Servias Ministries Blog

Yesterday, I posted an explanation of the word “fear” by our beloved brother Alan.  To recap, he wrote:

God empowered creation with the Spirit of Truth in Love, which is the nature of God, and that empowerment was to perpetuate Good continually.  That action describes a God of Love, and not a God to be feared.  ‘Man’, in separation from the Love of God, began to distrust God, and promote that distrust and fear to others.  

Gal. 4:5  Only with the appearing of Yashua (Jesus if you prefer) did mankind have the opportunity to cease ‘seeing’ God through the eyes of fear, and begin to See God as the Father of Love.  “If you have seen me, you have seen The Father”.  And even till this very day does man continue to ‘see’ God through the eyes of fear (yara) rather than to See (Ra-ah) God as our loving Heavenly Father.   Also, the word ‘yara’, which is most often translated as ‘fear’, is numerous times translated as “…to see”.  When you ‘see’ correctly, and properly discern what you are ‘seeing’, it produces no fear.  Fear not.

How do we correct our misperception of what has been taught over the years?  We must meditate on the pure Word, not man’s teachings filled with their bias.  The term “fear” promotes a constant requirement of performance which few can obtain.  The rest of us would fall short in our quest to become acceptable thus we could never achieve full maturity.  Isn’t this the essence of “conditional” love?  We must overcome this view which is full of conditions and understand Agape Love.  To overcome this performance issue, we should fully embrace what FATHER’S Word says and set aside all the incorrect teachings of the past.  Let us allow The Holy Spirit to show us the fullness of Agape Love expressed to us by FATHER.  This will remove the deep-seated anxiety associated with never measuring up.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 4:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

How do we eliminate anxiety?  Meditate on The Word and peace will guard our hearts and minds.  As we focus on The Word, FATHER’S peace will begin to overtake all of our anxieties and cause them to dissipate.  We are to renew our minds daily so that the issues of life will not overtake us and steal our peace.

FATHER’S peace surpasses our understanding so we must not allow our minds to restrict this peace simply because we do not know how it works.  Man’s reasoning would have us believe that we can’t have peace unless we fully understand how it works in us.  We must trust Our Heavenly Father and rely on HIS Word in order to receive HIS peace which surpasses our understanding.  Have faith!

FATHER formed us in a manner where we become what we meditate on.  This is why we must guard our hearts and our minds in what we allow to enter in.  We reap what we sow.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

The verses in Philippians chapter 4 are excellent reminders which should be referenced daily until we have sufficiently trained our minds to pursue only those things mentioned in verse 8.

I choose to meditate on The Word every morning first thing.  It prepares me for the day and FATHER’S peace permeates my soul.  The issues of life become less important as I begin the day with a grateful heart.  Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 8:

17   I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Our beloved brother Alan shared the following:

‘Fear’, as a normal response to whatever you may see as a danger or threat, is a common manifestation of the emotions of the soul; the mind, the will and the emotions we tend to rely upon for trusted information.  Reasonable fear can be very healthy.  Irrational fear, however, normally comes from ignorance of what you are ‘seeing’, or perceiving. 

There are many types of events or peoples or situations that may cause a logical fear because of not knowing, in advance, what the outcome will be.  This is the fear described by the word ‘pachad’ (Strong’s #6343, and pronounced ‘pah-hkhad’), and is usually associated with a negative physical response, sometimes referred to as quaking, shaking or rattling.  The idea of being rattled emotionally gives an adequate description of what this word ‘pachad’ is describing.  This word ‘pachad’ is usually describing a ‘fear’ of a threatening person or circumstance, and/or what that threatening person or circumstance may be able to do to you.

The other word most commonly translated as referring to ‘fear’ is the word ‘yara’, generally recognized as Strong’s #3372.  This word is more a description of a fear, intellectually or otherwise, produced from failing to understand what you are ‘seeing’.  This word ‘yara’ is a use of the common verb ‘ra-ah’, Strong’s #7200, which is translated loosely as ‘to see; to look at, or inspect or observe’.  However, the importance of the verb ‘ra-ah’ is that of having understanding or insight into what you are ‘seeing’.  The verb ‘ra-ah’, of which the word ‘yara’ is only one of many derivations from this root verb ‘ra-ah’, primarily is referring to ‘seeing’ with Spiritual understanding, or Spiritual insight. 

Those with keen Spiritual insight were called ‘seer’ before they were called ‘prophet’, and the word ‘seer’ is from this Hebrew verb ‘ra-ah’.  Consequently, because of man’s distorted mindset, and because men irrationally and ignorantly ‘feared’ God, because they couldn’t ‘see’ a physical form they could identify as ‘God’, they ‘feared’ what they could not see with their natural senses.  And this ‘fear’ was promoted and used by the leadership of the people to manipulate and herd the people into a manageable mentality.  The people were told to ‘fear’ YHVH, or God.  However, this exact same word that gets translated as ‘fear’ is also translated as ‘to see’ God.  What, then, is the understandable difference in these uses of the verb ‘ra-ah’? 

People were told, and taught, to ‘fear God’, because failing to please God would result in a negative response, or retaliation, from God.  Or, so the religious leadership preached to the people.  And the people, because they could never completely appease the demands of religion and religion’s hierarchy, ‘feared’ God because they couldn’t properly ‘See’ God through their own Spiritual understanding.  People naturally imagined a God that would treat people the same way that they themselves would treat others if they themselves could be God.  And because the people failed to See God Spiritually, they negatively responded to a God they could not see with their own natural senses.

How could I come to this conclusion?  The beginning verses of Genesis introduce us to a God of immense Spiritual Love, and investing that Spiritual Love into all of creation.   Gen. 1:31 “And God ‘saw’ (ra-ah) all that He had made, and behold, it was  very good.”  The Hebrew language translated as ‘very good’ literally means “…good that continues to perpetuate abundantly”.  That is, of course, my own definition, but I rest my reputation upon it. 

God empowered creation with the Spirit of Truth in Love, which is the nature of God, and that empowerment was to perpetuate Good continually.  That action describes a God of Love, and not a God to be feared.  ‘Man’, in separation from the Love of God, began to distrust God, and promote that distrust and fear to others.   And the pattern didn’t change for thousands of years.  Actually, that pattern continued until “…when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we can receive the adoption of sons”. 

Gal. 4:5  Only with the appearing of Yashua (Jesus if you prefer) did mankind have the opportunity to cease ‘seeing’ God through the eyes of fear, and begin to See God as the Father of Love.  “If you have seen me, you have seen The Father”.  And even till this very day does man continue to ‘see’ God through the eyes of fear (yara) rather than to See (Ra-ah) God as our loving Heavenly Father.   Also, the word ‘yara’, which is most often translated as ‘fear’, is numerous times translated as “…to see”.  When you ‘see’ correctly, and properly discern what you are ‘seeing’, it produces no fear.  Fear not.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Deuteronomy chapter 7:

12 “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.

14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.

15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness…”

These promises were first given to the children of Israel yet they were unable to sustain their commitment because their spirit man had not been made new.  Their sin nature was dealt with on a temporary basis once a year.  However, our nature has been dealt with permanently as we submit to our spirit man and place our soul and body as servants, no longer to be placed above the spirit.  Now The Holy Spirit lives inside us rather than an external tabernacle with restrictions attached to it.

The blessings are still in place for those of us who purpose to keep the covenant of Agape Love which all the Law is based.  FATHER has not changed in HIS willingness to bless us with good fruit.  HE has called us to be fruitful in everything HE leads us to set our hand to as we spread the truly Good News of Jesus Christ.

The immature believer focuses on the “things” which are the results of walking in HIS ways but the mature believer places emphasis on The Way.  We look to be a blessing to others as we serve according to the leading of The Holy Spirit.  Simplicity is preferred over possessions.  Revelation is preferred over information.  Power and authority from Above is preferred over the world’s solutions.  Silence is preferred over the noise generated by the world’s relentless rhetoric.  As it is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm 46:

​10 ​​Be still, and know that I am God;

​​I will be exalted among the nations,

​​I will be exalted in the earth!

I am grateful for each day and I trust you are too.  Each day presents an opportunity to bless others in whatever situation we find ourselves in.  Let us walk in kindness over criticism.  Nations are being divided yet we are called to be in unity.  Division was started in the Garden of Eden and it has been a primary tool of the adversary ever since.  We should be looking to find something in common with others rather than attempting to use “soulish” persuasion to further some agenda created by the mind.  We are to be a light to others and allow The Holy Spirit to draw them toward the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 8:

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

What is the highest form of physical existence?  To be led by THE SPIRIT and be deemed as one of the Sons of GOD!  The things of the world along with the accolades associated with worldly success will pass away but those who have been redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb will live a blessed eternal life pleasing Our Heavenly Father.  The flesh no longer has power over us and we have overcome its enticements and destructive nature.  HIS blessings will overtake us as we walk according to Agape Love.

2 Chronicles 7:
 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Jonathan Cahn provides an excellent teaching on the above passage as it applies to America:

If the above video has expired, click on the following link or copy and paste in Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=041dQiYZI2c

Don’t be frustrated with Youtube’s ads. I click on skip when given the opportunity. Yes, it does cost money to provide this platform so we can watch these videos without additional cost.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:

14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

How do we warn those who are unruly?  In Love, we quote the essence of appropriate Scripture.  Proverbs is filled with verses of Wisdom designed to promote righteous conduct.  The fainthearted need peace in their lives and we should be a light unto them and should share the source of our peace.

How do we pursue what is good for us and those around us?  Jesus spoke in Matthew 11:

28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

To learn means to be apprised, to increase one’s knowledge, to be increased in knowledge; to hear, be informed; to understand; to learn by use and practice (skill); to be in the habit of, accustomed to.  We are to be in the habit of and accustomed to walking in the same manner as Jesus.  In order to do that, we must learn from Him.  This is why I keep emphasizing Jesus’ preeminence in our studies.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 14:

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Jesus left nothing to chance when He went to the cross on our behalf.  The revelation of His Love did not end there for FATHER’S plan to send us The Holy Spirit to dwell in us would continue to provide us teaching and revelation in its purest state.  Our foundation of Agape Love was expressed through the Words of Jesus Christ and The Holy Spirit continues to mature us in the same walk as Our Elder Brother.

Paul continues in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:

16 Rejoice always,

17 pray without ceasing,

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit.

20 Do not despise prophecies.

21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

22 Abstain from every form of evil.

To quench means to check; to stifle, to restrain or hold back; as, to quench the Spirit.  If we are to be led by The Holy Spirit and be taught by The Holy Spirit, we must not stifle, restrain, or quench The Holy Spirit in our lives.  Paul understood this for he “prayed in Tongues more than you all”. 

As our spirit man grows strong, our soul and our body also align with The Word and thus we are no longer moved by the world’s chaos.  Our ministry to others is not tainted by self interest but instead, it promotes Agape Love.  We are able to perfectly test all things by THE SPIRIT and hold fast to what is good.  Abstaining from evil is no longer an issue at all.

23 And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through (separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God); and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete (and found) blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah).

First our spirit becomes sound, then our soul follows, and lastly our body becomes a complete, willing servant to our spirit.  Paul provides us the proper order of our essence.  Once we are found blameless, there is no defect, blemish, or anything whatsoever impairing our excellence.  We will have reached full maturity in Christ.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 4:

17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,

18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

The Amplified Version:

17 So this I say and solemnly testify in the name of the Lord as in His presence, that you must no longer live as the heathen (the Gentiles) do in their perverseness (in the folly, vanity, and emptiness of their souls) and the futility of their minds.

18 Their moral understanding is darkened and their reasoning is beclouded. They are alienated (estranged, self-banished) from the life of God (with no share in it; this is) because of the ignorance (the want of knowledge and perception, the willful blindness) that is deep-seated in them, due to their hardness of heart (to the insensitiveness of their moral nature).

19 In their spiritual apathy they have become callous and past feeling and reckless and have abandoned themselves(a prey) to unbridled sensuality, eager and greedy to indulge in every form of impurity (that their depraved desires may suggest and demand).

We must not allow ourselves to be frustrated with the world’s perverseness and continuous lawless acts.  Jesus was well aware of the blindness among Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes in each encounter.  Here they had the Son of GOD standing before yet they had no clue!  Would it be any different today?  Blindness has no time limitation associated with it.

Even the miracles performed in Jesus’ earthly ministry did not remove the blindness or correct the reasoning among the Pharisees, Sadducees, and scribes.  We look back and marvel at their blindness yet many are blinded to the mysteries which are still hidden.  Any revelation which undermines the current, perceived authority is attacked by those who are concerned about the loss of their stature, finances, or position in the “church”.

The spiritual apathy among the masses has caused them to be callous and reckless.  They have formed a bias which is designed to rationalize their unbridled sensuality, impurities, sexual perversity and greed.  Their confusion definitely describes Mystery Babylon’s attributes.

Paul continues:

20 But you have not so learned Christ,

21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus:

22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts,

23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind,

24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Let us renew our minds daily so that we have a fresh mental and spiritual attitude as we encounter the world’s confusion.  We will observe confusion but not be moved or participate in it.  Confusion will attempt to draw us into it if we allow ourselves to be moved by it or dwell on it.  We must not allow ourselves to be affected by the continuous flow of confusion created by the world.

Our new man will walk in true righteousness and holiness as we wade through this daily confusion and blindness.  Our level of frustration will do to zero as we keep our mind renewed on a daily basis.  We will be the ones with a smile on our faces.

The world is perpetuating fear and uncertainty in every newscast and every newspaper’s front page.  However, when we glorify Our Heavenly Father all the time, we crush fear and uncertainty.  Isaiah wrote by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 41:

10 ​​Fear not, for I am with you;

​​Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

​​I will strengthen you,

​​Yes, I will help you,

​​I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

What you dwell on determines your mental and emotional state.  I choose to dwell on FATHER’S Word thus I walk in HIS peace on a daily basis.  I choose to pray in THE SPIRIT daily and keep Scripture before me at all times.  I recall HIS deliverance from certain death and disastrous situations thus I give HIM praise for my existence.  Let this be an encouragement to you who are gripped in fear today.

You can walk around with negative thinking and worry or you can walk in complete hope and total peace… it is your choice.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 12:

10 So for the sake of Christ, I am well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities and distresses; for when I am weak [in human strength], then am I [truly] strong (able, powerful in divine strength).

Consider these words closely.  We must not be moved by infirmities, insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities or distresses.  Those situations simply strengthen our walk of faith in Our Heavenly Father as we fully embrace our calling to be overcomers.  You are not an overcomer if you have never overcome anything!

The adversary does not want us to be overcomers so he will war against us in our minds and he wants us to think about and dwell upon vain imaginations which produce fear and uncertainty.  We are directed by The Holy Spirit to focus on FATHER’S thoughts in 2 Corinthians chapter 10:

5   Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

6   And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Is fear gripping your heart today?  Don’t let it!  Immerse yourself in FATHER’S Word and allow peace to flood your spirit, soul, and body.  HIS thoughts are life-giving and are greater than the vain imaginations the enemy promotes.

Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 18:

14 The strong spirit of a man sustains him in bodily pain or trouble, but a weak and broken spirit who can raise up or bear?

Our daily preparation is intended to build up our spirit man to be strong so that we can overcome any obstacle before us.  Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 12:

22 Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and[fn] mute man both spoke and saw.

23 And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”

24 Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub,[fn] the ruler of the demons.”

25 But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.

26 If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand?

27 And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges.

28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.

 29 Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.

30 He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.”

Who can bind a strong man?  Only one who is stronger and more powerful.  Jesus explicitly says that His power and authority is greater than Satan and his demons.  Further, His Kingdom has arrived on earth when His power and authority are used to bind the strong man and plunder his house or abode.

We are called to plunder the house of the strong man as well.  We are no longer meant to cower in the midst of the enemy and submit to the perversion and confusion all around us.  As we build up our spirit man, we will accept and embrace the ministry of Jesus Christ in our lives.  We will be at peace no matter how the heathen rage.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 4:

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

As our spirit man grows strong, we will no longer experience anxiety, depression, or have a sense of defeat.  Peace will flood our hearts and man’s evil reports will have no impact on us.  We will have victory over each and every obstacle we encounter.  Each day will truly be a beautiful and wonderful day.  The joy of THE LORD is our strength as we encounter the chaos of the world.

How do we build up our spirit man?  We must guard our hearts and our minds by keeping The Word as our primary focus each day.  We must not allow the wood, hay, and stubble to crowd out the precious Word.  Evil reports abound in the news and social media.  We must not allow ourselves to be caught in the divisive nature of such reports.  Whoever is stronger will plunder the house and strength is not built up in a day or an occasional workout. Let us set the captives free!

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 12:

44 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

A treasury is a storehouse of value.  A storehouse is meant to retain the value until needed in the future.  Otherwise, what is the point of storing the treasure?  If you never convert the treasure to something useful, then the treasure is no longer of value to you.  A treasury is intended to secure value so that you or others will be sustained in life.

The ultimate treasury is FATHER’S Word for It promotes life now and in the future.  Within It is the healing power which will cure man’s “incurable” diseases.  The only difference between curable diseases and incurable diseases is revelation.  What is your treasury worth if you are dying of an “incurable” disease?

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 12:

16 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully.

17 And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’

18 So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.

19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’

20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

21 “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

This is a sensitive subject to many.  What is the correct balance in storing value versus distributing to others?  This is where each of us must be led by THE SPIRIT.  The rich man was selfish or “soulish” for he had no concern for the needs of others.  Life was all about assuring himself of an easy time of entertainment in the future.  However, he did not count on his life suddenly ending.  Had he been led by THE SPIRIT, he would have been a blessing to many prior to his passing.

Each of us needs food, shelter, and clothing to sustain us in this life.  What are you storing up which is not applicable to those basic future needs?  How many people rent storage units and fill them up with “stuff” that becomes worthless as years pass?  In the meantime, those in desperate need go without.

As we find the true riches in The Word, we will no longer place great value on the things of the world.  The world’s riches depreciate over time and ultimate become worthless for they are temporary in nature.  The “eternal” is where everlasting riches can be retained and remain valuable. 

If you want to store up value, you should focus on immersing yourself in The Word and seek out the revelation of Love.  Once you have figured this out for yourself, you should encourage and teach others to do the same.  Life everlasting has much greater value than anything the world has to offer.

Jesus spoke of this Truth in Matthew chapter 12:

52 He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the kingdom of heaven and has become a disciple is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].

Are you wasting money on storage fees?

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 12:

33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit.

We are not to judge a man’s heart for only FATHER knows what is in the heart.  However, we can and should judge the fruit of men.  The blind man who was healed at Bethsaida in Mark 8:24 stated, “I see men like trees, walking”, thus men are likened to trees.  Their acts and words are called fruit.

34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

A treasure is the place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up and the heart is known as the storehouse or repository of what a man deems most precious.  He will subconsciously protect his treasure until he finds out one of two things: either the treasure is not valuable to him, or there is a greater treasure to replace the current treasure.

From this treasury, a man speaks and acts, also known as his fruit.  This fruit is observable to all who are exposed to it and as a result, we can easily conclude what his treasury contains.  Some will mask their fruit on a temporary basis but in the end, their fruit will be revealed for all to see.  Their treasure will be deemed as good or evil, depending on the resulting fruit.

An idle word is a useless, careless, unfruitful word which has no life in it.  When there is no life, death and destruction follow.  We will give account for those words spoken so this reality brings us back to what Jesus calls our treasure.

What is the greatest treasure I can store in my heart?  The revelation of Agape Love!  In 1 Corinthians chapter 13, by THE SPIRIT, Paul describes such a treasure:

4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;

5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;

6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;

7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Do these attributes describe our words and actions?  If not, our treasury needs to be reviewed because its contents are less valuable than we think.  We must reflect on our words and acts, and do an honest assessment.  Do my words and acts promote life?  Am I constantly defensive?  Do I promote hope and kindness?

11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

As we mature in Christ, our fruit will reflect our maturity and the contents of our treasury.

8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.

9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

What is the most enduring and perfect treasure?  Love!