ED LACY MINISTRIES, INC. P.O. BOX 9062 MOBILE, AL 36691radical Hindu’s had recently attacked the...

ED LACY MINISTRIES, INC. P.O. BOX 9062 MOBILE, AL 36691

STRIVING TO DO GOD’S WORK, GOD’S WAY, FOR GOD’S GLORY

EDLACYMINISTRIES@CS.COM (251) 660-8942 (251) 423-3528 WWW.EDLACYMINISTRIES.ORG

MARCH 2018

DearBrothersandSistersinChrist,“NowthisistheconfidencethatwehaveinHim,thatifweaskanythingaccordingtoHiswill,Hehearsus.AndifweknowthatHehearsus,whateverweask,weknowthatwehavethepetitionsthatwehaveaskedofHim.”TheconfidencethatJohnisreferringtoistheglorioustruththataborn-againbelievercancomebeforetheLord,withbothafreeaccesstoHimandaconfidentassuranceinHim!ForourHeavenlyFatherdelightstograceuswithanunimpeded approach into His presence. Ephesians 3:12 reiterates this glorious promise with these words, “Inwhom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him”. The word “boldness” depicts asteadfastconfidencetospeakfreelyinthepresenceofapersonofextremelyhighrank.Well friends,thePersonwhowearecommuningwith(inprayer)hasthehighestrankingintheentiretyoftheuniverse;forHeisboththeCreatorandSustainerofitall.HeisthegreatIAm.HeistheKingofkingsandtheLordoflords.Oh,butHeisalsoour“AbbaFather”;andweareacceptedin theBelovedOne.Consequently,weareinvitedtocomeinto themostHolyplacewithasteadfastconfidence.Butyoumayask,“Asteadfastconfidence inwhat”?IamspeakingoftheblessedassurancethatourFatherdelightstohearandanswertheprayersofHisadoptedchildren.Brothersandsisters,wehavebeengracedwithadivinepledgethatourLordandGodhascommittedtobeourfaithfulProviderthroughprayer.

“HewhodidnotspareHisownSon,butdeliveredHimupforusall,howshallHenotwithHimalsofreelygiveusallthings?”WhenIamconfidentthatGodhasgivenmetotheLordJesusandHe has given the Lord Jesus to me, then I can also have the abiding assurance that He willprovideeverythingthatIwilleverneedtolivealifethatmagnifiesmySavior.Doyouknowthatoneofthekeyreasonsthatbelieversdonotpraymore‘faithfullyandfervently’istheirownlackof confidence in God as their ‘Father-Provider’? They do not really believe, in their heart ofhearts,thattheirprayerswillbeanswered.Fortheydonottrulycomprehendthat,‘answerstoprayersareprimarilyrootedandgroundedinthepromisesofGodtoHischildren;andnotintheperformance of His children’! Beloved disciples, our Father desires to hear and answer ourprayersfarmorethanwedesiretopray.Oh,wemustrecognizethatourGodisloving,mercifulandgracioustoHischildrenwhoseekHiminprayer.Hedesirestohaveintimatefellowshipwithyou.Hedelights tohavepersonalcommunionwithyou.Youdon’thave toforceyourway intoHispresence.Youdon’thavetobegyourFathertogiveyousomeattention.Friends,Heisalways

eagerforyoutoenterintoHisthroneroomandmakeyourpersonalpetitionsknowntoHim.“Therefore,brethren,havingconfidencetoenterintotheholiest,bythebloodofJesus.”Noticethatourconfidenceisnot inourselves.Ourconfidenceisnotinourperformance.Forourverybestdayofperformancewouldbeasfilthy rags toaperfectlyHolyGod,without Jesusas ourMediator! Ourbestperformance couldnevermerit oneanswertoprayer.Onthecontrary,ourconfidenceisinthePersonofJesusChrist;theperformanceofJesusChrist;thepaymentofJesusChrist;andthepresenceoftheexaltedLordJesusChrist,attherighthandoftheMajestyonhigh!JohnNewtonwritesthesepreciouswordsofinvitation,“ThouartcomingtoaKing,largepetitionswiththeebring,forHisgraceandpoweraresuch,thatnonecaneverasktoomuch.”

OurconfidenceisfoundinthepersonofJesusChrist;theperformanceofJesusChrist;thepaymentofJesusChrist;andthepresenceoftheexaltedLordJesusChristattherighthandoftheMajestyonhigh!

TRIVANDRUM,INDIACHRIST-CENTEREDEVANGELISMCONFERENCE

ThesearedaysofheavypersecutionoftheevangelicalchurchinthenationofIndia.Brutalviolenceisofteninflictedonborn-againbelieversbyavarietyofradicalHinduextremistgroups.ThisviciousoppositionoftheGospel,(whichhas been continually active under previous Indian governments), has been dramatically increasing under thepresentregimeofPrimeMinisterNarendraModi.Forexample,duringoneoftheirSundayworshipgatherings,someradicalHindu’shadrecentlyattackedtheverychurchwhere the“Christ-centeredEvangelism”pastors’conferencewas held. Thankfully, some local police stopped this particular incident. However, in 99% of the cases of thepersecutionofbelievers,theradicalHindu’sknowthattheywillneitherbestopped,norpunishedfortheiractions.ForthepresentrulingauthoritiesofIndia,(whicharepartofaHindunationalistorganization),willalwaystakethesideofthepersecutorsofthefollowersofChrist.Asamatteroffact, itisthestatedgoaloftheseHinduextremists,thatIndiashouldbe“freeofChristiansby2021”.Furthermore,theywillgotoanyextremesofviolencetoreachtheirannouncedambition.Inpointoffact,theverydayfollowingtheconclusionofourconference,Iheardthenewsthatoneoftheevangelicalpastors,fromtheneighboringstatetoKerala,hadbeenmartyredbyradicalHindu’s.Andyet,eventhoughtheseIndianpastorsarefacinggreatpersecutionfromthesereligiousradicalswhichenvelopetheir tiny remnant, these spiritual leaders are still in need of Biblical training. For in recent decades, both their‘evangelisticmessageandmethods’havedriftedastrayfromthedivinestandardoftheWordofGod.Theprevalentevangelistic message, which is proclaimed by most Indian pastors and evangelists, has wandered away from a“Christ-centered” message; and has become “heaven-centered” in its main focus. Furthermore, these spiritualleadershavebecomeguiltyofgraduallyadoptingmany‘Americanmethods’,thatarenothingbuttheconcoctionsofthearmoftheflesh.Oh,butIamsothankfulthat,(throughpreviousChrist-centeredEvangelismconferences),theLordhas raisedup a core groupof Indianpastors,whohave apassion andpurpose to take this ‘Christ-centeredEvangelism’study toeachoneof the14major languagesof India.Mymostrecentconference inTrivandrumwasbeing translated into theMalayalam language,which is the language of the state of Kerala. This is the 5th Indianlanguagethatthe‘Christ-centeredEvangelism’workbookhasbeentranslatedinto!

GOD’STRUTHEXTENDEDTHROUGHHISANSWERTOTHEPRAYERSOFADESPERATELYNEEDYPREACHER!

IhavebeengracedwiththepreciousprivilegeofpreachingtheWordofGodin20differentnations,aswellasin25differentlanguages.ItisquiteamazingthatIhavealwaysbeenblessedwithtremendousinterpreters, ineveryoneoftheseapproximately170foreignmissionadventures.Therehasneverbeenaproblemwiththetranslationofthemessage,UNTILTHISTRIP!However,Irealizedintheveryfirstsessionofteaching,thattheyoungmanwhowasmyinterpreter,althoughwellintentioned,wasstrugglingtotranslatetheteachingscorrectly.Hemusthaveaskedmeto‘repeatmystatements’,onatleastahundreddifferentoccasions,duringthatfirstday.Additionally,themorethathestruggledinhisinterpretingwork,themorenervoushebecame.Friends,itwasextremelyfrustratingtome,aswellastotheroomfullofpastorswhowereattemptingtolistenandlearn.Iwaspreachingin90ºheat.Iwaspreaching

ontheothersideoftheworld;sothismeantthatIwaspreachingthroughoutthenight,asfar as my body clock was concerned. And now, this young man was failing to rightlycommunicatethetruthsthatIlongedforthesespiritualleaderstograsp.Attheconclusionof thatopeningday,mymindandheartwerebeingseverelytempted tobetorn-apartbycare, concern and discouragement.On that first evening, I fell onmyknees, in theplacewhere I was staying, and began to call out to the Lord. This needy preacher wasdesperately crying out tomyFather to, “pleasebeGRACIOUSandMERCIFUL tous”. For

hereIwas,ontheothersideoftheplanet,withoutacompetentinterpreter.Myheartwentouttothisyoungman,forIknewthathetoohadrealizedthathewasnotuptothetask!Ialsoknewthat,ifitwasatallpossible,weneededtomakeachangeofinterpretersthenextday. Forthemostimportantrealitythatmustoccur,isfortheseIndianpastorsandevangeliststoreceiveaclearandconciseinterpretationofthevitaltruths,whicharecontainedin“Christ-centeredEvangelism”.However,Ihadabsolutelynoideawherewewouldfindaninterpreter,orwhocouldaccomplishthisdauntingtask. (Continued)

Aswebeganthenextmorning’steachings,Inoticedthattherewasapastoronthe2ndrow,whowasrepeatedlyandfaithfullycorrecting theyoung interpreter.Notonlywasthisolderpastorcorrecting the interpreter inEnglish,hewas also employing theological terms inhis corrections.Upon the conclusionof that session, I hurriedoutside toattempttospeakwiththisbrother.Forboththeyounginterpreterandeveryoneelseinthecongregationknewthatweneededanotherinterpreter,whowouldbeequippedtofulfillthisgreatneed!AsItalkedwiththisolderpastor,he informed me that, he had been a professional interpreter for a number of years! He also had earned threemaster’s degrees in theology! Moreover, he was presently studying for his doctorate! Immediately I asked him,“Wouldyoubewillingtobemyinterpreterfortherestoftheweek”?Iamsogratefultotestify thatherespondedwith thesewords, “Iwould be honored to”! Then I asked him, “By theway, what is your name?” He introducedhimselfwithanamethatIwillnever forget.Hereplied, “MynameisGRACIOUS!”Oh,mydearfriends,our faithfulProviderhadbeenGRACIOUStoanswer theprayersof thisdesperatelyneedypreacher!Thenew interpreterwasabsolutely excellent. The Spirit of God united us as one. God graced both of us with a precious liberty and themanifestedpowerof theSpiritof theLord!Furthermore,theyoungman,whowasmyfirst interpreter, saton thefrontrowwithasmileofthanksgivingandrelief!Iwas absolutely amazed towitness themightywork of ourLord in themidst of these pastors from the state ofKerala!Therewas a tremendous teachability, a holyhumility anda sweeping repentance,which consumed thesespiritualleaders.Eventhoughtheyhadbeenindoctrinalerror,(bothintheirmessageandmethodsofevangelism),theyexhibitedanopenness to thecorrectionof thescriptures.When Iwouldspeakonaparticulararea, inwhichthey had fallen into doctrinal or practical inaccuracy, GRACIOUS would begin to weep as he interpreted God’scorrective teaching!As adirect result, the Spirit ofGodwould employhis “brokenand contriteheart” to literallysweepthroughthecongregationofspiritualleaders.WhenIreturnedhomefromtheTrivandrumconference,IwasgreetedbythefollowingwordsoftestimonyfromourdearbrotherGRACIOUS.Hewrites,“OurLordhasgiventhepastorsofthestateofKeralaatremendousNewYear’sgift,throughourbelovedEdLacy.GodsenthimtothestateofKeralatoequipustobeboth‘biblicalandfruitful’inourevangelisticmissioninIndia. Even though I havebeen a ‘missiondriven believer’ since1989, I realized that I had beenwrongly taught,concerningmanyaspectsofevangelism!Myteacherwasawell-meaningteacher.However,heandmanyotherswereteachingusmanyunscripturalthings,inrelationtoboththemessagethatwearetoproclaimandthemethodsthatwe are to employ! Our Indian preachers and teachers were being taught a ‘Heaven-centered message’, fromAmerican preachers who had come to train us. I am sad to say that we Indians are tempted to assume that, ‘ifsomethingcomestousfromAmerica,thenitmustbegoodandright’!However,therehavebeenmanydoctrinesandmethodologiesthathavecometousfromtheU.S.thathadbeenneithergoodnorright!ForwediscoveredthatthemessagethatwewerebeingtaughttoproclaimwasnothingmorethananenticementforpeopletogotoHeaven.WewereabsolutelyshakenwiththediscoverythatthebiblicalGospelmessagedoesnotputthespotlightonaplace.TheauthenticGospelproclamationplacesitsmainfocusonthePersonandtheworkofourLordJesusChrist!TheSpiritofGodrevealedthatwehadbeencriticallywronginbothourmessageandourmethods.Consequently,wehadalsobeenguiltyofdeceivinganddamagingmanysouls.Thesebiblicaltruthswerethere,beforeus,theentiretime.Butwewerelisteningtoman-madetraditions,insteadofcarefullyexaminingtheinstructionmanual,inlightoftheclearteachingsof theWordofGod!Butwehaveall turnedaway fromour ‘heaven-centeredmessageandourhumanlyinventedtechniquesandtactics’.Wehavereturnedtothebiblical‘Christ-centeredmessage’thatwasproclaimedintheBookofActs.WehavecommittedtoemployonlyGod’sordainedmeanstocarryoutGod’smission.Bro.Ed,wewillneverbethesame!Forourevangelismhasbeenmightilytransformed;andwearealleternallygrateful.”

LOCALCHURCHREACHESOUTTOALOSTCOMMUNITY!

IhavejustreturnedfromagloriousweekofoutreachatFellowshipBaptistChurchinSteinhatchee,FL.Myhearthasbeenbothencouragedandexhilarated,becauseoftheirnewpastor’sdesireanddeterminationtoevangelizethisneedycommunity.Steinhatcheeiswellknownforfishing,scallopingandcrabbing.However,itisalsoatragicfactthatwellover30%oftheirpopulationlivesbelowthepovertylevel.ThatisobviouslyfarabovetheaverageoftherestofthestateofFlorida.Oh,butPastorJeremyTatumseesthisphysicalpovertyasatremendousevangelisticopportunitytoreachouttothespirituallypoor!ThefollowingwordsarethepersonaltestimonyofPastorJeremy:(Continued)

PRAYERPERFUMEDWITHPRAISEANDTHANKSGIVING

Aswe thinkof each of you inour seasons of prayer, those intercessions cannot help but tobe ‘perfumedwithpraisetoourGod’foryoursteadfastbrotherlylove,yourcontinuedintercessionandyourfaithfulsupportofthisministry.WegivethankstoGodourFatherandtheLordJesusChristforyourlovingpartnershipintheGospel.Ourremembranceofeachofyouignitessweetgratitudeinourhearts.Forsomanyofyouhavecontinuallybeenatourside,bearingusupfromvictoryuntovictory!YouhavebeenearnesttoassistusinthefurtheranceoftheglorioustruthsoftheWordofGodtovariousnationsinthisneedyworld,(includingourownnation).Youhaveencouragedus, prayed for us, assisted us and heartily stood with us, in both themountaintops and the valleys of life andministry!And friends,wecangladly testifythatourGodhasdoneexceedinglyandabundantlyaboveall thatwecould ever ask or think! Andwe canultimately say, as one redeemed family, “to Him be glory in the church byChristJesustoallgenerations,foreverandever”.Amen. YouservantforJesus’sake EDLACY

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

March 18th - 21st …………….Fellowship Baptist Church of Suwannee County - Lake City, FL March 28th …………………..Mission of Hope - Mobile, AL April 15th - 18th ………………Riverside Baptist Church - Denham Springs, LA April 29th - May 4th ………....Providence Baptist Church - Baton Rouge, LA

“Bro.EdLacyhasbeencomingtoministertoFellowshipBaptistChurchofSteinhatcheefor10years.Butthispastweekwasthefirst timethatIpersonallysatunderhisteaching. Itwasatremendousblessing tomylife!Bro.Edkickedofftheweekbypreachingabouttheterribletragedyofbeing“Christianized;butnotconverted”!Thiswasawonderfully challengingmessage,which caused the people to examine themselves. Eachmessage that followedseemedtobuilduponthepreviousone.Ineachsermon,thegospelmessagewasclearandrelevant.SinnerswerecalledtorepentanceandChrist-followerswereadmonishedtoexaminethemselves.Ourchurchhasbeenreachingouttothemultitudesof‘thelostandpoorwithinourcommunity’,throughourfoodpantryministry.Itservesasameansforustoproclaimthegospel‘oneonone’,tothosewhocometoreceivefood.OnWednesdayevening,weoffereda free spaghettidinner to allof thosewhoweareministering toat the foodpantry.Godblesseduswithatremendousattendancefromthecommunityonthatfinalevening.Itwasespeciallyencouraging that many people, who attended the service, were powerfully impacted. They heard a clear andpowerfulpresentationoftheGospel.WesawtheHolySpiritbringsinnersunderconviction.IbelievethatGodwillusethiseveningofevangelisticoutreachtoaccomplishHispurposeinthesalvationofmanysouls.Asamatteroffact,Iamveryexcitedtohitthestreetsandgodoortodoor,infollow-upofthiswonderfulweekofoutreach!DuringourtimewithBro.Ed,manyseedswereplantedandwatered.Sinnerswereconfrontedwiththeirdesperateconditionandtheirurgentneed fortheLordJesus.Furthermore,thebodyofChristatFellowshipBaptistChurchwas edified, admonished and encouraged. Even my wife, (who was baptized as a young child, but not trulyconverted until a few years ago), has expressed her desire to be obedient and follow her Savior in believer’sbaptism.Additionally,a83year-oldmanfromourcongregationalsowishestobeobedienttotheLordinbeliever’sbaptism.Forhehascometorealizethathewasnotconverteduntil3yearsago,whenBro.Edtaughthis ‘Christ-centeredDiscipleship’study.IcangladlysaythatitwasanhonortohavehimfillthepulpitatFellowship.WeareassuredthatthepeopleofGodweregreatlybenefited.Asamatteroffact,thepeoplearestilltalkingaboutwhatablessingitwas!Wecannotwaituntilnextyear’smeeting!”