Servias Ministries Blog

In Matthew chapter 24, Jesus spoke:

11 “Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many.

12 And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.

13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Jesus Himself is warning us of three things in the above passage- deception, lawlessness, and the loss of Love among people.  The deception and lawlessness are a result of the loss of Love and if we allow our Love to grow cold, we become susceptible to deception and lawlessness.  Protecting our Love walk is a daily focus, not an occasional one.

Each and every day I am more convinced of the critical importance of this Truth.  I can see the positive effect it has had on my life and I want others to join in and receive the benefits of walking in Love.  Deception is destructive to relationships and as our Love matures we can see how people control and manipulate without the revelation of Love.  Instead of being offended, I am saddened when I see this deception play out in peoples’ lives.  The solution is set before us but many are blinded and enslaved by their selfish motives.  They walk in deception as they attempt to deceive and there is no future in the direction they have chosen.

Lawlessness breeds further lawlessness.  If we don’t arrest the lawlessness in our lives it will become ingrained in our character and become rooted in our heart.  This doesn’t happen overnight but suddenly one day the person finds himself in a huge mess and wonders how he got there.  Once you set a course of deception and lawlessness, correction can become extreme.

Jesus urges us to endure to the end and that is what I am doing as FATHER has me write these blogs on a daily basis.  I write these out of Love for you and gratitude for FATHER revealing HIS Love to me.  I can think of no better opportunity to spread the Gospel than to communicate HIS Love to those who are willing to embrace HIS Message.

There are those who have come and gone in pursuit of revelation.  They tend to want knowledge without requiring them to change.  They view the Gospel as impacting external events where they are simply beneficiaries and observers.  They are unwilling to make the daily commitment required for growth and maturity.  Jesus spoke of these people in Luke chapter 8:

11 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away.

14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience.”

Are you willing to be patient for the fruit of Love to come forth in your life?  Let patience have its perfect work.  Bearing good fruit is a daily focus, not an occasional one when you have nothing else to do.  It requires commitment and perseverance to bring forth fruit in one’s heart.  For the seed to root you must protect it from lawlessness and deception for those are temptations.  You will have to choose between focusing and pursuing Love or the world’s offerings.  You must cast your care on FATHER in order for your attention to remain focused on Love.  Riches and pleasures of life are only temporal and will be no substitute for FATHER’S Love flowing in you and through you. 

I urge you to be alert and protect the Love in your heart.  Once you realize how much of a treasure Love is, you will cherish it above all else.  Be alert and don’t allow it to grow cold.

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus spoke:

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent?

11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

What an encouraging Word from the Throne Room in Heaven for us today!  No matter what life has thrown at you and me, FATHER is still on the Throne and HE is only interested in our wellbeing.  Ask, seek, and find are all actions we are to take rather than sit back doing nothing and dwelling on the current circumstances facing us today.  Things are about to change for us as we step forward and draw closer to Our Heavenly Father.

“Father, today I ask that you fill our lives with YOUR Essence and open our ears to YOUR Will and Divine Intent for each of us without any hindrance!  Empower us to be fully led by YOUR SPIRIT and respond in all situations as directed by YOU.  Open the doors which will fully release our purpose given by YOU before we were formed in the womb and let no man persuade us otherwise.  Open up the windows of Heaven on our behalf that we might have all the resources required to fulfill our calling and bring Heaven to earth and glorify YOU and YOUR MOST HOLY SON.  Minister to us so that we can see and overcome all obstacles placed before us and arouse our spirits with pure Love which expresses your Divine Intent for mankind.  We ask YOU to uncover and purge us of any spot or blemish within us so that YOUR Light will shine in us and through us to bless all of mankind.  We ask in full accordance with YOUR Word and YOUR SPIRIT in Jesus’ Name.”   So be it.

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.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

FATHER formed us in the womb and gave us gifts and a calling to develop as we mature into adults.  Further, HE decided when, where, and to whom we would be born.  Therefore HE made us worthy to be alive and man’s opinion of our worthiness is simply vanity.  People would speak ill of us in order to promote insecurity in our lives in an effort to control and/or manipulate us to follow their agenda or satisfy their ego.

People who walk in Love build you up and encourage you to ascend to a higher level.  After all, isn’t that what Jesus did for you and me?  FATHER manifested HIS Son that we all might be reconciled while we were still sinners.  Christ died for all of us which makes us all worthy in FATHER’S Eyes.

One of the most important words we can learn is “No”.  We must no longer accept a guilt trip from those who attempt to compel us to perform according to their expectation.  They are not our GOD thus we must respond according to FATHER’S perfect plan, will, and purpose.  Those who walk in conditional Love will use methods of manipulation in order to get us to conform to their agenda.  If possible they would wear us out and extract all our energy and resources for their benefit.  We must not let others dictate our lives but submit ourselves to FATHER’S directives.  People who set conditions for a continued relationship are walking without Agape Love.  “I must perform in order for you to like me” is the message they convey to us which is simply manipulation.  If we do give in, we simply perpetuate their ego’s need to control.

FATHER demonstrated HIS Love by sending HIS Son to reconcile us unto HIM.  We could not perform at a level to deserve this and the Israelites proved this reality time and time again.  The Blood of Christ was and is needed for restoration to FATHER, not our performance.  My kids were mine from the moment of their conception, not after some rigorous set of rules, guidelines, and successful achievements.

We should simply rejoice in the fact that FATHER Love us no matter what man would try to do in order to make us feel guilty.  Let us embrace the confession Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Colossians chapter 1:

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;

10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;

11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;

12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light

We are able to walk worthy because HE made us worthy, HE qualified us.  Let no man or woman try to convince you otherwise.  Reject their words and embrace FATHER’S Word give to us for it is Truth and life.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 5:

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),

10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

14 Therefore He says:

​​​“Awake, you who sleep,

​​Arise from the dead,

​​And Christ will give you light.”

Walking in goodness, righteousness and truth brings forth light to whatever situation you are in and exposes any darkness around you.  Men either have opinions, testimonies, or truth about a situation and since FATHER is the Author of all Truth, we should seek HIM to discern the truth of the matter and stand on that truth.  We must find out what is acceptable to FATHER and walk in accordance with HIS Way rather than rely on the opinions of men.

Some testimonies may be deceiving.  Why?  Because the adversary will provide lying signs and wonders for men to embrace when they don’t know the acceptable ways of FATHER.  Paul writes by THE SPIRIT in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

We have a responsibility to walk in the light so that we expose the darkness and bring as many who will respond into that light.  Men will have the option to receive the Love of the truth that they might be saved.  The light must be greater then their trust in lying signs and wonders.  We must be fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of GOD and HE will strengthen us with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy.  It is not the time to let up but instead let us press in like never before.  Mankind is counting on us even though they do not realize it.

We must consciously focus on rejecting any fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness.  What are unfruitful works of darkness?  They are destitute of good deeds, contributing nothing to the instruction, improvement, or comfort of others.  Love brings for good fruit whereas “self” does nothing good for others.  If you are guilty of producing no good fruit then repent and begin being fruitful today.  As you produce good fruit you will expose the darkness of unfruitful works.  Consider your time and your checkbook and see if all your resources are directed to you or includes others in need.  You can claim intent but actions speak louder than words.

Taking a step further, exclude your family and friends from your works.  Are you helping those beyond the people close to you?  Unconditional Love helps all, not just friends and family.  Let us expose any darkness within us and replace it with light.  As the fullness of light dwells within us we will be better equipped to expose the darkness around us.  Awake, arise, and let Christ fill us with His overflowing light.

By THE SPIRIT James wrote in 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.

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.

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, this one will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless

Aligning ourselves in word and action with FATHER’S directives is crucial to our future.  There are many hearers of the Word who populate the pews, watch services on TV, and read the teachings found in various formats.  Hearing alone does not fulfill our mandate and purpose.  Looking across the Jordan river at the Promised Land from a distance did not fulfill the promise made to the Israelites.  We must act on HIS Word as well.

There are those who immerse themselves in the vanity of the world.  They spend more time contemplating topics which are of no lasting importance at the risk of becoming forgetful hearers.  It is then their Love grows cold.  They forget the benefits of walking according to FATHER’S Word which in turns causes death and destruction to set in.  When they finally wake up their life is in shambles.  Their confession begins to align itself with the world and their thinking becomes vain or useless.  Their physical bodies respond accordingly.

In Titus chapter 3 THE SPIRIT instructs us:

8 This is a trustworthy statement; and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds. These things are good and profitable for men.

9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.

10 Reject a factious man after a first and second warning,

11 knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

Let us strengthen ourselves by engaging ourselves in good deeds or works.  We need to confirm the Word with our actions for those actions cause the roots to grow deeper strengthening our resolve when we become challenged by the world.  The world’s vanity will attempt to root up the Word out of our inner being and we must not let ourselves be swayed by the latest facet of man’s sensual wisdom.  The perversity in the world increases day by day and the politicians are more than happy to accommodate the latest popular fad.  On the other hand we must continue our ascent into the fullness of HIS Love and Divine Intent so that we can be a part of bringing forth the Kingdom on earth. 

Let HIS Kingdom fully dwell in our “earth” and then it will move outward toward others.  Let there be no worldly vanity found among us.

By THE SPIRIT the Proverb in chapter 15 was written:

​28 ​​The heart of the righteous studies how to answer,

​​But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.

​29 ​​The LORD is far from the wicked,

​​But He hears the prayer of the righteous.

​30 ​​The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,

​​And a good report makes the bones healthy.

As we study and hear HIS Word then we will know how to answer in all matters.  Further, we will know how to pray.  Finally, we will watch the words we speak to proclaim a good report.  Our heart receives input from our five physical senses and when we speak our ears “hear” those words.  Those words become rooted in our hearts and with time we believe what we hear and speak thus our confession is critical in establishing our overall direction.  If enough bad reports are spoken to us and/or about us, we believe them to be true.  Advertisers know this practical reality thus they bombard us with their message and for the most part it works.  Politicians know this too and they will convince us that a lie is the truth thus we will believe a “bad” report.

A good report is one that is fully aligned with FATHER’S Divine Intent of Love.  As we come to this realization, our trust in HIS Word and in HIS reliable Voice is of the utmost importance in our lives.  When I am in the midst of a bad or negative situation, I must focus on HIS Word relevant to my situation then confess it and apply it to my situation.  I don’t deny the existence of the problem but instead I speak forth the solution to the problem.  There is no sin in admitting the problem exists but it must not be the focus of our outcome.  FATHER’S Word must be our focus.

FATHER instructed Israel to send twelve spies into the Promised Land.  Ten returned with an evil report and two came back with a good report.  They all saw the same thing yet their hearts, minds, and confessions were the deciding factors.  Joshua and Caleb believed FATHER’S Word concerning the Promised Land.  The other ten had unbelief in their hearts and minds.  They paid closer attention to the murmurings among the people rather than the miraculous works of FATHER.  In Numbers chapter 14 FATHER spoke:

20 Then the LORD said: “I have pardoned, according to your word;

21 but truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD—

22 because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not heeded My voice,

23 they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it.

24 But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”

Caleb is the classic example of an overcomer.  He saw the obstacles but believed FATHER’S Word concerning those obstacles.  He didn’t deny their existence but chose to focus on the promises of Our Heavenly Father for delivering the land unto Israel.  Those that looked at their current circumstances and accepted them without regard for FATHER’S Word ended up as victims of those circumstances and died in the wilderness.  They made their choice of which path they would take.

FATHER has me write by HIS SPIRIT to encourage us to believe and trust IN HIM.  If no one else read these words, I would still write them for HIS SPIRIT ministers to me at the beginning of each day and prepares me to overcome any obstacle that would present itself as a bad report.  Some may say “I have heard this before”.  I say to you I have heard HIS Word in this area as well but we must feed ourselves a steady diet of good reports else the enemy would begin to slowly change our minds by bombarding us with lies until our hearts “grow cold” to FATHER’S Word.  As for me, I will not let that happen.  I encourage you to do the same.  There are times we all need encouragement because of the constant battles we face.  Let us encourage ourselves in THE LORD by expressing the good reports we have experienced in the past for they are our testimonies of FATHER’S unfailing Love for us.

By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 6:

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness.

The NASB version states:

14 Stand firm therefore,HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

The truth can and will stand on its own but we must actively pursue it.  In our pursuit of the fullness of FATHER’S Divine Intent for us we must fasten, put on, fit, take up the truth and surround ourselves with it.  The truth is quite simple versus the complexity surrounding lies.  Those who persistently lie must constantly remember what they have said to others whereas if you stand on the truth, you simply reiterate the truth as you know it.

FATHER is the Author of all truth so in order to know the truth of the matter, our best source is HIM.  As we become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, we will sense in our spirit when a lie is being expressed in our midst.  There are times to challenge the lie and there are times we are to remain silent.  This discernment requires wisdom from Above.

In 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 Paul wrote:

9 The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders,

10 and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie,

12 that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Love and truth go together.  The truth may hurt but Love denies the “self” and embraces the truth, whatever it is.  It may hurt or embarrass me but I would rather live my life based on truth than to proceed toward death and destruction by being unwilling to let go of a lie.  I have been lied to by many over my lifetime and the truth is I have lied under pressure in my immaturity.  Is there any among us who can claim they have never lied?  However as I crucify the old man, my eyes are opened to the disastrous impact of lies and thus I pursue only the truth now.  As my revelation of Love increases, so does truth.

You must understand that the unrighteous will lie to you for it is part of their makeup.  They are simply following the father of lies… Satan.  They are walking in strong delusion because of their rejection of the love of the truth.  As a result, they believe the lie.  Once your eyes are open to this reality, your peace will increase as you deal with those who are constantly spewing out lies.  They are receiving their just reward by FATHER so you don’t have to spend time and energy correcting them unless FATHER anoints you to do so.

There is a temporary pleasure in unrighteousness but it never satisfies the soul.  Those who pursue the love of money never have enough so they build “bigger barns” to hoard their money without realizing that they are on the path toward death and destruction.  A delusion is a belief that is held with strong conviction despite superior evidence to the contrary.  A “strong” delusion would indicate the evidence is overwhelming yet the conviction held by the individual cannot be rationally explained.  As I pursue the fullness of Love and truth, I become even more amazed how people hold on to a lie so firmly.  I know that only by FATHER opening their eyes will they receive the truth which is expressed all around them.  An atheist is the epitome of someone with a strong delusion.  You only have to get a microscope or telescope and observe the Intelligent Design of the vastness of creation to see the Truth, assuming you can’t see it with the naked eye.

How can we minister to those who are blinded?  By speaking the truth in Love.  By THE SPIRIT, Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter 4:

14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,

15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—

16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

You don’t have to beat people up with the truth because they typically won’t receive truth without Love being the motivating factor.  Instead, they will resist the truth because you have just given them cause to reject it by your lack of Love.  Love opens the door to receptiveness therefore as our Love walk grows, so will the willingness of others to receive truth increase.  Yes brother and sister, Love is the answer.

A confession is an admission or acknowledgement of Truth and reality.  We are designed to respond to what we hear and see and that response is fundamental to FATHER’S Word changing us day by day.  Paul wrote in Romans chapter 10 by THE SPIRIT:

9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Confession is to be an expression of the heart as it is aligning itself with FATHER’S Divine Intent.  Our confession is intended to establish our direction and our actions are to confirm that direction.  As we do this we allow FATHER to work on our behalf which leads toward life, health, and blessing for we become witnesses to the good works brought about by FATHER.

In the past some in the church took this Truth and tainted it by attempting to use confession to satisfy the ego’s desire for material wealth apart from FATHER’S Divine Intent.  They were labeled the “name it and claim it” group and they produced little or no fruit.  The instigators exploited the masses and enriched themselves while people in the congregation suffered.  Where was the Love?

Our confession should focus on being fruitful for the Kingdom.  Sickness does not bring glory to FATHER and thus we should expect our bodies to line up with HIS Word in this area.  If we knowingly abuse our bodies how can we expect to live in Divine health?  As we become sensitive to HIS SPIRIT we will adjust our lifestyle according to our particular needs and our bodies will begin the healing process.  Toxic thinking impacts the body as much as known chemical toxins.  Unforgiveness has a known physiological impact on the body and if left unaddressed it will produce sickness and disease.  Has someone wronged you?  It is time to get over it and hand it over to FATHER.

In Philippians chapter 4, Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT:

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 state we are currently in, we should embrace FATHER’S Truth that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.  Our confession should line up with this Truth for our current circumstances are temporal and subject to change.  We should expect change to occur when we are in the midst of trials and testing.  We must not accept our temporary setbacks as the norm.  FATHER is in the deliverance business and we should expect and confess our deliverance.  As we confess HIS Truth, our physical body will respond.  In Ephesians chapter 4, Paul wrote:

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

What is a corrupt word?  It is any word that does not build up, bring forth life, or align itself with Truth.  Corrupt words result in bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking thus we have no excuse and are accountable for the words we speak.  Some people in the past would not acknowledge the problem as though it did not exist, hoping that this lack of expressing the problem would somehow result in greater faith and results.  We should focus on the solution to the problem rather than disregarding the problem’s existence.  As we place our trust in FATHER, we will be no longer moved by our circumstances.  In Psalm 62 we are assured:

5 ​​My soul, wait silently for God alone, ​​For my expectation is from Him.

6 ​​He only is my rock and my salvation; ​​He is my defense; ​​I shall not be moved.

7 ​​In God is my salvation and my glory; ​​The rock of my strength, ​​And my refuge, is in God.

FATHER did not promise us a life without challenges but HE did promise us deliverance and the ability to overcome all obstacles.  We must align our confession with HIS Word for HE has the only enduring solution to any problem which presents itself before us.  HE has the answer to every situation.  We must not let our confession hinder us from hearing HIS Voice.  Rather than dwelling on the problem, let us dwell on the solution… HIS Word.  Isaiah wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 40:

31  ​​But those who wait on the LORD

​​Shall renew their strength;

​​They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

​​They shall run and not be weary,

​​They shall walk and not faint.

To be an overcomer, there must be something to overcome.  Don’t allow yourself to grow weary but be encouraged by HIS Word and HIS acts in your life.  Align your confession with FATHER’S Divine Intent and the solution to the problem will present itself to you for your day of salvation is at hand.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Colossians chapter 2:

8 Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.

9 For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily;

10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Paul warns us of those who would try to convince us to walk according to worldly principles, customs, and philosophies.  Every day we are bombarded with man’s philosophies of how life works yet the simplicity found in Christ can be embraced by all.  Men attempt to sway our thinking by constant reiteration of lies and propaganda in order to align ourselves with their view of life.  We must protect our hearts from such foolish thinking and look to FATHER in establishing our foundational beliefs in all areas for only HIS Wisdom will endure the test of time.  Paul continued:

20 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations—

21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,”

22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men?

23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion,false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

There are a multitude of opinions of how we ought to live and many of those opinions sound reasonable and are supported by science.  However, each of us has a unique history which in turn necessitates being sensitive to HIS SPIRIT when we decide what daily choices we should make.  There is no standard formula that man can establish to guide our daily lives.  Men would have us neglect our bodies by following their methods and perspective only to find what works for them will not have the same impact on us.  Why?  We all have unique histories thus we all have unique needs and requirements.  Only HIS SPIRIT knows what we need and when we need it.

The issue at hand is our individual sensitivity to hearing FATHER.  If we are able to hear FATHER’S directives, we will be perfected in HIS perfect timing.  As I purpose to maintain this sensitivity I find that HE navigates me through life’s challenges and opportunities which all are intended to mature me in some manner.  Since we all have a unique calling, we all have a unique training course set before us.  Some will be required to attend various meetings and functions to add life and others will be directed to other activities specific to the maturing of the Body of Christ.  Anyone who requires or compels you to comply with their view of life is in direct conflict with HIS SPIRIT.  Let us encourage each other to pursue a deeper and direct relationship with FATHER.

Paul continues in chapter 3:

1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God.

2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.

I find that as I set my mind on things above, the earthly things and activities are less important.  My priorities are slowly but surely changing and my life is becoming simpler and more fulfilling than ever before.  I am able to appreciate more because I am not as preoccupied with the things of the world.  I marvel how FATHER’S creation testifies of HIS Wisdom and creativity.  If we are complete IN HIM then why do we place such emphasis and focus such tremendous energy on things of this world?  When we finally ask the question, it is an indication that our blindness is being removed to what is truly important and lasting versus what is worldly and temporal in nature.

Our goal is to establish HIS Kingdom on this earth and we are HIS ambassadors.  Let us be walking testimonies which will draw mankind to seek out the ONE we trust in.  Let our fruit be “eaten” by those who hunger for a change in their life.  As people perceive that we have something they are in need of, we will do our part in drawing all men to Christ.  They will see the stark contrast to those who promote indulgence to the flesh.

By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in Romans chapter 7:

25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

We will either serve the Law of Our Heavenly Father through our mind or we will serve our flesh and its cravings.  The choice lies with us.  Since the law can be summed up by the two great commandments of Love, our choice to serve with the mind must be founded on serving in Love.  When you consider the simplicity of serving in Love versus the chaotic complexities surrounding the flesh, the decision should be quite clear yet Paul talks about the battle of the two “I”s in our members.  Whichever “I” you feed is the one which will overpower the other.  If your decision is to focus on being led by THE SPIRIT, you must feed on the Word daily just as your body needs its daily nourishment.

Paul further wrote by THE SPIRIT in chapter 12:

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

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

I urge you as well to join me in presenting our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable.  Paul presents us with this choice and explains that is is our reasonable service to do so.  The word “reasonable” means that it is the logical action to take given the reality of the matter.  As we submit to THE SPIRIT we begin to weaken the flesh until the cravings of the flesh cease all together and no longer dominate our consciousness.  This renewing of our mind produces tangible results as we begin to react differently to situations that in previous times we would have responded by the flesh.  FATHER in HIS great grace and mercy brings those times in remembrance to show us our improvement in those areas where we were weakest.

And by THE SPIRIT in chapter 15:

4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5 Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus,

6 so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures were written for our instruction with the intent for us to become “one mind” in Christ Jesus.  How is the done?  By walking in Love which brings us into unity.  Paul explains this in Colossians chapter 3:

12 So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

14 Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.

We have a choice- to walk in Love and unity or walk by the flesh which separates and divides.  The choice is very simple when it get boiled down to its most basic options.  Once we choose we must reinforce our choice with actions that consistently support that choice.  There will be times when your flesh will scream out but you must disregard its call and continue on the path of Love, knowing that the screams will cease once your flesh realizes it is no longer in control.  This is when we let patience have its perfect work.