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Living Out and Working Out the New Jerusalem

“And it had the glory of God. Her light was like a most precious stone, like a jasper stone, as clear as crystal; having a great and high wall…” (Rev. 21:11-12)

The intrinsic significance of Ezra’s ministry is embodied in the words purification, education, and reconstitution. The intrinsic significance of Nehemiah’s leadership is embodied in the words separation, protection, and expression. We need to cooperate with the Lord in His heavenly ministry to build up the church as the house of God and the kingdom of God by living out and working out the New Jerusalem according to this intrinsic significance.

To live and serve God according to the vision of the age in the ministry of the age is to live out and work out the New Jerusalem: “the building work of its wall was jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass” (Rev. 21:18). The city being pure gold, like clear glass, signifies our need of purification with God in His holy nature and of enlightenment through education by applying the Bible teachings to our mind for the renewing and enlightenment of our mind to make us clear with the thoughts, considerations, and ways of God. “The building work” is God’s unique work for our reconstitution with the Triune God so that we may be rebuilt with Him and minister Him into others for Him to build Himself into their being to make them beings in the New Jerusalem.

The city with its wall signifies the New Jerusalem as the eternal kingdom of God under the headship of God for the separation of God’s people and the protection of God’s interests. The wall of the city being jasper (God’s life in its richness) and the city being gold (God’s divine nature) reveal that God’s eternal economy is to make us the same as He is in life and in nature but not in the Godhead for His unique expression. (CS 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther, msg. 11, I-II, A-D)

NACT – 30 Days of Prayer

The North America College Training, July 16 to 22, begins in less than a month. For this special training the coordinating brothers have prepared 30 days of prayer requests for saints all around the globe to enter into together. Let us pray for:

  • Safe travel – This summer close to 2,900 college students and serving ones will gather in Champaign, Illinois. They will come from campuses and towns across the United States and from 39 countries around the globe. Please pray for their safe travel, including all flights, shuttle rides, and cross-country drives, and that the Lord will keep their going out and their coming in (Psa. 121:7-8).
  • Hospitality – Many students traveling to the NACT, especially those coming from great distances, choose to extend their trips prior to or following the training in Champaign. This creates a marvelous opportunity for blending with churches, especially through the practical provision of hospitality. Pray for multiplied grace to all the local saints for hosting students before and after the college training on their way to and from the NACT (Rom. 12:13).
  • Each one’s health – The training schedule is rigorous, starting at 6:30 am every morning and ending at 11:00 pm every night. Please pray for the speaking brothers to be healthy as they prepare in the Lord, for the serving ones to be in good health as they coordinate and labor together, and that each attendee would be able to fully participate and would remain healthy for the entire time with no spread of sickness (1 Thes. 5:23).
  • Practical services – A gathering as large as the NACT requires a smooth coordination of various practical services including ushering, registration, and audio-visual. Please pray that there would be no interruption to the ministry of the word and that each service would be carried out in a smooth and harmonious way (Rom. 15:5-6).

For a complete list of the 30 Days of Prayer for the NACT, click here.

July Semiannual Training

The 2023 July Semiannual Training will be held in person in Anaheim from July 3–8 and by webcast in Los Angeles and around the world. The general subject is “An Overview of the Central Burden and Present Truth of the Lord’s Recovery before His Appearing.” Please pray that the Spirit will operate through the Lord’s present speaking to build up the Body and prepare the bride for His return.

UK Building Project

Construction is set to begin this December for a new training facility of the Full-time Training in London at Bower House with a capacity of holding at least 400 trainees as well as conferences for 1,000 saints. The total cost is estimated at approximately $6 million (dollars).

We now have full permission for the new FTTL classroom, dining and kitchen facilities at Bower House. Despite much opposition, the prayers of the Body have been crucial in gaining these very significant permissions.

What is needed next is to increase the accommodation of the training on the adjacent Bower Farm property, to create a campus environment that is conducive for the training, with an atmosphere and space to nurture fellowship, prayer and private times with the Lord. Following a difficult period of consultation with the city council, we have now submitted a full application to construct sleeping accommodation to house 100 trainees. As this is a conservation area, gaining permission is difficult. The next months are crucial as the council considers the application.

Please pray that the Lord would release this permission for the Lord’s interest and the sake of training of the young people in Europe, and that the Lord would rule over the council planning officers for the sake of His move.

To give through the Church in LA for the new training center, please follow instructions at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings. Designate offerings for “UK Building Project.”

Ukraine

A reminder from the footnote on 1 Kings 8:48: “No matter for whom we are praying, our prayers should be aimed at the interests of God, i.e., at Christ and the church as God’s interests on earth, for the fulfilling of God’s economy.” Please continue to pray for the ruling of the heavens so that:

  • The Lord will keep all the saints in the involved countries open to Him for His divine dispensing.
  • The Lord will meet all the practical needs of the saints.
  • The brothers who are fighting in the war will be preserved by the Lord in their tripartite being.
  • The local saints, serving ones, and trainees in Europe will be blended with the refugees.
  • The enemy will be bound in his attack on the Lord’s interests in Russia, Ukraine, and Europe.

Announcements

  1. Morning Revival: Week 11 of Crystallization-study of 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther.
  2. Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: The weekly ministry meeting on “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul’s Epistles” continues this Wednesday starting 7:25 pm.
  3. Free e-Booklets: Living Stream Ministry offers a series of free e-booklets to read and share at www.lsm.org/booklets, including “Life’s Issue—the Church.”
  4. LSM Newsletter: The May issue of “Having This Ministry…” provides principles on using the hymns in the Lord’s table meeting, as well as a brief history of the Taiwan Gospel Book Room. Go to newsletters.lsm.org/having-this-ministry.
  5. Bibles for America‘s recent post, “2 Corinthians 3:18—Beholding and Reflecting the Lord with an Unveiled Face,” is available to read and share at blog.biblesforamerica.org.
  6. Living to Him has a podcast series particularly helpful to working saints, available on all major podcasting services at livingtohim.com/the-living-to-him-podcast.
  7. GTCA: To learn more about the burden for migration within North America, please visit gtca.us.
  8. 500 Life-studies App: To learn more about the burden for the Life-studies, including the 500 Life-studies app, please visit 500lifestudies.org.
  9. A Timely Speaking of Supply: Enjoy a free weekly video from messages given by Brother Lee at lsm.org/timely-speaking.html.
  10. Ways to Give: Information about the church’s online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.