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Gaining Christ to the Fullest Extent

“But what things were gains to me, these I have counted as loss on account of Christ. But moreover I also count all things to be loss on account of the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, on account of whom I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as refuse that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness which is out of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is out of God and based on faith.” (Phil. 3:7-9)

God’s purpose in dealing with those who love Him is that they may gain Him to the fullest extent, surpassing the loss of all that they have other than Him, that He might be expressed through them for the fulfillment of His purpose in creating man.

God’s purpose in dealing with His holy people is that they would be emptied of everything and receive only God as their gain. He wants His people to gain Him, to partake of Him, to possess Him, and to enjoy Him more and more, rather than all other things, until their enjoyment reaches the fullest extent for them to become the New Jerusalem. (Crystallization-study of Job, msg. 1, VI, II.D.3)

All Things Working Together for Good

Romans 8:28 declares, “we know that all things work together for good to those who love God.” The current upswing of the pandemic is very difficult for those who do not daily love and contact God. But divine history is hidden in this human history. During this time, however long it lasts, let us pray that:

  1. We will not wait passively for a better outward situation;

  2. The Lord will strip away more of our natural man and impart more of Himself into us; and

  3. Many people will receive the gospel and turn to pursue the Lord.

A Renewed Consecration

Pray that as we enter into a new year all the saints would see God’s need to give Himself to us and dispense Himself into us for the building up of the church, and that they would respond to God’s need with a fresh consecration. (http://www.Beseeching.org, Day 190)

Oak Glen

Due to the pandemic Oak Glen has not been able to host guests for the past 9 months. We are using funds that were set aside for improvement projects to pay for the monthly operating expenses. We have reduced our monthly expenses where possible to help conserve the funds on hand.

To date the saints have given $6,372,135 and there is a remaining target of $1,525,000 which we hope the churches in Southern California can meet. This amount will go toward needed and planned improvements for the property including new cabins and a new 300-plus-seat multiple-purpose building.

The remaining giving goal for the church in Los Angeles is $150,000 by the end of 2021. The saints are able to make their offerings on a one-time or regular basis through the church app by selecting the “Oak Glen” designation within the app. We encourage the saints to contribute in the final week of this year 2020 and also to plan for their giving over the coming 12 months.

Our trust is in the Lord that we can continue to pay the monthly expenses and also improve the blending center for the saints.

Bibles for America

2020 has been a groundbreaking year for Bibles for America. Thanks to your faithful prayers, we have been able to continue spreading God’s Word not only in the U.S., but also around the world. Below are some of our highlights, which you can read more about on our Year in Review page:

Our hearts are full of praise and thanksgiving to our Savior God for all He’s done in 2020. And we trust that through your continued petitions, prayers, and intercessions, He will use BfA to reach even more people with His Word in the coming year.

Barcelona, Spain

Please pray for the migration of burdened saints to Barcelona, one of six designated European cities. Barcelona is a Spanish- and Catalan-speaking city located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Recognized for its cultural, financial, commercial, and historical importance, it is the second-most populous city in Spain and the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the European Union. About 30 saints meet regularly in the church in Barcelona, which took the ground in 2008. The church life is healthy, faithful to the ministry, and steadfast.

For a detailed presentation, go to: https://www.lordsmove.org/pdfs/Barcelona_Spain_2020-Eng.pdf

European Winter School of Truth

The European Winter School of Truth for young people is currently taking place online from December 26 to January 2. The general subject is “The Bible—The Word of God.” Please pray for the the young people’s participation and openness. Pray also for the spiritual relationship between parents and their children to be strengthened.

Announcements

  1. Morning Revival: Week 3 of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move.

  2. Memorial Meeting for Andrew Yu: Our beloved and faithful brother Andrew Yu departed to be with the Lord on December 20. The church in Anaheim will host an online memorial meeting for our brother on Friday, January 8, 2021, at 5:00 pm. Details will be provided in the coming days.

  3. Ways to Give: Information on setting up online giving through Subsplash, as well as where to mail checks while our meeting halls are closed, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.

  4. Church App: The church in LA has designed a convenient phone/tablet app for the saints of all ages to stay informed with updates and helpful resources. Download at http://www.tinyurl.com/CILAapp.

  5. Church YouTube: Visit http://www.youtube.com/churchinlosangeles for videos from the morning revival, ministry series, and hymns. Feel free to share them with your friends or on social media.