Servias Ministries Blog

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, each of us will be assessed according to our works, as well as our intent!

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

14 God always makes His grace visible in Christ, Who includes us as partners of His endless triumph. Through our yielded lives He spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere we go.

15 We have become the unmistakable aroma of the victory of the Anointed One to God—a perfume of Life to those being saved and the odor of death to those who are perishing.

16 The unbelievers smell a deadly stench that leads to death, but believers smell the Life-giving aroma that leads to abundant Life. And who of us can rise to this challenge?

17 For unlike so many, we are not peddlers of God’s Word who water down the message. We are those sent from God with pure motives, who speak in the sight of God from our union with Christ.

The Greek word peddler (kapēleuō ) means “retailer” but in classical Greek it comes with a negative connotation (“one who sells at an illegitimate profit”).  The adverbial form of the noun is “cheating” or “deceitful.”

In the eighteen years of Servias, we have never had a payroll.  We chose to resist any temptation to receive personal gain from contributions.  No one can accuse us of “peddling” the Gospel for personal gain.  This allows us to operate above reproach.  Our focus continues to assist those in need.

Assessing one’s intent is critical in planting seed when contributing to various ministries.  I acknowledge that in larger ministries there is a need for payrolls.  However, it does place a burden on those in charge to hear The Holy Spirit in those matters.  In our case, we can spread the Word of GOD without the concern of “tickling” the ears of major contributors thus we feel no obligation to water down the Word under monetary pressure. 

Is this why many ministries do not emphasize the ministries of The Holy Spirit in church gatherings?  Those in charge will be assessed accordingly.

The three requirements that will stand the test of time:

Which of our works will fall into the category of gold, silver, and precious stones rather than wood, hay, and stubble?

Your motive: for GOD’S glory.  Are you doing it in obedience to the Word of GOD or are you doing you own thing or making your own rules?

Are you working in the power of The Holy Spirit or in your own fleshly ability?

The only acceptable power for ministry is the ministry of The Holy Spirit.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 15:

18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient-

19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the Gospel of Christ.

Each of the blogs you read are only written after I pray in THE SPIRIT so as to receive what needs to be expressed at the time.  This is by design.  I am not qualified to write based on my own fleshly ability.  Some days The Word is rather corrective in nature.  And believe me, I need such correction as much as those who read these blogs.  My goal is to rid myself of all self-centeredness and pride… and there was a lot to deal with.

It is my deepest desire for Jesus to speak the following Words to me:

Luke 19:17 TPT

“‘Splendid! You have done well, My excellent servant. Because you have shown that I can trust you in this small matter, I now grant you authority to rule over ten cities.’

It is not how you start the race; it is how you finish it!

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, each of us will be assessed according to our works!

This judgment will assess your service to Jesus during your life.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 3:

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

We will not be judged according to the quantity of our works but rather the quality of our works.  Wood, hay, and stubble are easily obtained in quantities.  Gold, silver, and precious stones are not easily obtained and represent quality of our works.

What am I producing?  Is it wood, hay, and stubble which will be burned up?  What a tragedy it would be to work for something you have piled up and in the Day of Judgment, it is burned to ashes!  There is nothing left but your naked soul and nothing else to show for your life.

How will our service stand the test of fire?  First, we must assess our motive.  Is my motive for GOD’S glory or is it to exalt me in some way?  If your motive is wrong, it will be burned up.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 10:

31 Whether you eat or drink, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God.

Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 12:

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, Holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

An unrenewed mind says, “What’s in it for me?”  The renewed mind says, “Where will GOD get the glory?”  Your motivation is the key.

If your work is to stand the test of fire, it must be done in obedience to the Word of GOD.  If done, our works will stand the test of time.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 7:

21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in Heaven.

24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:

25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.

26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand:

27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

Jesus looked at the motives of some:

22  Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your Name, cast out demons in Your Name, and done many wonders in Your Name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Jesus did not challenge the prophecies or wonders.  Their motives were the issue.  Magnifying self is practicing lawlessness.  There is only one essential requirement of Heaven, it is doing the Will of THE FATHER that is in Heaven!  Jesus told these miracle workers, “Depart from Me you who practice lawlessness!”

In the Book of Numbers beginning in chapter 22, we read of the miraculous life of Balaam.  He was an example of having the wrong motivation in his ministry.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Peter chapter 2:

15 They have wandered off the main road and have gone astray, because they are prophets who love profit—the wages they earn by wrongdoing. They are following the example of Balaam, son of Beor,

16 who was rebuked for evil by a donkey incapable of speech yet that spoke with a human voice and restrained the prophet’s madness.

Yes, the love of money is the root of all evil.  Let not greed be found during the assessment of our works.

At the Judgment Seat of Christ, each of us will be assessed according to our works!

The Word of GOD describes judgment to come forth in four distinct events.

The first will be before the judgment seat of Christ. 

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 14:

10 But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ.

11 For it is written: “As I live, says the LORD, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.”

12 So then each of us (Christians) shall give account of himself to God.

13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

The only person you’re going to have to give account for is yourself!  Neither you nor I can assess the motives, history, or other factors impacting another person’s life.  Only THE LORD knows.

Paul returns to this topic in 2^nd Corinthians chapter 5:

10 For we must all appear (or made manifest) before the Judgment Seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.

11 Since we are those who stand in Holy awe of the Lord, we make it our passion to persuade others to turn to Him. We know that our lives are transparent before the God Who knows us fully, and I hope that we are also well known to your consciences.

There will be no secrets because everything will be exposed.  Nothing will be hidden.  We will be before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive according to the way we have lived in the body.  There are only two categories, whether good or bad, nothing in between.  Everything that is not good is bad.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 12:

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

There is no neutrality!  When you are unwilling to commit, you are effectively against Christ and His directives, and you will be judged accordingly.  This is a sober reality that we all must consider.  How many are sitting in church pews unwilling to confront this Truth?  With The Holy Spirit, there is no neutrality!

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 2:

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe-and tremble!

20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Those who partner with Servias are rewarded for their faith since we assist in providing kids in need with food and clothing on a consistent monthly basis.  We will receive Heavenly rewards at the Judgment Seat of Christ.

There are five main features of this judgment:

It is individual, each of us will answer for himself, for the things done in the body, the way we lived while we were in this body… whether good or bad.

Secondly, this judgment is not for condemnation.  We are going to be judged but we will not be condemned if we are true, sincere believers in Christ.  The principle of judgment is for assessment of service.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 3:

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the Name of the only begotten Son of God. 

And in John chapter 5:

24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My Word and believes in Him Who sent Me has everlasting Life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

And Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

This judgment will assess your service to Jesus during your life.

Paul expresses this Truth when he wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 3:

11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw,

13 each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is.

14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.

15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

When the fire of judgment comes, what will be left and endure?

You and I will be judged according to the Light that is available to us!

In the end, all men will be without excuse.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 11:

20 Then Jesus began to openly denounce the cities where he had done most of His mighty miracles, because the people failed to turn away from sin and return to God.

21 He said, “How tragic it will be for the city of Korazin! And how horrible for the city of Bethsaida! For if the powerful miracles that I performed in Korazin and Bethsaida had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have humbled themselves and repented, and turned from their sins.

22 Tyre and Sidon will be better off on judgment day than you!

23 And Capernaum—do you really think you’ll be exalted because of the great miracles I have done there? No! You’ll be brought down to the depths of hell because of your rejection of Me. For if the miracles I worked in your streets were done in Sodom, it would still be standing today!

24 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for the region of Sodom in the day of judgment than it will be for you.”

Mankind will be unable to claim any excuse for rejecting GOD when their time of judgment arrives.  Ignorance is not an excuse.  Why?

Paul explains as he wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 2:

12 When people who have never been exposed to the laws of Moses commit sin, they will still perish for what they do. And those who are under the law of Moses and fail to obey it are condemned by the law.

13 For it’s not merely knowing the law that makes you right with God, but doing all that the law says that will cause God to pronounce you innocent.

14 For example, whenever people who don’t possess the law as their birthright commit sin, it still confirms that a “law” is present in their conscience. For when they instinctively do what the law requires, that becomes a “law” to govern them, even though they don’t have Mosaic law.

15 It demonstrates that the requirements of the law are woven into their hearts. They know what is right and wrong, for their conscience validates this “law” in their heart. Their thoughts correct them in one instance and commend them in another.

16 So this judgment will be revealed on the day when God, through Jesus the Messiah, judges the hidden secrets of people’s hearts. And their response to my Gospel will be the standard of judgment used in that day. 

Every man, woman, and child instinctively know what is right and wrong.  They can suppress this discernment and become hardened in their hearts, but that does not change what is present in their conscience.  Man cannot lie or cheat his way into Heaven for FATHER knows what is in his heart.

There is a greater measure of light available to us today than available to any previous generation.  The Gospel is virtually available around the world via technology and printed books.  Governments may try to suppress the Truth, but they will be unable to sustain any control they attempt to implement over the masses.

We will be judged according to the Light that’s been made available to us.  If you reject the ministry of The Holy Spirit in any area, you will be judged for that rejection.  This is why it is very important to place your trust in the leading of The Holy Spirit rather than in man.  Be humble and walk in the reverential Fear of THE LORD at all times.  Your Eternal future depends on it!

GOD’S standards to judgment for this generation will be the most severe because we had the most light.

In the last of the Last Days, let us especially deal with deep-seated pride!

The first recorded sin is pride!  The details of this first sin are recorded in both Ezekiel and Isaiah.

It is recorded by THE SPIRIT in Ezekiel chapter 28:

11 Moreover the Word of the LORD came to me, saying,

12 “Son of man, take up a lamentation for the king of Tyre, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: “You were the seal of perfection, Full of wisdom and perfect in beauty.

13 You were in Eden, the garden of God; Every precious stone was your covering: The sardius, topaz, and diamond, Beryl, onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald with gold. The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes Was prepared for you on the day you were created.

14 “You were the anointed cherub who covers; I established you; You were on the holy mountain of God; You walked back and forth in the midst of fiery stones.

15 You were perfect in your ways from the day you were created, Till iniquity was found in you.

16 “By the abundance of your trading You became filled with violence within, And you sinned; Therefore I cast you as a profane thing Out of the mountain of God; And I destroyed you, O covering cherub, From the midst of the fiery stones.

17 “Your heart was lifted up with pride because of your beauty; You corrupted your wisdom for the sake of your splendor; I cast you to the ground, I laid you before kings, That they might gaze at you.

18 “You defiled your sanctuaries By the multitude of your iniquities, By the iniquity of your trading; Therefore I brought fire from your midst; It devoured you, And I turned you to ashes upon the earth In the sight of all who saw you.

19 All who knew you among the peoples are astonished at you; You have become a horror, And shall be no more forever.”‘”

The cherub now known as satan was in the garden where he tempted Eve.  In Heaven, he was known for his beauty and his musical ability (timbrels and pipes).  He had access to the Throne Room where there are fiery stones of sapphires as the floor.

Once pride arose in this cherub, he was immediately cast out of the Thid Heaven.

We are provided with further details as recorded by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 14:

12 “How you are fallen from Heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!

13 For you have said in your heart: ‘I will ascend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on the mount of the congregation On the farthest sides of the north;

14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will be like the Most High.’

15 Yet you shall be brought down to Sheol, To the lowest depths of the Pit.

16 “Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: ‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms,

17 Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?’

The adversary spoke five “I will’s” which describes the essence of pride.  He successfully tempted Eve with pride, and he continues using this primary sin in the world today.  Pride attempts to exalt oneself through arrogance, money, power, etc.

It is recorded by THE SPIRIT in Psalm chapter 10:

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.

5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.

6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.

7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.

Those who are lifted up in pride shall be brought low when they are judged by FATHER.  Each of us must brutally assess our words and actions to see if there is any pride found.  If so, purpose to change and remove this primary sin.

Wisdom recorded in Proverbs chapter 8:

13 Wisdom pours into you when you begin to hate every form of evil in your life, for that’s what worship and fearing God is all about. Then you will discover that your pompous pride and perverse speech are the very ways of wickedness that I THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY hate!”

FATHER hates pride and we should hate it too!  Let each of us rid ourselves of pride.