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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

  1. 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).

  2. 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.

  3. Memorial Day Conference Webcast: May 28 to 31. No registration needed; all are welcome!

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.