Servias Ministries Blog

Over the years when difficult times have come in my life, I had to stop and encourage myself in THE LORD.  I believe this will be critical for us to understand and utilize in coming months and years.  Before any major event where FATHER is manifesting HIS plan, the adversary will attempt to derail you.  You will be challenged, frustrated, and if possible, become hopeless.  When you find yourself in this situation, encourage yourself in THE LORD.  In 1st Samuel chapter 30, David is confronted with such a situation:

1 Now it happened, when David and his men came to Ziklag, on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the South and Ziklag, attacked Ziklag and burned it with fire,

2 and had taken captive the women and those who were there, from small to great; they did not kill anyone, but carried them away and went their way.

3 So David and his men came to the city, and there it was, burned with fire; and their wives, their sons, and their daughters had been taken captive.

4 Then David and the people who were with him lifted up their voices and wept, until they had no more power to weep.

5 And David’s two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the widow of Nabal the Carmelite, had been taken captive.

6 Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.

Here we have the people who had no more strength or power to even weep!  David’s wives had been taken captive and now the people wanted to stone him… not a good day.  What was David to do?  In our darkest and most challenging times we need to stop and get quiet before FATHER.  We need to recount all of HIS past blessings in our life.  What is my purpose and has it been completed?  Why are all these bad things happening to me?  Does FATHER really Love me?  Absolutely!

Just before a major breakthrough, the enemy will try to take a preemptive strike against us and we see this theme time and time again throughout Scripture.  FATHER sent an angel unto Mary expressing the calling of Jesus Who would soon be formed in her womb.  In Luke chapter 1:

26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,

27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!”

29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was.

30 Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name JESUS.

32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.

33 And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?”

35 And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.

What a blessing this was for Mary, to carry the Son of GOD in her womb!  However, once Jesus was born all hell would break loose.  King Herod heard of this Divine event and attempted a preemptive strike hoping to stop the fulfillment of Jesus’ calling.  In Matthew chapter 2:

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men.

…and…

19 Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20 saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.”

If the calling of Our Lord Jesus Christ would be challenged by the adversary, don’t you think yours will be too?  Your Divine appointment will be challenged and you can expect resistance to the fulfillment of your calling.  Be encouraged that FATHER will send forth whoever or whatever is necessary for its fulfillment.  Spend time recounting past blessings where HE intervened in your life.  Spend time in gratitude for simply being alive at this very hour.  Know that HE put you here for a reason and look to HIM to fulfill every need required for your calling to come forth to full maturity.

No matter how bleak things look, the universe continues to expand and the resources of Heaven have not been depleted.  We must individually encourage ourselves just like David did and know that FATHER is with us and if HE is for us, who can be against us.  Do not be dismayed by the things you see for they are subject to change.  They are temporal in nature.  FATHER’S Love for you and me is greater than any attempt by the adversary to derail the fulfillment of our purpose here on earth.  Encourage yourself with Psalm 103 just as David did?

Psalm 103:1 Bless the LORD, O my soul;

​​And all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 ​​Bless the LORD, O my soul,

​​And forget not all His benefits:

3 ​​Who forgives all your iniquities,

​​Who heals all your diseases,

4 ​​Who redeems your life from destruction,

​​Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 ​​Who satisfies your mouth with good things,

​​So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Remember when we were young kids and used the phrase “It takes one to know one”.  The phrase was typically used in a derogatory manner when another kid called you a name that belittled you.  In reality, teaching from a reference of first hand experience is not a bad thing.  Jacob was once a manipulator but his nature changed and he became known as Israel.  Saul was once known as a hater of those who followed Christ but his nature changed as well and became known as Paul.

Paul had concerns for the Galatians who were reverting back to their old ways of being slaves to the world:

Galatians 4:8 But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

9 But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

10 You observe days and months and seasons and years.

11 I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain.

It is my deepest desire that both you and I continue on to our full maturity in Christ and embrace the attributes and responsibilities of being HIS mature Sons walking in the fullness of HIS calling assigned to each of us individually before HE formed us in the womb.  Obviously Paul understood that you had the choice to return back to the old ways of being a slave or he would not have been led by the Holy Spirit to pen these words.  We must not look back to the old ways of being in slavery to man but look up for our redemption draweth nigh.  Paul began the chapter with:

1 Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,

2 but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.

3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world.

4 But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,

5 to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.

6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!”

7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Are you willing to take on the responsibility of being “master of all”?  Don’t let the old man paint a picture of being exalted to a position of entitlement but instead look to be willing to serve all mankind, the true mark of greatness.  In the Gospel of John, Jesus spoke:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

Life is meant to flow from FATHER through you to those you encounter.  Can that flow of life overtake their enslavement?  Absolutely!  Are you willing to lay down your life for your brother and sister who are weak and need hope, encouragement, and tangible results in their lives?  Everyone focuses on problems these days but are you seeking solutions which are only found from FATHER?  We are to be beacons of life for others, not simply silent, passive, and sitting on the sidelines of life.

Ultimately we are called to be connected with each other, not independent and isolated islands in the sea of humanity.  I expect that connection to come together sooner than later.  But that connection must be by THE SPIRIT, not by man’s logic and motivation.  We must come in true unity as the 153 fish in John 21:11 submitted to the command of Jesus to enter into the net for the nourishment of mankind.

There are those who would turn back to the world’s ways in such a subtle fashion as to not alert others of their decision.  Yet there are those who are passionate for Christ willing to lay down their lives (and resources) for the brethren.  Which category are you in?  Do you look for a reason to give or an excuse to withhold, restrain, and/or maintain separation?  Do you constantly dwell on the latest injustice or are you looking for ways to be a greater blessing?  Many are called but few are chosen.  Each of us can turn back to the ways of Egypt or we can enter into the Promised Land.  It is our choice to which path we take.  As for me, I am pressing on toward full maturity to FATHER’S call.  Come on in, the water’s fine!

There is so much deceptiveness by men today that it is a “must” to be discerning and sensitive to HIS Spirit.  Men have increased in lawlessness in epic proportions.  All the average person wants is for others to simply “do the right thing”.  The American insurance model is based on fraud in my opinion.  You will find there are two prices for healthcare expenses- retail and what insurance companies are actually charged.  If you go to a hospital for a procedure, you will see the retail charges which are astronomical.  But when the insurance is charged, they receive a much lower rate thus your deductible is paying a much greater percentage of the cost.

It is no different in the pharmaceutical industry.  When I was a CFO in the animal health industry, a drug costing about $15 for a bottle of 500 capsules in the veterinary market would be priced at around $20 for less than 30 capsules in the human market.  Clearly the pharmaceutical company would not sell any bottle for a loss.

Paul wrote in the 13th chapter of Romans:

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

People are constantly wanting something for nothing.  Corporations are constantly exploiting the public at every turn.  I ask “Where is the Love?”.  You cannot mandate others to walk in Love.  Their ego is stronger than their spirit and until it is broken, they don’t see a need to change.  This is why I expect judgment to come on this nation… and soon.  The American attitude of entitlement, superiority, and exploitation of other countries will soon come home to roost.  FATHER has been longsuffering with this country but at some point judgment is necessary.  The illusion of grandeur held by those in charge will soon evaporate.

This country has exploited the rest of the world by having the U.S. Dollar as the world’s reserve currency and having a superior military to enforce compliance.  You only have to look back at the last 20 years to see the blatant abuse of that power around the globe.  In the meantime, pass the popcorn, there is another good movie on the cable channel.  The average American is lulled to complacency while the country moves toward severe judgment.

Mathematically speaking, there is no economic solution to the global debt solution other than a great reset, a jubilee of debt.  Governments have kicked the can down the road as FATHER has allowed them to believe some dramatic solution to the economic problems will surface miraculously.  As far as I can see, there is only one solution- The Law of Love.

The Law of Love is counterintuitive to the logic of man, just as every deliverance of Israel was of a similar nature.  Blow horns to bring down the walls of Jericho?  That makes no sense to the mind.  Gideon and 300 men to defeat the Midianites?  Really?  FATHER confounds the wise with HIS methodology because HE will not allow HIS Ways to be reduced to a manmade formula for success.

Hope by itself is not the answer.  Hope and faith alone will not combine for the answer.  Only Love will survive time and must be the foundation for the solutions to life.  Every other path leads to death and destruction.  The Dollar is headed for destruction and those relying and trusting in the Dollar will wake up some Monday morning in great sadness when the central planners devalue the Dollar by 50% or more in order to keep it on life support.  Paper assets which currently produce the “wealth effect” will suffer a severe devaluation.  Why do you think that antiques, art, and choice real estate are selling at record prices?  The 1% see the writing on the wall and are trying to preserve wealth in whatever form possible.  They are still missing the point that Love has the greatest return on investment.

The Law of Love requires you to place your trust in FATHER, not money.  Paul understood this in the 4th chapter of Philippians when he was commending the brethren concerning the generosity of supporting his ministry:

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Who are you being generous toward?  Are you accumulating treasure in Heaven or are you relying on your temporal bank account or market fund?  Are you consistently performing acts of Love or are you trying to figure out how to get something for nothing?  I challenge you to do a personal assessment to see which category you fall into.  There are plenty of people who “talk the talk” but not many who “walk the walk”.  The Law of Love does not exclude the area of finances and that particular area may see the greatest judgment in this country when FATHER’S longsuffering comes to a conclusion.  We have been sufficiently warned.

In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul wrote:

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

The challenge each of us has is to function at the earthly realm while keeping our focus on the Heavenly realm.  The daily activities would demand all of your attention if you would let them and most people give in to the demands.  It takes commitment and discipline to consistently seek those things Above and it is my desire in these writing to help you keep that focus.  I could write about the constantly changing and unfolding economic events each day and believe me there is plenty to write about.  Instead, I prefer to keep our focus on the everlasting not the temporal.

Be of good courage.  As we continue the maturing process FATHER will honor our commitment to HIM and navigate us through the turbulence which lies ahead.  By consistently seeking those things Above, I have seen my priorities and interests shift dramatically over time and I am extremely thankful for that.  My focus has shifted from “self” to others and what a blessing it is to see the growth in personal relationships.  I have received similar reports from others.  HIS Word really works once we read and dwell on it from a perspective of Love.  Paul revealed this as he wrote:

12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection

It is my deepest desire to be a conduit of HIS Love to you and those whom I come in contact with on a daily basis.  I hope as you are encouraged by these daily writings and  you see your life being transformed in the same manner.  We must have the patience of farmers who plant their crops knowing that it will take time for the harvest to ripen.  We must keep our perspective aligned with FATHER’S reality while we await the ripening of the fruit.

Think back to some event that happened several years ago, an event which at the time seemed very negative.  Does it really matter now?  Have you finally let it go?  Consider how Paul (who was Saul) had such a regretful history of being an enemy to those who love Jesus Christ.  Only the Love of Christ was able to minister to Paul and wipe away the sins in his life and replace it with Love and gratitude for being reconciled to FATHER.  Each of us should wake up daily with such gratitude for Our Heavenly Father.  With such gratitude in mind, we should be quick to forgive those who are weaker and immature in HIS Love.  We too were once in the same state as those who might challenge us on a daily basis.  Paul continues:

15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

There are some days where peace could depart from me if I were not grounded IN HIM.  Owning and operating my own business has inherent risks.  Revenue goes up… and revenue goes down.  All of us would like steady income that we can always count on but generally it is not the case for small businesses.  As I matured, I became less impacted by the business cycle.  In July 1985, FATHER told me to start my own business rather than take another position as Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of an established business.  Two months passed and the new business had no revenue.  I prayed to FATHER and told HIM if something didn’t happen soon, I would have to get a job working for someone else.  HE answered my prayer and sent my first client.  I learned to trust IN HIM as my source.  HE expects each of us to exercise our faith but also it should have Love as a foundation.  That event along with countless others has provided me with a basis to write encouraging words to you.  I can testify of HIS Love in action.  The key is to seek those things Above.

The current system promotes polarization among the population.  Republicans versus Democrats, whites versus blacks, us versus them, etc.  Sports competition promotes polarity as well.  This polarity is in direct opposition to the second commandment of Love:

Matthew 22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

35 Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying,

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38 This is the first and great commandment.

39 And the second is like it:‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

How can you truly Love your neighbor when you are forever attempting to prove your superiority over him?  If you consistently overcome him in whatever competition you are engaged in, don’t you think that he will ultimately become bitter toward you?  In the current system, the stronger dominates the weaker.  In FATHER’S Kingdom, the stronger help, encourage, and minister to the weaker.

Bitterness promotes sickness and disease whereas gratitude promotes health and healing.  There is no need to compete with others for some temporary status of superiority.  You must not let your ego prevail.  As we move closer in our relationship with FATHER, we will be less interested in competition with others for we know that we have a unique calling on our lives and that becomes our focus.  My calling requires certain resources that are made available to me as I walk according to the calling given to me by FATHER.  Each day we should consciously ask the question “Am I focused on my calling or is my attention being diverted to some fruitless activity?”

Jesus spoke:

Matthew 24:32 “Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. 33 So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! 34 Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

Many have attempted to predict the second coming based on what Jesus spoke in the above passage.  Do you think knowing is better than doing?  Only FATHER knows the day and the hour and I would rather be diligently walking out my calling according to HIS plan than to be preoccupied with a calendar and constantly looking for signs.  Each day should begin with a heart of gratitude for simply “being”.  Let no unforgiveness linger in your being.  Ask FATHER to bring forth anyone or any situation demanding action to remove bitterness from your heart.  HE will gladly accommodate the request if it is truly sincere.

When that day of the culmination of the Age occurs, what state will FATHER find you in?  Bitterness or gratitude?  Walking out your calling or being a “wandering generality”?  We should each assess where we are at on a daily basis.  The time is at hand to set aside the childish things and focus on the weightier matters at hand.  If the current system is about to crater, we should all be in a prepared state.

Jesus compared the faithful servant to the evil servant in Matthew 24:

45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing.

47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 

49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards,

50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of,

51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

What will be your classification?  Will you be bitter or grateful upon HIS return?

Legalism does not get you Divinely healed.  The seven steps to healing written about earlier this month are to be a guide to maturing in HIS Word concerning healing and health.  The mind would like to convert these steps to a formula and I strongly suggest that you resist the temptation to convert revelation to tradition, formulas, or worldly customs.  In Colossians chapter 2, Paul warns against legalism:

11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ,

12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

When Jesus walked the earth, the people were engulfed in legalism promoted by the leaders of that time.  Those legalistic views kept the people from receiving personal healing.  Jesus busted up the doctrines and traditions of the day when He stood up and quoted out of the Book of Isaiah in the 4th chapter of Luke:

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

​18 ​​“The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me,

​​Because He has anointed Me

​​To preach the gospel to the poor;

​​He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,

​​To proclaim liberty to the captives

​​And recovery of sight to the blind,

​​To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 ​​To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

FATHER’S anointing of power and authority HE conveyed to Jesus is meant for us as well.  We are to do greater things as Jesus proclaimed.  Preach, heal, and proclaim are all actions that we should expect as we walk in full fellowship with FATHER.  How do we move toward full fellowship?  By walking in the revelation of Love, HIS Divine Intent behind everything HE creates, does, and says.  As we align ourselves with HIM, we become qualified as mature sons and daughters.  “IN HIM” we can do all things.

What about demons, spirits, or the devil?  People give too much credit and emphasis to the adversaries.  Principalities and powers are not equal to the power of Our Heavenly Father WHO created everything.  Jesus made that perfectly clear as He cast them out and restored all who were sick:

Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

​​​“He Himself took our infirmities

​​And bore our sicknesses.”

Each and every act of Love was and is intended to bring forth restoration of mankind.  There is no superior adversary that can keep it from happening.  Only your ego will keep you from receiving what FATHER has for you.  HE gives you the choice out of HIS Love for you.  HE did not create us to be robots but to be independent expressions of individuality experiencing life by uniquely making our own decisions.  HE gave us the right to reject HIS Love as the parable of the prodigal son reveals.

As we seek to fellowship with FATHER, our health will begin to improve.  Health and healing occur in HIS Presence.  Jesus provided countless examples of the Divine Intent of FATHER “having disarmed principalities and powers”.  The mind would try to encapsulate healing into a formula.  The medical profession has been taught formulas to treat patients.  You cannot put Love in a box or pill but as you align yourself with HIS Love, your body will begin to respond.  The healing power of Love will take command over all of the indivisible GOD particles composing your physical body.  Jesus restored life, sight, hearing, and body parts as the situation demanded.  Let us not dilute FATHER’S restorative power in our lives but expect HIS higher Laws and Divine Intent to supersede the lower laws we’ve been walking under in the past.  Let us no longer be void of HIS Word in the area of healing and restoration.  Remember, seed produces after its own kind.  If you don’t study healing Scriptures and keep them alive and activated in your heart, you will not produce fruit in that area.

There were very few alligators below us… no worries!  They didn’t look that hungry.