Prayer, Week of May 30
Living and Active for the Spread of the Truth
"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding that we might know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life." (1 John 5:20)
"For I rejoiced greatly at the brothers' coming and testifying to your steadfastness in the truth, even as you walk in truth." (3 John 3)
"Fight the good fight of the faith." (1 Tim. 6:12a)
To stand one with the victorious Christ in fighting against the devil, the father of lies (John 8:44), and for the consummation of the divine economy, we need to learn the divine truth, know the truth, love the truth, be constituted with the truth, apply the truth (firstly to ourselves), walk in the truth, testify the truth, fight for the truth, and be absolute for the way of the truth and for the propagation of the truth.
Lord, we are open to You and ready to pursue and absorb Your truth. Be merciful to us that our self would not hinder us. Impart more of Your truth into us, and be our boldness to speak Your truth and to be living and active for the spread of Your truth.
SSOT Teachers' Training
The California-wide Summer School of Truth from June 12 to 26 is a crucial time for our young people to be educated in and to develop a taste for the rich truths that we have inherited in the Lord's recovery. This Saturday, June 5, 10:00 to 11:30 am, we will have a corporate Teachers' Training for all the participating parents, serving ones, and college students.
Please pray for all those who attend this time to be filled with a fresh burden for the young people they are shepherding and for this year's SSOT.
National College Training
This year's National College Training for the US and Canada will be held July 21 to 25 as a hybrid online and in-person training. The schedule is designed so that those interning, working, or taking summer classes can still fully participate. The registration deadline is June 7.
Please pray that the Lord would lead many students, including newly-graduated high school seniors, to consecrate their summer to Him. May this generation respond to the Lord's call to rise up, bring wood, and build God's house today!
FTTA Middle-Age Training
The FTTA Middle-Age Training is pleased to announce that the 2021 Fall semester will begin on August 30. After a long recess due to the pandemic, we are looking to the Lord for a new beginning in the spirit of a fresh consecration and a renewed sense of the Lord's imminent return. We pray that the Lord will stir in the hearts of many saints to rise up to redeem the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and seize the opportunity to be trained. In the Middle-age Training, saints of different races, nationalities, and languages, come together to be perfected in an atmosphere of blending to usher in the reality of the Body of Christ for the one new man.
Please pray that many saints in the Lord's recovery between the ages of 35 and 65 will seize this opportunity to be perfected. The application deadline is August 10. For more details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
Bibles for America
BfA has fulfilled over 50,000 Bible orders so far in 2021. This is the largest number of orders we've ever shipped out during the period of January to May. Despite the many restrictions resulting from the pandemic, by the Lord's mercy we've been able to meet this growing demand for Bibles.
As we look to the Lord regarding reopening the distribution center to volunteers, please pray that He would cover all the packaging and shipping processes so that the orders would be fulfilled in a smooth and efficient way. Pray also that these Bibles would be read by God's seekers all over this country.
GTCA Cities – Cincinnati
The second of four GTCA mini-conferences is this Saturday, June 5 at 9:00 am and 4:00 pm PDT (12:00 pm and 7:00 pm EDT). This conference will be with the church in Cincinnati, Ohio. It will cover the Lord's present move in the United States. Zoom information will be posted at http://gtca.us.
Albania
The Rhema literature in Albanian is now available in both electronic format and as printed books. In Tirana, two small groups meet during the week to enjoy the books, which have enriched our fellowship and provided the necessary food to care for the new ones. We noticed the importance of having the proper atmosphere and relationships in the church life to lead the saints to waters of rest. Practically this means we need to love and consider the saints and care and pray for them. The ministry of the age is not a set of doctrines but a ministry of life that brings us into the genuine church life.
As the church life in Tirana is still quite young, we need much prayer and blending. We need patterns of those who enjoy the Lord through His word and follow the Lamb wherever He goes. We praise the Lord for what He is doing in this city and what He will do throughout Albania!
For more recent reports from Central and Eastern Europe, visit http://churchesceeb.org/2021-reports-en.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Week 12 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
Next week, on June 7, we will begin Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). - FTTA Information Session: Saturday, June 5, 2:00 to 3:00 pm. This webinar includes a word of fellowship, current exceptions for the Fall term, testimonies, and Q&A. Please register by June 3.
- Holy Bible Recovery Version App is the official app from Living Stream Ministry that contains the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible with its numerous study aids, including the subject and background of each book; detailed, interpretive outlines; enlightening footnotes, valuable cross-references, and a variety of useful charts and maps. Available in the App Store and Google Play.
- Living Stream Ministry has launched a digital newsletter called "Having This Ministry…" To learn more and subscribe, go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- July Semiannual Video Training Registration: LA's video training begins July 5. See our church app or http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Registration must be completed by June 15.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of May 23
Being Open, Fresh, Living, and Young with the Lord
"Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your warfare, in the splendor of their consecration. Your young men will be to You like the dew from the womb of the dawn… He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore He will lift up His head." (Psalm 110:3, 7)
In the eyes of the Lord our willing consecration, our offering ourselves to Him, is a matter of splendor. We need to rise up early in the morning to contact the Lord so that we may enter into the womb of the dawn to be conceived as the dew for Christ's watering. Pray for all the saints to keep themselves empty, open, fresh, living, and young with the Lord for His new move.
Continuing in the Grace of God
"Furthermore we make known to you, brothers, the grace of God which has been given in the churches…" (2 Cor. 8:1)
We thank the Lord for making known to us, in the midst of the outward environment, the grace of God which has been given in the church in Los Angeles, as shown by the increase in offerings compared to 2019. Now we pray for further grace to have a new, fresh, living beginning as we gradually return to meeting in person, both in homes and halls.
Caring for Our Next Generation
Continue to pray for the church's greatest asset—our next generation, particularly our children, sixth graders, junior high and high school young people. Pray for the care and shepherding they need to know the Lord, grow in the divine life, and offer themselves willingly, like dew, to refresh the Lord for His encouragement, and for the church in Los Angeles to have a bright future.
International Memorial Day Blending Conference
The 2021 International Memorial Day Blending Conference will be held online. The general subject is "Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age." The church in LA will stream the messages in corporate Zoom meetings according to language, including prophesying sessions after each message. Arrangements will be communicated by hall or district. Messages will start promptly at its scheduled time, so saints are encouraged to log in early.
The meeting schedule is as follows:
Meeting 1: Friday, May 28, 7:00 pm
Meeting 2: Saturday, May 29, 10:00 am
Meeting 3: Saturday, May 29, 7:00 pm
Meeting 4: Lord's Day, May 30, 10:00 am
Meeting 5: Lord's Day, May 30, 7:00 pm
Meeting 6: Monday, May 31, 10:00 am
We are looking to the Lord and expecting Him to use this pandemic to do something extraordinary among us during this time. We are praying that He will help us to open this channel for the release of His Word through this ministry. To that end, we hope that all the churches and all the saints will prepare for this upcoming time of ministry and sanctify these days for the hearing of faith among us everywhere. Please pray for His blessing upon this conference. May it turn out to be a real memorial among us to the shame of God's enemy and to the glory of God's grace!
FTTA
"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" (Ezek. 36:37). The footnote on inquired says, "The Lord promised to increase our number with men like a flock, but we need to pray for this and ask Him to do it."
May we hold the Lord to His promise of increasing our number with men like a flock through our prayer and asking Him for 120 FTTA trainees and 20 FTTA-XB trainees for Fall 2021!
Bibles for Europe
Currently, 250,000 copies of the NT Recovery Version are being printed in English, French, German, Polish, and Spanish for distribution in Europe. Please pray for the spreading of the translated, interpreted, and understood divine truths in Europe for the Lord's recovery and restoration.
India
Please continue to pray:
- For the rising up of the spirit of and burden for the gospel among the saints in the churches for the spreading of the gospel of the kingdom to friends, relatives and neighbors;
- For the Lord's encouragement and protection of all the saints in India (192 churches; 8,000 saints) and strengthening of the church life with mutual love, care, and shepherding; and
- For those who are in high position to have the wisdom to handle properly the current pandemic.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: REPEAT Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
May 31: Week 12 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
June 7: Week 1 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). - Living Stream Ministry has launched a digital newsletter called "Having This Ministry..." To learn more and subscribe, go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- National College Training: July 21 to 25. Registration due June 7 at http://collegetraining.org.
- July Semiannual Training Registration: LA's Semiannual Video Training begins July 5. For schedule and registration, see our church app or http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla. Registration must be completed by June 15.
- A Timely Speaking of Supply: Each week Living Stream Ministry posts a free video from messages given by Brother Lee at http://lsm.org/timely-speaking.html.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of May 16
Fearing the Lord in the Economy of God
"The fear of Jehovah is a fountain of life, that one may turn aside from the snares of death." (Prov. 14:27)
"And the Spirit of Jehovah will rest upon Him…the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of Jehovah." (Isa. 11:2)
The first principle for man to live a proper human life is for him to fear the Lord, to revere the Lord. To fear the Lord is to be in fear of offending Him, of losing His presence, and of not receiving Him as our reward in the next age. We should be in fear of missing the Lord's smile in this age and His reward in the next.
In His human living, Jesus was filled with the Spirit of the reverential, obedient fear of the Lord. He also delighted in the fear of the Lord. In His resurrection he is now the all-inclusive, bountifully supplying Spirit of Jesus Christ as the Spirit of the fear of Jehovah. Day by day we need to completely and absolutely open to the Father and ask Him to fill us with the resurrected Christ as the all-inclusive Spirit which is also the Spirit of the fear of the Lord that includes the human living and ministry of the Lord Jesus. (CS Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, msg. 11, I, II.B, B.3)
Church in Los Angeles Joint Meeting
The whole church in Los Angeles—all halls, districts, and languages—will meet together on Zoom this Lord's Day, May 23, starting at 10:00 am. This time will include the Lord's Table, ministry and encouraging fellowship, and the annual business meeting of the church. There will be translation to Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. The Zoom link is http://tinyurl.com/churchinla. Groups or districts are welcome to gather, with the usual safeguards, to participate in this meeting. Please pray for a healthy attendance and participation, and for much blending and mutual encouragement to all!
In one section of this meeting, the church will hold its annual business meeting. During this time, there will be a review of the church finances, the annual election of the board of directors, and related governance updates. We will also be asking the members of the church to approve updated articles of incorporation in the form set forth below (see Appendix).
These articles have been prepared for us by an outside law firm that has expertise in non-profit corporations. The church in Los Angeles was incorporated in the 1960s and has not had its articles of incorporation updated since then. We are overdue for an update to comport with current law.
Summer School of Truth
This Lord's Day, May 23, is the firm registration deadline for next month's California-wide Summer School of Truth, June 12 to 26. This is a crucial time for our young people to be educated in and to develop a taste for the rich truths that we have inherited in the Lord's recovery.
Please pray for as many of our young people as possible to register on time and that their hearts would be good ground for the Lord's word.
UCLA
Despite the limitations for in-person contact with college students, the Lord still desires that all men be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth! This past school year, the Lord has led us into uncharted territories on the Internet to reach the sons of peace. At present, there are more than 100 incoming freshman who have indicated some interest in our club, Christian Students at UCLA.
This Thursday, we are hosting a High School Seniors' Night to welcome them and introduce them to the club. Please pray that:
- at least 10 incoming students would join;
- each student would be inspired to pursue the Lord while in college; and
- we would have a positive contact with each student over the summer.
National College Training
The 2021 National College Training for the US and Canada will be held July 21 to 25 as a hybrid online and in-person training. The schedule is designed so that those interning, working, or taking summer classes can still fully participate. The early registration deadline is this Lord's Day, May 23. Please pray that the Lord would lead many students, including newly-graduated high school seniors, to consecrate their summer to Him!
Bibles for America
Throughout the pandemic, members of the BfA staff have been commuting to our Distribution Center in Anaheim every week to package and ship Bibles. With an increasing number of people being vaccinated, the brothers are considering the best way to gradually reopen the opportunity for local volunteers to participate in this service. This would allow us to significantly increase the number of Bibles sent out.
Please pray for the Lord's wisdom and covering as we establish safety protocols and determine when to begin this transition. Pray also that Bibles could continue to be shipped out in the best way to meet the need of God's seekers throughout this country.
Germany, Austria, Switzerland
This year May 24 is Pentecost Monday, a holiday in most European nations. The recovery in the German-speaking nations normally has a conference this weekend. The topic of this year's conference is "Let us Exhibit Christ!" It will be held online for the saints in every locality to exhibit Christ and to share their enjoyment and His blessings even during pandemics.
Please ask the Lord to bring many saints and families together and to richly release the sharing!
Israel
"Jehovah said to Abram… I will bless those who bless you, and he who curses you I will curse; and in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." (Gen. 12:1, 3)
Petition the Lord to uphold the land of Israel in this current deadly conflict. We petition Him that the killing will be restricted, the saints protected, and the gospel released.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
May 24: REPEAT Week 11 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
May 31: Week 12 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
June 7: Week 1 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). - July Semiannual Training Registration: LA's Semiannual Video Training will begin on July 5. For schedule and registration, please see our church app or visit http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla and follow instructions carefully. Registration must be completed by June 15.
- Memorial Day Conference Webcast: May 28 to 31. No registration needed; all are welcome!
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Principle—To Change Death into Life. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-principle.
- A Timely Speaking of Supply: Each week Living Stream Ministry posts a free video from messages given by Brother Lee at http://lsm.org/timely-speaking.html. This week's video is "The First God-man's Living—from the Manger to the Cross (2)" from The God-man Living, ch. 4.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Appendix – Amended Articles of Incorporation
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this corporation is The Church in Los Angeles.
ARTICLE II
CORPORATE PURPOSE
This corporation is a religious corporation and is not organized for the private gain of any person. It is organized under the Nonprofit Religious Corporation Law exclusively for religious purposes. The corporation is organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and section 23701(d) of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
The specific and primary purpose for which this corporation is formed is to establish and maintain a church for religious worship.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, this corporation shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the purposes of this corporation, and the corporation shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law, or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law.
No substantial part of the activities of this corporation shall consist of lobbying or propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law, and this corporation shall not participate in or intervene in (including publishing or distributing statements) any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, except as provided in Section 501(h) of the Internal Revenue Code or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law.
ARTICLE III
IRREVOCABLE DEDICATION AND DISSOLUTION
The property of this corporation is irrevocably dedicated to religious purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this corporation shall ever inure to the benefit of any director, officer, or member thereof or to the benefit of any private person. On the winding up and dissolution of this corporation, after paying or adequately providing for the debts, obligations, and liabilities of the corporation, the remaining assets of this corporation shall be distributed to a nonprofit fund, foundation, or corporation that is organized and operated exclusively for religious purposes and that has established its tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States internal revenue law.
ARTICLE IV
GOVERNED BY NONPROFIT CORPORATION LAW
The corporation elects to be governed by all of the provisions of the Nonprofit Corporation Law effective January 1, 1980, not otherwise applicable to it under Part 5 thereof.
Prayer, Week of May 9
The Governing Vision of God's Economy
Proverbs 29:18 says, "Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint." This means that without a vision, the people will become loose, like wild horses in their untamed state. The clearest instance in the New Testament where the word vision is mentioned is in the case of Paul. In Acts 26:19, while he was defending himself before King Agrippa, he uttered this word: "I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision."
Under the heavenly vision we are directed toward God's destination, and our life is controlled according to God's economy. The governing vision of the Bible is the Triune God working Himself into His chosen and redeemed people in order to saturate their entire being with the Divine Trinity for the producing and building up of the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem. (CWWL, 1986, vol. 2, "Crucial Words of Leading in the Lord's Recovery, Book 1: The Vision and Definite Steps for the Practice of the New Way," pp. 4-5; CS Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, msg. 10, I.G-H)
Lord, bring all the saints under the heavenly vision of Your economy!
Church in Los Angeles Joint Meeting
The whole church in Los Angeles—all halls, districts, and languages—will meet together on Lord's Day, May 23, starting at 10 am. This time will include the Lord's Table, ministry and encouraging fellowship, and the annual business meeting of the church. There will be translations to Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. The Zoom information will be communicated next week. Groups or districts are welcome to gather, with the usual safeguards, to participate in this meeting.
Please pray for a healthy attendance and participation, and for much blending and mutual encouragement to all.
Our Young People
We are overjoyed to announce the baptism of some of our young people in Hall 2 this Lord's Day, May 16, at 12:00 pm. Allison and Isaac (6th grade) and David (7th grade) have given themselves to the Lord and made the choice to testify before the world that they belong to Him!
Please pray that all three would:
- Eat a healthy, heavenly diet by reading the Bible with their parents, especially the four gospels;
- Enter into a daily experience of their wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ; and
- Find companions with whom they can pursue the Lord together.
LA YP Parents and Serving Ones Fellowship
This Thursday, May 13, 8:00 to 9:00 pm, there will be an important time of fellowship for the parents and serving ones of the young people in the church in LA. The fellowship will be about the burden for the upcoming SSOT and our church Policy for the Protection of Children and Young People.
Please pray that the Lord would bless this time with His burden and heart for our young people, and lead us in caring for them in the church in LA.
LA College Seniors and Recent Graduates
A special time of fellowship with current college seniors and recent college graduates will take place May 16. We are burdened that this category of saints would receive the proper care and shepherding during this critical transition period.
Please pray that this time would be well attended, that the saints would be receptive and responsive to the fellowship, and that the Lord would use this time to shepherd and care for these ones in every way as they move onto the next stage of their human life.
LA Korean-speaking Gospel Meeting
This Friday, May 14 there will be a Korean-speaking gospel meeting. The churches in Santa Clarita and Torrance will join this time. The invitation with Zoom link is at http://www.tinyurl.com/2021gospelmeeting. Please pray that the Lord would bless this meeting and strengthen the saints to preach the gospel.
SoCal Spanish-speaking Perfecting Training
Saturday afternoon, May 15, there will be a perfecting time on Zoom for Southern California Spanish-speaking brothers who have been invited to ITERO. Lord, release many brothers to register and participate in this time of perfecting for the advancement of Your move in Southern California!
FTTA Short-term
During this Spring 2021 term of the Full-time Training in Anaheim, three virtual short-term sessions were arranged for any college students and young working saints interested in visiting the training. The third session takes place next week from Monday to Wednesday, May 17 to 19. During this time, prospective applicants will have the opportunity to fellowship with current FTTA trainees, attend classes, join the gospel teams, and have a time with FTTA staff members.
Please pray for the saints' visitation of the FTTA and for the Lord's continual calling of recent college graduates and young working saints to offer themselves to be trained in these days.
National Full-timers' Retreat
This week, from Monday to Wednesday, May 10 to 12, the full-timers throughout the US and Canada are gathering online to fellowship about their service to the Lord. Please pray that:
- The Lord would refresh and strengthen the serving spirit in all of these ones.
- All the fellowship would result in an increased one accord for the Lord’s one work in these countries.
- Much mutual learning would equip every full-timer to more effectively preach the gospel and shepherd the college students.
India
Please continue to pray for the second wave of the pandemic in India to be under control without further spreading; that the Lord of all can come into the situation to withstand the work of the enemy and to control the worsening situation.
Also pray for the opening of people's hearts, that through God's sovereign arrangement in the environment as the Leader, many can be open to Him as the Savior, and that He would give repentance and forgiveness of sins to the people.
Lord's Move to Africa
The May 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa reports on how the Lord is strengthening His testimony in South Africa in three strategic cities—Cape Town, Durban and Johannesburg. This issue is available to download in English and Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org/newsletter.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 10 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Principle—To Change Death into Life. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-principle.
- July Semiannual Training Registration: LA's Semiannual Video Training will begin on July 5. For schedule and registration, please see our church app or visit http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla and follow instructions carefully. Registration must be completed by June 15.
- Memorial Day Conference Webcast: May 28 to 31. No registration needed; all are welcome!
- Summer School of Truth: June 12 to 26 on Zoom. Registration deadline is May 23.
- A Timely Speaking of Supply: Each week Living Stream Ministry posts a free video from messages given by Brother Lee at http://lsm.org/timely-speaking.html. This week's video is "The First God-man's Living—from the Manger to the Cross (2)" from The God-man Living, ch. 4.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of May 2
Nuggets and Gems to Build Up Our New Man
"And I will lift up my hand to Your commandments, which I love…" (Psa. 119:48)
"All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for conviction, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work." (2 Tim. 3:16-17)
"It is the Spirit who gives life;…the words which I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." (John 6:63)
To lift up our hand unto the word of God is to indicate that we receive it warmly and gladly and that we say Amen to it. (Psa. 119:48, footnote 1)
According to God's economy, the big proverbs, like nuggets, and the small ones, like gems, are not for us to build up our old man; rather, they are for us to build up our new man to strengthen our life of pursuing Christ for the fulfillment of God's economy in producing and building up the Body of Christ, which consummates the New Jerusalem as God's heart's desire and ultimate goal.
Apart from pray-reading, the book of Proverbs is merely a collection of proverbs, but when we read Proverbs prayerfully, that is, when we pray-read Proverbs, our pray-reading causes all the proverbs to become words of spirit and life to us.
We should not come to Proverbs as a letter-keeper but as a God-seeker; we should be those who seek God with all our heart, who seek God's favor by entreating His countenance, who ask God to cause His face to shine upon us, and who walk in God's presence. (CS Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, msg. 9, III.A, A.5, B)
Being Desperate to Be Made Vital
To be vital means to be living and active. If a group of people are meeting together and are a real vital group—living and active—whoever comes in and sees this will be convinced. If we are so vital, and some seeking ones come in among us, they will be caught by the Lord. Vitality is the most convincing factor… (Fellowship concerning the Urgent Need of the Vital Groups, ch. 25)
Pray that the saints would become desperate to be made vital—living and active—to produce believers who are Christ's increase and who live in His Body, the church. (Beseeching.org, Day 316)
GTCA
Let us continue to intercede for the Lord's move in this country. The burden to "gospelize, truthize, churchize" America, including the need for 300 saints to migrate to 10 cities, has not diminished. For short videos and updates from the 2020 GTCA cities, including Orlando, Richmond, Pittsburgh, Lexington, and Minneapolis, visit http://gtca.us/updates.
Bibles for America
BfA is active on social media in order to reach people with our free offers in a widespread way. Over the years, our audience has grown tremendously on Facebook, and now we're applying to have our Instagram profile become "verified." This will lend credibility to our account and give us access to new features. Once we're verified, people will be able to easily order a Bible from within the Instagram app.
Please pray that BfA would find favor with Instagram as our profile and application for verification are reviewed, and that we would be verified in a timely way. Pray also that the Lord would continue to use our social media channels to reach many hungry seekers with God's Word.
Italy
There will be an online conference in Italy this weekend, May 8 to 9, which will cover messages on "The All-inclusive, Extensive Christ Replacing Culture for the One New Man." Please pray for the Lord to release many Italian-speaking saints and invitees to participate so that they may become lovers of Christ and His return to prepare His bride for the consummation of this age.
India
The second wave of pandemic is much more severe in India than the first. The country was not prepared but had begun to open up and have large gatherings. Now there is an immense shortage of oxygen and hospital beds. The situation is grim and is expected to peak by the second week of May.
This time more saints have been affected. We have lost six brothers and one sister (all above 50 years old). Others have recovered or are recovering with mild to moderate symptoms. The saints are still coming together on Skype, Google Meet or Zoom.
In this situation the Lord is gaining His saints and churches through the Lord's speaking in the ministry. Also, through the supply and prayer of the Body the saints are strengthened in the midst of the difficult situation. We are encouraged by the Lord to continue praying persistently, to spread the gospel and the ministry, and to strengthen the mutual care and shepherding for the building up of the churches.
We need much prayer at this critical time. Please pray for:
- The second wave of COVID to be under control without further spreading, that the Lord of all can come in to withstand the work of the enemy and to control the worsening situation;
- God's sovereign arrangement in the environment as the Leader, that many people can be open to Him as the Savior, to give repentance and forgiveness of sins;
- The rising up of the spirit and the burden for the spreading of the gospel to friends, relatives, and neighbors so that many more can be brought unto salvation;
- Those who are in high position to have the wisdom to handle the current outbreak properly;
- The strengthening of all the saints in India (192 churches; 8,000 saints), and for the strengthening of the church life with mutual love, mutual care, mutual shepherding for the building up.
Lord's Move to Asia
The April 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Asia contains reports on Azerbaijan and Bangladesh:
- http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/E-2021-04.pdf (English)
- http://lmasia.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Asia-2021-04.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 9 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
- FTTA Short-term: The final session this term for college students and young working saints to visit the FTTA is May 17 to 19. Application deadline is May 10.
- LA Joint Meeting: Lord's Day, May 23, we will have a meeting on Zoom of the whole church in LA.
- Memorial Day Conference Webcast: May 28 to 31. No registration needed; all are welcome!
- Summer School of Truth: June 12 to 26 on Zoom for junior high and high school students.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: The most recent video entitled Meeting Together is posted on YouTube and in our church app, with translations in Chinese, Korean and Spanish.
- Bibles for America continues to produce impactful videos, both to spread the good news of the gospel and to convey the truths in the Bible. Watch and share at http://www.youtube.com/biblesforamerica.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of April 25
Experiencing Christ as Wisdom to Us from God
"In whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden." (Col. 2:3)
"But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became wisdom to us from God..." (1 Cor. 1:30)
For Christ to become wisdom to us from God indicates that there is a transmission of Christ as wisdom from God to us for our daily experience. Christ as wisdom should unceasingly flow from God to us to be our present and practical wisdom in our experience. If we are one with the Lord and receive His dispensing, we will experience and enjoy Him as our wisdom day by day and hour by hour.
"In order that now to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenlies the multifarious wisdom of God might be made known through the church." (Eph. 3:10)
When God's chosen and redeemed people partake of and enjoy the riches of Christ, these riches constitute them the church, through which God's multifarious wisdom is made known to the angelic rulers and authorities in the heavenlies. The day is coming when, through the church, Satan and his angels will be put to shame. They will realize that everything they have done has given God the opportunity to manifest His wisdom. (CS Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, msg. 8, IV.C.1-2, 4; V.D.1-2)
The Practical Way to Be Vitalized
"Do not be slothful in zeal, but be burning in spirit, serving the Lord." (Rom. 12:11)
Pray that the saints would take action to be vitalized by being stirred up in the best love for the Lord through repenting prayers, by practicing to fellowship with the Lord and with the seeking saints to gain companions for their labor, and by reconsecrating themselves to the Lord in being transformed by the renewing of their mind and being burning in spirit to serve the Lord, all of which will usher them into a prayer life in which they pray themselves into the all-inclusive Spirit and learn how to follow this Spirit by exercising their spirit. (http://www.Beseeching.org, Day 94)
Thousand Oaks Gospel Meeting
The church in Thousand Oaks will have a Chinese-language gospel meeting on Zoom this Friday, April 30, from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Please pray for the Lord to bring many unsaved people and to speak directly to each one.
West Coast Korean-speaking Blending
This Lord's Day, May 2, all the Korean-speaking saints on the West Coast are invited to join an unprecedented blending conference. The participating churches are not only from California but also include localities in Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. We will enjoy the messages from ITERO ("Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life").
Please pray for the Lord to bless this gathering with His speaking, and for all the saints to be enlightened, encouraged, nourished, and shepherded. Also pray for the group times to facilitate more blending for the reality of the Body of Christ.
Central and Eastern European and Balkans Blending Conference
This weekend, from April 30 to May 2, there will be an online blending conference for saints throughout the Central, Eastern and Balkan areas of Europe. The general subject is "The Genuine Church Life." The main language during the conference will be English, but all the fellowship and messages will be translated into Romanian, Bulgarian, Hungarian, Czech/Slovak, Serbo-Croatian, Polish, Albanian, Greek, Turkish, and Chinese. Lord bless your move in central and eastern Europe! More information is at http://www.churchesceeb.org.
Albania
The saints in Albania will be participating in this conference. They are requesting prayer in four areas:
- That the Lord would give extra grace and wisdom to the translators and proofreaders, so that the audio translation can be made available on a separate channel. May this labor be completed in time!
- That the saints would actually join. These wonderful messages would really open up fellowship concerning the proper church life, the Lord's recovery, and the Body of Christ.
- For the proper digestion of the messages after the conference.
- For the Lord to bring out the proper function of all the saints. May the Lord fan into flame the spirit for the gospel as a way for us all to enter into the deep experience of Christ and into the practice of the God-ordained way.
Angola
Angola is the largest of the six Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa. In 2015, through the coordination and supply of the Body, the church life in Angola was revived with visiting saints from Brazil and South Africa. There are currently around 600 saints meeting in 2 localities.
During the pandemic, the saints in Angola received the burden to join the global prayer for 30 days. Afterwards, the saints in Uige had the burden to continue the practice of daily prayer. Such a prayer life has brought in many blessings. They have witnessed an increase in the number of saints coming into the church life: more than 30 new ones have been baptized. In addition, the Lord has raised up gatherings of believers in two neighboring cities, Maquela and Bungo. May such blessings continue to abound and to flow to other cities in Angola, in particular to the capital city Luanda.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 8 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: A new video entitled Meeting Together is posted on YouTube and in our church app, with translations in Chinese, Korean and Spanish.
- LA Joint Meeting: Lord's Day, May 23, we will have a meeting on Zoom of the whole church in LA.
- 6th Grade Parents & Serving Ones: On May 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 am, there will be a time of fellowship for serving ones and parents of our 6th graders. Translation into Chinese, Korean and Spanish will be provided. Registration is still open at http://scyp.com/6thgrade.
- Bibles for America continues to produce impactful videos, both to spread the good news of the gospel and to convey the truths in the Bible. Watch and share at http://www.youtube.com/biblesforamerica.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of April 18
The Move of God in Man in the New Testament
"But You have hidden these things in Your heart; I know that this is with You." (Job 10:13)
"And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is, which throughout the ages has been hidden in God, who created all things." (Eph. 3:9)
The move of God in man is in the New Testament to meet man's need before God. The move of God in man is from the first coming of Christ to the manifestation of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth. This move is unprecedented in human history. (CS Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, msg. 7, II)
As believers in Christ, we need to grow in the divine life of Christ that we may be transformed into what Christ is through the life-dispensing Spirit, that we may be built up with the saints to be the Body of Christ, the organism of the Triune God in Christ, and to be the new man as God's new creation to carry out God's eternal economy in the consummation of the New Jerusalem as the mingling of the processed Triune God with the glorified tripartite man, to be the corporate God-man's manifestation in eternity. (Life-study of Job, msg. 35)
ITERO
"...O Jehovah, revive Your work in the midst of the years; in the midst of the years make it known..." (Hab. 3:2)
"Practice these things; be in them, that your progress may be manifest to all." (1 Tim. 4:15)
Last weekend's International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones was on "Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life." The speaking was timely, critical, and strategic for the progress of all the saints and churches in the Lord's recovery, which is to build up Zion—the overcomers as the reality of the Body of Christ consummating in the New Jerusalem.
If we practice living the life of a God-man, which is the reality of the Body of Christ, spontaneously a corporate model will be built up, a model living in the economy of God. This model will be the greatest revival in the history of the church to bring the Lord back. (Msg. 1, III)
Pray for the digestion and application of these messages, that the Lord would gain our prayer, practice, and perseverance to cooperate with Him to bring in a new revival that will end this age.
Sixth Grade Students
We are looking to the Lord to save every sixth-grade student in the church in Los Angeles. In recent weeks we have been reading about the Lord's suffering and crucifixion in accomplishing redemption in the Gospel of Mark. Each student has been touched with the Lord's love toward them in addition to having been made aware of their own sins. In total there are 10 students: Jacob, Isaac, Karsten, Isaac, Tyler, David, Zoe, Allison, Felicity, and Betsabe. Please continue to pray:
- that each student would regularly attend our Lord's Day evening gatherings;
- that the Lord would convict each one of their sins;
- that they would confess their sins and touch the Lord with their spirit;
- that the Lord would appear to each one in a personal and loving way;
- that they would each experience a special and unforgettable salvation; and
- that they would have a strong baptism and a good beginning to their Christian life.
Bibles for America
BfA is responding to the public's growing demand for video content by continuing to produce videos, both to spread the good news of the gospel and to convey the truths in the Bible. Videos have proven to be a critical means of reaching people in an impactful way, especially since the start of the pandemic. BfA videos were viewed on YouTube 2.7 million times in 2020, up from 854,000 views in 2019. They are available to watch and share at http://www.youtube.com/biblesforamerica.
In order to continue to reach more people, BfA has begun to prepare a studio space in Irvine. Having our own studio would allow us to streamline our production process and explore more ways to create engaging, high-quality videos. Please pray for the completion of this studio space in a timely way. Pray also that existing videos would reach even more people searching for the meaning of their life.
GTCA
Let us continue to intercede for the Lord's move in this country. The burden to "gospelize, truthize, churchize" America has not diminished! For short videos and updates from the 2020 GTCA cities, including Orlando, Richmond, Pittsburgh, Lexington, and Minneapolis, visit http://gtca.us/updates.
Francophone Conference
A conference for French-speaking saints will be held this weekend, April 23 to 25. The online format is an excellent opportunity for churches to blend from many French-speaking countries, including France, Belgium, Switzerland, Benin, Côte d'Ivoire, and Senegal. Other countries and territories will also participate, but not at the same time due to timezone challenges; these include some cities in Canada, plus Martinique and Guadeloupe in the Caribbean.
Please pray that all the French-speaking saints and churches would enter into the up-to-date ministry of the age and touch the up-to-date burden for the Lord's advance. For more conference information, visit http://www.egliseaparis.fr.
Also pray for the ongoing literature distribution through Bibles for Europe. Although we are passing through another period of pandemic restrictions in Europe, the Lord is providing access to new contacts through a steady stream of online Bible orders and Bible study requests. May the Lord strengthen and supply the saints who have offered themselves to the Lord to contact and care for these new ones from all over French-speaking Europe!
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 7 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Vol. 2.
- 6th Grade Parents & Serving Ones: On May 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 am, there will be a time of fellowship for serving ones and parents of our 6th graders. Translation into Chinese, Korean and Spanish will be provided. Register by April 24 at http://scyp.com/6thgrade.
- West Coast Korean-speaking Blending Conference will take place on Lord's Day, May 2 from 9:30 am to 12:20 pm on Zoom.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: A new video entitled Seasons of Refreshing is posted at http://youtube.com/churchinlosangeles; and in our church app, with translated versions in Chinese, Korean and Spanish. We hope the saints will be encouraged to contact the Lord for a new beginning.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of April 11
Gaining God to Be Transformed by God for the Purpose of God
“Whenever their heart turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. And the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. But we all with unveiled face, beholding and reflecting like a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image...” (2 Cor. 3:16-18)
God’s purpose in dealing with His holy people is that they would be emptied of everything and receive only God as their gain; the desire of God’s heart is that they would gain Him in full as life, as the life supply, and as everything to their being.
In God’s appearing to him, Job saw God in order to gain God to be transformed by God for the purpose of God. Seeing God issues in the transformation of our being into God’s image. Hence, the more we look at Him as the consummated Spirit in our spirit, the more we receive all His ingredients into our being as the divine element to discharge our old element so that our whole being becomes new. We can remain in the daily process of transformation by turning our heart to the Lord so that we can behold and reflect Him with an unveiled face. (CS Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Key Statement 3; msg. 6, II.B, 1-2)
ITERO
The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones will take place by webcast this weekend, April 16 to 18, with brothers participating from around the globe. The general subject is “Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life.”
Please pray for the rich and timely supply of Christ to be ministered to all the brothers that they may grow in life and be equipped further in their function and service. May the Lord gain and perfect all the brothers as 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 their respective local churches.
Los Angeles
Over the past year, the pandemic has undoubtedly brought in many complexities. It has impacted our practice of the church life, especially in its many outward arrangements. As the environment and government allow, and according to the Lord’s leading, we will likely see more in-person meetings in different halls and districts. But, because the timing may not be the same for every saint, Zoom meetings will just as likely remain with us for a while.
All our meetings in LA should be rich with Christ! All our gatherings, whether on Zoom or in-person, need the functioning in the measure of every saint. Therefore, in whichever way we gather, may we prioritize a certain simplicity—of being strengthened into our mingled spirit, the true place of worship according to John 4:24. As we continue to experiment with outward arrangements, let us pray for the Lord’s covering and blessing, and for all the saints to receive grace to care inwardly for Christ as life.
California High School Seniors
Thank you for your prayers for the high school seniors and for the California College Connect Event this past weekend! We had a very good turnout, heard some relevant sharing from college students, and established connections with YP and college students that will be helpful in the future. Because an unprecedented number of seniors applied to UC schools this year, many of our own YP did not get into the schools to which they were expecting to go. Please pray for the Lord to shepherd them, comfort them, and lead them in their college decision for the sake of His purpose!
Junior High Conference Follow-up
Thank you for your prayers for last weekend’s junior high conference. There was a sweet time of blending with other localities from all over California during the group activities. From Los Angeles, 23 young people attended. They came to appreciate the Spirit of God brooding over the death situation to generate life, and that they have a human spirit to contact, receive, and contain God.
Please pray that our young people would build up the practice and habit of exercising their spirit by calling on the name of the Lord and pray-reading the Word, and being filled with the Spirit by speaking, singing, psalming, giving thanks to God, and subjecting themselves to one another (Eph. 5:19-21).
Videos of the conference messages, including a special burden on April 11 for parents and serving ones, may be viewed at http://www.scyp.com/juniorhigh.
Myanmar
There is an urgent financial need for saints in Myanmar. A total of 57 saints, comprising 11 families, took the ground of the church in their village and have been meeting for over two years. This has caused them to be persecuted by other Christian groups; as a result, they have all been ordered to leave by April 15, otherwise their houses will be burned down. These saints will thus migrate to another village about 100 km away, where there is a church and also some land to accommodate them. Offerings made to Myanmar for this need will be used for the purchase of this land, the building of houses, and assistance during this transition process. Please pray for the saints’ safety and transition.
For those who wish to offer financial assistance, for fastest processing, please follow the instructions for wire transfer or Zelle at http://nztc.ac.nz/myanmar; a short video fellowship is also at the site. Alternatively, offerings marked for ‘Myanmar’ under the ‘Other’ designation in Subsplash may also be made to the church in Los Angeles.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 6 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: A new video entitled Seasons of Refreshing is posted at http://youtube.com/churchinlosangeles and in our church app, with translated versions in Chinese, Korean and Spanish. We hope the saints will be encouraged to contact the Lord for a new beginning.
- 6th Grade Parents & Serving Ones: On May 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 am, there is an important time of fellowship via Zoom. It will cover practical matters on how to help the newly saved 6th graders begin to have a healthy Christian life and church life. Translation into Chinese, Korean and Spanish will be provided. Register by April 24 at http://www.scyp.com/6thgrade.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of April 4
Being Constituted God-men for God's Intention
"Yet a little while and the world beholds Me no longer, but you behold Me; because I live, you also shall live." (John 14:19)
"He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked." (1 John 2:6)
God does not want us, the believers in Christ, to be a good man; He wants us to be a God-man. Christ's God-man living constituted Him to be a prototype so that He might be reproduced in us and live again in us, the God-men. As the expansion, increase, reproduction, and continuation of the first God-man, we should live the same kind of life that He lived.
The One who lived the life of a God-man is now the Spirit living in us and through us; we should not allow anything other than this One to fill us and occupy us. When we open ourselves to the Lord, love Him, and desire to be joined to Him as one, we are filled and possessed by Him and live out the glory of divinity and the virtues of humanity. (CS Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, msg. 5, II.D, V, V.C, C.4, E)
Christ Being Our Goal
"Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal…" (Phil. 3:13-14)
The pandemic seems to be subsiding in California but there are still many uncertainties. Only the Lord knows what is ahead of us. Gaining Christ is our focus. Decisions about increased in-person or new in-hall meetings will be announced as they are made. We will proceed cautiously and abide by the government requirements. We should all exercise the attitude expressed in Philippians 3:13-14.
Let us pray and encourage one another to forget the times behind and stretch forward to pursue more of Christ and to enter into a fresh experience of meeting and enjoying Christ. May we all look away from the current limitations unto Him and open ourselves to whatever He has for us.
California Junior High Conference
Our first-ever California-wide junior high conference will be this weekend, April 9 to 11. The topic is "The Spirit." Please pray for the Lord to prepare the hearts of the young people and gain the response He desires. Pray also that they would be encouraged by and blended with the other young people across California through the group activities. May the junior high students come to know the Spirit and their spirit.
California Open House Connect Event
This Saturday, April 10 at 3:00 pm, there will be a California-wide Open House Connect Event for high school juniors and seniors. The purpose of this event is to help our graduating high schoolers learn more about starting life as a college student, connect with current college students all around California, and have a strong start to their freshman year.
Our high school seniors are currently hearing back from colleges and needing to make decisions for the fall. Please pray for each one to have solid experiences with the Lord and sweet fellowship with the Body. Pray for the Lord to gain each one at this critical juncture and for His perfect will to be done. May every high school senior learn to follow the Lamb and stay "connected" wherever He would lead them.
FTTA-MA
The middle-age full-time training has been closed for three terms due to the pandemic. It will reopen for the fall term on August 30. Please ask the Lord to 1) arrange the environment to support a full and healthy reopening, 2) be wisdom to the brothers preparing for the reopening, and 3) encourage many middle-age saints around the earth to join this training.
For more information, see http://www.fttamidage.org.
Bibles for America
Although the free Bibles and books from BfA can only be sent to people in the United States, our online resources are enjoyed by people all over the world. In particular, we have been hearing lately from people all over Africa who are reading posts on the BfA Blog.
Please pray for all those who visit http://www.bfa.org to read the BfA Blog, download our free e-books, watch our videos, and access our Share the Good News page. Pray that they would continue to be nourished, enlightened, and enlivened by the resources they find on our website.
Europe
Please continue to pray for the migration of burdened saints to the six designated European cities of Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, Lisbon, Rome, and Zurich. More details on these cities can be found at http://lordsmove.org/reports.html.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.
- 6th Grade Conference Update: There will no longer be a 6th Grade Conference as previously announced. However, on May 1 from 10:00 to 11:30 am, there is an important time of fellowship for the 6th graders' parents and serving ones via Zoom. It will cover practical matters on how to help the newly saved 6th graders begin to have a healthy Christian life and church life. Translation into Chinese, Korean and Spanish will be provided. Register by April 24 at http://www.scyp.com/6thgrade.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: A video entitled That We May Gain Christ is available to watch at http://youtube.com/churchinlosangeles and in our church app, with translated versions in Chinese, Korean and Spanish. We hope the saints will be encouraged by this short fellowship to focus on what should be our primary goal in these days of change and uncertainty.
- Radio broadcast in Spanish: El Estudio-vida de la Biblia con Witness Lee is broadcast Mondays through Fridays, 9:00 to 9:30 pm, and Lord's Days, 6:00 to 6:30 am. LA County 100.3 FM; San Fernando Valley and Ventura County 90.3 FM.
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of March 28
The Center of the Universe
"And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, as well as the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Gen. 2:9)
"Blessed are those who wash their robes that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city." (Rev. 22:14)
The tree of life is the center of the universe. According to the purpose of God, the earth is the center of the universe, the garden of Eden is the center of the earth, and the tree of life is the center of the garden of Eden. Hence, the universe is centered on the tree of life. Nothing is more central and crucial to both God and man than the tree of life. The tree of life in the garden was an indicator that God desires to be our life in the form of food. (The Conclusion of the New Testament, p. 429)
We need a vision of the tree of life. The tree of life signifies the Triune God in Christ to dispense Himself into His chosen people as life in the form of food. (CS Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, msg. 4, III.A)
California High School Conference
Thank you for your prayers! Of the 53 saints from Los Angeles who attended last weekend's California-wide high school conference, 38 were our young people. There was a good atmosphere of blending among the SoCal and NorCal saints. The young people were encouraged that an overcomer is a normal believer who overcomes by fighting the good fight, running the race, keeping the faith, and loving the Lord's appearing. Recorded meetings from the conference are available to watch here. Please pray for our young people to continue pressing on both personally and with their companions.
Gospel to All the Nations
The next Gospel to All the Nations session will be held by Zoom this Saturday, April 3 at 1:00 pm with fellowship continuing from the Gospel of John. The fellowship will be on "The Sufficiency of the Son's Life-giving." No registration needed; simply click on the link to join at http://gospeltoallthenations.com. Past sessions are also available for viewing at this site.
All the people of every nation are invited to join! Those of African origin are particularly encouraged to join and to invite friends, relatives, and colleagues. Come and see how the life of Christ meets the need of every person and enjoy the pure ministry of the Word as the gospel of the kingdom (Matt. 24:14).
United Kingdom
The annual London International Blending Conference will be online from April 2 to 4. Please pray for the saints' timely registration and for the Lord's speaking to each participant – that each one would be prepared to receive it. Pray also for all the logistical aspects of this conference, including technology and translation, to bind any frustration of the enemy.
May this blending of many localities and countries release much spiritual nourishment and revelation, and impart a vision of God's eternal purpose concerning Christ and the church for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Myanmar
Please pray for the saints and the Lord's testimony to be preserved and protected during the present political turbulence.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Crystallization-study of Job, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
- Words of Fellowship to the Church in LA: A new video entitled That We May Gain Christ is available to watch now on YouTube and in our church app, with translated versions in Chinese, Korean and Spanish. We hope the saints will be encouraged by this short fellowship to focus on what should be our primary goal in these days of change and uncertainty.
- LSM Audiobooks are available for select titles on platforms such as Audible and Amazon. Visit http://www.lsm.org/audiobooks.html.
- Life-study of the Bible with Witness Lee: This 30-minute program focuses on the enjoyment of the divine life as revealed in the Scriptures. Ministry portions are followed by a discussion, including helpful questions and answers. The entire archive is available for free at http://www.lsmradio.com. In particular, saints may be interested in Job (15 episodes) and Proverbs and Ecclesiastes (10 episodes).
- Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.