… Until Christ is Formed in Us
Galatians 4:19, “My children, with whom I travail again in birth until Christ is formed in you.”
The burden of the Thanksgiving conference is that we advance, that we move forward. We must move beyond knowing and appreciating to experiencing. We must make definite progress from the wilderness (the soul) to the good land (the mingled spirit), because only here does Christ get formed in us as the materials for the temple, the solid and stable church life. (based on opening word of conference message 5)
Lord, Be Our Treasure, Gain Our Heart and Our Love
Matthew 6:21, “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”
Gospel
The semi-annual Southern California Chinese-speaking gospel forum, dinner, and gospel preaching meeting will be held at Saturday, December 12, 4 pm to 8:30 pm at the meeting hall of the church in Arcadia (630 E. Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006). Please invite Chinese-speaking gospel friends to attend and pray for the Lord’s blessings.
Middle-Age Full-Time Training
Saturday, December 12 thirty-five trainees will graduate from the Middle-Age Training. Please pray for 1) the Lord’s rich dispensing to all who attend the graduation, 2) the graduates following of the Lamb wherever He may go after graduation, 3) the current first term trainees to continue to their second term, 4) more than 35 new trainees to begin in March.
Oak Glen
The closing of escrow for Oak Glen has been delayed to December 9th to give the seller time to complete their requirements. Soon after closing, work will begin on refurbishment of the gym to accommodate more than 500 people for meetings.
You may give for Oak Glen at any time, because after closing of escrow we will be paying off a two- year loan from the seller for 80 percent of the purchase price.
College and High School Final Exams
Our college and high school saints are entering finals this week and next. Please pray that they would come to the Lord to find rest (Matt. 11:28-30) and be His shining testimony to their classmates as they study together that the gospel may flow (Matt. 5:14-16).
Refugees in Europe
The refugee situation in Europe is a big door opened by the Lord. Only once a generation does the recovery see such a mass of hungry, seeking people. An overview, titled Europe and the Refugees, is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer/.
A report from saints in Germany, where the majority of refugees are going: Since late September we have had four rounds of visits to Germany from teams of saints coming to contact the recent migrants from the Middle East. We visited many migrant camps all over Germany and get to know some of the migrants. These people, especially the ones coming from war-torn countries, are open to our visitation.
They have endured much suffering in their home country as well as in their journey to Europe and settlement in Germany, but by the Lord’s mercy He has brought them to Germany to hear the gospel. Many ask us to return and visit them again. At this point we have groups of open contacts awaiting our revisit virtually all over the country. The more camps we visit the more open doors we are able to find.
We realize it is a Body matter regarding what the Lord would do among this group of people both in our prayer as well as in our going, contacting, and shepherding them. Some topics for prayer:
– the Lord’s leading the brothers in their fellowship of how to meet this need;
– the door to all the migrants to remain open and for many to come to definite salvation;
– that this migration open the German people to the gospel;
– the burden to pray, to give, and to go to Europe be borne by churches and saints around the earth.
If you want to participate in prayer for specific refugees, please send an email to pray@AidMyFreedom.com .
If you want to participate in oral or written translation with Arabic, Farsi, or European languages, please go to http://participate.AidMyFreedom.com.
If you want to join a gospelizing and shepherding team in Europe for a few weeks or longer, please go to http://participate.AidMyFreedom.com.
Announcements
Morning revival: Week 2 of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today. Then:
– beginning Monday, December 14, Week 3 of Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today
– beginning Monday, December 21, winter training verses or repeat week 3 of Material Offerings – beginning Monday, December 28, Week 19 in Crystallization-Study of Exodus, vol. 4
Keep the book Material Offerings and the Lord’s Move Today; we will use it more in 2016.