Prayer, Week of January 29, 2017
Keeping the Lord’s Word
Revelation 3:8 says, “I have put before you an opened door which no one can shut, because you have a little power and have kept My word and have not denied My name.”
One outstanding feature of the church in Philadelphia is that she keeps the Lord’s word. The church in Philadelphia, the recovered church, does not care for tradition; she cares for the word of God (cf. Matt. 15:6b). Furthermore, the church in Philadelphia keeps the Lord’s word with the little power that she has. What pleases the Lord is not that we are strong but that we use our little power to do the best we can. (HWMR Orthodoxy, Week 7 Outline, IV.B,C)
Burden for Truth Constitution
“I have made an attempt to open every book of the New Testament to you, but I have left the further digging to you... The basic truths have been presented to us, and much life nourishment has been put into print, especially with the Life-study messages. Also, the obstacles have nearly all been removed. We now have a clear way for our study, and every book is open to us. In mining, the hardest thing is to open the mine. Once the mine has been opened and the treasure is exposed, it is easy for someone to dig out the treasures. I have left only this one matter of further digging to you. I believe the Lord will continue this digging work either through you or through some others. After a period of time I believe that many of you will be ‘good diggers.’ The intention and the goal of our publishing of the Life-study messages is to open up the mine for you to go in and dig.” (W. Lee, Elder’s Training, Book 3, Ch. 9)
As the church in Los Angeles continues to pray for 15% increase, please also pray for the corresponding increase in our endeavoring to be constituted with the truth so the saints will have the riches with which to shepherd the new and younger ones. Both the word and the number of believers should grow in parallel in Los Angeles, just like it did with the church in Jerusalem: “And the word of God grew, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem multiplied greatly” (Acts 6:7).
Venice High School
Our young people’s Bible club at Venice High School will be participating in a club expo this Thursday, February 2. The expo is a way to expose all the students to the different clubs available to them at school. Since the 2015-2016 school year, the club has grown from 5 to about 8-9 students meeting on a weekly basis. Please pray:
- That Christ would be magnified in the young people, and that the Lord would be their boldness in the opening of their mouths during this event;
- That they would have good coordination, like the four living creatures, before and during the expo;
- That the Lord would release and draw the seeking ones to the table, and many seeds of the gospel
would be sown; and - That the club would gain some remaining fruit during this final school quarter.
Bangladesh
Over the past few months, the situation in Bangladesh has been chaotic. We faced social upheaval and unrest caused by the terrorist activities, but we also experienced the inward strengthening and leading by the Lord as He brought us onward. Apparently, the spread of the gospel was hindered; actually, the Lord’s work became more intrinsic and subjective. The divine life continued to flow forth unhindered.
More about this and about the Lord's Move in Turkey is at
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/E-2017-01.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Asia-2017-01.pdf (Chinese)
FTTA Gospel Trips (340 Saints, 42 Teams, 21 Countries, 4 Continents)
Below are some selected reports from the gospel trips currently taking place around the world. Europe and South Africa trips are January 19 to February 6; North America trips are January 27/28 to February 11/12/13. Ongoing reports, photos, and prayer burdens are posted at http://beseeching.org.
England
We carried out a targeted door-knocking: using data from past distributions and radio call-ins, we
went to meet, in their own home, those who have received some form of the ministry in the past. It was a joy to see faces light up when they realized who we were. One young woman who received a Recovery Version NT at the Olympic Bible distribution a few years back immediately asked for an Old Testament.
Sweden
The church in Uppsala is small—13 saints meeting together since 2012. The University of Uppsala
has 40,000 students. The saints shared how they are burdened for all the local saints to participate in Bible distribution on Lord’s day afternoon. Today we gave out 36 tracts, 3 NTs (one recipient wanted further contact), and one prayed to receive the Lord. Please ask the Lord to release the city permits in Uppsala for the Bible distribution for Lord’s Day afternoons and that all the saints would be released to join this time.
Highlights from Europe
- Our time has not been a time of much outward work or activity, but a time of blending in the Body.
- We went to the university to sing and preach the gospel right outside the main buildings. As we were
singing, we realized that it didn’t matter what language we were singing, but spirit touches spirit. - We met a brother who was gained from a prior FTTA gospel trip, and he is now serving in the church.
- As we distributed Bibles, we played over loudspeaker the radio broadcasts from the Life-Study of
Genesis. This afternoon, in the city center, hundreds of passers-by heard that “the heavens are for
the earth, the earth is for man, and man is for God.” - Saturday we had some opportunity to sight see in which we made our way to Philippi and were able to
see a road the apostle Paul might have taken toward to get to Thessaloniki. - A brother testified, “The ministry is the best thing that happened to us.” These saints, most of them
over 80 years old, were gained through the radio broadcast, and since then have been pursuing the truth diligently. They come together every Saturday afternoon and for about three hours listen to and study messages from recent trainings or ministry meetings.
Highlights from South America
- As we are nearing the end of the Summer School of Truth, many young people have been inscribed into our hearts. Times in the small groups have been very sweet despite the language barrier.
- We had a time for four trainees from Anaheim and three from Paraguay to share their testimonies to all 460 young people and college students in the SSOT. Because of their experience here, 110 young people and college students consecrated themselves to go to the FTT. Praise the Lord!
Highlights from South Africa
- During lunch hour, a sister who works in the dorm cafeteria brings us into the dining hall. She told the
residents she has American friends she wants them to meet. We have been eating there ever since.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 7. After week 9 we will begin The Direction of the Lord's Move Today (Thanksgiving Conference).
- A Special Conference will take place February 17–19, 2017 in Anaheim. All saints are strongly encouraged to attend this feast. Children’s service will be provided for grades K–6, but pre-registration is required by February 5. Visit http://specialconf2017.org.
Prayer, Week of January 22, 2016
Being Intensely Living and Walking in White Garments
According to Revelation 3:1, Christ is the One “who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars.” The seven Spirits of God enable the church to be intensely living, and the seven stars enable her to be intensely shining. We have to be living. When we sing, we should sing livingly. When we pray, we should pray livingly. When we preach the gospel, we should preach livingly. Everything we do in the church life should be living. (HWMR Orthodoxy, Week 6, Day 2)
Revelation 3:5 says, “He who overcomes will be clothed thus, in white garments...” White garments refers to livingness; to be living is to wear the white garments. If we are spiritually dead, we are dirty; such a dead person is the dirtiest one. Also, if we are dead, we are naked. We need the living garment to cover us; this living garment is Christ Himself wrought into us by the life-giving Spirit. The only way to have this garment is to turn to the spirit and live in the mingled spirit. (HWMR Orthodoxy, Week 6, Day 6)
Southern California High School Juniors and Seniors
Please pray for the special overnight fellowship for high school juniors and seniors from 9 am, Saturday, January 28 through lunch Lord’s Day, January 29 at Oak Glen Christian Conference Center.
Serving in Germany
The labor in Germany is proceeding in two directions this year. One is the beginning of aggressive gospel work on the university campuses, starting from Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart. For this, starting in February, at the end of the FTTA gospel trips, we desire that at any given time there would be five campus workers in each of the four cities who can remain a minimum of one month to help raise up a model of gaining remaining fruit from the campus.
The other direction is the urgent need to perfect saved refugees in the practice of the church life according to the God-ordained way. For this, we need trained and burdened saints to come for a very particular work, carried out not through big meetings but through personal, one-on-one perfecting contact. We propose that at any given time there would be ten participants in each of the four cities who can remain a minimum of one month to carry out this one-on-one perfecting.
Details about participating in these labors is at http://germany.lebensstrom.de. Lord, thrust out workers to meet this need, including some from Los Angeles, for this harvest.
FTTA Gospel Trips (340 Saints, 42 Teams, 21 Countries, 4 Continents)
Below are some selected reports from the gospel trips currently taking place around the world. During these trips, reports, photos, and prayer burdens will be posted at http://beseeching.org.
Argentina
The Lord is moving in Argentina, and He is moving among the young people. These last three days we have been in the summer school of truth, and we can testify that veils are being removed, and the young people are seeing a little bit of the church. Today several young ones testified at the microphone with tears how much they enjoy being in the summer school of truth, and how much they appreciate the Lord giving Himself up for the church.
Please pray for the Lord to continue to shine and unveil the young people for the rest of this week.
South Africa
Each FTT Pretoria trainee was paired with an FTTA trainee to preach the gospel at the University of
Pretoria. This week is a crucial time in that only incoming freshman are on campus. This is a great opportunity for us to tell them the purpose of their human lives. Unfortunately, due to recent protests/riots, the university put up gates at every entrance with security guards, so we were unable to enter the main campus. We moved to the neighboring Sports Campus and were able to speak to many seeking students.
Ask the Lord to reopen its main campus entrances so we could enter and spend time with the students.
England
We arrived in Manchester last Saturday and met with the saints and recent contacts for dinner and
singing. Following a sweet Lord’s table, we had a leaflet distribution inviting people to a Bible study seminar on Lord’s Day, January 29th in Sheffield. The burden is to gain more local saints and to provide the people of Manchester with the opportunity to touch this ministry. We distributed 500 invitations.
Please pray for a positive response to the seminar invitation and for the continued labor to gain locals.
Germany
We attended the Lord's table in Stuttgart followed by the baptism of two German sisters. Through
persistent prayer for over a year, one baptism was finally released. The other sister is very new. She was invited to the Lord’s table the previous week where she witnessed two Farsi-speaking refugees’ baptisms. She was so touched (to the point of tears) that she wanted to be baptized as well. Hallelujah! After the baptism was a love feast followed by a brief tour of Stuttgart.
Lord, firmly establish these two sisters and gain more young Germans this year!
Spain
We are in Mallorca for four days. It is an island with approximately 800,000 people. There is currently
no church here, but there are contacts from the radio program. Because the saints are scattered all across the island it is difficult to gather everyone together. Although still quite new, they are very fresh! Saints have been coming here periodically to shepherd them and to hold mini-conferences. We hope that in our time here we would be patterns to take the enjoyment of Christ as our center and give them a sweet taste of the wonderful church life.
Please labor with us in prayer (1 Thes. 5:25) to implant in the saints in Mallorca a strong desire to meet together regularly by our taking the enjoyment of Christ as our center.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 6.
- There will be a special fellowship for high school juniors and seniors from 9 am, Saturday, January 28 through lunch Lord’s Day, January 29, at Oak Glen. Registration through the serving ones in L.A. was required by January 15.
- A Special Conference will take place February 17–19, 2017 in Anaheim (instead of the annual International Chinese-Speaking Conference). All saints are strongly encouraged to attend this feast. Children’s service will be provided for grades K–6, but pre-registration is required by February 5. For more conference information and children’s registration, visit http://specialconf2017.org.
Prayer, Week of January 15, 2017
Give Heed until the Morning Star Rises in Our Hearts
“We have the prophetic word made more firm, to which you do well to give heed as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (2 Peter 1:19)
To take heed to the prophetic word is to pay attention to the living Word and enter into the Word until Christ as the morning star rises within us and something from the heavens shines over us. (Orthodoxy, week 5, V.B.3.a)
United States
The presidential inauguration is Friday, January 20. “Let every person be subject to the authorities over him, for there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are ordained by God” (Rom. 13:1). “Jesus Christ, the faithful Witness, the Firstborn of the dead, and the Ruler of the kings [and presidents] of the earth” (Rev. 1:5).
Let us pray that what God has ordained will result in further development and spread of His move in the United States and over the whole earth.
Bibles for America
The saints at BfA are currently working on several new projects, such as a new website design, and are in fellowship about other potential changes for 2017. Please pray that the Lord would lead the saints at BfA in all their coordination and in every new project and that many more people would have the opportunity to discover the riches in the NT Recovery Version and the books by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee this year.
FTTA Gospel Trips (340 Saints, 42 Teams, 21 Countries, 4 Continents)
This is the season for FTTA gospel trips. This year 305 FTTA trainees, 10 FTTA-Midage trainees, and 25 serving saints are in 42 Teams visiting 21 Countries in North America, South America, Europe, and South Africa. Each trip is 15 to 19 days long. The destinations and dates are:
- 3 teams, 29 saints to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, various dates, January 6 to February 6
- 12 teams, 110 saints to United States and Canada, between January 27 and February 13
- 26 teams, 193 saints to Europe, January 19 to February 2
- 1 team, 8 saints to South Africa, January 19 to February 2
Please pray:
- for the gospel to go out to all the cities visited by the gospel trips;
- for much and thorough blending with the local saints;
- that the trainees will see the Lord’s move and be open to His personal speaking.
FTT Taipei Gospel Trip to Germany
This year the FTTT gospel trips have expanded beyond Asia. On January 3 32 trainees plus some serving saints arrived in Germany for one month. They are split equally among the four key German cities.
Germany
Please pray that:
- the Lord will burden more to offer themselves to serve in Germany both short term (one month or
more) or long term (several years); - the door will remain open for the full-timers to obtain visas to labor in Germany long term;
- the Lord will strengthen the churches in Germany;
- the Lord will have a way to gain university students in Germany;
- the Lord will continue the shepherding and perfecting of those who were saved in 2016.
Krakow, Poland
Please pray that (1) the Lord will provide housing for the full-time serving ones near the entrances to the university campuses, (2) He will gain His chosen and seeking ones, and (3) a golden lampstand will be raised up as the testimony of Jesus in Krakow.
Cuba
Rhema reports that email requests from Cuba for ministry books increased in the past year. To match this, the Lord has provided channels for sending books to Cuba. Please pray for a further increase in requests and for the maintaining of the delivery channels.
India
This month translators in India are starting work on the NT Recovery Version in six Indian languages— Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Kannada, and Mizo. (More than 300 million people speak these languages.)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 5.
- There will be a special fellowship for high school juniors and seniors from 9 am, Saturday, January 28 through lunch Lord’s Day, January 29, at Oak Glen. Cost is $75. Please register through the serving ones in L.A. Deadline for registration was January 15.
Prayer, Week of January 8, 2017
Eat the Hidden Manna
Revelation 2:17a, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give of the hidden manna.”
We need to eat the hidden manna in order to be incorporated into the New Jerusalem as the tabernacle of God. (Orthodoxy, week 4, III.A) To overcome the degradation of the church and to return to and remain in the orthodoxy of the church, we need to advance in our eating, to have a personal and intimate time with the Lord in His living and operative word.
Southern California Spanish-Speaking Conference
The annual conference for Spanish-speaking saints in Southern California will be held in Anaheim January 13 to 15 at the Ministry Conference Center (MCC) in Anaheim. Details in English y español are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
Southern California Young People’s Blending Conference
On the same January 13 to 15 weekend as the Spanish-speaking conference, there will be a Young People’s Blending Conference in Anaheim at the MCC Cafeteria. All serving ones are encouraged to participate full-time with their young people. May the Lord superabundantly pour out His rich blessing on this special conference! The conference is free but registration is required; contact those who serve with YP in your district.
340 Saints, 42 Teams, 21 Countries, 4 Continents
The purpose of these FTTA gospel trips is for trainees to experience life and service outside the Training Center, to testify concerning the training, to encourage young people to join the training, to coordinate and blend with the local churches, and to preach the gospel and announce the truth.
This year the 340 participants are 305 FTTA trainees, 10 FTTA-Midage trainees, and 25 serving saints. Each trip is 15 to 19 days long. The destinations and dates are:
- 3 teams, 29 saints to Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, various dates, January 6 to February 6
- 12 teams, 110 saints to United States and Canada, between January 27 and February 13
- 26 teams, 193 saints to Europe and 1 team, 8 saints to South Africa, January 19 to February 2 During these trips, reports and prayer burdens will be at beseeching.org.
Please ask the Lord to accomplish the purpose stated in the paragraph above.
Lord, Thrust Out Workers to Your Harvest in Germany
Matthew 9:37-38, “He said to His disciples, The harvest is great, but the workers few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest that He would thrust out workers into His harvest.” At a fellowship between messages 9 and 10 of the winter training, we were encouraged to open to the Lord and to beseech Him for four types of thrusting out.
- The emigration of trained and experienced families and saints for the practical strengthening and
building up of the local churches in Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, and Stuttgart, Germany. - Beginning February 1, a continuous presence of five laborers with campus experience in each of these
four key cities, each serving at least one month, to gain German college students. - Beginning February 1, a continuous presence of ten laborers in each of these four key cities, each
serving at least one month, for the perfecting of a small number of the most seeking refugees, who
would then perfect others in their own language group. - Many saints to join the Bible distributions and conferences throughout Europe in October 2017.
Information about these and more aspects of the Lord's move in Europe are in the four page “Europe Report - Winter 2016” (links in Europe item below).
Europe
“Thus says the Lord Jehovah, Moreover for this I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock” (Ezek. 36:37).
Currently, approximately 4500 saints are meeting in many cities in Europe. However, in Ezekiel 36:37 the Lord promised to increase His people with men like a flock. In this verse the Lord said that He would be inquired of by His people concerning this matter. Therefore, we need to pray for this and ask the Lord to fulfill this word in
Europe in 2017 (Luke 10:2).
The four page report distributed at the winter training is available at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/ and http://www.lordsmove.org/pdfs/2016WinterTrngEuropeReport.pdf. Information about blending trips and conferences in October 2017 is at http://itero2017.amanatrust.org.uk.
Polish Recovery Version
Typesetting of the Polish New Testament Recovery Version will begin this month, and final proofreading will begin in August. Please pray that all who labor on this project will enjoy the Lord’s overshadowing grace and that the Lord will create a hunger in the Polish-speaking people for His interpreted Word.
India
On December 7 to 11 about 50 co-workers from India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka attended a 5-day Co- workers' Training at the FTT New Delhi training center. The general subject was “The Increase of Christ for the Building up of the Church.” .
On December 22 to 25 about 320 saints from 49 localities in India attended a 4-day National College Training in Chennai. The general subject was “The Tabernacle and Priesthood.”
A four page report of these trainings with some prayer burdens is in the December issue of News of the Churches in India, at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 4.
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it again later this year. - There will be a special fellowship for high school juniors and seniors from 9 am, Saturday, January
28 through lunch Lord’s Day, January 29, at Oak Glen. Cost is $75. Please register through the serving ones in L.A. Deadline for registration is Lord’s Day, January 15.
Prayer, Week of January 1, 2017
God's Purpose and the Desire of His Heart
"The heavens were opened and I saw visions of God." "The word of Jehovah came expressly to Ezekiel the priest...and the hand of Jehovah was upon him there." (Ezek. 1:1, 3)
The most important matter for a person who serves the Lord is that he must see visions of God; under the visions from God we are directed toward God’s destination, and our life is controlled according to God’s economy. (Banner 1)
Ezekiel stood in the position of a priest, one who was seeking God and contacting God and who was connected to the heavens (msg 1, I.A.2). Lord, we are priests open to anything You want to touch
in us and to see Your visions, receive Your words, and to have Your leading hand upon us to meet God's need. Cause us to see and to experience every aspect of the vision in Ezekiel 1.
Bibles for America
Over 500,000 free copies of the New Testament Recovery Version and books by Witness Lee and Watchman Nee have gone out from BfA to seekers of the Lord in this country in 2016. Additionally, more than 650,000 people have visited the BfA blog to read about Christ, the Christian life, and the Bible. Please pray for the Bible and book recipients and the website visitors. May our Savior God save these spiritually hungry ones and bring them to the full knowledge of the truth!
Germany
The burden of the Lord's move for the spread and building up of the churches in Germany is fourfold: to strengthen the local saints, to gain university students, to perfect some refugees as co-workers to reach others in their languages, and to recover saints swept away by the turmoil in the 1980s. Lord, carry out this move through this year.
Germany, October 2017
ITERO will be in Leipzig, Germany October 5 to 7. Lord's Day, October 8, there will be a blending meeting for everyone. October 9 to 13 there will be eight tours of Europe, leading to eight conferences in various parts of Europe on October 14 to 15. During this same period of time there will be Bibles for Europe distributions at more than 90 universities in Germany, and to all kinds of people interested in the Bible due to the 500th anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation.
May we participate in the preparations for October by praying, by giving for the printing of New Testaments to distribute (give to the church designated for Bibles for Europe), and by opening to the Lord about going to Germany in October.
Laos and Vietnam
In this past year, through gospel preaching and shepherding, the number of saints in Laos increased from 143 to 191. May the Lord continue to grant to the churches the blessings of fruitbearing!
Responding to the Lord's move and by His mercy, two couples migrated to Phan Thiet city, Vietnam two years ago. In the last two years, almost a hundred people were gained and more than ten remained in the church life and are meeting regularly. On November 13, the saints broke bread for the first time in Phan Thiet and declared the establishing of the church in Phan Thiet. May the Lord supply, strengthen and enlarge His testimony in Phan Thiet!
More about the Lord's move in Laos and Vietnam:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/E-2016-12.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Asia-2016-12.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 3.
- There will be a special fellowship for high school juniors and seniors from 9 am, Saturday, January 28 through lunch Lord's Day, January 29, at Oak Glen. Cost is $75. Please register through the serving ones in LA. Deadline for registration is Lord's day January 15.
- Oak Glen has been very beneficial to the Southern California churches last year. As the Lord leads, please put an offering designated for Oak Glen in the church offering box.
- The annual Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference will be held in Anaheim from January 13–15 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Details in English y español are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
Prayer, Week of December 25, 2016
Winter Training
The winter training takes place this week in Anaheim. The subject is the Crystallization-study of Ezekiel. Please pray that the Lord would infuse all the saints with His up-to-date burden through the live training messages and the webcast and video training in many localities, including Los Angeles. May the Lord advance in His recovery during this week!
Southern California College Students
For the Southern California college age there will be a "Fan into Flame" time to incite one another and pray for one another immediately following this Winter Training. This is for all of the core college students (not students new to church life). It will be Lord's Day, January 1, 6 to 9 pm in Irvine.
Southern California High School Juniors and Seniors
There will be a special fellowship for high school juniors and seniors. from 9 am, Saturday, January 28 through lunch Lord's Day, January 29. This will be at Oak Glen Christian Conference Center. Cost is $75. Please register through the serving ones in LA as we do for our other SCYP conferences. Deadline for registration is Lord's day January 15.
Europe: Winter School of Truth
For this week’s Winter School of Truth in the Netherlands, the Iberian Peninsula and the UK (December 26–31), please pray for:
- The Lord’s supply of grace to all the serving ones;
- The openness of the young people to the Lord’s word; and
- The covering of the transportation and all the practical arrangements at the venue.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Winter Training verses or repeat Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 2.
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it again next year. - Oak Glen has been very beneficial to the Southern California churches this year. Another payment for its purchase is due this month. As the Lord leads, please put an offering designated for Oak Glen in the
church offering box. - Winter Training: Due to the large number of registrants, there will be no open meetings in Anaheim
during the 2016 Winter Training. - The annual Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference will be held in Anaheim from
January 13–15 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Details in English y español are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
Prayer, Week of December 18, 2016
Love God for the Preparation of the Bride
Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.”
The entire Bible is a divine romance, a record of how God courts His chosen people and eventually marries them. The Lord’s recovery is for the fulfillment of Matthew 16:18 and Revelation 19:7-8—the building up of Christ’s church and the preparation of Christ’s bride. As God’s people love God and spend time to fellowship with Him in His word, God infuses them with His divine element, making them one with Him as His spouse, the same as He is in life, nature, and expression. (Thanksgiving Conference, Message 4, I, I.A,H)
Winter Training
The winter training will take place in next week, December 26–31, in Anaheim. The subject is the Crystallization-study of Ezekiel. Please pray that the Lord would infuse all the saints with His up-to-date burden through the live training messages and the webcast and video training in many localities, including Los Angeles. May the Lord advance in His recovery during this time!
FTTA Graduation
Forty-six trainees will graduate from FTTA on Saturday, December 24. Let us petition the Lord:
1) That the truth imparted into them in the past 2 years would become their constitution and experience;
2) For a rich supply in their transition from training life to church life; and
3) For their full participation in the recovery whether they serve or work or go to school.
Europe
In September 2015 some brothers realized that the large influx of refugees to Europe indicated that the Lord was moving. Throughout 2016 many saints visited or migrated to Germany to join with saints there in proclaiming the gospel and in shepherding new believers. The main shepherding effort concluded at the end of November but a few saints continue to labor with local saints in Germany.
The co-workers in Europe have been and are in fellowship about how to continue through the first half of 2017. Please beseech the Lord to lead them throughout this move.
At the winter training next week there will be fellowship about the Lord’s move in Europe. Please ask the Lord to anoint the fellowship and to open our ears to hear what the Spirit is speaking to us.
Europe: Winter School of Truth
The Winter School of Truth will be December 26–31. This is a full-time, six-day, residential event for young people. The general subject is “The Triune God and the Person and Work of Christ.” This truth school will be held simultaneously in the United Kingdom (for those from the UK, Ireland, Greece, Romania), in Spain (for Spain and Portugal), and the Netherlands (for all other nations in western and central Europe). The goal is to produce a group of young people in Europe who are constituted with the divine truths in the Word of God.
The long-term burden is to raise up truth schools one by one across Europe. Please pray that the Lord will give the European young people a hunger for the truth and will make the truth their inward constitution year by year.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 2.
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it again next year. - Oak Glen has been very beneficial to the Southern California churches this year. Another payment for its purchase is due this month. As the Lord leads, please put an offering designated for ‘Oak Glen’ in the church offering box.
- Winter Training: Due to the large number of registrants, there will be no open meetings in Anaheim during the 2016 Winter Training.
- The annual Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference will be held in Anaheim from January 13–15, 2017 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Details in English y español are at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of December 11, 2016
Maturity in Life for the Readiness of the Bride
In the New Testament the word mature is used to refer to the believers’ being full-grown and perfected in the life of God, indicating that we need to grow and mature unto perfection in the divine life. We need to learn of the apostle Paul to pursue this growth and maturity in the life of Christ. (Thanksgiving Conference, message 3, IV.B,D)
“Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue, if even I may lay hold of that for which I also have been laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers, I do not account of myself to have laid hold; but one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize to which God in Christ Jesus has called me upward.” (Phil. 3:12-14)
FTTA-MA Training Graduation
The middle-age training graduation is Saturday, December 17, at 10 am in Anaheim; 46 trainees will graduate. The graduation is at the Ministry Conference Center and is open to all the saints. Please ask the Lord for a rich expression of Himself to visitors at the graduation, and for each graduate to live an overcoming life to “follow the Lamb wherever He may go” (Rev. 14:4).
Oak Glen
One year ago, the churches in Southern California acquired ownership of Oak Glen. This year, many saints and churches, including many from Los Angeles, increasingly utilized this property for blending and special fellowship in a retreat setting. In particular, at the November college conferences there, we were able to enhance our schedule and carry out more activities that help our students and perfect them. We continue to see many young lives revolutionized through their experiences at this camp.
Photos and information about Oak Glen are at https://oakglen.org.
As of November 30 our offerings were far short of the amount needed by the churches for the loan payment due this month. Thank the Lord for this purchase and ask Him to grace us for our extra giving toward this payment. As the Lord leads, please designate offerings for Oak Glen and put them in the offering box of the church in Los Angeles.
Europe
A two-page report on the present situation of the Lord’s move in Europe was made available at the Thanksgiving conference. It can be viewed or downloaded at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. The main burdens presented in this report are preparations for the Bible distributions, ITERO, and international blending in fall 2017, and the need to increase the facilities in London so that trainings can be enlarged in scope and in number of participants.
Krakow, Poland
There has long been a burden to raise up a lampstand in Krakow, a major educational and cultural center and the second largest city in Poland. In the past several years saints have gone there on a regular basis to distribute free ministry literature, including the English NT Recovery Version. Six full- timers recently relocated to Krakow. Please pray that the Lord will gain many seeking ones through their labor and that a golden lampstand will be raised up as the testimony of Jesus in Krakow.
India
From November 4–6 about 300 serving ones from over 60 localities in India attended a 3-day training. The general subject was “Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church” (the subject of October’s ITERO in Australia). Our urgent need today is to return to the orthodoxy of the church, that is, to return to the unique Person of the glorious Christ as the Son of Man.
Two burdens presented during fellowship times were the translation of the NT Recovery Version into many different Indian languages, and encouraging brothers in each locality to send more young people to the training (FTT New Delhi), after which they can serve the need of the whole country.
A two-page report from India is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church, week 1.
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it again next year. - Winter Training: Due to the large number of registrants, there will be no open meetings in
Anaheim during the 2016 Winter Training. - The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html. Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of December 4, 2016
The Body of Christ, the Top Revelation of the Bible
“I also...do not cease giving thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the full knowledge of Him.” (Eph. 1:15-17)
We must pray for a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that we may see the Body of Christ as the top revelation of the Bible. (Thanksgiving conference., message 2, I.)
Southern California Spanish-Speaking Blending
Spanish-speaking saints in Southern California will have a blending time December 10 in clusters of churches in multiple places. We will be reviewing the four messages on “The Proper Way to Touch the Word of God”: 1. Read the Word, 2. Pray-read the Word, 3. Study the Word, 4. Speak the Word.
Pray that the Lord would keep the saints hungry to come to the word every day, not only to know and understand God’s desire, but to grow unto salvation, to pray-read the Word to be nourished by Him, to study the word and come to full knowledge of the truth, and to speak the word to impart Christ into sinners and fellow believers to build up the church as His Body.
Venice High School Bible Club
This year, there are six young people on the Venice High School campus who have begun reading the Bible together and meeting as a Bible club. Five of the students are sophomores and one is a freshman. Praise the Lord, through the young people, the Lord has attracted new ones who have been meeting regularly. Please pray:
- That the Lord would continue to move on the Venice High School campus for His increase among and within many high school students;
- That each meeting would minister life to all the students attending;
- For the three new ones who have been attending regularly;
- That the six young people involved in the Bible club to follow the Lord's leading for the direction of the Bible club week after week. (Venice does not have a saint who is a teacher as their club sponsor.)
UCLA Winter Blending Trips
This weekend, many UCLA students and full-timers will embark on two separate blending trips. Twelve saints will travel to Europe for two weeks to meet with the saints in London, Cambridge, Dublin, Madrid and Paris; 34 saints will visit Bakersfield, Fresno and Yosemite National Park for 5 days. Since these trips are not only for sightseeing but also for the building of the Body, we need the prayers of the church. Please pray:
- For the Lord to build us more together and to fill this trip with the rich enjoyment of Christ as we pursue the ministry together;
- For our blending with the saints in these cities;
- That this trip would broaden our view of the world situation, enlarge our vision of the Body of Christ, increase our appreciation and burden for the Lord’s present move in Europe, and further blend and build up the members of the Body.
Bibles for America in Alaska
Saints in Anchorage, Alaska had distributions this summer at the Anchorage Market & Festival and this fall at the University of Alaska Anchorage. They gave away 2,059 Recovery Version NTs, along with 1,334 copies of Basic Elements of the Christian Life, vol. 1, and 822 copies of Spiritual Nourishment. Many any believers came and prayed with us and encouraged us during our distribution.
Praise the Lord for such a sowing! Please pray that the saints in Alaska would be richly supplied and that Bible and book recipients would be open for further shepherding. Please also pray that the Lord would stir in every person who received a Bible or book and draw them to seek after Him.
Spain and Portugal
The annual Iberian Peninsula Conference will be held in Madrid, Spain from December 9 to 11. Please pray for the attendance of the saints, the release of the Lord’s up-to-date speaking, and the blending of all the saints into the reality of the Body of Christ.
Germany
Please continue to ask the Lord for progress in Germany with the:
- Supply of saints to labor in shepherding and perfecting of the refugee believers;
- Raising up of some refugee as co-workers for the spread of this labor;
- Gaining of native Germans from the labor on the college campuses;
- Migration of experienced saints to strengthen the churches in Germany;
- Preparations for Bible distributions next year around the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s posting of his 95 Theses (the nominal beginning of the Reformation).
Lord’s Move to Asia
The 2016 LMA Conference was held in Malaysia, October 18 to 20, with the general subject being “The Increase of Christ.” Saints from 23 countries participated in such a glorious gathering and witnessed the advance of the Lord’s move. A report from this gathering is at:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/E-2016-11.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/Asia-2016-11.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today, week 5.
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it again next year.
Next week we will begin Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church (October 2016 ITERO). - Winter Training: Due to the large number of registrants, there will be no open meetings during the 2016 Winter Training in Anaheim.
- The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.
Prayer, Week of November 27, 2016
The Intrinsic Building Up of the Organic Body of Christ
“Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make an abode with him.” (John 14:23)
The Body of Christ is a divine constitution of the Triune God with the believers in Christ. The building up of the Body is the constitution of the Triune God and the tripartite man in the Spirit of God and the spirit of man. Such a constitution is a matter of divinity constituted into humanity to be man's dwelling place and of humanity built into divinity to be God’s dwelling place. (Thanksgiving Conference, msg 1, II.)
Lord, we love You! Constitute Yourself into us and build us into Yourself!
Fellowship unto the Furtherance of the Gospel
If we are faithful to Him, He will bless us. If we spend every ounce of our gold for His purpose, He will return to us not only by ounces but by pounds. This is to carry out the fellowship unto the gospel, the fellowship unto the furtherance of the gospel. The key point of this way is that every believer is a full-timer. Some drop their job to teach and preach, while some remain on their job to make money. We must encourage some to drop their jobs. We must also encourage some to make money and separate five percent monthly, purposely for the account unto the gospel. (from Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today, Wk 4, Day 4).
“I have received in full all things and abound; I have been filled, receiving from Epaphroditus the things from you, a sweet-smelling savor, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. And my God will fill your every need according to His riches, in glory, in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:18-19)
Please pray that the Lord would free us from the deceitfulness and the bondage that the love of money brings - so that there will be food in the Lord's house (Mal 3:10), and so that there would be fellowship unto the furtherance of the gospel.
Rome
Construction for the new meeting hall in Rome is scheduled to be completed in early December. The saints are trusting in the resurrected One to meet all their needs for this property, which is for His move in Rome, in Italy, and in Europe. Those who are burdened to donate for this project can give through Lord’s Move to Europe (http://www.lordsmove.org/offerings.html) or to the church here. Please designate all gifts “Rome Meeting Hall.”
Germany
The government interviews for our new refugee believers have increased recently. Please ask the Lord to be their peace as they face the interviews, to rule over the judges, and to keep these believers hungry for the Word so they can better present their genuine faith before the judges, and to gain many remaining fruits through them.
We still need more Farsi translators who can facilitate our fellowship with the unsaved migrants and with new believers.
Ask the Lord to thrust out workers into the harvest of both refugees and native Germans, and to keep the door open for these saints to obtain visas to labor in Germany long term.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today, week 4.
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it again next year.
After week 5 we will begin Returning to the Orthodoxy of the Church (October 2016 ITERO). - The 2016 Winter Training will be December 26–31 in Anaheim (live) and Los Angeles (simulcasts).
Registration for video ($105) and late registration for Anaheim ($255) are open until December 1. - The Lord’s Move in Europe:
Giving for the Gospel Work in Europe instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/information.html.
Giving for the UK Building Fund instructions are at http://www.lordsmove.org/ukbuildingfund or you may give to the church in LA, designated for UK Building Fund.