Servias Ministries Blog

Do you want to be blessed?

If you want to be blessed, fully surrender to The Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 3:

20 “Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.”

This is one of Paul’s strongest statements about God’s unlimited ability working through believers.

“Him that is able”

Paul begins with God’s ability, not ours. The question is not whether we are strong enough, intelligent enough, wealthy enough, or connected enough. God is able to accomplish what we cannot!

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 19:

26 But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.“

“Exceeding abundantly above”

Paul deliberately puts Words together because ordinary language almost seems inadequate.  The Greek expression is hyper ek perissou—carrying the idea of beyond measure, extraordinarily beyond, or far more than expected.

Paul doesn’t merely say God can answer prayer. He says God can do:

what we ask → more than we ask → more than we can even imagine.

Our prayers are limited by what we know. Our imagination is limited by what we have experienced. God is limited by neither.

“All that we ask or think”

This is especially significant.  There are things you know enough to ask God for, but there are also possibilities you have never thought to ask for.

FATHER sees the entire picture—past, present, and future—while we see only a small portion. Therefore, FATHER’S answer may look quite different from the solution we imagined.  I have experienced this Truth many times in the past where HE orchestrated the path where the result exceeded my expectations.

Sometimes God’s “exceeding abundantly” isn’t simply more of what we requested. It is something better than what we knew to request.

“According to the power that worketh in us”

This may be the most important part of the verse.  Paul doesn’t merely say God’s power exists somewhere in Heaven. He says His power is working in us.

The preceding verses explain what that looks like: believers are strengthened by God’s Spirit in the inner person, Christ dwells in their hearts through faith, and they become increasingly filled with God’s fullness (Ephesians 3:16–19).

So verse 20 isn’t primarily a promise that God will give us everything we can imagine. It is a declaration that God’s supernatural power is actively transforming and working through His people.

The deeper message

There’s an important progression in Ephesians 3:

God strengthens you → Christ dwells in you → you become rooted in love → you comprehend Christ’s love → you are filled with God’s fullness → God’s power works through you beyond what you imagined.

That makes Ephesians 3:20 much bigger than a prosperity promise.

Paul is essentially saying:

“Don’t measure what God can accomplish through your life by what you presently see in yourself.”

Your weakness does not define the limits of God’s power.

And verse 21 gives the ultimate purpose:

“Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages…”

So the goal of the “exceeding abundantly” isn’t ultimately our glory, comfort, wealth, or success, it is God’s glory through Christ working in His people.

In simple terms: Ephesians 3:20 means that when God’s Spirit is working within a surrendered believer, God can accomplish through that person far beyond what the person could have planned, requested, or even imagined—and the result is meant to glorify God.

Let’s look a perfect example of Holy Spirit empowerment!

Luke faithfully recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2:

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a Sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty Wind, and It filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 Then there appeared to them divided Tongues, as of fire, and One sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other Tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

A Sound came from Heaven and It came to the physical place where the disciples were… from Heaven to earth.  It came from one world and it filled another world.

Wind and fire!

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 1:

7 And of the angels He says: “Who makes His angels spirits And His ministers a flame of fire.”  This is quoted from Psalm 104:4.

The portal (with a gate) between Heaven and earth was revealed and opened.

How did the crowd respond?

Back to Acts chapter 2:

6 And when this Sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language.

7 Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans?

13 Others mocking said, “They are full of new wine.”

When the Sound occurred, a multitude in Jerusalem came together.  This was due to an unfamiliar, loud roar of another world!  This sound summoned a city to the right place.

What happened next?  Peter preached a message that he was now equipped to speak by The Holy Spirit.  After hearing The Word, what was the response?

37 When they heard this they were crushed and realized what they had done to Jesus. Deeply moved, they said to Peter and the other apostles, “What do we need to do, brothers?”

38 Peter replied, “Repent and return to God, and each one of you must be baptized in the Name of Jesus, the Anointed One, to have your sins removed. Then you may take hold of the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For God’s promise of the Holy Spirit is for you and your families, for those yet to be born and for everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself.”

40 Peter preached to them and warned them with these Words: “Be rescued from the wayward and perverse culture of this world!”

41 Those who believed the Word that day numbered three thousand. They were all baptized and added to the church.

Peter did not have a song service or a 30-minute timed message yet because what he spoke was fully inspired by The Holy Spirit, 3,000 souls were added to the church that day.

That is what it is like to be led by The Holy Spirit!  The events of Acts chapter two, makes Peter one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of the difference between human determination and Holy Spirit empowerment.

Who are the sons of GOD?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

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

This verse is part of the apostle Paul’s explanation of what it means to belong to Christ and live a new life through the Holy Spirit.

Here is the essence:

“Those who are led by the Spirit of God…”

Being “led by the Spirit” doesn’t mean hearing an audible voice all the time or receiving constant supernatural guidance. It refers to a life in which the Holy Spirit influences your thoughts, desires, and actions.

The Spirit leads believers to:

• Trust in Jesus.
• Turn away from sin.
• Grow in qualities like Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, and self-control .
• Follow God’s will as revealed in Scripture.

This is an ongoing relationship, not a one-time event.

“…are the children of God.”

Paul listed the fruit in Galatians chapter 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Paul is saying that those who truly belong to God show evidence of His Spirit at work in their lives, especially Love. Being God’s child is not earned by good works but received through faith in Christ. The Spirit’s Presence confirms that relationship and helps believers live in a way that reflects their new identity.

The context

The surrounding verses (Romans 8:12–17) contrast two ways of living:

• Living according to the flesh: being controlled by sinful desires, which leads away from God.
• Living according to the Spirit: being empowered by the Holy Spirit to follow God, which brings Life and peace.

Verse 14 reveals the idea that God’s children are not merely trying harder to obey Him—they are being guided and transformed by His Spirit.

Romans 8:14 encourages us to ask:

• Am I becoming more like Christ?
• Do I desire to obey God, even when it’s difficult?
• Am I relying on the Holy Spirit rather than only my own strength?

The verse is not teaching that believers are perfect. Rather, it describes the overall direction of a believer’s life: one increasingly shaped by the Holy Spirit.

In summary, Romans 8:14 teaches that God’s children are recognized by the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work in their lives, leading them to trust, obey, and become more like Christ.

We should have an expectation that The Holy Spirit will lead us in all the affairs of Life!

Do you allow the Rivers of Living Waters to flow from you?

The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in John chapter 7:

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow Rivers of Living Water.”

39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

According to Jesus, the key is not trying harder to manufacture “Living Eater.” It is remaining surrendered to Christ so the Holy Spirit can work freely through you.

Jesus revealed the progression: thirst → come → drink → abide → surrender → overflow.

1. Thirst for God

It begins with genuine spiritual hunger. Jesus said, “If any man thirst…”

The person who is satisfied with merely knowing about God will rarely pursue deeper fellowship with Him. David expressed this hunger:

“My soul thirsteth for thee…” — Psalm 63:1

A useful prayer is simply: “Lord, make me hungry for more of You.”

2. Come continually to Jesus

Jesus didn’t say, “Come to a religious system.” He said: “Let him come unto me.”

Living Water originates in Christ. Christianity therefore isn’t primarily about becoming more religious; it is about remaining connected to Jesus.

John 15:5 gives the picture of the vine and branches: “He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit.”  A branch doesn’t struggle to manufacture fruit. It stays connected to the Vine.

3. Drink—receive from the Holy Spirit

Jesus didn’t merely say to examine the water. He said drink.

As I wrote yesterday, there is a difference between knowing intellectually that the Holy Spirit exists and actually yielding yourself to His Presence and leadership.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 5:

18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which is rebellion; instead be filled continually with the Holy Spirit.

The Greek wording carries the idea of an ongoing condition: keep being filled.  That means regularly coming before God and saying, in substance:

“Holy Spirit, fill me. Lead me. Correct me. Empower me. Accomplish through me what I cannot accomplish myself.”

4. Surrender what blocks the flow

One of the greatest issues is self-rule.

We naturally want to control our circumstances, reputation, possessions, relationships and future. But the Spirit-filled life requires surrender.

Paul says: “Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” — Galatians 5:16

When the Holy Spirit exposes bitterness, unforgiveness, pride, dishonesty, selfish ambition, sexual sin, greed, resentment or another area of disobedience, don’t defend it. Confess it and turn from it.

This is closely related to Paul’s warning:

“Quench not the Spirit.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:19

The question becomes: Where am I resisting what God has already told me to do?  When you delay what The Holy Spirit told you to say or do, does that imply that you think you know better than Him?

5. Let Scripture renew your thinking

The Spirit and the Word work together.

Romans 12:2 says:

“Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Spend time in Scripture not merely asking, “What does this verse mean?” but also:

“Holy Spirit, what are You showing me through this, and what needs to change in me?”

That moves Scripture from information toward transformation.

6. Obey the Spirit’s prompting

This is where the river begins moving outward.  Perhaps you sense that you should encourage someone, pray for someone, forgive someone, give generously, share Christ, serve someone in need, speak Truth lovingly, or simply stop and listen to someone who is hurting.

Jesus said: “If ye Love Me, keep My commandments.” — John 14:15

Small acts of obedience develop a life that is increasingly responsive to God.

7. Don’t confuse Spiritual gifts with Spiritual maturity

The “river” can include the Spirit working through Spiritual gifts, but the clearest evidence of His continuing work is also Christlike character:

“The fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.” — Galatians 5:22–23

Someone can appear Spiritually powerful and still have serious character problems. So don’t pursue manifestations while neglecting Love, humility, Holiness and obedience.

8. Give away what God gives you

A river that never flows outward isn’t functioning as a river:

If God gives you encouragement, encourage somebody.
If He gives you resources, give.
If He gives you understanding, teach.
If He gives you compassion, serve.
If He gives you an opportunity to share Christ, speak.
If He burdens you for someone, pray.

The principle is:

Receive from God → respond in obedience → pour into others → return to God to be filled again.

Don’t focus primarily on producing the river. Focus on removing resistance to the One Who produces it.

This is the question to ask: “Holy Spirit, what in me is preventing You from freely expressing the Life of Jesus through me today?”

Do you allow the Rivers of Living Waters to flow from you?

The Beloved Disciple recorded by The Holy Spirit in John chapter 7:

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.

38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow Rivers of Living Water.”

39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, Whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

“Rivers of living water” is a phrase Jesus used to describe the abundant, ongoing work of the Holy Spirit flowing from within a believer.

Then John immediately explains what Jesus meant:

“But this spoke He of the Spirit…” — John 7:39

1. Living Water represents the Holy Spirit

Jesus was not talking about physical water. The “Living Water” is the Lifeand power of the Holy Spirit given to those who believe in Christ.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 4:

13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the Water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the Water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of Water springing up into Everlasting Life.“

Notice the progression:

John 4: a well within you.
John 7: rivers flowing out of you.

The Spirit first brings Life into you, then His Life begins flowing through you to others.

2. “Out of his belly” means from the innermost being

The Greek word translated “belly” (koilia) can refer figuratively to a person’s inner being.

Jesus is describing something deeper than intellectual knowledge of God. Christianity is not merely knowing facts about God; through the Holy Spirit, God’s Presence becomes an inner Spiritual reality.

This connects closely with what Paul says: “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” — Philippians 2:13

God works within, and what He produces within eventually becomes visible outwardly.

3. Why did Jesus say “rivers”—plural?

The picture is one of abundance, not scarcity.  A river moves.  A river gives life.
A river affects everything it reaches.

The Holy Spirit is not given merely so that the believer personally feels blessed. God’s Life is intended to flow outward.

That can appear through compassion, Truth, prayer, encouragement, generosity, Spiritual gifts, evangelism, healing ministry, service, and the fruit of the Spirit.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 12:

4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.

5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord.

6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God Who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all:

8 for to one is given the Word of Wisdom through the Spirit, to another the Word of knowledge through the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of Tongues, to another the interpretation of Tongues.

11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

And in Galatians chapter 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

25 If the Spirit is the Source of our life, we must also allow the Spirit to direct every aspect of our lives.

4. The believer is a channel, not the source

This distinction is important.  Jesus does not say that human beings somehow manufacture Spiritual life. Christ is the Source; the Holy Spirit supplies the Life; the believer becomes the vessel through whom It flows.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 15:

5 “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

7 If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

This is the progression:

Jesus Christ → Holy Spirit → believer → others

The River originates with God, but God chooses to allow It to flow through His people.

5. There is an Old Testament background

Jesus’ listeners would have recognized the imagery of life-giving water.

Ezekiel 47 describes water flowing from God’s temple. Wherever the river goes, Life appears:

“Every thing shall live whither the river cometh.” — Ezekiel 47:9

Zechariah 14:8 similarly describes “Living Waters” flowing from Jerusalem.

Jesus takes this powerful biblical picture and says, in effect, that through the Spirit, God’s Life-giving Presence will now flow from within His people.

6. This goes beyond “head knowledge”

A person can know Scripture intellectually without experiencing much of its transforming power.

Jesus describes something deeper: God’s Spirit dwelling and working within the believer.  That doesn’t make Scripture less important. The Word gives Truth and direction, while the Spirit illuminates, empowers, and applies that truth.

This is why Jesus’ statement is preceded by:

“If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” — John 7:37

There is an important sequence:

Thirst → Come to Jesus → Drink → Receive → Overflow

You cannot pour out what you have never received.

7. The deepest meaning

“Rivers of Living Water” describes a Christian life that is overflowing rather than merely containing.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t only want to change what you know. He changes who you are, and then God’s Life begins affecting the people around you.  God fills you not merely so that you can be full, but so that you can overflow.  And that gives an important distinction between a well and a river: a well can sustain the person who drinks from it; a river carries life beyond itself.

Let us be overflowing in The Holy Spirit!

Do you have head knowledge or experiential knowledge of The Holy Spirit?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Timothy chapter 3:

5 “Having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (KJV)

Or, as many modern translations put it:

“Having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.”

This is one of the most sobering verses in the New Testament because it describes people who appear to be religious but lack a genuine relationship with God.

“Having a form of Godliness”  The Greek word translated “form” (morphōsis) means an outward shape, appearance, or external form.

Paul is describing people who look religious. They may:

• Attend church regularly.
• Know Bible verses.
• Pray publicly.
• Give to charity.
• Speak Christian language.
• Hold positions of leadership.
• Be respected as “good people.”

Outwardly, they appear devoted to God.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 15:

8 “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.”

The Pharisees are a prime example. They were meticulous about religious practices, yet many rejected the Messiah standing before them.

“But denying its power” This is the heart of the verse.

The “power” is not merely miracles or supernatural signs. It is the life-changing power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit.

The Gospel has power to:

• Convict of sin.
• Bring repentance.
• Forgive sin.
• Transform desires.
• Produce Holiness.
• Make a person a “new creation” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
• Enable obedience through the Holy Spirit.

To deny its power is to live as though Christianity is only an external religion rather than an inward transformation.

A person may claim Christ but refuse to let Christ rule their life.

They may say, “I’m a Christian,” while continuing to love sin, reject God’s authority, and resist the Holy Spirit’s work. Their profession is real in words but not in transformed character.

This is more than hypocrisy.  Everyone who follows Christ still struggles with sin. Paul is not talking about sincere believers who stumble and repent.  He is describing people who persistently maintain the appearance of faith while rejecting the transforming work of God. They are content with religion but not regeneration.

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 2:

14 My dear brothers and sisters, what good is it if someone claims to have faith but demonstrates no good works to prove it? How could this kind of faith save anyone?

15 For example, if a brother or sister in the faith is poorly clothed and hungry

16 and you leave them saying, “Good-bye. I hope you stay warm and have plenty to eat,” but you don’t provide them with a coat or even a cup of soup, what good is your faith?

17 So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony.

18 But someone might object and say, “One person has faith and another person has works.” Go ahead then and prove to me that you have faith without works and I will show you faith by my works as proof that I believe.

Works do not save us, but genuine faith produces a changed life.

“From such turn away”.  Paul instructs Timothy to avoid close association with those who consistently display this pattern.  This does not mean Christians should never speak to unbelievers or people trapped in sin. Jesus sought out sinners to call them to repentance. Rather, Paul warns against embracing, following, or being spiritually influenced by people who claim to represent God while denying His transforming power. This includes false teachers and those whose lives contradict the faith they profess.

This verse that Paul wrote invites self-examination rather than merely judging others. Questions worth asking include:

• Is my Christianity primarily outward, or is Christ changing me from the inside?
• Do I simply know about God, or do I know Him personally?
• Has the Holy Spirit transformed my attitudes, desires, and conduct?
• Am I relying on religious activities, or on Christ Himself?

The contrast in verse 5 is between religion that impresses people and faith that transforms lives. Paul warns that outward appearances are not enough. The evidence of genuine faith is the ongoing work of God’s power in a believer’s heart, producing repentance, obedience, and increasing likeness to Christ. 

Are you surrendering to being led by The Holy Spirit?

Each guest shares a one-sentence message about the afterlife and the importance of God’s Love, reinforcing the message that God reaches out to people across all backgrounds to draw them toward Himself