Prayer, Week of March 17
The Lord's Jealousy over the Church as His Wife
"You shall not go after other gods, any of the gods of the peoples who surround you—for Jehovah your God is a jealous God in the midst of you." (Deut. 6:14-15a)
"For I am jealous over you with a jealousy of God; for I betrothed you to one husband to present you as a pure virgin to Christ." (2 Cor. 11:2)
Jealousy is usually regarded as a negative thing, but it is one of God's attributes. The jealousy of God is like the jealousy of a husband over his wife. The most jealous one in the universe is God. His name is Jealous (Exo. 34:14). He wants us to love Him uniquely, singly, wholly. God is jealous whenever we love anything or anyone in place of Him. As a jealous Husband, God wants us to serve Him and Him alone.
Knowing that God is jealous, we should let His jealousy become ours so that we would care only for Him and allow no one and nothing to replace Him. (CS Numbers, msg. 4, III.B.1-4)
"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)
College Conference Registrations
The Spring College Conference (April 19 to 21 in Anaheim) provides college students a significant opportunity for blending, not only with other students, but with many families in Southern California who will provide hospitality. The conference title is "That I May Gain Christ." Early registration ends April 7; late registration ends April 14. Please pray for the Lord to motivate and release more college students to attend so that they may indeed gain more Christ!
UCLA Spring Break Blending Trips
Every year, the students at UCLA go on blending trips to various parts of the US to have their vision of the Body of Christ enlarged and refreshed. This year, from March 23 to 27, a group of 18 students and 4 serving ones will visit Phoenix and Flagstaff, Arizona. Six students will attend FTTA short-term either during finals week or spring break; of this number, three will attend both trips. Please pray:
- For the bountiful supply to the saints in Phoenix in their receiving us and that this kind of pattern would have a definite impact on our students and be reproduced.
- For safe travels and that the times in the vehicles would be filled with the enjoyment of Christ.
- That the blending would usher in an enlarged and refreshed vision of the Body of Christ.
- That the saints short-terming would receive the maximum benefit in their time in the training.
High School Brothers Conference
The Spring 2019 High School Brothers Conference at Oak Glen will take place from March 22 to 24. The general topic is "A New Heart and a New Spirit." Please pray:
- For the Lord to prepare the hearts of all of the high school brothers in Southern California;
- That they would know their spirit and its importance in fulfilling God's purpose;
- That they would be open to deal with their hearts to have a proper relationship with the Lord; and
- That the issue of dealing with their hearts would be a personal seeking after Christ to develop a personal, affectionate and romantic relationship with Him.
Germany
The Leipzig Book Fair will be March 21 to 24 with 300,000 visitors expected. Bibles for Europe will be there for the first time to present ministry publications and distribute copies of the NT Recovery Version. Please pray for the giving out of more than 5,000 German NT Recovery Versions.
Scotland
Scotland is a constituent country of the United Kingdom. There are currently two lampstands, Glasgow and Edinburgh; the ground was taken in both localities in 2011. In 2014, a meeting hall was purchased in Glasgow, but for various reasons, work on the building was not started until last year. The main renovations to the hall will be completed by the time of the church in Glasgow's Mini-Conference this weekend, March 23 to 24.
Many saints throughout the UK have participated financially in the purchase and renovation of the hall. Therefore, all the saints in the UK have been invited for this time of blending and rejoicing. We expect up to 140 adults and 15 children. We will cover the main points from the recent feasts on The Reality of the Body of Christ and The Crystallization-Study of Numbers. On Saturday afternoon we will hand out flyers in the neighborhood to invite local residents to the church's "open house" on April 6.
Please join us in prayer for the Lord to bring the local saints and new ones to the conference and bless the time with His rich speaking and much blending. Also pray for the Lord to bring people to the open house on April 6. May the Lord gain much more ground in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and all of Scotland!
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 4 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1.
- Southern California Blending Conference will be June 8 and 9 in Anaheim.
- LA Chinese-Speaking Retreat will be March 29 to 31 in Thousand Oaks.
- Junior High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, April 12 to 14 (registration due March 31); for brothers, March 19 to 21 (registration due April 7).
- Memorial Day Conference will be May 24 to 27 in Seattle, WA. Conference and hotel information is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA attending should RSVP no later than April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
- Information about Germany and Europe: see https://churchinlosangeles.org/information-about-germany-and-europe/.
Prayer, Week of March 10
Praying to Match God in His Move on Earth
"You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and I set you that you should go forth and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He may give you." (John 15:16)
"He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit." (1 Cor. 6:17)
Why do we need to pray? It is because we cannot do anything. We can never be elders, we can never be deacons, and we can never be evangelists. We just cannot do it. So we must pray, which means that we put our trust in the Lord. The second reason we need to pray is that we realize God must do something through us. Without us, even God cannot do anything. This is quite remarkable. Without us, the Lord cannot preach the gospel. Without us, He can never save sinners. Although we need Him, He needs us even more. So we have to pray because we cannot do anything and because without us God cannot do anything. The third reason we must pray is that God wants to mingle Himself with man. Therefore, we pray to open ourselves to Him that He may mingle Himself with us. When God and man are mingled together through priestly praying, God will flow out through man to do His work. (The Priesthood, in CWWL, 1966, vol. 1, p. 471)
Without man, God can do nothing. In His New Testament economy, God does nothing without man. God must have man to match Him, to be one with Him, to coordinate with Him. This is the basic principle of God's New Testament economy. Christ is moving today throughout the earth, and He is moving with those who are one with Him. Christ, the embodiment of God for His expansion, moves through those who love Him. (CS Numbers, msg. 3, III.C.1-3b)
High School Sisters Conference
From March 15 to 17, sisters from across Southern California with gather at Oak Glen for the Spring 2019 High School Sisters Conference. The general topic is "A New Heart and a New Spirit." Please pray:
- for the Lord to prepare the hearts of all of the high school sisters in Southern California;
- that through this conference they would know their spirit and its importance in fulfilling God's purpose;
- that they would be open to deal with their hearts to have a proper relationship with the Lord;
- and that the issue of dealing with their hearts would be a personal seeking after Christ to develop an affectionate and romantic relationship with Him.
GTCA Cities in California – Palo Alto
GTCA is the carrying out of the burden to "gospelize, truthize, and churchize" North America. This long-term labor is part of the one, unique work of the Lord to build up the Body of Christ. More than 20 cities are targeted for ongoing care and labor in 2019. These cities have been selected based on local burdens and their proximity to nearby churches. In California, we have 3 target cities.
Palo Alto is 30 miles south of San Francisco, situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, and contains Stanford University. We have an on-campus Bible study with 5 to 10 new seeking Christians joining weekly. Moreover, with GTCA, we have reached out to the Palo Alto community with a good number of seeking contacts. Please join us in prayer:
- For the church in Palo Alto to become a living gateway for many seeking ones at Stanford and the community to enter into the church life.
- For the Lord to raise up two full-time brothers to be added to the campus team, since current serving brothers are limited by their work schedules.
FTTA-OL
The Online Full-Time Training (FTTA-OL) conducts the FTTA curriculum completely online. The hope that this online program will help the believers cultivate a habit of studying the truth through a lifelong pursuit. While some learners may complete all the courses in short period of time, the FTTA-OL is designed with the view that most saints will take one or two courses per year for the next fifteen to thirty years. More information is at http://www.onlineftta.org.
Each year is divided into 5 terms. The 2019 Term B is from March 13 to May 7. Pray for every enrollee to be a diligent learner to help others learn and dig into the ministry materials. By the Lord's mercy, may more saints sanctify their time by studying God's Word and being constituted with the divine truth.
Germany
Leading brothers from German-speaking churches will meet together from March 16 to 17 for their semiannual gathering to blend and to seek the Lord for His present move in German-speaking nations.
Please continue to pray for the growth, building up, and blending of the saints and the strengthening of the Lord's testimony in Aachen, Bielefeld, Bochum, Leipzig, Hamburg, Heidelberg and Mainz, as well as in Zurich, Switzerland. In particular, pray for the establishing of a strong testimony in Bielefeld in the coming months and that the Lord's blessing will be on the oneness of these saints as they prepare to take the ground as another lampstand in Germany.
United Kingdom
There are two blocks of weekend retreats scheduled this spring at Bower House in London. The first block takes place each weekend from March 16 to April 7. The second block takes place during all weekends in May. Each weekend includes some time for practical service to encourage blending and give participants an enjoyable taste of the prayer and fellowship that can take place during practical service. A range of services will be available, including gentle landscaping work, Bible packing and simple indoor cleaning, as well the option to use the time for fellowship, reading, or personal time.
May the Lord motivate as many saints as possible to attend at least one of these special weekends, together with friends, family, and gospel contacts, to blend with one another and learn to function together in pursuing the truth and in practical service.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 3 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1.
- This year's LA Chinese-Speaking Retreat will be March 29 to 31 in Thousand Oaks.
- High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, March 15 to 17; for brothers, March 22 to 24.
- Junior High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, April 12 to 14 (registration due March 31); for brothers, March 19 to 21 (registration due April 7).
- College Conference will be April 19 to 21 in Anaheim. Early registration ends April 7; late registration ends April 14.
- Memorial Day Conference will be May 24 to 27 in Seattle, WA. Conference and hotel information is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA attending should RSVP by April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
- Spanish language radio broadcast: Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 9:30 pm. LA County 100.3 FM; San Fernando Valley and Ventura County 90.3 FM.
Prayer, Week of March 3
Encamping in Array and Facing the Tent of Meeting
"The children of Israel shall encamp each by his own standard with the ensigns of their fathers' households; they shall encamp facing the Tent of Meeting on every side." (Num. 2:2)
The children of Israel encamping in array typifies God's redeemed people being consummated as the New Jerusalem. Just as the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21 has four sides, so also the encamping in Numbers 2 had four sides. The New Jerusalem has three gates on each of her four sides, on which are the names of the twelve tribes. Similarly, the twelve tribes of Israel's encamping in Numbers 2 had three tribes on each of its four sides. This all depicts the scene in eternity, showing that God's purpose in this universe is to be mingled with man in His Divine Trinity in order to become a unit of government. This unit of government can fight for His testimony. (CS Numbers, msg. 2, II.F.1-6)
That the children of Israel were encamped facing the Tent of Meeting indicates that the testimony of God—the Ark within the tabernacle, which contained the law as God's testimony—was their unique center and goal. This signifies that Christ, the embodiment of God, is the center and goal of God's people, who are journeying and fighting for God's testimony.
The children of Israel encamping around the Tent of Meeting indicates that they were formed into an army to fight for the protection of God's testimony (the Ark in the tabernacle, typifying Christ and His Body, the church, as the incarnated and embodied God). In the same way, the church today is fighting for the protection of the incarnated God. God in Himself needs no protection, but God in His embodiment needs to be protected by the fighting of the church as a formed, coordinated Body. (Num. 2:2, footnote 3)
FTTA-MA
The spring term of the Middle-age Training in Anaheim begins March 11. The goal of the training is to foster living, functioning, overcoming members of the Body of Christ for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose. Lord, release the saints from every restraint, and grace them inwardly to give themselves to begin or to continue this training!
Bibles for America
We are expecting 100,000 copies of the NT Recovery Version to arrive at the BfA distribution center within the next two months. This shipment will replenish our inventory to enable us to meet the never-ending hunger for free Bibles throughout the United States. May the Lord bless all the readers of His interpreted Word with light and life. Please pray for the shipment to arrive on schedule so we can fill the orders without delay.
European University Conference
The Spring European University Conference will take place March 29 to 31 in the Netherlands. Please ask the Lord to release many students to register and attend. Early deadline to register is March 10; late deadline is March 17. The conference subject will be "The Jubilee."
South Africa
The annual national conference will take place from March 8 to 10 in Pretoria, South Africa. The general subject will be "Living in the Reality of the Body of Christ by Keeping the Principles of the Body" from the recent International Chinese-speaking Conference. Please pray:
- For the release of the Lord's speaking;
- For the participation of saints from the South African Development Community (SADC) region - which includes countries such as Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe - not only in the conference but also in one week of short-term training at the FTTP afterwards; and
- For the Lord to advance the formation and encampment of the army through this conference, that the saints would be built up in vital groups to bear fruit and live out the reality of the Body.
Kuwait
In Kuwait City, over forty saints plus children are enjoying the church life in different geographical districts. Please pray for the saints to continue meeting in small groups and for the church to have weekly gospel meetings. Pray for the spread of the Lord's testimony to other cities in this country.
A more detailed report with photos, including an update on Sri Lanka, is at:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/E-2019-02.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Asia-2019-02.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 2 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1.
- This year's LA Chinese-Speaking Retreat will be March 29 to 31 in Thousand Oaks.
- High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, March 15 to 17 (registration due March 3); for brothers, March 22 to 24 (registration due March 10).
- Memorial Day Conference will be May 24 to 27 in Seattle, WA. Conference and hotel information is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA attending should RSVP no later than April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
- Information about Germany and Europe: see https://churchinlosangeles.org/information-about-germany-and-europe
Prayer, Week of February 24
The Need to Be Formed into an Army
"Finally, be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength. Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, for our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies." (Eph. 6:10-12)
The picture in Numbers shows the Triune God and His chosen people mingled together as one entity so that God may move on the earth and conquer His enemy in order to regain the earth for the fulfillment of His eternal purpose.
Because God desires a corporate man to represent Him in subduing and regaining the earth from the usurping hand of Satan, God's chosen and redeemed people need to be formed into an army to journey with God and to fight with God for His interest on earth.
The entire Bible shows us one thing—that God's intention is to have a people formed into an army to take Christ as their meaning of life, testimony, center, Leader, way, and goal and to proceed on and fight for God so that He may have the ground on earth and have a people built up as His kingdom and His house, which will consummate in the New Jerusalem. (CS Numbers, msg. 1, I.C, III.G, and Banner 1)
Santa Clarita
Praise the Lord for the dew of Hermon descending upon the mountains of Zion and running down upon the hem of Aaron's garments (Psalm 133). In Santa Clarita we are enjoying this dew; we are enjoying the one accord and continuing in "the prayers" (Acts 2:42). Prayer has become a great enjoyment to us! It seems like the more we pray, the heavier the burden becomes. The Lord has turned us from offering general prayers to specific prayers that He can answer for many people. We pray name by name. And we can testify that we have a God who answers prayer! We are encouraged to see many prayers answered. We are motivated to continue in one accord to beseech the Lord.
On February 24, we held our second Lord's table meeting in Santa Clarita. We sensed the Lord's sweetness and presence. It was encouraging to see saints who have not met with us for years, and to break bread and enjoy the Lord with them. Starting in March, we will have two Lord's table meetings each month (on the second and fourth weekends). O Lord, the city of Santa Clarita belongs to You!
FTTA Gospel Trips to Europe Follow-Up
The FTTA gospel trips to Europe concluded earlier this month. A total of 139 trainees and serving saints in 24 teams visited 17 European countries. Please pray:
- That the Lord's word that went out will not return to Him vainly but will accomplish what He desires for His move in Europe (Isa. 55:11).
- That many of the contacts that were made, including some key ones, will be brought into the church and that the churches and the saints in Europe will be strengthened and encouraged.
Germany
Please pray for long-term visas for many saints to continue serving in Germany. For some it is difficult to find the right path to take; for all it requires prayer for the Lord's heading up of the process.
United Kingdom
Please continue to pray for the Lord to rule over the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. In particular, pray that the saints from other parts of Europe will still be able to travel to the UK for trainings and conferences.
Nepal
There will be a national blending conference from March 8 to 9. May the Lord speak to His churches and strengthen His testimony in Nepal, a predominantly Hindu country with nearly 30 million people. Please also pray for the practice of daily Bible reading in the church life that all the saints may spend time to enjoy God's word and be constituted with the truth.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 1 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1.
- High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, March 15 to 17 (registration due March 3); for brothers, March 22 to 24 (registration due March 10).
- Memorial Day Conference will be May 24 to 27 in Seattle, WA. Conference and hotel information is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA attending should RSVP no later than April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
- Spanish language radio broadcast: Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 9:30 pm. LA County 100.3 FM; San Fernando Valley and Ventura County 90.3 FM.
Prayer, Week of February 17
Living Out and Working Out the New Jerusalem
"Great is Jehovah, and much to be praised in the city of our God, in His holy mountain. Beautiful in elevation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion, the sides of the north, the city of the great King." (Psa. 48:1-2)
"But holding to truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the Head, Christ, out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love." (Eph. 4:15-16)
The Lord's recovery is to build up Zion as the reality of the Body of Christ by living out and working out the New Jerusalem. To live out the New Jerusalem is to grow up "into the Head" by the mingling of God with man, and to work out the New Jerusalem is to function "out from the Head" for the oneness of the Body of Christ. Whatever is ascribed to the New Jerusalem should be both our personal and corporate experience for us to become the New Jerusalem and build the New Jerusalem by the mingling of God with man for the oneness of the Body of Christ to fulfill the eternal purpose of God.
To live out and work out the New Jerusalem to build up Zion as the reality of the Body of Christ requires spiritual warfare. We need to stand against the stratagems of the devil by fighting the battle in the Body with fighting prayers, praying at every time in spirit to put on the whole armor of God to build up the Body of Christ as the house of God for the glory of God and as the kingdom of God for the dominion of God for the complete fulfillment of the economy of God. (The Reality of the Body of Christ, I, II, III.I.3)
Memorial Day Conference
The 2019 International Memorial Day Conference will be May 24 to 27 in Seattle, WA. Conference and hotel information is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints are encouraged to make their hotel reservations as soon as possible if they do plan to attend, and to only reserve the number of rooms at the Hyatt Regency Seattle that they intend to use, because cancelled rooms will no longer be available to others at the discounted group rate.
For saints from LA who plan to attend, please RSVP at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children) by April 28.
Please pray that the Lord will take more crucial steps in the advancement of His purpose during this gathering. Also pray that many would be released and empowered to attend.
FTTA
The spring term begins this week on February 18. Lord, richly infuse Yourself into each trainee, in their classes and studying, in corporate living, in gospel teams, in service, and in blending with the churches!
GTCA Follow-Up
The GTCA sowing trips concluded last week. The participating saints in each of the 26 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada have all given encouraging reports. Each gospel team experienced the Lord's rich blessing on the prayer, coordination, and spreading of the gospel of the kingdom.
Many gospel tracts, Bibles, and ministry books were given away on campuses and in communities in each city, and a number of people prayed to receive the Lord. Please pray that:
- the Bible/book recipients who are open to further contact would be shepherded;
- those who were regenerated would receive ongoing care, grow in life, and become functioning members of the Body; and
- the local saints would be strengthened with power to pray and labor in one accord.
For more specific prayer burdens, you can find detailed reports at http://www.gtca.us/reports.
Germany
The gaining of university students on the campuses by shepherding them into the church life and guarding them against all opposition and negative speaking from the enemy.
India
Pray for the new term of FTT New Delhi, that the Lord will strengthen the nine new trainees beginning first term. Pray also for all the continuing trainees to be perfected and to advance further in truth, life, service and character in order to be useful to the Master.
Announcements
-
Morning revival: Week 6 of The Reality of the Body of Christ (Thanksgiving Conference).
After week 6 we will use Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1 (December Semiannual Training). - High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, March 9 to 11 (registration due February 25); for brothers, March 23 to 25 (registration due March 11).
- Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of February 10
Living in the Inward Parts of Christ Jesus
"For God is my witness how I long after you all in the inward parts of Christ Jesus." (Phil. 1:8)
"Out from whom all the Body, being joined together and being knit together through every joint of the rich supply and through the operation in the measure of each one part, causes the growth of the Body unto the building up of itself in love." (Eph. 4:16)
If we would have the reality of the Body of Christ, we must allow Christ to make His home in our hearts (Eph. 3:17). If we would live in the reality of the Body of Christ, we need to live in the inward parts of Christ Jesus (Phil. 1:8). The more we live in the inward parts of Christ Jesus, the greater will be our consciousness of the Body of Christ and the stronger will be our feeling for the Body of Christ. (The Reality of the Body of Christ, I, II, III).
International Chinese-Speaking Conference
This year's International Chinese-Speaking Conference will be held in Anaheim from Friday evening, February 15 through Lord's Day morning, February 17. All the churches and individuals are warmly invited to participate in this gathering. For those who cannot understand Chinese, bring your own FM radio headset to receive simultaneous translation. The meeting schedule is as follows:
Meeting 1: Friday, February 15, 7:30 pm
Meeting 2: Saturday, February 16, 9:00 am
Meeting 3: Saturday, February 16, 11:00 am
Meeting 4: Saturday, February 16, 7:00 pm
Meeting 5: Lord's Day, February 17, 9:30 am
May the Lord take more crucial steps in the advancement of His purpose during this gathering!
GTCA and FTTA Gospel Trips
All Europe trips concluded on February 7 and North America trips concluded on February 11. Please pray that the Lord will grace the saints participating in the follow-up. Pray that He will continue to prepare the hearts of all the people contacted, guarding them from the enemy, solidly connecting them with the local saints for appointments, and causing them to read the Bibles they received so they can be enlightened and nourished by the Word.
FTTA Middle-Age
Beseech the Lord to bring 45 new trainees to the spring term, which begins March 11. Pray especially that this number would include many saints born in North America and also at least seven Spanish-speakers (last fall, for the first time in 17 years, there was no Spanish-speaking section in the training).
Announcements
-
Morning revival: Week 5 of The Reality of the Body of Christ (Thanksgiving Conference).
After Next week we will begin Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1 (December training)
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today. We will use it again. - Information on Germany and Europe, see the right side of https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of February 3
Through the Cross, By the Spirit, Ministering Christ
"God has blended the body together" (1 Cor. 12:24)
"I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me." (Gal. 2:20).
God has blended the Body together; the word blended means "adjusted," "harmonized," "tempered," and "mingled," implying the losing of distinctions. In order to be blended for the reality of the Body of Christ, we have to go through the cross and be by the Spirit to dispense Christ to others for the building up of the Body of Christ. Such a blending is not social but the blending of the very Christ whom we enjoy, experience, and partake of. (Thanksgiving Conference, msg. 4, III, III.A, D)
GTCA and FTTA Gospel Trips
The North American trips end various days this week and the European trips all end this Thursday. Follow-up labor continues. Please pray for:
- suitable weather for Bible distributions and contact with seekers these last days of the trips;
- continuing contact/appointments with people who received the Lord or a Bible or other literature;
- those invited to events this week to be released from everything to attend;
- local saints to be energized to fully care for the follow-up contacting and appointments;
- many people in each city to be gradually brought into the church life.
Germany
Pray for our young people. Recent statistics show that out of 80 in Germany between 11 and 17, less than 40% attend church meetings. Pray for training to be held in Berlin, Dusseldorf, and Stuttgart February 9 for saints serving with or burdened for the young people. This is in preparation for the March 1 to 3 young people's conference.
United Kingdom
Please pray for the Lord to rule over the UK's withdrawal process from the European Union (Brexit). There is considerable discord in the UK about this. Ask the Lord to keep the door open for saints to travel freely between the UK and EU, and for continued freedom of residency for UK saints in the EU. Pray also for the discord to open people to the gospel.
Balkans Conference Report
In early November 2018 a blending conference was held in Tirana, Albania, for the saints and the churches in the Balkans. A written report is posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer and a 14-minute video report can be seen at https://tinyurl.com/2018-BRC-Report. The video shows the conference and contains reports on the Lord's move in six Balkan countries—Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Serbia, Turkey. Multiple L.A. saints are visible in this video.
Please pray that:
- the Lord would continue to build upon the solid foundation laid at the conference through His speaking for His move in the Balkans;
- a lampstand would be raised up in Tirana, as a result of the rich infusion of life from this time;
- the employee of the resort who worked closely with the brothers in coordinating for the conference and received the Lord would be added in a normal way to the church life;
- the saints in the Balkans would continue to take the way of doing everything through the cross, by the Spirit, and ministering life for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Announcements
-
Morning revival: Week 4 of The Reality of the Body of Christ (Thanksgiving Conference).
After week 6 we will use Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 1 (December training)
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today. We will use it again. - The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 15 to 17 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2019icsc.org (Chinese) and http://www.2019icsc.org/en (English) and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. For Chinese-speaking students and working saints, please register for the special afternoon fellowship sessions before January 31. Since children's service is only provided for out-of-town families, arrangements have been made with the church in Cerritos for the Lord's Day morning meeting only; pre-register with your district's registration coordinator before February 3.
Prayer, Week of January 27
A Corporate Living of Conformity to the Death of Christ
"I did not determine to know anything among you except Jesus Christ, and this One crucified." (1 Cor. 2:2)
"To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death." (Phil. 3:10)
"I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me." (Gal. 2:20a)
The reality of the Body of Christ is a corporate living of the conformity to the death of Christ through the power of the resurrection of Christ.
GTCA and FTTA Gospel Trips
All the GTCA and FTTA gospel activities are in progress throughout this week. They reach 54 cities in North America and 17 nations in Europe. Please pray for:
- rich and fresh experiences of Christ for all who are participating;
- many open people to be reached, especially those who will commit to follow-on appointments;
- the local saints to be strengthened by the Lord to continue contact with every open person;
- the Lord to thrust out more workers to serve full-time on the wide open US campuses.
- Reports with photos are at http://www.gtca.us/reports/ and http://beseeching.org.
All-LA College Students' Gathering
This Thursday evening, January 31, college students from CSUN, UCLA, and USC will blend together at Hall 5. A special word will be spoken based on Message 11 of the December Semiannual Training: "Partners of Christ Fighting for God's Interest." Please pray that the Lord would:
- Anoint the speaking brother to speak a fresh word to every attendee.
- Gain the "Calebs" from among our students. In the Bible, Caleb had a different spirit from that of his unbelieving generation and fully followed the Lord by this different spirit. Neither Joshua nor Caleb feared the Nephilim or the inhabitants in Canaan but declared instead, "They are our bread."
- Make every student an overcomer! Overcomers suffer the satanic chaos, but instead of being disappointed or discouraged, they are strengthened and enabled to stand for and live out the divine economy.
Grace and Fellowship in Material Offerings
"With much entreaty they besought of us the grace and the fellowship of the ministry to the saints." (2 Cor. 8:4)
"For your fellowship unto the furtherance of the gospel from the first day until now." (Phil. 1:5)
Material gifts for the saints, the churches, and the full-time workers are a matter of grace and fellowship, a ministry to and joint participation with the recipients.
The saints in Philippi had fellowship unto the gospel, participating in the furtherance of the gospel through the apostle Paul's ministry. This kind of fellowship, which kept them from being individualistic and diversely minded, implies that they were one with the apostle Paul and with one another. This gave them the ground for their experience and enjoyment of Christ, which is the main point of this book. The more fellowship we have in the furtherance of the gospel, the more Christ we experience and enjoy. This kills our self, ambition, preference, and choice. (Phil. 1:5, part of note 1)
Lord, grace us to have more fellowship by material offerings for the furtherance of the gospel.
Hall 1 Korean-Speaking Retreat
This weekend, February 2 to 3, the hall 1 Korean-speaking saints will go to Oak Glen for a retreat. We pray that this will be a good beginning for us who just started a new district meeting. The main burden for this retreat is to encourage all the saints to function in the church life as Priests and Levites. Please pray that Lord blend all the saints through the fellowship and that all will have a Nazarite vow for His move.
Burmese Recovery Version Bible
There are 62 churches with about 3,000 saints in Myanmar (also known as Burma), a nation of more than 50 million people. Late last year the entire Recovery Version Bible was published in the Burmese language. The initial printing was presented at a forum of the national Bible society in November. The saints are active to propagate this Bible by distributing booklets and gospel tracts.
A report with photos, plus a testimony of a couple who migrated to Cambodia, are at:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/E-2019-01.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Asia-2019-01.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 3 of The Reality of the Body of Christ (Thanksgiving Conference).
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today. We will use it again. - The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 15 to 17 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2019icsc.org (Chinese) and http://www.2019icsc.org/en (English) and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. For Chinese-speaking students and working saints, please register for the special afternoon fellowship sessions before January 31. Since children's service is only provided for out-of-town families, arrangements have been made with the church in Cerritos for the Lord's Day morning meeting only; pre-register with your district's registration coordinator before February 3.
Prayer, Week of January 20
Living in Resurrection for the Reality of the Body of Christ
"On the next day Moses went into the Tent of the Testimony, and there was the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi: it had budded; it even put forth buds and produced blossoms and bore ripe almonds…. Then Jehovah said to Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony." (Num. 17:8, 10a)
God "raised us up together with Him and seated us together with Him in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:6)
The church is absolutely of the element of Christ, absolutely in resurrection, and absolutely in the heavenlies. Aaron's rod inside the Ark as an eternal memorial means that resurrection is an eternal principle in our service to God. Resurrection means that everything is of God and not of us; it means that God alone is able and that we are not able. If a man has never realized his own inability, he can never experience God's ability; resurrection means that we cannot make it and that God is the One who has done everything. (Thanksgiving Conference, msg. 2, III.A, II.C, C.1, 3)
O Spirit of Reality, lead me, the saints around me, and the people I care for more into the reality of resurrection!
Hall 4 Annual Oak Glen Retreat
This weekend, January 25-27, more than 100 English-speaking adults, young people, and children from Hall 4 will go to Oak Glen for our annual retreat. Please pray that:
- all those attending will be prepared in their whole being for this time and be wide open to the Lord;
- the Lord would freshly speak to every age group at the retreat, including all of the newer ones among us, giving us a way to progress and advance in 2019;
- we as the household of the faith would be built together in love to be the Lord's corporate testimony and be formed into an army to defeat His enemy!
FTTA Gospel Trips in North America
A total of 133 trainees and serving saints from FTTA will make North American gospel trips in 25 teams. Two trips began last Friday; the others begin various days this week; durations are 14 to 18 days. Some teams will stay in one city, others will split their time between two or more cities.
The three teams in California will visit Fresno/Clovis (10 miles apart), Hayward, and Palo Alto.
Please pray for:
- local saints to be released to participate and to be blended with FTTA saints;
- FTTA saints to have fresh experiences of Christ in the environment outside the training center;
- many people to be open to the gospel and the ministry and to be willing to have follow-up appointments.
FTTA Gospel Trips to Europe
A total of 139 trainees and serving saints from FTTA will join gospel trips to 17 European countries. They will arrive in London for an orientation (January 24 to 26) before going out in 24 teams of 5 to 8 saints to their destinations and will reconvene in London (February 5 to 7). Please pray that:
- the trainees and serving ones from the FTTA will be blended with the local saints;
- many people will be saved and brought into the church;
- every trainee will receive a burden to pray for, give to, or migrate for the Lord's move in Europe.
Bibles for America – Spanish Blog
In 2018, BfA blog posts in Spanish received over half a million visits from people all over the world. We are currently working on editing and compiling the Spanish blog posts to make them more easily accessible and navigable. Please pray that the Lord would bless this labor and would continue to reach many Spanish speakers through these posts.
Nordic-Baltic Blending Conference
From January 25 to 27 a blending conference between Nordic and Baltic countries will take place in Tallinn, Estonia. The Nordic countries include Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland. There are six lampstands with 100 saints in these five countries. The Baltic countries include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. There are seven lampstands with around 150 saints in these three countries. This is a first official blending between these two regions.
Historically, the Baltic countries have been related to Russia. However, since their independence in 1991, a gradual but steady process has brought them closer to Europe, culminating in their becoming members of European Union in 2004.
May the Lord move in these regions and advance in a renewed and prevailing way. May He send seasons of refreshing to the churches and burst forth as the resurrection life from within His precious saints!
Azerbaijan
An L.A. prayer topic in November was about a couple in Azerbaijan who are the only representatives of the recovery in this nation of ten million people. Several co-workers will visit Azerbaijan January 23 to 27. Lord, show Your way forward in Azerbaijan for Your recovery and specifically for this couple.
Announcements
-
Morning revival: Week 2 of The Reality of the Body of Christ (Thanksgiving Conference).
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today. We will use it again. - The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 15 to 17 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2019icsc.org (Chinese) and http://www.2019icsc.org/en (English) and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. For Chinese-speaking students and working saints, please register for the special afternoon fellowship sessions before January 31. Since children's service is only provided for out-of-town families, arrangements have been made with the church in Cerritos for the Lord's Day morning meeting only; pre-register with your district's registration coordinator before February 3.
- Information on Germany and Europe is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/information-about-germany-and-europe/.
Prayer, Week of January 13
The Spirit of Reality Being the Reality of the Body of Christ
"When He, the Spirit of reality, comes, He will guide you into all the reality; for He will not speak from Himself, but what He hears He will speak; and He will declare to you the things that are coming." (John 16:13)
"For also in one Spirit we were all baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and were all given to drink one Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:13)
The Spirit as the reality of the Triune God is the reality of the Body of Christ; the Spirit of reality makes everything of the processed and consummated Triune God a reality in the Body of Christ. (Thanksgiving conference, banner 1)
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
Last Saturday, around 800 registered brothers gathered in Arcadia for the first monthly corporate gathering of the eldership training. The burden of this training is to strengthen the present eldership and the responsible brothers, to perfect and raise up the next generation of elders and responsible brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way.
This week the brothers will begin their personal study and weekly study group meetings. Please pray that each brother would go before the Lord personally to offer his Nazarite vow in a fresh way. Pray that each study group would have a strong beginning and that the Lord will become all the participants' perseverance and faithfulness.
Through this training, may an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California be ushered in. May the Lord bless this training for the strengthening of His testimony and for the building up of His Body.
Spanish-Speaking and Young People's Conferences
The Southern California Spanish-Speaking Conference is January 18 to 20, at the MCC in Anaheim. Messages will be given in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish. Conference details are posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
A Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will take place at the same time in the MCC's cafeteria (HS) and a classroom (JH). There is no cost and no meals will be provided, but everyone must register at http://tinyurl.com/YP-Jan2019. Registration deadline was Lord's Day, January 13.
May the Lord super abundantly pour out His rich blessing on these conferences. Let us ask the Lord to open the hearts and outward circumstances for everyone He wants at these conferences and to take a step forward with both Spanish-speaking and young people.
Santa Clarita
On Lord's Day, January 13, we had the first Lord's table (in more than a decade) in Santa Clarita. About 35 saints met in a home. Six brothers shared on the significance of the table. We realized freshly that the function of the saints is brought out in a smaller setting. The sharing was so sweet and precious. Many fought to hold back tears. We have the strong feeling that we are under the Lord's blessing and He is answering prayer. We will continue the Lord's table here once a month and blend with L.A. hall 2 other Lord's Days.
The burden grows stronger in us that the Lord must have a strong testimony in this city of over 200,000 people. Lord, have a way to spread and gain the people of this city!
GTCA Sowing Trips
From January 25 to February 11, sowing trips will take place in cities throughout the United States and Canada as part of the ongoing burden to gospelize, truthize, and churchize North America (GTCA). Trainees from the FTTA will join local and visiting saints in giving away Bibles, ministry books, gospel tracts, and brochures. The 2019 GTCA cities include:
Northern California: Fresno/Clovis, Hayward, Palo Alto
Mountain States: Phoenix (Arizona)
South Central: Amarillo, Canyon, Pearland, and The Woodlands (Texas); Edmond and Stillwater (Oklahoma)
Midwest: St. Louis (Missouri)
Northeast: Manchester (New Hampshire)
Mid-Atlantic: Manassas (Virginia); Morgantown (West Virginia)
Southeast: Birmingham (Alabama); Clemson (South Carolina); Jackson (Mississippi); Orlando (Florida)
Canada: Burnaby (British Columbia); London and Vaughan (Ontario)
Some cities will not receive a gospel team, but are listed for our prayers and consideration for migration: Everett and West Richland (Washington); Columbia (South Carolina); Greensboro (North Carolina).
Please pray for:
- the preparation and coordination leading up to the gospel sowing trips;
- the gospel of the kingdom to be preached in all the target cities;
- the Spirit to sweep in the hearts of people and make them hungry for the ministry of the age.
Vancouver, Canada
On May 7, 2015, Meeting Hall 1 of the church in Vancouver was burned down during a roof repair accident. Construction for a new meeting hall on the same property began on May 7, 2018.
We sincerely treasure and covet the prayers of the saints in the Body of the Christ. Please join us to pray for the smooth transition from one stage to the next throughout the construction period. Through this entire process, pray for the Lord to build Himself more into our hearts for the building up of His Body.
A letter from the church in Vancouver with details and pictures, in four languages, is posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. The letter presents a need for financial help; contributions may be given to the church here, designated for Vancouver or given per instructions in the letter.
Cambodia
Pray for this year's International Blending Conference in Phnom Penh from January 19 to 20.
Announcements
- Morning revival: Week 1 of The Reality of the Body of Christ (Thanksgiving Conference).
Keep your copy of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move Today. We will use it again. - The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 15 to 17 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2019icsc.org (Chinese) and http://www.2019icsc.org/en (English) and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. For Chinese-speaking students and working saints, please register for the special afternoon fellowship sessions before January 31. Since children's service is only provided for out-of-town families, arrangements have been made with the church in Cerritos for the Lord's Day morning meeting only; pre-register with your district's registration coordinator before February 3.
- Beginning January 1, the Spanish language radio broadcast in Los Angeles Monday through Friday changed time to 9:00 to 9:30 pm. For L.A. County the frequency changed to FM 100.3, with FM 90.3 for San Fernando Valley and Ventura County. More info at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.