March 2012

Details

Published: Tuesday, 10 April 2012 15:34

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I have been meditating on Paul’s doxology of worship in Philippians 1:20-21, which he says, “according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also CHRIST will be MAGNIFIED in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is CHRIST, and to die is gain.” It is quite amazing to me, that Paul is giving this testimony of true and spiritual worship, as a prisoner, being under Roman incarceration. Yet, Paul knows that his Sovereign Lord is in total control of his imprisonment. He has been testifying, in verses 12-13, that the Lord had placed him in prison for the purpose of orchestrating the evangelism of Caesar’s elite palace guards! Paul had been shackled with a 6 foot long link of chain, to a number of Caesar’s palace guards. This private force of elite soldiers were being rotated at 6 hour intervals. Obviously, from Rome’s point of view, Paul was chained to the guards; but from God’s point of view, the guards were chained to Paul! The wise providence of our Lord had engineered Divine Appointments for this fervent worshiper, enabling him to be a faithful witness to Caesar’s praetorian guards. Even in the midst of great adversity, Paul consistently exhibited a purpose and passion to fulfill the ‘great commandment and the great commission’! The Lord was using Paul’s incarceration to orchestrate these personal evangelistic encounters for the furtherance of the gospel and the conversion of some of Caesar’s personal bodyguards! We see that when Jesus is the center of your universe, even a prison cell can become a pulpit!

As Paul was testifying about these Divine appointments to plant the gospel, he suddenly broke into a doxology of worship! He gladly proclaims, “For Me to live is Christ”! He boldly testifies that His passion and purpose for living is that Jesus Christ would be magnified in the totality of his life. This is an authentic testimony of true and spiritual worship! Oh Brother and sisters, if the weeds of idolatry have been extracted from the garden of your heart, so that you have been transformed from a rebel into a worshiper, then you should respond by presenting your new heart to Jesus in absolute surrender! We are called and commanded to yield our lives as a holy sacrifice. This will certainly manifest itself in a life that is ‘purposefully and passionately’ set apart from our flesh’s agendas; and ‘purposefully and passionately’ set apart unto our Lord’s agendas”. I submit to you that this is the only acceptable sacrifice of worship to our worthy KING! I am saying that true and spiritual worship is not something that is reserved for an hour or so on Sunday morning; but it is the deliberate placing of the totality of your life at the disposal of your Lord, Who has purchased your soul with His own blood! 

 I like to think of this reality of true and spiritual worship in this way. Prayer is a preoccupation with our needs; Praise is a preoccupation with out blessings, but Worship is a preoccupation with our Lord! It is a passion and purpose to live our lives in such a way, that Jesus would be magnified in the entirety of our lives. May I also say that this reality of worship is to be our response in every situation and circumstances of life. It is not only to be our response when we are sailing smoothly through this life and the wind is at our backs; but it is to also be our response, when we find ourselves navigating through the storms of life, and the winds of adversity are howling in our face. Remember friends, Paul is speaking from a Roman prison cell; and yet, even while imprisoned, he can sincerely say, “For me to live is Christ”! Is this the doxology of your worship?

My desire! — I want to know Him, as intimately as I possibly can; I want to worship Him as passionately as I possibly can; I want to follow Him as obediently as I possibly can; and I want to declare Him as faithfully as I possibly can! 

Friends, I can sincerely testify, after 31 years of following Jesus, that when I am worshiping the Lord Jesus in this definition of worship, my Lord gives me amazing “Divine Appointments” to carry out His great mission of making disciples! When I am sincerely purposing to fulfill the “Great Commandment”, as a fervent worshiper, our Sovereign King opens tremendous doors to fulfill the “Great Commission”, as His faithful witness. Oh, may this be the sincere and perpetual testimony of every child of God who reads this letter. May we treasure Jesus, above all other people and things! May we cherish Jesus, as infinitely more valuable than all of the ‘empty wells’ of this world. May we live our lives in such a way, that it will be manifestly evident that we have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. Our God takes great delight in His worshiping children. We can be sure that our God will open amazing doors, for us to be faithful witnesses unto His Son; and we will bear much fruit. Jesus will be magnified in our bodies; and God will be glorified. 

Thank you!

Friends, our hearts are overflowing with thanksgiving for His open doors to worldwide ministry; and your open hearts, to give to this ministry. Our Lord is using His truth to transform leaders, transform their churches, and grant many true conversions for the glory of God. We praise God for His grace in bringing you alongside with us, to be ‘co-laborers’ in His field. The Lord is using your faithful intercession and loving support to accomplish so much and to meet so many needs. Please continue to pray that the Lord would grant me His discernment to walk through the doors that He opens; and the wisdom to walk away from doors that may not be His open doors for me! We are so thankful for your love, your prayers, your sacrificial giving.

II Corinthians 4:5

Ed Lacy