Dear Brothers and Sisters in Jesus Christ,

In the late 1800‘s, five college students were spending a summer Sunday in London. They purposed to attend worship to hear the famous pastor Charles Spurgeon preach the Word of God. While they were waiting for the doors to open, the students were kindly greeted by a man who invited them in and said, “Gentleman, let me show you around the facility. Would you like to see the boiler room?”. During Spurgeon’s era, the boiler room was the place where steam was generated to heat the church, during the cold winters in London. A boiler room would not be a pleasant place to visit. Usually it was in the basement area. It would have been dirty, hot and uncomfortable. These young men were not necessarily interested in a tour of the boiler room, especially in the middle of summertime. But they did not want to offend the stranger who had been so kind to them, so they consented to visit the church’s boiler room. The young students were then taken down a stairway; then a door was quietly opened by the stranger; and then he whispered to them, “This is our boiler room!” The students beheld approximately 700 people, who were bowed in intercessory prayer, seeking the blessings of the Holy Spirit on the service that was soon to begin in the auditorium above! Then the tour guide introduced himself. It was none other than Charles Spurgeon! Even though Spurgeon was well known as the “prince of preachers”, he never took credit for the success of his ministry. He always pointed to his Lord and Savior, who was answering the intercessory prayers of the hundreds of people who were seeking His face and His blessings, upon His Word and His servants! 

Brothers and sisters, while the contemporary church is looking for more “humanly invented techniques and tactics” in their attempt to carry out the Lord’s mission; God is looking for faithful intercessors. He is looking for intercessors who will stir themselves up to take hold of God; He is seeking those who will reject indifference and apathy; those who will reject religious gimmicks and gadgets; and who will fasten themselves to the Lord and not let Him go until He answers and blesses!

Intercession is one of the highest privileges and holiest exercises involved with our intimate relationship with God. Friends, we are never more like our Lord and Savior, than when we are interceding for others. The Word of God tells us, “We are a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God.” One of the most important privileges of a New Testament priest is the reality that we have access to God, to intercede for the spiritual benefit of others! While it is true that God accepts our petitions for our needs and ourselves; I submit to you that our intercessory prayers on behalf of others are the “most pleasing” prayers that we can offer to our Lord! We could certainly say that the true secret of all spiritual victories is intimately connected with our prevailing intercession at the foot of the mercy seat. 

Oh, precious believer, there is no greater blessing than to be used by God, in heart-felt intercession; so that we might be His instruments in his great work of “making men His holy habitation”! Charles Spurgeon once said, “We must plead with God on behalf of men; before we plead with men on behalf of God. We are best equipped to testify to men and women, when we have been wrestling with God on behalf of those men and women”. I believe that the great crisis that is facing America is not in the White House; but, it is in the Church House! The only hope for this nation is another “great awakening”! And the only hope for another “great awakening”, within this increasingly pagan nation, must begin with an authentic revival within the true body of Christ. And friends, there has never been a genuine revival in the church, nor a spiritual awakening in a nation, that did not begin with passionate, persistent, intercessory prayer! Oh that God would raise up an army of intercessors all over this nation, who will intercede, with a holy anguish in their souls, for a “Christ-focused, Word-centered, God exalting revival”. Our God is a “prayer-answering” Father; so may we be found at His mercy seat, being involved in passionate, persistent, intercession for a revival in the body of Christ; and a great awakening in this nation; for the glory of our Lord and Savior!

THANKFUL FOR YOUR FELLOWSHIP IN THE GOSPEL 

Dianne and I want to say, from our hearts, that You are an answer to pray in our lives and ministry. Our hearts are flooded with joy, when we think of how our Lord has placed you within our lives, to join us, as we follow our Master and fish for men together! With give thanks to our God always for you all! We absolutely treasure your intercessory prayer and your generous support to what God has called us to do. Every soul that is converted; every church planter or pastor that is encouraged and taught; every believer that is refreshed and revived through the teaching, preaching and witnessing of this preacher, is an answer to the intercessory prayers and sacrificial gifts of believers, who are walking in step with the Spirit of God! May you be reminded, in these days of testing and turmoil, that our “God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work”. We love you in the Lord Jesus Christ and pray for you with a heart of thanksgiving. 

ED & DIANE LACY