Servias Ministries Blog

In Luke chapter 12, Jesus spoke:

22 Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing.

24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds?

25 And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

28 If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

29 “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.

30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things.

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

The raven is a scavenger bird and FATHER deemed it unclean.  In Leviticus chapter 11 FATHER classified the raven as an abomination and the children of Israel were forbidden to eat it.  When Jesus spoke in the above passage, His audience were Jewish people and they fully understood the food laws thus when He chose the raven in His comparison, the contrast between their value and that of a raven was great.  If FATHER is willing to feed an unclean bird how much more will HE feed and supply us with food.

Jesus is telling us to stop worrying for we cannot add length to our stature or life span.  Worry is closely associated with lack of faith and trust in FATHER and HIS ability to provide whether it be food, a solution, or overcoming a situation on our behalf.  HE created all life on earth as well as the entire universe but our ego will try to convince us that FATHER will not provide all our need.  Jesus compares Solomon, the richest man to walk the earth, with the lilies which do no work yet they are more beautiful than him.

As we increase in faith we will worry less.  When we quit worrying we enable ourselves to receive from FATHER WHO is quick to respond to our faith.  THE SPIRIT wrote in Hebrews chapter 11:

6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Jesus gives us examples of the tangible rewards: food, clothing, drink, long life, and abundance.  If we have doubt in our heart then we are being doubled-minded so we must let go of our worries and seek the Kingdom of GOD.  We must become “Heavenly-minded” by having our mind subject to our spirit and allow our faith to grow unabated.  We must decide once and for all that we will not be denied the great faith Jesus referred to when He spoke of the centurion who asked Him to heal his servant without making the journey to lay hands on the servant.  As we comprehend and acknowledge the power and authority of Jesus and tap into it by faith, we will likewise see our needs met no matter what they are.  Let us see how much more FATHER wants to do in our life!  Just let go of worry and replace it with faith.

In John chapter 14 Jesus spoke:

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

Jesus explicitly tells us that it is up to each of us to receive His peace and to cease being troubled and/or afraid.  It is our responsibility to no longer defer our rest because of fear, uncertainty, and doubt.  How long will we delay our rest by failing to heed the directive spoken to us by Jesus?  We are not to be moved by any of the troubles directed at us by the enemy but we are to keep our focus on FATHER’S peace which surpasses understanding.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 4:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We must stand on these passages until peace replaces the turmoil in our minds caused from the challenges we each face daily.  We need to quit worrying and start exercising our faith IN HIM because worrying will not change a thing in our lives other than have a negative effect on our bodies.  By what authority does Jesus make this directive?  In Matthew 28 Jesus provides the answer:

18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth”.

In Luke chapter 10 Jesus provides a contrast in being troubles versus being at peace:

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.

42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

As we hear and respond to the Words of Jesus we too have chosen the “good part” which cannot be taken away from us and we will walk in peace.  Let us not become so busy that we lose our peace and become troubled in our hearts.  We should purpose to sow the seeds of peace in our hearts and allow FATHER to bring forth a harvest of peace.  If we are constantly allowing our hearts to be troubled then we will distance ourselves from HIS peace.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 6:

7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (give up).

Are you constantly being attacked?  Stand fast and allow the peace to come… and it will.  As we sow peace we will reap peace but we must let patience have its perfect work because ultimately our response determines success or failure.  When we are at peace, FATHER comes to our aid.  When we are in turmoil, we have taken on the care that is plaguing us.  In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus spoke:

25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

27 “Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?”

And His directive to us:

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Peace and trust IN HIM go hand in hand.  The more we trust FATHER by truly knowing HIM, the more peace we will have in our lives.  The more we know of HIS unconditional Love, the less troubled we will be when challenges come our way.  FATHER wants us to be well rounded in all aspects of the fruit of THE SPIRIT so we will become fully matured as Sons and Daughters.  Our personal development must not be forsaken in order to comply to the masses.

In verse 25 the phrase “don’t worry” is translated “take no thought” in the King James Version therefore do not take or accept those thoughts that contradict FATHER’S Word to us.  It is our individual responsibility to “let not” those thoughts take up residence in our mind but instead replace them with the sure promises of FATHER.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Exodus chapter 17:

8 Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.

9 And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”

10 So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.

11 And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.

12 But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

13 So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword.

14 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner;

16 for he said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

The word “Rephidim” means place of rest.  The name “Amalek” (doubt, haughty, evil eye based on the Hebrew letters) represents spiritual blindness acting arrogantly in the world.  The children of Israel were not looking for a fight but were pursuing rest.  Amalek initiated the battle by coming to fight them.  Joshua was charged with fighting Amalek while Moses was to lift up the rod toward Heaven.  After Joshua defeated Amalek and his people, FATHER revealed the reality that HIS power defeated Amalek and that in the end the remembrance of Amalek would be totally blotted out.  Until then, the Amalekites would cause havoc among the Israelites.

FATHER revealed HIMSELF as Jehovah-Nissi which means The-LORD-Is-My-Banner.  We fight our battles through THE LORD, under HIS power and authority, and we are known by others as being with HIM rather than on our own for the THE LORD is our victory.  In addition HE has further revealed HIS banner over us is Love (Song 2:4) and we should rest in HIS Love.

In Genesis chapter 6 it is written by THE SPIRIT:

8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

The name Noah means “rest” and this is where we find grace.  In Esther chapter 9 we also see that the children of Israel are finding rest after the defeat of Haman:

16 The remainder of the Jews in the king’s provinces gathered together and protected their lives, had rest from their enemies, and killed seventy-five thousand of their enemies; but they did not lay a hand on the plunder.

17 This was on the thirteenth day of the month of Adar. And on the fourteenth of the month they rested and made it a day of feasting and gladness.

To provide perspective, Haman was the son of Hammedatha the Agagite and an Agagite is a descendent of Agag who was the king of Amalek, spared by Saul but slain by Samuel.  Once again we see that peace cannot be achieved until the descendants of Amalek who are those with spiritual blindness acting arrogantly in the world.  We are to be a light unto the world and this light will ultimately overcome spiritual blindness.

As we trust in FATHER we able to walk in peace no matter what is happening around us and we are able to rest.  As I rest in work, I am able to work stress-free for I do not allow the challenges to cause me to lose peace.  Men will try to cause us to be stressed by placing unreasonable demands on us but we must let FATHER guide us through our interaction with them and allow FATHER to intervene on our behalf.  HE is still Jehovah-Nissi and will win the battles we face.  In Genesis chapter 3 we find the curse of disobedience:

19 In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.”

Before the fall Adam worked without sweating or being stressed but after the fall stress would be a part of his life.  To reverse the curse, Jesus sweat in even a greater degree as it is written in Luke 22:

42 saying, “Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.”

43 Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

44 And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

At the cross Jesus eliminated the need for us to be stressed by becoming the curse for us thus enabling us to work in peace and without stress.  The Hebrew word `amal means painful toil, heavy worrisome labor, weariness, trouble, vexation, and includes being figuratively of the mind.  Amalek is associated with this root word.  The enemy will come when we are resting and at peace.  How we respond will determine whether we win or lose the battle.  Will we trust in FATHER to be our Banner and allow HIM to overcome the enemy or will we take it upon ourselves to sweat and toil over whatever issue arises?

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm 110:

1 The LORD said to my Lord, ​​“Sit at My right hand, ​​Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

2 ​​The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. ​​Rule in the midst of Your enemies!

Our Lord Jesus Christ is at rest while FATHER is defeating His enemies and so should we be at rest in this same manner.  It was not required of Jesus to make His enemies His footstool but FATHER said to rest while HE made each and every enemy the footstool.  In Hebrews chapter 1 this passage is quoted and we are given more information:

13 But to which of the angels has He ever said:

​​​“Sit at My right hand,

​​Till I make Your enemies Your footstool” ?

​14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

FATHER sends forth HIS angels to battle with the enemy on our behalf.  I can personally attest to an angel intervening on my behalf in the fourth attempt on my life when I was nearly run over by a commercial van.  I was pulled off my bike and pulled back from harm’s way.  The bike was dragged underneath the van for thirty feet.  I laid on the pavement at total peace.

We are to rest before we see the manifestation of victory knowing that FATHER is Jehovah-Nissi and each of HIS Names discloses an unfailing characteristic of HIS personality which will respond to our need as we seek HIM to intervene in our lives.  Our footstool is where we place our feet in a time of rest.  In Ephesians THE SPIRIT tells us our feet is where the preparation of the gospel of peace is referred to.  As we are in rest during these times of trouble, we become a testimony of the Gospel of peace to others.  As people see our response to turmoil they will seek out the solution we have discovered.  Let our testimony draw them to Christ!

In John chapter 14 Jesus spoke:

25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.

26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

28 You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I.

Jesus has given us a gift of peace and The Most Holy Spirit has been given to us in order that we be taught these Truths and cause us to be in remembrance when the enemy attack us.  As we are led by THE SPIRIT in a greater manner the Amalek’s of the world will no longer move us and we will trust in FATHER to make the enemy into a footstool where our peace cannot be robbed.

In the Law when one paid restitution for an act of sin against another, it included 20% more than what was originally taken.  In Leviticus chapter 5 FATHER spoke:

1 And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:

2 “If a person sins and commits a trespass against the LORD by lying to his neighbor about what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or about a pledge, or about a robbery, or if he has extorted from his neighbor,

3 or if he has found what was lost and lies concerning it, and swears falsely—in any one of these things that a man may do in which he sins:

4 then it shall be, because he has sinned and is guilty, that he shall restore what he has stolen, or the thing which he has extorted, or what was delivered to him for safekeeping, or the lost thing which he found,

5 or all that about which he has sworn falsely. He shall restore its full value, add one-fifth more to it, and give it to whomever it belongs, on the day of his trespass offering.

FATHER believes in being generous when HE restores what was lost for it is HIS nature to be generous.  What is the value of HIS Son Jesus?  Jesus’ value is greater than the sum of all people of all time, well beyond our ability to determine a value.  So when Jesus became our payment of sin on the cross, He more than compensated for Adam’s sin.  By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in Romans chapter 5:

6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And:

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)

18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.

None of us deserved FATHER’S free gift which far exceeds what was required to restore us to HIM.  HIS generosity toward mankind cannot be fully comprehended but we are given a glimpse by what was required through the Law.  Restoration required a minimum of 20 % and in other cases it was much greater.  Proverbs chapter 11 states:

25  The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

As we are generous out of Love for others, greater blessings will come to us allowing us to grow greater in our generosity.  It is a matter of seedtime and harvest with the proper intent.  My family has experienced this Truth in the past and knows that it still applies today.  Being generous places our soul in the right state and does not allow scarcity to become dominant in our thinking.  FATHER utilizes HIS own Laws to cause righteousness to grow in the land and it will do so until all the earth is covered.  Those who fail to walk in Love and righteousness often end up going to “sleep” early as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 11:30. 

Generosity does not have to be denominated in money.  Time, acts of kindness and any other resource we have are also counted as being generous.  Some have accumulated “things” which have not been touched for years and could be given to someone in need.  We must remember that FATHER provides seed for the sower so as we seek to be generous let us trust in FATHER and hear HIS voice in this area.  HE will direct our generosity in perfect fashion.

Remember this  " You can not change the Laws of God."

WHEN HE HAS VISITED YOU IN SOME FORM OF ADVERSITY, AND HE BRINGS YOU THROUGH THAT.

THAT’S LIKE HE HAS INCREASED THE STRENGTH OF THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR LIFE

AND YOUR FAITH IN HIM.

– Dr. Charles Stanley

Did I receive the Holy Spirit by faith or by the Law?  When I received The Holy Spirit in 1971 I was oblivious and ignorant of The Law except for the Ten Commandments which I could not quote thus it is quite apparent that I received the Holy Spirit by faith.  Paul wrote in Galatians chapter 3:

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?—

6 just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

7 Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.

8 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, “In you all the nations shall be blessed.”

9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Paul who was an expert in the Law makes a clear distinction of who are true Sons and Daughters.  He also clarifies the Truth that man cannot be made perfect by the flesh.  However, he can be perfected by walking in faith by Love.  Miracles are wrought by the hearing of faith and not by the Law so where should we all focus?  On building our faith!  Paul stated by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 10:17 how to grow in faith: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”.

Was there anybody who walked in greater faith than Jesus?  He expressed the Truth of spending time with FATHER fellowshipping and receiving instruction as He ministered to the people throughout His ministry.  At the age of twelve He stated that He must be about His FATHER’S business.  The impact of His ministry is clearly defined by His walking in faith by Love according to FATHER’S directives.

Jesus became sin on the cross and we became righteous due to His act on the cross.  It was not by our acts causing us to become righteous but it was His act on the cross that allowed the transfer of sin to fully take place on our behalf.  When we believe and accept Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior it is done by faith IN HIM, not our acts.  FATHER’S Love for us sent Him to the cross in order to reconcile us to HIM.  Love and Faith play a critical role not only in salvation but also our growth into mature Sons and Daughters.  The same blessings Abraham was promised are also ours as we who are of faith are blessed in the same manner of Abraham.

Our works are a result of who we are, not the determinant of who we are thus we must not expect our works to take the place of walking in faith.  Having said that, we should focus daily on hearing FATHER in order that our faith grow and remain strong which will result in doing good works just as Jesus did.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 8:

5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, (set their minds on) the things of the Spirit.

6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

When we set our minds on the things of the SPIRIT, our Love grows stronger and our faith increases enabling us to minister to others in a more effective manner.  We become less frustrated and increase in patience toward others thus we will walk in peace even while the heathen rage all around us.  As I have said in the past, these writings are meant to promote the maturing of the saints in a personal manner.  As we mature personally then the Body of Christ matures corporately.  His Body will not be made up of immature, double-minded sons and daughters but those who set their minds and focus on the things of the SPIRIT.  There is no need to memorize the 613 commandments and statutes of the Law when you can know and walk in the Commandment of Love for it fulfills the Law.

Jesus received our sins on the cross and we received His righteousness which is the ultimate act of unconditional Love.  This act fulfilled the Law because of Love and faith in Its power which is greater than the Law.  Yes, the Law has its place to expose sin but it does not bring forth righteousness.  Faith in Him is what caused each of us to receive salvation and change our lives.  Each of us should assess our acts and determine if they arise out of minding the things of THE SPIRIT or result from submitting to our flesh.  As we mature in Love and faith, our acts will reflect the state of our maturity.  First Love, then faith.

When we hear and obey we are said to be obedient.  By THE SPIRIT Paul frames the book of Romans with being obedient as he starts in chapter 1 with:

1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God

2 which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures,

3 concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,

4 and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.

5 Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,

6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

And by THE SPIRIT he finishes his letter to the Romans by writing in the final chapter 16:

25 Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began

26 but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—

27 to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

Obedience to the faith means that you believe in HIS Son Jesus Christ our Lord Who was declared to be the Son of GOD with power.  Jesus displayed this power for three and a half years by many signs and wonders, confirmed and witnessed by the disciples and countless others.  This power was according to THE SPIRIT of Holiness and was completed by being resurrected on third day.  This Truth originated from FATHER WHO alone is wise and has revealed this to us.  The Holy prophets wrote of the coming Messiah in order to prepare the world for His arrival.  This was done throughout the ages in order that no man could claim personal authorship but received by revelation from FATHER.  Once Jesus Christ came forth and fulfilled the prophecies the revelation of the mystery has been revealed.  Hallelujah!

What does Paul say about those who fail to receive and hold on to the revelation of this mystery?  It is found in Galatians chapter 3:

1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?

2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

Let us not be foolish but bring our focus into obedience of faith in Christ.  It is not by human effort that enables us to be made perfect.  Our works are completely insufficient to perfect us and thus by attempting to obey the Law even in a sustained manner will not complete the process.  Only by hearing and obeying the Word of Faith and accepting the Love from Above are we able to be perfected.  You can go about doing good works all your life yet without submitting to the work on the cross by Our Lord Jesus Christ, you will still fall short of being made perfect.

Obeying the Truth means to believe the right thing.  I can attest the Holy Scriptures are the “right thing” by the fact when one believes the Truths contained therein, they produce manifested, positive results.  The Promises work and they produced good results in my life.  I have received miraculous healings, received the Holy Spirit, delivered from certain death five times, delivered from those who sought to do me harm, and the list goes on.  I am a testimony of the veracity of the Holy Scriptures and the power of Christ in my life.  I claim no success in the flesh but only claim to be a willing vessel to THE SPIRIT because Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior.  The key is to hear and obey The Word of Life in every aspect of our lives.  The more we hear and obey, the better the results in our lives.

As we focus on hearing and obeying we set ourselves up to receive greater revelation from FATHER.  As the seed of the Word is planted, It will produce good fruit in our lives.  We must be patient, expect the fruit to come forth, and not allow the enemy to bewitch us with some other philosophy of man.  We must take the pressure off ourselves to perform and allow ourselves to hear and respond in faith to HIS Word whether it is written or verbal.  As we respond FATHER will show HIMSELF mighty in our lives.

By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in Romans chapter 5:

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Jesus was obedient to the cross and by His act many will be made righteous.  This obedience to the cross has allowed those who have accepted Christ to employ spiritual weapons to overcome and punish disobedience as we read in 2 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,

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,

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

Jesus’ act on the cross was critical to us being able to overcome the strongholds in our life and we must not ever lose or discount the revelation of the cross in our lives.  As we walk in the obedience of Christ, we become dead to the flesh and alive to THE SPIRIT.  As we focus on the Spiritual, the flesh comes under subjection and our mind becomes our servant rather than exalting itself with arguments, logic, and reasoning.  The battle is between our ears, not in some distant place where we must travel in order to gain some upper hand.  Our strength comes from our obedience to Christ where we not only acknowledge but embrace His work on the cross.  He subjected Himself willingly for us that we may become fully righteous thus completely reversing the curse brought forth by Adam’s act of disobedience.

People sin because they are sinners, the are not sinners because they sin.  People were born into sin because of Adam’s sin thus every person must go through the cross in order to become righteous.  We all came from Adam and his sin was transmitted to us through his genetics thus we all are sinners born into the world and need to change.  The word “many” in the above verse indicates there are two basic groups of people on the earth, sinners and those who have accepted Jesus Christ and His work on the cross resulting in being made righteous.  When we focus on Christ’s obedience, the enemy cannot get a foothold in our life and lead us astray.

The Law was given to fully expose sin so no man could claim to be ignorant of his state.  In Romans 5:

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

However, righteousness reigns over death because FATHER made provision through Jesus Christ our Lord.  We must guard our minds from frivolous attempts to steer our focus to man’s philosophies and reasonings appealing to the ego.  Most often these philosophies attempt to exalt individuals over the masses in some manner intending to make one “entitled”.  On the other hand as we take on the  character of Christ, we become servants out of Love for mankind in like fashion to Jesus Christ our elder Brother.

Jesus’ obedience is unshakeable and as I align myself to His obedience I will become unshakeable as well.  When I pray, I pray in Jesus’ Name.  Why?  Because I establish the prayer based on His unshakeable obedience knowing that FATHER will quickly respond.  I am not relying on my own ability but I trust in His Name and the power contained therein.  As we exalt Him in our lives, He brings us higher an thus we will ultimately “meet Him in the air”.

What Adam did was so powerful that we all were born into sin and we cannot do enough good acts to overcome the power of his sin for we were born into his nature.  The only way to overcome this sin nature was for another to come forth with more power than the original sin and become an acceptable sacrifice for all of us.  Mary, the virgin, was impregnated by The Holy Spirit thus Adam’s seed had no power over Jesus.  We must never downplay the importance of His sacrifice as the acceptable lamb of GOD being slain on the cross and manifesting the fullness of FATHER’S Love for us.  Jesus fulfilled obedience that we might be able to walk in the same obedience.  His act of obedience has much greater power than the power contained in Adam’s disobedience and we must not forget this reality.

Given that our good acts could not undue our state as a sinner and become righteous on our own, it is also true that after we accept Jesus Christ as Our Lord and Savior, any of our acts of sin cannot undue our righteousness through Him.  His righteousness is greater than the sin nature originating from Adam’s sin and our citizenship in Heaven is assured.  Let us not use this Truth to justify sinning but instead this Truth should be realized when the enemy comes to accuse us and redirect our attention away from the obedience of Christ.  When we seek to be obedient by taking every thought captive, we then punish all disobedience and the enemy has nothing to bring up.  As Romans 5 states:

19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

To emphasize the importance of this Truth, we must look at the phrase “much more”:

15 But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abounded to many.

17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.

20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.

FATHER’S Love manifested through HIS Son has provided us a blessed path to walk and let no one try to convince us that we are still sinners and attempt to discount the obedience of Christ in our lives.

There is one place where we should focus our spiritual warfare.  Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 10:

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

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

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

Our weapons are not physical weapons but are spiritual in nature and they are mighty in GOD.  The question is “Where are the strongholds that need to be pulled down?”  They are in our mind, not some external place in the heavenlies!  We are to take every though which is contrary to the obedience of Christ and cast it downs.  This includes imaginations, hostile arguments, warped philosophies, lofty opinions of oneself, and any other thought contrary to the obedience of Christ.

Every major bondage begins in the mind with a thought.  We do not need to look elsewhere for the enemy to fight, only look within our minds where the true battle is occurring.  The devil will speak to us and we will hear him bring forth a thought just as he did when he confronted Jesus in the wilderness.  The issue is what we do with that thought.  Will we reject it or begin to entertain the thought and continue to dwell on it thus allowing it to take root in our mind?

In Acts chapter 2 Peter spoke by THE SPIRIT:

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

This word “repent” means to change one’s mind.  We must cast down those thoughts contrary and in opposition to the revelation of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  We do not need to hop in the car and go find some place to do spiritual warfare.  Simply look in the mirror and see if there is a war against Christ occurring in your mind.  I look back over the last 46 years of my life and see that to be the case in every contrary and opposing situation I faced.  Each and every time I had to cast down vain imaginations and every high thing that exalted itself.  My ego was at the center of most of it.  What an ugly reality!  Fortunately, I repented and sought forgiveness and FATHER restored me out of HIS unfailing Love.  I learned to quickly repent rather than defend an “indefensible” position.

Hearing The Word of GOD sets us free from wrong thinking.  Hearing and hearing The Word causes our minds to conform to HIS Word and as we do, our bodies will respond as well.  Studying, dwelling, and meditating on The Word day and night is the key to winning the battle of spiritual warfare.

Every single one of us has been mentally and/or emotionally damaged at some point in our lifetime.  Some have suffered more than others but FATHER’S grace is able to repair all damage done to us in the past.  The damage has been retained in our thought life and it must be removed.  We must forgive whomever or whatever caused the damage and then cast down those thoughts which have plagued us ever since the damage occurred.  Jesus is not sitting on the throne predisposed to getting even with those who sent Him to the cross.  His Love saw the blindness and His forgiveness overcame the sin of the world.

When someone does something against you, they simply don’t have the revelation of Love in their heart.  If they did, they would not hurt you in any way but instead would be a blessing.  As we realize that reality and take those contrary thoughts captive, we will walk in peace no matter what the situation.

If we are not achieving the right results in our life then we are probably not experiencing “right thinking” and there is something in our mind which needs to change.  THE SPIRIT revealed this to Paul when he wrote in Philippians chapter 4:

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

No matter what the situation we need to learn to be content and it is accomplished when we truly know that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  As we build ourselves up in HIS Word and Love then we are no longer moved by any situation we find ourselves in.  As we reject and defeat those opposing thoughts by not allowing them to take hold, we truly become overcomers.  Jesus applied the Word when He was tested and He rejected every attempt by the enemy to plant opposing thoughts to FATHER’S Word.  Let us do the same.

We must put an end to reasonings and logic which attempt to undermine The Word.  As many watch the news and other related shows on TV, they begin to give credence to the world’s logic if they are not well-grounded in The Word.  Often the news stories are intended to incite a response in the audience in order to promote increased viewership.  We must not allow man’s reasoning and logic to overpower our minds and take hold.  If necessary, remove yourself from the world’s influence while you train your mind to conform to FATHER’S Word.  We must bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.  Let us keep our focus on Christ and we will win the spiritual battles confronting each of us.

Yesterday we went through the progressive blessings given to us by FATHER where HE specifically emphasized those passages with shama` shama`.  Now THE SPIRIT wrote in James chapter 1:

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

We are urged to change and depart from the old man and we do this by receiving The Word which has the power within It to save our souls.  It requires us to act on The Word and not just give lip service else we deceive ourselves.  Isn’t it true that man lives in some form of deception until he receives a higher revelation than he currently has?  The more we dwell and meditate on The Word, the more revelation and blessings associated with The Word come forth in our lives.  Do you need healing?  Spend time in The Word daily in the passages which contain those promises of healing and restoration.  They must be “implanted” into us and grow within us until they become more true and greater than our sickness and disease.

As we do The Word It becomes preeminent in our lives and we place an importance of walking in FATHER’S ways just as Jesus walked and provided us with the perfect example.  Being our example, He is showing us the result of being fully led by THE SPIRIT.

23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

We are constantly changing and either moving spiritually higher or lower depending on our focus and actions.  When we look in the mirror we see ourselves only for an instant thus when we walk away change has already begun and we soon forget the image we saw.  How do I keep from forgetting The Word?  I must keep In in front of me continually day and night.  Because I comprehend FATHER’S Love for me(maybe not in Its fullness), I purpose to move closer to HIM through HIS Word not only daily but throughout the day.  As I seek to hear HIS SPIRIT in all situations, I become more like HIM by responding to what HIS SPIRIT is telling me to do and say in each situation I find myself in.  When you walk in this manner, you will not forget who you are in Christ.

25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work (one who acts accordingly), this one will be blessed in what he does.

When we know The Word and do It, we will be blessed in what we do.  This reinforces the five progressive blessings of shama` shama` covered yesterday.  “Continuing in it” denotes hearing and hearing, doing and doing.  Each of us submits our walk to someone whether it be FATHER or our own ego.  FATHER urges us to submit to HIM in order to walk in HIS blessing. 

It is not burdensome to walk according to The Word except to the ego which wants to promote lawlessness.  Let us not forget to be a doer of The Word so FATHER can facilitate blessings of Love to come forth in our lives.  Once again, each of us is responsible for our own actions and path.  As for me, I purpose to walk on the path referred to as “The Way”.

By THE SPIRIT Paul poses a question in Galatians chapter 3:

2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

4 Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?

5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

Paul emphasizes hearing by posing these questions which provide the obvious answer.  We receive THE SPIRIT by the hearing of faith.  None of us received The Holy Spirit by performing the law but instead by hearing of faith!  We all were saved by hearing and responding to The Word and we receive our healing by hearing and responding to The Word.  Let us not be foolish and forget the importance of hearing, studying, dwelling, and contemplating The Word until our faith becomes great faith.  Men and women of great faith are consistent doers of The Word and FATHER responds by constantly supplying HIS SPIRIT and working miracles confirming HIS Word in their lives.  Let each of us be counted among those of great faith by being a consistent doer of The Word!