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
- 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).
- High School Brothers Conference is April 7 to 9 at Oak Glen. Registration is due March 26.
- 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).
- 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.