Times Square in NY, NY 2007: Trent Ling is accustomed to finishing what he starts. However, today he starts something and hopes that ministry peacemakers will finish it. The full complement of body parts that God has provided to the ministry must arise and function. The time is now! We’ve gotta have you!
From Trent Ling:
To the disciples of Jesus in this ministry: We remain a public ministry. We have historically been watched by spies on the outside and by infiltrators on the inside (to the spiritual loss of those spies and infiltrators, by the way). We minister publicly and we do not shrink back from correcting and rebuking our own number publicly. Along those lines, “in the following directives I have no praise for you…” 1 Corinthians 11:17.
Today, we’ve witnessed a slew of letters written privately amongst ourselves that are very unlike the letters you’ve seen me write to you, and for you, over the past 10 years. We are better than this. Or rather, I have treated you better than this. Can you not teach and treat others as I have taught and treated you during your entire spiritual lives?
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” James 3:17-18.
Yes, much accrues to the peacemakers. Amen for them. Where are they? Will they not now arise, speak and write peaceful words, and make peace between those willfully incapable of doing so? Peacemakers, come out! Come in the name of “peace!” God will be so pleased to give loudmouths into your hands. You need barely lift a finger. Apparently, it’s open season. You could bag your legal limit in almost no time.
“The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed… We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.” Romans 8:19, 22.
This ministry is always groaning as it always grows. We are groaning greatly today with many letter after letter defeats in just the last 20 hours! May the sons of God be revealed and may they come now, stocked with salve and sense; spirit and Spirit.
No doubt, we are to be straight, honest, and helpful. This often and necessarily gets sharp and painful. The Scriptures warn against being “harsh” in all of that. I have always considered “harsh” to mean something along the lines of “unnecessarily sharp.” Similarly, the dictionary sets out “harsh” as “merciless; cruel; punitive.” Certainly, people falsely squawk, “Harsh! Harsh!” far too often. In fact, anyone even using the term is almost routinely and appropriately dismissed as a “cry wolf” baby. But, the proper definitions and admonitions do have their place and boundaries in the ministry of the truth. I am no “cry wolf” baby. Don’t mess with me.
It seems that perhaps something like testosterone, and definitely not the Spirit, had a run on us today. God cannot be impressed; especially since that same testosterone largely led to every worldly mess in our pre-Christ lives. Fortunately, there was a day when the Spirit mercifully came upon our dilapidated scene and eradicated the personal disasters and strangleholds that were overwhelming and devouring our lives.
Perhaps, led by godly men and women today, we may get a similar deliverance from the biting fellowship that is not the one you were given when the Spirit set you free from yourself.
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