Knowing Christ and the Power of His Resurrection
“To know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” (Phil. 3:10)
“…I am the First and the Last and the living One; and I became dead, and behold, I am living forever and ever; and I have the keys of death and of Hades.” (Rev. 1:17-18)
According to [Philippians 3:10], Paul aspired not only to know Christ, but also to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings. The power of Christ’s resurrection is His resurrection life which raised Him from the dead (Eph. 1:19-20). The reality of the power of Christ’s resurrection is the Spirit (Rom. 1:4). To know, to experience, this power requires identification with Christ’s death and conformity to it. Death is the base of resurrection. To experience the power of Christ’s resurrection, we need to live a crucified life according to the pattern of His life. Our conformity to His death affords a base for the power of His resurrection to rise up that His divine life may be expressed in us. (Life-study of Philippians, pp. 174-175)
The principle of resurrection is that the natural life is killed and that the divine life rises up in its place. That which passes through death and still remains is resurrection. Resurrection is something that has come out of death and that is beyond the natural realm. Resurrection means that no event or circumstance can cause us, who have the resurrection life of Christ, to be held down. To be in resurrection means that our natural life is crucified and that the God-created part of our being is uplifted in resurrection to be one with Christ in resurrection. When we do not live by our natural life but live by the divine life within us, we are in resurrection. (Knowing, Experiencing, and Enjoying Christ as Revealed in Philippians, msg. 4, II.E, 1-5)
Gospel in Hawaii
Our hearts go out to all those who have suffered the loss of their loved ones and homes in the devastating wildfires in Maui. Please pray that the Lord would meet their material needs and soften their hearts to receive the gospel.
In coordination with the brothers in Hawaii, Bibles for America sent over 2,400 gift packets containing pocket NTs, gospel tracts, and ministry books. So far, about 1,600 packets have been given to people who have been affected by the fire, community leaders, firefighters, volunteers involved in the relief effort, and other residents of Maui. May the word of the Lord run and be glorified in Maui!
The following are some specific prayer burdens:
- That the Lord will continue to brood over Maui and prepare many open vessels to receive His gospel, that they may gain God in this time of loss.
- For the Lord to direct all the NT gift packets that are being distributed, to get them into the hands of the seeking ones.
- For the local contacts whom the saints in Hawaii have connected with so far, that the Lord who as Chief Shepherd would lead and guide the saints in their shepherding care to bring these new ones into the church life.
- For all the saints who are laboring together, that the Lord would lead their coordination in the Body regarding the ongoing assembling and distribution of the gift packets as well as the follow-up effort.
Middle-age Full-time Training
The fall term of the Middle-age FTTA begins Monday, September 11. Sixty-six (two from LA) are registered for the full term and 16 (1 from LA) for one to four weeks. This is the largest number since the pandemic. Please ask the Lord:
- To save each trainee from their self and to perfect each one for the building up of His Body.
- For some short-term trainees to decide to stay for the whole term.
- For a big increase in the number of Spanish-speaking trainees (only 4 are registered for the full term).
European University Training
The European University Training will take place in Glasgow, Scotland from September 8 to 13. 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. The general subject of this year’s training is “The Kingdom.”
Please pray that the Lord will raise up many university students in Europe to pursue Him and gain Him for His Body.
Munich Meeting Hall
After several months, approval was granted by the city building and planning departments last week for the church to use the new property as a meeting place. During this application process, it was agreed that we could begin to use the lower level as a student center and this has already been a huge benefit. The students, new contacts, serving ones and supporting couples are thriving in this facility. Now that we have the approval, the Lord’s table and prayer meetings will also take place in the upper meeting area.
We will now proceed to close the sale and the purchase price of €2.5 million ($2.7 million) will be due in October or November. As this building has been recently renovated, no significant additional funds should be necessary. We now prayerfully bring this urgent need to our all-sufficient Lord and open it to His Body in the furtherance and fellowship of the gospel. Please continue to stand with us in prayer for the support needed to complete this purchase for the Lord’s interests in this key German city.
For more information, see the reports at lme.org/reports.html. Saints in LA who are burdened to contribute may give through the Church in Los Angeles designated for ‘Munich Meeting Hall’.
Germany Gospel Trips
In Matthew 9:37-38 the Lord “said to His disciples, The harvest is great, but the workers few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest that He would thrust out workers into His harvest.”
Let us continue to beseech the Lord of the harvest to thrust out at least 100 workers for the gospels trips in Germany, Switzerland, and Austria taking place October 8 to 22. Pray that an adequate number of saints from overseas would respond and be released for these trips. Also pray for all the local saints in these German-speaking countries to be willing and able to participate in one or more days of the gospel. Pray that the sanctifying Spirit will prepare many divine appointments with key university students, and that He will use these gospel trips to gain much remaining fruit!
For more information, go to bit.ly/GermanyGospelTrips. Registration is open until September 29.
Announcements
- Morning Revival: Week 4 of Knowing, Experiencing, and Enjoying Christ as Revealed in Philippians.
- Wednesday Night Ministry Meeting: Saints are invited to attend this week’s ministry meeting in person at 7:25 pm at the Ministry Conference Center in Anaheim or online at www.lsmwebcast.com. The general subject is “The Crucial Points of the Truth in Paul’s Epistles—First Corinthians.”
- Thanksgiving Conference: November 23 to 26 in Dallas, TX. Saints from LA interested in possibly attending in Dallas should RSVP no later than October 31 at tinyurl.com/thanksgivingconfla. This site also has an information packet with hotel information and children’s registration.
- LSM Digital Resources: Living Stream Ministry has consolidated many of its helpful digital resources, including apps and free booklets, at lsm.org/daily. The August 2023 newsletter features the second part of an interview with Brother Ron Kangas concerning the history of the Life-study publication work along with reports on the Africa Ministry Depot and the Lord’s move in the Balkans.
- Ways to Give: Information about the church’s online giving platform, Subsplash, and where to mail checks, are at www.churchinlosangeles.org/members/offerings.