Archive for July, 2017

Rejecting Wisdom

Wednesday, July 12th, 2017

In Proverbs chapter 1 Wisdom spoke:

28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;
They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,
30 They would have none of my counsel
And despised my every rebuke.
31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

To be most effective in walking out our calling Wisdom is an absolute necessity in this complex world.  The alternatives are no longer simple and as men grow increasingly blind in their walk and revelation, we must be able to decide the best course of action specific to our situation.  It is beyond our ability to weigh all the alternatives in a timely manner so we must rely on the Holy Spirit and Divine Wisdom to come to our aid.

In order to protect that relationship Wisdom tells us four things that will impeded the flow of Wisdom toward us.

“Hating knowledge” is listed first on the list.  If we don’t dwell on HIS Word day and night keeping it before us at all times, then we will begin to forget HIS Way, HIS Truth, and HIS Life.

Failure to honor “the fear of THE LORD” is next.  We must be ever aware of WHO FATHER is and where we are with respect to HIM.   The Creator needs no counsel from the created so our opinions matter very little when compared to HIS Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.  What can we as individuals offer to the conversation?  Virtually nothing except some humor describing our failures.  Our redeeming quality is that HE created us and we are in HIS plan.  This makes us important to HIM for which we should be grateful.

“Unwilling to receive Wisdom’s counsel” is the third item listed.  This tends to be an ego issue.  Once we get a little experience under our belt then we begin to see ourselves as experts.  Worldly experts only have opinions with a little more quality than the rest of us.  The complexity of the world dilutes an expert’s understanding as more variables are being introduced into the problem at hand.  The only true expertise is found in the Spiritual realm.

“Despise my every rebuke” is the fourth on the list.  If we are unwilling to learn and adjust our thinking and actions based on Wisdom’s corrections then we are doomed to failure.  Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results is a sure sign that the ego is in charge.

Failure to heed Wisdom can and will produce disastrous results in one’s life.  As we begin to hear FATHER we become responsible to change and walk in accordance to HIS directives.  Sometimes the path may be difficult but it shouldn’t dictate our decision to continue.  We must not be moved by obstacles that are a result of the enemy attempting to thwart our progress.  We must bring our emotions into submission and not allow the temporary to guide us.  It is all part of the training process so let us embrace Wisdom in all that we do for the Kingdom.

 

 

 

Donations

Tuesday, July 11th, 2017

Thank you very much for giving into Servias Ministries.  Also we want to thank those who send us words of confirmation and encouragement as well.  These words always show up at the appropriate time!

Our Daily Challenges

Tuesday, July 11th, 2017

Father never promised we would live a life without daily challenges and mishaps.  We tend to think that once we receive salvation and begin hearing HIM, HE will remove and eliminate those obstacles set before us but that is not the case.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 11 of his own challenges:

22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I. 

23 Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 

24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 

25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 

26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my owncountrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 

27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness

The above list should provide plenty of confirmation that the obstacles don’t go away but we are empowered to overcome them instead.  Paul sought THE LORD about one of his trials and THE LORD responded:

 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Thankfully most of us do not have to endure similar challenges as Paul but the lesson is the same for all of us.  We WILL have daily challenges but FATHER will provide HIS strength and wisdom in dealing with them.  In Psalm 34 it is written:

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

None of us want an excess of afflictions affecting our lives but according to our calling we will be exposed to those which will help us gain perspective when we minister to others.  We must be patient as we endure these afflictions knowing that FATHER is very aware of the challenges before us.  Let our faith become fully mature through the challenges we each face.

 

19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
But the LORD delivers him out of them all.

The Power of Life

Monday, July 10th, 2017

FATHER spoke in Deuteronomy chapter 30:

15 “See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, 

16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. 

17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, 

18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. 

19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;”

Father made it very clear that HE has the power over life and blessing which are both greater forces over death and cursing.  When we are in the midst of personal trials, our faith in this passage is tested.  Therefore let us use this passage and others to build our faith and be renewed.  Each of us needs to declare HIS past works in our lives by confessing them to others as instructed in Psalm 118:

17 I shall not die, but live,
And declare the works of the LORD.

We must decided whose words we are going to live our life by:  FATHER or some medical professional who has virtually no experience in comparison.  Our bodies are subject to our spirits and as we build up our spirits, our bodies will respond.

Some people allow their emotional state to supersede their spirit.  The emotional state will often move to the path of least resistance which allows the devil to further infiltrate the mind’s thoughts and conclusions.  The spirit will instead expect a miracle if that is what the situation calls for.  Hope provides the expectation of such a result.

Life can and will heal the physical body for we were designed to be restored.  We must not restrict our healing by thinking thoughts of unbelief.  We must dwell on the power of life coming from the breath of Our Heavenly Father.  We must focus on the power of HIS Love to overcome death and evil as we walk out each day.  FATHER gives us the choice of which path to take.  Love does not force itself on the recipient.  The power of Love must be dwelled upon each day as we walk out our trials and tests. Let the power of Life come forth out of our hearts and confession so that it becomes greater than the alternatives the wicked one is promoting.  Our ministry isn’t finished so let us not short-circuit it by believing a lie.  Choose Life!

The Plan Versus The Cost

Sunday, July 9th, 2017

In Mark chapter 15 it is written by THE SPIRIT:

25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him. 26 And the inscription of His accusation was written above:
THE KING OF THE JEWS.
27 With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. 
28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 
30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 
32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”
Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

The Chief Priests and Scribes failed to see the importance of Jesus submitting to the cross and if anyone who knew The Bible, it was these two groups.  Instead, their blindness prevailed and they missed one of the most important events in history.  They mocked and ridiculed Jesus’ mission and calling rather than see into THE SPIRIT and grasp the brevity of what was happening.  How would you like to stand before Our Heavenly Father and explain your actions in this situation?  Fortunately Love will provide that salve to cleanse the wounds found among all as we look back at our gross misunderstanding.

FATHER’S Plan for each of us has a unique cost associated with it and we must not let that cost be our focus.  Some of us are meant to spend more time on earth in our physical bodies than others.  Some are required to give up physical possessions while others are required to accumulate more that most would expect.  We must not judge those resources in light of our calling versus theirs.  We should simply acknowledge FATHER will provide whatever we need when we need it.

FATHER does not divulge the fullness of HIS Plan to each of us because we would then start comparing the various costs of ours versus the similar plans of others.  The result- lack of unity and a negative impact on pure faith. The result is that we take our focus away from our calling.  Let us simply focus on the plan knowing that FATHER will oversee the cost and bring forth any and all resources needed to accomplish HIS Plan.

Be Of Good Courage

Saturday, July 8th, 2017

TRUST ME HERE AND NOW. YOU ARE IN RIGOROUS training—on an adventurous trail designed for you alone. This path is not of your choosing, but it is My way for you. I am doing things you can’t understand. That is why I say, “Trust Me!” The jungle is thick, and you cannot clearly see what is before you, behind you, or beside you. Cling to My hand as you follow this trail in shadowy darkness. Although you cannot see Me, My Presence with you is rock-solid reality. Find hope in Me, beloved, for I am taking care of you. Focus on enjoying Me and all that I am to you—even though your circumstances scream for resolution. 

 

Refuse to obsess about your problems and how you are going to fix them. Instead, affirm your trust in Me; wait hopefully in My Presence, and watch to see what I will do.


If this Word ministers to you, embrace it.  Otherwise, set it aside until you are drawn to it.

The Snare

Friday, July 7th, 2017

By THE SPIRIT it is written in Luke chapter 21:

34 “But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. 
35 For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. 
36 Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy[fn] to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
37 And in the daytime He was teaching in the temple, but at night He went out and stayed on the mountain called Olivet. 
38 Then early in the morning all the people came to Him in the temple to hear Him.

Jesus provided us with His daily schedule of ministry in this passage:  teach in the daytime, seek FATHER’S Voice and instruction while separated on the mountain during the night.  The Mount of Olives is where Ezekiel saw the Glory of THE LORD would remain until Jesus ascended from it at the end of His ministry.  As Jesus remained in the midst of the Glory with FATHER, He received valuable and timely instruction to minister to those with ears to hear and eyes to see.  This location was recorded in Ezekiel chapter 11:

 23 And the glory of the LORD went up from the midst of the city and stood on the mountain, which is on the east side of the city.

Each of us needs to be refreshed as we minister life to those around us.  We must be on guard when the day signaling the end of the age has arrived.  We must protect our faculties which includes first and foremost the sensitivity of hearing FATHER’S Voice.  Drunkenness dulls that ability.  We are also warned about squandering resources during this time leading up to that fateful day.  Let us be good stewards on behalf of the Kingdom.

The snare is meant to minimize or remove our effective of ministry to others.  No matter what state we are in, let us sacrifice ourselves for the benefit of others.  This is what Love does.  Jesus was beaten and in no condition to even carry His cross but that did not stop Him from completing the ministry He was sent to accomplish.  May our resolve lead and guide us in the same manner.  No snare can stop perfect Love from achieving its purpose.

The Fast of Love

Thursday, July 6th, 2017

By THE SPIRIT it is written in Isaiah chapter 58:

6 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.”
 

FATHER provides us an abbreviated list of acts of Love in the above passage.  We are to minister to those in need.  As we do, we open ourselves up to verse 8 where the result of our action is rewarded: light, healing, righteousness, and Glory all become accessible to us.  What a blessed promise given to those who establish a proper fast where the focus is a more intimate relationship with FATHER.

Love will break every yoke and the oppressed can no longer be held in bondage.  The bonds of wickedness cannot withstand the power of Love and all those heavy burdens are easily remove by the acts of Love.  People often look at fasting in a negative sense because they are required to give up something that “self” wants.  Let us look at fasting in a positive light where it releases a greater manifestation of Love in a person’s life.  When one fasts with the proper attitude then appropriate results are manifested.  FATHER’S Glory encompasses those who walk in Love and allow their light to shine forth in a darkened world.

Uncompromising Life

Wednesday, July 5th, 2017

By THE SPIRIT it is written in Psalm 119:

How blessed are those whose way is blameless, 
Who walk in the law of the LORD.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, 
Who seek Him with all their heart.
They also do no unrighteousness; 
They walk in His ways.
You have ordained Your precepts, 
[fn]That we should keep them diligently.
Oh that my ways may be established 
To keep Your statutes!
Then I shall not be ashamed 
When I look upon all Your commandments.
I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, 
When I learn Your righteous judgments.
I shall keep Your statutes; 
Do not forsake me utterly!

Truth cannot be compromised and remain the Truth.  Any deviation of the Truth brings forth unrighteousness and division.  This is why we need to know the Truth and It will set us free from the bondage of sin.  Wrapped in Truth is motivation of the particular Truth we convey to others.  This protects us from the “legalistic” use of Truth as we are meant to understand the fullness of Truth.

Jesus spoke Truth motivated by Love.  Knowing this we can correctly discern whether someone is fully disclosing the Truth from FATHER or withholding a portion to support their own agenda.  If a Word is given to us, we will have the peace to receive and embrace it or keep it at arm’s length until FATHER confirms it through another source.

We are warned against compromising the Truth we have been given.  As we keep the Truth in our hearts our ways become established because we are keeping HIS Law of Love where the source of Truth is found.

Do you support Truth or allow compromise to come forth in your midst?  There are times when we must clarify our stand so that the standard of Truth prevails in our circle of influence.  When we declare HIS Works in our life, let those declarations be accurate and uncompromising so they will be a true blessing to all.  Let no compromise be found among us.

Full Subjection

Tuesday, July 4th, 2017

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 15:

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 

21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 

23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 

24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 

25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 

26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 

27 For “He has put all things under His feet.”[fn] But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 

28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

Jesus will bring all of creation into full subjection to FATHER’S Plan, Will, and purpose because Love motivates Him to do so.  Love intends to bring forth unity in all of creation and there are no exceptions, no matter how great or small.  Whether it be a wave form inside our cells or a nation, unity will come forth in its fullness.

The Old testament spends much time in dealing with nations’ blessings and cursings whereas the New Testament has much focus placed on the individual level of accepting or rejecting HIS Word.  Jesus established that the individual is as important as entire nations for He always had enough time to minster life and healing to those individuals who sought Him out for the answer to their sickness.

 Jesus healed the core issue within people rather than just deal with the symptom.  Think about it, He was as interested in removing a virus from an individual as He was ministering a particular parable to the masses.  We must not think our individual problems are too small for the Son to deal with and resolve.  Jesus understands eternity so He is not limited by time or any other resource.

Each of us has trillions of cells in our body that can “go rogue” in us and cause sickness.  That sickness is inconsistent with our design by FATHER.  We must stand on The Word and demand our bodies to line up with FATHER’S perfect design for by the stripes of Jesus we were healed.  Let us be in agreement that Jesus will bring all into full subjection, no exceptions.