflow, of our life. This is in contrast to the fruit born to death (Rom. 7:5), which was previously brought forth by us as the old man, the old husband. We are now joined to the resurrected Christ as the life-giving Spirit in our spirit. This is the joining of "the Spirit...with our spirit" (Rom. 8:16) as "one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17). We should have our whole being turned to and set on this joined spirit. We should also live and walk according to this joined spirit. When we thus live in this joined spirit, we can live out the Body of Christ to become the corporate expression of Christ for the glory of the Triune God. (Crystallization-Study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, msg. 11, I-I.B, IV.H-I.3)
Church in Los Angeles
As we continue our transition toward in-person gatherings in our respective meeting places, let us look to the Lord for doing so safely without fear or anxiety. Let us continue to pray for one another and for more saints to be shepherded back to the enjoyment of in-person meetings and "face-to-face" fellowship (2 John 12). May the Lord gain our true worship and receive all the glory!
December 2021 Semiannual Training
The December 2021 semiannual training will be held online by Living Stream Ministry. The training will cover the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. Please pray for the full release of the Lord's burden in each message and for the saints to have a prepared heart and an ear to receive the Lord's speaking.
SoCal Chinese-speaking Gospel Meeting
This Saturday, December 11, there will be a Chinese-speaking gospel meeting for all the churches in Southern California. Please pray:
- For the Lord to bind the strong man and release many gospel friends to attend.
- For the Lord to soften the hearts of the gospel friends to receive salvation and be baptized.
- For the meetings to go smoothly without any technical frustrations.
Gospel to All the Nations
Please pray for the upcoming virtual conference on Saturday, December 11 at 1:00 pm PST. The fellowship will continue from Gospel of John on the topic of "The Food Abiding to Eternal Life." We anticipate the Lord's sweet, enjoyable presence with His rich blessing from His word to unveil us to Him.
All the people of every nation are invited to join! Those of African origin are particularly encouraged to join and to invite friends, relatives, and colleagues. Come and see how the life of Christ meets the need of every person and enjoy the pure ministry of the Word as the gospel of the kingdom.
More information at http://gospeltoallthenations.com. The link for sharing is http://tinyurl.com/dec11gospel.
India
There are currently 193 churches in India, with 4,929 saints attending the Lord's table meeting regularly and 8,248 saints in the church life. As the pandemic relaxes, the saints have been meeting both online and offline to recover and strengthen the church life gradually. Through the bigger gatherings online, the Lord's present speaking has been brought among the saints more commonly. As the situation allows, the saints also meet physically to contact people, visit one another, and recover the small group gatherings. By encouraging the saints to exercise their spirit and have mutual concern for one another, we hope to recover many believers and new ones whom we could not care for during the lockdown.
Please continue to pray for the pandemic situation in India, that hearts may be open toward the gospel for the Lord's interest on the earth. Pray for stronger exercise of the saints' spirits that they would cooperate with the Lord to care for one another in the church life and to preach the gospel to have people under their care.
To read the complete report on India, as well as a testimony of migration to Laos, see the December issue of The Lord's Move to Asia newsletter:
http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/E-2021-12.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Asia-2021-12.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 2.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Bibles for America Webinar: December 19 from 3:00 to 3:45 pm on "Preaching the Gospel and Teaching the Truth with BfA Materials." Registration needed to receive Zoom information.
- Living Stream Ministry: The November digital newsletter contains enlightening reports on the publication work in Africa, the impact of the pandemic on LSM feasts, and the purpose and usefulness of The Holy Word for Morning Revival series.
- Children's Work Conference: Recordings of the November 13 sessions are available for all parents and serving ones at http://scyp.com/children. Translations into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish are available.
- 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.