Prayer, Week of May 7, 2017

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The High and Awesome Wheels

“And as I watched the living creatures, I saw a wheel upon the earth beside the living creatures, for each of their four faces. The appearance of the wheels and their workmanship were like the sight of beryl. And the four of them had one likeness; that is, their appearance and their workmanship were as it were a wheel within a wheel.” (Ezek. 1:15-16)

In the book of Ezekiel God’s economy and God’s move in His economy are signified by a wheel. The hub of this great wheel signifies Christ as the center of God’s economy, and the rim signifies Christ’s counterpart, the church, which consummates in the New Jerusalem. The spokes of the wheel spreading from the hub to the rim signify the many believers as the members of Christ. (Verse 15, footnote 1)

Beryl is the appearance of the Lord when He is moving. This indicates that within the move of the wheels is the appearance of the Lord. (Verse 16, footnote 1)
A wheel within a wheel indicates that in the move of the living creatures there is the move of the Lord, i.e. that the Lord moves in their moving. The inner wheel, the Lord as the hub, is the source of power for the moving of the outer wheel, the church as the rim. (Verse 16, footnote 3)

Acts 1:14 says, “These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer…” Let us cooperate with the Lord through prayer to carry out His move for the accomplishment of His economy.

Sixth Graders

Last weekend, 126 sixth graders plus their serving ones and parents attended the Sixth Grade Conference at Oak Glen. The topic was “Where Are You?” From Los Angeles, 7 sixth graders attended, including 5 who had already received the Lord in a definite way; the other 2 prayed to receive the Lord Saturday morning. All 7 stood up that morning for further prayer, confession, and repentance to the Lord for His particular shining on them.

In the upcoming weeks, it is critical that we pray for these young ones, that they would read the Bible every day and contact their companions and shepherds, especially in the context of the homes. Furthermore, all 7 have the desire to be baptized, so please pray that they would have a strong and memorable transfer into the kingdom of God!

College Graduation

As they approach the end of the school year, our graduating college seniors have many choices to make regarding their future. Please pray for the graduates to have many conversations and transactions with the Lord so that He would shepherd and guide them according to His desire and for His purpose.

Bibles for America

BfA has redesigned its website. The main site now only offers free Christian books as digital e-books, which can be downloaded and read anywhere in the world. Free physical copies of books will still be available at newbooks.bfa.org>. Saints are still encouraged to distribute physical books. People can still order a physical copy of the New Testament Recovery Version. Please pray that:

  • The digital e-books would spread far and wide and that many more people would access them.
  • The distribution of physical books would continue and even increase through the dedicated webpage and the labor of the saints in their localities.

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico sought bankruptcy relief in federal court last week, the first time in history that an American state or territory has taken this extraordinary step. The recent past and current repercussions of the debt are very heavy on the residents. Let us pray that the Lord use this “shaking” to open many people to the reality of the gospel, to release the saints in the churches to go out and speak, and to bring many into the church life.

Conference in Wyoming

The church in Lyman, Wyoming will host a blending conference May 13 to 14. The conference topic will be “Special Fellowship concerning the World Situation and the Lord’s Move.”

Split, Croatia

On April 23, 2017 in the city of Split, Croatia, approximately 130 saints from 11 countries, including 30 local saints standing on the genuine ground of oneness, met together around the Lord’s table to testify concerning the one Body of Christ on earth. The atmosphere was very high and joyful. We hope all the saints will continue to pray that the church life in Split will be prevailing and fruitful.

A more detailed report can be downloaded at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer and an 11-minute video report can be viewed at https://youtu.be/JyCv5HhHj-o.

Germany

Please pray for the month-long follow-up trips during the first half of this year for gospel preaching, shepherding, and perfecting of key contacts among the refugees and students, and for the increased labor on the college campuses. Information for these trips can be found at http://germany.lebensstrom.de.

Also pray for the emigration of burdened saints for the practical strengthening and building up of the local churches in six key cities in Germany and for the labor on the college campuses. More information at http://www.lordsmove.org.

Italy

The annual spring conference will be May 13 to 14 in Milan. We pray the Lord will bless this gathering for His further move in Italy, Europe, and the whole earth.

Asia

The current Lord’s Move to Asia newsletter presents a gospel move in three cities in Sri Lanka and the establishing of the fifth church in Nepal.

http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/E-2017-04.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Asia-2017-04.pdf (Chinese)

India

The April 2017 issue of the newsletter on the churches in India reports about multiple trainings held last month. It is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.

Annoucements

  1. Morning revival: Week 6 in Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. Southern California Blending Conference will be on Saturday, June 10 from 4–9pm in Anaheim.
  3. Summer Training registration has been extended to June 11 (or until capacity is reached): $255 for Anaheim, July 3–8; $105 for webcast in L.A. Register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.
  4. Information about Germany and Europe: in the April 9 and May 14 prayer announcements.
  5. International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Registration is not required, but saints attending from L.A. are asked to RSVP at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) or http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of April 30, 2017

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A Christian Life and Walk for the Coordination God Desires

“And from the midst of it [the fire] there came the likeness of four living creatures. And this was their appearance: They had the likeness of a man. And every one had four faces, and every one of them had four wings. And their feet were straight feet, and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like the sight of burnished bronze. And the hands of a man were under their wings on their four sides.” (Ezekiel 1:5-8a)

Coordination is the central point in the first chapter of Ezekiel. This coordination, however, depends upon all the foregoing items: the wind, the cloud, the fire, the electrum, and the four living creatures with the four faces and having the eagle’s wings, human hands, and a walk with the calf’s hoofs. If we would have a proper coordination, we need such a Christian life and walk. We need a life that has the wings of an eagle and the hands of a man, and we need a walk that has the straight hoofs of a calf. May the Lord impress us with all these matters so that we may have the proper coordination in the church life. (Life-Study of Ezekiel, end of chapter 6)

Lord, impress us with all these matters and give us sufficient experience of each for our proper coordination.

Sixth Grade Conference

The sixth grade conference is May 5 to 7 at Oak Glen. Please pray for the Lord to prepare the hearts of all of the sixth graders leading up to the conference, to give each of them a definite experience of salvation, and to companionize them as they go on as young people in the church.

Conference in Atlanta: The Gospel to All the Nations

There will be a conference in Atlanta from May 5 to 7 entitled “Living in the Reality of the Kingdom of God.” This conference is open to all the saints, with a particular burden to reach out to the African-American saints and those of African descent.

African-Americans compose about 50% of Atlanta’s population and we ask that the saints pray strongly to open the eyes of the attendees, and specifically:

  • That the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to this part of the inhabited earth (Atlanta);
  • That many African-Americans and those of African descent would come to the conference;
  • That the word ministered to these ones would be received, grow, and multiply; and
  • That the brothers’ health would stay strong throughout the entire weekend. All the speaking brothers treasure your prayers on their behalf for His Body’s sake, one of whom is Donny Wise (from the church in Los Angeles) who will participate in speaking message 1 during the conference.

BfA Blog

More than 20,000 people currently subscribe online to the BfA blog, and thousands more visit each month when they discover BfA blog posts through Google search. The blog aims to nourish believers seeking spiritual help online through short, easily-digestible posts about basic biblical truths and Christian experience. Sometimes blog visitors leave comments on posts they find especially helpful. This year, for example, the post “What Is Consecration and Why Do I Need to Consecrate Myself to God” has been viewed over 20,000 times and received many encouraging comments.

Please continue to pray for the BfA blog (http://biblesforamerica.org/blog/):

  • That people searching online would be connected with the BfA blog posts that can answer their questions and nourish them with Christ.
  • That the Lord would lead and supply the BfA staff in writing new posts that could minister to the need of so many spiritually hungry people looking for answers on the Internet.

FTTA-XB Gospel Trips to Germany

Two groups of trainees from the FTTA Boston Extension are visiting Germany for three weeks. The first group leaves mid week and the second arrives on May 4. Please pray for the blending of the trainees with the local saints and full-timers and for their service among the new ones and the students.

Europe

There will be three one-week trainings in London, May 1–27. The overall theme is The Four Great Pillars in the Lord’s Recovery: Truth, Life, the Church, and the Gospel. There will be time with FTT London, and with the church in London. There will be fellowship regarding daily life before the Lord, practicing the vital groups, entering into the spread of the divine truths, being fruit-bearing branches in the vine, and developing our function for the building up of the church. There will also be a special outing related to the history of the Lord’s move in Europe.

Lord, fill these trainings with eager saints for the furtherance of Your move throughout Europe.

Presidential Election in France

The final round of the French presidential election will be May 7. The outcome will have an impact on the social atmosphere in Europe, which in turn will have an impact on openness to the gospel.

“For neither from the east nor from the west, and neither from the south, does exaltation come; for God is the Judge: He puts this one down and exalts that one” (Psalm 75:6-7). Lord, exalt a president for Your move in Europe!

Democratic Republic of Congo

There will be a blending conference in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo from May 5 to 7.

Annoucements

  1. Morning revival: Week 5 in Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. Summer Training registration has been extended to June 11 (or until capacity is reached): $255 for Anaheim, July 3–8; $105 for webcast in L.A. Register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.
  3. Information about Germany and Europe: in the April 9 prayer email announcements.
  4. Due to LA Trade Tech College’s new policy of not renting to outside organizations, we will not have a joint meeting of the whole church in Los Angeles this spring.
  5. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of April 23, 2017

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Coordinating in God as the Four Living Creatures

“These all continued steadfastly with one accord in prayer…” (Acts 1:14).
“But God has blended the body together…” (1 Cor. 12:24).

“As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches; the fire went to and fro among the living creatures, and the fire was bright; and out of the fire went forth lightning” (Ezek. 1:13).

God needs a group of living creatures who can coordinate together as one corporate entity, the corporate Christ, for His expression, move, and administration. Their coordination is not in themselves but in God and by the divine power, the divine strength, and the divine grace. (Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel, Banner 2)

The result of the coordination of the living creatures is that they become burning coals and burning torches. The more we coordinate together, the more we burn one another (Ezek. 1:13). The more intensely the fire burns in the church, the brighter will be the shining in that church. Everything negative will be exposed and burned. In the proper church life there should be nothing of darkness among the brothers and sisters. Every corner should be thoroughly enlightened. (Msg 4, IV.; Day 4)

Spanish-Speaking Brothers Perfecting

The annual time of fellowship and perfecting in the truth with the Spanish-speaking elders and responsible brothers in Southern California will be Saturday, April 29 in Anaheim. Lord, bless this time and grant all the brothers more perfecting!

Conference in Atlanta: The Gospel to All the Nations

There will be a conference in Atlanta from May 5 to 7 entitled “Living in the Reality of the Kingdom of God.” This conference is open to all the saints, with a particular burden to reach out to the African-American saints and those of African decent. African-Americans compose about 50% of Atlanta’s population and we ask that the saints pray strongly to open the eyes of the attendees, and specifically:

  1. That the gospel of the kingdom would be preached to this part of the inhabited earth (Atlanta);
  2. That many African-Americans and those of African decent would come to the conference;
  3. That the word ministered to these ones would be received, would grow, and would multiply; and
  4. That the brothers’ health would stay strong throughout the entire weekend. All the speaking brothers treasure your prayers on their behalf for His Body’s sake, one of whom is Donny Wise (from the church in Los Angeles) who will participate in speaking message 1 during the conference.

Germany Campus Visits

Please pray for a number of brothers from the U.S. who are visiting many university campuses in Germany from April 24 to May 5. The purpose of these visits is to prepare for the extensive Bible distribution that will take place in October. May the Lord grant these brothers the wisdom, discernment, and insight to make the best preparations both practically and spiritually for the Lord to move in a prevailing way on the German campuses.

Germany, Switzerland, Austria

Lord’s Day, April 30 will be a blending time in three locations for all the German-speaking churches. Lord, release many to participate and use this time to strengthen Your move in these nations!

Conference in Poland

The annual spring conference will be April 29 to May 1 in Warsaw.

Polish Recovery Version

Please pray that the translation, editing, typesetting, proofreading, and printing of the New Testament Recovery Version in Polish will be completed in 2017 and that the Lord will create a hunger in the Polish-speaking people for His interpreted Word.

Pakistan

A co-worker and his wife from the U.S. will be in Pakistan April 25 to May 9. They will visit Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Karachi. They will be in each city for 4 to 5 days, with Islamabad and Rawalpindi considered as one because of proximity. There will be mini conferences in each city and a national blending conference in Lahore in the first weekend of May. This visit also coincides with the visit of five saints attending FTT Hong Kong. This will be quite a unique blending in Pakistan!

Annoucements

  1. Morning revival: Week 4 in Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. Summer Training After April 25, late registration for live training (Anaheim, July 3–8) is $255; webcast will stay at $105 until June. Saints from L.A. may register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.
  3. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  4. Information about Germany and Europe: see April 9 prayer announcements.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of April 16, 2017

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Lord, More Experience for Your Corporate Expression

“And from the midst of it there came the likeness of four living creatures.” (Ezek. 1:5a)
“I am the living One; and I became dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever.” (Rev. 1:17b-18a)

When we experience God as the blowing wind, the overshadowing cloud, the burning fire, and the glowing electrum, we become the four living creatures, a corporate entity expressing Christ. The more we experience the cycle of the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum, the more living we become. (Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel, msg 3, I., II.)

Lord, keep us open to and seeking more experience of Your cycle, more increase of Yourself in us, so that we may livingly bear the responsibility for Your building and move in Los Angeles.

Summer Training Registration

Registration for the 2017 Summer Training (July 3-8) is still open. The deadline for registration is next week, April 25. Ask the Lord to increase our number participating in His speaking to the churches in this training on the book of Ezekiel. Register at: tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.

Southern California

“For I have no one [except Timothy] like-souled who will genuinely care for what concerns you; for all seek their own things, not the things of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 2:20-21)

We who live in the U.S. (and especially we who are living comfortably in Southern California) need much salvation from seeking “our own things.” May the Lord be merciful to us. (Special Conference, speaking near end of msg 4)

L. A. Chinese-Speaking Perfecting

This coming weekend, April 22 to 23, there will be a L.A. Chinese-speaking saints’ blending and perfecting at Oak Glen. Saints from other churches are also invited. The subject is “A life of the altar and the tent.” Please pray for 1) the saints to be released to come, so that all the 100 spaces will be filled, and 2) all saints to see the vision and renew our consecration to live a life of the altar and the tent.

Cuba

Eusebio Castillo from Hall 1 is accompanying Sterling Byassee on a visit to Cuba. They left L.A. Saturday, April 15, will be in Mexico until Tuesday, April 18, then stay in Cuba until Tuesday, April 25. We pray that the Lord bless this time through the brothers visiting the saints and strengthening their inner being to follow the Lord.

Germany College Campuses

In the past year the Lord has opened a specific door for spreading His testimony to Europe: by gaining the German young people on the college campuses. This is one of the major areas the co-workers feel are on the Lord’s heart and it requires some consideration within His Body. There is a need for more young people to choose to study in Germany. We hope that all the young people may have much fellowship with their parents and go before the Lord in much prayer to seek a clear guidance.

U.S. students interested in participating in the Lord’s move on the German college campuses, including how to get a university degree for free, please download an information handout at: http://tinyurl.com/studentsforgermany.

May the Lord make us those who fulfill our ultimate responsibility in God’s ultimate move by following the Lamb wherever He may go (Rev. 14:4b). May He gain many local German young people for the spread of His testimony in Europe.

FTTA-XB Gospel Trips to Germany

Two groups of trainees from the FTTA Boston Extension are going to Germany for three weeks. The first group arrived April 12 and the second will arrive May 4. Please pray for the blending of the trainees with the local saints and full-timers, and for their service among the new ones and the students.

Stuttgart

The church in Stuttgart is in need of a meeting hall by the end of June. Please pray that the most suitable location at the most affordable price would be released in a timely manner.

Emigration Training

The emigration training in Anaheim will be July 12 through August 4. This is for those who are considering emigrating to Europe, especially to Germany, for the Lord’s move there. A detailed announcement and an application for this training are at http://lordsmove.org/training.html. Applications must be for full participation (no short-term applications) and should be submitted by June 11.

May we all be strengthened in these days to cooperate with the ascended Christ in carrying out His heavenly ministry to build up His Body through His move on the whole earth, especially in Europe.

Conference in France

The annual spring conference will be April 22 to 23 in Paris.

Presidential Election in France

The first round of the 2017 French presidential election will be April 23. Should no candidate win a majority, a run-off election between the top two candidates will be held on May 7. The outcome of this election will have an impact on the social atmosphere in Europe, which in turn will have an impact on openness to the gospel.

Daniel 2:20b-21a, “Let the name of God be blessed from eternity to eternity, for wisdom and might are His. And it is He who changes the times and seasons; He deposes kings and causes kings [and presidents] to ascend.” Lord, we bless Your name, and we ask that this election bring forth Your times, Your seasons, and Your French president.

Split, Croatia

Please pray for the first Lord’s table in Split, Croatia, which is April 23, and for the raising up of the Lord’s testimony in the cities of Croatia (including the capital and largest city, Zagreb).

Annoucements

  1. Morning revival: Week 3 in Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. The Sixth Grade Conference will be held May 5 to 7 at Oak Glen. Registration is due April 23.
  3. Summer Training registration is now open: $205 for Anaheim, July 3–8; $105 for webcast in L.A. Saints from L.A. may register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Deadline is April 25.
  4. Due to LA Trade Tech College’s new policy of not renting to outside organizations, we will not have a joint meeting of the whole church in Los Angeles this spring.
  5. Information about Germany and Europe: in the April 9 prayer email announcements.
  6. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  7. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of April 9, 2018

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Becoming the Vision of the Glory of God

“And I looked, and there came a storm wind from the north, a great cloud and a fire flashing incessantly; and there was a brightness around it, and from the midst of it there was something like the sight of electrum, from the midst of the fire.” (Ezekiel 1:4)

We need to consider how precious and honorable is the Christ who is within us. As the electrum within us, He is the treasure of incomparable worth. This treasure is the issue of the wind, the cloud, and the fire. The more we pass through the wind, the cloud, and the fire, the more the electrum is constituted into our being, making us a people who are filled with the Triune God and who manifest His glory.

We all need to experience more of the spiritual wind, the overshadowing cloud, the burning fire, and the glowing electrum. By passing through this kind of experience, we become the vision of the glory of God. In our experience we have the wind, the cloud, the fire, and the electrum. Then whenever we meet together, we are the vision of the glory of the electrum, having a precious treasure that is shining and glowing. (Life-study of Ezekiel, pp. 35-36)

Junior High Conference

The Junior High Conference is April 14 to 16 at Oak Glen. Please pray that these young ones would see and appreciate who they are as children of God, lights in the world, the salt of the earth, and branches in the vine. Pray especially that they would have a personal touch with the Lord and would receive a personal appearing from the Lord in His sweetness.

Southern California College Conference

The college conference will take place this weekend, April 14 to 16, in Anaheim. The general subject is “God’s Goal—the Body of Christ.” In particular, please pray that:

  • The number of participating students would significantly increase compared to last year; also that many high school seniors would come.
  • The students’ eyes would be opened to see a vision of God’s need and God’s goal.
  • The Spirit would flow in a released way and all attendees would be carried away in spirit.
  • The Lord would blend His Body together, including through the hospitality in the homes.

Summer Training Registration

Registration for the 2017 Summer Training (July 3-8) is still open. The deadline for registration is next week, April 25. Ask the Lord to release more of us to participate in His speaking to the churches in this training on the book of Ezekiel. Register at: http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.

Bibles for America

On Wednesday, April 5, Bibles for America began offering a free two-book set. The Knowledge of Life by Witness Lee looks at the believer’s need to possess and experience God’s divine life in order to fulfill God’s purpose. The Gospel of Life contains the entire text of the Gospel of John and its embedded outline from the Recovery Version, followed by two articles from the writings of Brother Lee: “The First Step in Living a Christian Life” and “The Way to Experience God in the Gospel of John.” The books will be available to the public for ordering from a dedicated webpage, http://newbooks.bfa.org.

Please pray for the launch of this new set of books. Pray that many spiritually hungry people would discover this offer and that the Lord would nourish and shine on them through the words in these books.

European Brothers Training

This training, April 11–13 in London, includes videos from the recent ITERO in Anaheim plus group digestion times and fellowship about the Lord's move in Europe.

We hope that through such perfecting times, the Lord will make us all able ministers of the New Testament, effective building material for the universal building up of the Body of Christ, and good stewards and serving ones in our respective local churches.

International Blending Conference

This conference, April 14–16 in London, is a time for the rich ministry of the Lord in His up-to-date speaking, and for the blending of saints and churches throughout Europe and around the earth. Please pray for this. Furthermore, the conference provides a wonderful opportunity to participate with others in service before, during, and after the conference, where there can be enjoyable blending together to bear the needed responsibilities.

Cambodia

Saints from eight countries gathered together in the International Blending Conference of Cambodia, and enjoyed the riches of Christ and were greatly encouraged. Also, Cambodian saints coordinated with trainees from Taiwan to propagate in two cities. Through the saints’ prayers and labor in one accord, sixty-seven got saved. Weekly gospel feasts on campus in Phnom Penh were set up and the golden lampstand in Sisophon will be established soon. More about these actions and a report from India are at
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/E-2017-03.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Asia-2017-03.pdf (Chinese)

India

The latest news from India, at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/, includes reports about FTT New Delhi with 42 trainees, preparation for translation of the Recovery Version NT into Indian languages, and a three-day perfecting training for households attended by 90 families.

Annoucements

  1. Morning revival: Week 2 in Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. The 6th Grade Conference will be held May 5 to 7 at Oak Glen. Registration is due April 23.
  3. Summer Training registration is now open: $205 for Anaheim, July 3–8; $105 for webcast in L.A. Saints from L.A. may register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Deadline is April 25.
  4. Due to LA Trade Tech College’s new policy of not renting to outside organizations, we will not have a joint meeting of the whole church in Los Angeles this spring.
  5. Information about Germany and Europe:
  6. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  7. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of April 2, 2017

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Coordinating with the Heavenly Ministry of the Ascended Christ

Coordinating with the Heavenly Ministry of the Ascended Christ was the general subject of ITERO. God is omnipotent! But He created man with a will, and has limited His operation to the degree of our response and cooperation. Our lack of cooperation restricts His operation.

“If therefore you were raised together with Christ, seek the things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things which are above, not on the things which are on the earth.” (Col. 3:1-2).

“The word of God is living and operative and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit” (Heb. 4:12).

We have a position in the heavenlies (Eph. 2:5-6), but in order to seek the things which are above and to set our mind on them, we need to turn to our spirit and experience the dividing of the soul from the spirit. (ITERO, msg 1, II.) Lord, grant us much living and operative contact with Your word so that we may be divided to cooperate with You in an unlimited manner!

High School Brothers Conference

The High School Brothers Conference will be from April 7 to 9 at Oak Glen. The general subject is Reading, Praying, and Speaking God's Word for the Building of God's House. Please pray for the Lord to: 1) prepare the hearts of the young brothers in the coming days, and 2) speak a specific word to each one attending that would result in a desire to come to the Lord in His word and participate in the building of His house.

Europe

The emigration training will be July 12 to August 4 in Anaheim. This training is for saints going to, or seriously considering, Germany or other nations in Europe, to serve full time or study or work or retire.

“The harvest is great, but the workers few; therefore, beseech the Lord of the harvest that He would thrust out workers into His harvest” (Luke 10:2). The harvest in Europe is great and the workers there now are not enough. Beseech the Lord to fill the training with workers who can be thrust out to Europe immediately or during the following year.

Bibles for Europe

By the end of March LSM received more than $1 million (including $69,000 from L.A.) for printing New Testaments for distribution this year in Europe. The initial printing order is 100,000 in German, 50,000 in English, 30,000 in French, and 25,000 in Spanish. Offerings are still welcome. You may give to the church designated for Bibles for Europe.

Brexit

“Daniel answered and said, Let the name of God Be blessed from eternity to eternity, For wisdom and might are His. And it is He who changes the times and seasons.” (Daniel 2:20-21a)

The process leading to the British exit from the European Union (Brexit) was formally begun last week. Detailed negotiations are expected to begin in May with a goal to conclude in 2019. This change will have many impacts in trade, security, laws, travel, finance, etc.

Lord, You are “the One who opens and no one will shut” (Rev. 3:7). Your will be done to keep the door wide open for Your move in Britain and in Europe!

Turkey

Five thousand copies of Basic Elements of Christian Life, Vol. 2 were printed and given to our local Christian distributor. We started to contact people who ordered our physical books. May the Lord bring those who are seeking His heart’s desire into His Recovery.

Announcements

  1. Morning revival: Week 1 in Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. Summer Training registration is now open: $205 for Anaheim, July 3–8; $105 for webcast in L.A. Saints from L.A. may register at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Deadline is April 25.
  3. Due to LA Trade Tech College's new policy of not renting to outside organizations, we will not have a joint meeting of the whole church in Los Angeles this spring.
  4. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  5. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of March 26, 2017

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The Exercise of the Kingdom

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on the earth shall have been bound in the heavens, and whatever you loose on the earth shall have been loosed in the heavens.” (Matt. 16:18-19)

The gates of Hades, Satan’s authority or power of darkness, attack the church to frustrate the Lord from building up the church. The self, the mind, and the soul-life are the main gates through which Satan comes forth to attack and damage the church (Matt. 16:22-26).

The building up of the church depends on the shutting up of the gates of Hades through the exercise of three keys: 1) denying the self; 2) taking up the cross; and 3) losing the soul-life. Day by day we need to use these keys. If these subjective gates are locked, no principalities or powers will be able to come in. (HWMR Week 6 Day 1)

Honoring the Lord as the Head and Being Balanced by the Body

“Holding the Head, out from whom all the Body, being richly supplied and knit together by means of the joints and sinews, grows with the growth of God.” (Col. 2:19)

“With all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, bearing one another in love, being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2-3)

We need to know this age and the present truth and see a vision of God’s sovereignty, the world’s ultimate situation, and God’s ultimate recovery in order to fulfill our ultimate responsibility in God’s ultimate move by honoring the Lord as the Head and being balanced by the Body to be kept in its unique oneness. (Special Conference banner)

ITERO

The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones is March 31 to April 2 in Anaheim. Let us beseech the Lord that through this training, the Lord will make all the brothers able ministers of the New Testament, effective building material for the universal building up of the Body of Christ, and good stewards and serving ones in our respective local churches. May the Lord also build His Body through the blending of brothers from the whole earth and the serving of all the FTTA trainees.

The Church in Los Angeles

On Lord’s Day, March 12 we began a monthly newsletter to be circulated in all the halls and districts. This printed flyer—available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean—contains a ministry portion, upcoming events, attendance statistics, helpful ministry resources, and contact information and locations for all our halls.

Please pray that this publication would not be merely for information, but much more for encouraging all the saints, giving each one a broad view of the whole church, and burdening them to build up the Body of Christ and spread the testimony of Jesus in Los Angeles.

Summer Training Registration

Registration for the 2017 Summer Training (July 3-8) is open now: $205 for Anaheim; $105 for webcast in L.A. Ask the Lord to increase our number participating in His speaking to the churches in this training on the book of Ezekiel. Deadline to register is April 25 at: http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.

Our Ultimate Responsibility for God’s Ultimate Recovery

We need to bear the ultimate responsibility related to the world’s ultimate situation, God’s ultimate move, and God’s ultimate recovery. (Special Conference, msg 4, I.)

We in this affluent country (USA) bear a particular responsibility in the ultimate recovery. There is a culture of ease throughout the land. Saints are having the church life on their own terms—Christ and the church and Southern California comfort. Each one needs to turn his heart to the Lord, open to the Lord, and consecrate. Lord, today work Yourself into me, grow in me, saturate me for the Body. Lord, what is my part in this ultimate responsibility? (Special Conference, msg 4, opening word)

Stuttgart

The church in Stuttgart is in need of a meeting hall by the end of June. Please pray that the most suitable location at the most affordable price would be released in a timely manner.

Please pray also that we would be granted favor by the University of Stuttgart administration to meet in an adequate room on campus to have student gatherings and that the Lord would head up all the details related to the preparation for the upcoming spring semester (classes April through July).

Announcements

  1. Morning revival: Week 6 in The Direction of the Lord’s Move Today (Thanksgiving Conference). Next week we will use Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (Winter Training).
  2. Junior High Conference is April 14 to 16 at Oak Glen. Registration is due April 2.
  3. Spring College Conference is April 14 to 16 in Anaheim. Early registration ends April 2.
  4. Information about Germany and Europe:
  5. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  6. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of March 19, 2017

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The Prayer Ministry of the Church

“Your kingdom come; Your will be done, as in heaven, so also on earth” (Matt. 6:10).

“For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly but powerful before God for the overthrowing of strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4).

Today God is establishing His kingdom on earth through His church. The church must continue the victorious work that Christ has carried out against Satan. It is responsible for bringing heaven’s will down to earth and for carrying it out on the earth. (CWWN, vol. 44, p. 778)

There are numerous things stacked up in heaven. Yet God cannot resolve them because the church has not exercised its free will to stand on God’s side and fulfill God’s goal. Brothers and sisters, you have to remember that the highest and greatest work of the church is to be the outlet of God’s will. The church becomes the outlet of God’s will through prayer. This prayer is not a fragmentary prayer but a prayer that is in the nature of a ministry, a prayer that is in the nature of a work. God gives man vision and opens man’s eyes to see His will. When this happens, man takes his place to pray. (CWWN, vol. 22, pp. 150-51)

Genuine prayer is a joint labor with God to bring His kingdom to the earth and to carry out His will on earth. Hence, prayer is nothing less than a spiritual battle. Prayer overturns the power of darkness and opens the way for God’s will to be executed on earth. (HWMR The Direction of the Lord’s Move Today, Week 5, Day 6, from CWWN, vol. 44, p. 781)

Faithful to Follow the Lamb to Bear His Testimony

“I John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and endurance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in spirit on the Lord's Day and heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet...I turned to see the voice that spoke with me; and when I turned, I saw seven golden lampstands.” (Rev. 1:9-10, 12)

Our ultimate responsibility is to bear the testimony of Jesus and to spread the testimony of Jesus by establishing local churches as golden lampstands.

“These are they who follow the Lamb wherever He may go.” (Rev. 14:4)

“It is sought in stewards that one be found faithful.” (1 Cor. 4:2)

If we would fulfill the ultimate responsibility in God’s ultimate move, we need to follow the Lamb wherever He may go, and ask the Lord for mercy to be faithful. (Special Conf., msg. 4, I.B, I.C, III, IV.)

To Love God is the Indispensable Requirement

To love God means to set our entire being (Mark 12:30) absolutely on Him, that is, to let our entire being be occupied by Him and lost in Him, so that He becomes everything to us and we are one with Him practically in our daily life. (1 Cor. 2:9, note 3)

Bibles for Europe

At the end of this month Living Stream will decide how many New Testaments to print for distribution in Europe this year. These distributions will be continuous via internet, at selected events in coming months, and especially in Germany in the fall when people's interest in the Bible is high due to the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's action that is considered the start of the reformation. Please ask the Lord for wisdom to the brothers at Living Stream about this matter.

Please also ask the Lord to supply the saints in Europe who are laboring with internet and practical preparations for these distributions.

Offerings for this are still welcome. You may give to the church designated for Bibles for Europe.

European University Conference

This conference is March 24 to 26 in the Netherlands. The subject is The Gospel – Its Structure and Highest Point. Please pray for the release of the Lord’s speaking and the strengthening of the European students in their love for the Lord and their living out and proclaiming of the high gospel to their fellow students.

Germany

There is a need for saints to serve in Europe in 1) the five week trips for shepherding and perfecting refugees or for campus work (http://germany.lebensstrom.de), 2) the October blending trips, Bible distributions, and conferences (http://itero2017.amanatrust.org.uk), and 3) migrations (http://www.lordsmove.org/downloads.html). The goal for North America is that 70 migrate to Europe by September 2018, especially those with experience on a campus team or bearing responsibility in churches. Eight from Southern California have moved recently or are in the process; petition the Lord to supply these eight, to send twelve more from Southern California, and to fulfill the goal for 70 from North America.

Announcements

  1. Morning revival: Week 5 in The Direction of the Lord’s Move Today (Thanksgiving Conference). After week 6 we will use Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel (winter training).
  2. High School Brothers Conference is April 7 to 9 at Oak Glen. Registration is due March 26.
  3. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  4. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of March 12, 2017

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Loving God for the Preparation of the Bride

Revelation 19:7-8 says, “Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.”

The entire Bible is a divine romance, a record of how God courts His chosen people and eventually marries them. The Lord’s recovery is for the fulfillment of Matthew 16:18 and Revelation 19:7-8—the building up of Christ’s church and the preparation of Christ’s bride.

As God’s people love God and spend time to fellowship with Him in His word, God infuses them with His divine element, making them one with Him as His spouse, the same as He is in life, nature, and expression. (The Direction of the Lord’s Move Today, Week 4 Outline, I, I.A,H)

A Vision of the Lord’s Ultimate Move

“The mystery of Christ...in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the Body and fellow partakers of the promise through the gospel....According to the eternal purpose which He made in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Eph. 3:4b, 6, 11)

God’s ultimate move [and the Lord's ultimate recovery] is the fourth step of His move to accomplish His eternal purpose. The first three steps are preaching the gospel, teaching the Bible, and meeting according to the Bible. The fourth step is His gaining a good number of believers who know how wonderful Christ is, who have Him as their life and live Him, who are filled, permeated, and saturated with Him, who grow in life and are transformed by His flowing life within them, and who are built up with fellow believers to be the golden lampstand in their locality; this is what the Lord is after today. (Special Conference, msg 3, III.B.5-5.b)

Lord, cause many of us to be this kind of believer!

Bibles for America

BfA has a new website design. This new, simplified design will keep BfA’s online presence fresh and aims to increase the number of website visitors who complete an order for a free NT Recovery Version. Additionally, the new design features an expanded digital distribution of materials with seven ministry books available for free download in e-book format. http://www.biblesforamerica.org

Europe

The Netherlands has a national election Wednesday, March 15. The outcome of this election will influence the political climate in Europe and specifically the French national election in April. These events could influence the German national election in September. This atmosphere and these election results will influence people's openness to the Lord.

Lord, You are “the Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5). We agree with Your sovereignty over the earth for these elections and we ask You for a European political climate beneficial for Your move.

German Brothers’ Meeting

Responsible brothers, and those learning to bear responsibility, from Germany, Switzerland, and Austria will meet March 18 to 19 in Berlin.

Croatia

A conference was held in Croatia February 4 to 5. Ten Rhema literature recipients joined about 90 others for the conference. A five-minute video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxMLWcV72-0.

Please pray for the Lord's blessing on the first Lord's table in Split, Croatia, on April 23, for the raising up of the Lord’s testimony in other cities of Croatia, and for strengthening the multinational brothers' coordination meetings.

India

The current issue of News of the Churches in India is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. It describes a three-day video training where 135 saints gathered to stay together and to pursue the ministry corporately. It also reports on the January propagation in India by FTT Taipei trainees and other saints; this resulted in 169 baptisms.

Announcements

  1. Morning revival: Week 4 in The Direction of the Lord’s Move Today (Thanksgiving Conference). After week 6 we will use Crystallization-Study of Ezekiel.
  2. High School Brothers Conference is April 7 to 9 at Oak Glen. Registration is due March 26.
  3. Information about Germany and Europe:
  4. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  5. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu

Prayer, Week of March 5, 2017

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Making Ourselves Ready to be the Bride of Christ

“We are washing all our robes the tree of life to eat; ‘O Lord, Amen, Hallelujah!’—Jesus is so sweet!” (Hymns, #1151, stanza 3)

“Let us rejoice and exult, and let us give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And it was given to her that she should be clothed in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteousnesses of the saints.” (Rev. 19:7-8)

Surely at the time of her presentation to Christ, the bride will not have any wrinkles or spots. In His bride Christ will behold nothing but beauty. This beauty will be the reflection of what He is. The beauty of the bride comes from the Christ who is wrought into the church and expressed through the church. Our beauty is not our behavior; our only beauty is the reflection of Christ, the shining out of Christ from within us. What Christ appreciates in us is the expression of Himself.

Today we must prepare ourselves to be the bride by taking in the element of Christ’s riches as our nourishment. Christ is the food for the church. Therefore, as she prepares herself to be presented to Christ, the church must eat Christ. There is no other way to be prepared. Eating Jesus is the way. By eating Him we become a beautiful and even glorious bride. (WL, The Conclusion of the New Testament, p. 3451)

God’s Sovereign Arrangement for His Dispensational Move

“Upon this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. I will give to you the keys of the kingdom of the heavens, and whatever you bind on the earth shall have been bound in the heavens, and whatever you loose on the earth shall have been loosed in the heavens.” (Matt. 16:18b-19)

[God] wants to end this age and bring in the age of the kingdom. His purpose is not general and ordinary. How can He bring this age to a close and bring in another? He must have His dispensational instrument. This is what God wants to do today. We should never forget that God can be limited. He waits for man in all of His moves.... Everything depends on the church. (WN, The Glorious Church, ch. 6, sec. 1; this chapter, a short overview of God’s dispensational moves, is well worth reading)

We need to be more aware of God’s sovereign arrangement of the world situation, more concerned about the crucial time in which we live, and more burdened for God’s move in the present world situation. (Special Conference, msg 2, III.H)

High School Sisters Conference

The High School Sisters Conference will take place this weekend, March 10 to 12, at Oak Glen. Please pray for the Lord to speak a particular and personal word to each young person that would preserve and prepare them to be part of His beautiful and glorious Bride.

Bibles for Europe

There is a burden to distribute hundreds of thousands of Bibles in Germany, both through online orders during the year as well as in-person mass distribution at various events, especially in October. The number of Recovery Version NTs to be printed will depend on the offerings received this month. Ask the Lord to grace us to participate in these preparations by praying and by giving. Offerings may be made until March 19 to the church in L.A. designated for ‘BfE’.

Germany

Please pray for the thrusting out and abundant gracing of workers for the follow-up trips during the first half of 2017 for gospel preaching, shepherding, and perfecting of key contacts among the refugees and students, and for the increased labor on the college campuses for the gaining of typical German young people and seeking international students. Those who are able to serve in Germany for a minimum of one month can find information at http://germany.lebensstrom.de.

South Africa

Michael Stewart is in Pretoria for his second week with FTT Pretoria and for the annual national spring conference, March 10 to 12.

Lord’s Move in Asia

Current reports from Papua New Guinea and the Arab gulf states are in this newsletter.
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/E-2017-02.pdf English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Asia-2017-02.pdf (Chinese)

Announcements

  1. Morning revival: Week 3 in The Direction of the Lord’s Move Today (Thanksgiving Conference).
  2. Daylight saving time starts Lord's Day, March 12. Set your clock ahead and meet on time.
  3. Information about Germany and Europe:
  4. The International Memorial Day Conference will be May 26 to 29 in White Plains, New York. Information about the conference and hotels is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/. Saints from L.A. who plan to attend are asked to RSVP before April 30 at http://www.tinyurl.com/memdayla (adults) and http://www.tinyurl.com/memchildrenla (children).
  5. There will be a conference in Atlanta May 5 to 7 on the gospel to all the nations. The burden is to find a way to contact, labor among, and gain people of African descent to be part of His expression in the Body. For more information, contact churchinatlanta@gmail.com.

by Simson Chiu