God’s Faithfulness in Fulfilling His Economy
“They are saturated with the fatness of Your house, and You cause them to drink of the river of Your pleasures.” (Psa. 36:8)
“God is faithful, through whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.” (1 Cor. 1:9)
God intended to dispense Himself into man as man’s satisfaction so that He might be enlarged, but man became unfaithful and unchaste and forsook God for idols. An idol in our heart is anything within us that we love and treasure more than the Lord and that replaces the Lord in our life.
Although we are unfaithful, God is faithful. God is faithful in His purpose to turn us from idols and bring us back to Himself. Our peace, safety, health, and possessions may become idols to us, but God is faithful to take these things away so that we may drink of Him as the fountain of living waters. If we realize that we have been unfaithful to God, we may repent and weep, but then we should begin to drink of the living waters, praising God, giving thanks to him for everything, and enjoying Him. This is what God wants. God is not interested in anything other than our enjoyment of Christ. (Crystallization-Study of Jeremiah and Lamentations, msg. 3, II.C, C.1, III.A, A.5, B)
ITERO
The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones will take place by webcast this weekend, October 2 to 4, with brothers participating from around the globe. The general subject is “The Christian Life, the Church Life, the Consummation of the Age, and the Coming of the Lord.”
Please pray for the rich and timely supply of Christ to be ministered to all the brothers that they may grow in life and be equipped further in their function and service. Through such perfecting times, may the Lord gain all the brothers as able ministers of the New Testament, effective building material for the universal building up of the Body of Christ, and good stewards and serving ones in their respective local churches.
United States
“I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, thanksgivings be made on behalf of all men; on behalf of kings and all who are in high position, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity.” (1 Tim. 2:1-2)
The elections for the U.S. president and congress, along with some senate seats and governorships, will take place Tuesday, November 3. We pray to release on earth the authority of the “Ruler of the kings of the earth” (Rev. 1:5) for His choice of elected officials.
UCLA Fresh Start
The UCLA Fall Quarter opens this week with classes beginning October 1. Last Thursday, as part of our campus club’s Fresh Start welcome week, we held an online “meet-the-staff night” where the newer full-timers shared their testimonies. Originally intended just for our existing students, this meeting was expanded to include freshmen we met in the summer. At least 12 new freshmen joined, which was very encouraging!
Please pray that our freshman contacts—both those who attended and those who did not—would receive the follow-up care and shepherding. May the Lord make us a corporate net for “catching men alive” (Luke 5:10) for His purpose!
United Kingdom – Brexit
Brexit negotiations enter a key stage in the coming months. Please pray for a relationship between the UK and the European Union that will not hinder blending among the churches, visitation by the co-workers, or participation in trainings and conferences in the UK and Europe.
Lord’s Move to Asia
The LMA newsletter is now available in web format as well as PDF download. The September issue contains reports and prayer burdens from Vietnam and Central Asia:
- English: http://lmasia.org/uncategorized/september
- Chinese: http://lmasia.org/zh-hans/月刊/2020-newsletter-ch/九月
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Week 3 of Crystallization-study of Jeremiah and Lamentations.
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Ministry & Gospel: There will not be a Ministry & Gospel Meeting this Lord’s Day, October 4. The series resumes the following week, October 11. Previous meetings can be viewed and shared at http://youtube.com/churchinlosangeles.
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SCYP Fall Conferences: The junior high conference will be held online from October 9 to 11 (registration was due September 27); the high school conference is from October 23 to 25 (registration due October 11). The cost is $15 per person.
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Interim Instructions for Giving: Since our meeting halls are still closed, instructions for where to mail checks and options for online giving are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
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Interim guidelines for in-person meetings are posted at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/covid19.
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Receive prayer and announcements by email: sign up at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/prayer.