Servias Ministries Blog

By THE SPIRIT it is written in Psalm 103:

6 ​​The LORD executes righteousness

​​And justice for all who are oppressed.

7 ​​He made known His ways to Moses,

​​His acts to the children of Israel.

There are two categories of relationships among people that parallel the above passage- conditional and unconditional (or Agape).  The conditional relationship is an “activities” based relationship where the focus is doing things and the energy and time expended are centered around those activities.  What happens when the activities cease?  The relationship grows cold.

The unconditional relationship, on the other hand, remains intact no matter what the time lapse because it is not subject to starting or completing activities.  You simply enjoy the other person’s fellowship and do not have any agenda that needs to be fulfilled.  Both parties are allowed to be who they are versus living up to some standard place on one or the other.    Agape Love looks to minister by giving rather than taking and the fruit produces life in the relationship.

FATHER WHO is the great “I AM” promotes the unconditional relationship where you and I Love HIM for who HE IS rather than what HE can do for us today.  Immature believers tend to develop conditional relationships with FATHER and others because they are always in need.  What can FATHER provide me today?  What can this person do for me today?  These people tend to go through “friends” rather quickly and rarely have any long-time relationships.  Tweets and texts often replace phone calls and face-to-face encounters because of convenience.  The relationship seems to be a matter of convenience rather than the desire to develop a long-lasting relationship.

These two types of relationships provide us a comparison of where we stand with FATHER.  Are you sitting around waiting to be ministered to by FATHER and/or someone else or are you active in developing a relationship based on Agape Love.  Jesus died for us before we knew to ask.  Are we willing to invest in others unconditionally?  If not, how can FATHER expect to use us in the critical areas of the Kingdom?  Each of us has the responsibility to choose which type of relationship we will nurture with others.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 6:

9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him.

10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.

11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Death once had dominion over mankind but Jesus obtained victory over death by His resurrection.  When one has dominion he is ruling, subduing, and exercising control over the territory in question.  Since death no longer has dominion over Jesus neither does it have dominion over us as believers.  We are no longer subject to death and darkness unless we choose to walk under its dominion.  The decision is ours and our actions express the path we have chosen.  You and I have the responsibility and privilege to walk in the light, life, and Love of FATHER and as we do we become witnesses to the world of the power of Christ.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.

13 And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

As we walk in the Love of Our Heavenly Father, we truly become living epistles for others to identify with.  Our actions speak louder than words and people are looking for a genuine solution to the problems confronting them.  When we overcome obstacles in the same manner of Christ, the world must deal with the reality of our fruit.  As we produce good fruit on behalf of the Kingdom, those who are in desperate need of fruit will come to realize the path we are on is the one and only path with their solution as well.  Our testimony is their hope and they will begin to look to Christ in us for the same results.  As we direct them to the Source of our success, they too will see a difference in their life.

One aspect of having dominion is to “subdue”.  This requires us to be good stewards as we bring the territory in question under control.  We are not called to be destructive but to promote life in all areas.  Yes, there will be times of pruning away the dead and unproductive aspects of our territory for they would suck the life out of us.  Nourishment must be directed to those life-bearing actions instead.

Immature believers are not in a position to exercise dominion thus it is our responsibility to encourage Spiritual maturity in those who brought before us.  They need revelation rather than just information.  We need to seek FATHER on their behalf so that their growth is without hindrance.  Let us speak the Word to them in Love which will enable them to produce good fruit in their own lives.  As their fruit comes forth they will be encouraged and begin to mature in a greater fashion.  This will arrest the spread of the dominion of death and the life of Christ will spread across the earth.

Everyone is subject to someone or something.  I choose to be subject to Our Heavenly Father and HIS light, life, and Love.  Death no longer has reign over me and I am thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for that reality.

By THE SPIRIT James wrote in chapter 2:

5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?

7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?

8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you do well;

9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors.

10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.

I have seen my share of the rich oppressing others by threatening or taking legal action.  In today’s environment it is not so much who is right or wrong but who has the best attorney and can afford to outlast the other party.  The rich know how to work the system and thus they tend to exploit the poor as they pursue their personal agendas.  Love treats all men with equal honor and respect for FATHER is the ONE WHO determines our value, not another one of HIS created.

The poor man is not encumbered with wealth and its demands.  Wealthy people tend to have less true friends and more people who want a relationship based on some financial benefit.  In the end, many of the rich are lonely.  Wealth is beneficial when it is used to bless people but when the wealth is focused on “self” it can become a curse.

As we walk in Love we are no longer enamored with the wealth of others but look to minister life to them as well as the poor man for all of creation needs to be reconciled.  When the rich finally embrace Agape Love, they will become givers and stewards of the wealth FATHER has allowed them to possess.

Proverbs 13:22 ​​A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous.

We all enter this world with very little and we will all leave this world and its riches behind.  Our inheritance is not of this world so let our focus be singular and without partiality.

A big “Thanks” to those who are able to contribute to Servias Ministries.  We appreciate your sensitivity toward giving and pray that FATHER bless you in the areas of your particular need. 

We are in exciting times and I am expecting the unexpected over the next 12 months.  The darkness is certainly getting darker which means the Light is getting brighter.  As we have been good stewards over a “little” we are proving ourselves for a greater stewardship on behalf of HIS Kingdom.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 4:

1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,

2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

The word endeavor means: to exert oneself to do or effect something; make an effort.  Keeping the unity of the Spirit is not a passive event but requires commitment on our part.  Yes I know many have been burnt by various congregations of Christians who are more interested in compliance to their “way” rather than “The Way”.  If you don’t comply with the vision of the pastor then you are separated out in a subtle fashion.  I speak from experience.  Unconditional Love was not found in most of the congregations.  There might have been plenty of hope and faith but the one ingredient that makes it all work and brings forth unity just simply wasn’t there.  If the “elders” don’t promote unconditional Love then how can the flock be held fully accountable?

The elders are called to serve the body, not the opposite.  The body is called to an active endeavor of pursuing unity but cannot to do so if the elders fail to focus on this critical aspect of being “One Body”.  I wonder if this is why we have so many church denominations and buildings in the U.S.?  Could this be why half the country can’t accept a new administration?

Unity must begin with The Holy Spirit and then go horizontal to other people close to us.  Husband and wife are surely high on the list of priorities.  As my wife and I are in accord, things go better in all areas.  When one of us was not at peace and the other forged ahead… not so good.  We must realize that the Holy Spirit will minister to those around us when we are not hearing as well.  It was best to do nothing when we at odds about a situation requiring commitment.  It is better to wait and be patient than to fix what goes wrong because our ego wanted to move forward.  Life is simpler when we walk in one accord.

Today my wife and I celebrate our 45th Anniversary and our pursuit of unity is at its best.  There have been a few years I wish I could fix but I guess that is all part of the training.  I include the following for those who are married or are considering marriage:

I Do

They are about to say “I Do”; three little letters, two little words.

It is the simplest part of the day but there is nothing simple about

the things that will remain unsaid.

I Do means: I Do know I could be hurt, but I am ready to be

healed with you.

It means I Do want to try even when the fear of failure holds me

back and I Do not know the future, but I am ready to be

surprised along the way; and I Do means I Do want your love

and I Do give you mine, and nothing we do will ever be the same

because you and I will be doing it all together.

Is my weakness stronger than FATHER’S power and ability?  Am I too busy to spend time with FATHER?  There is nothing greater than FATHER’S calling on my life.  My calling is irrevocable therefore the only obstacle to me walking in my calling is “me”.

Abraham in Genesis 12:

10 Now there was a famine in the land, and Abram went down to Egypt to dwell there, for the famine was severe in the land.

11 And it came to pass, when he was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife, “Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance.

12 Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say, ‘This is his wife’; and they will kill me, but they will let you live.

13 Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you.”

Moses in Exodus chapter 3:

10 Come now, therefore, and I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring My people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.”

11 But Moses said to God, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?”

12 So He said, “I will certainly be with you. And this shall be a sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”

Peter in Luke chapter 5:

5 But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”

6 And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

7 So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!”

What did these three men have in common?  They doubted themselves concerning their calling.  All of us could be listed with them but FATHER gave us their examples to encourage us that HE will watch over HIS Word to perform it on our behalf as we align ourselves with our individual callings.  The examples in Scripture are meant to increase our faith and confidence IN HIM as we mature into the fullness of what FATHER has called us to do on behalf of the Kingdom.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 12:

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

When I was young I relied on my own abilities to overcome obstacles yet my abilities proved to be insufficient.  FATHER used those obstacles to show me the importance of relying on HIM rather than myself or the worldly opinions.  Man’s wisdom was proven to be insufficient and incomplete, especially in life-threatening events.  As we are able to look back over those times, we are able to see man’s intent which was found to be self-serving rather than being beneficial to all.  As we focus on our individual callings and increase in faith by hearing FATHER, we will begin to tap into the power and authority behind our calling.  We will become strong and have good courage just as Joshua when it was time for him to fulfill his calling:

Deuteronomy 31:

6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

7 Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it.

8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

I say to you this day: Follow The Way and FATHER will not leave you nor forsake you.  HE is responsible for our callings and assignments thus HE will provide us the necessary time, resources, understanding, and wisdom to carry out the directives given to us.  We are responsible to remove our doubts by allowing HIS Word to cleanse us of unbelief.  We are responsible to spend time focused on our mandate.  Let each of us do our part knowing that FATHER will certainly do HIS part.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 10:

25 And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”

27 So he answered and said, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ ”

28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”

Most people have no issue with the first commandment of Loving THE LORD your GOD with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind yet doing the same to your neighbor presents a problem for many.  It is rather straightforward to Love the CREATOR of the universe WHO can do no wrong (if you have the wisdom and understanding to comprehend HIS actions).  Your neighbors aren’t quite as perfect and will require unconditional Love when they do not conform to your standards.  Expectations are set for people to maintain a standard according to local traditions and peer pressure.  Are you willing to Love the unlovely?

In the U.S. one of the biggest issues neighbors deal with is keeping their property up consistent with the neighborhoods.  Instead of calling the authorities to cite the neighbor, why don’t we simply help the neighbor out as a labor of Love?  Jesus set a different standard than how the world would respond when encountering “neighbors”.  Jesus spoke in Matthew in chapter 5:

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

39 But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.

40 If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

42 Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow from you do not turn away.

We don’t need to pull out a Strong’s Concordance and redefine the Intent of what Jesus said, simply take it at face value.  We will not win people to Christ by force, manipulation, or superior intellect.  People are hurting and want to see genuine Love in action.  Our acts of kindness will soften their hearts in preparation of receiving the Good News.  How would your neighbors describe you to others?  Unless we display qualities of being “Christ-like” we have some work to do.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 6:

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Many of my beloved brothers and sisters are being challenged this year especially with physical issues.  It would appear that the enemy is making an all out assault against the Sons and Daughters of FATHER.  During these times we must encourage each other by ministering HIS Word to address the issue at hand.  Often I wish I could provide some guaranteed formula or “pill” to resolve the issue but for whatever reason we must not rely on past successes to get us through the current struggles.  FATHER is expecting us to come directly to HIM with each and every “wile” of the devil and not place our trust on what worked years ago.

We must let patience have its perfect work as we stand against the devil.  Our faith must be in FATHER and HIS plan to take us through these struggles many of us are facing.  We must not let our emotions determine the outcome but instead we must rely on HIS WORD and directives to navigate us through the battle before us.  Recall the Word given to us several weeks ago:

TRUST ME HERE AND NOW. YOU ARE IN RIGOROUS training—on an adventurous trail designed for you alone. This path is not of your choosing, but it is My way for you. I am doing things you can’t understand. That is why I say, “Trust Me!” The jungle is thick, and you cannot clearly see what is before you, behind you, or beside you. Cling to My hand as you follow this trail in shadowy darkness. Although you cannot see Me, My Presence with you is rock-solid reality. Find hope in Me, beloved, for I am taking care of you. Focus on enjoying Me and all that I am to you—even though your circumstances scream for resolution.

Refuse to obsess about your problems and how you are going to fix them. Instead, affirm your trust in Me; wait hopefully in My Presence, and watch to see what I will do.

For some of us the term “rigorous” seems like an understatement at times.  Note that FATHER chose this path of testing and training, not us.  We must simply rely on HIM to take us through the challenges before us and be patient.  We must affirm our trust in HIM!  During these times of struggle, FATHER will open our eyes to what is important and whether our priorities are aligning with HIM.

Relationships are critical during these times of struggle.  Unconditional Love must be at the forefront of our interaction with those in need.  Let us pray for those in need of healing and restoration.  Let us financially assist others when possible.  In whatever manner possible, let us be a blessing to others by initiating some act of kindness.

To those of us in need, let us focus our attention on what FATHER is revealing and embrace it as part of our instruction.  We need not concern ourselves about tomorrow when FATHER is focusing our attention on today’s struggles.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.

Paul wrote by The SPIRIT the following instruction in Romans chapter 12:

9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.

10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;

11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

We are all in this together so let us promote unity and restoration as we deal with the struggles set before us.

By THE SPIRIT Paul wrote in Titus chapter 1:

1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness,

2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,

3 but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior

Our promise of eternal life was given to us before any of us were formed in the womb… even before time began.  What a plan!  We must not let the temporal challenges that the world has set before us overwhelm us and preoccupy our consciousness.  Let each of us examine and assess our current state in this area.  We must place our hope and focus on the eternal, not the temporal.  The spiritual is a higher state than the physical and as we dwell and meditate on the spiritual, our physical state will begin to line up with our spiritual state.

Paul also wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 1:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,

5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,

6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.

The fact that you are reading this should encourage you that you are among those who FATHER has selected to be exposed to such a mystery.  This alone should give each of us hope.  I would treat this as an invitation to dig deeper into the Revelation of The Lord Jesus Christ and gain understanding of exactly what FATHER’S immediate purpose and plan are so that we can become an integral part of HIS plan.  Where do we start?  Just consider all the Words Jesus spoke in the Gospels.  He spoke the Word as directed by FATHER so we can know FATHER’S intent and gain further understanding of HIS motivation of Love.

Rest and relax in the reality that we are eternal beings chosen before the foundation of the world.  Given that Truth why are we fretting about what tomorrow may bring?  Jesus made this point in Matthew chapter 6:

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?

26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

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

Let our faith and trust be placed in FATHER and HIS plan rather than the circumstances surrounding us today for our circumstances can change in a nanosecond.  Let our faith IN HIM be our guiding light so that we can operate well within the realm of HIS Intent of Love.  FATHER is willing and able to supply all our need according to HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus so let our faith be directed according to that Truth so that it becomes a reality in our individual lives.  If FATHER chose us before the foundation of the world, surely HE made preparations for meeting our needs as well no matter how significant.  You and I are in the big picture of eternity so let us consciously walk out that reality in our everyday lives.

In Hebrews chapter 11 it is written by THE SPIRIT:

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.

9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise;

10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.

12 Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born as many as the stars of the sky in multitude—innumerable as the sand which is by the seashore.

FATHER will call us out of our comfort zone in order to minister a new revelation to us.  Just as Abraham did not know where he was going, there are times when FATHER does not divulge any details until we have by faith stepped out our familiar surroundings.  Sometimes those surroundings are built on tradition and we must not let any traditions impede the revelation about to come forth.  We all want to dwell in the city whose builder and maker is Our Heavenly Father yet many want to remain in the comfort of known surroundings.  Abraham wasn’t given that choice.

Sarah also had to walk in faith so that she could receive strength to conceive seed.  Her familiar surroundings would have convinced her that she could not bare a son and would have diluted her faith.  She needed to be separated from those surroundings as well.

There are times when FATHER isolates us from those who would negatively impact our faith and we must not concern ourselves with this temporary separation.  Instead, let FATHER minister HIS Word for us and let us respond by walking in faith concerning HIS Word.  It may be emotionally challenging during the time when faith must manifest the reality of what FATHER is about to bring forth.  This is one aspect of our calling- be fully submitted to FATHER’S leading.

Just as it did in Abraham and Sarah’s case, FATHER’S Word may require substantial commitment on our part.  Imagine raising a son in your latter years!  This is where trust in FATHER’S plan must be unshakeable.  Some of us will be stretched beyond what we thought we could handle but FATHER is well aware of our capacity and resilience.  HE will not give us more than we can handle so when HE places us on a path, stay focused on HIS Word and know that a Loving FATHER will lead and guide us through all the challenges which may arise along that path.