Asheville, NC 2007: Ultimately, not even the living rooms and overall raw square footage of the Biltmore Estate will be able to house our ministry gatherings. However, in anticipation, the ministry must grow in its understanding and its expectations of our family meetings.

From Trent Ling:

We ever-remain a zealously thriving ministry and fellowship.  Revelation and insight arrive at a pace beyond our grasp and comprehension.  We relate to the accounts in the Bible in this gracious gift stream from God, because elsewhere on earth, we typically witness the watering down and the dwindling of conviction and fervor.

However, in our continuing growth and broadening participation, we regularly encounter an uncomfortable “living room” as a ministry.  The “living room” in this case is anywhere we come together as a ministry family and get after the needs of the hour.  Heeding the Spirit’s call, we are approaching this spiritual leakage with mercy and seriousness.  May this brief letter set the stage for some healing, understanding, and reconciliation in our living room.

Disarmament

Jesus disarmed the powers and authorities, made a public spectacle of them, and triumphed over them by the cross.  Colossians 2:15.  We glorify God by trouncing the enemy in spiritual battles we have no business even enduring.  Truly, a disarmed enemy, no matter how gigantic, is readily defeated.

Some of my brothers and sisters have humbly shared and confessed their general nervousness when being addressed publicly in the ministry living room.  Many of the stomach butterflies stem from the suspense brought about by the unknown.  As we have seen Jesus do, I intend to disarm this nervousness to the full extent possible.  May I provide everyone I publicly address a one- to two-sentence summary of where we’re headed that they may be relieved and be better able to hear and absorb the teaching, encouragement, and/or correction.

Our fellowship is not a sport, a shell game, a trial, or a blind side sacking.  There is no need for any suspense or jitters unless the Spirit decides to administer a test.  If we are so tested, may we gird ourselves like common third-graders and endure it obediently.

Integrity

Providing details of the destination before the journey even begins does disarm some of Satan’s schemes, no doubt.  However, the one being instructed remains liable to Satan’s ploys, nonetheless.  I still envision deer in the halogens despite a disarmingly mapped preamble.

“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9.  No matter the contortionist feats of the teacher, without integrity, the hearer destabilizes in any meaningful exchange.  A lack of integrity reveals itself in a lack of security.  For if there were integrity, there’d be security.  There’s no way around the Proverb.  So, no substitute exists for integrity.  The one whose life fails to match his doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16) shakes and quakes no matter who approaches.  Recall Peter’s utter disintegration and total collapse when a zero-account servant girl merely asked him a question (Mark 14:66-70).

The beauty of integrity delivering a payload of security manifests in it no longer mattering how one is addressed.  Therein lies some of the freedom for which Christ set us free.  Galatians 5:1.  The ideal living room cannot become a reality without great boosts of integrity across the board, disciple by disciple.  Thus, not all living room implosions can be blamed on the minister no matter how skillful or thoughtful he may be.

Reverence

So, suppose the teacher brings destruction upon Satan’s game plan, and the listener brings integrity with matching security.  Why this pesky, residual itch?  Sensation?  Tension?  Who messed up?  Who’s not pulling their weight?  Why is the living room still not a bed of feathers?

“The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know.”  1 Corinthians 8:2.

No matter who approaches me, I do only know that I don’t know as I ought to know.  So, this unavoidable fact of Bible living renders each of us subject to endless learning.  And, learning requires some paying attention.  Amen for a little tension and itch to prepare the learner.

“Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.”  1 Peter 1:17.

No matter how artful each of us plays his or her position and body part, we shall and should always carry in our walk, talk, and countenance a palpable fear which telltales the fact that we’ve stumbled upon the real  and living God.  Notice that, for boorish and brash loudmouths, such fear is absent, as is a relationship with the one and only God.  Our fear (not debilitating, but deeply entrenched) should be worn as a badge of honor from heaven in that the Scriptures describe us.

Conclusion

Consider a hypothetical scenario whereby several serious brothers arranged a meeting with me to “discuss” something.  I confess that God has revealed in vision and in dream that I am light years from knowing everything.  Such an impromptu meeting would find me in reverent fear.  Like Paul in Galatians 2:2, I never assume that I necessarily know best when it comes to the running of my race in Christ.

Going forward, may we disarm the enemy where possible; require integrity for our security; and rejoice that some remaining fear in the living room proves we have completed a triple play required by the Scriptures.

In light of that, I still cannot wait to get together.  Such has always been the case, and may it forever be our sentiment. Though already geezers in the faith, for 2010 we have been provided yet another new and living way in Jesus.  Hebrews 10:20.

May we spend it all, as usual.

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