Prayer, Week of March 15
All prayer meetings this week in Los Angeles will be by internet or telephone. Each district will announce their plan.
The Building and the Battle
"Those who built the wall and those who carried burdens took the loads with one hand doing the work and with the other holding a weapon." (Neh. 4:17)
Whenever we enjoy Christ to a certain extent, there is always an issue—the building and the battle. These two always go together. If you would have the building of God, you must prepare to fight. For the building of God we need the materials, and for the fighting of the battle we need the weapons. All of these depend on the stones, the mountains, the iron, and the copper.
These minerals signify that there is something in the life of Christ as materials for the building of God and as weapons for the fighting of the battle. (WL, The All-inclusive Christ, chap. 7, sec. 2)
For the building and the battle, may we progress in our experience of this Christ as "a land whose stones are iron and from whose mountains [we] can mine copper!" (Deut. 8:9).
Prayer for the Current Situation
"The earth is Jehovah's, and its fullness, the habitable land and those who dwell in it." (Psa. 24:1)
"In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses every man's understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)
* "Let us consider one another so as to incite one another to love and good works, not abandoning our own assembling together." (Heb. 10:24-25a)
As God's people, let us pray for the advance of the divine history within the current human history. We need to be sober-minded and vigilant, but we do not need to panic. We believe "the heavens do rule" (Dan. 4:26) so that the environment might be fit for God's chosen people to receive His salvation. In these days of local and global uncertainty, let us pray for:
- the Lord's protection of all His people in their health, economics, and other ways;
- the Lord to be wisdom to leading brothers and co-workers everywhere in guiding the church life;
- the Lord's ruling as King of kings over all the governments and their current decisions;
- an increase in mutual contact and mutual care among the saints;
- all the saints to freshly and joyfully pursue the Lord in our new meeting environment;
- *the speaking of the ministry to continue and to reach everyone;
- the gospel to reach many people who are open due to the current situation.
Los Angeles Young People
All the upcoming young people's conferences at Oak Glen have been cancelled for the safety of the young people, serving ones, Oak Glen staff, and ultimately all the saints in the churches in Southern California. The coordinating saints are looking to the Lord to provide an alternate arrangement to convey the word and the burden to the young people. We pray that this provision can be as impactful upon them as it would have been at Oak Glen. Further details will be sent in the coming days.
* In LA, we began an online YP meeting Monday and Wednesday each week to check in with our JH and HS students, as well as to share helpful and encouraging topics. More than 30 YP joined the first meeting with positive responses. Please pray for increased care and contact with our YP during the coming weeks. Pray that the hearts of our dear young people would be comforted and encouraged in these days.
FTTA
In light of the rapidly developing situation and in consultation with the medical personnel, the senior co-workers, and the brothers overseeing LSM, we felt it was necessary to continue the FTTA remotely, beginning Monday, March 23, and to ask all the trainees to return to their homes as soon as possible. There is a growing sense of priority, not panic, that we cannot disregard our civic responsibility to society to take measures, though drastic as they may seem, to limit the spread of the coronavirus. It is most definitely wiser to err on the side of caution for the protection of our trainees and the recovery's name.
* FTT Middle-age
We had fellowship with some senior co-workers regarding what we should do. After much fellowship and deliberation, we decided to suspend this term of the FTT-MA and ask all the trainees to return home this week. All the training classes are therefore cancelled for this term until further notice.
GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America
"I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth." (1 Tim. 2:1-4)
In order for the Lord's prevailing move in this country to be realized, we need to pray intercessory prayers for all men, and especially for the leaders of this country. Our prayers are not political in nature; rather, we pray for the Lord's will in these verses to be fulfilled so that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in godliness and gravity. Such prayer is with a view to preserving a proper environment that is suitable for "all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth."
New GTCA Website
The website http://GTCA.us has been refreshed. At this site we can subscribe to receive ongoing burdens and news. The site also has information about the ten target cities for migration this year, including a conference and city tour in each city in May. We hope this new site will help facilitate the saints' participation in GTCA, whether by praying, giving, or migrating. May the Lord use this new site to further His move in North America!
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Crystallization-study of Deuteronomy, week 4.
- http://LSMchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns and messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
- Memorial Day Conference: May 22 to 25 in Atlanta, GA. Conference and hotel information is posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA should RSVP by April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla.
* additions or updates from the first prayer email for this week.
Prayer, Week of March 8
Enjoying Christ as Our Allotted Portion
"Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light." (Col. 1:12)
"It is a land which Jehovah your God cares for; always the eyes of Jehovah your God are upon it, from the beginning of the year even to the end of the year." (Deut. 11:12)
The New Testament believers' inheritance, their allotted portion, is not a physical land; it is the all-inclusive Christ. He is the allotted portion of the saints as their divine inheritance for their enjoyment. Because we are practically joined to Christ as the reality of the good land and are enjoying His riches, God's eyes are upon us continually, causing us to enjoy God's presence and making us the object of His care. (Col. 1:12, footnote 2; Deut. 11:12, footnote 1)
Christ is so good. Christ is so sweet. How rich Christ is to us! We must have such an adequate and full experience of Him...as so many kinds of food. We must enjoy Christ to such an extent that the life within us may be matured. Then there will be a building for the Lord and the warfare with the enemy. (CWWL, 1961-1962, vol. 4, "The All-inclusive Christ," pp. 247-248)
GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America
"Upon your walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night they will never keep silent. You who remind Jehovah, do not be dumb; and do not give Him quiet until He establishes and until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." (Isa. 62:6-7)
Persevering prayer in the church prayer meetings, sisters' prayer times, and vital groups should be the base for all the labor in His present move. May we receive the spirit of Isaiah 62 to "never keep silent." Let us take our stand as the Lord's "watchmen" who day and night do not keep silent but remind Him concerning His will to establish His testimony on the earth. In particular, may we remind Him of His desire to spread His recovery throughout middle America and the Bible Belt region.
For reports and information, please visit http://GTCA.us.
SoCal High School Sisters Conference
From March 13 to 15, sisters from across Southern California with gather at Oak Glen for the Spring 2020 High School Sisters Conference. The general topic is "Being Watchful in Life and Faithful in Service." Please pray:
- for the Lord to prepare the hearts of all of the high school sisters in Southern California;
- that they would learn to spend time each day with the Lord to be filled with oil;
- that they would be watchful to love the Lord, enjoy Him, and deal with their sins; and
- that they would use the spiritual gifts the Lord has given them to be faithful in service and care for others.
FTTA-MA
The spring term of the Middle-age Training in Anaheim begins this week on March 9. 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 and to fully respond to God's operation in them!
Germany
From March 15 to 18 there will be a retreat at Gut Elim for up to 60 full-timers from Germany and Switzerland. The burden of this time is for these saints to get refreshed both physically and spiritually, as well as have much prayer.
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 2012; a meeting hall was purchased in Glasgow in 2014; renovations were completed early last year. From March 14 to 15 there will be a mini-conference in Glasgow with saints from the UK and Ireland. Up to 110 adults and 30 children are expected. The subject will be "Living the Christian Life Under the Government of God to Experience Christ and Grow in Life for God's Building."
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 that the Lord would gain the local Scots, increase the churches in Edinburgh and Glasgow up to 80-100 saints, and spread His testimony to more cities in Scotland.
For a short video report of the Lord's recent move in Scotland, go to https://youtu.be/66hmq5Ie4hA.
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan is a predominantly Muslim country at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At present there are a dozen saints meeting regularly in the capital city, Baku, serving and coordinating in one accord, and taking every opportunity to establish gospel contacts. Despite many outward restrictions, the saints are looking to the Lord for His blessing and to establish His testimony in Azerbaijan.
Please pray for the saints' practice of the God-man living and the church life and for the gospel work, including contact with other Christian believers. Pray for the Lord to open up the proper channels for the distribution of the ministry. Lastly, please pray for the establishing of the church in Baku.
For the complete report, as well as an update on the Lord's move in Bangladesh, download the February 2020 issue of the Lord's Move to Asia newsletter at:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/E-2020-02.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Asia-2020-02.pdf (Chinese)
Prayer for the Current Situation
As God's people, let us continue to pray for the advance of the divine history within the human history. There are decisions to be made about continuing, modifying, or cancelling various meetings and trips. In some places churches cannot meet face-to-face but meetings continue via Internet. Colossians 1:9 says, "Therefore we also, since the day we heard of it, do not cease praying and asking on your behalf that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." Let us ask the Lord to fill the elders and co-workers around the earth with wisdom and understanding that the Lord's recovery may advance despite the current environment and its restrictions.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Crystallization-study of Deuteronomy, week 3.
- Junior High Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, April 10 to 12 (registration due March 22); for brothers, April 17 to 19 (registration due March 29).
- Memorial Day Conference: May 22 to 25 in Atlanta, GA. Conference and hotel information is posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA should RSVP by April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla.
- http://LSMchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns and messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
Prayer, Week of February 23
A Renewed Training in Enjoying and Keeping Christ
"All Scripture is God-breathed..." (2 Tim. 3:16a)
"...It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out through the mouth of God.'" (Matt. 4:4; cf. Deut. 8:3)
"But the word is very near to you, even in your mouth and in your heart…" (Deut. 30:14)
All the words in Deuteronomy are God's breathing, and God's breathing is altogether embodied in Christ. As we read Deuteronomy, we need to inhale all that God has exhaled, all that He has breathed out. By inhaling the divine breath in Deuteronomy, we will enjoy Christ, the embodiment of the divine breath. The more we receive the breath of the speaking God, the more we will enjoy Christ.
Whereas the children of Israel were charged to keep the commandments, statutes, and ordinances, we today need to keep Christ. By taking Christ, keeping Christ, and holding fast to Him, we will gain Him, enjoy Him, and live Him. We need to love Christ, keep Christ, teach Christ, wear Christ, and write Christ.
God was leading His people into the good land, a type of Christ, by Christ, and He was sustaining the on their way to the good land also by Christ, who is everything that proceeds out through the mouth of God. Every word in Deuteronomy is the very Christ, who is now the word of God for us to receive as our life and life supply. (Crystallization-study of Deuteronomy, msg. 1, III.B.2-4)
Much Fruit in LA to Glorify the Father
In John 15:7 the Lord said, "If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall come to pass to you." When we abide in the Lord and let His words abide in us, we are actually one with Him, and He is working within us. Then, whatever we ask, it is not only we who are praying but also He who is praying in our praying. This kind of prayer is related to fruit-bearing (v. 8) and surely it will be fulfilled.
Verse 8 says, "In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit....We need to pray for much fruit-bearing that the Father may be glorified, that is, expressed, in the Son. In fruit-bearing the Father's divine life is expressed and so He is glorified. (Life-study of John, msg. 34, sec. 3)
Lord, keep us abiding in You and praying for much fruit in Los Angeles.
GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America
The basis for the Lord to accomplish His present move in this country is through the persevering prayers of the saints in one accord (Acts 1:14). Three directions of prayer are much needed: first, to persistently remind the Lord of His will as the watchmen in Isaiah 62:6-7; second, to intercede for the people and leaders in this country; and third, to beseech the Lord to thrust out laborers into the ripened harvest of middle America—specifically, for at least 300 saints (including 30 full-timers) to migrate to the 10 target cities in the United States. For more reports and information, please visit http://GTCA.us.
Zagreb, Croatia
Croatia is a country in Southeast Europe with over 4 million inhabitants. In November 2019, the Balkan Regional Conference was held in the capital, Zagreb, with 180 saints in attendance, many of whom were gained through the distribution of the ministry. On March 1, the first Lord's table will be taken in Zagreb. Please pray for a strong beginning to the Lord's testimony in the nation's largest city through the blending and fellowship in the Body.
Germany – Meeting Halls
Thank the Lord for His faithful care through the Body to meet the financial need for the purchase of the meeting hall in Berlin. Pray that in a timely way the Lord will grant the saints favor with the building authorities to enable them to renovate the new meeting hall to make it most useful for the Lord's interest.
The church in Stuttgart has found a place available for lease that can suit their needs. They have submitted to the owner a plan with renovations that would need to be made. Pray that the owner will accept their proposal at a reasonable and affordable price.
Malta
Ten saints from Germany visited the island nation of Malta from February 7 to 10. The people were warm and responsive. Over the course of two one-hour distributions, 155 English NTs and 200 copies of The Mystery of Human Life were given out. Gatherings with seeking people were held on each of the three evenings. On the Lord's Day morning there was a time of singing and prayer. Please pray that the three students who spent time with the visiting saints will attend the European University Conference in March, and ask the Lord to gain a local couple with an open home.
Prayer for the Current Situation
On Lord's Day, February 23, Chinese-speaking believers around the world observed a day of prayer for the current situation with regard to the coronavirus outbreak. Saints began to pray at midnight and continued in intervals of 15 minutes or more for 24 hours. They prayed for an end to the epidemic, peace in the people's hearts, and the Lord's move in China. Many testified of the Lord's presence in their prayer.
Several more countries (including Korea, Japan, and Italy) are now seeing a significant increase in virus-related cases. We need to take up the corporate priesthood to stop the pestilence by prayer. Now it is a critical time to rise up in one accord to pray for prevention and containment not only in China, but all over the earth. At the same time, while the black horse of pestilence is running rampant, let us pray to release the white horse of the gospel to first conquer people's hearts and bring them to salvation.
"The earth is Jehovah's, and its fullness, the habitable land and those who dwell in it." (Psa. 24:1)
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Crystallization-study of Deuteronomy, week 1.
- High School Conferences at Oak Glen: for sisters, March 13 to 15 (registration due March 1); for brothers, March 20 to 22 (registration due March 8).
- Memorial Day Conference: May 22 to 25 in Atlanta, GA. Conference and hotel information is posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. Saints from LA are asked to RSVP by April 28 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla.
- Receive weekly church prayer in English by email: sign up at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Prayer, Week of February 9
Having Been Made Full in Christ
"That their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love and unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ." (Col. 2:2)
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you have been made full in Him, who is the Head of all rule and authority." (Col. 2:9-10)
Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ and because we have been put into Him, we have been made full in Him—filled up with the divine riches—and all that He is and all that He has belong to us, and all that He has experienced has become our history. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, Key Statement 3)
Do not believe your feelings about yourself, but look away to Christ. Exercise your faith to realize what He is, what He has passed through, what He has obtained and attained, and where He is today. Since He is in the third heaven and we are one with Him, we are in the third heaven also....We have been placed into the Christ who is unsearchably rich. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 178-179)
Giving Our Money with Blessings
"There is one who scatters and increases yet more, and there is one who withholds what is appropriate but ends up only in want." (Prov. 11:24)
"He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap." (2 Cor. 9:6)
All our giving, whether to the church in LA or for Oak Glen or for something farther away, is a sowing. Because God has blessed us with Himself, we are empowered to give with blessings. We give not out of necessity (9:7), but by grace which enables us to abound (9:8).
GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America
The 21 North American and 1 Ethiopian FTTA gospel trips that were active last week have just concluded. Detailed reports are at http://www.gtca.us. Follow-up prayer is needed. Please pray:
- for the strengthening of the core college students in our clubs on every campus;
- for the strengthening of the local saints to care for the positive contacts reached through the various tabling and Bible distributions;
- for those who have received a Bible to read it and receive life; and
- for many people in each city to be gradually brought into the church life.
Malta
Acts 28:1 says, "And having been brought safely through, we recognized then that the island was called Malta." Malta is an island nation south of Italy with a population of about 460,000. It is a member of the European Union and English is one of the official languages.
Last weekend there was a Bibles for Europe distribution in the city center of the Maltese capital, Valletta. Please pray for the literature distributed to be read with an open heart by seeking ones and for the raising up of the Lord's testimony in Malta.
Lord's Move to Asia
The January 2020 LMA newsletter has a report from the church in Islamabad and the recent National Blending Conference in Pakistan, as well as an update on the Lord's move in Nepal:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/E-2020-01.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Asia-2020-01.pdf (Chinese)
Prayer for the Current Situation
The following word of encouragement is excerpted from an open letter dated February 7 to the Chinese-speaking saints from the Chinese-speaking co-workers in Southern California regarding the coronavirus outbreak:
We need to be strong in spirit and take up the whole armor of God to pray for the current situation. When people in the world are panicking and human agencies are unable to solve the problem, we need to stand in the breach (Psa. 106:23) to pray to the sovereign Lord of all "on behalf of kings and all who are in high position" and "on behalf of all men" (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We need to take up the corporate priesthood to stop the pestilence by prayer (Num. 16:44-48). At the same time, while the black horse of pestilence is running rampant, we need to pray to release the white horse to first conquer people's hearts and bring them to salvation (Rev. 6:1).
We should pray particularly for the saints in China that they will seize this opportunity to preach the good news of the gospel to their friends and relatives. According to the reports we have received, they have done so. In some localities they changed the large gospel meetings during the Chinese New Year into small gospel gatherings in the homes. As a result, the number of baptisms exceeded their expectation, with hundreds being baptized. Although some saints cannot go out, they have been using phone calls and emails to contact over thirty people a day, thereby bringing many to believe in the Lord.
Thus, we hope that the brothers and sisters everywhere will spontaneously gather in each locality to pray. We strongly suggest that the saints in each locality use the weekend that was originally scheduled for the Chinese-speaking Conference to set aside one whole day for prayer at set times. We believe this crisis is the opportunity given by God to His church to proclaim His salvation to the people in the world.
We also hope that the brothers and sisters will seize this opportunity to be laboring priests of the gospel to preach the gospel (Rom. 15:16). Whether we are at home or away from home, whether we contact people by visitation or via the internet, we should all join this battle in groups of twos and threes so that the Lord may gain a great victory in this matter, that His enemies may be put to shame, the church may be built up, and God may be glorified.
May the Lord bless all the churches and all the brothers and sisters so that we will make new progress before the Lord in this new year.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 5.
- International Chinese-speaking Conference from February 14 to 16 has been cancelled.
- Reports on the Lord's Move in Germany, website in English: http://germanyreports.info.
- http://ShepherdingWords.com addresses certain critical issues facing the Lord's recovery.
- http://LSMchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns and messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
Prayer, Week of January 26
Giving Christ the Preeminence in All Things
"...God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name." (Phil. 2:9)
"And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church." (Eph. 1:22)
For Christ to have the preeminence in all things, God needs a people; apart from God's having a people, there is no way for Christ to be made preeminent. Christ, the preeminent One, must be the centrality and universality in our church life, family life, and daily life.
Under God's heavenly rule everything is working together for our good. This is especially true of the things in our personal universe. Our personal universe includes ourselves, our families, and the church. In our personal universe many things happen day by day for the purpose of making Christ preeminent. We need to realize this and be submissive to God's heavenly rule.
In order to give Christ the preeminence in all things, we must be willing to be adjusted, to be broken, and to be made nothing so that the Lord can have a way in us, through us, and among us for the building up of His organic Body. If we have a vision of the preeminence of Christ, our living and our church life will be revolutionized, for we will realize that in all things Christ must have the first place. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 3, I.B, III.B-E)
"The Heavens Do Rule" (Dan. 4:26)
The entire world situation is under the rule of the heavens by the God of the heavens to match His intention in His economy, of which Christ is the center. Under His heavenly rule God is using the environment to make Christ the centrality (the first) and the universality (everything) to us. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 3, I.A,C)
As God's people, let us pray for the advance of the divine history within human history. We believe the Lord rules sovereignly over the earth that the environment might be fit for God's chosen people to receive His salvation. In these days of global uncertainty—from politics to epidemics and reminders of the brevity of human life—may the Lord turn all questions and anxieties to the advancement of the gospel. May all forms of "shaking" open the hearts of people to receive the gospel and stir us to speak the gospel in more places at more times.
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
The third term of the special training on the eldership for SoCal elders and responsible brothers began last Saturday with a plenary session in Arcadia. Through monthly corporate gatherings, weekly group fellowships, and weekly 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 elders and responsible brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way. Please pray:
- That the Lord will strengthen all the participants and become their perseverance and faithfulness to continually present themselves absolutely to this training.
- That an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California will be ushered in as all the participants are attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion.
- That the Lord will continue to bless this 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.
GTCA
GTCA activities, including FTTA gospel team trips, continue this week in at least 23 North American cities and in Ethiopia. Please ask the Lord to use these trips to:
- strengthen all the local saints and the churches receiving and coordinating with the trainees;
- encourage the trainees with a rich view and experience of church life outside the training center;
- bless the distribution of NTs, gospel tracts, and other literature;
- 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;
- bring seeking believers into homes these weeks and into long-term fellowship with the churches.
United Kingdom
Please continue to pray for the Lord to rule over the UK's withdrawal process from the European Union. Brexit is scheduled for January 31, although many details will be negotiated throughout 2020. Ask the Lord to exercise His authority so that every aspect is beneficial for His move in the UK and in Europe.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 3.
- The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 14 to 16 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2020icsc.org and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. Advanced registration by January 31 is required only for childcare, and for special Saturday fellowship sessions (one for Chinese-speaking saints presently in school, and one for Chinese-speaking working saints).
- GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America: a fresh expression of this burden is presented at http://www.gtca.us. All are encouraged to read the home page, where you may sign up for email updates.
- LSM Internet Radio: http://lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns, Life-study of the Bible broadcasts, and spoken messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
Prayer, Week of January 12
Knowing God's Will Concerning the All-inclusive Christ
"Therefore we also… do not cease praying and asking on your behalf that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (Col. 1:9)
"To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)
In Colossians 1:9 God's will refers to Christ… God's will for us is that we would know Christ, experience Christ, enjoy Christ, be saturated with Christ, and have Christ become our life and person. We need to be infused, saturated, and permeated with the all-inclusive, extensive Christ until in our experience He is everything to us.
The all-inclusive, extensive Christ desires to replace every element of our natural life and culture with Himself so that we may be the one new man as His corporate expression; this is the message of the book of Colossians. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-Inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 1, III.D.1-2, F, F.2.b)
May the Lord strengthen all of us to know and experience the all-inclusive, extensive Christ so that we may become His corporate expression, the one new man!
Spanish-speaking and Young People's Conferences
The Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference is Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 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 and http://www.socalspanish.org.
The 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 all attendees (YP and serving) must be registered in advance at http://tinyurl.com/2020YPblending. Registration deadline was Lord's Day, January 12.
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.
Lord, Flock People In!
"Thus says the Lord Jehovah, Moreover for this I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock." (Isa. 36:37)
Here the Lord promised that He would bring in flocks of people. Although He has promised to do this, we still need to inquire of Him. This means that we need to pray for the increase, saying, "O Lord, flock people in. You promised this to us."
In the past, whenever we prayed for an increase of number, the Lord answered. I feel that we need to pray more. The Lord promised, yet He needs our inquiring. He promised that He will increase our number by flocks of men, but we need to pray for this and ask Him to do it…. We should never be content with our present number. Rather, we should all aspire to be doubled within a period of time. Thus, we need to pray, "Lord, flock people in." (LS Ezekiel, ch. 17, sec. 4)
We need to pray, "Lord, flock people into the church in LA."
The Lord's Renewed and Intensified Move in North America
We are burdened for Europe but the Lord's move in North America is not yet completed. We need an intensified move in the heartland of this continent. Please pray for:
- our continued prayer for this move until we see definite and adequate results;
- the Lord's blessing on the GTCA gospel trips; two begin this week, the others January 24 or 25;
- the release of 300 saints of all ages to migrate to 10 cities in the US, including 30 full timers and 5 player-coaches to form 5 campus teams, and leading/responsible brothers for leadership.
http://GTCA.us has good videos of all the target cities and much practical information.
Bibles for America
We have developed a new online store, http://materials.bfa.org, to replace http://LetHisWordRun.com, where saints in the US can order gospel tracts and offer cards in English, Spanish, and Korean, as well as apparel and other BfA materials. Individual distribution kits will no longer be available.
Please pray for the saints at the distribution center as they fulfill multiple large Bible and book orders in preparation for GTCA and other local distributions throughout the US. Pray that every Bible, book, tract, and offer card would get into the hands of God's chosen vessels.
India—Spreading of the Testimony
The Lord has been faithfully moving in the subcontinent of India for more than 30 years. Currently there are 185 local churches with over 4,400 saints meeting regularly on the Lord's day and over 7,000 saints enjoying the Lord in the church life. However, as most of these churches (approximately 75%) are situated in the southern part of the country, there are still 12 northern and northeastern states without the Lord's testimony.
Through the coordination of Amana Literature and Rhema distribution serving ones, many doors are open to the ministry. Please pray that the Lord will soon gain His testimony in these 12 states.
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1.
Please keep your copy of Material Offerings; we will use it again. - The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 14 to 16 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2020icsc.org and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. Advanced registration by January 31 is required only for childcare, and for special Saturday fellowship sessions (one for Chinese-speaking saints presently in school, and one for Chinese-speaking working saints).
- LSM Internet Radio: http://lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns, Life-study of the Bible broadcasts, and spoken messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
- New website: http://shepherdingwords.com addresses misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery; updates are posted frequently.
Prayer, Week of December 29
Love God, Fear God, Receive the Blessing
"If you obey the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I am commanding you today, to love Jehovah your God and walk in His ways and keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, then you will live and multiply, and Jehovah your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to possess." (Deut. 30:16)
If we compare Deuteronomy 30:12-14 with Romans 10:6-8, we realize that all God's commandments and statutes and judgements are in Christ, the living Word who is the Spirit in us. With this view, we need to love God, trust in God, mind the tender feelings of God, and live in the presence of God. We also need to be subject to the ruling of God's government and in fear that we might turn from His government by living in our self.
Lord, keep us loving and fearing You that we may always live You and walk in Your ways so that Your recovery may live, multiply, and partake of the all-inclusive Christ as Your blessing.
Turning from Idols to Serve a Living and True God
"For they themselves report concerning us what kind of entrance we had toward you and how you turned to God from the idols to serve a living and true God." (1 Thes. 1:9)
Dealing with mammon is not a matter of being rich or poor; it is a matter of idolatry….We have to see that mammon is diametrically opposed to God. (CWWN, vol. 59, ch. 9)
God wants to gain us, and mammon also wants to gain us. Unless God's people are delivered from the power of mammon, they will not have a proper testimony and cannot be proper Christians. If a man tries to hold on to both sides, he will not be able to serve the Lord well. (CWWN, vol. 57, ch. 16)
In this new year, let us have such a fresh turn from the idol of mammon to serve our living and true God. May the Lord and His dynamic salvation do in us what was done in Zaccheus— "the things that are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).
The Lord's Renewed and Intensified Move in North America
The Lord used the Roman Empire to form and spread the gospel. He used Germany to support the Reformation. He used Great Britain for the preaching of the gospel and the spreading of the truth to the uttermost part of the earth.
As He prepared the Roman Empire, Germany, and Great Britain in times gone by, so He has prepared the United States. WL, The World Situation and God's Move, chap. 2, sec. 2
We are burdened for the move for Europe but we are not finished here. We feel strongly that the spread and growth in North America is not yet finished. We need an intensified move in the heartland of this continent. Our burden for prayer:
- The migration of 300 saints of all ages, 30 each to 10 cities in the US (listed in GTCA Sowing Trips below). These should include 30 full timers and 5 player-coaches to form 5 campus teams, and leading/responsible brothers for leadership.
- Dedicate the first 6 months of the year for intercession for the Lord's renewed move in America.
- Seek the Lord concerning migrating and joining fellowship in GTCA conferences and tours in 2020.
http://GTCA.us has good videos of all the target cities and much practical information.
2020 GTCA Sowing Trips
In January and February 2020, sowing trips will take place in 12 cities throughout the United States and Canada as part of the ongoing burden to gospelize, truthize, and churchize North America. Trainees from FTTA will join local and visiting saints in giving away Bibles, ministry books, gospel tracts, and brochures. The 2020 GTCA cities include:
- Midwest: Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Minneapolis, MN; St Louis, MO
- Southeast: Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Memphis, TN; Orlando, FL
- Mid-Atlantic: Pittsburgh, PA; Richmond, VA
- Canada: Airdrie, AB; London/Guelph, ON
Please pray for the coordination and preparation for the gospel trips and for all those participating in this special time of sowing. Pray also for the Spirit to sweep in the hearts of the people in every city to make them open to receive the ministry of the age.
Brexit
A few weeks ago in the United Kingdom's general election, one party won a clear majority in the parliament. The first step toward the negotiated Brexit (the British exit from the European Union) agreement was approved by this new parliament. The exit is scheduled January 31, although many details will be negotiated throughout 2020.
Ask the Lord to exercise His authority so that every aspect of Brexit is beneficial for His move in the UK and in all of Europe.
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 1.
Monday, January 6: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 2.
Monday, January 13: begin Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1
(Thanksgiving Conference). - New website: http://www.lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts Life-study messages 24 hours each day.
- New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
Prayer, Week of December 15
Being in One Accord for the Formation of an Army
"Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit." (Eph. 4:3-4a)
"That with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 15:6)
In the Lord's recovery we are on a battlefield engaging in spiritual warfare. We need to see that the formation of the children of Israel into an army to fight for God typifies the New Testament believers' being built up into the organic Body of Christ to fight for God and with God for the carrying out of His economy. (Crystallization-study of Numbers, Key Statement 6)
In Numbers 31:13-54 we see a beautiful picture of the one accord among God's people who had been formed into an army ready for battle. The entire situation among the different categories of people was peaceful, pleasant, and harmonious because they were all in one accord. The genuine one accord in the church is the practice of the oneness of the Body, which is the oneness of the Spirit. (msg. 24, II.E,1-2)
Please pray that all the saints we would be brought into the genuine one accord and that all the churches would voice the same thing, trumpet the same thing, teach the same thing, and be the same in practice so that the Lord may use the church to defeat His enemy.
December Semiannual Training
The December Semiannual Training takes place next week in Anaheim. It will be on the book of Deuteronomy, which unveils Christ as the Instructor and Leader of the people of God that they may be able to enter into the heavenly territory and participate in His riches. Please pray that the Lord would advance in His recovery by instructing and leading all the saints, infusing them with His up-to-date burden through the live training messages and the video training in many localities, including LA.
FTTA Graduation
The FTTA graduation will be this Saturday, December 21 at 9:30 am at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Please pray that each of the 36 graduates—including two sisters from LA—will follow the Lamb wherever He goes, that all current trainees will be supplied to continue, and that the Lord will bring more saints to the Spring 2020 term beginning in February.
Middle America
There is a need for our labor to gain more people in Middle America. The FTTA gospel trips in January and February will focus on this region. There is also a burden for 300 saints to migrate, including 30 full-timers. There will be a pre-migration training, probably in summer 2020.
Please pray strongly for the Lord's will and the Lord's way to be made known regarding this burden. Pray that at the Semiannual Training there will be more clarity concerning the direction. Pray for the Lord to move in and through the members of His Body, including 100 among the 300 to be from SoCal.
European Winter School of Truth
From December 26 to 31, the Winter School of Truth will take place simultaneously in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain (http://truthschool.eu). Please pray that the Lord will gain this generation of young people in Europe for His testimony.
Germany
More than 10,000 Recovery Version NTs have been received by people in Germany this year. Beseech the Lord to motivate many to read, to receive life and light from their reading, and to actively seek fellowship with the churches.
Hong Kong
Pray for the mass movement participants and the law enforcement officers. Ask the Lord to protect them in peace, that anger would subside, violence would cease, and that they would return to peaceful and rational discussions (Matt. 5:9; James 3:18).
Pray also for the general public for them to know and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and life and to become God's children. Ask the Lord to recover and cure this city so that the citizens would be healed (John 1:12; Rom. 10:9; Jer. 33:6a).
India – FTT New Delhi
There are currently 48 trainees in the FTTND. Please pray that especially through the campus work in the major cities, many young vessels would be gained, and many would answer the Lord's call after graduation to join the FTTND. Pray for many college students to attend the FTT short-term.
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Week 24 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 4.
Monday, December 23: this week use training verses or repeat week 24.
Monday, December 30: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 1.
Monday, January 6: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 2.
Monday, January 13: begin Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1 (Thanksgiving Conference). - December Semiannual Training (December 23 to 28) will be on Deuteronomy. Those who would like to prepare themselves are encouraged to read the verses, footnotes, and Life-Study messages.
- New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
Prayer, Week of December 1
Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ
"To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)
"As therefore you have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith even as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving." (Col. 2:6-7)
Praise the Lord for His rich speaking during the recent Thanksgiving Conference! The following key statements summarize the burden:
- God's will for us concerning the all-inclusive, extensive Christ is that we would know Christ, experience Christ, enjoy Christ, be saturated with Christ, and have Christ become our life and person.
- We can walk in Christ as our living land and absorb Christ as our rich soil, in which we have been rooted, so that we may grow with the elements that we absorb from the soil and be made full in Christ in our experience.
- Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ and because we have been put into Him, we have been made full in Him—filled up with the divine riches—and all that He is and all that He has belong to us, and all that He has experienced has become our history.
- If we allow the peace of Christ to arbitrate in us and if we are filled with the word of Christ, we shall have the new man in a practical way; all the saints in the all the churches throughout the Lord's recovery will be living Christ in the one new man.
Please pray that the all-inclusive and extensive Christ unveiled in the messages would become the subjective knowledge and experience of the saints in all the churches. May we open to Him and cooperate with Him to give Him the preeminence in all things in our personal universe. May we freshly give ourselves to pursue Him unreservedly and know Him subjectively as our experience and enjoyment.
Children and YP Service Fellowship
This fellowship will be December 15 in Halls 1, 3, 4, 5; December 22 in Hall 2. The specific time will be announced in each district. All parents and all new serving saints are encouraged to attend. Please pray for full participation and for uplifting of our service to gain our children and young people for the Lord's move.
United Kingdom – General Election
A general election for all 650 members of Parliament is scheduled for December 12. Due to political turmoil in the UK, this is the third general election in four years. May the Lord's sovereign will be done in this election and in the ongoing Brexit process. Lord, arrange all things for Your interests and for the advancement of Your move in the UK and in Europe!
Germany – Arabic Speakers Conference
An Arabic speakers conference will be held for the first time from December 6 to 8 in Germany. Up to 50 Arabic-speaking seeking ones are expected. Please pray for this conference that the Lord may gain remaining fruit for the church life.
Hong Kong
The Lord is on the throne. He is still sitting enthroned during these days of unrest. May He bless His people with peace. In His ascension, Jesus Christ is the Leader and the Savior, giving repentance and forgiveness of sins. He rules sovereignly over the earth with His authority that the environment might be fit for God's chosen people to receive His salvation (Psa. 29:10-11; Acts 5:31).
We are conscious of the need to rise up to pray steadfastly for the Lord's interests and testimony in Hong Kong. We need the Body in this matter. We beseech the churches in the Lord's recovery to stand with us in prayer. In particular, we would like to ask you to pray:
- That the Lord will continue to preserve and strengthen the church in Hong Kong.
- That the church in Hong Kong will continue to pray steadfastly for His interests and move in this city.
- That there will be no disruptions to the regular church meetings, that all districts would have a peaceful environment for the saints to meet normally so that the church would be built up.
A recent letter from the church in Hong Kong addressed to all the churches is available in English and Chinese at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: REPEAT Week 22 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 4.
- December Semiannual Training is December 23 to 28. This is the last chance for saints in LA and Santa Clarita to register for the video training! The firm deadline is Tuesday, December 3 to submit payment ($105) and register at http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
- Audio of the October 20 Joint LA Meeting is available in English at http://tinyurl.com/godlyfamily.
- 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.
- The Southern California Spanish-Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is here; y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
Prayer, Week of November 17
Our Need to Live a Prophesying Life
"Oh that all Jehovah's people were prophets, that Jehovah would put His Spirit upon them!" (Num. 11:29)
"For you can all prophesy one by one that all may learn and all may be encouraged." (1 Cor. 14:31)
"Proclaim the word; be ready in season and out of season" (2 Tim. 4:2a)
Our God is a speaking God. God is a mystery, but this mystery has been revealed by God's speaking. God today speaks in a person [the Son], and this person has increased to be a corporate person, including all the apostles and all the members of this person's Body. The believers are all a part of the corporate Son. God is still speaking in the Son. The speaking God desires to have a speaking people.
If we are going to prophesy, we need to live a prophesying life. We need to be revived every morning. We also need to live an overcoming life every day by fellowshipping with the Lord moment by moment, by walking according to the spirit, and by speaking the word (the Lord) in season and out of season. (Crystallization-Study of Numbers, msg. 21, I., I.A, E.2-3, F; V.H, H.1, H.2)
May the Lord bring us all into such a prophesying life with daily revival, fellowship, walking in spirit, and speaking!
LA Children and Young People Service Policy Fellowship
The church in Los Angeles has adopted a new Policy for the Protection of Children and Young People which will be effective beginning January 1, 2020 in all halls and districts. We believe that one accord is the master key to receive the blessing from the Lord as we head in this direction. With this in view, there will be an important church-wide fellowship for all existing children and YP serving ones this Lord's Day, November 24 from 3:00 to 4:30 PM at Hall 5 (522 S Sepulveda Blvd, LA 90049).
Next month, district-level fellowship will take place in each hall, to which all parents and new serving ones are invited: December 15 for Halls 1, 3, 4, 5 and December 22 for Hall 2. Please reserve these dates in your schedule.
Southern California College Conference C
Last weekend, November 15 to 17, our UCLA and USC students enjoyed a wonderful conference at Oak Glen. The Lord answered many of our prayers regarding the students' hearts being open and soft, and many veils were removed. Praise the Lord!
Two students from the USC area were baptized. Also, there was only one last minute cancellation in the entire conference, which is truly an answer to prayer.
Now, let us pray that the revelation that they saw in the mountain would be wrought into them and applied during their daily life.
European University Conference
The conference, for university students, recent graduates, and young professionals, is November 22 to 24 in England. We will learn together how to advance in our experience and enjoyment of the wonderful and mysterious union we have with our awesome, all-inclusive, and all-extensive Christ as unveiled in the book of Colossians. Please pray for this.
India – Translation Work
The Indian Gospel Room was established in 1996 and is commonly known today as Amana Literature. India is a multi-language country with 22 official languages. Currently, there is a five-year schedule for the NT Recovery Version to be translated simultaneously into six Indian languages and made available by 2021. Translators are also being prepared for the Recovery Version in Hindi, which is the largest spoken language in India and the fourth most-spoken language in the world.
Please pray for this translation work. Many churches in India were raised up through the spreading of the ministry. We can testify that the people are wide open to the ministry of Watchman Nee and Witness Lee. May the word of God continue to run and be glorified in India!
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Week 21 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 4.
After Thanksgiving weekend, we will repeat Week 22. - Children and YP Service Policy Fellowship: On November 24, 3:00 to 4:30 pm there will be an important fellowship for all serving ones of children and young people in LA to strengthen and upgrade our service. This will be at Hall 5 (522 S Sepulveda Blvd, LA 90049).
- December Semiannual Training is December 23 to 28. Registration for webcasts in LA ($105) due by December 3. No late registrations. Register at http://tinyurl.com/wintertrainingla.
- Audio of the October 20 Joint LA Meeting is available in English at http://tinyurl.com/godlyfamily.