Servias Ministries Blog

Judges 6:11  And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which [was] in Ophrah, that [pertained] unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide [it] from the Midianites. KJV

The story of Gideon starts out with Gideon minding his own business and living a quiet life.  The Midianites (meaning strife and confusion) were in control of the current economic system and he had no interest in confronting them.  Suddenly that changed when the angel appeared to him.  The timing of this story would indicate that Pentecost had past for he was threshing wheat and Tabernacles had not yet been fulfilled since he was using the winepress as the location for the threshing.

Gideon had gifts and a calling but the calling had not yet been fully activated.  He was the youngest son of Joash and the fifth Judge of Israel, the number five being an indication of the Grace of Our Heavenly Father.  As with many of us, Gideon needed confirmation even though he was a mighty man of valor.  He had the skills as a warrior and was well-trained and seasoned.  His issue concerned the fact that Our Heavenly Father had forsaken or abandoned Israel.  The judgment of Israel had been concluded.  Now the LORD Himself said “Go in this thy might, and thou shalt save Israel from the hand of the Midianites: have not I sent thee?”

Gideon is explicitly told of his calling for the LORD said HE SENT him.  We have all questioned Our Heavenly Father concerning our calling.  When I first received the vision in 1987, I thought it would manifest immediately.  Wrong!  Here we are 25 years later.  In 1987 the Pentecostal Age had not been completed but I needed to begin preparation and gain maturity.  After awhile, I became comfortable in my current state knowing that when the time came, Our Heavenly Father would begin deployment of those called to bring forth the Kingdom.

Gideon needed a confirmation, a sign.  I suspect he thought many times that he was being activated for his calling only to suffer defeat and failure.  He prepared a sacrifice and the Angel consumed the sacrifice with fire.  Gideon exclaimed, “Alas, O Lord GOD! for because I have seen an angel of the LORD face to face.”  I would suggest that this was the angel Peniel which means “Face of GOD”, the angel associated with Tabernacles.

However Gideon needed a second and third witness by using a fleece.  After all, he was putting his life on the line and wanted to make sure that he wasn’t under judgment.  Gideon’s activation was at hand.

At the same time, other men had been prepared for the fullness of their calling.  Each man was hand picked by Our Heavenly Father to accompany Gideon in overtaking the Midianites even though Gideon was not yet aware of which men would accompany him.  The Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon and he issued the call to muster an army.  Thirty-two thousand men responded to the call but the LORD said that was too many.  Gideon told those who were fearful needed to go home.  Twenty-two thousand men went back to their homes.  Ten thousand men remained and they all had noble aspirations of doing the LORD’S bidding.  They were not afraid of the Midianites.  There were still too many men for this particular call.

Gideon needed to reduce the number and separate the men with noble aspirations from the men who were actually called to this deployment.  There is no question that all ten thousand possessed gifts and the willingness to fight the Midianites but Gideon needed to identify those who were ready.  The LORD had him send the men down to the water and drink.  Three hundred men drank the water by dipping their hand in the water and lapping the water.  This was an indication of their maturity of staying vigilant even though they needed a drink.  The rest had bowed down and exposed themselves to risk.  Gideon now had those who were called to join him in ending the strife and confusion.

The call is coming soon.  Those who are called will respond.  Not only with noble aspirations, those who respond know their calling and know their place.  They have been prepared for such a time as this.

This weekend the network news magazines were focusing on the Gay and Lesbian political issue.  I have no comment on the political issue.  Our Heavenly Father created every man and woman on earth and HE Loves them all.  My views are intended to align with Biblical Principles for that is the framework of my belief system.  I purpose to base my actions on the revelations I have received through Scripture and direct communication with My Heavenly Father.  My belief system is constantly evolving as my eyes are opened to greater and deeper revelation.  Maturity is realizing that you don’t have all the revelations yet and some new revelation may dispel earlier beliefs.

Most everyone looks at this issue of Gays and Lesbians and relates it to the story of Sodom in Genesis.  Gomorrah was equally judged with Sodom.  Gomorrah comes from the root word with one of its meanings “to manipulate, deal tyrannically with”.  It is used twice as the English word “merchandise”.

The American Economic system is the epitome of Gomorrah.  It did not start out that way but now it is in full force.  The investment banks continue to manipulate Congress with huge donations.  Politicians manipulate voters with the media’s help.  Corporations manipulate consumers attempting to extract every last dime out of their pockets.  It has become a system of adversaries.  You are  always defending your own interests because everybody else is trying to manipulate away your assets from you.  Having been in the tax system for over 40 years, I can tell you that deductions were eliminated with the justification of offsetting the change with lower taxes only to later raise the taxes without reinstating those deductions.  In the end, those actions translated to a higher tax rate.  Manipulation is everywhere.  In the Court system, the best attorney manipulates the Law to further his purpose (and pocketbook).  I have been in several consumer class action suits over the years without personal consent.  American Airlines attempted to rewrite their rewards program (as I recall) and in doing so members would lose earned miles.  A law firm took up the case and made millions in legal fees.  I received a discount coupon if I spent more than xxx dollars.  Let me see, who was the winner and loser in this deal?  This “sanctioned” manipulation has infiltrated the entire economy.  If you have been with a cable company for any length of time you are probably paying too much.  Their modus operandi is to raise your rates slowly while giving new customers better deals and rates.  If you call in, they transfer you to their “loyalty” or “VIP” department and after threatening to move your account,  they will lower your rate for twelve months.  The process starts all over again.  Pawn shops exploit the desperate.  They seem to be able to get away with charging over 30% to those who can least afford it.  And we all  worry about saving a nickel at the gas pump?

Gomorrah received the same judgment as Sodom.  Our Heavenly Father did not distinguish between sins of the flesh and the sins of exploitation.  It does not bode well for the U.S. for it appears that there are many similarities.  Let the righteous remain steadfast during the coming times of judgment.  It may just save your city. 

We’re at 22% unemployment based on raw government statistics.  This number includes discouraged workers who can’t find a job.  The government’s widely reported unemployment 8.1% rate excludes many discouraged workers who have yet to find a job.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is also misleading.  The CPI impacts cost of living adjustments for Social Security recipients thus if it is underreported, the government saves money and the recipients is robbed of needed increases to make ends meet.  Disposable income is not growing and the debt crisis continues to plague the housing market.  Hyperinflation may come to a reality in 2014.

Evidence is accumulating that the current economic thinking is flawed.  The Federal Reserve manages by looking through the rearview mirror.  They create inflation (money supply  growth) and it takes time to evolve into price inflation of goods and services we purchase.  Directed attempts to bypass the natural cycles of expansion and compression have failed.  Misunderstanding the most fundamental aspects of life are now creating an expected, deepening recession.

More countries are moving towards “bartering” directly with other countries.  This direction will ultimately move towards a gold standard.  Investment firms currently ignore unexpected risks aka swan events.  Ignoring these risks allow these firms to greater leverage their assets at the same time create a greater risk of collapse.  Failure to allocate risks of swan events will ultimately expose the investment firm to be a part of systemic collapse similar to the 2008 meltdown.  The gold standard would curtail such risky positions.

This move to bartering will ultimately move the globe back to the gold standard.  The day of the U.S. Dollar being the preferred global currency is fading away at a rapid rate.  James Rickard in his book “Currency Wars” poses the scenario that other economic powers will use a gold standard against the U.S. in economic terms.  Economic warfare by Russia, China, and/or India may promote such a path.  Investors will then be put in a position of deciding between un-backed U.S. Government Securities and gold-backed instruments.  At a minimum investors will diversify and increase the demand for gold.  The writing is appearing on the wall.

Those in control of the current economic system would have us all believe that life is good and the current system is in recovery.  Mass psychology manipulation is at work.  Investors are frustrated with 0% interest rates.  The $54 Trillion in U.S. debt will come home to roost for the piper must be paid.  Global population expansion will demand more energy and commodities.  Until the current system is replaced with the Kingdom economy, gold will increase in value and oil prices will rise.  There will be unintended consequences from the past decisions to borrow and leverage sovereign balance sheets.  Europe has not solved any of its problems and their bond yields reflect this reality.  The U.S. debt has had a reprieve due to the European debt focus.

There are plenty of resources around the globe to sustain life.  The primary issue is that those in control have non-Kingdom agendas based upon personal illusions of grandeur.  They live and breath exploitation of the masses.  They would throw their mother under the bus if it were necessary to insure the next business deal.  Their appetite for “things” is an addiction that is never satisfied.  They judge others’ actions but judge themselves by their intentions, not actions.  Prophetically speaking, I believe we are nearing the end of this age dominated by man’s ego.  It will give way to Love dominated decisions.  The illusions will be burned away and will be revealed for what they are.

The large investment banks continue to suppress both gold and silver.  But think about it, producing gold and selling it at $1,600 per ounce creates tremendous earnings and cash flow for mining stocks.  Based on fundamentals, they should be at record highs, not 52 week lows.  If you believe as I do that ultimately they will move to reasonable stock price levels, then you can look at the current environment as buying opportunities to add to your position.  Time like this is why I recommend against leverage.  When portfolio values are down there is no pressure to meet margin calls.  It is simply a waiting game.  At some point the market will wake up and see that the sea of debt will consume paper money’s value.  At that point they will look for the only insurance out there: gold and silver.  History will prove to be right once again.

In the meantime, focus your attention towards Loving others.  Brighten someone’s day by some expression of Love.  With unemployment over 20% (based on the raw numbers), people need encouragement.  Give them something whether it be tangible or intangible.  Express Our Heavenly Father’s Love to them that your joy may be full.

I attended a technology conference in Orlando last week.  In my business you must keep up with the latest developments or get left behind.  There will be over 600 million touch devices shipped in 2012.  Layers and layers of complexity are being built around the globe.  I can’t help but believe that a collapse will occur at some point.  Developers are generating lines and lines of source code on a daily basis to embrace the “touch” technology.  Everyone has their heads bowed down but they are texting not praying.  Ten years’ ago the Internet was just moving to a reliable platform for business.  Now we can’t do without it.  I wonder what would happen if an epic solar flare took out all of our technology?  Would we remember how to communicate face to face again?

At the Universal Studios resort we stayed at you would think there were no economic issues.  Downtown Disney served up a view that all is well around the world.  The properties were impeccable and there were no signs of deterioration anywhere.  The crowds were notable.  In the meantime world events continued their march to a day of reckoning.

China has decided to pay for Iranian oil with gold.  The SWIFT system of international wire settlements will be bypassed.  The U.S. attempt to force sovereign countries to submit to an agenda inconsistent with the needs of their countries may have just reinstituted the gold standard system by default.  Central governments have become major buyers of physical gold.  Once the U.S. crossed the line on international settlement, other countries have begun moving into a defensive posture from a monetary point of view by necessity.  They can’t allow a foreign power to control their medium of exchange any longer.  Executive Orders have been passed to control the Internet, banking system, etc. which causes the average person to get concerned about what is coming soon.  Americans have always valued their freedoms and rights to pursue constitutional assured activities.

Our Heavenly Father is the only true reality.  We must repent and turn back toward Our Heavenly Father.  We can only live in the land of make believe for so long.  Any escape from reality last only until the money runs out and Orlando will make sure that happens sooner than later.

50% unemployment in the youth sector in some countries has missed the mainstream media’s (MSM) radar.  Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal all have systemic problems that can’t be solved by further quantitative easing.  Gold is moving out of Italian banks into Swiss banks, a sign that wealthy Italians don’t trust their own banks anymore.  Europeans are expecting a major event soon.  Until then, they are hesitant to make any financial moves other than taking their gold to a safe haven.

The IMF is obtaining commitments from countries with cash to help build up its war chest.  If everything was rosy, why would the U.S. Federal Reserve reconfirm 0% interest rates into 2014?  You don’t need to listen to the rhetoric about recoveries, lower unemployment, improved housing starts, etc.  Just look around.

The U.S. economic statistics are pointing to recession once again.  QE3 is not far off now, maybe within the next 120 days.

Oil speculators are not the villains as we are being told.  $80 oil would slow down the Canadian tar sands and expensive well stimulation and development.  This would tighten the supply even further than it already is.  Alternative fuels are over a decade away from becoming a serious large-scale alternative to the oil-based transportation industry.  Think tank planners know this and hence we are keeping troops in the oil-rich Gulf region on an indefinite basis.

All of this bodes well for those who hold precious metals.  Quantitative Easing (QE) will put support underneath precious metals’ prices.  Attempts to manipulate the prices to lower levels last only for a few days or weeks.  Silver has resisted the $30 level in the last few attempts.  Mining companies continue to grow their cash reserves and are looking to buy junior miners.  Those of us who have held steady in our positions are being rewarded with buyout premiums of 30% or better.

Eliminate leverage when possible.  You will sleep better at night and not worry when the dips in your investments come.  I have seen 20% swings in the stocks I hold but I am unconcerned about the short term volatility.  A bull market will always attempt to shake off the investors who are not fully committed.  Solid mining companies with good management and sizable cash positions are excellent candidates for investment of discretionary cash.

On the positive side, the Kingdom of Heaven is at full employment, zero inflation, no crime, and plenty of resources set aside for development.  The universe is still expanding and the Throne is still occupied.

When we are called to be stewards, we are given three things:

1. Responsibility and accountability.  Jesus expanded on this principle in the following passages:

Matthew 25:14   “For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country

Luke 19:12   Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.

13   So he called ten of his servants, delivered to them ten minas, and said to them, ‘Do business till I come.’

We are given resources to do business.  We are expected to conduct business in a reasonable fashion and produce good fruit.  If Our Heavenly Father tells us that all the gold and silver (true money) is His then we are to be stewards over wealth.  Yes, we are given ownership over assets but we are still accountable to Our Heavenly Father for ultimately we are called to be good stewards.  As we embrace the reality of stewardship, we open up ourselves to the blessing of Heaven.  Each person has a different level of stewardship based on his or her calling.  We should not be envious of someone else’s level of stewardship for with it comes greater responsibility and accountability.  We should focus on what matters.  Are you willing to establish the Kingdom of GOD on earth or are you concerned about “me and my four and no more”?  Do you believe that the Creator of this earth would fail to set aside sufficient resources to establish HIS Kingdom?

2. Time and Resources.

Mathew 25:19   After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

The servants were given plenty of time to produce fruit.  They were given resources.  It was up to them to make the correct choices with the resources which had been provided to do business.  Each of them knew that there would be a day of reckoning but only after they had been given the opportunity to produce fruit.  Just as in the Law of fruit trees, time must be given to produce.  Those trees that were not producing might be given fertilizer (opportunity) before the day of judgment.  If the fruit tree did not produce it was cut down.

3. An Adversary

What is the test of stewardship?  An adversary will come to test your commitment.  Sometimes that adversary is another person who would rob you by attempting to redirect your focus on other callings.  They would have you focus on areas that just don’t matter and send you on a wild goose chase.  They would want you to waste your resources on a “get rich quick” scheme that had no relevance to your calling.  Typically those schemes only enrich them.  Sometimes the adversary is your flesh or ego.  Will you consume resources to satisfy the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, or the pride of life?  The adversary will force you to make choices.  Those choices will reveal what is in your heart.  The day will come when the accounting of your stewardship will be judged.

For those who have ears to hear:

Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

For those who are blinded by their flesh:

26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.

These parables were spoken by Jesus for our benefit and instruction.  Jesus doesn’t particularly need your resources, he wants your heart.  He wants you to be an expression of the Love of Our Heavenly Father on earth.  When people look at you, HE wants them to see Love.  These parable express a reality of stewardship.  They also express the ramifications:

29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Now is the time to see what is in your heart.