Prayer, Week of February 9
Having Been Made Full in Christ
"That their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love and unto all the riches of the full assurance of understanding, unto the full knowledge of the mystery of God, Christ." (Col. 2:2)
"For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily, and you have been made full in Him, who is the Head of all rule and authority." (Col. 2:9-10)
Because all the fullness of the Godhead dwells in Christ and because we have been put into Him, we have been made full in Him—filled up with the divine riches—and all that He is and all that He has belong to us, and all that He has experienced has become our history. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, Key Statement 3)
Do not believe your feelings about yourself, but look away to Christ. Exercise your faith to realize what He is, what He has passed through, what He has obtained and attained, and where He is today. Since He is in the third heaven and we are one with Him, we are in the third heaven also....We have been placed into the Christ who is unsearchably rich. (Life-study of Colossians, pp. 178-179)
Giving Our Money with Blessings
"There is one who scatters and increases yet more, and there is one who withholds what is appropriate but ends up only in want." (Prov. 11:24)
"He who sows sparingly shall also sparingly reap; and he who sows with blessings shall also with blessings reap." (2 Cor. 9:6)
All our giving, whether to the church in LA or for Oak Glen or for something farther away, is a sowing. Because God has blessed us with Himself, we are empowered to give with blessings. We give not out of necessity (9:7), but by grace which enables us to abound (9:8).
GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America
The 21 North American and 1 Ethiopian FTTA gospel trips that were active last week have just concluded. Detailed reports are at http://www.gtca.us. Follow-up prayer is needed. Please pray:
- for the strengthening of the core college students in our clubs on every campus;
- for the strengthening of the local saints to care for the positive contacts reached through the various tabling and Bible distributions;
- for those who have received a Bible to read it and receive life; and
- for many people in each city to be gradually brought into the church life.
Malta
Acts 28:1 says, "And having been brought safely through, we recognized then that the island was called Malta." Malta is an island nation south of Italy with a population of about 460,000. It is a member of the European Union and English is one of the official languages.
Last weekend there was a Bibles for Europe distribution in the city center of the Maltese capital, Valletta. Please pray for the literature distributed to be read with an open heart by seeking ones and for the raising up of the Lord's testimony in Malta.
Lord's Move to Asia
The January 2020 LMA newsletter has a report from the church in Islamabad and the recent National Blending Conference in Pakistan, as well as an update on the Lord's move in Nepal:
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/E-2020-01.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Asia-2020-01.pdf (Chinese)
Prayer for the Current Situation
The following word of encouragement is excerpted from an open letter dated February 7 to the Chinese-speaking saints from the Chinese-speaking co-workers in Southern California regarding the coronavirus outbreak:
We need to be strong in spirit and take up the whole armor of God to pray for the current situation. When people in the world are panicking and human agencies are unable to solve the problem, we need to stand in the breach (Psa. 106:23) to pray to the sovereign Lord of all "on behalf of kings and all who are in high position" and "on behalf of all men" (1 Tim. 2:1-2). We need to take up the corporate priesthood to stop the pestilence by prayer (Num. 16:44-48). At the same time, while the black horse of pestilence is running rampant, we need to pray to release the white horse to first conquer people's hearts and bring them to salvation (Rev. 6:1).
We should pray particularly for the saints in China that they will seize this opportunity to preach the good news of the gospel to their friends and relatives. According to the reports we have received, they have done so. In some localities they changed the large gospel meetings during the Chinese New Year into small gospel gatherings in the homes. As a result, the number of baptisms exceeded their expectation, with hundreds being baptized. Although some saints cannot go out, they have been using phone calls and emails to contact over thirty people a day, thereby bringing many to believe in the Lord.
Thus, we hope that the brothers and sisters everywhere will spontaneously gather in each locality to pray. We strongly suggest that the saints in each locality use the weekend that was originally scheduled for the Chinese-speaking Conference to set aside one whole day for prayer at set times. We believe this crisis is the opportunity given by God to His church to proclaim His salvation to the people in the world.
We also hope that the brothers and sisters will seize this opportunity to be laboring priests of the gospel to preach the gospel (Rom. 15:16). Whether we are at home or away from home, whether we contact people by visitation or via the internet, we should all join this battle in groups of twos and threes so that the Lord may gain a great victory in this matter, that His enemies may be put to shame, the church may be built up, and God may be glorified.
May the Lord bless all the churches and all the brothers and sisters so that we will make new progress before the Lord in this new year.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 5.
- International Chinese-speaking Conference from February 14 to 16 has been cancelled.
- Reports on the Lord's Move in Germany, website in English: http://germanyreports.info.
- http://ShepherdingWords.com addresses certain critical issues facing the Lord's recovery.
- http://LSMchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns and messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
Prayer, Week of February 2
Realizing and Loving Christ as the Reality of All Positive Things
"Let no one therefore judge you in eating and in drinking or in respect of a feast or of a new moon or of the Sabbath, which are a shadow of the things to come, but the body is of Christ." (Col. 2:16-17)
The reality of all that we need is Christ. We need food, drink, and the feasts. A new moon indicates a new start, and the Sabbath is for rest. However, all these are simply a shadow; they are not the real things. Christ Himself is the reality of all these things.
[May we all] learn to realize Him and love Him. Simply love Him, and do not seek anything else. Everything else is merely a shadow. Of course, while we are still on this earth, we need many things. However, we must use these things in the way of realizing Christ as our reality. The only portion that God gives to us is this wonderful Christ. We must learn to know Him, to live Him, to take Him, to experience Him, and to realize Him. (CWWL, 1964, vol. 2, "A General Sketch of the New Testament in the Light of Christ and the Church, Part 2—Romans through Philemon," pp. 331-333)
GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America
GTCA activities involving FTTA gospel trips continue this week and conclude in the coming weekend in at least 21 North American cities and in Ethiopia. Reports with photos are at http://www.gtca.us. Please pray:
- for those participating in this time of sowing, that they would be energized to spread God's word in a coordinated and living way, and that they would be empowered in the Lord and in the might of His strength as they speak the gospel of the kingdom to the spiritually needy people they meet.
- for the BfA packages that were distributed to be read by seeking ones with an open heart.
- for continuing contact with people who received the Lord or a Bible or other literature.
- for those invited to events this week to be released from everything to attend.
- for the encouragement and continued participation of all the local saints in the gospel activities.
- for many people in each city to be gradually brought into the church life.
International Chinese-speaking Conference CANCELED
After much and thorough fellowship among the co-workers, the decision has been made to cancel the International Chinese-speaking Conference this year. We realize that it is not a small thing to cancel one of the seven feasts and that many saints may have already purchased plane tickets to attend the conference. However, in light of the current outbreak of the coronavirus in China and its spread to other parts of the world, we feel it would be irresponsible on the part of the Living Stream Ministry to expose the saints to the risk of contracting this highly contagious and deadly virus. Please accept our apologies for any hardship this may cause you. (http://www.lsm.org)
Asia
Please pray for the saints to be covered and preserved from any sickness. At the same time, pray for the white horse to run. In this period of hardship and uncertainty, may the gospel of the kingdom be preached like never before!
United Kingdom
As of January 31, the UK has formally left the European Union. However, during a transition period due to last until December 31, the UK effectively will remain in the EU's customs union and single market while negotiating a trade deal with the EU.
Please continue to pray that the Lord will arrange all things for His interests and for the advancement of His move and for a resolution that will not hinder blending among the churches, visitation by the co-workers, or participation in trainings and conferences in the UK and Europe.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 4.
- http://LSMchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns and messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
Prayer, Week of January 26
Giving Christ the Preeminence in All Things
"...God highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name." (Phil. 2:9)
"And He subjected all things under His feet and gave Him to be Head over all things to the church." (Eph. 1:22)
For Christ to have the preeminence in all things, God needs a people; apart from God's having a people, there is no way for Christ to be made preeminent. Christ, the preeminent One, must be the centrality and universality in our church life, family life, and daily life.
Under God's heavenly rule everything is working together for our good. This is especially true of the things in our personal universe. Our personal universe includes ourselves, our families, and the church. In our personal universe many things happen day by day for the purpose of making Christ preeminent. We need to realize this and be submissive to God's heavenly rule.
In order to give Christ the preeminence in all things, we must be willing to be adjusted, to be broken, and to be made nothing so that the Lord can have a way in us, through us, and among us for the building up of His organic Body. If we have a vision of the preeminence of Christ, our living and our church life will be revolutionized, for we will realize that in all things Christ must have the first place. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 3, I.B, III.B-E)
"The Heavens Do Rule" (Dan. 4:26)
The entire world situation is under the rule of the heavens by the God of the heavens to match His intention in His economy, of which Christ is the center. Under His heavenly rule God is using the environment to make Christ the centrality (the first) and the universality (everything) to us. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 3, I.A,C)
As God's people, let us pray for the advance of the divine history within human history. We believe the Lord rules sovereignly over the earth that the environment might be fit for God's chosen people to receive His salvation. In these days of global uncertainty—from politics to epidemics and reminders of the brevity of human life—may the Lord turn all questions and anxieties to the advancement of the gospel. May all forms of "shaking" open the hearts of people to receive the gospel and stir us to speak the gospel in more places at more times.
Southern California Special Training on the Eldership
The third term of the special training on the eldership for SoCal elders and responsible brothers began last Saturday with a plenary session in Arcadia. Through monthly corporate gatherings, weekly group fellowships, and weekly 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 elders and responsible brothers, and to gradually bring more younger brothers into a functioning role in an organic way. Please pray:
- That the Lord will strengthen all the participants and become their perseverance and faithfulness to continually present themselves absolutely to this training.
- That an unprecedented one accord among the churches in Southern California will be ushered in as all the participants are attuned in the same mind and in the same opinion.
- That the Lord will continue to bless this 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.
GTCA
GTCA activities, including FTTA gospel team trips, continue this week in at least 23 North American cities and in Ethiopia. Please ask the Lord to use these trips to:
- strengthen all the local saints and the churches receiving and coordinating with the trainees;
- encourage the trainees with a rich view and experience of church life outside the training center;
- bless the distribution of NTs, gospel tracts, and other literature;
- continuing contact/appointments with people who received the Lord or a Bible or other literature;
- those invited to events this week to be released from everything to attend;
- bring seeking believers into homes these weeks and into long-term fellowship with the churches.
United Kingdom
Please continue to pray for the Lord to rule over the UK's withdrawal process from the European Union. Brexit is scheduled for January 31, although many details will be negotiated throughout 2020. Ask the Lord to exercise His authority so that every aspect is beneficial for His move in the UK and in Europe.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 3.
- The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 14 to 16 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2020icsc.org and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. Advanced registration by January 31 is required only for childcare, and for special Saturday fellowship sessions (one for Chinese-speaking saints presently in school, and one for Chinese-speaking working saints).
- GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America: a fresh expression of this burden is presented at http://www.gtca.us. All are encouraged to read the home page, where you may sign up for email updates.
- LSM Internet Radio: http://lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns, Life-study of the Bible broadcasts, and spoken messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
Prayer, Week of January 19
Rooted in the All-inclusive Christ and Made Full in Him
"Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light." (Col. 1:12)
"As therefore you have received the Christ, Jesus the Lord, walk in Him, having been rooted and being built up in Him, and being established in the faith...abounding in thanksgiving." (Col. 2:6-7)
The purpose of God's calling is to bring God's chosen people into the enjoyment of the all-inclusive, extensive Christ, typified by the good land flowing with milk and honey.
We can walk in Christ as our living land and absorb Christ as our rich soil...so that we may grow with the elements that we absorb from the soil. When we are rooted in Christ as the soil, we are made full in Him; we are filled up with all the divine riches to become His expression. In Christ as the soil we are filled, completed, perfected, satisfied, and thoroughly supplied; we do not lack anything.
If we would absorb the riches of Christ as the soil, we need to have tender, new roots. We need to forget our situation, our condition, our failures, and our weaknesses and simply take time to absorb the Lord; as we take time to absorb Him, we grow with the growth of God in us for the building up of the Body of Christ. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 2, II, III, A.1.b-c, B.1-2)
May the Lord grant us fresh, new roots that we would absorb the riches of Christ and become His full expression!
Households Loving, Pursuing, and Serving the Lord
Joshua, near the end of his life said, "As for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah." (Josh. 24:15)
"Now there was in Caesarea a certain man named Cornelius…devout and one who feared God with all his household" (Acts 10:1-2)
Let us beseech the Lord to bring our whole households to loving Him, pursuing Him, and serving Him. Through us may He care for our children, young people, and young adults in ways best suited to each age, and erase any separation between home life and church life.
GTCA
Teams from FTTA will join local saints at the end of this week for 15-18 day long GTCA activities in 21 cities in North America; activities in two other cities began last week. This week a team will also go to Ethiopia and the team in Switzerland will return. Ask the Lord to use these trips to:
- strengthen all the local saints and churches receiving and coordinating with the trainees;
- encourage the trainees with a rich view and experience of church life outside the training center;
- bless the distribution of NTs, gospel tracts, and other literature;
- bring people to initial salvation and baptism;
- bring seeking believers into homes these weeks and into long-term fellowship with the churches.
Nordic-Baltic Blending Conference
The Nordic countries include Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The Baltic states include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. All of the countries, except for Iceland, have lampstands, including in the capital cities. The churches in this region have two blending conferences each year for all the saints to gather to enjoy the ministry. The next such conference will be held this weekend, January 24 to 26, in Tallinn, Estonia.
Vietnam
Pray for the literature work to translate 800 hymns and prepare to translate the Old Testament.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 2.
- The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 14 to 16 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2020icsc.org and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. Advanced registration by January 31 is required only for childcare, and for special Saturday fellowship sessions (one for Chinese-speaking saints presently in school, and one for Chinese-speaking working saints).
- GTCA—Gospelize, Truthize, Churchize America: a fresh expression of this burden is presented at http://www.gtca.us. We encourage all to read the home page, where you may sign up for GTCA email updates.
Prayer, Week of January 12
Knowing God's Will Concerning the All-inclusive Christ
"Therefore we also… do not cease praying and asking on your behalf that you may be filled with the full knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding." (Col. 1:9)
"To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Col. 1:27)
In Colossians 1:9 God's will refers to Christ… God's will for us is that we would know Christ, experience Christ, enjoy Christ, be saturated with Christ, and have Christ become our life and person. We need to be infused, saturated, and permeated with the all-inclusive, extensive Christ until in our experience He is everything to us.
The all-inclusive, extensive Christ desires to replace every element of our natural life and culture with Himself so that we may be the one new man as His corporate expression; this is the message of the book of Colossians. (Knowing and Experiencing the All-Inclusive, Extensive Christ, msg. 1, III.D.1-2, F, F.2.b)
May the Lord strengthen all of us to know and experience the all-inclusive, extensive Christ so that we may become His corporate expression, the one new man!
Spanish-speaking and Young People's Conferences
The Southern California Spanish-speaking Conference is Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 at the MCC in Anaheim. Messages will be given in English with simultaneous translation into Spanish. Conference details are posted at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer and http://www.socalspanish.org.
The Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will take place at the same time in the MCC's cafeteria (HS) and a classroom (JH). There is no cost and no meals will be provided, but all attendees (YP and serving) must be registered in advance at http://tinyurl.com/2020YPblending. Registration deadline was Lord's Day, January 12.
May the Lord super abundantly pour out His rich blessing on these conferences. Let us ask the Lord to open the hearts and outward circumstances for everyone He wants at these conferences and to take a step forward with both Spanish-speaking and young people.
Lord, Flock People In!
"Thus says the Lord Jehovah, Moreover for this I will be inquired of by the house of Israel to do it for them; I will increase them with men like a flock." (Isa. 36:37)
Here the Lord promised that He would bring in flocks of people. Although He has promised to do this, we still need to inquire of Him. This means that we need to pray for the increase, saying, "O Lord, flock people in. You promised this to us."
In the past, whenever we prayed for an increase of number, the Lord answered. I feel that we need to pray more. The Lord promised, yet He needs our inquiring. He promised that He will increase our number by flocks of men, but we need to pray for this and ask Him to do it…. We should never be content with our present number. Rather, we should all aspire to be doubled within a period of time. Thus, we need to pray, "Lord, flock people in." (LS Ezekiel, ch. 17, sec. 4)
We need to pray, "Lord, flock people into the church in LA."
The Lord's Renewed and Intensified Move in North America
We are burdened for Europe but the Lord's move in North America is not yet completed. We need an intensified move in the heartland of this continent. Please pray for:
- our continued prayer for this move until we see definite and adequate results;
- the Lord's blessing on the GTCA gospel trips; two begin this week, the others January 24 or 25;
- the release of 300 saints of all ages to migrate to 10 cities in the US, including 30 full timers and 5 player-coaches to form 5 campus teams, and leading/responsible brothers for leadership.
http://GTCA.us has good videos of all the target cities and much practical information.
Bibles for America
We have developed a new online store, http://materials.bfa.org, to replace http://LetHisWordRun.com, where saints in the US can order gospel tracts and offer cards in English, Spanish, and Korean, as well as apparel and other BfA materials. Individual distribution kits will no longer be available.
Please pray for the saints at the distribution center as they fulfill multiple large Bible and book orders in preparation for GTCA and other local distributions throughout the US. Pray that every Bible, book, tract, and offer card would get into the hands of God's chosen vessels.
India—Spreading of the Testimony
The Lord has been faithfully moving in the subcontinent of India for more than 30 years. Currently there are 185 local churches with over 4,400 saints meeting regularly on the Lord's day and over 7,000 saints enjoying the Lord in the church life. However, as most of these churches (approximately 75%) are situated in the southern part of the country, there are still 12 northern and northeastern states without the Lord's testimony.
Through the coordination of Amana Literature and Rhema distribution serving ones, many doors are open to the ministry. Please pray that the Lord will soon gain His testimony in these 12 states.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1.
Please keep your copy of Material Offerings; we will use it again. - The International Chinese-speaking Conference is February 14 to 16 in Anaheim. Information is at http://www.2020icsc.org and at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer. All saints are welcome, and there will be translation via FM radio. Advanced registration by January 31 is required only for childcare, and for special Saturday fellowship sessions (one for Chinese-speaking saints presently in school, and one for Chinese-speaking working saints).
- LSM Internet Radio: http://lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts hymns, Life-study of the Bible broadcasts, and spoken messages of the ministry 24 hours each day.
- New website: http://shepherdingwords.com addresses misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery; updates are posted frequently.
Prayer, Week of January 5
Sending Our Treasure and Our Heart to Heaven
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." (Matt. 6:21)
"For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit into the inner man, that Christ may make His home in your hearts through faith, that you, being rooted and grounded in love." (Eph. 3:14-17)
"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness." (Matt. 6:33)
The kingdom people must send their treasure to heaven so that their heart also can be in heaven. (Matt. 6:21, footnote 1)
Money is a material thing that belongs to the earth. Yet the Bible puts God and mammon together. This proves that man's heart is either touched by God or by money. God's test of a man's heart toward Him is in the way of man's giving. (CWWN, vol. 43, pp. 726-727)
In this new year may the Lord make more home in our hearts than ever before. May He gain us as those who seek first His kingdom and His righteousness for the Father's glory and the enemy's shame.
Middle-Age FTTA
The FTTA-MA is a one-year program with two 15-week terms. This coming term will begin on March 9 and conclude on June 20. Saints may attend the training on a short-term basis with a minimum period of one week.
The classes are given in English, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. We hope that many saints in the Lord's recovery will seize this opportunity to be perfected. All applications must be received no later than February 18. If you are interested, please fellowship with the leading brothers in your hall. Testimonies, detailed information, and application forms are at http://www.fttamidage.org.
May the Lord release some from LA for this training. May the Lord also release many from the heartland of America in preparation for strengthening and raising us churches this year.
BFA Distribution in San Fernando Valley
Saints in hall 2 will distribute English and Spanish Bibles at a Walmart January 11 to 12 and 18 to 19. Please pray:
- for many saints to participate in this endeavor including some young ones;
- to bind any distractions or opposing people that will prevent Bibles for being distributed;
- that every Bible will get into the right hands so that God's word can multiply;
- for positive experiences and for the spirit of the gospel to be stirred up in all the saints participating;
- for some recipients to enter continuing fellowship with us.
Bible Distribution at the Winter Youth Olympic Games
Approximately 1900 young people from 70 countries will participate in the third Winter Youth Olympic Games in Lausanne, Switzerland from January 9 to 22. Thousands of visitors will also be present. The churches in Switzerland with saints from other nations and some FTTA trainees will distribute NTs in three languages the weekend of January 11 to 12. Please pray for:
- many local saints and saints from nearby countries to help distribute NTs;
- NTs to be received by many seeking young people;
- the Lord to use this event to open up the whole country for the gospel;
- a sweet coordination among the churches, good weather, and the Lord's rich blessing.
Stuttgart, Germany
Please pray for an adequate meeting hall for the church in Stuttgart in the best location, at an affordable price, and readily accessible to public transportation. (Their current rented meeting place will become unavailable due to a change in management.)
Turkey
Please pray for the perfecting and functioning of the Turkish-speaking saints in Istanbul. They will begin to have their own meeting once a month with the goal of forming a new district, in addition to English- and Chinese-speaking districts, later this year.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 2.
Next week, begin Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ (Thanksgiving Conference). Keep your copy of Material Offerings; we will use it again.
- New website: http://www.lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts Life-study messages 24 hours each day.
- New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org. All YP must be registered in advance at http://tinyurl.com/2020YPblending.
Prayer, Week of December 29
Love God, Fear God, Receive the Blessing
"If you obey the commandments of Jehovah your God, which I am commanding you today, to love Jehovah your God and walk in His ways and keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, then you will live and multiply, and Jehovah your God will bless you in the land which you are entering to possess." (Deut. 30:16)
If we compare Deuteronomy 30:12-14 with Romans 10:6-8, we realize that all God's commandments and statutes and judgements are in Christ, the living Word who is the Spirit in us. With this view, we need to love God, trust in God, mind the tender feelings of God, and live in the presence of God. We also need to be subject to the ruling of God's government and in fear that we might turn from His government by living in our self.
Lord, keep us loving and fearing You that we may always live You and walk in Your ways so that Your recovery may live, multiply, and partake of the all-inclusive Christ as Your blessing.
Turning from Idols to Serve a Living and True God
"For they themselves report concerning us what kind of entrance we had toward you and how you turned to God from the idols to serve a living and true God." (1 Thes. 1:9)
Dealing with mammon is not a matter of being rich or poor; it is a matter of idolatry….We have to see that mammon is diametrically opposed to God. (CWWN, vol. 59, ch. 9)
God wants to gain us, and mammon also wants to gain us. Unless God's people are delivered from the power of mammon, they will not have a proper testimony and cannot be proper Christians. If a man tries to hold on to both sides, he will not be able to serve the Lord well. (CWWN, vol. 57, ch. 16)
In this new year, let us have such a fresh turn from the idol of mammon to serve our living and true God. May the Lord and His dynamic salvation do in us what was done in Zaccheus— "the things that are impossible with men are possible with God" (Luke 18:27).
The Lord's Renewed and Intensified Move in North America
The Lord used the Roman Empire to form and spread the gospel. He used Germany to support the Reformation. He used Great Britain for the preaching of the gospel and the spreading of the truth to the uttermost part of the earth.
As He prepared the Roman Empire, Germany, and Great Britain in times gone by, so He has prepared the United States. WL, The World Situation and God's Move, chap. 2, sec. 2
We are burdened for the move for Europe but we are not finished here. We feel strongly that the spread and growth in North America is not yet finished. We need an intensified move in the heartland of this continent. Our burden for prayer:
- The migration of 300 saints of all ages, 30 each to 10 cities in the US (listed in GTCA Sowing Trips below). These should include 30 full timers and 5 player-coaches to form 5 campus teams, and leading/responsible brothers for leadership.
- Dedicate the first 6 months of the year for intercession for the Lord's renewed move in America.
- Seek the Lord concerning migrating and joining fellowship in GTCA conferences and tours in 2020.
http://GTCA.us has good videos of all the target cities and much practical information.
2020 GTCA Sowing Trips
In January and February 2020, sowing trips will take place in 12 cities throughout the United States and Canada as part of the ongoing burden to gospelize, truthize, and churchize North America. Trainees from FTTA will join local and visiting saints in giving away Bibles, ministry books, gospel tracts, and brochures. The 2020 GTCA cities include:
- Midwest: Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Minneapolis, MN; St Louis, MO
- Southeast: Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Memphis, TN; Orlando, FL
- Mid-Atlantic: Pittsburgh, PA; Richmond, VA
- Canada: Airdrie, AB; London/Guelph, ON
Please pray for the coordination and preparation for the gospel trips and for all those participating in this special time of sowing. Pray also for the Spirit to sweep in the hearts of the people in every city to make them open to receive the ministry of the age.
Brexit
A few weeks ago in the United Kingdom's general election, one party won a clear majority in the parliament. The first step toward the negotiated Brexit (the British exit from the European Union) agreement was approved by this new parliament. The exit is scheduled January 31, although many details will be negotiated throughout 2020.
Ask the Lord to exercise His authority so that every aspect of Brexit is beneficial for His move in the UK and in all of Europe.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 1.
Monday, January 6: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 2.
Monday, January 13: begin Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1
(Thanksgiving Conference). - New website: http://www.lsmchristianradio.com broadcasts Life-study messages 24 hours each day.
- New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
Prayer, Week of December 22
December Semiannual Training
The December Semiannual Training is taking place this week in Anaheim and by webcast throughout Los Angeles. It is on the book of Deuteronomy, which unveils Christ as the Instructor and Leader of the people of God that they may be able to enter into the heavenly territory and participate in His riches. Please pray that the Lord would advance in His recovery by instructing and leading all the saints, infusing them with His up-to-date burden.
2020 GTCA Sowing Trips
In January and February 2020, sowing trips will take place in 12 cities throughout the United States and Canada as part of the ongoing burden to gospelize, truthize, and churchize North America. The cities selected for this year are aligned with the burden for the spread and increase of the recovery in middle America.
Trainees from the Full-Time Training in Anaheim will join local and visiting saints in giving away Bibles, ministry books, gospel tracts, and brochures. The 2020 GTCA cities include:
- Midwest: Cincinnati, OH; Lexington, KY; Minneapolis, MN; St Louis, MO
- Southeast: Charlotte, NC; Columbia, SC; Memphis, TN; Orlando, FL
- Mid-Atlantic: Pittsburgh, PA; Richmond, VA
- Canada: Airdrie, AB; London/Guelph, ON
Please pray for the coordination and preparation for the gospel trips and for all those participating in this special time of sowing. Pray also for the Spirit to sweep in the hearts of the people in every city to make them open to receive the ministry of the age.
European Winter School of Truth
From December 26 to 31, the Winter School of Truth will take place simultaneously in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain. Please pray that the Lord will gain this generation of young people in Europe for His testimony.
Germany – Report from Arabic Speakers Conference
We thank the Lord for His blessing on December 6 to 8, when saints from several countries, including Germany, Israel, Estonia, the US, and Ireland, all gathered with about 30 Arabic-speaking friends from various locations in Germany. We enjoyed messages on "Our Vision: Christ and the Church."
One sister was baptized, and many testified that they had never heard such things. We were impressed with the genuine seeking among the people. Please pray that the word released would take root in our friends, and for their continued shepherding. Pray also for their contact and speaking with others, not only in Germany but in their home countries. Pray for the development of materials for their continued feeding and for the raising up of workers to assist in this labor.
Continuing Grace for Financial Needs
In the context of material giving, 2 Corinthians 9:8 says "God is able to make all grace abound unto you, that, in everything always having all sufficiency, you may abound unto every good work." May we each open to the Lord to grace us for one or more of these on-going needs.
- Church in Los Angeles (general fund): for all people, activities, and properties supported by the church.
- Oak Glen: for improvements to the property, including 1) replacing the old trailers with new cabins, 2) building new dining and meeting room facilities, and 3) a sports field with activities for all ages.
- Bibles for America: for distribution of NTs and ministry publications.
- Lord's Move to Europe: for support of full-timers and trainees, distribution of NTs, the UK building projects, radio broadcasts, and other needs.
- Lord's Move to Africa: for support of full-timers and trainees, rent and purchase of properties, and other needs.
Announcements
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Morning Revival: Training verses or repeat Week 24 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, Vol. 4.
Monday, December 30: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 1.
Monday, January 6: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 2.
Monday, January 13: begin Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1 (Thanksgiving Conference). - New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
- Spanish language radio broadcast: Monday through Friday, 9:00 to 9:30 pm. LA County 100.3 FM; San Fernando Valley and Ventura County 90.3 FM.
Prayer, Week of December 15
Being in One Accord for the Formation of an Army
"Being diligent to keep the oneness of the Spirit in the uniting bond of peace: one Body and one Spirit." (Eph. 4:3-4a)
"That with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." (Rom. 15:6)
In the Lord's recovery we are on a battlefield engaging in spiritual warfare. We need to see that the formation of the children of Israel into an army to fight for God typifies the New Testament believers' being built up into the organic Body of Christ to fight for God and with God for the carrying out of His economy. (Crystallization-study of Numbers, Key Statement 6)
In Numbers 31:13-54 we see a beautiful picture of the one accord among God's people who had been formed into an army ready for battle. The entire situation among the different categories of people was peaceful, pleasant, and harmonious because they were all in one accord. The genuine one accord in the church is the practice of the oneness of the Body, which is the oneness of the Spirit. (msg. 24, II.E,1-2)
Please pray that all the saints we would be brought into the genuine one accord and that all the churches would voice the same thing, trumpet the same thing, teach the same thing, and be the same in practice so that the Lord may use the church to defeat His enemy.
December Semiannual Training
The December Semiannual Training takes place next week in Anaheim. It will be on the book of Deuteronomy, which unveils Christ as the Instructor and Leader of the people of God that they may be able to enter into the heavenly territory and participate in His riches. Please pray that the Lord would advance in His recovery by instructing and leading all the saints, infusing them with His up-to-date burden through the live training messages and the video training in many localities, including LA.
FTTA Graduation
The FTTA graduation will be this Saturday, December 21 at 9:30 am at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim. Please pray that each of the 36 graduates—including two sisters from LA—will follow the Lamb wherever He goes, that all current trainees will be supplied to continue, and that the Lord will bring more saints to the Spring 2020 term beginning in February.
Middle America
There is a need for our labor to gain more people in Middle America. The FTTA gospel trips in January and February will focus on this region. There is also a burden for 300 saints to migrate, including 30 full-timers. There will be a pre-migration training, probably in summer 2020.
Please pray strongly for the Lord's will and the Lord's way to be made known regarding this burden. Pray that at the Semiannual Training there will be more clarity concerning the direction. Pray for the Lord to move in and through the members of His Body, including 100 among the 300 to be from SoCal.
European Winter School of Truth
From December 26 to 31, the Winter School of Truth will take place simultaneously in the UK, Netherlands, and Spain (http://truthschool.eu). Please pray that the Lord will gain this generation of young people in Europe for His testimony.
Germany
More than 10,000 Recovery Version NTs have been received by people in Germany this year. Beseech the Lord to motivate many to read, to receive life and light from their reading, and to actively seek fellowship with the churches.
Hong Kong
Pray for the mass movement participants and the law enforcement officers. Ask the Lord to protect them in peace, that anger would subside, violence would cease, and that they would return to peaceful and rational discussions (Matt. 5:9; James 3:18).
Pray also for the general public for them to know and receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and life and to become God's children. Ask the Lord to recover and cure this city so that the citizens would be healed (John 1:12; Rom. 10:9; Jer. 33:6a).
India – FTT New Delhi
There are currently 48 trainees in the FTTND. Please pray that especially through the campus work in the major cities, many young vessels would be gained, and many would answer the Lord's call after graduation to join the FTTND. Pray for many college students to attend the FTT short-term.
Announcements
-
Morning Revival: Week 24 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 4.
Monday, December 23: this week use training verses or repeat week 24.
Monday, December 30: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 1.
Monday, January 6: begin Material Offerings and the Lord's Move, week 2.
Monday, January 13: begin Knowing and Experiencing the All-inclusive, Extensive Christ, week 1 (Thanksgiving Conference). - December Semiannual Training (December 23 to 28) will be on Deuteronomy. Those who would like to prepare themselves are encouraged to read the verses, footnotes, and Life-Study messages.
- New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is at https://churchinlosangeles.org/prayer y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
Prayer, Week of December 8
The Divine View of God's People
"Here is a people who live alone and do not reckon themselves among the nations." (Num. 23:9b)
"He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor has He seen trouble in Israel." (Num. 23:21a)
"That He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish." (Eph. 5:27)
We need to see the vision of the All-sufficient One and have a divine view of God's people. In themselves God's people have many defects. In God's redemption and in Christ they have no defects. When God looks at His people, He does not see them according to what they are in themselves but according to what they are in Christ.
We need to have a vision concerning the church and see that the church is "Christly," "resurrectionly," and heavenly. The church has been resurrected with Christ, and now the church is in ascension, in the heavenlies, with Christ. We need to view the church in a heavenly way and realize that all the local churches are parts of the coming New Jerusalem. (Crystallization-Study of Numbers, msg. 23, III., D.2.a-3., IV., A.2., V.B.2.)
May the Lord grant us a governing vision to see His people as He sees them and to have our church life according to this vision. Praise the Lord for the church!
Children and Young People Parents and Service Fellowship
This fellowship will be Lord's Day, December 15 in Halls 1, 3, 4, 5; Lord's Day, December 22 in Hall 2. The specific time will be announced in each district. Those presently serving, those wishing to serve, and parents of our children and young people (CYP) are all encouraged to attend. Please pray for full participation and for uplifting of our service to gain our children and young people for the Lord's move.
The church's new Policy for the Protection of Children and Young People, a part of this fellowship, may be viewed at https://churchinlosangeles.org/policy.
Bibles for America
Since August, BfA has been sending free copies of The All-inclusive Christ to people throughout the country. To date, over 5,500 copies have been shipped. Please pray that thousands more would see our ads and order their own copy of The All-inclusive Christ.
Please also pray that each person who receives this rich ministry book would be unveiled to see, experience, and live out the all-inclusive and extensive Christ.
Middle-age Training Graduation
The FTTA-MA graduation is Saturday, December 14 at 1853 Ball Road in Anaheim. Twenty-six trainees will graduate. Ask the Lord to keep them in an inward attitude of training, cooperating with Him as their life-long Trainer—"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:12b-13). Also ask the Lord to guide them in their church life and service after the training.
Iberian Peninsula Conference
The Iberian Peninsula Conference will be held this year on December 13 to 15 in Torremolinos, Málaga, Spain. May the Lord abundantly bless this time for His move in the Iberian Peninsula!
United Kingdom – General Election
A general election for all 650 members of Parliament is scheduled for December 12. Due to political turmoil in the UK, this is the third general election in four years. May the Lord's sovereign will be done in this election and in the ongoing Brexit process. Lord, arrange all things for Your interests, for bringing many to salvation, and for the advancement of Your move in the UK and in Europe!
Hong Kong
"Praying at every time in spirit and watching unto this in all perseverance and petition concerning all the saints." (Eph. 6:18)
"Pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and reasoning." (1 Tim. 2:8)
In the past half year, the protest activities in Hong Kong have become increasingly intensified, conflicts are heating up, and violence is escalating. Everyday operations in the society and people's livelihood are seriously affected. This is not what the general public, nor the church, wishes to see.
Please pray for the saints: may there be no murmurings, no wrath, no reasoning, but more prayer. Also pray for the rulers: may the Lord grant them the wisdom to handle the current disputes most appropriately so that "we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all godliness and gravity" (1 Tim. 2:2).
Lord's Move to Asia
The November newsletter has a report from a conference attended by almost 400 saints and a report about free literature distribution in Asia, with emphasis on India.
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/E-2019-11.pdf (English)
http://lmasia.org/temp/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Asia-2019-11.pdf (Chinese)
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 23 of Crystallization-Study of Numbers, vol. 4.
After the semiannual training we will use Material Offerings and the Lord's Move for two weeks, then the Thanksgiving Conference.
- December Semiannual Training (December 23 to 28) will be on Deuteronomy. Those who would like to prepare themselves are encouraged to read the verses, footnotes, and Life-Study messages.
- New website: The co-workers in North America have launched http://shepherdingwords.com, a new website to address misinformation about the Lord's recovery and certain critical issues facing the recovery.
- The Southern California Spanish Speaking Conference and the Southern California Young People's Blending Conference will both be Friday night, January 17 to LD noon, January 19 in Anaheim. Information in English is here; y en Español en http://www.socalspanish.org.
- Audio of the October 20 Joint LA Meeting is available in English at http://tinyurl.com/godlyfamily.