Jeremy Tsai

Week of September 15

Allowing the Lord's Measurings to Increase the Flow of Life

“Then He measured a thousand cubits, and it was a river that I could not pass through; for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be crossed.” (Ezek. 47:5)

“He who believes into Me, as the Scripture said, out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:38)

In order to live the Christian life, we need to enjoy the flow of life out of the house of God. For the increase of the flow of life, we need to be measured by the Lord as the man of bronze (Ezek. 40:3). To measure is to examine, test, judge, and possess. The four measurings of a thousand cubits, which is a complete unit, indicate that as creatures, we need to be thoroughly measured by the Lord so that He may take over and thoroughly possess our entire being.

The more we allow the Lord to examine, test, and judge us to possess us, the deeper the flow becomes. The depth of the flow depends on how much we have been measured by the Lord. The more we are measured by the Lord, the more we are restricted and limited by the flowing of the grace of life until eventually we are lost in and carried along by the flowing Triune God as a river in which to swim. In one sense we lose all our freedom, but in another sense we are really free.

The river causes everything to live; the flow of the river produces trees, fish, and cattle. The river waters the dry, parched land and heals the death waters; this watering and healing are for the purpose of producing life. The river is unable to heal the swamps and marshes; a swamp or marsh is a neutral place, a halfway place, a place of compromise and lukewarmness (47:11). For the flow of life and for the church life, the Lord Jesus desires and requires absoluteness. By being absolute we will be in the flow, and the flow will not be a trickle but a river to swim in; then everything shall live wherever the river comes.

Our enjoyment of Christ as the flow of life is for us to be sowers, planters, waterers, begetters, feeders, and builders with the ministry of life for the marvelous organic building of God, the magnificent house of God. (The Christian Life, msg. 5, I, F-H.2; II).

Becoming God in His Function of Shepherding

“Shepherd the flock of God among you, overseeing not under compulsion but willingly, according to God.” (1 Pet. 5:2a)

According to God in 1 Peter 5:2 means that we live God; only those who live God can shepherd according to God. In order to shepherd according to God, we need to become God in life, nature, expression, and function.

We need to be filled to the brim with the divine life, enjoying the Triune God as the fountain, the spring, and the river to become a totality of the divine life, even to become the divine life itself. We need to become God in His attributes of love, light, righteousness, and holiness. We need to be the reproduction of Christ, the expression of God, so that in our shepherding we express God, not the self in its disposition and peculiarities. We need to become God in His function of shepherding the flock according to what He is and according to His goal in His economy. (SoCal Labor Day Conference, msg. 2, II.E, F, 1-4)

Pray for the saints to become God in life, nature, expression, and function (but not in the Godhead) so that they may shepherd others according to God.

UCLA Fresh Start and Follow-up

This week, we are spending much time together with the students in our UCLA corporate housing to get to know one another, be built up together, and be prepared to participate in the Lord's move on the campus. Please pray that the Lord would give each student a new and strong beginning in the Lord and link them with companions that they can pursue with throughout this academic year.

Meanwhile, we are also burdened for the follow-up care of new contacts. Over the summer, we received nearly 400 names of incoming freshmen interested in further contact and fellowship with us. These ones will be moving into the dorms throughout this week. Please pray for many profitable face-to-face interactions with them, including our Lord's Day morning meeting on campus this weekend.

Sacramento Meeting Hall

Update: The seller has extended the deadline to October 15 for the purchase price of $3.25 million to be fulfilled; once the 2.48-acre property is secured, there will be some retrofitting, upgrades and repairs estimated at around $1.2 million for a total cost of $4.45 million.

A detailed letter with a linked brochure of the property is at www.churchinsacramento.org. Saints in LA may participate in giving through the Church in LA designated for “Sacramento Meeting Hall.”

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips Follow-up

The Bible distribution during the recent Olympic Games in Paris concluded on September 9. The Lord has done more than we could ask or think. Praise the Lord! We are now faced with an urgent need: to care for the ones we have contacted over the last five months. Please pray:

That a number of those who participated in the Torch Relay or Olympic Gospel Trips will have the echo of the Lord's burden in their heart to return to France for one to three months to meet the urgent need for the continued shepherding of the dear new ones the Lord has put into our hands.
That all those who have applied to migrate and serve in France would get their visas approved in a timely manner so that a new Paris-based team could begin coordinating and serving by mid-October.
That many students, families, and mature saints would have open hearts to hear and respond to the Lord's call to migrate within the next few years for the Lord's interest in France.
That the Lord will raise up new lampstands in Rouen, Lille, Versailles, Mertzig (Luxembourg), Geneva (Switzerland), Marseilles, Toulouse, Caen, Nantes, and Montpellier.

All reports, as well as more information on migration, are posted at lme.org/reports.html. Saints in LA burdened to give may do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Bangladesh

Over the summer, student protests turned into a nationwide anti-government movement. During this time saints mostly stayed at home and they occasionally would hear gunshots and explosions. In early August, the prime minister fled to India, the military took control, and a provisional government was announced, bringing an end to the protests.

Social order is gradually being restored. In Dhaka, the saints have resumed in-person bread-breaking meetings. However, the situation outside the capital remains difficult and chaotic, so the saints in these places have stayed online for corporate gatherings. The intercession of all the saints is needed:

For the restoration of social stability as soon as possible and for people's hearts to be open to the gospel through the turbulence of the external environment.
For the saints to turn to the Lord and experience Him as peace in the midst of the situation.
For the new government, that regardless of the changing environment, everything would work to advance the Lord's interest and the gospel.

For a detailed update with photos, see the September 2024 issue of the Lord's Move to Asia newsletter:

lmasia.org/newsletter/2024-newsletter/september-3 (English)
reurl.cc/7dV9X9 (Chinese)

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 5 of The Christian Life. After next week, starting September 30, we will pursue Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1) (from the July Semiannual Training).
Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The ministry meeting continues this week starting at 7:25 pm.
2024 SCYP Parents & Serving Ones' Fellowship: Saturday, September 28, 9:30 am to 12:00 pm in Fullerton. Translation provided. Registration due September 22 at scyp.com/fellowship.
SCYP Junior High Conferences: October 11 to 13 in Diamond Bar (sisters) and Irvine (brothers). Registration deadline is September 29.
Thanksgiving Conference: November 28 to December 1 in Atlanta, GA. Interested LA saints can get more information on hotel rates and RSVP at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of September 8

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The Christian Life—a Life of Abiding in the Lord

“Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine; you are the branches. He who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5)

“That the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit.” (Rom. 8:4)

Our abiding in Christ, the vine, by being one with the Lord in our mingled spirit is not only a divine fact but also a spiritual factor that affects our entire spiritual life. It is in and by abiding that we have the genuine holiness, spirituality, and victory over sin, the world, Satan, our flesh, and the self; it is in and by abiding that we become practical members of the Body of Christ; and it is in and by abiding that we live the normal Christian life and church life. When we are abiding in the vine, we have no problems, because we are one with the Son of God, who has conquered every enemy and dealt with every negative thing. When we abide in the Lord, we lack nothing, and we need to do nothing other than enjoy what He has accomplished, because all that He has accomplished becomes our experience when we are one with Him.

To abide in the Lord by unceasing prayer means that we have a constant and unceasing trust in the living One, who is one spirit with us. We need to see this. More than fifty years ago I spent much time seeking holiness, a victorious life, and spirituality. I bought all kinds of books and spent time reading them and practicing what they outlined. However, nothing that I practiced was effective. Through the years the Lord in His mercy allowed us to discover the secret for all the “how-tos.” This secret is to abide in the mingled spirit.

If the church is in a poor and low condition, our abiding will help the church be uplifted and enriched. The real remedy to the church's poor condition comes from our abiding in the Lord. Today the reason there is much spiritual death among the saints is that we do not abide in the Lord by remaining in our mingled spirit to worship God, receive His instant word, and dwell with Him. (CWWL, 1979, vol. 2, pp. 165-168, 172-173)

Taking the Shepherding Way

“The way that can save people effectively must be by small vital groups, and everyone in this small vital group must be a shepherd. After a short time the church will be revived. No other way is more prevailing than this shepherding way.” (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, “Crystallization-study of the Gospel of John,” ch. 13, p. 451)

Shepherding the believers is very crucial for their growth in life. We must take the shepherding way to preach the gospel and revive the church. We should pray, “Lord, I want to be revived. From today I want to be a shepherd. I want to go to feed people, to shepherd people, and to flock people together.” (SoCal Labor Day Conference, msg. 1, III.C, 1)

Pray that the saints would receive the burden to participate in Christ's wonderful shepherding and to take the shepherding way to preach the gospel and revive the church.

Bibles for America – San Francisco

In August, saints gave away copies of the NT Recovery Version at City College of San Francisco and San Francisco State University. The saints distributed 58 NTs and obtained information from 68 new contacts for follow-up. They were able to have Bible studies with some of these students, and a number of them prayed to receive the Lord.

Please pray for the continued follow-up with these students. Pray that the Lord would keep their hearts soft and open as they are contacted by the saints, and that they would be nourished to grow in the divine life. Pray also that many more saints would be filled with the spirit of the gospel, especially as classes begin on campuses across the US.

Sacramento Meeting Hall

After much prayer and diligent searching, the church in Sacramento has found a facility that will meet the needs of the Lord's increase and spread in that city and the surrounding area. This larger property would meet the need for:

Safety for the saints attending the meetings.
Enlarging the capacity for blending meetings with area churches which are increasing in number.
Providing for larger blending meetings for the North Central Valley churches and seeking ones.
Outreach at nearby Sacramento State University, in coordination with nearby campus teams.

Located 10 minutes' drive from Sacramento State University, the 2.48-acre property includes multiple buildings connected by covered walkways and three paved parking lots. After some remodeling, the seating capacity of the main hall can be increased from 390 to over 500. An additional “fellowship hall” seats around 200 and has no need of upgrading; it could be used by the saints in Sacramento immediately.

The church must fulfill the purchase price of $3.25 million by October 1, after which there will be retrofitting, upgrades and repairs estimated at around $1.2 million for a total cost of $4.45 million.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The final Olympics gospel trip ended on September 9. The Lord has done more than we could ask or think. Now our eyes are turning to the urgent need before us: there must a way to care for the ones we have contacted during our consecutive gospel trips.

Many saints from the gospel teams have expressed the desire to return soon and spend one to three months where they have labored. We felt that this was the Lord's speaking on how the urgent need could be met. The co-workers in Europe have begun to fellowship about how retired saints and those serving full-time might be able to return soon so that the shepherding of our new ones could continue. A letter is being prepared to inform the saints on how they may participate in this way. Please pray:

That the saints, retired or full-time, who have participated in the TR or OL gospel trips would have the echo of the Lord's burden in their heart to come for one to three months to meet the urgent need for the continued shepherding of the dear new ones the Lord has put into our hands.
That all those who have applied to migrate and serve in France would get their visas approved in a timely manner so that a new Paris-based team could begin coordinating and serving by mid-October.
That many students, families, and mature saints would have open hearts to hear and respond to the Lord's call to migrate migrate within the next couple of years for the Lord's interest in France.

India

Pray for the leading brothers' training in various states in September, that the speaking and leading of the ministry would become the speaking and leading among the churches.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 4 of The Christian Life (from the Memorial Day Conference).
Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The ministry meeting continues this week starting at 7:25 pm.
Thanksgiving Conference: Atlanta, GA from November 28 to December 1. Interested LA saints can get more information on hotel rates and RSVP for updates at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.
The LA Years: Chapter 6: Visiting Seekers Throughout America is published at www.layears.org, an oral history project documenting the early years of the church life in Los Angeles from 1958–1974.
Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of September 1

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Enjoying the Spirit for the Body

“And you shall anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them that they may serve Me as priests.” (Exo. 30:30)

“For I know that for me this will turn out to salvation through your petition and the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (Phil. 1:19)

This all-inclusive compound Spirit, typified by the holy anointing oil, is the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, the supply of the Body of Christ, by which we can live Christ for His magnification in the Body, through the Body, and for the Body. The holy anointing oil is solely for the purpose of anointing God's dwelling place and the priesthood (cf. 1 Pet. 2:5); hence, only those who are for God's dwelling place and for the priesthood can have the enjoyment of the compound, all-inclusive Spirit.

As believers, we have been anointed with the compound ointment, with the all-inclusive Spirit. Psalm 133:2 describes how the anointing oil flowed down from Aaron's head to his beard and then to the hem of his garments; this signifies that the whole Body is anointed with the Spirit. In order to be “painted” by the ointment (1 John 2:20, 27), we must be one with the church; then we will spontaneously enjoy the application of the anointing oil with all its elements. How marvelous is the oneness produced by the application of this ointment! (The Christian Life, msg. 3, III.C, II.C, IV, B)

2024 SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference Follow-up

“I hope that there will be a genuine revival among us by our receiving this burden of shepherding. If all the churches receive this teaching to participate in Christ's wonderful shepherding, there will be a big revival in the recovery.” (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 5, p. 92)

The past weekend's Southern California Labor Day Blending Conference was on “Shepherding in the Ministry of the Apostles.” Please pray:

That the word spoken at the Southern California Labor Day Blending Conference will operate in the saints, giving the Lord more ground to blend the body together (1 Cor. 12:24).
That the Lord's timely speaking concerning shepherding will operate in the saints to meet the need of the churches in Southern California.

Sacramento Meeting Hall

As many know, two and a half years ago the church in Sacramento experienced a terrible tragedy at the meeting hall that took the lives of three young children and one of the leading brothers. This has obviously affected many of the local saints, some of whom are still reluctant to set foot in that hall. In addition, there has long been increasing crime and vandalism in the neighborhood and a lack of parking. This has motivated the brothers to seek another (larger) property that would meet the need for:

Safety for the saints attending the meetings.
Enlarging the capacity for blending meetings with area churches which are increasing in number.
Providing for larger blending meetings for the North Central Valley churches and seeking ones.
Outreach at nearby Sacramento State University, in coordination with nearby campus teams.

After much prayer and diligent searching, the church has found a facility that will meet the needs of the Lord's increase and spread in Sacramento and the surrounding area. Located 10 minutes' drive from Sacramento State University, the 2.48-acre property is already zoned for religious and community-related activities and includes multiple buildings connected by covered walkways, three paved parking lots, and a courtyard. After some remodeling, the seating capacity of the main hall can be increased from 390 to over 500, which will meet the blending need of the nearby churches. An additional “fellowship hall” seats around 200 and has no need of upgrading; it could be used by the saints in Sacramento immediately.

The church in Sacramento is now under contract to fulfill the purchase price of $3.25 million by October 1, after which there will be retrofitting, upgrades and repairs estimated at around $1.2 million for a total cost of $4.45 million. After obtaining the new property, there will be the need of selling the old one.

A detailed letter with a linked brochure of the property is at www.churchinsacramento.org. Saints in LA who feel led of the Lord to participate in giving may do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Sacramento Meeting Hall.”

European University Training

“Who has also made us sufficient as ministers of a new covenant, ministers not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Cor. 3:6)

The European University Training will be held from September 6 to 11 near Edinburgh, Scotland. The general subject is “Becoming a Genuine Minister of Christ.” Please pray:

That the students would have hearts fully turned and opened to touch the Lord of glory (2 Cor. 3:16, 18).
That the serving ones would enjoy the energizing treasure as their serving supply and manifest the resurrection life (2 Cor. 4:7).

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

As we enter our final gospel trip (OL5), ending September 9, we feel that the Lord has done more than we could ask or think. In the places where we have been continuously laboring for over 40 days, the Lord has been gathering a small group of new believers to enter into the church life with us. It is our hope that these ones would become either the increase to existing churches or the nucleus of new churches. Everyone participating has acquired a taste for the day-by-day and house-to-house church life as our living instead of simply having scheduled meetings. The God-ordained way has been practiced, not just as a work to gain people, but as a normal living carried out in the Body of Christ.

Now our eyes are turning to the urgent need before us. There must a way to care for the ones we have contacted during our consecutive gospel trips. We trust the Lord to thrust out workers through migration, and there will be a full-time team based in Paris, but neither of these fill the urgent need we have now.

That the saints, retired or full-time, who have participated in the TR or OL gospel trips would have the echo of the Lord's burden in their heart to come for one to three months to meet the urgent need for the continued shepherding of the dear new ones the Lord has put into our hands.
That all those who have applied to migrate and serve full-time in France would get their visas approved in a timely manner so that a new Paris-based team could begin coordinating and serving by mid-October.
That there would be open hearts to hear and respond to the Lord's call to migrate.

All gospel trip reports, as well as more information on migration, are posted at lme.org/reports.html. Saints in LA burdened to give may do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Israel

Please continue to pray for the situation in Israel and the Middle East, that through the prayers of the saints the evil rulers and authorities in the air, and the human agents used by them, will be bound, and God's interests will be furthered and His chosen ones preserved.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 3 of The Christian Life (from the Memorial Day Conference).
Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The ministry meeting continues this week starting at 7:25 pm.
2024 SCYP Blending Meeting: Saturday, September 7 in Arcadia. Contact serving ones for more info.
Thanksgiving Conference: Atlanta, GA from November 28 to December 1. Interested LA saints can get more information on hotel rates and RSVP for updates at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.
LSM Newsletter: The August issue of "Having This Ministry…" includes an explanation on the deeper and intrinsic significance of the name Jehovah. Go to newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry.
Bibles for America's latest blog post “One Major Function of the Word of God: To Testify Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ” 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.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of August 25

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The Christian Life Being a Grafted Life

“…You, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among [the branches] and became a fellow partaker of the root of fatness of the olive tree.” (Rom. 11:17)

“Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.” (John 15:4)

The Bible reveals that the relationship God desires to have with man is that He and man become one. As believers in Christ, we should live a grafted life—a life in which we are one spirit with the Lord and live in an organic union with Him. (The Christian Life, msg. 2, II, I)

Such is the real nature of the Christian life. The Lord Jesus as the true vine is the superior tree…As you enjoy the root of the fatness of this cultivated olive tree, your poorer life is subdued, and you begin to flourish…

What are the results of the grafting? When the fatness of the better tree supplies the grafted branch, all the negative things are taken away. Then the original function of that branch is restored and strengthened. The fruit is still what it was before the grafting, but the problem factors have been overcome. We are the problem branches that God has grafted to Christ. The fatness of His life comes into us, carrying away all the poor elements in us. He uplifts the original function that God had for us, strengthening and enriching it. Then naturally and spontaneously, our whole being is saturated and transformed, and a marvelous fruit comes forth.

By the Lord's grace we have repented, and through repentance and believing we have been grafted into the divine life. In this grafting we grow together with Him. Then in resurrection His life grows in us. The divine life is in us, supplying us. This is the Christian life. (CWWL, 1979, vol. 1, “Life Messages Volume 2,” pp. 284-289)

May we all see and apply this truth of the grafted life in our daily lives, continually partaking of the root of fatness to live a grafted life with Christ.

2024 SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference

This weekend's Southern California Labor Day Blending Conference will be held in person at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. The schedule is as follows:

Saturday, August 31
Message 1…………....... 4:00 to 5:45 pm
Dinner Break………..... 5:45 to 7:00 pm
Message 2…………....... 7:00 to 8:45 pm
Lord's Day, September 1
Lord's Table……...... 10:00 to 10:30 am
Message 3…….. 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

A major purpose of this conference is to carry out the blending among the churches and the saints in the region for the reality of the Body of Christ; therefore, in-person attendance is encouraged as much as possible. Translation will be provided in the MCC by FM radio and the Listen Everywhere app. Please pray:

For this conference to be well-attended and for the saints in this region will pay the price to come, so that all may be blended under the Lord's speaking.
For the Lord's covering of the ministering brothers, as well as their families, and that He will use the brothers to speak His timely word to meet the need of the churches in Southern California.
For all the practical preparation and coordination involved in carrying out this conference.

USC

Classes begin this week for USC. Please pray:

For the Lord to empower our own students to spread the fragrance of Christ to their friends and classmates.
For the Lord to call new students, especially freshmen, to connect with us face-to-face this week at our welcome events, tabling, and small groups.
For the harmonious prayer and coordination among students, trainees, and serving ones so that each student can be shepherded and cared for.

Hall 2 College-age Saints

Classes also begin this week at CSUN and the LA Valley, Pierce, and Mission Colleges. Hall 2 has students at each of these colleges. Please pray that:

The college-age (students or working) would have a heart for the Lord and His move among their generation.
Saints will be raised up by the Lord to regularly shepherd the college-age.
All college-age saints will get firmly connected this year with other saints and find a home in the church life.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

Three years ago, in France, a small group of saints began to come together to pray for the Lord to have a way to gain more people and for more lampstands in this country. These saints were not content to have the situation remain the same. They met to pray a number of times every week. Eventually, this group became the coordinating ones for the current distributions.

Last March the Lord began to move by bringing co-workers from France, UK, Germany, Spain and Poland together for days of prayer and fellowship. The Lord erased all the boundaries on the map. The fellowship and coordination became that of the reality of the Body of Christ! Through this the Lord led us to labor in a very specific way on places where churches could be raised up.

The view changed from only distributing Bibles for 50 days to also practicing Acts 2:46-47. The day-by-day and house-to-house church life is for the raising up of churches. This was the Lord's answer to the three years of prayer. Together we are participating in the Lord's present move.

Without migrations the Lord's testimony in Russia, UK, and Germany would not have been established. We are now at the same point in the French-speaking European countries. If the Lord could gain France as He did in the UK and Germany, Europe would be entirely different.

Migration is the move of the Body on earth. Please pray:

That there would be open hearts to hear and respond to the Lord's call to migrate.
That all those who have applied to serve full-time in France would get their visas approved in a timely manner. By mid-October these ones will join in His shepherding care for all the ones saved and baptized.

Subscribe to receive trip reports and testimonies at courantdevie.myflodesk.com; archived reports are at tinyurl.com/2024gospeltrips. Fellowship on migration to serve in France is at lme.org/reports.html.

Saints in LA burdened to give man do so through the Church in LA designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Ukraine and Russia

Please pray concerning the ongoing developments relating to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and that the Lord will protect the tripartite being of all the saints and will rule in the heavens over every aspect of this conflict so that His economy could advance on earth.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 2 of The Christian Life (from the Memorial Day Conference).
Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The ministry meeting on “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul's Epistles—Galatians” continues this week starting at 7:25 pm.
Thanksgiving Conference: Atlanta, GA from November 28 to December 1. Childcare for those in K to 6th grade will be provided. Saints from LA who are interested in attending can get more information on hotel group rates and RSVP to receive any pertinent updates at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.
LSM Newsletter: The August issue of "Having This Ministry…" includes an explanation on the deeper and intrinsic significance of the name Jehovah. Go to newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry.
Bibles for America's latest blog post “One Major Function of the Word of God: To Testify Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ” 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.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of August 18

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Living Christ by Loving Christ

“For to me, to live is Christ.” (Phil. 1:21a)

“And you shall love the Lord your God from your whole heart and from your whole soul and from your whole mind and from your whole strength.” (Mark 12:30)

“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 Christian life is a life of living Christ. Our living should be Christ, and the way to live Christ is to love Christ. To love God means to set our entire being—spirit, soul, and body with the heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30)—absolutely on Him, that is, to let our entire being be occupied by Him and lost in Him, so that He becomes everything to us and we are one with Him practically in our daily life.

To live the Christian life is to love Jesus the Son of God so that we will be loved by the Father and the Son and enjoy the Son's manifestation to us and Their visitation to us for Them to make a mutual abode with us. The Christian life is a life of loving God and loving one another with God Himself as our love. Christ lived in this world a life of God as love, and He is now our life that we may live the same life of love in this world and be the same as He is in His lost-one-seeking and sinner-saving ministry journey. (The Christian Life, msg. 1, I, B, D-E)

2024 SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference

“In the blending of the churches we receive nourishment, we receive revelation, and we receive a vision of God's eternal purpose concerning Christ and the church. Such a blending is not only for our own mutual spiritual benefit but is also for the mutual building up of the Body of Christ” (1993 Blending Conference Messages concerning the Lord's Recovery and Our Present Need, ch. 2).

The co-workers in Southern California are burdened to conduct a blending conference among the saints and the churches during the upcoming Labor Day weekend. The schedule will be as follows:

Saturday, August 31
Message 1…………...... 4:00 to 5:45 pm
Dinner Break……….... 5:45 to 7:00 pm
Message 2…………..... 7:00 to 8:45 pm
Lord's Day, September 1
Lord's Table…….... 10:00 to 10:30 am
Message 3…… 10:30 am to 12:30 pm

All conference meetings will be held in person at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. A way to participate online will be provided for saints who live too far from the LSM campus or for other reasons cannot attend in person. Because a major purpose of this conference is to carry out the blending among the churches and the saints in Southern California for the reality of the Body of Christ, in-person attendance is encouraged as much as possible. Please note that childcare will not be provided at the MCC.

Ahead of this special conference, please pray:

For the saints to set aside this Labor Day weekend to be gathered and blended together.
For all the practical preparation and coordination involved in carrying out this conference.
For the Lord to cover the brothers who will be ministering the word, as well as their families.
That the Lord will use this conference, and all the services related to it, to blend the saints in Southern California for the reality of the Body of Christ.

Wednesday Night Ministry Meetings

A new term of mid-week ministry meetings begins this Wednesday, August 21 at 7:25 pm at the LSM Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. All the saints (in good health) 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 of the Full-time Training in Anaheim and covering of all trainees and serving ones.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The OL3 Olympic Games gospel cycle concluded on Monday, August 19. The OL4 cycle will run from August 20 to 29. These trips include five teams in and near Paris, plus teams in Lille and Rouen, as well as in Luxembourg. In all of the distribution and appointments, the goal is to strengthen the Lord's testimony, gain people into the church life, and raise up new churches in French-speaking Europe.

Please continue to pray:

For the bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19) to the full-timers currently serving in France, that the Lord strengthen them in spirit and soul and body, and be their wisdom in all the practical and spiritual matters they face week by week.
For the continuing shepherding of people contacted in trips since early May, that they remain open to fellowship, and that the shepherding saints be diligent to continue nourishing them.
For the migrating of many more to France to raise up a team of at least 20 full-timers and to open many homes for group gatherings. May the Lord thrust out workers into His harvest in France and open a way for these saints to obtain a long-term visa.
That the Lord will raise up new lampstands in Rouen, Lille, Versailles, Mertzig (Luxembourg), Geneva (Switzerland), Marseilles, Toulouse, Caen, Nantes, and Montpellier.

Subscribe to receive trip reports and testimonies at courantdevie.myflodesk.com; archived reports are at tinyurl.com/2024gospeltrips. A special report on the Lord's move in France and a presentation on migration to serve in France given at the recent July Semiannual Training are at lme.org/reports.html.

Saints in LA burdened to give for the distribution can do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

UK & Ireland Blending Conference

The 2024 UK & Ireland Blending Conference will take place August 24 to 25 in Leeds. Please pray for the Lord's rich speaking to the saints and for the saints' response in joining themselves to His speaking for the carrying out of His move in Europe. Pray that the saints and churches in the UK and Ireland would be blended together for the further building of the Body of Christ and the preparation of His Bride.

Bangladesh

Please continue to pray for the restoration of social stability as soon as possible and for people's hearts to be open to the gospel through the turbulence of the external environment.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 1 of The Christian Life (from the Memorial Day Conference).
Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The ministry meeting resumes this week starting at 7:25 pm.
2024 SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference: Saturday, August 31 from 4:00 to 5:45 pm and 7:00 to 8:45 pm; Lord's Day, September 1 with table meeting at 10:00 am, then message from 10:30 to 12:30 pm. In person at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim; no childcare will be provided.
Thanksgiving Conference: This year's conference will be held in Atlanta, GA from November 28 to December 1. Childcare for those in kindergarten through 6th grade will be provided during the meetings. Saints from LA who are interested in attending can get more information on hotel group rates and RSVP to receive any pertinent updates at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.
Bibles for America's newest blog post “One Major Function of the Word of God: To Testify Concerning the Lord Jesus Christ” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
The LA Years: Chapter 6: Visiting Seekers Throughout America is published at www.layears.org, an oral history project documenting the early years of the church life in Los Angeles from 1958–1974.
500 Life-studies App: To learn more about the burden for the Life-studies, including the 500 Life-studies app, please visit 500lifestudies.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.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of August 11

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Enjoying Christ as our Subjective Righteousness

“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.” (Rev. 19:8)

“Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, with which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will recompense me in that day, and not only me but also all those who have loved His appearing.” (2 Tim. 4:8)

The righteousness (Christ) that we received for our salvation (1 Cor. 1:30) is objective and enables us to meet the requirement of the righteous God, whereas the righteousnesses of the overcoming believers are subjective (Phil. 3:9) and enable them to meet the requirement of the overcoming Christ…Thus, the queen in Psalm 45 has two garments. (Life-study of the Psalms, pp. 265-266)

The queen in Psalm 45 signifies the church. Her first garment is “inwrought with gold,” and her second is “embroidered clothing.” In the Bible gold signifies the divine nature of God. At the time of our salvation, we received a golden garment that enabled us to be in the presence of God. In addition to this, we need another garment, a garment of embroidery. This embroidery signifies the transforming work of the Holy Spirit...Although we have the first garment, our second garment is now being prepared under the embroidering work of the Holy Spirit. Day by day we are under the needle, the transformation, of the Holy Spirit. (Life-study of Revelation, 2nd ed., pp. 608-609)

In order to be awarded with Christ as our crown of righteousness in the next age, we must experience and enjoy Him as our subjective, lived-out righteousness in this age. (Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith…, msg. 5, I. A., II)

FTTA

The Fall 2024 term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim (as well as the Boston Extension) began this week on August 11. For this pre-training week, please pray:

That the Lord would speak all that is on His heart to supply and prepare the trainees and to gain their full consecration.
For the Lord's covering and strengthening of all the staff and serving saints as they care for all aspects of the training.
For the Lord's arrangements of all the service groups and campus teams, and for the surrounding localities to be ready to receive and care for the trainees assigned to them.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The third 10-day Olympic Games gospel cycle (OL3) began last Saturday, August 10 and concludes next Monday, August 19. Two more 10-day cycles will follow. This cycle includes five teams in and near Paris, plus teams in Lille and Rouen, as well as in Luxembourg.

There has been much distributing of New Testaments and preaching of the gospel, especially with Le Mystère de la vie humaine (The Mystery of Human Life). There are also appointments with seekers and dinners or meetings with ministry to which many are invited. In all of this the goal is to strengthen the Lord's testimony, gain people into the church life, and raise up new churches.

Please pray for:

The bountiful supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Phil. 1:19) to the few full-timers currently serving in France, that the Lord strengthen them in spirit and soul and body, and be their wisdom in all the practical and spiritual matters they face week by week.
The continuing shepherding of people contacted in trips since early May, that they remain open to fellowship in person and by electronic means, and that the shepherding saints be diligent to continue nourishing them.
The migrating of many more to France to raise up a team of at least 20 full-timers and to open many homes for group gatherings. May the Lord thrust out workers into His harvest in France and open a way for these saints to obtain a long-term visa. As Psalm 110:3 says, “Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your warfare, in the splendor of their consecration.”

Saints in LA burdened to give for the distribution can do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Ukraine and Russia

A reminder from the footnote on 1 Kings 8:48: “No matter for whom we are praying, our prayers should be aimed at the interests of God, i.e., at Christ and the church as God's interests on earth, for the fulfilling of God's economy.”

Please continue to pray for the Lord to:

Keep all the saints in the countries involved open to Him for His divine dispensing.
Meet all their practical needs and preserve their tripartite beings for His interests.
Protect His people and His interests in Ukraine, Russia, and throughout Europe.

Bangladesh

Pray for the social and political situation to be restored to stability as soon as possible and for people's hearts to be open to the gospel through the turbulence in the external environment.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 5 of Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith, and Loving the Lord's Appearing in Order to Receive the Reward of Christ as the Crown of Righteousness. Next week, we begin The Christian Life (from the Memorial Day Conference).
2024 SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference: Saturday, August 31 from 4:00 to 5:45 pm and 7:00 to 8:45 pm; Lord's Day, September 1 with table meeting at 10:00 am, then message from 10:30 to 12:30 pm. In person at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim; no childcare will be provided.
Thanksgiving Conference: This year's conference will be held in Atlanta, GA from November 28 to December 1. Childcare for those in kindergarten through 6th grade will be provided during the meetings. Saints from LA who are interested in attending can get more information on hotel group rates and RSVP to receive any pertinent updates at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla.
Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry offers free e-booklets to read and share. For example, sixty nuggets and gems have been extracted from the Life-study of Philippians with timely topics such as “Pursue toward the Goal for the Prize of the High Calling” and “The Way to Be Freed from Anxiety.” These e-booklets may be accessed for free at www.lsm.org/life-study-philippians.
The LA Years: Chapter 6: Visiting Seekers Throughout America is published at www.layears.org, an oral history project documenting the early years of the church life in Los Angeles from 1958–1974, including written history, photos, and first-hand accounts.
Bibles for America's recent blog post “How Should Christians Respond to the World Situation?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
Shepherding Words: Seven articles concerning Israel in God's economy have been posted to shepherdingwords.com, a helpful resource in ushering the saints into a view of the present situation in the Middle East according to God's view in His eternal economy.
500 Life-studies App: To learn more about the burden for the Life-studies, including the 500 Life-studies app, please visit 500lifestudies.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.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of August 4

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Loving the Lord's Appearing until His Return

“Make haste, my beloved, and be like a gazelle or a young hart upon the mountains of spices.” (S.S. 8:14)

“He who testifies these things says, Yes, I come quickly. Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22:20)

As the concluding word of this poetic book, the lover of Christ prays that her Beloved would make haste to come back in the power of His resurrection (gazelle and young hart) to set up His sweet and beautiful kingdom (mountains of spices), which will fill the whole earth. Such a prayer portrays the union and communion between Christ as the Bridegroom and His lovers as the bride in their bridal love, in the way that the prayer of John, a lover of Christ, as the concluding word of the Holy Scriptures, reveals God's eternal economy concerning Christ and the church in His divine love.

“When He comes, faith will be turned to facts, and praise will replace prayer. Love will consummate in a shadowless perfection, and we will serve Him in the sinless domain. What a day that will be! Lord Jesus, come quickly!”—Watchman Nee, The Collected Works of Watchman Nee, vol. 23, “The Song of Songs,” p. 126. (Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith…, msg. 4, II, A-B)

UCLA Student Internship

Beginning on Monday, August 5 many students from Christian Students at UCLA will serve with the club in a month-long online internship, which aims to fill their time positively while they are spread around the country and simultaneously taking classes or working jobs. The purpose of the internship is to cultivate both an individual and a corporate pursuit of the Lord, to build up healthy Christian life-practices, and to develop a burden for UCLA. We thank the Lord that a far greater number of interns applied and were accepted than originally anticipated and are eager to pursue and serve the Lord together in the coming weeks. Please pray:

For the students to be neither distracted nor disheartened by the online format, but that the Lord would fill all the meetings with mutual participation, enjoyment, learning, and perfecting.
For the strengthening of the students' personal and corporate pursuit of the Lord to endure through the coming school year.
For the prayer and coordination with the students in this internship to result in a sweet one accord for the Lord to bless us with much remaining fruit.

2024 LA Truth School

Our Truth School for the young people concluded last Saturday, August 3. This week please pray for:

The young people to remain in the things they have seen and heard during the 2024 LA Truth School;
For the Lord to cover, protect, and strengthen our young people as they begin their next school year;
The salvation to reach many of their friends as classmates.

FTTA

The fall term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim begins this Lord's Day, August 11. Please pray for the first-term and returning trainees as they travel and prepare for the new term. May the Lord cover their tripartite being, fill them with rest and joy, and cause them to be vessels fully open for His fresh words.

Bibles for America

In April 2022, Bibles for America began sending out copies of Basic Elements of the Christian Life, vols. 1 to 3 to recipients all over the US. In July of this year, we sent out the last copies we had available and we are currently in the process of changing our free book offer to The Knowledge of Life. Please pray for a smooth transition, that the Lord would cover all the details as we make changes to our website and ads to reflect this new offer.

Please also pray for the more than 38,000 people who have received sets of Basic Elements of the Christian Life. Pray that the Lord would bless their reading and that they would receive the help they need to grow in their Christian life.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The second set of Olympics gospel trips (OL2) to Rouen and Strasbourg (France), Mertzig (Luxembourg), and Geneva (Switzerland) concludes August 9. The third set of trips (OL3) will be August 10 to 19 and focus on Paris, Lille, Rouen, and Mertzig. Please pray:

That all those who have applied to serve full-time in France will receive their visas in a timely manner.
That the day-by-day and house-to-house church life among the local and visiting saints will open the way for the Lord to add to the churches, even raising up new districts and lampstands.
That the existing churches in French-speaking Europe will be strengthened by the gospel teams.
For the Lord to raise up new lampstands in Marseilles, Montpellier, Toulouse, Caen, Nantes, Lille, Rouen, Versailles, Mertzig, and Geneva.
That the Lord will cover and rule over any disturbances or hindrances from the enemy.

Saints in LA burdened to give for the distribution can do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Middle East

Many airlines have canceled flights to Israel because of rising tensions in the Middle East involving Israel. A number of Israeli young people are stranded in Poland following the European Young People Conference. Please pray that the Lord will rule over the situation and will make a way for the young people to return to Israel safely.

Announcements

Morning Revival: REPEAT Week 4 of Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith, and Loving the Lord's Appearing in Order to Receive the Reward of Christ as the Crown of Righteousness. Next week, go onto Week 5. On August 19, begin The Christian Life.
SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference: Saturday afternoon, August 31 to Lord's Day morning, September 1, at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. More details to be announced.
Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry offers free e-booklets to read and share. For example, sixty nuggets and gems have been extracted from the Life-study of Philippians with timely topics such as “Pursue toward the Goal for the Prize of the High Calling” and “The Way to Be Freed from Anxiety.” These e-booklets may be accessed for free at www.lsm.org/life-study-philippians.
The LA Years: Chapter 6: Visiting Seekers Throughout America is published at www.layears.org, an oral history project documenting the early years of the church life in Los Angeles from 1958–1974, including written history, photos, and first-hand accounts.
Bibles for America's recent blog post “How Should Christians Respond to the World Situation?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
Shepherding Words: Seven new articles concerning Israel in God's economy have been posted to shepherdingwords.com, a helpful resource in ushering the saints into a view of the present situation in the Middle East according to God's view in His eternal economy.
Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of July 28

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Maintaining a Personal and Affectionate Seeking After Christ

“Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth! For your love is better than wine. Your anointing oils have a pleasant fragrance; your name is like ointment poured forth; therefore the virgins love you. Draw me; we will run after you—the king has brought me into his chambers—we will be glad and rejoice in you; we will extol your love more than wine. Rightly do they love you.” (S.S. 1:2-4)

Song of Songs is a history of love in an excellent marriage, a story of the love between the wise King Solomon, the writer of this book, and the Shulammite (6:13), a girl of the countryside…Song of Songs stresses not the Body of Christ corporately but the believer in Christ individually, unveiling the progressive experience of an individual believer's loving fellowship with Christ in…stages… (Song of Songs 1:1, footnote 1)

After you have received Christ as your life, you must have a very personal seeking after Christ. No one can represent you or do anything for you in this matter. It must be personal.

We all need this kind of personal, affectionate, intimate contact with the Lord every day...We all need to take heed to what the seeker says: “Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!” Right away her tone changes: “Your love is better than wine.” This is a personal, intimate prayer. “Draw me; we will run after you.”…We need to build up such a relationship with Him that is so personal and affectionate. (CWWL, 1994–1997, vol. 3, “Crystallization-study of Songs of Songs,” pp. 257, 260)

2024 LA Truth School

Our Truth School for the young people started Friday, July 26 and concludes this Saturday, August 3. This week, please pray:

For our weeklong truth pursuit of judicial and organic salvation, that our YP would be impressed with and enter into the experience of these truths;
For our YP to enjoy the gatherings and be companionized during the planned outings and activities;
For our concluding meeting of the 2024 LA Truth School this coming Saturday.

Bibles for America

In June, Bibles for America announced a new title available for saints to order and give away: a 90-day version of Spiritual Nourishment, which can be obtained at materials.bfa.org. This booklet includes ninety days of Bible verses and short excerpts from the ministry. The burden is for this booklet to serve as an entry point into the rich ministry of these two servants of the Lord. The bite-sized portions emphasize Christ as life and are intended to give people a taste for healthy spiritual food.

So far, over 500 copies have been ordered. Pray that all those who receive a copy would be nourished spiritually and enter into the life practice of spending time with the Lord in His Word and the ministry.

European Young People's Conference & Family Conference

The annual European Young People's Conference (EYPC) and European Family Conference (EFC) are taking place this week from July 28 to August 3 in Małe Ciche, Poland. The burden of the EYPC is to constitute the young people in Europe with the truth in the Bible so that they are encouraged to love the Lord and the Word of God, to pursue Him with one another, and to be built up together in His Body that they may become pillars for the Lord's move in Europe and for His coming back. The burden of the EFC is to raise up families from across Europe for the church life. Please pray:

That the Lord will once again speak a clear and definite word to each young person that will touch each heart and call each one for His purpose in Europe.
That there will be a cleansed and sanctified environment for the Lord to freely move among our young generation to gain a group of consecrated young people in Europe for His testimony and expression.
For the fellowship and blending among the young people and serving saints from the many different countries and languages to realize the Body, even while they are still so young.
For the covering and protection of the saints in their travels and throughout the entire week of the conference, and for the health and safety of all in attendance.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The first set of gospel trips (OL1) started July 21 and concludes July 30. This marks the beginning of 50 days of continuous Bible distributions and visiting people with the good news during this year's Olympic Games. The second set of gospel trips during the Olympics (OL2) are July 31 to August 9 and will be in Rouen, Mertzig (Luxembourg), Geneva (Switzerland), and Strasbourg.

We expect that the day-by-day and house-to-house church life among the local and visiting saints would open the way for the Lord to add to the churches, even raising up new districts and lampstands. May our praying spirit be so strong to stand with the Lord in what He is doing among the French people!

Please pray:

For the the 50 days of continuous Bible distributions and visitations during the Olympics.
That the day-by-day and house-to-house church life among the local and visiting saints will open the way for the Lord to add to the churches, even raising up new districts and lampstands.
That the existing churches in French-speaking Europe will be strengthened by the gospel teams.
For the Lord to raise up new lampstands in Marseilles, Montpellier, Toulouse, Caen, Nantes, Lille, Rouen, Versailles, Mertzig, and Geneva.
That the Lord will cover and rule over any disturbances or hindrances from the enemy.

A special report on the Lord's move in France and a presentation on migration to serve in France given at the recent July Semiannual Training are at lme.org/reports.html. Subscribe to receive trip reports and testimonies at courantdevie.myflodesk.com; archived reports are at tinyurl.com/2024gospeltrips.

Saints in LA burdened to give for the distribution can do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste, or East Timor, is a Southeast Asian nation with fewer than 1.5 million inhabitants, most of whom are Catholic. The two official languages are Portuguese and Tetum, with English and Indonesian designated as working languages. Please pray for the students at the Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa'e, located in Dili, the capital city, to be open to the truth and for the home meetings and group meetings for Bible reading to be established.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 4 of Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith, and Loving the Lord's Appearing in Order to Receive the Reward of Christ as the Crown of Righteousness.
SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference: Saturday afternoon, August 31 to Lord's Day morning, September 1, at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. In-person attendance is encouraged. More details to be announced.
Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry offers free e-booklets to read and share. For example, sixty nuggets and gems have been extracted from the Life-study of Philippians with timely topics such as “Pursue toward the Goal for the Prize of the High Calling” and “The Way to Be Freed from Anxiety.” These e-booklets may be accessed for free at www.lsm.org/life-study-philippians.
The LA Years: Chapter 6: Visiting Seekers Throughout America is published at www.layears.org, an oral history project documenting the early years of the church life in Los Angeles from 1958–1974, including written history, photos, and first-hand accounts.
Bibles for America's recent blog post “How Should Christians Respond to the World Situation?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
Shepherding Words: Seven new articles concerning Israel in God's economy have been posted to shepherdingwords.com, a helpful resource in ushering the saints into a view of the present situation in the Middle East according to God's view in His eternal economy.
Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of July 21

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Keeping the Faith and Laying Hold on Eternal Life

“I have kept the faith.” (2 Tim. 4:7c)

“Fight the good fight of the faith; lay hold on the eternal life, to which you were called…” (1 Tim. 6:12)

To keep the faith is to keep the entire New Testament economy of God—the faith concerning Christ as the embodiment of God and the mystery of God and the church as the Body of Christ and the mystery of Christ. A proper Christian life involves keeping the faith for participation in the divine riches in God's economy. The economy of God is a matter in faith, that is, a matter that is initiated and developed in the sphere and element of faith. God's economy, which is to dispense Himself into His chosen people, is not a matter in the natural realm nor in the work of the law but in the spiritual sphere of the new creation through regeneration by faith in Christ.

We today must fight the good fight of the faith. This means that we must fight for Christ as the embodiment of God and for the church as the Body of Christ. Furthermore, we must not merely fight objectively but fight subjectively, by laying hold on eternal life…

Do you realize that you have been called to eternal life? This eternal life does not mainly refer to blessings in the future. To be called to eternal life does not mean that we have been called to enjoy blessings in heaven. Eternal life should be our life today, a life for our present daily living. By our first birth, the physical birth, we received the adamic life. But because we have been called to eternal life, we should no longer live the adamic life, the natural life. Yes, we must be truly human, even Jesusly human, but not in our natural life. On the contrary, we need to live a human life by the eternal life. We have been called to this life, and now we need to live it. (Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith…, msg. 3, II.C, V.A-B; Life-study of 1 Timothy, 2nd ed., p. 102)

Heavenly Rule over the United States

“The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof.” (1 Cor. 10:26)

“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.” God ordains the authorities over man in order to maintain peace and security in human society so that He may have the time and the opportunity to preach the gospel, to save sinners, and to build the church for the spread of His kingdom. (Rom. 13:1 and footnote 4)

The U.S. elections at all levels of government are Tuesday, November 5. The church takes no position on how to vote. Each saint must seek the Lord about whether to vote and how to vote. As Romans 14:4a reminds us, “Who are you who judge another's household servant? To his own master he stands or falls.”

Let us labor with the Lord in prayer to bring His heavenly ruling into all the elections that there may be a proper atmosphere for the gospel and the raising up and building up of the churches.

2024 SoCal Labor Day Blending Conference

The co-workers in Southern California are burdened to conduct a blending conference among the saints and the churches during the upcoming Labor Day weekend on Saturday, August 31 and Lord's Day, September 1. Please set aside these dates on your calendar. The plan is to have two meetings (afternoon and evening) on Saturday and a concluding meeting (with the Lord's table) the following morning. The specific schedule will be announced later.

The conference meetings will be held in person at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. A way to participate online will be provided for saints who live too far from the LSM campus or for other reasons cannot attend in person. Because a major purpose of this conference is to carry out the blending among the churches and the saints in Southern California for the reality of the Body of Christ, in-person attendance is encouraged as much as possible. Please note that no childcare will be provided at the MCC.

Please pray for the Lord's blessing on all aspects of this conference and for the saints to set aside this Labor Day weekend to be gathered and blended together for the reality of the Body of Christ.

2024 LA Truth School

Our Truth School for the young people begins this Friday, July 26 and runs until Saturday, August 3. The whole church is needed to bear this burden in prayer. This week, let us pray:

For a good beginning to our 2024 LA Truth School, and the Lord's presence at each gathering.
For the Lord to anoint the word in each meeting and speak to the hearts of the young people.
For the young people to overflow with the enjoyment and appreciation of God's full salvation.

UCLA Freshmen Orientations

This summer, UCLA is hosting 12 orientation sessions for incoming freshmen. During these two-day sessions, students pick classes and get acquainted with campus life. A big component is a club fair on the first day of orientation, where students can sign up for various clubs that appeal to their interests.

Our club will have a table at most of these orientations in order to meet and connect with new students. Over the years, these orientations have been very fruitful for our labor at UCLA. Please pray:

For the Spirit to brood over the incoming freshmen to open them to the Lord and bring them to the table.
For our timely follow-up with all contacts to maintain contact throughout the summer and into the fall.
For the Lord to flow through our own students and full-timers at the table to minister to the freshmen.

North America Chinese-speaking Saints Perfecting Training

Following five days of in-person sessions in Cerritos, the perfecting training on “Shepherding According to God” continues from July 24 to 28 at Camp Penuel, New York. Please pray for the Lord to:

Strengthen, protect, and prepare the saints who have registered for this training.
Cover all the practical needs of the training so that the burden of the training can be fully released.
Encourage and perfect the seeking Chinese-speaking saints in the churches in truth, life, and service.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The quotas for participation in the gospel trips have been filled. Praise the Lord! The first set of gospel trips during the Olympics (OL1) are currently taking place from July 21 to 30 in Paris, Lille, Rouen, Lyon, Mertzig (Luxembourg), and Geneva (Switzerland). Please pray:

For the beginning of the 50 days of continuous Bible distributions and visitations during the Olympics.
That the day-by-day and house-to-house church life among the local and visiting saints will open the way for the Lord to add to the churches, even raising up new districts and lampstands.
That the existing churches in French-speaking Europe will be strengthened by the gospel teams.
For the Lord to raise up new lampstands in Marseilles, Montpellier, Toulouse, Caen, Nantes, Lille, Rouen, Versailles, Mertzig, and Geneva.
That the Lord will cover and rule over any disturbances or hindrances from the enemy.

Saints in LA burdened to give for the distribution can do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 3 of Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith, and Loving the Lord's Appearing in Order to Receive the Reward of Christ as the Crown of Righteousness.
Bibles for America's latest blog post “How Should Christians Respond to the World Situation?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
Shepherding Words: Seven new articles concerning Israel in God's economy have been posted to shepherdingwords.com, a helpful resource in ushering the saints into a view of the present situation in the Middle East according to God's view in His eternal economy.
Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.

by Jeremy Tsai

Week of July 14

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Running the Race and Finishing the Course

“Do you not know that those who run on a racecourse all run, but one receives the prize? Run in this way, that you may lay hold.” (1 Cor. 9:24)

“Run with endurance the race which is set before us, looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…” (Heb. 12:1-2)

“I have fought the good fight; I have finished the course…” (2 Tim. 4:7)

Like the apostle Paul, all Christians must run the race to win the prize, not salvation in the common sense but a reward in a special sense. We run the Christian race by “looking away unto Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith.” When we look away unto Him, He ministers heaven, life, and strength to us, transfusing and infusing us with all that He is, so that we may be able to run the heavenly race and live the heavenly life on earth. As we look away unto Him continually, He will finish and complete the faith that we need to run the heavenly race.

We need to be encouraged and warned by the type of the children of Israel, whose journey toward the good land typifies the Christian race toward our good land, the all-inclusive Christ. We have been redeemed through Christ, delivered out of Satan's bondage, and brought into the revelation of God's economy. We may yet fail to reach the goal of God's calling, that is, to enter into the possession of our good land, Christ, and enjoy His riches for the kingdom of God that we may be His expression in the present age and participate in the fullest enjoyment of Christ in the kingdom age.

The last part of the journey ordained by God for each one of us is the most difficult part of the journey. An important thing in the Christian life is to seek out the journey that the Lord has ordained and faithfully walk on it. We may be delighted to be on the right course; but how we run and end is still a question. We should not grow weary, fainting in our soul for any reason; rather, we should be those who run the race to the end. (Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course…, msg. 2, II.C.1, D, 4.b-c, E-G)

Southwest College Training Follow-up

Dear saints, thank you for your prayers! Around 50 saints from LA participated in last week's regional college training at Oak Glen. This five-day training was on “A Vessel Unto Honor,” based on Paul's epistles to Timothy, and consisted of four lines of fellowship:

Touching the Lord through personal and intimate pray-reading for the daily nourishment of our spirit and soul. (Students had the opportunity to spend personal time with the Lord in the mornings.)
Experiencing life and dealing with the Lord to have a pure heart and a good conscience.
Carrying out one's ministry of preaching the gospel on the college campuses, especially in the areas of personal and corporate prayer and coordination.
Having a vision of God's economy. (This was the main burden of the training.)

Special fellowship topics included the history of the Lord's recovery and an introduction to the FTTA. Students also spent time memorizing Bible verses.

Overall, the training was blessed with the Lord's fresh burden and speaking. The students were charged as men of God to flee and pursue, to be patterns to the believers, and to be open vessels that cooperate with the Lord to cleanse themselves from dishonorable things. A special commission came at the high point of the training for the students to be the next generation of good ministers, nourished and constituted with the revelation of God's New Testament economy through the apostles' teaching. The last day prepared the students for going on after the training as good soldiers fighting the good fight.

Please continue to fight through prayer for the students' immediate practice of all that they touched during this training, specifically:

For the students to rise up regularly in the mornings to inhale God through His word.
For their cooperation with the Lord to deal with their conscience and flee from unrighteousness and dishonorable things.
For the Lord to impart into them a burden for others' salvation and gain the prayer for specific names He would put on their heart.
For their daily nourishment with the words of the faith and of the good teaching that they may be good ministers of Christ Jesus in God's economy.

May every one of these young saints become gold and silver vessels in His hands and for His use!

2024 LA Truth School

This year's LA Truth School will be from July 26 to August 3. As we approach the start date, we ask the whole church to join in prayer. This week, please pray:

For the coordination of all the serving ones and service groups planning for the Truth School.
For the oneness and one accord among the saints upon which the Lord can pour out His blessing.
That the activities and atmosphere during the Truth School would be cherishing and facilitate blending.

North America Chinese-speaking Saints Perfecting Training

This summer's perfecting training for Chinese-speaking saints in North America will take place in two parts—July 19 to 23 in Cerritos and July 24 to 28 at Camp Penuel, New York. The subject of this year's training is “Shepherding According to God.” Please pray for the Lord to:

Strengthen, protect, and prepare the saints who have registered for this training.
Cover all the practical needs of the training so that the burden of the training can be fully released.
Encourage and perfect the seeking Chinese-speaking saints in the churches in truth, life, and service.

2024 Paris Olympics Gospel Trips

The quotas for participation in all the gospel trips have been filled. Praise the Lord! The ninth and final Torch Relay trip (TR9) is currently underway from July 11 to 17 in Paris. The first set of trips during the Olympic/Paralympic Games (OL1) will take place July 21 to 30. Please pray:

For the Spirit to continue opening the hearts of the people to the gospel and to bring the seekers into contact with the saints.
For the Lord to give us more follow-up and shepherding time with the new ones in order to bring them to maturity so they can be rooted and grounded for the building up of the church.
For the Lord to strengthen existing churches through the gospel teams and raise up new lampstands in Marseilles, Montpellier, Toulouse, Caen, Nantes, Lille, Rouen, Mertzig, and Geneva.
That the Lord would cover and rule over any disturbances or hindrances from the enemy.

A report was given during the July Semiannual Training concerning the present gospel move in France, with a strong call for those burdened by the Lord to migrate there. The presentation slides are at www.lordsmove.org/reports.html and the report video is at www.lsm.org/announcements.

Gospel trip reports and testimonies are compiled for the saints' awareness and prayer. Subscribe to receive these at courantdevie.myflodesk.com. Archived reports are at tinyurl.com/2024gospeltrips.

Saints in LA burdened to give for the Bible distributions can do so through the Church in Los Angeles designated for “Paris Olympics.”

Nordic-Baltic Conference

This summer's Nordic-Baltic Conference from July 19 to 22 will be hosted by the church in Stockholm, Sweden. The subject is “Knowing and Doing the Will of God in the Kingdom of God.” Please pray for the Lord's timely speaking and for the blending of around 160 saints from the Nordic countries, the Baltic States, and other Russian and English-speaking churches for the building up of the Body of Christ. Pray that the word concerning the will of God would be released and received by the saints.

Announcements

Morning Revival: Week 2 of Fighting the Good Fight, Finishing the Course, Keeping the Faith, and Loving the Lord's Appearing in Order to Receive the Reward of Christ as the Crown of Righteousness.
Bibles for America's latest blog post “How Should Christians Respond to the World Situation?” is available to read and share at blog.bfa.org.
Shepherding Words: Seven new articles concerning Israel in God's economy have been posted to shepherdingwords.com, a helpful resource in ushering the saints into a view of the present situation in the Middle East according to God's view in His eternal economy.
Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.

by Jeremy Tsai

Jeremy Tsai

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