SEPTEMBER 2011 UPDATE

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Published: Thursday, 22 September 2011 17:36

Dear Friends in Christ,

As you read through the Book of Acts, it seems that everywhere Paul and his companions ministered they either saw revival; a riot; or both! In Acts 17, Paul and Silas entered into the synagogue and began preaching “The Lord Jesus Christ”! This passage tells us that a number of people were converted. However, ‘those who were not converted’ gathered a mob and begin to produce an uproar against them. I love the accusation hurled against Paul and Silas, by the ‘gospel-rejecters’. They said, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too!” Oh brothers and sisters, how wonderful it would be, if we were reviled with similar words. Notice the theme of the message which aroused this taunting accusation; “Saying that there is another King---JESUS!” They preached a message that focused on the Lordship of Jesus Christ! They were heralding the reality that the “Kingdom of Jesus is at hand,— repent and believe the Gospel”!

Dianne is presently reading a wonderful book, entitled, “10 Lies about God”, written by Erwin Lutzer, pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. A few nights ago, she read the following lines to me, that really caught our attention.“Our agenda as a church is not to take over nations, politically speaking. Of course, Christians should be involved in government as good citizens, but our PRIMARY message is the transformation of a nation, through the transformation of individuals!“ Oh friends, we need to be reminded that the early disciples were under the brutal tyranny of the Roman Empire and its wicked emperor, Nero. You can be certain that those 1st century believers had no voting block which represented them in the Roman Senate; nor did they have a ‘so-called’ conservative representation in the courts of Rome. They were constantly experiencing great pressure and persecution from this “Christ-hating” government. You can be certain that they were facing infinitely more trouble and tribulation than we have ever experienced in this nation. Church history informs us that every time some crisis or calamity would befall Rome, the political leaders would falsely accuse the believers by saying, “The Christians must be thrown to the lions; for the Christians have done this!” These believers were slandered verbally, beaten physically, and yes, sometimes even martyred for the Gospel. Yet they were mightily used by the King of Kings to extend His Kingdom into the hearts of sinners! Their living, their praying and their witnessing was so effective, that they were accused of “turning their world upside down”! They were not focused on the political transformation of the Roman Empire, as evil and sinister as it was. Instead, they were absolutely consumed with the extension of the reign of King Jesus into the hearts and lives of individual sinners. They were focused on the Eternal Kingdom! These believers clearly understood what Jesus meant, when He said, “My Kingdom is NOT of this world”. These disciples possessed a singular focus on Eternal business; and their message was making “holy tidal waves” everywhere that they went. These believers were being radically used to penetrate the Kingdom of Darkness, by faithfully and passionately using God’s ordained means to carry out God’s great mission. They courageously proclaimed the truths concerning the Lord Jesus Christ; they lived lives that were consumed with the Lord Jesus Christ; and they were continually involved in ‘believing and expectant evangelistic intercession’ for the progression of the gospel! They exhibited a willingness to move forward with great courage, and contentment; whether they found themselves in the midst of glorious conversions or great conflict! They turned their world upside down because their focus was on ‘things above; and not the things of this world’! 

Brothers and sisters, if we are going to turn our world “right side up”, we must also be men and women who are wholly committed to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel! Our Lord declares, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. And he who does not take his cross and follow Me, is not worthy of me.”

Sadly, there are many within the church walls today, which appear to be ‘lukewarm’ in their commitment to Christ! They exhibit more passion over political agendas and the state of the financial markets, than on God’s agenda of the proclamation and propagation of the Gospel. They spend more time focused on the future of America; instead of focusing on the extension of the Kingdom of Jesus into the hearts of sinners. So many seem to have forgotten that every born again child of God is a RESIDENT ALIEN in this nation. This is not our home. We are just passing through this foreign land called the U.S.A. Our citizenship is in Heaven. We are here for this brief period of time, for the purpose of being faithful ambassadors for the King of Kings! Yes, there is no doubt, we should be very grateful to have be born in a nation, in which we enjoy many freedoms and privileges. But are we using these freedoms and privileges, to focus our lives on things that have eternal value?

WITH A HEART FILLED WITH GLORY TO OUR KING AND GRATITUDE TO HIS PEOPLE! 

When I sit and ponder the mighty works of the Holy Spirit that I have witnessed in these past 2 months, I am overwhelmed with praise and thanksgiving to our Lord and God. When I think of the provision that has been given for the ministry in the Kenya and Nicaragua pastors’ conferences, I am filled with gratefulness to our King and His people. In those two trips alone, we provided more than 6,000 meals, we provided the travel expenses for all of the 400 Kenya pastors’; and paid for the use of the facility in Kenya; not to mention all of my travel expenses. OUR GOD provided according to HIS riches in glory in Christ Jesus. But, as always, He provided through the loving and generous support of You, His bride! Dianne and I would like to share our deep gratitude to our Savior and His providence, in bringing you into our lives and ministries. Please receive our sincere love and heart-felt appreciation for your love, for your faithfulness to pray for us and for your encouragement, as you stand with us in the international outreaches. We are blessed to be the channel of ongoing support to 25 church planters and a number of other ministries. Our passion is that our Lord will continue to allow us to be a channel of blessing to many others, both spiritually and materially. We want to invest our lives and our resources in things that have ETERNAL VALUE! You are an essential part in that eternal passion and purpose! Dear Friends, we love you in Christ Jesus our Lord, and truly thank Him upon every remembrance of you. We know that these are precarious times. We do pray for you, knowing that like us, you are facing many challenges and difficulties. May we all set our eyes upon Him, in these days. May it be the desire of our hearts to be like the early disciples and have it said of us, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too!

II Corinthians 4:5

Ed Lacy