Prayer, Week of October 3
Crossing the Jordan River and Being Prepared for Battle
"For we who are alive are always being delivered unto death for Jesus' sake that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So then death operates in us, but life in you." (2 Cor. 4:11-12)
Israel's crossing of the river Jordan typifies… the believers' experience of the death of Christ, in which the old man is terminated and buried. We need to realize that our old man, our natural man, is not qualified to fight the spiritual warfare for the gaining of Christ. In Christ we are no longer the old man but a new man.
The priests carrying the Ark of the Testimony stood firmly on dry ground at the bottom of the river Jordan until all the nation had completely crossed over the Jordan. [They] were the first ones to go into the water and the last ones to come up out of the water. They waited at the bottom of the river for all of God's people to cross over. The Lord is seeking for a group of people who, like the priests in Joshua 3 and 4, step into the water, that is, walk into death first. In the Lord's recovery we need to die so that life may work in others; hence, our dying is our working. (Crystallization-Study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, msg. 3, I.C, 2.c, III, A, B.3, C.4)
May we pray for the death of Christ to operate in all the saints so that life could be ministered to others and that the church could find the way of life in order to possess and enjoy the all-inclusive Christ.
International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones
The International Training for Elders and Responsible Ones will take place by webcast this weekend, October 8 to 10, with brothers participating from around the globe. The general subject is "Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery."
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. May the Lord gain and perfect 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.
Please pray that all the elders and responsible brothers throughout the Lord's recovery will receive and enter into the burden of this training and cooperate with the Lord in order for His will to be done on earth and for His eternal purpose to be fulfilled.
Church in Los Angeles Joint Meeting
The whole church in Los Angeles—all halls, districts, and languages—will meet together on Lord's Day, October 17. Saints are encouraged to attend their regular in-person or online gathering by hall at 10:00 am, then join a common Zoom link from 10:45 am to 12:00 pm. There will be translation to Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.
Please pray for a healthy attendance and blending, and for the timely speaking of the Lord as our Captain and Leader to bring all the saints in the church in Los Angeles more into a revived living.
UCLA
Thank you, saints, for all your prayers to defeat the stratagems of the devil and release our continued contact with many UCLA students! Last week we saw solid numbers of students at our Bible study and Friday college meeting, including many new ones. While we are thankful to the Lord for His bountiful blessing, we also have some critical prayer requests for this week (the second full week of classes) that we ask the saints to labor together in prayer on:
- A solid and sweet beginning for each student in their new small group Bible studies this week.
- Setting up specific appointments with students for cherishing and nourishing.
- Connecting with community saints and homes for mutual shepherding.
Bibles for America
Bibles for America hosted a special online event on Thursday, September 23 for the general public, including Bible recipients and BfA Blog subscribers. In total, 141 people joined the event live and the remaining 1,000 who registered will receive the recording, which may be shared with family, friends, and neighbors: http://webinar.biblesforamerica.org.
The focus of this time was on how the Recovery Version can unlock the meaning of God's Word and help us know Him in a deeper way. This was highlighted by a panel of brothers who shared their rich experiences of Christ in the Word.
Please pray that all those who participated in this event would be encouraged to read the Recovery Version and dive into its footnotes. Pray also that they would each have a personal touch with the Lord and learn to draw out the life from His Word.
Sri Lanka
Pray for the translation team to be preserved in their spirit, soul and body and for their families to be blessed and covered. Also pray for the saints there to bear the burden and responsibility to pray, share in, and offer for the translation work.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 3 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 1.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: NO MEETING this Wednesday, October 6. The live broadcast will resume at 7:25 pm on October 13. Past messages may be found at http://www.lsmwebcast.com. Saints may also watch a video of Brother Lee speaking on the Crystallization-study of Song of Songs at http://www.lsm.org/timely-speaking.html; this week's message is "Pursuing Christ for Satisfaction."
- SCYP Fall Conferences: Registration is open for the California-wide young people's conferences for Junior High (October 15 to 17) and High School (October 22 to 24; register by October 10).
- North America Korean-speaking Conference: On Zoom, October 23 (5:00 to 6:30 pm) and October 24 (9:00 am to 12:00 pm). Subject: "Meeting God's Need and Present Needs in the Lord's Recovery."
- Living Stream Ministry's newsletter presents a number of resources to help the saints who desire to attend the December 2021 Semiannual Training on the Crystallization-Study of 1 & 2 Samuel to prepare themselves. See the current issue at http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry.
Prayer, Week of September 26, 2021
Engaging in Corporate Spiritual Warfare to Bring Christ Back
"Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the stratagems of the devil, for our wrestling is not against blood and flesh but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenlies." (Eph. 6:11-12)
On the positive side, Canaan, a land of riches, typifies the all-inclusive Christ with His unsearchable riches. On the negative side, Canaan signifies the aerial part, the heavenly part, of the dark kingdom of Satan, the heavenlies that are full of Satan's forces.
If we would possess the good land for the fulfillment of God's purpose, we must engage in spiritual warfare to defeat the satanic forces. It is crucial for us to see that behind the scene a spiritual struggle is taking place, a struggle not seen with human eyes. If we would take possession of Christ for our enjoyment, we must be a corporate warrior, the church as the Body of Christ, fighting against and defeating the satanic forces so that we can gain more of Christ for the building up of the Body of Christ, setting up and spreading the kingdom of God so that Christ can come back to inherit the earth. (Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, msg. 2, IV.A, B; V, D.1, F.2)
May we pray that the whole Body would be mobilized to fight the spiritual warfare, defeat the Satanic forces, and build up the Body of Christ so that Christ can come back to inherit the earth.
UCLA
Thank you, saints, for your prayers last week. The Lord is truly blessing the labor in the Body. We had contact with many new ones throughout last week and had more than 40 of them join us Friday night for our welcome event. As we head into the first full week of classes at UCLA, please pray that:
- We would continue to be able to see many new students face-to-face throughout the week.
- The Lord would group and connect the students together.
- Many Bible study groups would be raised up this week that could continue throughout the fall quarter.
- Many students would build an altar to the Lord, consecrating their quarter to Him even as their studies pick up.
SCYP California-wide Young People's Conferences
Registration is now open for the California-wide Fall YP Conferences. The registration deadline is October 3 for Junior High (October 15 to 17) and October 10 for High School (October 22 to 24).
As we prepare for the upcoming fall conference season we encourage all the saints—especially the parents, serving ones and college students—to pray that our young people will take possession of Christ as their promised land to become the proper persons to bring forth Christ into the human race.
GTCA Cities – Columbia, SC
Last weekend there was an online mini-conference with the saints in Columbia, South Carolina. As of mid-September, 16 saints plus 12 children have migrated to the city; another 5 saints (2 families) are planning to do so in the near future. For a short video update from some of the families who have recently moved to Columbia, visit http://gtca.us/updates. Please pray for:
- A total of 30 saints to migrate to Columbia.
- Migration to the center of the city of the campus work.
- The formation of a full-time team to labor on the campus.
European University Training
The training for European university students concludes this week from September 29 to October 3 in Germany. The subject is "Rise Up and Build." Please pray that the health of all the participants will be fully covered and protected for the duration of the training and that nothing will happen to hinder the completion of the training. Pray that the students will be "wrecked" with a vision of the desire of God's heart and offer themselves willingly to Him for His building.
Azerbaijan
Please pray for the further development of the publication work so that the ministry of the New Testament can continue to be translated into the local language (Azerbaijani/Azeri), and that the Russian language publications can increase and spread here.
Also pray for the furtherance of the gospel through the visitation of the overseas co-workers next month. They will meet with the local translators, with the new ones, and with all the saints unto the furtherance of the gospel.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 1.
- LA Joint Meeting: Lord's Day morning, October 17, we will have a meeting of the whole church in Los Angeles. More details to come.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- SCYP Fall Conferences: Registration is open for the California-wide Junior High (October 15 to 17; register by October 3) and High School (October 22 to 24; register by October 10) conferences.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, The Dispensing of the Triune God to Produce His Abode. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/dispensing.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of September 19
Pursuing Christ to Gain Christ for Christ
"But moreover 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." (Phil. 3:8)
Our need today is to gain more of Christ, to possess more of Christ, and to experience more of Christ. This is not only for our enjoyment but also for Christ to be what He should be. We gain Christ for Christ so that He may have His corporate expression. This is to make the good land the land of Immanuel (Isa. 8:8).
Paul was one who struggled to pursue Christ in order to gain Christ (Phil. 3:8, 12). Because so many Christians do not pursue Christ in order to gain Him, God needs the overcomers. At the time of Joshua, there were two or three million Israelites, but there were not many Joshuas and Calebs. There were not many endeavoring ones, genuine pursuers of God. Without such ones both the good land and the Giver of the land would have been idle. Both the land and the Giver of the land needed certain ones to take the land, possess the land, and enjoy the land. Those who possessed the land did a favor to the One who gave them the land. (Life-study of Joshua, msg. 6, pp. 32-35)
May we do Christ a favor by responding to God's call for overcomers!
Persevering in Prayer
"Rejoice in hope; endure in tribulation; persevere in prayer." (Rom. 12:12)
After September 26, Beseeching.org will discontinue the putting out of daily prayer burdens and email reminders. Please pray that the saints would continue or begin to have scheduled times of prayer and intercession, both personally and in small groups of twos and threes, and would endeavor to continue steadfastly in the weekly prayer meetings of the church.
May the Lord fully recover the prayer of the age and may He call many more saints in His recovery to engage in this spiritual warfare. May we all be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength to persevere in one accord to advance His interests on the earth until the day of His return!
UCLA Welcome Week
Thank you for your prayers last week concerning the students who moved into our corporate housing units. The Lord began a good work of blending the students together, and some newer students were also able to join. This week is welcome week for UCLA, and classes begin on Thursday, September 23. We have already been in contact with many new, incoming students over the summer. Please join us to pray desperately that:
- We would be able to immediately connect with and see many freshmen throughout the week, even multiple times;
- All of the students, saints, and full-timers laboring on the students would be in harmony and one accord;
- The Lord would continue to form many companionships among our own students as well as the newer ones;
- Our welcome events would be filled with a comfortable atmosphere and the pleasant fragrance of Christ.
Bibles for America Webinar
Thursday, September 23 at 1:00 pm PDT, BfA will host a special online event for the general public. It will focus on how the Recovery Version can help people know God and understand His Word.
By mid Monday, over 815 people have registered. Please pray that more people would sign up, and that all those who have registered would attend. Pray also that the attendees would be deeply impressed by the riches in the Recovery Version and would be motivated to read and feed upon God's Word.
Please feel free to invite anyone who would like to learn more about the Recovery Version. Details can be found at http://bfa.org/webinar.
SCYP Parents and Serving Ones Fellowship
This Saturday, September 25 from 9:30 to 11:45 am there will be an important time of fellowship for parents and young people's serving ones. Translation will be provided in Chinese, Korean, and Spanish.
As we prepare for the upcoming fall conference season we encourage all the saints—especially the parents, serving ones and college students—to pray that our young people will take possession of Christ as their promised land to become the proper persons to bring forth Christ into the human race.
Central European and Balkans Blending Conference
From September 24 to 26, the saints throughout the Central, Eastern and Balkan areas of Europe will have an online conference to blend with many saints throughout the churches in these areas and elsewhere. The subject will be "The All-inclusive, Extensive Christ Replacing Culture for the One New Man." All the fellowship and messages will be translated into Bulgarian, Chinese, Czech/Slovak, Greek, Hungarian, Polish, Romanian, Serbo-Croatian, and Turkish.
Please pray that the local saints would sign up and that the Lord use this conference for His purpose. In particular, since the messages will not be translated into Albanian, pray for the saints in Tirana who can manage English to participate.
German Election
"Let the name of God be blessed from eternity to eternity, for wisdom and might are His. And it is He who changes the times and seasons; He deposes kings and causes kings to ascend." (Dan. 2:20-21)
The election will be September 26. All members of the national legislature will be elected. The legislators will then select a chancellor, who is the head of the government, since the current chancellor will not seek re-election. Due to multiple political parties, formation of a majority in the legislature and selection of a new chancellor can be difficult.
Lord, have Your way in this election. Rule the nation for the spread and increase of Your recovery.
European University Training
The training for European university students continues this week from September 23 to 26 in Spain. The subject is "Rise Up and Build." Please pray that the health of all the participants will be fully covered and protected for the duration of the training and that nothing will happen to hinder the completion of the training. Pray that the students will be "wrecked" with a vision of the desire of God's heart and offer themselves willingly to Him for His building.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth, vol. 1.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, The Dispensing of the Triune God to Produce His Abode. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/dispensing.
- SCYP Fall Conferences: Registration is open for the California-wide Junior High (October 15 to 17; register by October 3) and High School (October 22 to 24; register by October 10) conferences.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Thanksgiving Conference will be November 25 to 28. Due to the pandemic, Living Stream Ministry will again host this conference completely online. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of September 12
Spreading the Truth of God's Economy for the Church's Increase
"Who then is the faithful and prudent slave, whom the master has set over his household to give them food at the proper time?" (Matt. 24:45)
"And to enlighten all that they may see what the economy of the mystery is…" (Eph. 3:9)
Today we must bear the responsibility for spreading the translated, interpreted, and understood divine truths for the Lord's recovery. The Lord has given us these precious truths for us to spread them not only to Christians but even to the unbelievers. What the Lord needs today is for thousands of His dear saints who love Him, who live to Him, and who know nothing but His recovery to take one way to spread the same truths to make them the faithful and prudent slaves to serve food to the Lord's people at the proper time; then we will fulfill the commission of the Lord's recovery.
The increase of the church depends on the spread of the truth. Only the truth can subdue and gain people. From now on we all should spend time to learn the truth of God's eternal economy and minister Christ to others for the multiplication and spread of the church. (Knowing the Truth, msg. 6, V.B, 2-3)
California
"The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof." (1 Cor. 10:26)
Voting for the recall election of California's governor concludes this Tuesday, September 14. The state also has many cases of COVID-19 with associated restrictions and protests. Furthermore, wildfires have already consumed more than 2.2 million acres and destroyed hundreds of buildings, and the fire season is not yet over.
Lord, preserve California, its people, and its social atmosphere for Yourself. Exercise Your authority here! Use the current difficulties and uncertainties to advance the spread of the gospel, to build up the churches, and to increase the number of churches. California is the Lord's!
UCLA
This week 32 college students are moving into the brothers' and sisters' houses in the UCLA area, including some who are moving in for the first time. Throughout the week we are having gatherings and meetings with the goal of being built up in Christ together as much as possible. Please pray for:
- An atmosphere of mutuality and blending in love;
- The joy of the Lord to fill all of the housing units;
- A strong beginning in the spirit to be a testimony of Jesus at UCLA this fall quarter!
European University Training
Between September 4 and October 3, a training for European university students is being carried out in-person throughout Europe in different locations. The topic is "Rise Up and Build." This week the training is taking place in Scotland for those from the UK and Ireland and coincides with the student club fairs taking place at the major universities in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Please pray:
- That the health of all the participants will be fully covered and protected for the duration of the training and that nothing will happen to hinder the completion of the training.
- That the Lord will stir up eternity in the hearts of the Scottish students this week as the saints go out to contact them, and that the Lord will bring to us all those whom He has chosen.
- That all the university students will be "wrecked" with a vision of the desire of God's heart and offer themselves to Him willingly for His building.
Chinese-speaking Conference in Paris
Praise the Lord for His continued shepherding of the saints in Europe, especially the Chinese-speaking saints, through the two annual European Chinese-speaking Conferences in London and Paris. The upcoming fall conference from September 17 to 19 is based on the ministry book The Ten Great Critical 'Ones' for the Building Up of the Body of Christ. This conference is intended not only for the Chinese-speaking saints, but also for the building up of the Body of Christ. Please pray for the Lord to keep advancing rapidly in Europe according to His desire to obtain the reality of the one New Man.
Azerbaijan
Please pray for the applications and visas for all the foreign saints to be approved.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 6 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age. Next week, we begin Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, The Dispensing of the Triune God to Produce His Abode. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/dispensing.
- SCYP Parents and Serving Ones' Fellowship Time: September 25 from 9:30 to 11:45 am. Translation into Spanish, Chinese, and Korean will be provided.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Thanksgiving Conference will be November 25 to 28. Due to the pandemic, Living Stream Ministry will again host this conference completely online. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of September 5
The Church Being the Pillar and Base of the Truth
"...I write that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and base of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15)
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman, cutting straight the word of the truth." (2 Tim. 2:15)
The supporting pillar and holding base of the truth are the entire church, including all the saints; every member of the church is part of the pillar and base that uphold the truth. The church being the pillar and base of the truth implies that every member of the church should know the truth; thus, we should make a decision to learn the truth.
The kind of church that we build up depends on the kind of truth that we teach; thus, there is the desperate need of the living truth to produce the church, to help the church to exist, and to build up the church. The greatest need that we must meet is to bring the saints into the truth; all the saints should be trained in the divine revelation. (Knowing the Truth, Message 5, II.A-B, I.F-G)
Let us pray for all the saints to make a decision to get into the truth and be trained in the divine revelation in order to uphold the truth and testify to the truth.
Renewed Burden for the Church in Oakland, CA
The church in Oakland was first established in 1994 with over 20 Chinese-speaking saints. In 2013, these saints began to meet as the church in Alameda with the purchase of the current meeting hall in Alameda. In December 2020, brothers in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area began to coordinate for the Lord's move in Oakland, and in 2021, a weekly prayer time was started. There are currently 30 to 50 saints from the surrounding churches who live in the greater Oakland area.
Oakland has a population of over 440,000 and is the 8th most populated city in California. It is the largest city in California without a lampstand and the only one without a lampstand in California's top 20 cities. Within the last decade, it has been ranked the most socio-culturally diverse city in America.
Please pray that the Lord would regain a lampstand in this key city for His up-to-date move and for a shining testimony of the one new man!
The saints can read more about the burden for Oakland at http://bit.ly/burdenforoakland and saints interested in participating can sign up at http://bit.ly/burdenforoaklandsurveyform.
Bibles for America Volunteers
The BfA distribution center in Anaheim is now accepting applications from local volunteers who would like to help package Bibles. We've developed an application process and health and sanitation protocols to make the environment as safe as possible. So far, two volunteers have been able to come once a week to assist BfA staff members in fulfilling orders.
Please pray for the Lord's protection and covering of the health and safety of all the staff and volunteers as we continue to ship out Bibles. Pray also for the Lord to add more volunteers in order to meet the growing demand for Bibles.
European University Training
"And they said, Let us rise up and build; and they strengthened their hands for the good work" (Neh. 2:18b). The European University Training will be in person at five locations in Europe, four to six days long, with dates between September 12 and October 3. The topic is "Rise Up and Build!" The goal of this training is to supply university students with a vision, equip them with truth, help them in their experience of life, perfect them in the preaching of the gospel, and develop their character so they can become useful vessels for the building up of the Body of Christ.
Ask the Lord to accomplish these goals in each person attending the training. May many students be enlivened and encouraged to rise up and have a burden for their universities and classmates, and would consecrate to be the builders in this age to meet His special need at this special time.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 5 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age. On September 20, we begin Crystallization-study of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth (July Semiannual Training).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- SCYP Parents and Serving Ones' Fellowship Time: September 25 from 9:30 to 11:45 am. Translation into Spanish, Chinese, and Korean will be provided.
- Thanksgiving Conference will be November 25 to 28. Due to the pandemic, Living Stream Ministry will again host this conference completely online. More details will be provided in the coming weeks.
- Living Stream Ministry has a monthly online newsletter called "Having This Ministry…" The August 2021 issue contains an encouraging report from the Cairo International Book Fair and a detailed introduction to LSM's recent digital distribution endeavors. Go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of August 29
Recovering the Subjective Truths for the Church Life
"As the living Father has sent Me and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me." (John 6:57)
"Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make an abode with him." (John 14:23)
The truths in the Holy Scriptures are always of two aspects: the objective aspect and the subjective aspect. We have to be clear that all the objective doctrines are for the subjective experience. If we pay attention only to the objective doctrines and neglect the subjective aspect, we will not be able to fulfill God's eternal purpose, which is that He be expressed through the church. The objective doctrines are for the subjective truths, and the subjective truths are for the producing of the church… The practical church life is an issue of our experience of the subjective truths. When we have the experience of the subjective truths, the church is spontaneously produced.
Furthermore, all the subjective truths are linked to the Spirit and life. The Spirit and life are the substance of the subjective truths… Objective doctrines are composed of letters, whereas subjective truths are constituted with the Spirit and life, not with letters. Without the Spirit and life you do not have subjective truths. Therefore, it is by the Spirit and life that the church is produced. Because we live by the Spirit and in life, we have the experience of the subjective truths and therefore have the church life. (CWWL, 1977, vol. 3, "The Subjective Truths in the Holy Scriptures," ch. 2)
May we pray for all the saints to experience the subjective truths for the sake of the church life!
Praying for Man's Salvation
"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. This is good and acceptable in the sight of our Savior God, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the full knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one Mediator of God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to be borne in its own times." (1 Tim. 2:1-6)
Even as we pray for peace in our environment and in our heart and spirit for the sake of the church life, let us also pray to match our Savior God in His desire for many to be saved through Christ Jesus, "for He Himself is our peace" (Eph. 2:14) and "made peace through the blood of His cross" (Col. 1:20).
Gospel to All the Nations
The next gospel to all the nations session will take place online this Saturday, September 4 at 1:00 pm Los Angeles time. The fellowship will continue from the Gospel of John on "The Troubled World and the Peace-Giving Christ." Registration is not required. The Zoom link is http://tinyurl.com/sep4gospel.
All the people of every nation are invited to join! Those of African origin are particularly encouraged to join and to invite friends, relatives, and colleagues. Come and see how the life of Christ meets the need of every person and enjoy the pure ministry of the Word as the gospel of the kingdom.
FTTA-MA
After a three-term hiatus due to the pandemic, the Middle-age Training in Anaheim begins its fall term this week on August 30. The goal of the training is to foster living, functioning, overcoming members of the Body of Christ for the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose.
Pray for the Lord's covering and blessing of all the trainees, serving ones, and their families. Pray for the Lord to release the saints from every restraint and grace them inwardly to give themselves to be perfected in an atmosphere of blending to usher in the reality of the Body of Christ for the one new man.
European Church History Trip
This year's European church history trip is September 1 to 16. About 40 saints are participating; two-thirds or more are European university students and young adults. The first week will be to visit the sites of the seven churches to which the Lord spoke in Revelation 2 and 3. The second week will be on the island of Patmos (Rev. 1:9) where the saints will have the opportunity to pray and muse personally over what the Lord spoke to the churches and how we can participate today in His call to the overcomers.
Last year's trip had a deep impact on the students. Please pray that this year's trip will have the same or greater impact resulting in the producing of more overcomers.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday beginning at 7:25 pm at http://lsm.org/live in English, Spanish, Chinese, and Korean. Outlines will be posted on the same site.
- Bibles for America has released a new gospel tract called "How Can I Know God Exists?" The digital version of the tract and the video are available at http://gospel.biblesforamerica.org and can be shared via text message, email, or social media.
- Living Stream Ministry has a monthly online newsletter called "Having This Ministry..." The August 2021 issue contains an encouraging report from the Cairo International Book Fair and a detailed introduction to LSM's recent digital distribution endeavors. Go to http://newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry/index.html.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of August 22
Being Constituted with the Truth
"Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom and instruction and understanding." (Prov. 23:23)
"Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." (John 8:12)
For the consummation of the divine economy, we need to be constituted with the truth. To be constituted with the truth is to have the intrinsic element of the divine revelation wrought into us to become our constituent, our intrinsic being, our organic constitution.
We have to pay the price to learn the truths. We need to enter into the intrinsic significance of the Holy Scriptures to find out what the Lord says and what He wants. We have no right to invent anything; rather, we discover what is in the Bible. After we have learned the truth, we still have to experience Christ so that He may become our reality; in this way, when we speak to people, we will not give them knowledge or doctrine, but we will minister Christ to them.
We need to be delivered from skating on the surface of the divine truth and cooperate with the Lord by laboring together with Him to dive into the depths of the truth of His marvelous New Testament economy. Those who are constituted with the truth are a great blessing to the church. (Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age, msg. 3, II, A, G-I)
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
A new term of the special training on the eldership for elders and responsible brothers in Southern California begins this Saturday, August 28 on Zoom. Through regular corporate gatherings, group times, and personal study, the burden is to strengthen the present eldership and responsible brothers in the churches, to perfect and raise up the next generation of leading brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way. Please pray:
- For the Lord to abundantly grace and strengthen all the participants—both new and returning ones—and become their perseverance and faithfulness to present themselves absolutely to this training.
- That an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California will be ushered in as all the brothers are attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion.
- That the Lord will bless this ongoing training so that all participants will be perfected further for the Lord's testimony in Southern California and for the building up of the church, the Body of Christ.
University of Southern California
USC began in-person classes on Monday, August 23. Many students are back in LA for the first time in a while. Please pray that the Lord would:
- Greatly supply and strengthen all the students in the church life as they begin this semester in-person.
- Reach lost ones, new ones, and classmates at USC as the light of life.
- Gain a testimony of oneness and the one new man on this campus.
Cal State Northridge
The Fall semester at CSUN starts on Monday, August 30 with in-person and online classes. A group of student brothers will take a trip together from August 26 to 28. Please pray that Lord would:
- Cover the trip and companionize and build the brothers up together.
- Release a core group of students at CSUN this semester to pray and co-labor with the community saints to spread the gospel.
- Raise up the shepherds and the homes to care for the students.
- Gain some new ones and remaining fruit through the club this year.
Bibles for America
BfA has released a new gospel tract called "How Can I Know God Exists?" This tract helps a person know God exists by pointing them to their human spirit. It has also been turned into a video titled "Does God Exist? How Can I Know?"
The digital version of the tract and the video are available at http://gospel.biblesforamerica.org and can be shared via text message, email, or social media. Physical copies of this tract, along with all our other tracts, can be purchased in packs of 100 on http://materials.bfa.org.
Please pray that these gospel materials would reach many more people, causing them to open their hearts and receive the Lord Jesus as their Savior. Pray that our Savior God's desire would be fulfilled for all men to be saved and come to the full knowledge of the truth.
Kenya
As a way to propagate the gospel in Kenya, the brothers registered a company called High Peak Truths Publishers Kenya to spearhead the work of receiving and distributing ministry materials. Realizing that we have a commission to reach sinners, we plan to distribute 3,000 gospel tracts per month. We have also begun to translate our hymns into Swahili. We have already translated 95 hymns, which are currently being edited. By the end of 2021, our target is to have 200 hymns translated. These hymns will be used in our meetings, especially in the countryside where the saints love to sing and fellowship in Swahili.
To read more about Kenya as well as the campus and literature work in Ethiopia, download the July 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 3 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Live broadcast this Wednesday 7:30 pm in English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, and Portuguese at http://lsm.org/live.
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Purpose—To Build the House of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-purpose.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of August 15
The Truth Setting Us Free and Sanctifying Us
"And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free." (John 8:32)
"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth." (John 17:17)
We cannot sanctify ourselves. The more we try to be sanctified, the more involved we become with things that are common. But when the word mingled with the essence of the Triune God is imparted into us as the truth, this truth sanctifies us.
Every morning we can touch the living Word and have the divine reality infused into our being. In this way the Triune God is transfused into us. This transfusion of the element of God frees us from such negative things as temper, jealousy, hatred, and pride. It sets us free from every kind of falsehood. This is real liberation, real freedom.
As we are being set free, we are also sanctified, separated, made holy to God, not only positionally but also dispositionally. We become one with God because His very essence is being wrought into us. This is what it means to be sanctified by the word of truth. Like breathing, we cannot do this once for all; rather, it must be a continual exercise. (CWWL, 1978, vol. 3, "Truth Messages," pp. 327-328)
Resumption of School
On Monday, August 16, all LAUSD schools had their first day of class. Other schools in the Los Angeles area have already begun or will be starting shortly as well. With most schools practicing in-person instruction, we need much prayer for our elementary, middle, and high school students and their families. Please pray that the Lord would:
- Be the peace to each student and their family as they face various complexities and anxieties related to resuming in-person classes.
- Shine brightly out from our students to their classmates and use this situation to bring some to salvation.
- Cover the atmosphere, health, and safety of students, teachers, and administrators for the fulfillment of the Lord's purpose.
Wednesday Night Ministry Meetings
We are pleased to announce that the weekly Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting will resume this week on August 18 at 7:30 pm. To limit the spread of COVID-19, only the FTTA trainees and staff will be allowed to attend the live meetings in person. The saints and churches in Southern California can watch the meeting free of charge via webcast at http://lsm.org/live. The meeting will be broadcast in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Korean. The outlines will be posted on the same site.
Please pray for the ministry of the Lord's word week by week and for many more saints to take advantage of the live broadcast format to be nourished and edified. Pray for the Lord's continued blessing of the Full-time Training in Anaheim and covering of all trainees and serving ones.
FTTA-XB
The fall term of the Full-time Training Extension in Boston begins in person this week. The burden of this training is to produce full-time serving ones who are equipped to serve the Lord for an extended period of time. The primary aspects of this training are the learning of the basic lessons in service and the deeper development of the necessary experiences of life. A secondary but very important aspect is to train the young saints to study the truth and read the Bible properly to enable them to apprehend the depths of God's revelation progressively over the full course of their serving life.
Please pray that the trainees would be equipped in the realization of the divine truths according to the Scriptures by the revelation of the Holy Spirit and would spend much time and effort to study the truth so that they may be fully equipped for the Lord's service.
FTTL
Pray for the Lord's blessing on the fall term of the Full-time Training in London, which began this week on August 16. Pray that the Lord will continue to use the FTTL to raise up a group of young overcomers in Europe who will be obedient to the heavenly vision and will be one with Him for His final move to build up His Body and prepare His bride for His return.
Myanmar
Continue to pray for the saints to be covered, preserved and supplied during the social unrest and Covid-19 epidemic. Also pray for the Full-time Training in Yangon and the translation work to be strengthened and supplied.
Ethiopia
Amana Ethiopia Printing and Publishing is currently operating in Ethiopia for the propagation of the ministry. At present we are working to get copyright permission from the Living Stream Ministry for the translation and printing of the ministry books.
We are also producing video messages to introduce the ministry in Ethiopia and East Africa. Three different Facebook pages have been created for this purpose. Messages from books such as The Normal Christian Life, Twelve Baskets Full and Life-Study of John are shared on these pages in order to help our viewers know and experience the truth in their daily life. We have already posted 45 short videos in English and 39 videos in two of the local Ethiopian languages.
Within a short period of time, we have attracted 6,300 followers and received over 200 contacts from different parts of the country. The openness and hunger of those who have contacted us for further fellowship impelled us to start a 30-day program on "God's Full Salvation." Currently we have translated these messages into the Amharic language, and we are preparing for the recording of these messages. We plan to use them as shepherding material for our contacts.
To read more about the campus and literature work in Ethiopia, download the July 2021 newsletter of the Lord's Move to Africa in English or Chinese at http://www.lmafrica.org.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 2 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Purpose - To Build the House of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-purpose.
- Holy Bible Recovery Version App is the official app from Living Stream Ministry that contains the Recovery Version of the Holy Bible in English with its enlightening footnotes, valuable cross-references, and useful charts and maps. For more information, go to http://www.lsm.org/rvapp.html.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.
Prayer, Week of August 8
Being Renewed to Testify to the Truth
"For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I would testify to the truth…" (John 18:37b)
The Lord's recovery is the recovery of the divine truths as revealed in the Word of God. Many truths in the Word have been lost, misunderstood, and wrongly applied; thus, there is the need of the Lord's recovery. We need to know the truth and be absolute for the truth, for upholding the absoluteness of the truth, and for testifying to the truth in the present evil age.
If we want to testify to the truth in the present age, we must obey Paul's command in Romans 12:2: "Do not be fashioned according to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind." We should not be assimilated by the world to the extent that we who have been separated from the world unto God have the same image as this age. We need to be renewed in the spirit of our mind, allowing the mingled spirit to spread into our mind, thus becoming the spirit of the mind and causing our mind, emotion, and will to be renewed by a new element being wrought into our inner being. (Knowing the Truth, msg. 1, I, B, Key Statement 1, IV.E, E.2-3)
Let us pray for all the saints, including our young people, to be renewed in the spirit of our mind in order to meet the Lord's need in this age to testify to the truth.
FTTA
Hebrews 6:1 says, "Let us be brought on to maturity." In the experience of our spiritual life, there is always the Lord's doing, on the one side, and our pursuing in cooperation with Him, on the other side. The Lord wants to bring us on to maturity, but we still need to cooperate with Him by being brought on to perfection, to maturity. The Lord wants to bring us on, but we must let Him do it. This is our willing cooperation with His gracious work. (Footnote 3 on Heb. 6:1)
Pray for the beginning of the new term of the FTTA, that the trainees would be built up in Christ in the growth of His life unto maturity and would have a solid pursuit and progress in life.
South Africa
Full-time Training in Pretoria
FTTP is back in session with pre-training from August 9 to 15. The training is in-person for those who are able to come and online for those who could not get visas; many community saints are also joining online. This term, the Lord has blessed us with 17 trainees, including four first-termers.
Please pray for the release of the Lord's speaking this week to all trainees and saints in attendance. Also ask the Lord, according to His will, if He would release more saints to enroll as trainees for this term, even at the last minute.
Update on Durban and the Recent Unrest
We thank the Lord that daily activities in Durban and the rest of South Africa are returning to normal. May the Lord continue to stabilize the situation in South Africa for His interest. May He preserve the saints in His up-to-date calling and move, and may He protect them from the wearing-out tactics of the enemy.
Please see the Appendix below for the full update.
Bibles for Canada
Last month, Bibles for Canada (BfC) sent two brothers to participate in an internship with Bibles for America (BfA) with a view toward maintaining the fellowship and healthy circulation between BfA and its affiliates. Both the BfA staff and the BfC interns thoroughly enjoyed this time of mutual encouragement and felt refreshed in the burden to spread God's Word to the hungry seekers.
Please pray for the Word of God to continue spreading throughout the Canadian provinces in both the English- and French-speaking communities. Pray that many more people would order a free NT Recovery Version from BfC and come to the full knowledge of the truth.
Vietnam
Pray for the distribution of seven Rhema e-books, that the gospel of the kingdom can be spread to all Vietnamese-speaking people and the word of the ministry can be supplied to the seeking Christians.
European Young People's Conferences
The last of the European Young People's Conferences will be carried out in Norway from August 12 to 15. Please pray for the Lord's continued blessing on the YP conferences in Europe, especially that the Lord will gain a group of young people who will be one with Him to consummate His eternal economy by building up His organic Body for His coming back.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 1 of Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Purpose—To Build the House of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-purpose.
- Bibles for America has easy-to-use resources for telling people about God's salvation. Visit http://gospel.bfa.org (English) or http://gospel.bfa.org/es (Español).
Appendix
AN UPDATE ON THE RECENT UNREST IN SOUTH AFRICA
Thank you very much for your concern and prayer during the unrest and looting which impacted South Africa, particularly the KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng provinces. All the saints in South Africa have received much supply and encouragement from the prayers of the Body, even though the greatest need was in the church in Durban. We wish to give you the following update:
The South African government has been trying to ensure that peace and stability are maintained throughout the country and that there are no further incidents of violence. The President, Cyril Ramaphosa, has said that the riots were a “coordinated and well-planned attack” and “those behind these acts have sought to provoke a popular insurrection.” Thankfully the attempted insurrection has failed and the situation has calmed down. Daily activities in Durban and all of South Africa are returning back to normal. It has, however, affected both poor and middle-class areas. Private and government property have been damaged and destroyed. People have been injured and lives have been lost. Many South Africans have been so disturbed by these events, which unfolded in such a rapid and uncontrolled manner, that they are making plans to emigrate.
It was a traumatic experience, especially for the saints in Durban. However, it was measured and there was much grace. Thankfully, no lives or livelihoods of the saints were directly affected because of this satanic chaos. Therefore, there are no direct financial needs among the saints and churches due to this unrest.
We really appreciate being in the fellowship of the Body. The prayers of the churches in this regard are much needed. May the Lord continue to stabilize the situation in South Africa for His interest. May He keep using and blessing South Africa for the carrying out of His will and continue to use this country for the accomplishment of His economy on earth. May the Lord preserve the saints in His up-to-date calling and move, and may He protect them from the wearing-out tactics of the enemy.
On another note: the saints in South Africa also need much prayer regarding the COVID-19 pandemic at this time. South Africa was just emerging from a third wave driven by the Delta variant and was in the throes of it when the unrest began. During this third wave many more saints have been directly affected with a number contracting the disease and having hard battles to recover. Currently (beginning of August) more than 20 saints who are in the church life in different parts of South Africa are suffering from the illness. Others have also lost family members. This has resulted in much grief and many difficult changes in their living. May the Lord head up this situation in Himself and protect the saints during this time. May the Lord strengthen and advance His move in Africa!
Prayer, Week of August 1
Bringing the Lord Back by Becoming Pillars
"And I saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." (Rev. 21:2)
"He who overcomes, him I will make a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall by no means go out anymore, and I will write upon him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which descends out of heaven from My God, and My new name." (Rev. 3:12)
The governing vision of the Bible is the Triune God working Himself into His chosen and redeemed people in order to saturate their entire being with the Divine Trinity for the producing and building up of the church as the Body of Christ, consummating in the New Jerusalem. The overcomers produced by Christ as the sevenfold intensified, life-giving Spirit build up the Body in this age for the initial consummation of the New Jerusalem in the kingdom age and eventually for the full consummation of the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and new earth.
The Lord Jesus will make the overcomer in the recovered church a pillar built into the temple of God. In the church life today, the Lord is working Himself into us and making us, constituting us, into pillars in the temple of God. Without the overcomers the Body of Christ cannot be built up, and unless the Body of Christ is built up, Christ cannot come back for His bride. (Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life, msg. 8, IV.A, I.A.2, III, III.A.2, I.A.1)
Pray that the Lord would make us all pillars in the temple of God in this age, overcomers who build up the Body, prepare the bride, and bring the Lord back!
FTTA Middle-Age Training
The fall semester of the FTTA Middle-Age Training starts on August 30 in Anaheim. Registration is still open. The application deadline is August 10.
After a long recess due to the pandemic, we are looking to the Lord for a new beginning in the spirit of a fresh consecration and a renewed sense of the Lord's imminent return. We pray that the Lord will stir in the hearts of many saints to rise up to redeem the years that the locusts have eaten (Joel 2:25) and seize the opportunity to be trained. In the Middle-age Training, saints of different races, nationalities, and languages, come together to be perfected in an atmosphere of blending to usher in the reality of the Body of Christ for the one new man.
Please pray that many saints in the Lord's recovery between the ages of 35 and 65 will seize this opportunity to be perfected. For more details, visit http://fttamidage.org.
Full-time Training in Anaheim
New and returning FTTA trainees are in Anaheim this week for orientation. During this period of significant adjustment, please pray for the preservation of each trainee and serving one's tripartite being. Pray for abundant grace to flow to strengthen each one to meet all the needs and demands. Pray for all to learn the secret of experiencing Christ in everything and in every place with His life that is able to fit all situations.
India – FTTND
The fall term of the Full-time Training in New Delhi began last week with 40 trainees, 20 of whom are new. Although the COVID situation in the area has improved, classes are still being carried out online, with first termers situated mainly in the training center and the others in nearby districts.
Please pray for the Lord to cover all the trainees and serving ones, that their spirit, soul and body would be preserved complete. Pray for the trainees' openness to be perfected at this particular time so that the Lord can gain them and become what He should be in all of them.
European YP Conference
This year's European Young People's Conference is being carried out regionally, in person and remotely, and at different times between July 26 and August 15. The topic is "Patterns of Living an Overcoming Life." Please pray for the Lord's continued blessing on the YP conferences in Europe, especially that the Lord will gain a group of young people who will be one with Him to consummate His eternal economy by building up His organic Body for His coming back.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 8 of Vital Factors for the Recovery of the Church Life (ITERO). Next week, we begin Knowing the Truth, Being Absolute for the Truth, and Proclaiming the Truth in the Present Evil Age (Memorial Day Conference).
- Living Stream Ministry is offering a free e-booklet, Life's Purpose—To Build the House of God. Formats include PDF, Kindle, Audiobook, and more! Visit http://www.lsm.org/lifes-purpose.
- Bible for America's latest blogpost asks, "What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?" To read the answer, visit http://blog.biblesforamerica.org.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church's online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at http://www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.