Servias Ministries Blog

Each of us has a unique perspective as all of us have walked our own path to this point in time.  We must be careful to listen to Our Heavenly Father as circumstances arise that test our beliefs.  Our old man wants to rule over us and keep us enslaved.  This enslavement can be achieved by our willingness to be unforgiving of what others do to us.  Any act that causes division can be traced back to the flesh or ego.  To have a prisoner, you must have a jailer.  The battle will rage on as long as you are willing to hold onto unforgiveness.

In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus brings forth a perspective of what I call the “law of equal weights and measures”.  This law focuses on our relationship with others.  This law impacts each of us on a daily basis, often in a subtle manner and is somewhat elusive at times.  Let me explain.  Our Heavenly Father is the Creator of heaven and earth and everything therein.  HE created every one of your adversaries for there is no other power comparable in all of creation.  HE allows you to be tried and tested.  In the final analysis HE is liable at the highest level for your circumstances.

In Matthew 18, Peter asked Jesus the question: “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Peter asked the question from a “conditional” Love point of view.  His ego wanted an answer that allowed for retribution at some point.  Peter wanted to be able to exact vengeance on the other person.  He wanted Jesus to endorse his position.  Peter did not understand the law of equal weights and measures but Jesus was about to explain it by beginning with the Law of Jubilee: “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.”

The number “490” is the number of Jubilee, the forgiveness of all debt (Leviticus 25 explains the principle of Jubilee).  Our debts with Our Heavenly Father have been forgiven at the point of Salvation.  Our relationship is restored for the Blood of Jesus perfected that restoration.  However, that did not give us a license to be unforgiving to our fellow man.  Jesus brought forth this Truth in the parable:

23 Therefore the kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants.

When you “settle” an account, you add up all the debits and credits to see if there is an outstanding balance due to be paid.

24 And when he had begun to settle accounts, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

This parable uses the “talent” to provide perspective of the relationship between the certain king and the servant.  A talent is defined as:

1. the scale of a balance, a balance, a pair of scales

2. that which is weighed, a talent

   1. a weight varying in different places and times

   2. a sum of money weighing a talent and varying in different states and according to the changes in the laws regulating currency

      1. the Attic talent was equal to 60 Attic minae or 6000 drachmae

      2. a talent of silver in Israel weighed about 100 pounds (45 kg)

      3. a talent of gold in Israel weighed about 200 pounds (91 kg)

A scale provides a standard to be used in determining what is universally just.  No matter how you view it, the servant owed the certain king a hefty sum.  Jesus continues the parable:

25 But as he was not able to pay, his master commanded that he be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and that payment be made. 26 The servant therefore fell down before him, saying, ‘Master, have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 27 Then the master of that servant was moved with compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt.

The Master was moved with compassion, HE was merciful and forgave the entire debt.  Our Heavenly Father expressed HIS Love and mercy and did that very thing for us as well.  We all had a debt we could not pay and we are grateful for HIS act of mercy.  Yet the servant could not leave well enough alone:

28 “But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii; and he laid hands on him and took him by the throat, saying, ‘Pay me what you owe!’

The heart of the servant is now being revealed.  His fleshly man looked at this event to get ahead by demanding payment from his fellow servants.  Now that he owed nothing, he figured he could live the good life by collecting what little was owed him.

29 So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you all.’ 30 And he would not, but went and threw him into prison till he should pay the debt.

The first servant showed no mercy.  He did not have a heart of gratitude but instead was in self-preservation mode.  He was willing to sacrifice his brethren to get ahead.  He was judgmental rather than being merciful to his fellow man.  The scales needed to be balanced:

31 So when his fellow servants saw what had been done, they were very grieved, and came and told their master all that had been done.

Our Heavenly Father hears our prayers and intercessions.  HE is omnipresent and knows all of our deeds and intent for there is nothing under the sun that can surprise HIM.  Jesus is communicating an important but subtle law to us.  Our actions evoke a response, whether good or evil and that response requires payment.

32 Then his master, after he had called him, said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me. 33 Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?’

Jesus has now interjected the need for equality mentioned in the Sermon on the Mount: forgiveness received should initiate forgiveness to be given.  “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  We are now at a key point in the parable:

34 And his master was angry, and delivered him to the torturers until he should pay all that was due to him.

The wicked servant had to pay the debt due TO HIM, NOT THE KING, the King’s debt was totally forgiven.  He was required to pay restitution for the 100 denarii he tried to collect from his fellow servant, not the 10,000 talents he owed the king.

The “law of equal weights and measures” requires payment.  The payment to be collected may not be in the same “denomination” as the original debt.  If you are unforgiving in your heart because of an injustice, you may be opening yourself up to sickness, disease, impoverishment, or some other form of “collection” by the torturer.  When we walk in forgiveness, we remove liabilities from our account.  The issue is not about our relationship with Our Heavenly Father, HE forgave the debt owed to HIM as the parable reveals.  The issue is with our brothers and sisters.  Debts accumulated with them require payment in one form or another, they must be settled.  Hopefully you can see how critical it is not to carry around unforgiveness in your heart and why Jesus included the need to resolve it in the Sermon on the Mount:

And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.

There are conditions and ramification to unforgiveness.  The books will be balanced!

Matthew 6: 

And forgive us our debts,

​​As we forgive our debtor.  NKJV

Luke 11:

And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.   NKJV

Do you really want to get what you deserve?  Of course not.  Consider all the lawlessness over the course of your life and don’t forget the lawless intent.  Consider the envy, strife, boastings, backbiting, and other acts of selfish ambition and sin.  The sinner is truly grateful to have his slate wiped clean by the Blood of Jesus Christ.  This forgiveness of sin is the cornerstone of Christianity.  This forgiveness brings forth the relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  We now have the opportunity for fellowship and unity with HIM.  But that is not the end of the story.  Jesus turned theology upside down with the above statement.  We must forgive others to be in full unity with Our Heavenly Father.

Wisdom and understanding lead to forgiveness.  The more we understand the big picture, the more we are willing to forgive.  For instance, you easily forgive a child of wrong doing because the child does not know any better.  When you realize an adult is blind to a Spiritual Truth, you can easily forgive that person of his or her error.  When you realize that we all start out as vessels of dishonor and that the Potter forms us into vessels of honor, you begin to have an attitude of gratitude.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus shared the concise, simple prayer that embraces the fullness of life.  He placed a condition right in the middle of the prayer that cannot be overlooked, we must forgive.  No longer can we justify holding a grudge, allowing a root of bitterness to grow, or demanding payment for a wrongdoing.  We cannot promote division in the brotherhood but are called upon to promote unity.

Before Jesus shared The Lord’s Prayer, He told us: “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.”  There is no room for an excuse of not understanding the need for forgiveness.

He further states after The Lord’s Prayer, “Judge not, that you be not judged.  For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”  Jesus tells us a house divided cannot stand.  Let there be not divisions among us.

In the Gospel of Mark (Chapter 11), Jesus said,  “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

If you have offended your brother, Jesus said, “Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”  No matter if you are the offender or the one offended, forgiveness is critical.  If we are to be as Our Heavenly  Father who reconciles us to HIM, we must reconcile our brother to us as well.  We are to take on HIS character and restore our relationship with others.

If you have unforgiveness in your heart, answers to your prayers will be impeded.  Jesus promotes perfect harmony among the brethren.  Sin separates man from Our Heavenly Father and unforgiveness separates man from man in like manner.  Love provides the binding force.  Let Love abound in your life and your prayers will reflect this change.

“Give us this day our daily bread.”

Our walk with Our Heavenly Father is a daily walk, not once a week, a month, or a year.  For years I have not utilized an alarm clock to wake me up in starting a normal day.  I trust HIM to awake me at the hour and the minute in which HE wants to begin our daily interaction.  It is true I set the alarm for an early morning appointment to insure I am on time.  Otherwise, I expect to be awaken by HIM.  I warn you, when you make this determination, it could be early!

I start the day seeking what is on HIS Mind- not my will but Yours, Father.  I share these tidbits not to exalt myself but simply to provide the reader with some perspective of the importance of “daily bread”.  It is certainly possible that I need this more than many others.  My wife would probably agree.

In the temptation of Jesus by the devil, Jesus stated:

Matthew 4:4   But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

This was a quote from Deuteronomy 8:

1 “Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers. 2 And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. 3 So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the LORD.

Our daily bread is to assist us in “possessing” the Promised Land.  This bread will sustain us during the time of testing and trials.  The trials will come daily and thus we need our bread on a daily basis, else we become overwhelmed and frustrated by what life throws at us.  This daily bread will provide us peace while the heathen rage.

Proverbs 9

4 ​​“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

​​As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

5 ​​“Come, eat of my bread

​​And drink of the wine I have mixed.

Here we are told that bread represents understanding.  Bread is sustenance for our spirit, soul, and body.  We need daily nourishment to grow and Our Heavenly Father will provide bread in all three areas to those who ask.  You can be “void” of HIS Word in a particular area and be blessed in another.  In your conversation with Our Heavenly Father, you need to ask for HIS supply in the area you are lacking.  Our “food” should be a well-balanced meal rather than just focusing on a single area of our life.

Manna was the bread from Heaven given to the children of Israel as a daily provision.  It established a truth that Our Heavenly Father will intervene on our behalf on a daily basis.  It further established our responsibility to seek HIS bread daily.  How many have listened to revelation that is old and outdated.  We must move forward to the next area of maturity, not just “camping out” at a previous spot where some life-changing revelation occurred. The children of Israel were told not to build houses in the wilderness and to be ready to move their “tents” as the Glory of Our Heavenly Father moved.  Are you still living out an old revelation?

It is exciting to hear the next topic on Our Heavenly Father’s Mind.  Following HIM is not boring.  We are to become the essential expression of HIM on this earth.  As we take on HIS Character, people will be drawn to us and will want to interact with us in a rich, rewarding relationship.  We may be called upon to distribute “bread” to others.  As we embrace the willingness to help others, our own prosperity increases.  We become vessels who will not allow resources to stagnate.  We do not hoard up bread for ourselves in fear but acquire in preparation to be used as a blessing.  There is a time to store and a time to distribute.  In the story of Joseph, the seven years of plenty insured survival in the time of the famine.  By hearing the Word of Our Heavenly Father, Joseph was able to do both(store up and distribute) in wisdom and at the proper time.

When  we receive our daily bread, we are prepared for what lies ahead.  What better preparation for the coming changes than to get a daily briefing and marching orders from the Creator of Heaven and earth!  Bring on the day!

Matthew 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

Why would we be encouraged to pray for HIS Kingdom to come to earth if HE were to remove us when things got tough?  The rapture theorists totally disregard the very words Jesus urged us to pray.  Here we have the Son of the Most High GOD, in His own words, revealing an important truth that 99% of all churches pray frequently.  We are to proclaim and prophesy that HIS Kingdom and HIS Will be manifested on earth as it is in Heaven.  After all, HE is the Creator of Heaven and earth.  Don’t you think that the Creator can successfully establish HIS Kingdom anywhere and at any time HE pleases?  What adversary is great enough to prevent this?  Could Jesus not hear or interpret the words He heard from Our Heavenly Father?

Men take a few words, change their meaning in a subtle fashion, and establish an entire doctrine around those words in order that they may enslave other men to themselves.  The word “everlasting” versus “indefinite” has a different meaning and length of time.  One denotes “forever” whereas the other denotes “undetermined but not infinite”.

After studying the Scriptures for over forty years, I have come to realize that based on my understanding at the time I read Scripture, the revelation that comes forth is filtered.  If I only have a revelation of redemption, I tend to read all Scripture solely from the “redemption” point of view.  As my understanding and knowledge increase, I read Scripture with those added perspectives.  Most of all, if I read from the revelation of Love, the filters are removed for I am know reading with an understanding of the Character and Intent of the Author- Our Heavenly Father.

This verse is multi-faceted as is all Scripture.  “Earth” is not only this globe we are walking on, but also our own “earth”.  HE desires to be fully manifested in each of us as we are to be individual expressions of HIM.  A father’s desire is for his son to express all the positive characteristics of the family.  The son is to represent the family to the rest of the world and do greater things than the previous generation.  Each family has an innate desire for expansion of its expression on earth.  This desire is derived from the Character of the Creator.

Do you think it is Our Heavenly Father’s will for us to be punished forever by burning in an intense heat, causing unbearable pain?  Is that what you would want for your son or daughter?  How much more does Our Heavenly Father want us to be blessed than our earthly father!  HE has placed in us the creative power to produce unique expressions of HIM to bless all of creation.  We are to become focal points of HIS expression on earth.  HE calls us to be distinct but not divided.  We are called into unity by Love and express HIS character in all our actions and thoughts.  Each of us has a set of unique gifts and a calling to bring forth our individual part of HIS overall will.  Once we fully embrace this reality, doors open up to us with the needed resources to fulfill that calling.  Peace is shed abroad in our hearts no matter what adversity confronts us.  Instead of fearing the adversity, we look for the lessons to be learned from the experience.  Love, joy, and peace are all realized once HIS Kingdom is manifested in our hearts and minds.  Let those prophetic words we are urged to speak fully manifest in our lives.

The word “hallow” means to be set apart and honored as being sacred, consecrated, and Holy.  HIS Name is set apart from all other names.  There is no other god other than the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  When we speak this phrase, we are proclaiming our acknowledgement of the importance of HIS position relative to all of creation.  Wrapped up in all of this is HIS omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.  We have set apart HIS Fatherhood versus any other relationship in existence.

This phrase denotes Our Heavenly Father’s ability to determine what is good, acceptable, and perfect for HE is the final Judge in any matter.  All other life owes its existence to HIM.  All life is determined by HIS Divine Intent.

The first use of “hallow” is:

Exodus 20:11  For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

This is a subtle reference to the Day of Rest, or the Millennium of Rest.   In that 7th period of Spiritual perfection, we should expect to see mankind once again “hallow” HIS Name.  Today, our society throws around the term “god” in all types of use, especially in their profanity.  These uses dilute man’s thinking into a deeper perverted state.  Children hear these other uses and their hearts grow cold to what is the true reality.  It is no wonder the Lord’s Prayer has been removed from American schools.  Those lawless whoremongers want to remove any potential judgment by the masses.  What better way than to remove the scales of equal weights and measures from our midst.  Once the Lord’s Prayer was removed, we began to see an increasing incidence of lawlessness in the schools.  No longer were children taught that there is the Creator of heaven and earth to be reckoned with.

When we “hallow” HIS Name, we establish our reverent fear of THE LORD.  As we honor HIS Name in reverence, wisdom becomes available to us:

Psalm 111:10 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
His praise endures forever.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 1:29 

Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

In the above three Scriptures, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge are all available to those who fear THE LORD.  In Kemper’s book “Raising a Remnant”, these three topics begin the book.  Wisdom is the foundation, understanding provides the walls, and knowledge fills the house.  Preceding these three is the “fear of THE LORD”.  When you hallow HIS Name, you are on the path to building a house that will withstand adversity, trials, and temptations.

Heaven is “the seat of order of things eternal and consummately perfect where God dwells”.  It is where Divine Intent can be found or, the “cause” of cause and effect.  When we pray to Our Father which art in heaven, we acknowledge HIS preeminence in our life.  We acknowledge we are the created and HE is the Creator.  We are the “effect” of HIS cause or Divine Intent.

This declaration by each of us is the acknowledgement of our relative position of wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.  It is the realization that we are vessels in the created state, formed by the Uncreated GOD of heaven and earth.  Each of us is a unique expression of HIS Divine Intent and our gifts and callings are very specific to that expression.

In Isaiah 55, Our Heavenly Father reveals that fact that there are higher laws beyond our limited comprehension:

8 ​​“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

​​Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

9 ​​“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

​​So are My ways higher than your ways,

​​And My thoughts than your thoughts.

By revealing this to us, we are in essence given the opportunity to pursue HIS higher ways.  Jesus confirmed our relationship, our relative position, and our opportunity to rise to a higher level of maturity, all in one phrase:  Our Father which art in heaven.  The offspring are designed to be the expression of their progenitor.  Each parent’s purest desire is for his or her child to experience greater success and fulfillment of life.  Our Heavenly Father stated this desire as well:

Proverbs 8:32

32 ​​“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,

​​For blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 ​​Hear instruction and be wise,

​​And do not disdain it.

34 ​​Blessed is the man who listens to me,

​​Watching daily at my gates,

​​Waiting at the posts of my doors.

35 ​​For whoever finds me finds life,

​​And obtains favor from the LORD;

What a blessing spoken by Our Heavenly Father!  Notice that we are urged to pursue and keep HIS ways.  This passage tells us that we can know HIS ways and walk in them.  HIS ways promote life, blessing, and fulfillment.  As a point of comparison, Our Heavenly Father provides us a warning:

36 ​​But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;

​​All those who hate me love death.”

Doesn’t this verse provide us with some insight about the battle raging in our soul?  Sin is the source of the issue we must deal with.  Our soul is damaged or injured by sin.  Our Heavenly Father is in the restoration business and HE gives us revelation and direction to restore our souls.  As a Loving Father, HE reveals the problem and solution, wise counsel.  However, it is up to each of us to take personal action to correct the problem and remove sin from our midst.  Once that is accomplished, our soul is restored.  It all begins with the acknowledgement of who our source is: Our Heavenly Father which art in heaven.

The importance of these two words which begins “The Lord’s Prayer” cannot be emphasized enough.  Jesus established our “vertical” relationship with the LORD GOD ALLMIGHTY, the GOD of Heaven and earth, and our “horizontal” relationship with all of our brothers and sisters in one simultaneous expression.  Not only did Jesus establish a personal relationship with FATHER, but also with Himself as a “brother”, a fellow Son of GOD.  This was and is huge.  Jesus was preparing us for His later proclamation that we would do greater works than Him:

John 14:12  “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

For us to do the greater works, we must believe the reality set before us.  We must set aside fear, uncertainty, and doubt.  With this emphatic statement made by Jesus, now let us consider what Paul said in Philippians chapter 2:

1 Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,

2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.

4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

We are all of one brotherhood and should be of “one mind”.  We are truly our brother’s keeper and Paul understood this as he further wrote:

5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,

Jesus established the relationship between Our Father and us, and all of us to each other in just two words: Our Father.  Can it be any more direct and simple as this?  We must remember the Jesus spoke as directed by Our Heavenly Father.  These two words conveyed the essence of Love and Divine Intent.  No longer could we be justified by our acts of division against others.  No longer could we rationalize why we need to go to war and enslave others or take their resources.  How did the people respond to this revelation?

Matthew 7:28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching,

Jesus revealed the plan and the Way in the Sermon on the Mount.  In dramatic simplicity, He established the relationships of mankind to each other and to Our Heavenly Father.  There was one thing left to do: provide a confirmation of this truth.  After all, actions speak louder than words.  It was time for this declaration to be confirmed by Our Heavenly Father to these “astonished” people:

Matthew 8:1  When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

2 And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

What greater confirmation of the veracity of His statements than to reverse death!  The leper (which represents death) was ready to test the words of Jesus.  “If You are willing” was spoken to determine and expose the Divine Intent in Jesus.  The leper comprehended the essence of the Sermon.  Those words spoken to the multitude brought forth faith in the heart and mind of the leper.  He now knew there was a solution to his leprosy… finally!

3  Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

This was an immediate confirmation to the astonished people that everything Jesus had spoken was true.  Even death responded to His words.  Further, according to the Mosaic Law, Jesus instructed the former leper to show himself to the priest.  The higher Law was now in command and operational on earth.  The revelation of “Our Father” had come forth.