Servias Ministries Blog

You and I are called to be “image-bearers” of Christ!

Jesus is the exact Image of FATHER, and we are to bear the image and likeness of Christ in our individual walks.

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Genesis chapter 1:

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”

27 So God created man in His own Image; in the Image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

GOD blessed them and gave them responsibility.  As we mature, we will receive greater responsibility: life-giving service.  In the world, increased responsibility is taxing and exhausting.

We are replenished in strength when embracing our assignments and giving ourselves fully to it for the glory of GOD.  Subduing infers resistance by an adversary.

In chapter 2:

18 And the LORD God said, “It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a helper comparable to him.”

The word helper means the woman fully equipped to stand face to face with the man and make up in him what is lacking.  She is not subservient to him but is of equal significance and sufficiency.  It takes both male and female to reveal Who GOD is.

Two are better than one only if they are united.  Two are less than one if they are divided. 

It is in the uniqueness of diversity that HE is revealed.  There is diversity in unity whereas religion wants everyone to be just alike in all areas.  We are to be unique in our individual identities.  That is the essence of borders, a separation of uniqueness.  There is beauty in uniqueness, and we naturally embrace such beauty.  As we honor the other person’s uniqueness, we can come into unity with that person.

When a person is born again, Jesus didn’t take a broken person and mend him, He took the broken person and recreated him.  We are not sinners with the Blood of Jesus as a band-aid, we are recreated in the Image of GOD again.

Jesus is the only One Who is the exact Image of THE FATHER.  He was not recreated.

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

2 GOD has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through Whom also He made the worlds;

3 Who being the brightness of His glory and the express Image of His Person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on high,

When we live in the Lordship of Jesus, we then reflect His Image to the nations.  Otherwise, we reflect a distorted version of Him.  Religion (routine without relationship) works hard to destroy hope and identity of the individual.  Religion wants us to comply with manmade customs and actions rather than being fully led by The Holy Spirit in all areas.

Jesus has created us as image-bearers who can actually represent Him in the earth.  When we fully understand and embrace this Truth, our fruit will reflect this reality.  Do we want to walk in our own opinion, or do we want to walk in the Mind of Christ?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

29 For He knew all about us before we were born and he destined us from the beginning to share the likeness (or image) of his Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like Him.

Let us accept this Truth in our daily lives.

Can an individual life be restored?

Absolutely!  However, many Christians focus more on the return of Christ than the power of The Gospel.  I don’t want to downplay the return of Christ; it will be the most glorious event to happen on earth.  However, we are to focus on the power of The Gospel to save and restore all those who will listen.

There is not one believer who has gone astray that cannot be restored to a righteous life.  None are beyond the power and authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke wrote by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 1:

37 “For with God nothing will be impossible.”

No matter how far a person has gone astray, THE LORD can bring that person back to live a righteous and productive life.  As a matter of fact, Heaven rejoices when that person is restored to a place of sanity, addictions broken off, having a healthy family, having a healthy lifestyle.  Can it happen to one?  Can it happen to his family?  Can it happen to his family line?  Yes.  What about his neighborhood?  What about his city?  The point is that the power of The Gospel is what is needed to reembrace, tuning us to the one commandment Jesus spoke, “Do what I taught you to do, spread The Gospel to all.”  Every person on earth is important to Christ.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 15:

1 Many dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often gathered around to listen as Jesus taught the people.

2 This raised concerns among the Jewish religious leaders and experts of the law. Indignant, they grumbled and complained, saying, “Look at how this man associates with all these notorious sinners and welcomes them all to come to him!”

3 In response, Jesus gave them this illustration:

4-5 “There once was a Shepherd with a hundred lambs, but one of His lambs wandered away and was lost. So the Shepherd left the ninety-nine lambs out in the open field and searched in the wilderness for that one lost lamb. He didn’t stop until he finally found it. With exuberant joy, He raised it up, placed it on his shoulders, and carried it back with cheerful delight!

6 Returning home, He called all His friends and neighbors together and said, ‘Let’s have a party! Come and celebrate with Me the return of My lost lamb. It wandered away, but I found it and brought it home.’ ”

7 Jesus continued, “In the same way, there will be a glorious celebration in Heaven over the rescue of one lost sinner who repents, comes back home, and returns to the fold—more so than for all the righteous people who never strayed away.”

Men may give up on a person who has gone astray, but THE LORD has not.  Yes, that person may go through a time of correction because of the righteousness, just requirement of GOD, but it is always for the purpose of restoration.

Jesus continued:

8 Jesus gave them another parable: “There once was a woman who had ten valuable silver coins. When she lost one of them, she swept her entire house, diligently searching every nook and cranny for that one lost coin.

9 When she finally found it, she gathered all her friends and neighbors for a celebration, telling them, ‘Come and celebrate with me! I had lost my precious silver coin, but now I’ve found it.’

10 That’s the way God responds every time one lost sinner repents and turns to Him. He says to all his angels, ‘Let’s have a joyous celebration, for the one who was lost, I have found!’ ”

Whether it is a lost sheep, a lost silver coin, or prodigal son, FATHER celebrates the return with a joyous celebration and invites all who would join in with HIM.  Nothing is impossible for HIM to restore.  We are to trust in the power of The Gospel and not allow unbelief to enter in.

GOD has called us to walk in equal measure of power and character!

Both are equally important.  How can we expect to pray for the sick if we are living a compromised lifestyle?  What is important, to not quench The Holy Spirit or to not grieve The Holy Spirit? 

We grieve The Holy Spirit with sin, wrong ambition, wrong selfish motives and attitudes.  We grieve Him through wrong activity.  We quench Him by our failure to cooperate with Divine activity.  When we stop the flow of Divine activity, we quench The Holy Spirit.

We are to bring about change in the current culture.  Jesus told us, “Heal the sick.”  He didn’t say, “When you get your act together, heal the sick.”

Matthew recorded by The Holy Spirit in Matthew chapter 10:

1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power (and authority) over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.

And Jesus instructed the disciples:

7 And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.’

8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

In the Great Commission, Jesus gave the disciples the responsibility to do everything He taught them.  They were given the responsibility to teach their disciples what Jesus taught them: preach The Kingdom (character) and heal the sick (power).  This was to be one simple standard throughout the church age until the return of Christ.

For 2,000 years, we make slight adjustments from the previous generation’s spiritual standards.  We now see the dilution of the revelation given to us from The Word.  We are not to pick and choose what command of GOD we will submit to.  Does a servant decide what task he will carry out given to him by his master?

Paul wrote of this power and authority by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Corinthians chapter 10:

3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.

4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds (power),

5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (authority),

6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Jesus said, “Teach what I taught you to your disciples.  Let them teach the exact same thing to their disciples.”  It is to be one standard from day one to the final day!  These writings are intended to return us to the exact standard Jesus gave His disciples to teach.  I am positioning myself to walk in that same greater measure that His disciples walked in, both in power and authority.  I trust that these writings are leading to that same positioning.  I am preparing my heart for action!

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Peter chapter 1:

13 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace (enablement) will be released to you.

We are not to compromise either power or character in our walk.  Let us not quench OR grieve The Holy Spirit.

Let us consistently walk in overflowing Lovc!

When we do, we will be filled with the fullness of GOD and hidden mysteries will be unveiled in us.  We are meant to be aware of HIS Presence in our daily walks.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians chapter 3:

16 And I pray that Our Heavenly Father would unveil within you the unlimited riches of His glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with His Divine might and explosive power.

17 Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of His Love will become the very Source and Root of your life.

Unveiling means that HIS unlimited riches of HIS glory and favor are already in us but we need to remove that veil.  Veils represent Spiritual Truths being hidden or revealed.

18-19 Then you will be empowered to discover what every Holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing Love of Christ in all Its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is His Love! How enduring and inclusive It is! Endless Love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant Love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God!

20 Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.

Are you willing to embrace this prayer by Paul?  If it were not possible, he would not have prayed for it and included it in his letter to the Ephesians.  Are you known by overflowing Love?

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

13 We are not like Moses, who used a veil to hide the glory to keep the Israelites from staring at him as it faded away.

14 Their minds were closed and hardened, for even to this day that same veil comes over their minds when they hear the Words of the former Covenant. The veil has not yet been lifted from them, for it is only eliminated when one is joined to the Messiah.

15 So until now, whenever the Old Testament is being read, the same blinding comes over their hearts.

16 But the moment one turns to the Lord with an open heart, the veil is lifted and they see.

17 Now, the “Lord” I’m referring to is the Holy Spirit, and wherever He is Lord, there is freedom.

18 We can all draw close to Him with the veil removed from our faces. And with no veil we all become like mirrors who brightly reflect the glory of the Lord Jesus. We are being transfigured into His very Image as we move from one brighter level of glory to another. And this glorious transfiguration comes from the Lord, Who is the Spirit.

The more we submit to The Holy Spirit in our day-to-day walk, the greater the glory we will walk in.  A veil separates the Holy from the unholy.  As we purge any trace of unholiness in our minds, we allow the veil to be torn in two and the glory will shine forth, brighter and brighter.

Paul also wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Corinthians chapter 2:

9 This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all His Lovers.

10 But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, He has revealed to us His Inmost Heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, Who constantly explores all things.

11 After all, who can really see into a person’s heart and know his hidden impulses except for that person’s spirit? So it is with God. His Thoughts and secrets are only fully understood by His Spirit, the Spirit of God.

As we walk in the fullness of The Holy Spirit and unconditional Love, FATHER will unveil the profound mysteries HE has in store for us.

We are constantly being bombarded with half-truths so we must protect our mindsets from being swayed into believing lies!

When I was growing up, we watched the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.  Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News from 1962 to 1981. During the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as “the most trusted man in America” after being so named in an opinion poll. 

Walter Cronkite’s famous saying, used to close his nightly broadcasts on CBS News for nearly two decades, was “And that’s the way it is.”. This phrase emphasized his commitment to objective reporting and is often cited as a key factor in his popularity and the high ratings he achieved. 

Back then, the news was not manipulated by corporate interests like it is today.  The corporate narrative is intended to manipulate viewers to a particular mindset that supports a certain agenda.  Now, much of the news contains half-truths.  We are warned against such deceit.

David recorded by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 35:

20 For they do not speak peace, But they devise deceitful words [half-truths and lies] against those who are quiet in the land (those who mind there own business).

And David also recorded Psalm chapter 101:

6 My Eyes will be on the faithful (honorable) of the land, that they may dwell with Me; He who walks blamelessly is the one who will minister to and serve Me.

7 He who practices deceit will not dwell in My House; He who tells lies and half-truths will not continue [to remain] in My Presence.

8 Morning after morning I will destroy all the wicked in the land, That I may cut off from the city of the LORD all those who do evil.

Manipulation is a form of deceit.  Manipulation is the act of influencing or controlling someone, often unfairly or dishonestly, to one’s own advantage. It involves using tactics to persuade, deceive, or coerce others, often by exploiting their vulnerabilities or weaknesses.  Manipulation is closely related to negotiation.

Negotiation is a process where two or more parties, with differing interests, engage in a discussion to reach an agreement or resolve a dispute. It’s a form of communication aimed at finding a mutually acceptable outcome or compromise. Essentially, it’s a “give-and-take” where parties may make concessions to achieve a desired result. 

Does Our Heavenly Father negotiate?  No!  HE is the Source of absolute Truth and reality.  Everything else is a compromise and subject to manipulation.

Wisdom spoke in Proverbs chapter 6:

19 A false witness who breathes out lies [even half-truths], And one who spreads discord (rumors) among brothers.

And in chapter 12:

17 He who speaks Truth declares righteousness, But a false witness, deceit.

In other Words, Truthfulness marks the righteous, but the habitual liar can never be trusted.

Once you catch someone is speaking “half-truths”, you cannot trust anything they say, especially in the media.  We must guard ourselves from allowing outside influences to distort our mindset.  As we are led by The Holy Spirit, we are able to discern the Truth from lies.  We will get a check in our spirit about what is being said. 

Pay close attention to the “check” or you may be pushed off course in your walk.  We must place our trust in the Truth from Above and not allow man’s influence to affect our mindset in any way.

Jesus show us how to expand the Kingdom of GOD on the earth!

Jesus demonstrated the importance of walking in the power and authority of The Holy Spirit that would ultimately result in the expansion of The Kingdom of GOD on earth.  This includes casting out demons, no matter how many are before you.  There is an immediate reaction in the geographic region and later a long-term reaction that expands and encompasses more real estate.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 8:

26-29 As soon as they stepped ashore on the eastern side of the lake in the land of the Gerasenes, the disciples were confronted by a demon-possessed madman from a nearby town. Many times he had been put under guard and bound with chains, but the many demons inside him had repeatedly thrown him into convulsions, breaking his shackles and driving him out of the town into the countryside.

The land of the Gerasenes is located in the area of Decapolis, a region of ten cities in Roman Syria and Judea. 

He had been demonized for a long time and was living naked in a cemetery among the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet and screamed out, “What are you doing here? You are Jesus, the Son of the Most High God!” Jesus commanded the demons to come out of him, and they shouted, “We beg you, don’t torture us!”

33 So Jesus ordered all the “mob” (a legion) of demons to come out of the man and enter the pigs. The crazed herd of swine stampeded over the cliff into the lake and all of them drowned.

34 When the herders tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off in fear and reported it to the nearby town and throughout the countryside.

35 Then the people of the region came out to see for themselves what had happened. When they came to where Jesus was, they discovered the notorious madman totally set free. He was clothed, speaking intelligently, and sitting at the feet of Jesus. They were shocked!

36 Then eyewitnesses to the miracle reported all that they had seen and how Jesus completely delivered the demonized man from his torment. After hearing about such amazing power, the townspeople became frightened.

First, the townspeople were afraid of the demon-possessed madman, not they are afraid of Jesus Who delivered the man of his demons.

37 Soon all the people of the region of the Gerasenes and the surrounding country pleaded with Jesus to leave them, for they were gripped with fear. So Jesus got into the boat, intending to return to Galilee.

The delivered man became a follower of Christ.  In an instant, he was a new man.

38 But the man who had been set free begged Jesus over and over not to leave, saying, “Let me be with you!” Jesus sent him away with these instructions:

39 “Return to your home and your family, and tell them all the wonderful things God has done for you.” So the man went back and preached to everyone who would listen about the amazing miracle Jesus had worked in his life.

There is nothing like a verified testimony of the miraculous to force people to deal with the ministry of Christ.  Their mindset goes from considering a theology to a reality and this is what causes the Kingdom to grow.

What was the result of this miracle?  Jesus returned to the area and Mark recorded in Mark chapter 7:

31 Again, departing from the region of Tyre and Sidon, He came through the midst of the region of Decapolis to the Sea of Galilee.

32 Then they brought to Him one who was deaf and had an impediment in his speech, and they begged Him to put His Hand on him.

33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.

34 Then, looking up to heaven, He sighed, and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.”

35 Immediately his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was loosed, and he spoke plainly.

36 Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.

37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, “He has done all things well. He makes both the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

Fear left the region after Jesus healed another person brought to Him by the people.  What happens next?

Chapter 8:1 In those days, the multitude (four thousand men +) being very great and having nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples to Him and said to them…

The fame of the demon-possessed man’s deliverance ultimately produced 4,000 men plus women and children wanting to hear the message of The Gospel.  You and I have been given the template of how to expand the Kingdom of GOD on earth.

The peace of GOD is the complete absence of chaos!

HE has allowed us to be exposed to chaos so that we are able to discern the difference.  This is not intended for us to walk through life as victims.  If you experience deception and then receive the revelation of Truth in the matter, you will respond to the deception and walk in peace.  This is especially true in the area of finances. 

GOD gave you the ability to “feel” so that it would take you to HIM.  I don’t know how to pray for a particular situation, but I do know the enemy had his way.  There are times where FATHER gives me a particular Scripture that applies to my situation and gives me peace about how to deal with it.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Philippians chapter 4:

6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell HIM every detail of your life,

7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will guard your heart and mind through Jesus Christ.

8 Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and Holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.

The more we saturate ourselves in prayer with overflowing gratitude, the less we will be moved in chaotic situations.  I have found that when I begin the day by praying in The Holy Spirit, I am better prepared for any adverse event that might arise.

We perceive with our spiritual eyes because HE positions us to make a difference and react accordingly.  During my morning prayer, HE brings up topics for me to deal with at a later time.  I write them down and continue to pray.  These are not interruptions, these are solutions to problems or situations that will affect me in some way.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Corinthians chapter 10:

3-4 For although we live in the natural realm, we don’t wage a military campaign employing human weapons, using manipulation to achieve our aims. Instead, our spiritual weapons are energized with Divine power to effectively dismantle the defenses behind which people hide.

5 We can demolish every deceptive fantasy that opposes God and break through every arrogant attitude that is raised up in defiance of the true knowledge of God. We capture, like prisoners of war, every thought and insist that it bow in obedience to the Anointed One.

6 Since we are armed with such dynamic weaponry, we stand ready to punish any trace of rebellion, as soon as you choose complete obedience.  TPT

Deception promotes chaos, and if we allow chaos to exist without a response, it will increase in our lives.  We must take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and not allow any thought to produce a wrong response to the chaos before us.  Taking every thought captive in this manner, produces the Mind of Christ in us, peace results.

When we are confronted with chaos, we must remember that there is nothing impossible with GOD and HE has a redemptive solution for every situation, and it is available to us.

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Psalm chapter 84:

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the House of My God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold From those who walk uprightly.

12 O LORD of hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in You!

FATHER always has the solution to chaos.

FATHER intends for us to impact history as Jesus did!

This requires us to fully surrender to the same mindset of Jesus.  Many believers don’t consider this as a realistic expectation even though Jesus expressly commanded us to change history when He spoke in Mark chapter  16:

15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.

16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My Name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

As I wrote yesterday, the Baptism of The Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in Tongues did not cease with the early church.  Many believers who don’t speak in Tongues today contest the reality of Acts chapter 2.  Their unbelief prevents them from fully accepting this gift from THE FATHER.

When Jesus gave us the command to lay hands on the sick, this was not an optional command to carry out when you feel that you are ready with great confidence.  It is not based on your own perception that you are somehow gifted in that area.  We are to have faith in GOD and to believe that HIS Word contains the power within Itself to cause Itself to come to pass.  Our responsibility is to deliver The Word, not somehow make it happen.

For years, I was taught that grace simply meant “unmerited favor”.  However, it means much more than this simple definition.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 4:

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

17 And He was handed the Scroll of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the Scroll, He found the place where it was written:

18 “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.”

Aren’t those Words effectively the same as what He commanded us to do in Mark chapter 16?

20 Then He closed the Scroll, and gave It back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.

21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

The moment He spoke those Words, the atmosphere changed in the synagogue.  This was not the first time He had read passages in the synagogue.  What was different this time?  He had just gone through the forty days in the wilderness being tested by the adversary.  He returned in the power of The Holy Spirit (v 14).

22 So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the grace-filled Words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

Jesus’ mindset was tested and proven when He overcame the adversary.  He trusted FATHER fully and completely.  He knew The Word and used It against the devil, the great deceiver.  The devil failed in his attempt to deceive Jesus.  His attempt to distort The Word was met with the True Word applicable to the situation.

The people marveled at The Word Jesus spoke.  They all bore witness.  Their spirits were affected by the change in the atmosphere, but they didn’t understand what was happening, so they questioned in their minds about who He was.  Joseph’s son?  Jesus was impacting history before their very eyes, and they had no clue!

Jesus’ grace-filled Words seem to energize and bring Life to their very being but then someone says, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”.  What happened?  They were exposed to the Eternal, and it got reduced to the familiar.  They were exposed to the unlimited grace of GOD that was sufficient for everything in their lives, and it got reduced to “Joseph’s son”, the familiar.  They just highlighted the familiar and it cost them the Eternal.  Nazareth was then known as the city of unbelief.

FATHER’S grace is the empowering Presence of GOD, and we are meant to walk in HIS grace.  In doing so, we will also impact history as Jesus commanded us to do.

We have the choice of at least two baptisms!

If MY HEAVENLY FATHER offers me a gift, I will accept it unconditionally.  All believers have a measure of The Holy Spirit, but there is more!

Israel is a type and shadow of the two baptisms Jesus mentions in Acts chapter 1.

Israel had been a slave to Egypt (the world).  When they painted their doorposts with the blood of a Passover lamb, they were saved from the death angel and were released from Egypt.

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

1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea,

2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,

3 all ate the same spiritual food,

4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.

5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

The first baptism of water is represented by Israel going through the Red Sea.  This was known as the Baptism of Moses.  They were supposed to be on an 11-day journey but instead, it took 40 years.  They got out of Egypt, but Egypt did not get out of them.

To get to the Promised Land, they had to go through a second baptism.  The first was a sea, the second is a river (Jordan River).  Jesus spoke of this “river” 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 Holy Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Until Jesus was taken up, He spent forty days speaking to the disciples about The Kingdom of GOD in Acts chapter 1:

2 until the day in which Jesus was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.“

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

10 And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

11 who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Some of Israel lived on one side of the river.  Some of Israel lived on the other side with a river separating (dividing) them as it is with the church today.

Israel had to go through that second body of water to come into the land of promises.  Jesus spoke of one such promise: you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.

Living in the land of promises is a prophetic picture of living in the Kingdom of GOD.  The Promise of the Father is the Baptism of The Holy Spirit.  It’s on the other side of the riverbank.  Will you step into the river to go to the other side of promise?  If you do, the river parts and you go across on dry ground and walk into those promises.  Joshua and Caleb did!

What is FATHER’S promise in the New Testament?  It is the immersion into the power of GOD so that HIS purposes can be worked in and through us to bring transformation to the world around us.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2:

32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

33 Therefore being exalted to the Right Hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

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.”

The Baptism of The Holy Spirit is for every generation and has continued to be available for all those who desire It.  It was never meant to be relegated to the initial generation of believers.