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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

NOVEMBER 2016

DearBrothersandSistersinChrist,

“For Zion’s sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not keep quiet, until herrighteousnessgoesforthasbrightness,andhersalvationlikeatorchthatisburning.Ihavesetwatchmenonyourwalls,O Jerusalem; theyshall never hold theirpeacedayor night.Youwho remind theLord, donotkeep silent, (take no rest for yourselves), and give Him no rest until He establishes and until He makesJerusalemapraiseintheearth.”-Isaiah62:1&6-7Intheoriginalcontextofthispassage,theprophetofGodisfacingthedesperateconditionofthenationofIsrael. The Chaldean Army is about to conquer the people of God and carry them away into Babyloniancaptivity. And yet, God has also given the promise of a coming restoration of a remnant in the future.However,rememberthatthispassageisalsowrittenforouradmonition.ThereismuchthatthefollowersofJesusChristcangleanfromthistextofscripture.ForthereisaclarioncalltoallofustoheedGod’smandatetous,inthemidstofthesedaysofdeclension,desolationanddiscouragement.Thispassagecontainssomeverypracticalstepswhichcomprisea“calltoaction”foreverybeliever.TheprophetisheavilyburdenedoverthepeopleofGod.Wetoo,shouldbedeeplyconcernedoverthepresentconditionofthechurchofourLordJesus.Didyounoticethattheprophetisnotprimarilytroubledovertheconditionofthepagansaroundhim.On thecontrary,he isprimarilyandprofoundlygrievedoverthepresentconditionof thepeopleofGod. Isubmittoyouthat,“thegreattragedyofpresentdayAmericaisnotchieflytheconditionofthisnation.Thecatastrophic calamity of our nation is the present anemic and lethargic condition of much of the visibleevangelicalchurch”!Yetinthemidstofitall,ourLordhasgivenHisbelievingremnantapreciouspromiseofHispreservation,Hisprotection,andoftheirfinalglory.

ThedivinepromiseofourLordandSavioristhat,“HewillnotrestuntilHisredeemedchurchiscompletelybuiltandHispurposeofredeemingHisbrideisfullyaccomplished.”TheLordofthechurchisfirmlyfocusedongatheringinHisbridefromeverytribe,tongue,nationandpeoplegroup.ThiswasHisagendafrombeforethecreationoftheuniverse.ThisistheveryreasonthatHesetHisfacelikeaflint,toendurethephysicalandspiritualhorrorsof Calvary’sCross. Consequently, theChief Builderhas pledged thatHewill complete theingathering of the reward for His suffering. Our Great High Priest ever lives to make intercession for Hissaints,astheycarryoutHisgreatmission!HisexaltedpresenceattherighthandoftheMajestyonhighisthe guarantee that allofHisprayers, (whichHeprayed forHispeople in John17),willbe fullyand finallyanswered. Additionally, the Spirit of God has promised to be manifestly present with those who are onmissionwith Him, in this holy expedition ofman-fishing and disciple-making. However dear brothers andsisters,theLord’scommitmenttobuildHischurchisnoexcuseforpersonalapathyandcorporate idleness onourpart. (Continuedonnextpage)

OurascendedLordisconstantlyworkingtobuildHischurch!

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Conversely,theLord’spromisetocompletethisgreatmissionshouldfilleveryfollowerwithaholyzealtobeactivelyemployingGod’smeanstocarryoutHisgreatmission,inamostfearlessandfaithfulmanner!Idesiretoremindyouofourpersonalandcorporateresponsibilities,inthesevitaldaysinwhichwelifeinthemidstofthiscollapsingculture.“Ihavesetwatchmanonyourwalls,theyshallneverkeepsilent,alldayandallnight.”-Inseasonsofwartime,thesewatchmenweretheguardswhowatchedcloselyfortheapproachof theenemy. Ifthey identifiedanadvancingenemy, theywouldsoundanalarmandcall thesolders tobattle.Friends, theyaremultitudesofpresentdayenemies,whoareseekingtoattacktheredeemedchurchoftheLordJesusChrist.Thoseenemiesfallintothetwooverarchingcategories,whichwecouldlabelas“doctrinaldefilementandmoralcorruption”withinthelocalchurch.MayIsaythatevery localpastor ispersonallyresponsibletobeafaithfulwatchmanoverhislocalflock,whichisthepillarandgroundofthetruth!But,ifalocalpastorisfailingtobothproclaimand apply the sound doctrine of the rightly dividedWord of God, he is worse than a traitor to the GreatShepherd!Thiscertainly includesanitinerantpreacher likemyself!“Iwillnotholdmypeace. Iwillnotkeepsilent.” In addition to the local pastor, every born again follower of Jesusmust also fulfill his duty to be afaithful and ferventwatchman.For ourvoicesmustalsobeheardon the earth.Wemustbeequippedandavailableto“takeopportunitiesandmakeopportunities”toproclaimthegloriousGospeltruthstosinners.Ohdearfriends,mayeachoneofusrenewourpersonalcommitmenttobe‘consistentlyspeakingtosinnersonbehalfofourLord’.MayeachofusmakeafreshcommitmenttoourLord,thatwewillnotkeepsilent.Insteadofsuccumbingtoawickedpassivity,ourvoicesaretoberingingouttofaithfullyandferventlyproclaim“thebadnewsandthegoodnews”totheearsofsinners.Wemustutterlyrefusetobevacillatingandspasmodic,concerningGod’sgreatmission.Butwithdeepdesireanddedicateddetermination,ourvoicesare going topersistinheraldingthemessageofourKing,withinoursphereofinfluence.“You who remind the Lord, take no rest for yourselves.” - Wemust also be passionate and persistent tocompassionatelyspeaktoourLordonbehalfofsinners!Foritisbyevangelisticintercession,thatwebeseechthe Savior on behalf of lost sinners. In the days inwhich this prophecywas initially written, oriental kingsmaintaineda“throne roomofficer” in their court.Thisofficer’s solepurposewas to remind thekingof thepromises which he had previously made to his subjects. Occasionally, the officer would bring thosecommitmentstotheking’sremembrancebysaying,“Yourmajesty,youpromisedtodosuchandsuchathing.Somayitpleaseyoutoperformyourpromise.”OurGodhasgivenusgreatandpreciouspromisesinHisholyWord.AndmayIremindyou that,“God isnotaman thatheshould lie.Hashespoken it,andshallHenotbringittopast?HasHesaiditandshallHenotdoit?”OurfaithfulFatherinvitesustocalluponHim,toseekHisface,toremindHimofHispromises,andtopleadwithHim,“Lord!doasYouhavesaid!”OurGoddelightstohearandanswertheintercessionofHischildren,accordingtoHiswillandinHisperfecttiming!ListentoIsaiah43:26,inwhichourRedeemergivesachargetoHispeople,“PutMeinremembrance”!OhbutEd,ourLordistheGodwhoisomniscient.Hehasalwaysknowneverything.Hehasneverhadtorememberanything.Sowhy isGod commandingus to remindHimofHis promises? Friend, it is not forHis sake, thatour LordinvitesustoremindHimofHispromises.Itisforoursakes!Heischargingusto“fillourheartsandmindswiththepromisesofGod”.Andthen,orderourpetitionsandinvokeourprayers,inalignmentwithHispromises.Dearfriend, ifyouintercedewithoutapromise,youhavenoreasontoexpectananswer.ButifwecometoourfaithfulGodandremindHimofHisgreatandpreciouspromises,thenwecanintercedewithconfidenceand expectation that our God will answer according to His will and in His perfect and wise timing!“Takeno rest for yourselvesand giveHimno rest...”Wemustcarry those evangelistic intercessions toourLordwithanincessantperseverance.Inotherwords,keeponasking;keeponseeking;andkeeponknocking!Dearbrotherandsister,don’tgiveup;don'tgivein;anddon’tgiveout,untilyouseeGod’sanswer.GiveyourFathernorest,untilHehearsandanswers.YoucertainlyrecalltheillustrationwhichourLordJesusemployed

Our voices should be continually heard on earth!

Our voices should be continually heard in Heaven!

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ABENEDICTIONOFGRATITUDEFORASUCCESSFUL2ndSURGERY! SURGERY!

It hasnowbeen7weeks sincemycolostomy reversal surgery. Iam so grateful for allof your intercessoryprayersforboththis2ndsurgeryandthroughoutmyrecovery.Oneofthegreatestblessingsofthis6-month“valleyofadversity”washavingadivineappointment,towitnessextensivelytothesurgeon,whoconductedbothsurgeries inFL.OurHeavenlyFather longago taughtDianneand Ithebiblicalpromise that, ‘OurLordandSaviorisinultimateandoverarchingcontrolofeveryvalleyofadversity,whichHeordainsforustowalkthrough’.Wewerealsograciouslyinstructedwiththevitaltruththat,‘EveryseasonofafflictionandadversityisanopportunitytomagnifyJesusChrist inthemidstofthestorm’!Asamatteroffact,whenIreceivedtheinitialnewsonMay16ththatIwasabouttoenterintoemergencysurgeryforthesakeofmylife,Philippians1:20immediatelycametomyconsciousness; “SonowalsoChristwillbemagnifiedinmybody,whetherbylifeorbydeath”.IknewthatIwascalledto“sanctifymysuffering”,withaheartattitudeoftrueworshipofmyLord,whoisaverypresenthelpintimeoftrouble!Ialsoknewinmyheart,thatthisadversitywasadivinesummons for us to involve ourselves in evangelistic intercession for divine appointments and Gospelopportunities;andtomaintainareadinesstotakethoseopportunitiestoproclaimtheGospeltothosewhomGodwouldbringwithinoursphereofinfluence!Soon aftermy emergencysurgery inMay, the Lordopenednumerous doors towitness tomysurgeon.Helatertoldmethathehadbeenanagnosticformanyyears.HespenthischildhoodincommunistCuba.ButhisfamilyescapedtheCastro regimeandmigratedtoDetroit,MI,whenhewasonly8yearsold.Godusedour‘sharedexperiencewith thenationofCuba’ toopenhisheart towardme in anunusualmanner.Hewouldactuallylinger inmyhospitalroom;longerthantheaveragesurgeonusuallystays,beforeexitingtovisitthenext patient. At times, hewas even doing the nurse’swork, (as the nursewould shockingly look on), as Icontinuedtowitnesstohim!Asthetimeforthe2ndsurgeryapproached,DianneandIbothwereprayingandreceived a solid assurance that we were to return to FL for the colostomy reversal. It could have beenaccomplishedinMobileinmuchlargerfacilities.ButweknewthatweshouldreturntoLakeCity,sothatwecouldseekfurtheropportunitiestoplantthegloriousGospelseedintheheartofthissurgeon,whowasusedtosavemyphysicallife.After thesurgerywascompletedand Iwasdismissed,weknewthatwewouldhave to remain inLakeCityuntilallofmybodily functionswereworkingagain.Wewouldhaveafollow-upvisit ina fewdayswiththesurgeon. Iwillneverforgetsitting inmysurgeon’sexamination roomandhearingthesewordsfromhim,“IwantyoutostayhereinLakeCity,untileverythingisworkingproperly.However,Iwanttogetyourcellphonenumber.(Continued)

concerning,‘Theman,whowasseekingbreadfromhisneighboronbehalfofavisitorwhohadcometohiminthedarknessofnight.Hekeptonknockinguntilhereceivedhisrequestonbehalfofhisvisitor’.“Ifyouthen,beingevil,knowhowtogivegoodgiftstoyourchildren,howmuchmorewillyourheavenlyFathergivetheHolySpirit,withallofHiscommensurateblessings,tothosewhoaskHim!”ButEd,Ihavebeenintercedingforaparticularpersonformanyyears,andIhaveyettoreceivedtheblessing!MypreciouswifeandIintercededfortheconversionofmyearthlyfatherfor26yearsbeforewereceivedourLord’sanswer.Neverforget,that

aslongastheobjectofyourintercessionisstillbreathing,theyremaintobeapotentialobjectofthemercyofGod!Doyouhaveabiblicalvisionofwhatthechurchismeanttobe,inthesedarkdays?Doyouseethestarkcontrastwithmuchof thechurch’spresent slumbering andslothful condition?Thenbrothersandsisters,leteachofusmakeanewcommitmenttobewatchmenon the wall. Let us take no rest in personally employing the personalproclamationoftheGospelandpassionateevangelisticintercession.

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ForIwanttoinviteyoutocomeovertomyhouseonFridaynight.IhavesomequestionsthatIwanttoaskyou.”Now,Ihaveseenalotofphysicianssincemyfirsthealthcrisisin2003.ButIhaveneverhadasurgeoninvitemetocometohishouse,totalkaboutthewordofGod!OurLordamazinglyopenedthedoorformetowitness tomysurgeon inhisownhome, (for2½hours)!Hesharedwithmethathehadtwohorribleexperienceswith‘establishedreligion’,thatcausedhimtowalkoutthedoorsofboththeCatholicreligionandlatertheEpiscopalChurch,wellover25yearsago!Hehadbecomeanagnostic,whowasalsoaworkaholic.Hesharedthathehasbeendivorcedfor15years,livingaloneinthisveryelaboratehouse.Hismainhobbyhasbeenflyingairplanes,andhehashisownplane.Andyet,helatersaid thesewords tome, “Something ismissing inmy life.My89year old father, (whohasalwaysbeenanavowedatheist),recentlysaidtome,‘IthinkthatIhavebeenwrongaboutthismatterofbeliefinGod.’”Thisstatementfromhisownfatherhascausedhimtothinkaboutwhathebelieves.Hehadanumber ofverygoodquestions,whichourLord graciously answered through thisearthenvessel,usingtheWordofGod. Iwasblessedwiththepreciousopportunitytoclearlydeclare the“badnewsofhisterribleproblembeforeGod”;aswellas,“thegreatandgloriousnewsofGod’stremendousprovisionintheGospel”.Neartheendofthis2½-hourconversation, Itoldhim(concerninghisexcellentmedicalwork)that;"Godhadplacedme(inmymedicalemergency)attherightplacetime,attherightplaceandwiththerightman".Herespondedbysaying,"IbelievethatthisisexactlyhowGodhasusedyouinmylife”!NowwhenIreceivedhisinvitation,DianneandIdecidedtobuyaMacArthurStudyBibleandhavehisnameinscribedon thecover. Igave it to himthatnight. Upon the conclusionofourvisit,heaskedme,“Whereshould I began reading?” So I placed amarker in the Gospel of John. I closed this Divine appointment bytellingmysurgeon,"IfIwouldhavehadtogothroughallofthisphysicalsufferingagain,inordertohavethiseveningwithyou,thenIwouldgladlydoit!"Friends,myLordandSaviorvoluntarilysacrificedHimself,asthesinless substitute, in order to redeem my soul. So certainly, there is no temporary physical sacrifice orsufferingwhichcouldpossiblybecomparedtotheeternaljoyofHeaven,ifIamusedasHismessengeruntotherepentanceofonenever-dyingsoul!Please pray withme that my surgeonwould enter through at the narrow gate. He has recently stated toanotherphysicianatthatsamehospital,whoisadearbrotherintheLordsaying,“IlovethestudyBible.Thenotesarereallyhelpingmetounderstand”.

MYRETURNTOITINERANTMINISTRY!

My heartwas overwhelmed with gratitude to my Lord for the privilege of preaching my first “week longmeeting”ofitinerantministrylastweek.ThemeetingtookplaceinThomasville,ALatLibertyBaptistChurch.TheSpiritofGodwasmightilyworkinginmanyhearts,aswe focusedonapersonal and corporate revival of our “first love intimacy” with the LordJesusChrist.IamsoverygratefultoGodtopreachtheWordinacorporatesettingonceagain.Please be in prayer for a continued “spiritual empowering and physicalstrengthening”, in the opportunities which are immediately ahead. Onemonthfromthewritingofthisletter,IamscheduledtoreturntoKenyaforourannual“pastorsandchurchplantersconference”attheKenyaMinistriesTraining Institute in Kitale. Therewere 558pastors and spiritual leaders inattendancelastDecember.Therewillprobablybeevenmoreattendeesthisyear. I will be teaching a study, which I have entitled, ‘Redeemed to Worship’. I have added four extrasessions to this study, concerning amuch-needed teachingon a biblical refutationof the “false prosperitymessage”whichhassocontaminated thechurch inAfrica.Asalways,ourministrywill supply forallof themeals, theworkbooks and the travel expenses for all of the pastors!We deeply cherish your intercessoryprayerandsupportforthisupcomingconference.

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Friends,wehavesomuchtobethankfulfor!TheLordhasshowereduswithsuchlovingkindnessandstrengthinthisvalleythatwehavebeentravelingthrough.Heonceagaindemonstratedthat,“Henotonlyknowsourneeds;butHeknowspreciselywhenweneedthem”. Duringthis lastsurgery,severalofourdearfriends inLakeCity,whichtheLordusedsograciouslyintheMayemergency,wereeitheroutoftownorencounteringillnesseswith their familymembers. So this time, our great Comforter and Shepherd carried out His plananotherway.Asmostofyouprobablyrealize,LakeCityisabout5hoursawayfromourhomeinMobile.Wehad to be there several days prior to the surgery, for testing and other procedures for the upcomingcolostomyreversal. But thenightbefore thesurgery,we received aphonecall froma friend fromMobile.Shewasaskingwhatroomnumberwewerein.Thenwhilewewerestillonthephone,aknockcameatthedoor.Yes,itwastwoprecioussistersinChristfromMobile,atourhotelroomdoor.Theyhadtraveledallthatwaytobewithusforthesurgery!Whatasacrificeandexpenseforthem,aswellasfortheirspouses,whomtheyhadlefttofend forthemselvesathome.Additionally,asweweresitting together inthewaitingroomthatnextmorning,anothergodlyfriendfromGainesvillecamewalkingdownthehallway.Shehadtakenofffromherveryhecticworkscheduletobewithusalso.Theywereagreatcomfortandencouragementtobothofus,inourtimeofneed.Then as Dianne and I recall the last 14 months, (and we are reminded that I have only been able to beinvolvedin itinerantministryfor4ofthosemonths),weareabsolutelyastonishedatthefaithfulnessofourFathertoprovideforallofourpersonalandministryneeds.OurGodhasusedmanyofyoutointercedeforus, aswell as being a precious channel of financial provision for our family needs andour foreignmissionsupport.Yourlove,yourprayers,yourcalls,yourcardsande-mails,aswellasyourfinancialsupporthavefilledourheartswithgratitudetoourGodandthankfulnesstoyou.Youhavestoodwithusandsurroundeduswithmuch loveandcare.We are trulyblessedbeyondmeasure.Godhasmetallof ourneeds,according toHisrichesingloryinChristJesus.WestandinaweofourfaithfulFather;inadorationofourpreciousSavior;andindeepgratitudeforourdearbrotherandsistersinChrist. YourservantforJesus’sake, EdLacy…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….....

UPCOMINGSCHEDULE

November 9 The Mission of Hope - Evangelistic outreach November 13-16 Woodside Baptist Church Ocala, Florida November 23 The Mission of Hope - Evangelistic outreach December 2-12 Pastors Conference Kitale, Kenya December 18 First Baptist Semmes, Alabama December 25 May you have a blessed Christmas celebration!

OURHEARTSAREFLOODEDWITHTHANKFULNESSFOREACHOFYOU!