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Experiencing the Development of the Divine Life

“His divine power has granted to us all things which relate to life and godliness…He has granted to us precious and exceedingly great promises that through these you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption which is in the world by lust. And for this very reason also, adding all diligence, supply bountifully in your faith virtue…” (2 Peter 1:3-5)

The kingdom of God is Christ Himself as the seed of life sown into His believers, God’s chosen people, and developing into a realm over which God rules as His kingdom in His divine life.

We need to experience the development of the divine life and the divine nature contained in the divine seed that has been sown into us so that we may have a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom. We should be diligent to pursue the growth and development of the divine life and divine nature for a rich entrance into the eternal kingdom. (The Development of the Kingdom of God, IV.,V.,V.B)

Lord, make us diligent in pursuing the development of Your life and nature!

We Have Not Yet Attained, but We Pursue

“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.” (Phil. 3:8-9a)

The excellency of the knowledge of Christ is the excellency of Christ realized by us. Christ is excellent in Himself but our realization is limited. We need to have a vision of the preciousness of Christ and the excellency of the knowledge of the all-inclusive, unlimited Christ. (Memorial Day Conference, msg. 5, II.B, B.1)

“Not that I have already obtained or am already perfected, but I pursue….one thing I do: Forgetting the things which are behind and stretching forward to the things which are before, I pursue toward the goal for the prize.” (Phil. 3:12-14a)

Like Paul, we should pursue Christ Himself and “pursue toward the goal for the prize.” In order to pursue Christ, we should not think that we have attained, and we should forget the things which are behind and stretch “forward to the things which are before.” (Memorial Day Conference, msg. 6, III, III.A)

SoCal Blending Conference and Weekend Children’s Camp

“God has blended the body together…” (1 Cor. 12:24b)

In the blending of the churches we receive nourishment, we receive revelation, and we receive a vision of God’s eternal purpose concerning Christ and the church. Such a blending is not only for our own mutual spiritual benefit but is also for the mutual building up of the Body of Christ. (1993 Blending Conference Messages concerning the Lord’s Recovery and Our Present Need, ch. 2)

This weekend, June 8 to 9, the Southern California Blending Conference will be held at the Ministry Conference Center (1200 N. Hubbell Way, Anaheim, CA 92801). For the last four years, we have held similar conferences, and each time all who attended were encouraged. This practice of gathering has afforded the Lord an opportunity to speak a specific word for our present need. Bring your personal FM radio for translation into Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. The schedule is:
Saturday: 4:00–5:45 pm Meeting 1; 5:45–7:00 Break (no food for sale); 7:00–8:45 pm Meeting 2
Lord’s Day: 10:00–10:30 am Lord’s Table; 10:30 am–12:30 pm Meeting 3

The Weekend Children’s Camp for K–6 will take place during all sessions in Anaheim at 1853 W Ball Rd. Please note: Lord’s Day, June 9, there will be no meetings in any of the halls in LA.

Please pray strongly for the Lord to gather all the saints and children for this special time of blending and that He will speak a timely word to meet the present need of all churches in Southern California.

All information, including children registration, is at http://www.socalblending.org. Please register your children byTuesday, June 4.

Semiannual Training Webcasts in Los Angeles

This summer’s Semiannual Training (July 1 to 6) will continue the Crystallization-study of Numbers. For those not attending the live sessions in Anaheim, there are multiple webcast locations in LA: three simulcasts in English (Halls 2, 4, 5); one in Chinese (Hall 3); two in Korean (Halls 1, 2); one in Spanish (Hall 1), and one delayed webcast in Spanish (Hall 2). The deadline to register is June 11 ($105). For more information, please fellowship with the registration coordinator in your district.

Ask the Lord to increase our number participating in His speaking to the churches in this training. Lord, make us willing and ready to be trained and formed into Your army!

Prayer for North America College Training

NACT is July 14 to 20 in Champaign, Illinois. 2800 have registered including more than 1900 students from 585 college campuses in 365 cities in 41 nations. The goals of the training are to

  • supply college students with a vision,

  • equip them with truth, help them in experience of life, perfect them in preaching the gospel,

  • develop their character so they can become useful vessels for the building up of the Body of Christ, both during and beyond their college years, and

  • touch many hearts for FTTA, FTTA-xB, and Europe.

To join nationwide prayer for NACT, go to collegetraining.org and click on Pray. On the prayer page, there are two options: PRAY and COME and PRAY. The first option allows you or you with companions to sign up to pray 15 minutes, any time between 6 am and 11 pm, any day between June 1 and July 20. You can sign up for one day, one day a week, or many days. The second option is for you to come to Champaign to pray with others during the training. Details are on this webpage.

German-Speaking Conference

June 8 to 10 will be the annual Pentecost-weekend conference for the German-speaking churches. We expect a rich feast and the blessing of the Lord in the fellowship and blending among all the saints. Let us pray that the Lord will release new light into each one of us for the building up of the churches.

United Kingdom

The exit of the UK from the EU (Brexit) has been delayed until October 31, but there is another vote in Parliament this week, and a new prime minister will be selected in the coming weeks. Please continue to pray that the Lord will rule sovereignly over this crucial matter for the advancement of His interests in Europe.

Announcements

  1. Morning Revival: Week 1 of The Development of the Kingdom of God in the Christian Life and the Church Life (April ITERO).

  2. Audio of the May 12 joint meeting of the church in LA is available at http://tinyurl.com/LAnextgen.

  3. July Semiannual Training is July 1 to 6. Registration for LA webcasts ($105) due by June 11 at http://tinyurl.com/summertrainingla.

  4. Summer School of Truth: Please reserve August 9 to 17.