Week of February 13
Shepherding the Flock of God
"For you were like sheep being led astray, but you have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." (1 Pet. 2:25)
"Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?" (Matt. 24:45)
Christ's shepherding of His flock includes His caring for their outward things and also their inner being, their souls. He takes care of the things concerning their souls by overseeing their souls.
To shepherd the flock of God is to watch over the souls of the saints, being one with the Lord as the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls in His care for the welfare of their inner being and in His exercising His oversight over the condition of their real person.
Matthew 24:45 tells us the way to serve; it is to "give them food at the proper time." Give them food refers to ministering the word of God and Christ as the life supply to the believers in the church. Our speaking in the meetings and our visiting people in their homes to minister Christ to them is our giving them food. Toward ourselves, we must deny our soul and follow the Lord in spirit, and toward others, we must learn to always minister the word of God and Christ as the life supply. (CWWL, 1994-1997, vol. 4, "Crystallization-study of the Gospel of John," p. 448; Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 6, II; CWWL, 1970, vol. 1, p. 228)
International Chinese-speaking Conference
"And the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us..., full of grace and reality." (John 1:14)
This year's International Chinese-speaking conference (ICSC) is entirely online, February 18 to 20. The general subject is "The Grace of God in the Economy of God." Details regarding the meeting schedule and Zoom link for each language will be communicated by hall or district. Outlines may be downloaded at any time before and during the conference at http://conf.lsmwebcast.com.
All the saints are invited and encouraged to join the blending of all the churches and the saints on the whole earth through this conference. Please pray that the burden of the Lord's present speaking will enter into and operate in the Body and that the churches and the saints everywhere will be blended together in the Lord's speaking.
FTTA
The Spring 2022 term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim will begin next week on February 20. In preparation, all returning trainees will be gathering this Wednesday, February 16 for orientation. Around 230 trainees in total are expected to attend this term.
Please pray for all of those serving the trainees, that they themselves would enjoy the Lord's serving of them as their abounding grace. Also, pray for a safe return for all the trainees and a healthy, strong beginning in the Lord together.
Southern California Young People Blending Conference
"That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." (Eph. 2:7)
This past weekend, February 11 to 13, we enjoyed a hybrid blending conference for the young people across Southern California. The conference was on "The Kindness of God" and focused primarily on the story of David and Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel 9:1-13.
Over 50 young people across LA attended the conference. We ask that all of the saints in the church in LA pray that our young people would continue to experience and be encouraged by the kindness of God.
Cameroon
There are currently four lampstands in the central African country of Cameroon, with 230 saints in the church life and 120 attending the table meetings. We continue to contact and shepherd people one-by-one and distribute Bibles and the ministry. The Lord has attracted some key contacts, such as a pastor in a free Christian group. We pray for the Lord to bring this seeking one and all his followers to take His way.
The saints have also taken advantage of the many opportunities to blend with saints in other countries through online conferences and trainings, including a precious and unprecedented opportunity for our sisters to participate in a conference with all the French-speaking countries in Europe. Meanwhile, the Lord has been equipping the brothers through the ongoing West and East African Training for Elders and Responsible Ones. Two serving ones from Cameroon have also been in a monthly perfecting pursuit for serving ones all over Africa.
To read more about the church life in Cameroon, see the December issue of the Lord's Move to Africa newsletter in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 6 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- Atlanta Meeting Hall: Offerings for the church in Atlanta's building project may be given through the church in LA with designation for 'Atlanta Meeting Hall'. More information is posted at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
- Bibles for America continues to offer easy-to-use resources for telling people about God's salvation. Visit http://gospel.bfa.org (English) or http://gospel.bfa.org/es (Español).
- Living Stream Ministry: The January digital newsletter includes a consideration of pray-reading the Word of God and an introduction to a new print series, Historical Evaluations of Christian Thought.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Week of January 30
Fellowship and Petition
"One thing I have asked from Jehovah; that do I seek: to dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of Jehovah, and to inquire in His temple." (Psa. 27:4)
"Thus says Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel and the One who formed him, ask Me about the things to come concerning My sons, and concerning the work of My hands, command Me." (Isa. 45:11)
The meaning of prayer is to absorb God. The more we contact God, the more we will absorb Him, and the more we absorb Him, the more we will enjoy Him as our light and our salvation. The meaning of prayer is also for us to express God. In Psalm 27:4 David says that he desired not only to behold the beauty of Jehovah but also "to inquire in His temple." To inquire is to let God speak within us so that the words spoken to Him in prayer are actually God's speaking within us, God's expressions.
During the first aspect of our prayer, we enter into fellowship with God, who then anoints us with His burden for the work and reveals His intention to us. The second aspect of our prayer is then to inquire of the Lord by petitioning Him concerning His will and His burden for the work. Then we carry out the purpose of prayer by coordinating with God to co-work with God. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 4, I, III, V)
Let us pray for all the saints to learn to coordinate and co-work with God through prayer!
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
A new term of the special training on the eldership for elders and responsible brothers in Southern California begins this Saturday, February 5 on Zoom. Through regular corporate gatherings, group times, and personal study, the burden is to strengthen the present eldership and responsible brothers in the churches, to perfect and raise up the next generation of leading brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way. Please pray:
- For the Lord to abundantly grace and strengthen all the participants—both new and returning ones—and become their perseverance and faithfulness to present themselves absolutely to this training.
- That an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California will be ushered in as all the brothers are attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion.
- That the Lord will bless this ongoing training so that all participants will be perfected further for the Lord's testimony in Southern California and for the building up of the church, the Body of Christ.
FTTA Middle-Age Training
The Spring 2022 semester of the FTTA-MA is scheduled to begin on March 21 in Anaheim. Registration is still open. The application deadline is March 1.
In the FTTA-MA, saints of different races, nationalities, and languages, come together to be perfected in an atmosphere of blending to usher in the reality of the Body of Christ for the one new man.
Please pray that the Lord will stir in the hearts of many saints in the Lord's recovery between the ages of 35 and 65 to rise up to redeem the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and seize the opportunity to be trained and perfected. For more details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
FTTL
The Spring 2022 semester of the Full-time Training in London will begin on February 7. Please pray that the Lord will have a way through the FTTL to raise up the university graduates in Europe to be living members of His Body and overcomers for His bride.
Atlanta – Meeting Hall
Please continue to pray for the timely progress of the church in Atlanta's meeting hall building project and for the financial need to be met. As the Lord leads, saints may give through the church in LA with designation for 'Atlanta Meeting Hall' or directly at http://meetinghall.churchinatlanta.org. More information is posted at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
India – Translation Work
The translation work of the NT Recovery Version into the major Indian languages began in 2013. After years of training and labor, the translation of the entire NT (including verses, footnotes, outlines, and cross references) into Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, and Mizo is now complete. Praise the Lord!
A final proofreading with 64 volunteers per language is taking place from January 3 to February 5. The final typesetting will be done at the end of this period, and the files will be sent for printing.
Please pray for:
- The health, accommodation, food, coordination, and blending of the all the saints during this period of serving together.
- The Lord to grant the translation teams the needed wisdom that the Recovery Version in these languages will provide the best utterance for the revelation in the divine Word, that it may be expressed in these languages with the greatest accuracy.
- The Lord to use this translation to spread His word among the Indians to save tens of millions of Indians to be among the great multitude standing before His throne and be part of the fulfillment His eternal purpose.
To read more, see the December issue of LSM's digital newsletter, "Having This Ministry...".
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- All-LA Prayer Meeting: A recording of the fellowship on young people and college students from the all-LA prayer meeting on January may be viewed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean.
- Living Stream Ministry: The January digital newsletter includes a consideration of pray-reading the Word of God and an introduction to a new print series, Historical Evaluations of Christian Thought.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made a series of free e-booklets available to read and share with others at http://www.lsm.org/booklets.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of January 16
God's Good Pleasure to Meet His Need in This Age
"For it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure." (Phil. 2:13)
"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)
God's good pleasure, His heart's desire, is to meet the demand of this age, which is God's need in this age. What He needs is the Body testimony, which is the reality of the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem. This is to fulfill the Lord's heart's desire according to His word concerning the building up of His Body.
We are being perfected in this present age to become functioning members of the Body of Christ. The church as the Body of Christ is brought forth when all the one-talented ones are functioning. Each member of the Body of Christ has at least one talent. Today the building up of the church hinges on the perfecting, building up, and raising up of the one-talented ones. God is recovering the most difficult thing today, which is the fulfillment of Ephesians 4:11-16. (Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery, msg. 2, I, A, C-D, D.3, E)
May the Lord gain the functioning of all the saints for the building up of His Body to meet His need today.
LA Young People & College Students
Following last week's prayer meeting, let us continue to stand with our young people and college students in prayer. Please pray for the following matters:
- That the Lord would be their peace and joy from all anxiety, cover their health and safety, and shine brightly from them to their friends and classmates.
- For the preparation of the SoCal YP Blending Conference from February 11 to 13, that it would be a help and encouragement to all.
- For the follow-up and fellowship with many new students on campus and the further connection of our college students with community saints in small groups and the church life.
- For the Lord's wisdom to all the parents and serving ones in balancing safe yet engaging activities for our students in light of the pandemic.
South Africa National Student Training
The upcoming South Africa National Student Training takes place January 24 to 30. The timing of this training is strategic, since it universities across the country start the academic year in February. Many students will attend in-person and we hope the Lord could have a way to reach more freshman this year.
The general subject of this training is "Rise Up and Build." Currently, 26 students have signed up. It is an encouraging number considering it will be the first full-time, in-person student training in two years. A number of students are still quite new among us and this will be their first time attending such a training. However, we do need the saints' prayer, as already a few registrants have cancelled in recent days. Please pray that the Lord would:
- Release everyone who signed up, as well as any still on the fence, to attend this training in the best condition to receive the divine dispensing!
- Prepare the hearts of the first-timers and that they would get more built up with the other students.
- Bless all of us with one accord, whether full-timers, community saints, or students. Lord, make us a net to catch men alive for You!
Zurich, Switzerland
For a long time there has been a burden for migrations to six important European cities to strengthen or raise up churches. Zurich is one of these. The urban area population is about 1.8 million. At least four couples will soon migrate to Zurich, two this month. Some of these are native Europeans; others have been in German-speaking church life for many years. Ask the Lord to supply all the practical needs for their moves, and to bless the development of the church life in Zurich.
This year the saints in Zurich started to read the New Testament with footnotes on a 2 year schedule. Pray that all the saints enter into the enjoyment of reading and that through this enjoyment they will rise up and function in the church life.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- All-LA Prayer Meeting: A recording of the fellowship on young people and college students from last week's prayer meeting may be viewed in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry has made a series of free e-booklets available to read and share with others at http://www.lsm.org/booklets.
- Lord's Move to Europe: Please visit http://amanatrust.org.uk/page/reports for video and written updates on Europe prepared for the recent December Semiannual Training.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of January 2
The Christian Way of Financial Management
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon." (Matt. 6:24)
"Give, and it will be given to you; a good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, they will give into your bosom. For with what measure you measure, it shall be measured to you in return." (Luke 6:38)
The reason we are in darkness and are not in the light is that there is the entanglement of money. If we can solve this problem, many other problems will be solved... The gospel has been "bottled up" like water kept in a bottle, and money is like the cork of the bottle. If money does not go away, water will not come. If you do not give away your money, you will not even be able to live a proper human life. A person has to open his eyelids before he can see. In the same way, if money does not go away, a person cannot see the Lord.
The Christian way of managing wealth is completely different from that of an unbeliever. The Christian way of financial management is the way of giving. The unbeliever's way is the way of accumulating... What we receive depends on what we give. In other words, the Christian way of financial stewardship is to receive according to what we give. Worldly people give according to what they have received, but we receive according to what we give. Our inflow depends on our outflow. (CWWN, vol. 49, ch. 28)
Being Revived Every Morning to Be Renewed Day by Day
"Therefore we do not lose heart; but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day." (2 Cor. 4:16)
In Matthew 13:43 the overcomers are likened to the sun shining forth in the kingdom of their Father. The sun rises afresh every morning. If we are to be the overcomers, the sun, we must also rise up every morning to be revived by the Lord.
The Christian life does not only have one day. We are being renewed day by day. This means that day after day we have to be revived by the Lord. Yesterday morning we may have had a revival, but this morning we need another one, and tomorrow we need another one. Every year we need three hundred sixty-five revivals to be renewed day by day. (CWWL, 1989, vol. 2, "Being Renewed Day by Day")
College Campuses in LA
This week we have 15 FTTA trainees related to LA joining us to serve for one week, mostly at UCLA. We also have a few new full-timers who have joined the team. Please pray that we would all be blended and built together for the Lord's move on our college campuses.
UCLA classes resume this week and USC next week. In the midst of so many changes in the environment, we need to pray that we could reconnect right away and face-to-face with our students. In these times of uncertainty, we need much prayer to reach even more new students! Pray also for the Lord's wisdom and covering of everyone's health as our students and full-timers return to campus.
Denver, Colorado
A large fire near Denver has destroyed more than 500 homes. Some saints in the church in Denver had to evacuate but none suffered loss of property nor harm; all have returned home. The church in Denver has some cases of COVID and requests our prayer for that. Also, they desire that all of this turn into an opportunity for the gospel, since many people were directly affected or shaken by the fire.
Philippines
In mid-December a typhoon swept through the Philippines and caused much destruction and damage to a number of church meeting halls and saints' homes. Those who wish to give for recovery from this disaster can do so through the church in LA or by following instructions at http://churchinanaheim.org/donations. Designate your offering for "Philippines Typhoon Relief."
Russia
The church in Rostov-on-Don was established in 1994. Today the church has approximately 90 saints. The city has a population over one million and 39 universities, the largest of which has about 56,000 students. The brothers in Rostov-on-Don found a suitable meeting facility for a little over 400,000 USD (with remodeling). The Russian-speaking churches have donated 200,000 USD. The final payment is due by May 1. You may give through the church in LA or LME (http://www.lordsmove.org/offerings.html). Designate your offering "Rostov Meeting Hall."
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move. Next week, we begin Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery.
- SoCal Spanish-speaking Conference: January 14 and 15 on Zoom. The three conference messages will be spoken in Spanish and translated into English. For schedule and details, see http://socalspanish.org.
- Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry: has made their rainbow booklets available as free e-booklets to read and to share with others. They are at http://www.lsm.org/lifes-principle where there is a menu with links to six more e-booklets.
- Living Stream Ministry: The December digital newsletter explains the significance of crystallization-studies, a report on the Recovery Version translation into seven languages in India, and helpful videos on getting the most out of the Recovery Version App.
- Lord's Move to Europe: Please visit http://amanatrust.org.uk/page/reports for video and written updates on Europe prepared for the recent December Semiannual Training.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of December 19
December 2021 Semiannual Training
The Semiannual Training for the churches in LA and Santa Clarita is taking place this week on the books of 1 and 2 Samuel. Pray for the saints to receive and respond to the Lord's burden in His up-to-date speaking, and to participate as much as possible in study times. Pray that through this training the Triune God will operate more in us to accomplish His will, fulfill His purpose, and satisfy the desire of His heart.
FTTA
Last weekend, 50 trainees graduated from the FTTA and 6 trainees graduated from FTTA-XB. Please continue to pray for all these ones to follow the Lamb wherever He may go. Pray also for many college graduates and young working saints to answer God's call to go to the FTTA next term. A video of the graduation meeting is available for a limited time at http://ftta.org.
Bibles for America
In light of this past year's many challenges, Bibles for America hosted a special webinar with a particular fellowship concerning the Lord's commission to the church to proclaim the gospel and teach the truth. The webinar also went over how to acquire BfA materials such as gospel tracts, NTs, and books to give away, as well as how the Lord has made a way for BfA to continue reaching people with God's Word in 2021. A recording may be viewed at http://biblesforamerica.org/videos/webinar-recording-dec2021 with password gospelandtruth. May God's Word continue to run throughout this country, and may He gain our cooperation to preach the gospel and teach the truth.
European Winter School of Truth
This year's European Winter School of Truth for young people is being organized regionally and run locally, with most of the dozen or so regions offering an in-person or online option from December 26 to 31. The subject is "God's Full Salvation." Please pray for the saints preparing for the WST, the willingness of all the YP and parents to participate, and for the Lord's specific shepherding of each one.
Europe
Please continue to pray for the raising up of the Lord's testimony in major European cities and particularly the migration of burdened saints to six designated cities—Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Rome, and Zurich. More details on these cities can be found at http://lordsmove.org/reports.html.
The Lord's Move to Africa
The December 2021 issue of the Lord's Move to Africa newsletter reports on the Arabic publication work in Egypt and the church life in Cameroon. Read more in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Training verses or repeat Week 12 of CS of Joshua, Judges, Ruth.
Monday, December 27: Week 1 of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move.
Monday, January 3: Week 2 of Material Offerings and the Lord's Move.
Monday, January 10: Begin Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery. - No Prayer Meeting: To make way for the semiannual video training, there will not be a church prayer meeting on Tuesday, December 21. It will resume on December 28.
- Living Stream Ministry: The December digital newsletter explains the significance of crystallization-studies, a report on the Recovery Version translation into seven languages in India, and a helpful videos on getting the most out of the Recovery Version App.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of December 5
Joined to Christ for the Body of Christ
"But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that in which we were held, so that we serve in newness of spirit and not in oldness of letter." (Rom. 7:6)
"But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit." (1 Cor. 6:17)
At the beginning and at the end of the portion of Israel's history from Joshua to Ruth are two prominent persons typifying Christ. These persons are Joshua and Boaz, who signify two aspects of one person. At the beginning Joshua typifies Christ in bringing God's chosen people into God's ordained blessings. As typified by Joshua, Christ has brought us into the good land, has taken possession of the land for us, and has allotted the land to us as our inheritance for our enjoyment. Christ has gained the good land for us, and eventually, He is the good land for us to enjoy. At the end Boaz typifies Christ as our Husband for our satisfaction.
As the regenerated new man and the wife to Christ, everything we are and do is now related to God, and God is brought forth by us as the fruit, the overflow, of our life. This is in contrast to the fruit born to death (Rom. 7:5), which was previously brought forth by us as the old man, the old husband. We are now joined to the resurrected Christ as the life-giving Spirit in our spirit. This is the joining of "the Spirit...with our spirit" (Rom. 8:16) as "one spirit" (1 Cor. 6:17). We should have our whole being turned to and set on this joined spirit. We should also live and walk according to this joined spirit. When we thus live in this joined spirit, we can live out the Body of Christ to become the corporate expression of Christ for the glory of the Triune God. (Crystallization-Study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, msg. 11, I-I.B, IV.H-I.3)
Church in Los Angeles
As we continue our transition toward in-person gatherings in our respective meeting places, let us look to the Lord for doing so safely without fear or anxiety. Let us continue to pray for one another and for more saints to be shepherded back to the enjoyment of in-person meetings and "face-to-face" fellowship (2 John 12). May the Lord gain our true worship and receive all the glory!
December 2021 Semiannual Training
The December 2021 semiannual training will be held online by Living Stream Ministry. The training will cover the books of 1 & 2 Samuel. Please pray for the full release of the Lord's burden in each message and for the saints to have a prepared heart and an ear to receive the Lord's speaking.
SoCal Chinese-speaking Gospel Meeting
This Saturday, December 11, there will be a Chinese-speaking gospel meeting for all the churches in Southern California. Please pray:
- For the Lord to bind the strong man and release many gospel friends to attend.
- For the Lord to soften the hearts of the gospel friends to receive salvation and be baptized.
- For the meetings to go smoothly without any technical frustrations.
Gospel to All the Nations
Please pray for the upcoming virtual conference on Saturday, December 11 at 1:00 pm PST. The fellowship will continue from Gospel of John on the topic of "The Food Abiding to Eternal Life." We anticipate the Lord's sweet, enjoyable presence with His rich blessing from His word to unveil us to Him.
All the people of every nation are invited to join! Those of African origin are particularly encouraged to join and to invite friends, relatives, and colleagues. Come and see how the life of Christ meets the need of every person and enjoy the pure ministry of the Word as the gospel of the kingdom.
More information at http://gospeltoallthenations.com. The link for sharing is http://tinyurl.com/dec11gospel.
India
There are currently 193 churches in India, with 4,929 saints attending the Lord's table meeting regularly and 8,248 saints in the church life. As the pandemic relaxes, the saints have been meeting both online and offline to recover and strengthen the church life gradually. Through the bigger gatherings online, the Lord's present speaking has been brought among the saints more commonly. As the situation allows, the saints also meet physically to contact people, visit one another, and recover the small group gatherings. By encouraging the saints to exercise their spirit and have mutual concern for one another, we hope to recover many believers and new ones whom we could not care for during the lockdown.
Please continue to pray for the pandemic situation in India, that hearts may be open toward the gospel for the Lord's interest on the earth. Pray for stronger exercise of the saints' spirits that they would cooperate with the Lord to care for one another in the church life and to preach the gospel to have people under their care.
To read the complete report on India, as well as a testimony of migration to Laos, see the December issue of The Lord's Move to Asia newsletter:
http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/E-2021-12.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Asia-2021-12.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 2.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Bibles for America Webinar: December 19 from 3:00 to 3:45 pm on "Preaching the Gospel and Teaching the Truth with BfA Materials." Registration needed to receive Zoom information.
- Living Stream Ministry: The November digital newsletter contains enlightening reports on the publication work in Africa, the impact of the pandemic on LSM feasts, and the purpose and usefulness of The Holy Word for Morning Revival series.
- Children's Work Conference: Recordings of the November 13 sessions are available for all parents and serving ones at http://scyp.com/children. Translations into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish are available.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of November 21
Taking Christ as Our Husband and the Church as Our Home
"And Naomi, her mother-in-law, said to her, My daughter, I must seek some resting place for you, that it may go well with you." (Ruth 3:1)
"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)
Ruth chapter 3 shows Ruth's seeking for her rest. We need to enjoy Christ to such an extent that we have rest. In order to have rest, we surely need a home. No place can give us as much rest as our home. In chapter 3 Naomi proposed and even pushed to gain a home for Ruth.
The steps taken by Ruth correspond to our spiritual experience… By believing in the Lord Jesus, we were organically joined to Him. Now He is in us and we are in Him. With this intimate, organic union, we must begin to pursue Christ in order to gain, possess, experience, and enjoy Him. This is typified by Ruth's exercising of her right to gain and possess the produce of the good land. Just as Ruth had the right to enjoy the produce of the good land after coming into the land, so we have the right to enjoy Christ as our good land after believing in Him.
However, after our gleaning we still need a home so that we can have a settled rest. This kind of rest can come only through marriage… Naomi wanted to find a way to establish a home for Ruth. If Ruth was to have a home for her rest, she needed a husband. Naomi realized that the proper person to be Ruth's husband was Boaz, who typifies Christ. (Life-study of Ruth, pp. 17-18)
Thanksgiving Conference
Blending the churches is one of the functions of the New Testament ministry, and this service of the ministry still continues today. In the past we may have thought that it was our coming together physically that accomplished the blending among us in the local churches. But this pandemic has shown us that the blending is not at all in the physical and natural realm nor is it based on solely our activity. It is God who blends the churches in the Body together, and He does this in the divine and mystical realm through the saints' participation and enjoyment of the ministry.
We should all be in the same things, with one accord, and even with one mouth (Rom. 15:6), and this is really happening among us more and more these days. As He did in the days of Paul, so He is doing in our days today. In the physical and natural realm of this world there is a global pandemic, but in the divine and mystical realm within the churches there is blending. And, to be sure, the Lord is using this pandemic to intensify His blending work among us through this ministry. (Issue No. 7, "Having This Ministry...")
Living Stream Ministry will once again present the upcoming 2021 International Thanksgiving Conference as an online global conference. The general subject is "Living in and with the Divine Trinity." For the church in Los Angeles, we will gather together by languages on Zoom from our homes and/or in meeting halls:
Meeting 1: Friday, Nov 26…………... 10:00 AM
Meeting 2: Friday, Nov 26…………..... 7:30 PM
Meeting 3: Saturday, Nov 27………. 10:00 AM
Meeting 4: Saturday, Nov 27………... 7:30 PM
Meeting 5: Lord's Day, Nov 28……. 10:00 AM
Meeting 6: Lord's Day, Nov 28……... 4:00 PM
Let us prepare ourselves for this upcoming time of ministry and sanctify these days for the hearing of faith among us. Pray that we would be open vessels to receive the Lord's speaking and be brought into the vision and practical realization of living in and with the Divine Trinity for His purpose.
Semiannual Video Training Registration
The church in Los Angeles will participate in the 2021 December Semiannual Training by video training. This training will be a Crystallization-study of 1 & 2 Samuel. The schedule will be December 20 to 25 for English, Chinese, and Korean, and December 20 to 29 for Spanish. Registration deadline is next Tuesday, November 30; cost is $125; details are at http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia is Africa's second-most populous nation with over 118 million people, seventy percent of whom are young people. With 90 different ethnic groups and 80 languages, the country has been embroiled in a civil war that began a year ago in the Tigray Region. It risks descending into an all-out war as rebels advance on the capital, threatening the country's future, as well as the stability of Eastern Africa.
Please continue to pray against all the evil forces to bind Satan and his strategies, along with the release of the Lord's blessing on His move and the release of God's truth in Ethiopia and Eastern Africa. May the Lord keep the country open for the Lord's move and the situation may remain open for the propagation of the ministry and raising up of churches.
Ghana
There are currently around 1,500 saints meeting in 28 localities in Ghana. The Africa Ministry Depot and Ghana Gospel Bookroom have been channels in bringing the saints in Ghana and the West African sub-region into the up-to-date ministry through trainings and the sale and distribution of books. In early 2020 there was a free mass book distribution of over 130,000 ministry books to schools and the general public. Some of the contacts from this time are being shepherded into the church life.
Please pray for the seeking ones to enter into the ministry and see the Lord's recovery. Pray that through trainings the saints will be perfected and God will gain the barley loaf rolling through the enemy's camp that will bring glory to God and shame to the enemy!
To read more about some recent migrations and new localities in Ghana, download the November 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 10 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 2. Next week, after the Thanksgiving Conference, we will REPEAT Week 10.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Because of the Thanksgiving Conference, there will be NO MEETING this Wednesday, November 24. The next broadcast will be on December 1. Saints may be interested in watching a free video of Brother Lee speaking on "Moving with God and United with Christ" at http://www.lsm.org/timely-speaking.html.
- December Semiannual Training Registration: LA's video training begins December 20. More information at http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla. Registration is due by Tuesday, November 30.
- Children's Work Conference: Recordings of the November 13 sessions are available for all parents and serving ones at http://scyp.com/children. Translations into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish are available.
- Living Stream Ministry: The November digital newsletter contains enlightening reports on the publication work in Africa, the impact of the pandemic on LSM feasts, and the purpose and usefulness of The Holy Word for Morning Revival series.
- Bibles for America's latest blog post is entitled "A Simple Way to Pray." Enjoy and share it at http://blog.biblesforamerica.org/how-to-pray-talking-to-god.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of November 7
Laboring in Oneness according to God's Operation
"Then Gideon came to the Jordan and crossed over, he and the three hundred men with him, weary yet pursuing." (Judg. 8:4)
"For which also I labor, struggling according to His operation which operates in me in power." (Col. 1:29)
Gideon and his men moved and acted together in one accord as one man, signifying the oneness of the Spirit and the living in the Body. They were blended together in resurrection, signified by the barley, the first-ripe grain, to be one bread, signifying the church. Gideon and his three hundred men fought the battle and labored, yet the whole congregation chased the enemy and reaped the harvest, signifying that when we overcome, the whole Body is revived until Jehovah as peace, Jehovah-shalom, reigns on earth.
As Gideon and his men were pursuing the kings of Midian, they were "weary yet pursuing." Because we have received God's mercy to minister and live in the reality of God's eternal economy, we do not lose heart. We may labor to the point of exhaustion, but our labor is according to God's operation, which operates in us in power. (Crystallization-Study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, msg. 8, II.D.1, E-F)
Our Meeting Together to Thank God and Take Courage
"...We came to Puteoli, where, having found brothers, we were urged to remain with them seven days. And thus we came to Rome. And from there the brothers, having heard about the things concerning us, came as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage." (Acts 28:13-15)
These verses show the beautiful Body life in the early days among the churches and the apostles. This life was a part of the heavenly kingdom life on the Satan-darkened and man-inhabited earth. While he was suffering the persecution of religion in the empire of Satan, Paul was enjoying the church life in the kingdom of God, which was a comfort and an encouragement to him.
When Paul saw the brothers, he thanked God and took courage. This indicates that the apostle was quite human. Although he was encouraged by the Lord directly (23:11) and he was very courageous all the way in his voyage (27:22-25, 33-36), he still took courage at the brothers' warm welcome. (Life-Study of Acts, ch. 71)
Every gathering with the saints is a source of thanksgiving and mutual encouragement. As we continue our current transition toward in-person meetings of the church in Los Angeles, let us look to the Lord for doing so safely without fear or anxiety. Pray for one another and for more saints to be shepherded back to the enjoyment of in-person meetings and "face-to-face" fellowship (2 John 12).
College Conference Follow-up
Thank you, dear saints, for all of your prayers for this past weekend's college conference! About 190 people attended the in-person conference at Oak Glen, including 42 students from LA. At least 15 more students in LA watched remotely. Of these 57 students, 24 did not grow up in the church life.
Overall, we can definitely say the Lord answered many of our prayers! Although a large percentage of the students at Oak Glen were attending an in-person college conference for the first time, their spirits were gradually fanned into flame and the atmosphere was full of warmth and openness to the Lord's word. By Lord's Day morning, a large number of students were aggressively coming forward to share at the microphone how the Lord touched them from the weekend, including some who are brand new.
The Lord richly anointed the word from the Book of Ruth in all of the meetings and fellowship. Now we need to continue to pray that the students would:
- Exercise their right to enjoy the Lord this week and to freshly love Him by spending private time with Him and in His word;
- Become Naomis and Boazes to help others know the Lord and enjoy their inheritance in the Lord; and
- Choose to take the way of life in their Christian life and church life.
LA Gospel Meeting in Chinese
"I have come that they may have life and may have it abundantly." (John 10:10b)
The Chinese-speaking saints will be holding a gospel meeting this Saturday, November 13. It will be conducted in a hybrid form, with an in-person love feast starting at 6:00 pm at Hall 3 and the online meeting at 7:00 pm. We may also be joined by some nearby churches, including Cerritos, Thousand Oaks, and Santa Barbara. All are welcome! The Zoom meeting ID is 923 0505 4050.
Please pray for all the preparation, invitation, and participation. Pray for the Spirit's speaking and for more souls to be saved!
SCYP Children's Work Conference
The Children's Work Conference this Saturday, November 13 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm is for parents with children under 12 years of age and for the saints who are serving with the children's service. During the three sessions, matters related to the burden and vision for the children will be covered along with fellowship related to some practices for the families in the home and for the church in raising up the next generation for the church life. Translation into Chinese, Spanish and Korean will be provided. Please fellowship with the children's serving ones in your hall if you have any questions.
Semiannual Video Training Registration
The church in Los Angeles will participate in the 2021 December Semiannual Training by video training. It will be a Crystallization-study of 1 & 2 Samuel. The schedule will be December 20 to 25 for English, Chinese, and Korean, and December 20 to 29 for Spanish. The cost is $125. Registration must be completed no later than Tuesday, November 30. Details are at http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
Ethiopia
The war that began a year ago in the northern part of Ethiopia is now spreading southward, closer to Addis Ababa and the country's main trade corridor.
The truth of the Lord's recovery is spreading all over the country and saints are enjoying the ministry in an unprecedented way. There is a great potential for spreading the truth and raising up many churches not only in Oromia, the regional state where Addis Ababa is located, and other southern regions, but also in nearby countries. For instance, the Ethiopian government has been granting scholarships to students from other East African nations, and we now have contact with students from South Sudan and Somalia.
Please pray that our Lord would keep Ethiopia open for the Lord's move and that the situation in the country would may remain favorable for the propagation of the ministry and the raising up of churches.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 8 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 2.
- Thanksgiving Conference for the saints in LA will be held as a webcast from November 26 to 28.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, The Gospel of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/gospel-god.
- Bibles for America's latest blog post is entitled "8 Verses that Show Jesus Christ Lives in You." Read and share it at http://blog.biblesforamerica.org/8-verses-showing-jesus-lives.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform and where to mail checks are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of October 24
The Intrinsic Significance of the Book of Judges
"...After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel inquired of Jehovah, saying, Who will go up for us first against the Canaanites, in order to fight against them? And Jehovah said, Judah shall go up. I have now given the land into his hand." (Judg. 1:1-2)
After the death of Joshua, the children of Israel inquired of Jehovah concerning who would go up for them first against the Canaanites in order to fight against them. Jehovah gave His answer and promise, saying, "Judah shall go up. I have now given the land into his hand." This marvelous picture of oneness with the Lord, of the organic union of God with His people, is a continuation of the oneness in the book of Joshua when the people of Israel first entered into the good land.
If we read the Old Testament according to the full scope of the Scriptures, we will realize that at Mount Sinai God married Israel. In His concept and desire, He wanted to be to Israel as a husband to a wife, and He expected Israel to act as a wife toward Him. [However,] for some reason, she did not have a heart to be the wife of Jehovah. As a wife, she forgot her Husband, left her Husband, and acted according to her own desires. After the story of Judah and Caleb in 1:1-20, Israel's history as recorded in Judges was full of the rottenness and corruption of a harlot. This is the intrinsic significance of the book of Judges. (Life-study of Judges, pp. 1-5)
As the church, may we declare: Lord, we love You! Lord, we need You! You are our Husband and we are Your wife. Lord, keep us in the organic union with You!
Being Revived Persons for the Gospel
To visit people for the preaching of the gospel, we must be revived persons. We must be stirred up in our spirit. We must be praying persons who pray ourselves into our spirit. Then when we are in the light, we can make a thorough confession of all our sinfulness, defects, and failures. For the entire day we have to walk in the spirit, and we have to live Christ. We also must learn to speak Christ all day long to anybody. Then this will qualify us to be the right persons to go out not merely with a doctrinal gospel but with the living person of Christ. (Elders' Training, Book 9: The Eldership and the God-ordained Way (1), ch. 3)
Please pray for all the saints to be personally revived every morning by calling on the Lord, turning to His Word to enjoy Him, confessing their sins, consecrating themselves, and speaking Christ to others.
High School Conference Follow-up
Thank you all for your prayers for the recent Fall 2021 California-wide High School Conference. A total of 43 young people from LA attended, along with 16 serving ones. Young people from across LA participated in virtual meetings, group times, and corporate overflow.
Please continue to pray that the word released on "Patterns in the Books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth" would take root in our young people, and that the relationships built during the conference would continue to be fostered for the going on of the next generation.
International Blending Conference Baarlo
This year, the annual blending conference that is normally held in Baarlo, Netherlands will be held online from October 29 to 31. We hope this will allow many saints from all over Europe to be able to gather together. The general subject is "Living in the Reality of the Kingdom of God." Please pray for the churches and saints in Europe and for the blending into the reality of the one Body through the Lord's up-to-date speaking. May the Lord bless this time richly!
Germany
This month, along with the support of visitors from other cities in Germany, the saints in Tübingen have been distributing Bibles. They have handed out 18 Bibles in the city and 125 Bibles on the university campus. A local believer was deeply touched by the saints' being out there and standing for the truth. Several students, including a theology student interested in the writings of Watchman Nee, made appointments for further fellowship or to visit one of the group meetings.
Please pray for these recipients to follow through on these appointments, and for those who noted our contact information to reach out to us. Pray for remaining fruit and for the continued harmonious coordination among the saints in and around Tübingen in their labor as one corporate priesthood.
Kenya
There are currently around 200 saints in Kenya meeting in 4 localities. To perfect the new ones, we started a three-month pursuit and perfecting program at the beginning of August with 10 local saints. By enjoying the rich supply of the ministry, living a corporate life, and going out to contact people, they were deeply touched by the Lord. They were then divided into two groups: one to Bahati for the increase and the other to Subukia for the establishment of the lampstand.
Please pray for the Lord to continue to perfect the saints in the pursuit program for His move in Kenya; to gain more increase in Bahati, especially among the children and families; and to strengthen the newly established church in Subukia.
To read more and see photos, download the October 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 6 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 1.
- Bibles for America's latest blog post is called "What Does It Mean to Pure in Heart?" based on Matthew 5:8. Read and share it at http://blog.biblesforamerica.org/what-does-it-mean-to-be-pure-in-heart.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Semiannual Training: In preparation for the upcoming semiannual training (December 20 to 25), saints may want to read the text and the footnotes of 1 & 2 Samuel. The current issue of LSM's newsletter at also highlights a number of helpful resources at http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of October 10
Seeking the Lord's Direction and Having His Presence
"And He said, My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exo. 33:14)
"The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you." (2 Tim. 4:22)
As God-men, we should practice being one with the Lord, walking with Him, living with Him, and having our entire being with Him. This is the way to walk as a Christian, to fight as a child of God, and to build up the Body of Christ. If we have the Lord's presence, we have wisdom, insight, foresight, and the inner knowledge concerning things. The Lord's presence is everything to us.
In order for us to fully gain and possess Christ as the all-inclusive land for God's building, we must hold on to this principle: God's presence is the criterion for every matter. Regardless of what we do, we must pay attention to whether or not we have God's presence. If we have God's presence, we have everything, but if we lose God's presence, we lose everything.
The presence of the Lord, the smile of the Lord, is the governing principle. We must learn to be kept, to be ruled, to be governed, and to be guided, not by His secondhand presence but by the direct, firsthand presence of the Lord. His precious presence is the power for us to possess the all-inclusive Christ as the reality of the good land flowing with milk and honey. (CS Joshua, Judges, Ruth, msg. 4, II.A.3-4, B.1-2)
ITERO
"Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth." (Matt. 6:10)
Last weekend's International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones was on "Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery." In order for His will to be done on earth and for His eternal purpose to be fulfilled, God needs our cooperation in the present age. He needs man to subdue the earth and recover it for Him. Furthermore, for His greatest dispensational move to end this age, God needs the man-child, the overcomers in the church, to defeat His enemy and to bring in His kingdom so that His eternal purpose might be accomplished.
Pray for the digestion and application of these messages, that the Lord would gain our prayer and practice to cooperate with God to carry out on earth what He has planned in heaven.
Church in Los Angeles Joint Meeting
The whole church in Los Angeles—all halls, districts, and languages—will meet together on Lord's Day, October 17. Saints are encouraged to attend their regular in-person or online gathering by hall at 10:00 am, then combine together on Zoom from 10:45 am to 12:00 pm at http://tinyurl.com/churchinlosangeles. There will be translation to Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.
Please pray for a healthy attendance and blending, and for the timely speaking of the Lord as our Captain and Leader to bring all the saints in the church in Los Angeles more into a revived living.
California-wide Junior High Conference
This weekend, October 15 to 17, will be the Fall 2021 Junior High Conference. The subject of this California-wide conference is "The Church." Pray for all our junior high brothers and sisters to be enlightened to see the church as the pearl of great value and to choose one thing—to dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of their life!
FTTA Online
The Online Full-Time Training (FTTA-OL) conducts the FTTA curriculum completely online. Online learning requires active interaction with the materials, deliberate written responses, and participation from every learner. More information is at http://www.onlineftta.org.
Each calendar year is divided into 5 terms. This year's Term E runs from October 20 to December 14 (8 weeks). The deadline to register is Wednesday, October 13. Please 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 and cultivate a habit of studying the truth through a lifelong pursuit.
GTCA Cities – St. Louis, MO
The next GTCA mini-conference is this weekend, October 16 to 17, with the church in St. Louis, Missouri. This conference will cover aspects of the Lord's present move in the United States. The Saturday session is from 5:30 to 7:00 pm PDT; the Lord's Day session is from 8:00 to 10:00 am PDT. Recordings of previous mini-conferences and video updates may also be viewed at http://gtca.us/updates.
Please continue to pray for the saints' migration to strategic cities in the United States for the spread of the Lord's testimony. May many receive the grace of God in order to have great resolutions of heart and great searchings of heart for their participation in the Lord's move through migration.
Germany
The saints in Tübingen plan to distribute Bibles in the city from October 16 to 30. They will also distribute on the university campus during its first week of classes, since students are able to attend in-person classes for the first time since Spring 2020. Please pray that we would bear remaining fruit from this freshman class and for a harmonious coordination among all the saints in and around Tübingen to labor together as one corporate priesthood.
Pakistan
Pray for the gospel and shepherding to be strengthened in Karachi, that the saints can enjoy and flow Christ for the increase and propagation of the church and for God's move to go forward.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 1. Next week, after our Joint Meeting, we will proceed to Week 5.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, The Bible—a Romance of a Universal Couple. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/bible-romance.
- Bibles for America's latest blog post is called "What Does It Mean to Be Poor in Spirit?" based on Matthew 5:3. Read and share it at http://blog.biblesforamerica.org/blessed-are-the-poor-in-spirit.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- North America Korean-speaking Conference: On Zoom, October 23 (5:00 to 6:30 pm) and October 24 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm). Subject: "Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery."
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.