Servias Ministries Blog

In Philippians Chapter 3, Paul writes:

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. For me to write the same things to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe.

Paul speaks of his responsibility to safeguard those whom he is called to minister to.  Each of us is accountable and responsible for our teaching in regard to Spiritual matters.  Each time we minister, are we exalting Christ or focusing on other topics of little consequence to our salvation or wellbeing?   Our goal must be to safeguard the flock as a shepherd would.

2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!

Paul appears to reference Psalm 22:16.  Dogs unjustly accuse, spread lies, and attack the righteous.  The evil workers focus on tearing down and attacking whereas Paul places his ministry on worshipping GOD in the Spirit and rejoicing in Christ Jesus:

3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

He acknowledges his credentials but then places them in perspective:

4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ.

Our education and status must not be viewed as a basis for being credible teachers.  Paul counts them “rubbish” in light of the revealing of Christ in his life:

8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

Our desire at Servias Ministries is to promote Christ and bring forth the revelation of Love into men and women’s hearts.  Our goal is to build up the body of Christ in all areas.  Our message is directed to all of mankind and view ourselves as servants  ministering on the behalf of all.  The trappings of this world are counted loss for Christ.  False righteousness focuses the attention on the men speaking to the flock, not Christ.  There have been many who have exalted themselves as experts and have moved the focus away from Christ.  Paul himself admits this when he spoke of his credentials.  He repented for this path of unrighteousness and warns those at Philippi to beware.  He spoke from his own experience.

The ego wants to be lifted up above Christ.  Its confidence is in the flesh and we must discern when we hear or read messages to determine who is being exalted.  We must be ready to repent if we too are guilty of exalting ourselves.  Jesus Christ is the pattern Son and we must test all teaching in regard to this standard.  Paul is quite clear about this reality.  There is unity among those who count everything else loss for Christ.  However at the same time there is a division from those who continue to promote themselves for personal gain.  Paul speaks of this division.  Let Christ be exalted in word and deed!

The following verse in Hebrews 11 speaks of the faith of Moses:

24   By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter,

25   choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin,

26   esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.

27   By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible.

Once we have made a full commitment for Love of all mankind, by faith we forsake anything in the world that would weigh us down from receiving the greater riches from Above.  When you become fully convinced that Our Heavenly Father’s purpose is greater than any reward that the world has to offer, your priorities change.  You shed all the trappings and restrictions imposed on you by the world.  Your perspective changes and you can discern the intent of those who would try to control or manipulate you by their devices.  You are unwilling to follow them in their deception of illusion.

Moses forsook the treasures of this world when he walked away from Pharaoh.  Jesus walked away from this world’s treasures when tempted by the devil.  I too refuse the treasures of this world.  When Our Heavenly Father told me to proclaim my calling as “treasurer” I knew that proclamation did not apply to the treasures of this world.  A treasurer is a steward who is called to protect, account for, and distribute appropriately in a lawful manner.  I believe the true treasury is found in Heaven, not in this current system.  I believe the mysteries held for this time are among those treasures.  I know of one particular individual who was offended when I proclaimed to be a treasurer.  He had spent years working toward acquiring resources to handle the current system’s wealth.  Let him be “treasurer” in the context of the current system.  He thought I was usurping his calling.  Wrong!  My desire is to associated with the treasures Above, not of this world.  Just as Moses, I look to the greater riches in Christ.  By faith I will continue this path of Love to attain the high calling however it plays out.  Many will fall by the wayside as the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and lusts of other things draw their attention and focus away from the path toward our reward in Heaven.

Many are called but few are chosen.  When Moses had his encounter with the fiery presence of Our Heavenly Father in the burning bush, he accepted his calling.  He heard the voice of Our Heavenly Father while he was tending the sheep of his father-in-law:

Exodus 3:

1 Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian. And he led the flock to the back of the desert, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the Angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. So he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, but the bush was not consumed. 3 Then Moses said, “I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush does not burn.”

4 So when the LORD saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, “Moses, Moses!”

And he said, “Here I am.”

On that day, his calling was activated, the manifestation had arrived.  He had spent 40 years in the wilderness and was content with tending sheep, forsaking the wealth of the world.  Heaven opened up and distributed the needed resources for Moses’ calling to be manifested on earth.  The Divine Intent of Love arrived to set the people free.

Each of us must have a personal relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  Yes it is important to receive teaching from others as we proceed toward full maturity but we should at the same time develop that intimate relationship and fellowship with HIM.  The five-fold ministry was given for the perfecting of the saints, not in lieu of a direct, personal relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  By faith we must expect to hear HIM in a direct manner.  With a foundation of Love, our faith will grow with a purity of intent which will enable us to hear clearly.  Let us each shed any weight that would hinder us from this important treasure.

The Emergence of Overcomers By Clay Sikes

There is a mighty transition taking place as overcomers emerge from under the rock where they have been hidden for many years. They are coming forth as an aged eagle that hides himself in the cleft of the rock, plucking his feathers, battering his beak, awaiting new growth and youthful renewal. This emergence has a pattern – overcomers facing adversity, maintaining hope while circumstances scream “there is none!”

These men and women share common characteristics – rough edges made smooth by the abrasions of a challenged life, finding Holiness that evaded (them) for years; without spot or wrinkle – awakened to Christ in them the hope of glory, realizing that it isn’t them who live, but Christ in them. Leaving legalism far behind, they are lead and moved by His Spirit only, having a Holy distaste for organized religion and the works of men.
The Body and Head are joining as the Bride is being prepared for the Bridegroom. This submissive Bride has learned “that of their own selves they can do nothing.” Dead to human ambition and the soul’s control, these have learned the yielded life; perfected in their understanding of “perfect love” that eradicates fear of any person, occurrence, or situation. Their implicit trust of the Father negates the oppression of circumstance, even death – “not my will, but they will be done.”
Greatest among the traits of these emerging saints IS their understanding and application of perfect love, a love grounded so deep in trust that they never question “all things working together for their good.” Realizing they see ONLY IN PART, but serve a God who SEES ALL, avoiding human reasoning for direction or understanding. These have recognized that His life is only possible in surrendering theirs. Dead they are – dead to self, to the ways of men, and human understanding – aware of the Holy Spirit’s desire to dwell in them as a power source (for them) in carrying out His purpose.
These overcomers are emerging; connections’ being made as the Kingdom is forcefully advancing. These spiritually violent men and women recognize that evil and darkness invading the earth is only a sign that the light of God grows brighter within them. A new generation, a renewed generation, a new people will bring forth the new wine. The wineskin that once held them is broken, and a new structure/government/Kingdom has come – a people dead to themselves who have returned to the garden. Their fruit is evident – non-judgmental, without bias, tender, putting others ahead of self, living to serve, courageous, faithful, loyal, and steady.
Nobodies to man are somebodies to God. The first shall be last, and the last shall be first. Awaken O sleeper, it is time to arise. Your times are in God’s hand, and your time has come!

I could not have said it better myself!

Jesus Prays for Himself

John 17:1 Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, 2 as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. 3 And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. 4 I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.   NKJV

There are those who believe we have no choice yet Jesus found it necessary to pray.  As a matter of fact, prayer was a normal aspect of His life.  His relationship with Our Heavenly Father was one of daily communication and as noted in the garden of Gethsemane, He mentioned a time frame of an hour to the disciples.  You can discount all the Scriptures where we are given choices but nonetheless they are still there.

Is Our Heavenly Father sovereign?  Of course HE is.  Both free will and sovereignty can co-reside together but the ego would have you believe it must be one or the other.  If you have no choice, then you are not accountable or responsible for your actions.  If that were the case, then the Law would have been of none effect.  You might as well consider HIS great grace and mercy of no value as well.  You would have to cut out a substantial portion of Scripture from your Bible.  “Choose ye this day whom ye will serve” would be an unnecessary demand by the Creator.  What’s the point if you really don’t have a choice.  The reality is that Love demands a choice.  The more you understand Love, the greater appreciation you have for choice.  If your child had no choice but to say “I love you”, what would be the point?  We are not robots.  Jesus found the need and had the desire to pray for Himself.  If He had no choice, He would have not even needed to spend 3 1/2 years in ministry.

A calling requires you to mature.  It also requires you to make appropriate decisions during your times of trials and testing.  You ultimately decide what path you are going to take.  You decide whether your old man rules you or the new man takes command.  You are responsible.  “Takers” think that everyone else is responsible for their wellbeing and that society owes them something.  They are fruitless and will be pruned away.  Their unbelief in the Word of GOD prevents them from being converted into vessels of honor.

Jesus’ ministry was to glorify Our Heavenly Father on earth.  Isn’t our ministry tied to the same mission?  Who do we glorify in our daily walk?  Are we exalting ourselves or Our Heavenly Father and Our Lord Jesus Christ?  Jesus completed His mission in about 3 1/2 years.  He accepted the calling given to Him “before the world was”.  He knew the need to die to the flesh.  He knew there would be testing of His maturity as occurred in the wilderness.  He made decisions each and every day to continue the mission.

Each of us has been given a mission.  The vessels of honor are called to give.  The vessels of dishonor will suck the life and resources out of anyone who gives in to their demands.  Jesus ministered to the people as directed by Our Heavenly Father.  Not everyone was healed.  Not everyone received the message of salvation.  We will encounter those who reject the Good News but that should not dissuade us from our mission to spread the Gospel to all.

Our Heavenly Father will glorify us at the appropriate time.  In the meantime, we should not be sitting around sowing “nothing”.  We are called to Love and it is active, not passive.  We are called to sow good seeds.  We are called to spend time with Our Heavenly Father because we Love HIM and want to be with HIM.  Many are called but few are chosen.  Those chosen were not too busy with their own agendas to respond to the Voice of Our Heavenly Father.  Let us run the race and finish it.  Let us be good and faithful sons who accomplished our mission just as Jesus did.  Let us glorify Our Heavenly Father!

“Ask, seek, knock”, we are instructed to do those acts.  Each require us to make a decision to continue and back it up with action.  Our lives on this earth require us to make many decisions on a daily basis.  Each one of those decisions is based on your intent.  When you speak, it is out of the abundance of your heart.  Yes, you can temporarily control your speech to project an illusion for the other person’s benefit, but in the end your true character will be revealed.  Your body language speaks volumes as well.

We are to owe no man anything but Love.  Why?  The borrower is servant to the lender and the borrower must always consider the requirements of the lender and act according to those requirements.  This relationship suppresses your ability to walk according to Our Heavenly Father’s Divine Intent for you.

Leverage is utilizing resources greater than your own to create a greater outcome.  This occurs when people buy a house with a mortgage.  Leverage in itself is not bad.  It only becomes a problem if you are unable to retire the leveraged portion you borrowed.  There is always a day of reckoning where the account must be settled and the debt must be satisfied.  People who look for ways out of satisfying the debt are lawless in their hearts.  They want to enjoy the fruits of others’ labor without the responsibility of repayment.  They are known by their persistent “taking” without ever “giving”.  They are poor stewards and will receive their just reward.

We are all given the opportunity to change from vessels of dishonor to vessels of honor.  We are first given simple tasks of stewardship to train, test, and, correct us.  A good steward will move on to greater responsibilities.  A poor steward will not.  A wise man seeks correction and change.  One who is led by their old man continues in his path toward destruction.  The choice is yours.

The Lord’s Prayer prophesies of the coming Kingdom enveloping the whole earth.  If you are not aligning your intent and actions with this Word given by the Jesus Christ, you are missing the point of the Gospel.  Your ego would have you proceed down alternative paths that are simply “time and resource burners”.  How many more church buildings do we need?  Unfocused resources are ultimately consumed into oblivion.  Each of us needs to put our money where our mouth is.  However, the choice is yours.

Joshua was told be strong and of good courage (to be strong, alert, courageous, brave, stout, bold, solid, hard).  Courage is required when you are called to step out of your comfort zone.  If you want to become mature in your calling, courage is required.  The choice is yours.

Many are called but few are chosen.  This tells us that there will be a division among those who are believers.  How do you make the cut?  The parable of the Wedding Feast gives us the answer.  Those who have other priorities and are unprepared are not allowed to be included.  As I have said in the past, look at your bank statement and your daily calendar.  Those two will proclaim your priorities and intent.  It is never too late to repent and change directions.  The choice is yours.

PS:  Don’t shoot the messenger.