Week of March 30
The Development of the Divine Life and the Divine Nature for a Rich Entrance into the Eternal Kingdom
“And for this very reason also, adding all diligence, supply bountifully in your faith virtue; and in virtue, knowledge; and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control, endurance; and in endurance, godliness; and in brotherly love, love.” (2 Pet. 1:5-7)
“For in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly and bountifully supplied to you.” (2 Pet. 1:11)
The Greek word rendered “adding” [1:5] literally means “bringing in beside.” Beside, along with, the precious and exceedingly great promises given to us by God, we should bring in all diligence to cooperate with the enabling of the dynamic divine nature for the carrying out of God's promises.
What the divine power has given us in 1:3 and 4 is developed in verses 5 through 7. To supply virtue in faith is to develop virtue in the exercise of faith. The same principle applies to all the other items…
According to Peter's word in 1:5-11, to grow to maturity is to develop what we have already received. We have been allotted the wonderful like precious faith, and this faith is an all-inclusive seed. All the divine riches are in this seed, but we must be diligent to develop them into virtue. Then we need to develop in our virtue knowledge; in knowledge, self-control; in self-control, endurance; in endurance, godliness; in godliness, brotherly love; and in brotherly love, love. By developing these virtues we grow, and eventually we shall reach maturity. As a result, we shall be full of Christ, and, in Paul's words, we shall arrive at the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Eph. 4:13). Then we shall be qualified and equipped to be kings in the coming kingdom. (Life-study of 2 Peter, pp. 45, 63)
Prayer as the Power of the Gospel
“And when they had so besought, the place in which they were gathered was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)
“But we will continue steadfastly in prayer and in the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:4)
If we want to preach the gospel in a fresh, living, effectual, and powerful way, we must pray thoroughly. We need to pray until we are saved. Sometimes we are not saved when we go to preach the gospel. If we are thin-skinned, we need to pray in order to be saved from our shyness and bashfulness when we want to preach the gospel…Unless we are delivered from the world, it will be difficult for us to preach the gospel with authority. Hence, we need to pray until we are saved from the world…We must not be occupied by any person or thing. Therefore, we need to pray much so that we may be delivered from any form of preoccupation. When we are released, we will be able to release others.
Before we preach the gospel, we should pray for people's salvation; we need to pray until we are released. Then we need to pray to receive power. We need to pray for the economical Spirit to fill us and be with us. We should pray, “Lord, today I apply the economical Spirit that You have poured out upon Your Body. Clothe me with Yourself as a mantle. I am going out to speak today. Open the hearts of those whom I speak to, and demolish the stronghold of Satan within them while I am speaking.” We need this kind of prayer. (CWWL, 1984, vol. 5, “Guidelines for the Propagation of the Lord's Recovery,” ch. 4, pp. 148-149)
Pray that the saints would see that the genuine power of the gospel comes through thorough prayer and would thus become burdened to pray—not only to entreat the Lord to do things for His move but also to cause our spirit to be exercised and strengthened so that we could speak the word of God with boldness.
ITERO
The April 2025 International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones will be held in Anaheim this weekend, April 4 to 6, as well as by video trainings around the world throughout this month. Please pray:
- For the full release of the Lord's timely speaking with His burden to His Body.
- For the blending of the brothers in all the meetings, study sessions, and fellowship times.
- For the intensified spreading and building up of the churches throughout the earth as a result of the operating of this word in the elders and responsible brothers and in all the saints.
Cal State University Northridge (CSUN)
The Lord is moving freshly at CSUN. This semester the Christian Students Club, inactive during and since the pandemic years, has been newly approved. Saints involved in BfA distributions on campus have met twice with core students and will continue to meet with them. Starting April 10, the club will begin a weekly Bible study on campus.
Please thank the Lord for these steps forward and ask Him to continue advancing at CSUN and to gain more students for His move to consummate this age.
FTT Taipei Gospel Trips
April is the month for FTTT gospel trips to multiple nations in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The burden is to present the gospel to people, especially college students, and to blend with local saints. Such trips provide opportunities for the Lord's further speaking and training in environments very different from the training center.
Please ask the Lord to supply the traveling trainees richly with His grace and hide them from any attack of the enemy.
Russia and Ukraine
Pray for the Lord to protect the tripartite being of all the saints and bring an end to the present conflict so that His move in Russia, Ukraine, and Europe would advance. Also pray that He would continue to bless the saints and the churches in the Russian-speaking world, and that there would be a good situation for the spreading of the truth and the building up of the churches.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 6 of Living a Christian Life and Church Life Under the Government of God for the Economy of God. Next week, starting April 7, we will begin Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (2), vol. 1 (December Semiannual Training).
- No Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: There is no ministry meeting this week due to preparations for ITERO. The meeting will resume next week, April 9.
- Memorial Day Conference: The 2025 International Memorial Day Blending Conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown from May 23 to 26. Saints in LA who are considering attending in person are requested to RSVP by April 30 at tinyurl.com/memdayla.
- Semiannual Training: June 30 to July 6 in Anaheim. For LA saints, registration is now open until April 30 (live) and June 15 (video) at tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Past issues of LSM's digital newsletter contain helpful fellowship on the burden for semiannual trainings, the need for training and regulations, and the purpose of training donations.
- SoCal High School Brothers Conference: April 11 to 13 at Oak Glen.
- Bibles for America's recent blogpost “What Does It Mean to Call on the Name of the Lord?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
- LSM Radio Programs: Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee focuses on the enjoyment of the divine life as revealed in the Scriptures. Spoken ministry portions are followed by a lively discussion. All episodes available for free at www.lsmradio.com/programs.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of March 16
Experiencing Christ as the Shepherd of Our Souls
“For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Pet. 2:25)
“Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” (Matt. 11:29)
Because our soul is very complicated, we need Christ, who is the life-giving Spirit in our spirit, to shepherd us in our soul, to take care of our mind, emotion, and will and our problems, needs, and wounds. As our pneumatic Shepherd, Christ takes care of us from within our spirit. His shepherding begins from our spirit and spreads to every part of our soul. From our spirit Christ reaches all the parts of our soul and takes care of us in a tender, organic, all-inclusive way.
As the Shepherd of our souls, the Lord gives rest to our soul. The Lord calls those who are striving to keep the law or struggling to be successful in any work to come to Him for rest. This rest refers not only to being set free from the toil and burden under the law or religion or under any work or responsibility but also to perfect peace and full satisfaction. The rest that we find by taking the Lord's yoke and learning from Him is an inward rest, a rest for our souls. (Living a Christian Life and Church Life under the Government of God for the Economy of God, msg. 4, II.B, B.1-3, D, D.1-2, 5)
Becoming Praising Persons
“My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I call out in the day, but You do not answer; and in the night, but there is no rest for me. But You are holy, You who sit enthroned upon the praises of Israel.” (Psa. 22:1-3)
In the Psalms we can touch the most wounded feelings, and in the Psalms we also can find the greatest and highest praises. God uses many hardships, difficulties, and slanders to create praises in His people. He causes them to learn through difficult circumstances to become praising persons before the Lord.
The happiest persons are not always the ones who have the loudest praise. The loudest praise comes very often from the ones who are passing through hardships. This kind of praise is most pleasing to God and is blessed by Him. God does not want men to praise Him only when they are on the mountaintop surveying Canaan, the promised land. God desires much more to see His people writing psalms and praising Him when they “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (23:4). This is genuine praise. (CWWN, vol. 48, “Praising,” p. 248)
Pray that the saints would realize that God uses many hardships, difficulties, and slanders to create praises in His people and causes them to learn through difficult circumstances to become praising persons who offer a sacrifice of praise continually to God.
High School Seniors
During the months of March and April, high school seniors find out which colleges have offered them admission. In the church in Los Angeles, we have 5 brothers and 7 sisters who are graduating from high school this year. Please pray:
- For all of our seniors in LA to be open to the Lord for His leading and to the Body for shepherding fellowship related to their college decision and future.
- For the Lord to place each senior in the best place and situation for them to grow in life and be useful to the Lord for His purpose.
- That the Lord would send open and seeking vessels from around the United States and the world to our college campuses in LA for us to contact and gain for His glory!
FTTA-MA
The spring term of the Middle-age Training in Anaheim began this week on March 17. Please pray for the Lord's covering and blessing of all the trainees, serving ones, and their families. Pray for the rich infusion of the truth into each trainee and for the Lord's maturing them through His moving within each one and His using the outward environment.
Spring European University Conference
The European University Students Conference will held this weekend, March 21 to 23, in the Netherlands. The topics is “Daniel and His Companions in Babylon—Choosing to Overcome.” More than 500 people have registered to attend. Please pray:
- For the Lord to keep all who registered in a soft, open condition before Him and prepare them to receive and respond to His word.
- For the Lord to flow through the brothers' speaking and that the Spirit's speaking would produce the response the Lord needs in order to hasten His return.
- That the enemy would be bound from every angle and put to an open shame before, during, and after this conference.
- That the Lord would strengthen this young generation into the inner man to choose: (1) to overcome the temptation of the Babylonian diet; (2) to live in the principle of a Nazarite as a holy, voluntary sacrifice to God; (3) to join themselves to God's desire through His word; (4) to learn in the Body to bind and loose on the earth what has been bound and loosed in the heavens; and (5) to respond to God's call to become part of the corporate smiting stone that will destroy the great human image and bring in God's kingdom.
Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (behind Zurich) and the largest city in the French-speaking region of the country. For the past several years, the saints in Geneva have been meeting in Lausanne. However, based on the recent gospel trips, there is a clear sense that the Lord is brooding over Geneva. Please pray for more saints to migrate under the Head and in the Body to strengthen the Lord's testimony in this key city!
Bangladesh
There is a weekly group meeting for Muslim students interested in reading the Bible. Pray for more students to participate, come to know Christ, receive salvation, and be baptized through reading the Bible.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Living a Christian Life and Church Life Under the Government of God for the Economy of God (Thanksgiving Conference).
- Bibles for America's new blogpost “What Does It Mean to Call on the Name of the Lord?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The series on “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul's Epistles—Ephesians” continues this week starting at 7:25 pm in Anaheim and at lsmwebcast.com.
- Memorial Day Conference: The 2025 International Memorial Day Blending Conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown from May 23 to 26. Saints in LA who are considering attending in person are asked to RSVP by April 30 at tinyurl.com/memdayla. Details, including recommended hotels at discounted rates, are in the information package on this site.
- Junior High Brothers Conference: March 28 to 30 at Oak Glen.
- High School Brothers Conference: April 11 to 13 at Oak Glen.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of March 2
Living under God's Government
“For it is time for the judgment to begin from the house of God; and if first from us, what will be the end of those who disobey the gospel of God?” (1 Pet. 4:17)
“So then let those also who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls in well-doing to a faithful Creator.” (1 Pet. 4:19)
The purpose of God's governing judgment [is] to clear up His universe. God is cleansing, purifying, the universe. First, He purifies us, His household. We are now the center of His cleaning work. The reason we have difficulties is that God's judgment begins from His own household. You and I are under God's judgment. (Life-study of 1 Peter, p. 10)
This book shows the government of God especially in relation to His dealings with His chosen people. The sufferings they undergo in fiery persecution are used by Him as a means to judge them that they may be disciplined, purified, and separated from the unbelievers and not have the same destiny as they. Hence, such disciplinary judgment begins from His own household, and it is not exercised just once or twice but is being carried out continuously until the Lord's coming. (p. 252)
We should commit our souls to the faithful Creator. God can preserve our soul, and His loving and faithful care accompanies His justice in His governmental administration. While God judges us in His government, He cares for us faithfully in His love; as we are suffering His disciplinary judgment, we should commit our souls to the faithful care of our Creator. (Living a Christian Life and Church Life under the Government of God for the Economy of God, msg. 2, IV. D, 1-2)
Seeking the Things Which Are Above
God has seated Christ in the heavenlies “far above all rule and authority and power and lordship and every name that is named not only in this age but also in that which is to come; and He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church” (Eph. 1:21-22).
“If therefore you were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the bright hand of God” (Col. 3:1). To seek the things above is to seek to live Christ in and with the church (see note 13).
The new US administration has brought national and world politics into a new era. All of this is in the earthly realm. We should not set our mind on earthly things (Col. 3:2), but should ask the Lord:
- To save us from every anxiety or gladness about things of this age.
- To strengthen our seeking to live Christ in the church life.
- To exercise His authority to direct everything toward His conclusion of this age.
- To use any current uncertainties to open more people to the gospel.
SoCal Junior High Sisters Conference
This weekend, March 7 to 9, sisters from across Southern California will gather at Oak Glen for the Spring 2025 Junior High Sisters Conference on “The Spirit.” For this conference, please pray:
- For the Lord to prepare the hearts of all of the young sisters in Southern California.
- That the messages spoken would be relevant and timely to meet the needs of the sisters.
- That spiritual companionships would be built through spending time together during the conference.
Paris, France
One of the most significant cities in the world, Paris is the capital of France. The church life was established there in 2002 and has over 100 saints meeting. Because of the Lord's present move in the French-speaking countries in Europe, the burden is to strengthen the Lord's testimony in this crucial city so that it can serve as a base for the Lord's move.
In addition to a number of saints receiving the Lord's burden to serve on “shepherding trips” of one to three months to meet the urgent need, please pray for many saints to migrate under the Head and in the Body to strengthen the Lord's testimony in Paris!
2026 Winter Olympics in Italy
Next year, the 2026 Winter Olympic Games will be held in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, from February 6 to 22. The Torch Relay throughout Italy will begin on December 6, 2025. Please pray:
- That the Lord will be wisdom to His Body on how to take advantage of this opportunity to sow Christ as the seed of the kingdom into many who attend this event.
- That the Lord will use the upcoming months to prepare the hearts of many seeking people to receive Christ in His word and be added to the Lord's testimony in Italy and other parts of Europe.
Meeting Hall in Riga, Latvia
Riga is the capital of Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries in Northeastern Europe. Riga plays a vital role in connecting these countries and serves as a key bridge between the Russian-speaking work and the broader work in Europe. Recently, the church in Riga acquired a four-story building that needs extensive renovation. Currently, the financial need is 500,000 Euros (about $550,000). Offerings given to the Church in Los Angeles can be designated ‘Riga Meeting Hall.'
Madrid House Purchase
The funds needed to purchase the house next to the meeting hall in Madrid have been received well before the closing deadline of March 6. Thank the Lord for supplying this need in and through His Body to advance His move on the Iberian Peninsula. Hallelujah!
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Living a Christian Life and Church Life Under the Government of God for the Economy of God (Thanksgiving Conference).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The new series on "The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul's Epistles—Ephesians” continues this week starting at 7:25 pm in Anaheim and at lsmwebcast.com.
- SoCal Korean-speaking Conference: This year's blending conference will be held in person for the first time since the pandemic on March 16, 9:00 am to 12:30 pm, in Arcadia. The subject will be “The Way to Live in the Reality of the Kingdom of God and to Bring in the Kingdom of God.” Meetings for children and young people will be provided, as well as lunch boxes.
- Memorial Day Conference: The 2025 International Memorial Day Blending Conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown from May 23 to 26. Saints in LA who are considering attending in person are asked to RSVP by April 30 at tinyurl.com/memdayla. Details, including recommended hotels at discounted rates, are in the information package on this site.
- ICSC: Archived messages from the recent International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference in Anaheim are available to watch for free until March 18 at lsmwebcast.com.
- Junior High Conferences: At Oak Glen for sisters, March 7 to 9; for brothers, March 28 to 30.
- High School Conferences: At Oak Glen for sisters, March 14 to 16; for brothers, April 11 to 13.
- Bibles for America's recent blogpost “How Does God's Light Help Us Grow?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of February 23
The Full Enjoyment of the Triune God
“Through which He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature.” (2 Pet. 1:4a)
“But the God of all grace, He who has called you into His eternal glory in Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself perfect, establish, strengthen, and ground you.” (1 Pet. 5:10)
Although the subject of 1 and 2 Peter is God's government, this is not the central focus and basic structure of these Epistles; everything concerning God's government should bring us back to the central focus and basic structure of these Epistles—the Triune God as our full enjoyment to carry out the economy of God.
The central focus and basic structure of 1 and 2 Peter are the energizing Triune God operating in His economy to bring His chosen ones into the full enjoyment of the Triune God; our human spirit, as the hidden man of the heart, and God's Spirit, as the Spirit of glory and as the Spirit of Christ, are the means for us to partake of God, in His divine nature, as our portion. The central focus and basic structure of 1 and 2 Peter are the Triune God operating to accomplish His complete salvation so that we may be regenerated, so that we may feed on His word, and so that we may grow, be transformed, and be built up in order that He may have a dwelling place and we may be glorified to express Him. (Living a Christian Life and Church Life under the Government of God for the Economy of God, msg. 1, II, A-B)
May we pray for the energizing Triune God to operate in all the saints to bring us into the full enjoyment of Him for the carrying out of His economy!
Wednesday Night Ministry Meetings
A new term of mid-week ministry meetings on “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul's Epistles—Ephesians” begins this Wednesday, February 26 at 7:25 pm at the LSM Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. All the saints are invited to attend in person to support the release of the word. The meeting will also be live-streamed and archived at lsmwebcast.com (subscription or payment required).
Please pray for the ministry of the Lord's word week by week to His recovery. Pray for the Lord's continued blessing on the FTTA, on all the trainees, the trainers, and the saints who serve in the training.
LA English-speaking Blending Meeting
This Lord's Day, March 2 there will be an all-LA English-speaking Lord's table and prophesying meeting at Hall 2 starting at 10:00 am. All the saints are encouraged to come early with an exercised spirit, “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and psalming with your heart to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19), and ready to speak “building up and encouragement and consolation to men” (1 Cor. 14:3). Lunch will be provided.
Please pray for a sweet and encouraging time of blending for the building up of the church and the furtherance of the Lord's testimony in Los Angeles.
LA College Students
This Friday evening, February 28, students from around Los Angeles will gather together on campus at UCLA for dinner and a large group fellowship. Please pray:
- For the Lord to strongly call both newer and existing students to pay the price and come with an open heart and spirit.
- For the full release of the spirit, especially during the singing.
- For an anointed word on choosing Christ as the tree of life.
Koreatown Gospel Seminar
Last Saturday evening, the Korean-speaking saints in Hall 1 invited gospel friends into our first gospel seminar, which was held at our meeting location on Olympic Blvd. Of the twelve guests who attended, most were new contacts and a few were saints who need to recover their church life.
The topic of our fellowship was “Jesus Is the Savior” based on Matt 1:21 and Phil 2:12. After two brothers shared the message, we divided into smaller groups to have more interactive fellowship about the topic. There was a sweet atmosphere of enjoyment and an overall positive response from the guests. It was a joy to see everyone functioning during this gospel feast!
We are planning to have this gospel seminar every two months. Please pray that all twelve gospel friends would get proper shepherding and the gospel seminar would encourage more saints to practice gospel, shepherding life.
Hawaii
The churches in Hawaii endeavor to remain in the up-to-date ministry and in the blending life of the Body of Christ. This year's annual Hawaii Blending Conference will be held February 28 to March 2 in Honolulu. The general subject will be “God Desires All Human Beings to Be Saved, and Come to the Full Knowledge of the Truth [Christ], the Son of the Living God, Who Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life”; messages will be shared in English with side-by-side translation into Chinese.
Saints are also invited to join online using the links posted at www.churchinhonolulu.net.
Meeting Hall in Riga, Latvia
Riga is the capital of Latvia, one of the three Baltic countries in Northeastern Europe, along with Estonia to the north and Lithuania to the south. Riga plays a vital role in connecting these countries and serves as a key bridge between the Russian-speaking work and the broader work in Europe. The country has a population of 1.9 million. As announced during the recent ICSC, the church in Riga recently acquired a four-story building that needs extensive renovation. Currently, the financial need is 500,000 Euros (about $550,000).
As the Lord leads, saints in LA may participate in giving through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Riga Meeting Hall.”
Madrid House Purchase
The funds needed to purchase the house next to the meeting hall in Madrid have been received well before the closing deadline of March 6. Thank the Lord for supplying this need in and through His Body to advance His move on the Iberian Peninsula. Hallelujah!
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Living a Christian Life and Church Life Under the Government of God for the Economy of God(Thanksgiving Conference).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The new series on “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul's Epistles—Ephesians” begins this week starting at 7:25 pm in Anaheim and at lsmwebcast.com.
- Memorial Day Conference: The 2025 International Memorial Day Blending Conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown from May 23 to 26. Saints in LA who are considering attending in person are asked to RSVP by April 30 at tinyurl.com/memdayla. Details, including recommended hotels at discounted rates, are in the information package on this site.
- ICSC: Archived messages from the recent International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference in Anaheim are available to watch for free until March 18 at lsmwebcast.com.
- Junior High Conferences: At Oak Glen for sisters, March 7 to 9; for brothers, March 28 to 30.
- High School Conferences: At Oak Glen for sisters, March 14 to 16; for brothers, April 11 to 13 (registration due March 2).
- Bibles for America's recent blogpost “How Does God's Light Help Us Grow?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of February 16
[View as PDF]
Update on the Lord's Move in Francophone Europe
Not Losing Heart in Sowing unto the Spirit
“And let us not lose heart in doing what is good, for in the proper season we will reap if we do not faint. So then, as we have the opportunity, let us do what is good toward all, but especially toward those of the household of the faith.” (Gal. 6:9-10)
In 6:9 Paul goes on to say, “And let us not lose heart in doing what is good, for in the proper season we will reap if we do not faint.” According to the context, “doing what is good” in verse 9 is sowing to the Spirit. Paul's use of the word reap in this verse connects it with the foregoing verse about sowing. We should not lose heart in doing good, in sowing unto the Spirit. Sowing to the flesh usually produces a quicker result than sowing to the Spirit. A higher form of life often grows more slowly than a lower form. In the same principle, what we sow unto the Spirit will usually grow more slowly than what we sow unto the flesh. This is the reason that Paul encourages us not to lose heart in sowing unto the Spirit. A brother who is an elder should not say, “I have been in this city for years sowing unto the Spirit. What do I have to show for my labor? I don't see any result.” Remember Paul's word that in the proper season we will reap if we do not faint. In working for the Lord, in ministering the Word to the children of God, and in caring for the churches, we should not expect that what we sow unto the Spirit will grow quickly. Like farmers, we need to be patient. Eventually, in the proper season, we will reap. The more precious are the things sown, the longer it will take for them to grow. While they are growing, let us be patient and not lose heart. (Life-study of Galatians, 2nd ed., msg. 29, p. 255)
Every detail of our living is important because it is part of our sowing. If we sow unto the Spirit in all the small parts of our daily living, we shall have a life unto the Spirit. The issue of this kind of life is life eternal. When our goal is the Spirit, we become a supply of life to others. (Msg. 35, p. 307)
ICSC
This past weekend, February 14 to 16, the International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference was held in Anaheim. The general subject was “Chapters 5 through 8 of Romans—the Kernel of the Bible.”
Chapters 5 through 8 of Romans can be called the kernel of the Bible, showing its entire theme in a concrete and detailed way; the words life and death form two contrasting lines through chapters 5–8, showing that man is in a triangular situation between God and Satan, life and death. (Key Statement 1)
As we enjoy Christ in our sufferings, we are being saved in His life for accomplishing the organic goal of God's dynamic salvation, which is the producing and building up of the organic Body of Christ expressed in the local churches, where we enjoy the rich grace of the Lord and where the God of peace crushes Satan under our feet for His glorious expression and for the display of His victory. (Key Statement 2)
All the saints are encouraged to review the archived conference messages; they are available to watch for free at lsmwebcast.com until March 18. Please pray for the reception and digestion of the word released in this first “feast” of the new year, regardless of language, so that the saints' living and service will be adjusted and governed by this timely speaking.
Unsearchable and Untraceable
“Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and untraceable His ways!” (Rom. 11:33)
The new administration in the United States is mandating many changes. The impact of these changes is hard to understand or foresee, but “who has known the mind of the Lord” (v. 34a). Let us beseech the Lord that in all these changes:
- The saints in the recovery would experience the Lord as their inner peace and gain subjective assurance that “out from Him and through Him and to Him are all things” (v. 36a).
- The uncertainty and turmoil would open people to the gospel.
- We would be emboldened by the Lord to go out with the gospel and the truths.
- The Lord would continue to strongly use the United States as a base for His recovery.
“To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” (v. 36b)
FTTA
The Spring 2025 term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim began this week on February 17. At least 40 incoming trainees are joining the training this term (this number includes first-term trainees and a handful of re-entering ones), bringing the total anticipated number to over 265. Please pray:
- That the Lord would shepherd each one He has called to be trained all the way to the FTTA, and that the enemy would have no way to distract them or frustrate their coming.
- That all the trainees would come with an open heart and an exercised spirit, consecrating themselves fully to the Lord to be trained in every aspect of their person and living.
- That the Lord would cover and preserve the safety and health (both physical and psychological) of all the trainees throughout the term.
- That the Lord would continue to call His young people throughout the United States and Canada to be trained, and free them from all encumbrance and entanglement that they might respond to His call.
FTTA-MA
February 25 is the application deadline for the spring term of the middle-age training, which begins March 17. Attendance in recent terms has been half or less of the pre-pandemic peak number. Ask the Lord to release many, especially from North America, whether young or old, whether new or decades in the recovery, to realize their need of training and to match Isaiah's willingness to declare, “Here am I; send me” (Isa. 6:8).
French-speaking Europe
A brief update on the Lord's move in French-speaking Europe is attached to this prayer list in English and in Chinese. This update was presented at the recent ICSC in Anaheim. There is a call for more saints to migrate in order to meet the long-term need. May the Lord send workers to match His present move.
Let us also continue to ask the Lord to supply all the saints who live in French-speaking Europe, and all who are there on “shepherding trips” for weeks or months, to labor diligent in ministering Christ to the seeking contacts so that these ones may grow in truth and life and be added to the church. Beseech the Lord to thrust out more workers into this harvest and to release the necessary long-term visas.
For all the latest reports of the gospel and shepherding trips, click here.
Germany
A federal election will be held on February 23 to elect the 630 members of the German parliament. Please pray that the will of our sovereign Lord would be done in these elections and that the outcome would be what is best for the furtherance of His testimony and the spreading of the gospel in Germany.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 6 of our reading through Galatians. Next week, we begin Living a Christian Life and Church Life Under the Government of God for the Economy of God (Thanksgiving Conference).
- Memorial Day Conference: The 2025 International Memorial Day Blending Conference will be held in Phoenix, AZ at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown from May 23 to 26. Saints in LA who are considering attending in person are asked to RSVP by April 30 at tinyurl.com/memdayla. More details, including recommended hotels at discounted rates, is available in the information package on this site.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The ministry meeting will resume next week on February 26.
- Junior High Conferences: At Oak Glen for sisters, March 7 to 9; for brothers, March 28 to 30 (registration due February 23).
- High School Conferences: At Oak Glen for sisters, March 14 to 16; for brothers, April 11 to 13 (registration due March 2).
- Bibles for America's recent blogpost, “7 Tips to Build up a Habit of Reading the Bible Daily,” is available to read and share at blog.biblesforamerica.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of February 9
Two Kinds of Walk by the Spirit
“But I say, Walk by the Spirit and you shall by no means fulfill the lust of the flesh.” (Gal. 5:16)
“If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.” (Gal. 5:25)
The Greek word for walk in verse 16, peripateo, means “to have our being, to deport ourselves, to order our manner of life, to walk about.” It is used with respect to ordinary daily life. It denotes a common, habitual daily walk.
The Greek word for walk in verse 25, stoicheo, has a very different meaning. It is derived from a root that means “to arrange in a line.” This may be illustrated by the movement of traffic in designated lanes on a highway. Thus, the Greek word for walk here means “to walk in line.” It also means “to march in military rank.” Walking in this way, like soldiers marching in rank, requires that we keep in step. (Life-study of Galatians, 2nd ed., msg. 38, pp. 325-326)
According to the Bible, every believer in Christ should have two kinds of walk by the Spirit. The first walk is our daily walk; the second is the walk in the divine rules and steps. As Christians, we are not those walking about on earth without a purpose. We have been created by God and also re-created and regenerated by Him with a definite purpose. Therefore, we must have the second kind of walk, a walk to fulfill God's purpose and to reach the goal of our life on earth.
A proper daily walk by the Spirit will qualify us and equip us for the second walk by the Spirit, the walk that accomplishes God's purpose. This second walk involves four rules or principles: the Spirit, the new creation, the gaining of Christ, and the church life. In order to have the second walk, and not just the first, we need to be under the regulation of the spirit, living by the new creation, pursuing Christ in order to gain Him, and practicing the church life. If we have the first walk by the Spirit but not the second, we may be regarded by others as “holy,” “spiritual,” or “victorious.” However, we will actually be purposeless. We need both the first kind of walk to equip us and the second kind of walk to carry out God's purpose that we may reach the goal and win the prize of the full enjoyment of Christ and experience of Christ. (Msg. 39, pp. 337-338, 345-346)
International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference (ICSC)
The 2025 ICSC takes place this weekend, February 14 to 16, in Anaheim. The saints of all languages are invited and encouraged to attend all sessions in person. Although most messages will be spoken in Chinese, this is not a conference for Chinese speakers only, but is one of the seven annual feasts in the Lord's recovery. Translation will be provided via the ListenWIFI app (formerly Listen Everywhere).
For saints who cannot attend in person at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim, the conference meetings will be streamed by live webcast (www.lsmwebcast.com) according to the schedule below. Afterwards, the archived recordings will be available for free without subscription for one month.
| Meeting 1: | Friday, February 14 | 7:25 PM |
| Meeting 2: | Saturday, February 15 | 8:55 AM |
| Meeting 3: | Saturday, February 15 | 10:55 AM |
| Meeting 4: | Saturday, February 15 | 7:25 PM |
| Lord's Table: | Lord's Day, February 16 | 9:25 AM |
| Meeting 5: | Lord's Day, February 16 | 9:55 AM |
The general subject of this conference is “Chapters 5 through 8 of Romans—the Kernel of the Bible.” Please pray for the preparation, preservation, and protection of the speaking brothers and all the saints so that there would be no impediment to the release and reception of His word. Pray earnestly for the release of the Lord's rich and timely speaking for His entire recovery.
FTTA Gospel Trips
Gospel trips to the United States and 18 countries in Europe involving trainees from FTTA and other training centers ended on February 9. Please pray for the shepherding of the seeking ones contacted during these gospel trips. For reports and updated prayer lists from FTTA, go to ftta.org/gospeltrips.
FTTA
The Spring 2025 term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim begins next Monday, February 17. At least 40 incoming trainees will be joining the training this term (this number includes first-term trainees and a handful of re-entering ones), bringing the total anticipated number to over 265. Please pray:
- That the Lord would shepherd each one He has called to be trained all the way to the FTTA, and that the enemy would have no way to distract them or frustrate their coming.
- That all the trainees would come with an open heart and an exercised spirit, consecrating themselves fully to the Lord to be trained in every aspect of their person and living.
- That the Lord would cover and preserve the safety and health (both physical and psychological) of all the trainees throughout the term.
- That the Lord would continue to call His young people throughout the United States and Canada to be trained, and free them from all encumbrance and entanglement that they might respond to His call.
UK Building Project
Update: Thank the Lord for His sovereignty that the necessary funds have been received to begin the first phase of construction for the new FTTL training center, which will begin by the end of this month. This includes new electrical installations, demolition of the existing classrooms, installation of foundation and retaining structures, excavation and leveling of the site, and laying of underground services.
It would be possible to safely pause the work after completing this first phase, but the burden is to press on as quickly as possible to complete the remaining phases of the training centre and the development of new accommodation at the neighboring Bower Farm. This would give a wonderful campus environment with classrooms, dining facilities and accommodation on site for 200 trainees.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will provide the necessary funds and serving ones to carry out the construction. May the Lord gain this facility for the young people in Europe to be trained for His move on the earth.
For information regarding participating in this current building project by either praying, giving, or going, visit amanatrust.org.uk. To give through the Church in Los Angeles for the new training center, please follow instructions at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings. Designate offerings for “UK Building Project.”
Cairo International Book Fair
The 56th Cairo Book Fair took place from January 23 through February 5. Please pray for the spreading of the ministry and the raising up of the Lord's testimony in the Arabic-speaking world.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of our guided reading through Galatians.
- Bibles for America's new blogpost “How Does God's Light Help Us Grow?” is available to read and share at blog.biblesforamerica.org.
- SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference: Audio recordings and outlines from the recent conference on “Living the Kingdom Life by Living a Hidden Life” are now available at audio.socalspanish.org.
- LSM Radio Programs: Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee focuses on the enjoyment of the divine life as revealed in the Scriptures. Spoken ministry portions are followed by a lively discussion. For example, all 45 episodes on Galatians are available at www.lsmradio.com/programs/galatians.
- Living to Him has a podcast series particularly helpful to working saints, including two recent episodes on being vitalized by “Setting Proper Goals,” at livingtohim.com/the-living-to-him-podcast.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of January 26
Meeting Together for the Hearing of Faith
“He therefore who bountifully supplies to you the Spirit and does works of power among you, does He do it out of the works of law or out of the hearing of faith?” (Gal. 3:5)
“So faith comes out of hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Rom. 10:17)
Do not stay away from the meetings because you think you will simply hear the same things over and over again. We need to eat breakfast every morning even though we may eat the same thing almost every day. If we refuse to eat because the food is the same, we shall not receive our necessary supply of food. In the same principle, we need to attend the church meetings in order to receive God's supply. We can testify that it makes a great difference whether or not we come to the meetings for the hearing of faith. Time and time again, we may hear of Christ and the church, of Christ's death and resurrection, and of how Christ has been processed to become the life-giving Spirit. But each time we hear these things, we receive the supply of the Spirit. Therefore, a proper Christian meeting is a hearing meeting, a meeting for the hearing of faith.
Those who speak in the church meetings should also be hearers, for they also hear the very things they are speaking. Those of us who speak in the church can testify that the more we speak, the more we hear. A proper speaker speaks first to himself and then to others. If you do not speak to yourself first, your speaking is not genuine. If we are genuine speakers, we should be the first to enjoy our speaking.
Meeting by meeting we come together for the hearing of faith. This faith is the appreciation, receiving, and accepting of God's grace. Through faith we are joined to God's grace, we partake of God's grace, and we enjoy God's grace. As we have pointed out again and again, this grace is the Triune God processed to become our enjoyment and everything to us. (Life-study of Galatians, msg. 14, p. 124)
Los Angeles
“For from you the word of the Lord has sounded out; not only in Macedonia and in Achaia, but in every place, your faith toward God has gone out…” (1 Thes. 1:8)
Please continue to pray for the Lord's interests related to the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area:
- For the fulfillment of God's economy, which is for all things to be headed up in Christ (Eph. 1:10).
- For one another in the household of the faith (Gal. 6:10).
- For the city of LA, where the Lord has placed us to be His testimony (1 Thes. 1:7-8; 1 Cor. 1:2). Pray that our presence in our communities can bring the Lord's healing presence to those who interact with us (Matt. 9:20-22). May we be one with the Lord in His compassion and care for our fellow Angelenos—including neighbors, colleagues, and classmates.
Southern California Praise and Ministry Meeting
Twice a year all college students in Southern California are invited to come together on a Saturday evening for a time to worship the Lord together and hear the Lord's speaking. This Saturday, February 1, UCLA will be hosting the gathering on campus. High school seniors are also invited. Please pray:
- For many of our students throughout SoCal, including newer ones, to come and actively participate.
- For the Lord to infuse them through His speaking with a fresh vision of God's purpose.
- For our UCLA students in particular to joyfully welcome and blend with the visiting saints.
FTTA Gospel Trips
A total of 163 trainees from FTTA and FTTL are visiting 18 countries in Europe to cooperate with the Lord in His move. Of this number, 50 are in France. In addition, 97 FTTA trainees are visiting 27 cities in the United States. The trips began on 23 January and will conclude on 9 February. Please pray:
- That the Lord will fully cover the travel, safety, security, and health of all those involved.
- That the Lord will blend and build all the saints involved so that He can fully bless these trips.
- That the sanctifying Spirit will go before the saints to prepare the hearts of those the Lord has chosen.
- That the gospel of the kingdom will be prevailing and reach all those the Lord desires to save.
- That the Lord will add remaining fruit to the churches as His testimony in each of these nations.
For regular reports and updated prayer lists, go to ftta.org/gospeltrips.
UK Building Project
In this last year, we have not had the funds required to initiate the major construction project of the new FTTL training center. Instead, most of the saints serving on the construction project have needed to find work. Over the summer of 2024, as the team of saints was coming to the end of their service, they prepared the site fully for the Bower House training center project to begin when it can.
Despite this reduction in manpower, we have still needed to consider how to accommodate the rapidly growing needs of the Full-time Training in London, especially the housing. We have over 50 trainees at present from all over Europe and around the world, and we expect many more to be gained by the Lord and come to the training, including from the recent gospel and shepherding labor in France.
The present facilities at Bower House can receive approximately 100 trainees; the FTTL classroom could accommodate up to 150 if all the furniture were removed. With the building of the new training center, we would have a building with a capacity for 1,000 people seated. This would be the first property of its kind in all of Europe, an amazing benefit to the trainees as well as for the blending of the saints.
Please pray that the Lord will provide the necessary funds, construction permissions, and serving ones to carry out the construction of the full-time training center in London and on Woodland Camp.
A corresponding video can be found at amanatrust.org.uk/page/reports. For information regarding participating in this current building project by either praying, giving, or going, visit amanatrust.org.uk.
To give through the Church in LA for the new training center, please follow instructions at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings. Designate offerings for “UK Building Project.”
Cairo International Book Fair
The 56th Cairo Book Fair is taking place from January 23 through February 5. One of the Arab world's most prominent cultural events, this is the largest book fair in the world for the Arabic-reading public as well as the largest in the world that is open directly to the public. The annual CIBF is an important opportunity for the Arabic literature work in Egypt to present ministry publications openly to the public. Pray for new contacts, friends, and beneficiaries of this ministry.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 3 of our guided reading through Galatians.
- LSM Radio Programs: Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee focuses on the enjoyment of the divine life as revealed in the Scriptures. Spoken ministry portions are followed by a lively discussion. For example, all 45 episodes on Galatians are available at www.lsmradio.com/programs/galatians.
- SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference: Audio recordings and outlines from the recent conference on “Living the Kingdom Life by Living a Hidden Life” are now available at audio.socalspanish.org.
- 2025 ICSC: The International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference will be hosted by Living Stream Ministry from February 14 to 16 in Anaheim. All the saints are invited and encouraged to attend. Details are available at www.icsc2025.org.
- Living to Him has a podcast series particularly helpful to working saints, including two recent episodes on being vitalized by “Setting Proper Goals,” at livingtohim.com/the-living-to-him-podcast.
- Bibles for America's latest blogpost, “The First Step in Understanding the Bible,” is available to read and share at blog.biblesforamerica.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of January 19
One Life and Living with Christ
“I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20a)
“As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.” (John 6:57)
When a person is regenerated, he is not annihilated or destroyed. To be regenerated means to have God added into us. In regeneration we who once did not have God in us now have Him added to us. The very “I” who did not have God in it is over. This is the old “I,” the old man, who has been crucified with Christ. But from the time that we began to appreciate the Lord Jesus and the operating faith began to work in us, this faith brought the processed Triune God into us and added Him to our being. From that time onward, we have had a new “I,” an “I” with God in it. Hence, the new “I” is the old “I” that has become an “I” resurrected with God added to it. Praise the Lord that the old “I” has been terminated, and the new “I” now lives!…
This does not mean that I have been crucified and live no longer and that Christ lives instead of me. On the one hand, Paul says, “no longer I”; on the other hand, he says, “Christ lives in me.” The phrase in me is of great importance. Yes, it is Christ who lives, but it is in us that He lives…
We and Christ do not have two lives. Rather, we have one life and one living…On the one hand, we are terminated; on the other hand, we continue to exist, but we do not live without Him. Christ lives within us, and we live with Him. (Life-study of Galatians, 2nd ed., msg. 10, pp. 82-84)
United States
“I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:1-4)
Monday, January 20 was the inauguration of the next president of the United States. Please pray:
- Concerning the new administration in this country, for all those who are in high position at every level of government, for wisdom to rule and make decisions which affect the whole world.
- That the saints would exercise their spirit to see a vision of the throne as the center of God's administration (Rev. 4:2) and that they would “know that the heavens do rule” (Dan. 4:26) in the midst of the present world situation.
- That the Lord would continue to preserve the United States as a base for His recovery that it may spread throughout the earth so that the church may be built up for the Lord to return (Matt. 16:18).
SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference Overflow
“Surely You are a God who hides Himself…” (Isa. 45:15)
“I will muse upon Your precepts and regard Your ways.” (Psa. 119:15)
At last weekend's SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference jn Anaheim, the saints were impressed with the matter of having the life of the kingdom by living a hidden life, and seeing that the Lord needs some to live today in the reality of the kingdom. If we do not have such a living, we delay the Lord's return. We need to ask ourselves, What kind of Christian am I, and how am I living today? Am I spending time with the Lord?
We have been born into the kingdom of God, in which we follow our King by having continual fellowship with Him in secret to grow in life and develop deep roots. For the benefit of the Body, we need to be healthy by spending adequate personal time with the Lord, not only when we are with other saints. Our God and Savior does countless things in the midst of His people and in their personal lives, but He is a God who hides Himself. He likes to hide, whereas we like to be seen.
O Lord, cause us to find our personal “mountain” in any place and at any time, to seek Your precious face, and to muse upon Your Word. Lord, day by day, increase our intimate fellowship with You more!
Pray that the Lord's hand will follow His word and the saints will enter into all the matters that they heard. May the Lord be merciful and grant them the experiences they need in order to live in the reality of the kingdom of the heavens in light of His imminent return.
UCLA
This week, UCLA resumes in-person classes on Tuesday after a week of online instruction due to the ongoing fires in Los Angeles. Please pray:
- For the reconnecting with and in-person shepherding of all our students, especially many whom we met during the past fall quarter.
- For the students' desire to jump back into pursuing the Lord corporately in our weekly activities, especially our on-campus Bible studies, Friday night small groups, and Lord's Day gatherings.
Hall 4 Retreat
This weekend about 90 saints will be at Oak Glen for our LA Hall 4 retreat, including a good number of new ones. Please pray:
- For the Lord's personal speaking to each saint concerning spending much time in fellowship with Jesus privately for our growth in life in 2025.
- For the blending together of the saints from all different backgrounds and ages in an atmosphere of love and genuine care.
- For the newer and younger ones attending to be comfortable, sincerely touch the Lord, and be shepherded by all the saints with a view to future fellowship with them.
FTTA Gospel Trips
From January 23 to February 9, FTTA gospel trip teams will go out to 19 countries in Europe and North America to join with local saints for the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom. In France alone there will be 50 trainees, including some from FTTL. Please pray:
- That the Lord will fully cover the travel, safety, security, border crossing, and health of all those involved as they begin to make their way to each destination.
- That the Lord will blend and build all the saints involved so that He will have the free way to fully bless these trips.
- That the sanctifying Spirit will go before the saints to prepare the hearts of those the Lord has chosen.
- That the preaching of the gospel of the kingdom will be prevailing and reach all those the Lord desires to save.
- That fruit, even remaining fruit, will be borne in each place visited, and the Lord will add to the churches as His testimony in each of these nations.
For regular updates from the FTTA once the trips begin, go to ftta.org/gospeltrips.
Baltic and Nordic Conference
A Baltic-Nordic Conference, will be held in hybrid mode (in-person in Tallinn, Estonia and online on Zoom) from January 24 to 26. Please pray that many saints, not only from the Baltic States and Nordic countries but also from other Russian- and English-speaking churches, will be able to join the blending fellowship for the building up of the Body of Christ. May the Lord bless this gathering!
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of our guided reading through Galatians.
- Bibles for America's latest blogpost, “The First Step in Understanding the Bible,” is available to read and share at blog.biblesforamerica.org.
- 2025 ICSC: The International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference will be hosted by Living Stream Ministry from February 14 to 16 in Anaheim.All the saints are invited and encouraged to attend. Details are available at www.icsc2025.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of January 12
[Update on the Situation in Los Angeles]
Prayer for Los Angeles
“God is our refuge and strength; a help in distress, He is most readily found. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth change…” (Psa. 46:1-2a)
“Hallelujah! Praise Jehovah, O my soul! I will praise Jehovah while I live; I will sing psalms to my God while I yet have being.” (Psa. 146:1-2)
On January 7, devastating fires broke out in several areas of Los Angeles. While direct damage to property among the church members has been relatively limited, over 12,000 structures across the city have been lost, and estimates indicate this will be among the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history.
In the church in Los Angeles, our prayer is in three directions (cf. 1 Kings 8:48):
- For the fulfillment of God's economy, which is for all things to be headed up in Christ (Eph. 1:10). Our attention is not merely on the crisis, but on the furtherance of the constructive divine economy and the enlargement of Christ in and through the church (1:22-23). We bless our God and Father for His good intention and exalt Christ during this time. We thank Him and praise Him for His care for His members in the church.
- For one another in the household of the faith (Gal. 6:10). Any suffering is shared by the fellow members (1 Cor. 12:26). Our responsibility is to care for one another; let us remain attentive to such needs and bring them into fellowship (1 John 3:17-18; Hebrews 13:16; Acts 20:35).
- For the city of Los Angeles, where the Lord has placed us to be His testimony (1 Thes. 1:7-8; 1 Cor. 1:2). Pray that our campus gospel labor could continue despite the interruption to classes. Also pray for the strengthening of the community gospel; our presence in our communities can bring the Lord's healing presence to those who interact with us (Matt. 9:20-22). May we be one with the Lord in His compassion and care for our fellow Angelenos—including neighbors, colleagues, and classmates.
May the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, guard our hearts and our thoughts in Christ Jesus. (A more comprehensive update is posted at www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer)
Seeing a Vision of the Son of God
“But when it pleased God…to reveal His Son in me that I might announce Him as the gospel among the Gentiles…” (Gal. 1:15-16a)
“But whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Cor. 3:16)
Pray that you may see such a vision of the living person of the Son of God. Also pray that others will see this vision. Pray that they will see this living person and care for Him instead of things such as the Sabbath, head covering, healing, and spiritual gifts. We need to pray that we will care for this living person more than anything, even more than for the church life. Without this living person as the reality and content of the church life, even the church life will become a tradition. Oh, it is vital that we see this living person! (Life-study of Galatians, 2nd ed., msg. 3, pp. 27-28)
With respect to receiving revelation, there is no problem on God's side. On His side everything is ready. The problem is altogether on our side. We need to drop the veils, that is, to drop our concepts. It is important for us to pray, “Lord, help me to drop everything that is a veil.” (Msg. 4, p. 32)
SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference
The Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference is this weekend, January 17 to 19 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Meetings are Friday 7:30 pm, Saturday 4:00 and 7:00 pm, and Lord's Day 10:00 am. Messages will be spoken in English and Spanish with side-by-side translation. Child care for K–6 will be provided only at the Church in Anaheim District 2 hall. There will be no child care provided at the MCC. Please find more information at conf.socalspanish.org.
Please pray for the Lord to bless all the practical services and release the saints to attend with open hearts to hear what the Spirit is speaking to the churches. May the Lord bless this weekend with His presence, His smile, and His fresh speaking full of life and light!
French-speaking Europe
A number of gospel trips will be taking place from the middle of next week to early February. Please pray for the Lord to open the hearts of the people and to bring His seekers in contact with us.
Let us also continue to ask the Lord to supply all the saints who live in French-speaking Europe, and all who are there on “shepherding trips” for weeks or months, to labor diligent in ministering Christ to the seeking contacts so that these ones may grow in truth and life and be added to the church. Beseech the Lord to thrust out more workers into this harvest and to release the long-term visas.
For all the latest reports of the gospel and shepherding trips, click here.
Turkey
The Turkish translation of The Experience of Life was published last month. Pray that the Lord will use this book to help Turkish-speaking Christians know and experience the divine life and bring more saints into the organic building.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Galatians with recommended resources.
- LSM Radio Programs: Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee focuses on the enjoyment of the divine life as revealed in the Scriptures. Spoken ministry portions are followed by a lively discussion. For example, all 45 episodes on Galatians are available at www.lsmradio.com/programs/galatians.
- Radio broadcast in Spanish: El Estudio-vida de la Biblia con Witness Lee is broadcast Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 to 9:30 pm, and Lord's Days, 6:00 to 6:30 am. LA County 100.3 FM; San Fernando Valley and Ventura County 90.3 FM.
- Living to Him has a podcast series particularly helpful to working saints, including two recent episodes on being vitalized by “Setting Proper Goals,” at livingtohim.com/the-living-to-him-podcast.
- FTTA: A video of the graduation meeting on December 21 is available for a limited time at ftta.org.
- LSM Conferences & Trainings: Information on upcoming Living Stream Ministry “feasts” can be found at lsm.org/announcements/events.html. The upcoming International Chinese-speaking Blending Conference will be February 14 to 16 at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of January 5
Sowing with Blessings and Abounding with Thanksgiving
“But take note of this: He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap.” (2 Cor. 9:6)
“Now He who bountifully supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and cause the fruits of your righteousness to increase. You in everything are being enriched unto all liberality, which works out through us thanksgiving to God.” (2 Cor. 9:10-11)
According to [2 Cor. 9:6], he who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap, and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap. In verse 6 we have the thought of sowing for the benefit of others. But what farmer, when he sows seed in his field, has the thought of sowing for others? Surely, most farmers have the concept of sowing for themselves. This kind of sowing, however, is not with blessings. To sow with blessings is to give to others. This is to sow with blessings to others. When we give of our money, we are sowing, and this sowing is not for ourselves but is for others. If we sow with blessings to others, we will reap with blessings from God.
When we sow with blessings to others, we will reap with blessings from God. Furthermore, the harvest will always far surpass the amount of seed sown. It may be multiplied thirty or even one hundred times. This does not happen miraculously; it takes place according to natural law…Regarding this, there is no need for God to do anything miraculous. We all need to sow, to give. The more we give, the more we will reap.
We should sow more and in turn reap more. The goal is not to make ourselves rich. The result is the abounding of thanksgivings to God. I hope that in the time to come, many of the saints will become a factor of thanksgiving to God. This means that your giving will abound in much thanksgiving to God. (Life-study of Second Corinthians, 2nd ed, ch. 48)
Learning to Praise the Lord with New Utterances
“My heart overflows with a good matter; I speak what I have composed concerning the King. My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.” (Psa. 45:1)
Praise is the “cream” of our Christian experience. In order to produce cream, a certain quantity of milk is required; moreover, many milk cows are needed to produce this milk. In order to sustain the cows, farms are needed with pastures full of green, tender grass. Without farms, pastures, cows, and milk, it is not possible to produce cream. This illustrates the fact that without experiencing Christ, we cannot release the proper praises as the cream of our experience. In our Christian daily walk, if we are short of “farms,” “pastures,” “cows,” and milk, we will have no “cream” to bring to the meetings as praise to the Lord…
We all need to experience Christ, and we need utterances to compose our praise to the Lord. After we experience Christ, we need to look to Him, saying, “Lord, give me some utterance so that I can have something as an expression of my experiences of You to offer as praise in the meetings and also as an edification to all the saints.” (CWWL, 1969, vol. 2, “Praising God with Christ as the Content by Our Experiencing and Enjoying Him,” ch. 5, pp. 79, 85)
In this new year, may we all learn, inwardly and personally, to praise the Lord with new utterances based on our new experiences and fresh enjoyment of Him.
A New Term for Our Students
LAUSD, UCLA, USC, and most schools and campuses throughout LA begin their new terms this week or next week. Please pray that:
- All our students would have a new beginning in the Lord, with the Lord, and unto the Lord!
- The Lord would protect and keep our next generation from the evil one and cause them to grow humanly and spiritually in a healthy way.
- The Lord would flow out through our students to water those around them and flow these ones into the church life!
- That we can immediately reconnect with many contacts from previous terms for face-to-face fellowship and continued shepherding.
SoCal Young People's Blending Conference
The 2025 Winter Young People's Blending Conference, the first conference of this new year, will be held in person at the Ministry Conference Center (MCC) in Anaheim this Saturday and Lord's Day, January 11 and 12. The topic of the conference is “And Peter.” To foster more blending, activity times will be held in four nearby locations. More information can be found at scyp.com/blending.
Please pray for a healthy time of blending, and for the young people to both see themselves in the testimony of Peter and have a vision of God's building (Matt. 16:18).
Czech and Slovak Translation Work
There is a burden to translate the NT Recovery Version into the Czech and Slovak languages. Since the two languages are closely related, one team of Czech and Slovak translators will work together to produce the two versions simultaneously. The team is currently focusing on learning the Greek language. This crucial period of several months requires the best time management and focus from all involved. At the end of this period the translators should be equipped to work on the translation of the original text under the guidance of the saints at Living Stream Ministry. Please pray with us:
- For the Lord to be the real consecration and wisdom for these student/translators.
- For the translators to be kept from all unnecessary distractions to be focused on their preparation.
- For the present situations in the personal and professional lives of all the saints involved to be settled in the best way for the future work and coordination of the whole team.
Athens, Greece
As the capital and largest city of Greece, the city of Athens has scriptural and prophetic significance. In Acts, it says: “And while Paul was waiting for them in Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he beheld that the city was full of idols” (Acts 17:16). Also, Brother Lee felt strongly that the coming Antichrist will be of Greek descent. The saints have been meeting as the church there since 2006 with about 25 on Lord's Day. Please pray for saints to migrate under the Head and in the Body to strengthen the Lord's testimony in Athens!
Madrid House Purchase
We thank the Lord for providing the funds necessary to meet the January 6, 2025 installment deadline for the purchase of the house next to the meeting hall in Madrid, Spain. Pray that the Lord will release the remaining funds (570,000 Euros) needed to close the purchase on March 6. The acquisition of this house will greatly expand the usefulness of the overall property to the church in Madrid and the Lord's move in the Iberian Peninsula. A detailed letter can be downloaded at lme.org/reports.html.
As the Lord leads, saints in LA may participate in giving through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Madrid House.”
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today. Next week, we will get into Galatians with recommended resources.
- SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference: January 17 to 19 at the Ministry Conference Center, Anaheim. Pray for the Lord's abundant blessing during this time. English-speaking and Spanish-speaking saints are invited to attend in person. All relevant information is posted at conf.socalspanish.org.
- LSM Feasts: The 2025 International Chinese-speaking Conference (ICSC) will be February 14 to 16 at the Ministry Conference Center, Anaheim. All the saints are invited. Information on other upcoming Living Stream Ministry conferences and trainings can be found at lsm.org/events.
- FTTA: A video of the graduation meeting on December 21 is available for a limited time at ftta.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.