Prayer, Week of July 29
"Let Us Be Brought on to Maturity"
"Return, return, O Shulammite; return, return, that we may gaze at you. Why should you gaze at the Shulammite, as upon the dance of two camps?" (Song 6:13). In the maturity of Christ's life, the lover of Christ becomes the Shulammite, signifying that she has become the reproduction and duplication of Christ to match Him for their marriage. (The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man, msg. 6, VI.)
"Let us be brought on to maturity." (Heb. 6:1) The Lord wants to bring us on, but we must let Him do it. This is our willing cooperation with His gracious work. (note 3)
Only when we have reached maturity will Christ take us to be His bride. We must admit that in the Lord's recovery we have not yet reached maturity; we are still too young to be presented to Christ as His bride. Thus, there is the urgent need for maturity. When Christ, the Bridegroom, sees that we have reached maturity, He will marry the bride and then come with her as His army to crush the human government. (LS of Daniel, chap. 13, sec. 3)
Lord, gain our full cooperation day by day that we may be brought on to maturity for Your satisfaction.
All-LA College Student Internship
We are having an all-LA internship for three weeks; it began Saturday, July 28. This year the internship is LA campus wide, including students from UCLA, CSUN, and USC. Around 30 interns signed up, of which about half are full-time participants. Some of them will be in Athens, Georgia for one week to help with the campus work there. Our burden for this internship is three-fold:
- Blending—that the Lord would blend us all (full-timers, students, and community saints in LA and Athens) into one loaf!
- Perfecting—that every student could be helped to enter into their function.
- Fruit-bearing—that everyone could experience the joy of fruit bearing.
Summer School of Truth
Beseech the Lord for His word spoken in the SSoT to continue to operate in all the YP and to gain definite positive responses from each one of them.
Bible Distribution in the Maritime Provinces of Canada
From August 1 to 7, the churches in Canada are coordinating for Bible distributions and seminars in the three Atlantic Maritime provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. Forty-nine saints from across the country will participate. The seminars will take place in Saint John, New Brunswick (Aug. 2); Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (Aug. 4); and Halifax, Nova Scotia (Aug. 6).
Please pray that many Bibles would be given out, that the seminars would be attended by seeking ones, and that the saints participating would enjoy being blended and built up. Also pray for the saints in the Maritimes to be encouraged in the gospel by having a good taste of speaking the word of God to sinners.
European Young People's Conference
From July 29 to August 4, there are three conferences in a village in Poland. The Junior Conference is for ages 13 to 15, the Senior Conference for ages 16 to 19, and the Parents and Children's Conference. Two L.A. families are participating. Please pray for:
- the personal opening of the young people for the Lord's speaking and calling to each one this week;
- the binding of the enemy—against illnesses, accidents, and all his distracting tactics;
- the serving ones to be supplied and brought into the Lord's heart for the young people.
Germany
There will be a young adults conference for Germany September 28-30. Please ask the Lord to have many register, including those newly contacted this year. Pray also for their preparation to receive the Word of God at the conference so that the Lord may have a strong testimony in Germany.
Announcement
- Morning revival: week 4 of The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man (Memorial Day).
Our next HWMR will be The Goal of the Lord's Recovery—To Bring Forth the One New Man (February's International Chinese-speaking Conference).
Prayer, Week of July 22
The Victorious Christ
"God, sending His own Son in the likeness of the flesh of sin and concerning sin, condemned sin in the flesh." (Rom. 8:3b)
"For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil." (1 John 3:8b)
"Since therefore the children have shared in blood and flesh, He also Himself in like manner partook of the same, that through death He might destroy him who has the might of death, that is, the devil." (Heb. 2:14)
Praise Him! praise Him! Christ is Victor! / He has won the victory!
Sin is judged, old Adam finished, / Full redemption now we see!
Vanquished all the evil powers / Thru the Cross triumphantly! (Hymn 124, v. 1)
Practical Experience of Resurrection Life
The believers need grace to overcome the power of mammon and material things and to release these things from Satan's domination that they might be offered to the Lord for the fulfillment of His purpose. Resurrection life is the supply for the believers to live such a life, a life trusting in God, not in material possessions, a life that overthrows the usurpation of temporal and uncertain riches. This may be the reason that the dealing with this matter [1 Cor. 16:1-3] comes after the dealing concerning the reality of resurrection life [1 Cor. 15]. (part of 1 Cor. 16:1, note 1)
There is a financial need in LA due to increases this fall for support of each FTTA trainee and for support of our full-timers serving in the campus and church. This is an opportunity for every one of us to have a fresh and practical experience of living the resurrection life, trusting in God and not in material riches. May the Lord grant each one the measure of resurrection we need.
Offerings in response to these and other local needs should be given to the church in Los Angeles without designation for any specific use.
Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles
There are 113 registered for our SSoT, almost 2/3 young people including 4 from Long Beach and 2 from Thousand Oaks.
The topic this year is The Church. We hope through this special week the young people will find a home in the church, and declare along with the psalmist, "One thing I have desired of the Lord…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (27:4) Please pray for:
- the hearts of the young people to remain soft to the Lord and the serving saints;
- the speaking to be relevant, transparent, and full of life;
- the Lord to supply and be the wisdom and heart of the serving ones; and
- the young people to meet the Lord and find their home in the church.
Northern California
From January 26 through February 11, 2018, the churches in Northern California participated in a two-week sowing event to Gospelize, Truthize, and Churchize Northern California.
Over 1,200 volunteers from 40 localities, together with 58 FTTA trainees, gave away about 6,000 Bibles, 4,800 booklets, and tens of thousands of gospel tracts and free Bible offer cards during this time. More than 7,500 people were personally spoken to, nearly half of whom gave their contact information to the volunteers; 253 prayed to receive the Lord; and five were baptized.
Please pray for the ongoing follow-up and the shepherding care for the many people who were contacted and who received a Bible, book, tract, or Bible offer card. Pray that the Word of God and the ministry of the age would enlighten them and bring them into the experience of Christ as their life.
European Young People's Conference
From July 29 to August 4, three conferences will take place concurrently in Małe Ciche, a village in southern Poland. The Junior Conference will be for young people aged 13 to 15 and the Senior Conference for young people aged 16 to 19. The Parents and Children Conference is for the parents to get into the fellowship regarding raising up the next generation for the church life, and for the children to be with other children from all over Europe (the list of country coordinators includes 41 European nations).
In particular, please pray for:
- The personal opening of the young people to the Lord for His personal speaking and calling to each one during this special week;
- The binding of the enemy - against illnesses, accidents and all his distracting tactics;
- That the serving ones will be supplied and brought into the Lord's heart for the young people.
Invitation to Balkan Conference in Tirana, Albania
This invitation is from David and Elda Chang, who were in L.A. for many years and have been in Albania the past six years.
Dear Saints, we would like to invite you to the Balkan Conference which this year will take place in Tirana, Albania, November 2-4. Come and blend with the saints from Albania, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, and Turkey. For details: https://amanatrust.org.uk/events/eventdetails.php?eventid=709/.
Announcements
- Morning revival: week 3 of The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man (Memorial Day).
Prayer, Week of July 15
Christ is the Constituents of God's Armor for the Church
"Receive...by means of all prayer and petition, praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints, and for me, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known in boldness the mystery of the gospel." (Eph. 6:17-19)
Ephesians 6:10-20 reveals that Christ is the constituents of God's armor for the church, the one new man, as the corporate warrior of God. Prayer is the unique way to apply Christ as the armor of God; it is prayer that makes the armor available to us in a practical way. We need to persevere in prayer because prayer involves a battle, a fight; two parties, God and Satan, are hostile to each other; the third party consists of God's chosen and redeemed people. Before we try to persevere in prayer, we should first make a vow to the Lord concerning our prayer life; we need to say to Him, "Lord, I am desperate about this; I offer myself to You so that I may have a prayer life; Lord, keep me in the spirit of prayer; if I forget this or neglect this, I know that You will not forget it; remind me again and again about prayer." (The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man, msg. 2, II, II.H.2,3,5)
Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles
Our SSoT starts this Friday, July 20, and continues until July 28. The topic this year is The Church. We hope through this special week the young people will find a home in the church, and will declare along with the psalmist, "One thing I have desired of the Lord…that I may dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (27:4) Please pray for:
- the hearts of the young people to be softened and prepared by the Lord this week;
- a warm, helpful, and loving start this weekend;
- the speaking to be relevant, transparent, and full of life;
- the Lord to supply and be the wisdom and heart of the serving ones; and
- the young people to meet the Lord and see their crucial place in the church.
A New Heart and a New Spirit
"I will also give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you…" (Ezek. 36:26). The Southwest Summer College Training, A New Heart and a New Spirit, was last week. Attendance was slightly over 300, including 220 students. Four other regional college trainings are this week with the same subject.
In the training the Lord spoke very clearly about our heart, asking everyone to 1) deal with the conscience, the leading part of both heart and spirit, 2) deal with all loves other than the Lord, 3) not try to improve but solely to love the Lord, and 4) to practice maintaining a pure heart for the Lord day by day.
Everyone was wide open and many had sweet personal experiences. Pray now for the development of a daily habit in each one, practicing two or three specific items presented during the training.
Nordic Conference
The annual Nordic Conference will take place July 20 to 23 in Stockholm. This conference is a yearly highlight for the saints in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. About 150 saints will gather for a weekend of fellowship with one of the co-workers to blend as the Body and enjoy the rich supply from the ministry of the age.
Please pray that there will be a breakthrough for the Lord's recovery in this region, which is heavily influenced by atheism and secularism. Although these five countries have a combined population of 25 million, there are only around 100 local saints meeting as 6 churches. Nevertheless, they stand with God and His interests on the earth today. Come, Lord Jesus!
Turkey
A group of saints from Hong Kong will visit Turkey July 20 to 30. Please pray for this journey and the blending time with the saints.
Bibles for Europe
The BfE website (http://www.biblesforeurope.org) was launched last year in English. It is now in English, French, German, Polish, and Spanish. Currently over 4000 Bible orders are received each month from throughout Europe; we expect this to increase to 5000 by the end of the year.
When a person requests a Bible, they have the option to also request five emails to help them understand and enjoy the Bible. About 50% request these emails. Please pray for an increase in our shepherding of those who want further contact after receiving these five emails.
Announcements
- Morning revival: week 2 of The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man (Memorial Day).
- SoCal Blending Conference: outlines, audios, and videos are at http://socalblending.org.
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of July 8
The Universal, All-inclusive, Inexhaustible Christ
The central thought of Leviticus is that the universal, all-inclusive, inexhaustible Christ is everything to God and to God's people. (msg. 3, III) Through our daily eating, digesting, and assimilating of Him, He fills us and constitutes us with Himself so that He may train us to rest in Him, live a holy, clean and rejoicing life, satisfy Him, serve Him, and express Him.
"Jehovah spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to all the assembly of the children of Israel, and say to them, You shall be holy, for I, Jehovah your God, am holy." (Lev. 19:1-2)
"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them, As to the appointed feasts of Jehovah, which you shall proclaim as holy convocations, these are My appointed feasts. Six days work shall be done, but on the seventh day there is a Sabbath of complete rest, a holy convocation." (Lev. 23:2-3a)
College Training
The West Coast South College Training is this week, July 9 to 15, at Oak Glen. Pray for all registered students to attend and to see and enter into the experience of their new heart and new spirit. Pray also for the Lord's leading to the serving saints in their preparations. And pray for the students to be brought into function in the gospel.
Four more one-week college trainings in other parts of the country start July 13, 14, or 15.
Summer School of Truth
The Summer School of Truth is a time that gives life to the young people in the form of God's word as food. This summer it is July 20 to 28, for those who are entering 7th to 12th grades. The topic is: The Church. We ask the Lord that as many young people as possible in LA could attend, along with many young adults to shepherd them both now and after the summer school. Please pray that the Lord would lead the serving ones as they continue to fellowship and coordinate for this critical time.
Europe
The June 2018 "Update on the Lord's Move in Europe," distributed at last week's summer training, is available at http://www.amanatrust.org.uk/reports. The same web page has six new videos with reports about
- the Iberian Peninsula
- the May 2018 One-week Trainings in London (for saints from all of Europe)
- the May 2018 Weekend Retreats in London (for saints from all of Europe)
- the Full-time Training in London (for saints from all of Europe)
- Woodland Camp in the UK
Turkey
The Turkish translation of The Basic Revelation in the Holy Scriptures was published at the end of June. May the Lord bless His Word as the bread of life to all the seeking ones in this country.
Announcements
- Morning revival: week 1 of The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man (Memorial Day).
- SoCal Blending Conference: outlines, audios, and videos are at http://socalblending.org.
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of July 1
Summer Training
The Summer Training is July 2 to 7 in Anaheim as well as through webcasts in many localities. Ask the Lord to flow out from the speaking brothers. Also ask the Lord to open all attendants to be good listeners and absorbers of the word, and to be active participants in the morning digestion times.
Lord, make us willing and ready to be further trained to worship and partake of You and to live a holy, clean, and rejoicing life!
Jehovah is Much to be Praised
"Great is Jehovah, And much to be praised In the city of our God, In His holy mountain." (Psa. 48:1)
"Hallelujah! Let everything that has breath praise Jehovah. Hallelujah!" (Psa. 150:1a, 6)
"After these things I heard as it were a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, Hallelujah! The salvation and the glory and the power are of our God." (Rev. 19:1)
College Training
The West Coast South College Training is July 9 to 15 at the Oak Glen (www.collegetraining.org/2018). Pray for all registered students to attend and to see and enter into the experience of their new heart and new spirit. Pray also for the Lord's leading to the serving saints in their preparations. And pray for the students to be brought into function in the gospel.
Four more one-week college trainings in other parts of the country start July 13, 14, or 15.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The church in Addis Ababa is in the process of purchasing a property that may be used for meetings and trainings. The plan is to renovate an existing building into offices and residences, and build a meeting hall for up to 1000 saints and a hospitality and blending center. This site will also serve as a center for the furtherance of the Lord's move in Africa.
Please pray for this transaction and for the Lord's will to be done. The deadline for the initial deposit was extended from June 15 to July 31. You may give to the church in LA designated for Addis Ababa.
Germany
There have been many positive responses in Munich. At least 19 new ones have already come to Bible reading appointments or a dinner or home meeting or barbecue or Lord's Day meeting. There is a great need for a mature American or Canadian (preferably) couple to migrate to Munich permanently, as well as a need of well-located housing for the saints who are going there to labor. (Munich has many job opportunities, resulting in an influx of people, which makes it difficult to find housing.)
Cambodia
Thirty-five were saved and baptized in Ta Khmau, the second largest city of Cambodia, since February. May the Lord raise up a shining golden lampstand there soon. In a six-day gospel move of the church in Siem Reap in May, the local saints learned to bear the burden of the gospel and enjoyed rich blessings from the Lord. In the church in Phnom Penh, the saints are perfected to function by having morning/noon/evening revival and home meetings. Two pages about these times in Cambodia, and about a new church in Sri Lanka are at:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/E-2018-06.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Asia-2018-06.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Training verses or repeat Week 12 of Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, Vol. 2. Next week, we will begin The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man (Memorial Day).
- SoCal Blending Conference: outlines, audios, and videos are at socalblending.org.
- Audio messages from the Children's Work Conference in Diamond Bar on April 28 are available at scyp.com (click on Stores > Serving ones > Children's serving ones fellowship > choose language > 2018 Children's Parents and Serving Ones Conference).
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- The Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles is July 20 to 28. The topic is: The Church.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of June 24
The Sacrifice of Praise
"I will declare Your name to My brothers; in the midst of the church I will sing hymns of praise to You." (Heb. 2:12; Psa. 22:22)
"Through Him then let us offer up a sacrifice of praise continually to God, that is, the fruit of lips confessing His name." (Heb. 13:15)
In the church we should offer up through Christ a sacrifice of praise to God continually. In the church He sings in us hymns of praise unto God the Father (2:12). In the church we too should praise God the Father through Him. Eventually, in the church He and we, we and He, praise the Father together in the mingled spirit. He, as the life-giving Spirit, praises the Father in our spirit, and we, by our spirit, praise the Father in His Spirit. This is the best and highest sacrifice that we can offer to God through Him. This is greatly needed in the church meetings. (Heb. 13:15, footnote 1)
Summer Training
The Summer Training is July 2 to 7 in Anaheim as well as through webcasts in many localities. Ask the Lord to prepare the speaking brothers during their labor on the messages. Also ask the Lord to prepare all who have registered to attend, to be good listeners and absorbers of the word, and to fully participate in the morning digestion times. Lord, make us willing and ready to be further trained to live a holy, clean and rejoicing living!
FTTA Graduation
The graduation will be this Saturday, June 30, 9:30 am in Anaheim. This term 132 trainees will graduate. Please pray for their faithful going on with the Lord outside the training environment, the willingness of many to serve full-time, and their blending into the church life wherever they go.
Let us also ask the Lord to operate in the hearts and situations of many more young brothers and sisters to apply for the Fall 2018 term, which will begin on August 12. The deadline for U.S. applications is July 10.
BfA in Anchorage, Alaska
Since June 9, Bibles for America volunteers have been distributing literature in downtown Anchorage at the Saturday Market & Festival, a popular destination among locals and tourists from around the world. This weekend, from June 30 to July 1, distribution will take place at the Air Show at the Elmendorf Air Force Base, which attracts thousands of Alaskans and military personnel.
Please pray for the volunteers as they labor through the summer. Pray that the Bibles and books would get into the hands of the hungry ones, and for each recipient to be enlightened and nourished by the Word of God.
Bibles for the Earth
BfA has placed an order for 100,000 Bibles to replenish our inventory. Please ask the Lord to supply the necessary offerings for this large order.
Also petition the Lord to bless the 4,000 Bibles going out each month through the Bibles for Europe website, http://www.biblesforeurope.org.
And pray for distributions by Bibles for Canada, Bibles for Australia, and Bibles for New Zealand.
Germany
Last October over 30,000 Recovery Version NTs were distributed in Germany. Thousands more have been distributed since then. These distributions emphasized a broad spreading of the Recovery Version. There was no effort to get contact information from the recipients because the vast majority of Germans are hesitant to give out personal information. We can overcome this hesitation by praying that the recipients read their NTs with outlines and footnotes, that they receive life and light, and that this would motivate them to contact the recovery.
Myanmar
Pray for the printing and delivery of 10,000 copies of the Burmese Holy Bible Recovery Version.
Announcements
-
Morning revival: Week 12 of Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, Vol. 2.
During the summer training, repeat Week 12 or use training verses. Starting Monday, July 9, we will pursue The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man (Memorial Day Conference). - SoCal Blending Conference: outlines, audios, and videos are at http://www.socalblending.org.
- Audio messages from the Children's Work Conference in Diamond Bar on April 28 are available at http://www.scyp.com (click on Stores > Serving ones > Children's serving ones fellowship > choose language > 2018 Children's Parents and Serving Ones Conference).
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- The Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles is July 20 to 28. The topic is: The Church.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of June 17
The Highest Work
"Immediately I was in spirit; and behold, there was a throne set in heaven, and upon the throne there was One sitting." (Rev. 4:2)
"Your throne, O God, is forever and ever." (Psa. 45:6)
"And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea and all things in them, I heard saying, To Him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be the blessing and the honor and the glory and the might forever and ever." (Rev. 5:13)
Praise is the highest work carried out by God's children. The highest expression of a saint's spiritual life is his praise to God. God's throne is the highest point in the universe, yet He sits "enthroned upon the praises of Israel" (Psa. 22:3). (Memorial Day Conference, msg. 6, II.A-B)
Lord, Gain Our Hearts!
"Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven….For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. 6:20-21)
"He who gathered much had no excess, and he who gathered little had no lack." (2 Cor. 8:15)
The problem today is not how much a person should offer, but the fact that money has laid hold of man's heart. In God's work, no one can keep his money, on the one hand, and say that his heart loves the Lord, on the other hand. The Bible says that where our money is, there is the heart also (Matt. 6:21). In order for our hearts not to be ensnared by money, we have to let the money go. If the money goes out of our pocket, the heart goes out with it. (WN & WL, Messages Given During the Resumption of Watchman Nee's Ministry, ch. 44, sec. 9)
May the Lord release us from the love of money and gain our hearts to care for His move in and around LA. One example of this need is the increase this fall in the cost of supporting FTTA trainees (this is covered by general gifts to the church, no need for designated gifts).
FTTA-MA Graduation
The Middle-age Full-time Training graduation is this Saturday, June 23. Twenty-four trainees will graduate. Please pray for each one to respond to the Lord in 1) their daily walk after the training and 2) where they should live and serve.
The next term of FTTA-MA begins September 3. Whether we have been in the church life one year or forty years, we cannot depend solely on our ordinary church life. We all need training. "In the Lord's recovery we need a group of experienced ones who have been trained to bear the testimony" (WL, All Ages for the Lord's Testimony, ch. 1, sec. 4). The number graduating this term is very small. Let us petition the Lord to bring many more middle-age and older saints to the fall term, especially those from North America. (http://www.fttamidage.org)
Campus Team Reunion
The Southern California Full-Timers Reunion will be in Cypress from June 21 to 23. This is a time where full-timers, students, and community saints gather to fellowship about the Lord's move on the college campuses. Please pray that the Lord would:
- blend the saints together to be in one accord for His move;
- take every campus on in their labor to gain the next generation, speaking in a very specific way;
- perfect the students and stir up in them the fire for the gospel to gain remaining fruit for His glory!
Germany
Please continue to petition the Lord to gain Germans and to supply saints with church life experience for the raising up of lampstands in Aachen, Bielefeld, Bochum, Bremen, Cologne, Darmstadt, Dresden, Freiburg, Giessen, Göttingen, Hamburg, Heidelberg, Karlsruhe, Kassel, Leipzig, Limburg, Mainz, Munich, and Tübingen.
Laos
Please pray for the printing, publication and distribution of seven Rhema books in Laos. These books include Basic Elements of the Christian Life, The Economy of God, and The All-Inclusive Christ.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 11 of Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, Vol. 2.
- SoCal Blending Conference: Outlines, audios, and videos are at http://socalblending.org.
- Audio messages from the Children's Work Conference in Diamond Bar on April 28 are available at http://scyp.com (click on Stores > Serving ones > Children's serving ones fellowship > choose language > 2018 Children's Parents and Serving Ones Conference).
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- The Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles is July 20 to 28. The topic is: The Church.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of June 10
Praise the Lord!
"O Jehovah our Lord, / How excellent is Your name / In all the earth!" (Psa. 8:9)
"You are awesome, O God, from Your sanctuaries. / The God of Israel, He gives strength and power to the people. / Blessed be God!" (Psa. 68:35)
"Let everything that has breath praise Jehovah. / Hallelujah!" (Psa. 150:6)
Praise is the way to display Christ's victory and overcome spiritual attacks. The ultimate goal of Satan is to stop all praises to God. Prayer signifies spiritual warfare, but praise signifies spiritual victory. Whenever we praise, Satan flees! (Memorial Day Conference, msg. 6, II.E.1)
May the church in LA and all the churches in Southern California be filled with abundant praises!
'Tis the local church proclaiming, Jesus is Lord!
All the saints with joy are naming Jesus as Lord.
All His work He has completed, Satan and his hosts defeated;
On the throne of glory seated, Jesus is Lord!
(Stanza 1 of Hymns, #1096)
The Secret of Enjoying Christ as Our Peace Offering
"And let the peace of Christ arbitrate in your hearts, to which also you were called in one Body; and be thankful." (Col. 3:15)
"These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have affliction, but take courage; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)
The issue of enjoying Christ as our burnt offering, our meal offering, our sin offering, and our trespass offering is the enjoyment of Christ as the peace offering. Christ is the peace offering between God and God's people for their co-enjoyment in fellowship to have the vital-group church life, to have the Lord's table meeting, and to consummate in the New Jerusalem as the ultimate peace offering.
We need to learn the secret of enjoying Christ as our peace offering—the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding (Phil. 4:7). We must learn the secret of how to take Christ as life, how to live Christ, how to magnify Christ, and how to gain Christ in any environment and in any matter. We need to let our requests be made known to God, talking with Him and conferring with Him in everything.
The result of practicing fellowship with God in prayer is that the peace of God, God as peace, is infused into us for our enjoyment as the counterpoise to troubles and the antidote to anxiety so that Christ as our forbearance can be known to all men. (Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, msg. 10, I, Banner 4, II.C.1.a,c)
Oak Glen
The churches in Southern California took possession of Oak Glen Christian Conference Center at the end of 2015. Since then, important upgrades have been made, including seismic retrofitting of the gymnasium, landscaping, bathroom renovations, and new single-family residences. More importantly, the facility has been enjoyed by the saints and churches in the Lord's recovery for blending retreats.
However, as of now, we still owe $3.25 million for the purchase. This amount needs to be paid off in order to avoid further interest expenses, which would be around $200,000 per year. Such money could be better spent on new cabins and other renovations.
As a convenience to the saints, ONLINE DONATIONS may now be made via PayPal or credit card at https://socalblendingcenter.org. (There is also an option for automated recurring monthly donations. For example, if 4,000 saints would donate $50 per month, the need could be met within a year and a half.) Gifts may also be made to the church designated for OAK GLEN.
"We make known to you, brothers, the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in much proving of affliction the abundance of their joy and the depth of their poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality" (2 Cor. 8:1b-2). Lord, grant us and all the churches in Southern California the same grace experienced in Macedonia!
College Graduation
At the end of the school year, our graduating college seniors have many choices to make regarding their future. As Watchman Nee once wrote, "If God leads you to walk a way that you know, it will not benefit you as much as if He would lead you to take the way that you do not know. This forces you to have hundreds and thousands of conversations with Him, resulting in a journey that is an everlasting memorial between you and Him" (CWWN, Set 1, vol. 7: The Christian (5), p. 1144).
Please pray for the graduates to have many conversations and transactions with the Lord so that He would shepherd and guide them according to His desire and for His purpose.
BfA in Anchorage, Alaska
This summer, Bibles for America volunteers in Anchorage plan to give away ministry books and 2,000 free copies of the NT Recovery Version at the following venues:
- From June 9 to September 9, Saturday Market & Festival in downtown Anchorage: popular among locals and tourists from around the world.
- From June 30 to July 1, Air Show at the Elmendorf Air Force Base: attracts thousands of Alaskans and military personnel.
- On August 26, kick-off at the University of Alaska Anchorage: attended primarily by incoming freshmen.
Please pray for the volunteers as they labor throughout the summer, that the books would get into the hands of the hungry ones, and for each recipient to be enlightened and nourished by the Word of God.
Lyman, Wyoming
Usually the church in Lyman has a spring conference but we need to replace the roof on our meeting hall. In fellowship with the churches we are going to have a weekend of roofing and fellowship June 16 and 17. Lord, use this practical time together to further Your interests in the mountain states!
Germany
From Thursday, June 7 to Lord's Day, June 10, there was a book fair in Düsseldorf. Bibles for Europe had a booth there with many saints taking turns to serve and distribute free NT Recovery Versions. In total, 797 German copies and 48 English copies were given out. People were not required to leave their contact information, though some chose to do so. Please pray:
- That all recipients would touch the living and operative word of God in the pages of their Bible;
- That many would be motivated to contact BfE; and
- That the local saints would be buoyant and bold in following up with these contacts.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The church in Addis Ababa is currently in the process of purchasing a property that may be used for meetings and trainings. The plan is to renovate an existing building into offices and residences, and build a meeting hall for up to 1000 saints and a hospitality and blending center. This site will also serve as a center for the furtherance of the Lord's move in Africa. The selling price is just over $2.5 million, well below market price. A down payment of $365,000 is expected by June 15 for commitment. The church in Addis Ababa will raise at least $100,000. Please pray for this transaction and for the Lord's will to be done. You may give to the church in LA designated for ADDIS ABABA.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 10 of Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, Vol. 2.
- Summer Training Webcasts in LA: Last chance to sign up by June 12 at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.
- Southern California Blending Conference: Outlines, audios, and videos will be at socalblending.org.
- Audio messages from the Children's Work Conference in Diamond Bar on April 28 are available at the Southern California Young People website (http://www.scyp.com > Stores > Serving ones > Children's serving ones fellowship > choose English or Chinese > 2018 Children's Parents and Serving Ones Conference).
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
Prayer, Week of June 3
Southern California Blending Conference
"God has blended the body together…" (1 Cor. 12:24b)
"In the blending of the churches we receive nourishment, we receive revelation, and we receive a vision of God's eternal purpose concerning Christ and the church. Such a blending is not only for our own mutual spiritual benefit but is also for the mutual building up of the Body of Christ." (1993 Blending Conference Messages concerning the Lord's Recovery and Our Present Need, ch. 2)
"Are the churches in every area willing to be blended together as one? There may be fifteen churches in a particular region, but the question is whether or not they would be willing to be blended together. We may like to be independent under the cloak of being local." (One Body and One Spirit, ch. 1)
"From now on, the churches should come together frequently to be blended. We may not be used to it, but after we begin to practice blending a few times, we will acquire the taste for it. This is the most helpful thing in the keeping of the oneness of the universal Body of Christ." (The Divine and Mystical Realm, ch. 6)
This weekend, June 9 to 10, the Southern California Blending Conference will be held at the Ministry Conference Center (1200 N Hubbell Way, Anaheim, CA 92801). For the last three years, we have held similar conferences, and each time all who attended were encouraged. This practice of gathering the churches in Southern California has afforded the Lord an opportunity to speak a specific word for the present need of the Lord's recovery. Bring your personal FM radio for translation into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. The schedule is as follows:
SATURDAY: 4:00–5:45 pm Meeting 1; 5:45–7:00 Break (no food for sale); 7:00–8:45 pm Meeting 2
LORD'S DAY: 10:00–10:30 am Lord's Table; 10:30 am–12:30 pm Meeting 3
Children's service for K–6 will be provided during all sessions in Anaheim at 1853 W Ball Rd.
PLEASE NOTE: Lord's Day, June 10, there will be no meetings in any of the halls in LA.
Please pray strongly for the Lord to gather all the saints for this special time of blending and that He will speak a timely word to meet the present need of all churches in Southern California.
Summer Training Webcasts in Los Angeles
This year's Summer Training (July 2 to 7) will be a continuation of the Crystallization-study of Leviticus. For those who cannot attend the live sessions in Anaheim, the church has arranged for multiple webcast locations in Los Angeles: 3 simulcasts in English (Halls 2, 4, 5); 1 simulcast in Chinese (Hall 3); 2 simulcasts in Korean (Halls 1, 2); 1 simulcast in Spanish (Hall 1), and 1 delayed webcast in Spanish (Hall 2). The deadline to register is June 12 ($105). For more information, please fellowship with the registration coordinator in your district.
Ask the Lord to increase our number participating in His speaking to the churches in this training. Lord, make us willing and ready to be trained to live a holy, clean and rejoicing living!
Balkans Conference
This November will mark the sixth year since David and Elda Chang migrated from Los Angeles to serve in Albania. With a population of just under 3 million people, this small country is located in the Balkan Peninsula, across the Adriatic Sea from Italy; to its east is Macedonia and to its southeast is Greece. Over the years, many saints from LA have had the blessing of visiting the Chang family there. This fall, there is a wonderful opportunity for even more saints to visit and blend.
The saints in the Balkans warmly extend an invitation to all the saints and churches in the Lord's recovery to participate in a weekend regional conference in Tirana, Albania on November 2 to 4, 2018. They are thankful to the Lord for the prayers of all the saints and churches throughout the earth, and now invite you to consider going to blend with them for the strengthening and spread of the Lord's testimony in this region. We pray the Lord will bless this gathering for His further move in the Balkans, Europe, and the whole earth. Detailed information is at https://amanatrust.org.uk/events/conf2018.
It would be a tremendous blessing and encouragement if a good number of saints from LA could attend. Please contact David Ho <dave.t.ho@gmail.com> for questions or guidance about participating.
FTTL Graduation
The graduation meeting of the Full-Time Training in London will be this Saturday, June 9 at Bower House. Please pray for the Lord's blessing on the graduating trainees to be useful, living and functioning members of the Body, as well as for a new crop of first-term trainees from the UK and Europe.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
The church in Addis Ababa was raised up in 2001 with just over 50 saints who were mostly university students. Since then, the church has grown to over 350 saints and there are over 20 localities in Ethiopia where the saints are meeting. Furthermore, 58 saints have now passed through at least one year of the two-year Full-time Pursuing Training; several have the burden to serve in a full-time way.
With over 105 million people, Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa. And there is a growing hunger in this country for the truth. But the church in Addis Ababa does not have a proper meeting facility. There is hardly any more room for the general meetings and no space for children and young people's meetings.
After some years of fellowship, prayer, and searching, a suitable property is now under consideration. The land is 1.75 acres and may be used for both meetings and trainings. The plan is to renovate an existing two-floor building into offices and residences, and build a meeting hall for up to 1000 saints and a hospitality and blending center. This property will also serve as a center for the furtherance of the Lord's move in Africa.
The market price for the property is $3.5 million, but the selling price is just over $2.5 million, since the current Orthodox Christian owners are favorable toward us, feeling good that the name of the Lord will be called on this property. A down payment of $365,000 is required by June 15, with full payment to follow within two months. The church in Addis Ababa will raise at least $100,000.
We present this to the Body for the consideration and prayer of the Body. Please pray for this transaction and for the Lord's will to be done. If the Lord so burdens, you may give to the church in LA designated for ADDIS ABABA.
India and Sri Lanka
The Lord's Move to Asia Newsletter describes the recent nationwide trainings for serving ones and young people in Sri Lanka. It also has a report on sisters' prayer and vital groups in India.
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/E-2018-05.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Asia-2018-05.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 9 of Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, Vol. 2. Continue to Week 10 after the SoCal Blending Conference.
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- The Summer Training will be July 2 to 7 in Anaheim and by local webcasts in LA. Registration for the webcast ($105) is due June 12. Saints from LA should register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla and give cash/check payment to their district's registration coordinator.
- The Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles is July 20 to 28. The topic is: The Church.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of May 27
Taking Christ as Our Trespass Offering
"Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, / And from my sin cleanse me." (Psa. 51:2)
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)
"But the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life." (John 4:14b)
The trespass offering signifies Christ as our offering resolving the problem of sins in our conduct. Taking Christ as our trespass offering with the confession of our sins in the divine light is the way to drink Christ as the living water for us to become the New Jerusalem. It is also the way to keep ourselves in the fellowship of life for our growth in life unto the maturity in life.
The more we receive the forgiveness of sins, the more we will fear God and love God. Furthermore, when Christ as the sin-dealing life is ministered to the saints, this life kills the germs, destroys the problems, and maintains the oneness of the Spirit.
In taking Christ as our trespass offering, we need to make a thorough confession of all our shortcomings, weaknesses, wrongdoings, and sinfulness in order to have a conscience without offense toward God and men. After such a thorough and fine confession, we will be filled with the Spirit essentially and economically to make us buoyant and bold in our God to speak the gospel of God. (Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, msg. 8, I-II)
May we daily experience Christ as our trespass offering for God's purpose!
Memorial Day Conference
Please pray that the burden released in last weekend's Memorial Day Conference messages would be worked into and worked out through the saints in all the churches. The general subject was "The Spiritual Warfare of the Church as the New Man." The church as the new man must engage in spiritual warfare to defeat God's enemy, fulfill God's purpose, and bring in the kingdom of God (Banner 1). Praise the Lord for His timely speaking! May all the saints be drawn personally and corporately to love Him and "offer themselves willingly / In the day of Your warfare, / In the splendor of their consecration" (Psa. 110:3a).
Summer College Training
Every summer, the college training provides a rich opportunity for the Lord to gain more ground in our students, including those who just graduated from high school. These trainings have greatly influenced our students' personal pursuit, church life, and involvement with the gospel work on their campuses. Please pray that the Lord would overcome all obstacles and release our college saints to attend this special time of training.
This year's college training is July 9 to 15 at Oak Glen. The topic will be "A New Heart and a New Spirit." The early registration deadline is June 3 ($375) at http://www.collegetraining.org.
Bibles for America
In order to better serve the Spanish-speaking community, we are making improvements to the Bibles for America Spanish website, including the enhancement of the Bible-ordering process and the transition of the translated blog posts to a better platform. Please pray more Spanish speakers would visit our website, order a Bible, and be nourished by the blog and downloadable e-books.
Munich, Germany
There are at least 142 people asking for further contact. Many of these, if not most, are native German-speaking students. There have been many positive responses with at least 34 new ones, and 13 have already come to either a home meeting or a barbecue. There is a great need for a mature American or Canadian (preferably) couple to migrate to Munich permanently, as well as housing for the saints who are going there to labor.
Madrid, Spain
After several years of prayer and searching, the church in Madrid has found a place suitable for church meetings, for Bibles for Europe storage, and for 11 full-timers to have a base for the work in Spain and Portugal. Initial payments were made last month; the remaining amount is due at the end of July. The current need is approximately US$500,000.
Please pray for this transaction to be completed and for the timely financial supply for this purchase. You may donate to the church (any amount, small or large, as the Lord leads), designated for MADRID.
Bulgaria
Many of the saints from Sofia and surrounding cities will be gathering in a village near Sofia the first weekend in June for a time of sharing and mutual fellowship. We will have four meetings centered on the book Basic Lessons on Service. Please pray that the Lord's presence and shining will be prevailing in all the speaking, reading of ministry excerpts, and fellowship for the strengthening of His move in Bulgaria.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 8 of Crystallization-Study of Leviticus, Vol. 2.
- Audio of the May 6 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/greatgrace.
- The Summer Training will be July 2 to 7 in Anaheim and by local webcasts in LA. Late registration for the live training including payment ($255) is due June 12. Registration for the webcast ($105) is also due June 12. Saints from LA should register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla and give cash/check payment to their district's registration coordinator.
- The Southern California Blending Conference will be June 9 to 10 in Anaheim. General information and specific information about children is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
- The Summer School of Truth in Los Angeles is July 20 to 28. The topic is: The Church.
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.