Servias Ministries Blog

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!

There are blessings associated with hearing, responding, and heeding The Word of Our Heavenly Father.  These blessings need not be out of our reach but are there for those who diligently seek to be in one accord with FATHER.  Many of those who became aware of these blessings simply wanted to be blessed without truly walking according to FATHER’S plan and will.  As we align ourselves with HIS Will, plan, and purpose, these blessing will begin to materialize in our life.  Some may come forth in a manner not expected or anticipated but yet they will come.  FATHER has alerted us to pay close attention when HE has brought forth these blessing by using the Hebrew word shama`  twice in a row in order to emphasize the importance of what HE is declaring thus we should pay close attention.  The following are five progressive passages which lead us toward the fullness of blessing in our lives.

In Exodus 15:26 we find the first use of shama` shama` and this verse contains the blessing of healing:

26 and said, “If you diligently heed (shama` shama` )  the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

Our health comes before our family because if we are sick we are unable to serve our family.  Instead they are having to serve us thus sickness is a burden to the family needing to be removed from us and FATHER has expressed HIS willingness to remove sickness and disease from those who are willing to diligently seek HIM and hear HIS Word.

In Deuteronomy chapter 11 THE SPIRIT wrote:

13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey (shama` shama` )  My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

19 You shall teach them to your children, speaking of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

20 And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates,

21 that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give them, like the days of the heavens above the earth.

The second blessing  is a good family life and is achieved by diligently hearkening to HIS Voice and Word.  As we talk about GOD’S Word in our daily life, our children will be blessed as a result of our example and teaching in the household.  The result of this priority is the days of our children will be multiplied and our house will be like the days of Heaven on the earth.

In Deuteronomy chapter 15 THE SPIRIT wrote:

For the LORD will greatly bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you to possess as an inheritance—

5 only if you carefully obey, diligently hearken (shama` shama` ) the voice  of the LORD your God, to observe with care all these commandments which I command you today.

6 For the LORD your God will bless you just as He promised you; you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow; you shall reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over you.

The third blessing is prosperity and is connected to our finances and our ability to help others outside our household.  Borrowing can easily become a source of bondage and FATHER is interested in us not being held captive by the world system.  Many have abused this blessing and have assume that FATHER wants us all to be multi-millionaires but we are to be “conduits” of blessings where HE will provide us with abundance to meet the needs we encounter.  There is a difference between abundance and exceeding excess.  We need to remove the debt mentality promoted by the world which seeks to enslave us and this blessing addresses the problem.  Proverbs 22 addresses this blessing as well:

6 ​​Train up a child in the way he should go, ​​And when he is old he will not depart from it.

​7 ​​The rich rules over the poor, ​​And the borrower is servant to the lender.

​8 ​​He who sows iniquity will reap sorrow, ​​And the rod of his anger will fail.

​9 ​​He who has a generous eye will be blessed, ​​For he gives of his bread to the poor.

The fourth blessing is found in Deuteronomy chapter 28:

1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey  (shama` shama` ) the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.”

All blessings associated with being on earth are listed in verses 2 to 14 and it covers most areas in our life.

The fifth blessing is found in Isaiah chapter 55:

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, ​​Come to the waters; ​​And you who have no money, ​​Come, buy and eat. ​​Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 ​​Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? ​​Listen carefully  (shama` shama` )  to Me, and eat what is good, ​​And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 ​​Incline your ear, and come to Me. ​​Hear, and your soul shall live; ​​And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— ​​The sure mercies of David.

The fifth and final blessing deals with eternity, well beyond our life on this earth.

The progression is:

1. Health and restoration

2. Good family life

3. Prosperity

4. Overall blessing on earth

5. Eternal, everlasting blessing in Heaven and on the earth.

We are told to hearken diligently that requires each of us to change and come up higher in all aspects of our life.  We each have a responsibility to hear in order to receive the above blessings.  Let the change come forth today in our individual lives.

Luke recorded by THE SPIRIT in chapter 5:

15 However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.

Our responsibility is to hear and listen intently to The Word thus allowing It to become one with us.  As the people heard Jesus’ words they were to receive their healing from Him.  In Joshua chapter 1 THE SPIRIT wrote:

8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

This is a simple and very effective verse for us to place our faith in on a daily basis.  We are encouraged to speak and meditate on HIS Word day and night along with acting on HIS Word resulting in good success in a prosperous fashion.  When we fully align ourselves with FATHER’S Word then we come into unity with HIM just as Jesus is.  This results in us becoming mature Sons and Daughters.

As we focus on the Words of Jesus and listen to what He is saying, our bodies begin responding to His Words of life and healing.  It may begin slowly but most assuredly our mind and bodies will respond.  In Luke chapter 6:

17 And He came down with them and stood on a level place with a crowd of His disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and from the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear Him and be healed of their diseases,

18 as well as those who were tormented with unclean spirits. And they were healed.

19 And the whole multitude sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.

Once again we find that our part is to diligently listen to Jesus’ Words for our healing.  Jesus was not reluctant to heal but “healed them all” so we should not be hesitant to seek His healing power in our lives.  The people came to hear and in response He healed them ALL.

THE SPIRIT wrote in Acts chapter 14:

6 they became aware of it and fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and to the surrounding region.

7 And they (Paul and Barnabas) were preaching the gospel there.

8 And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked.

9 This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,

10 said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked.

Paul was constantly preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ and the crippled man was continually hearing this message.  The crippled man’s faith was being built up as he heard and listened.  Paul became aware of this man and observed him intently discerning that his faith had increased to the point where he could be healed by his faith.  The man listened intently, his faith grew, and he was healed of a life-long malady.  Does it get any better than that?

In a previous writing I wrote about shama` shama` in Exodus 15:

There He (THE LORD) made a statute and an ordinance for them, and there He tested them, 26 and said, “If you diligently heed (shama` shama`)  the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

The first use of shama` shama` or diligently heed, hearken, or listen is specifically connected to FATHER’S expressed healing power.  FATHER established early on that HE was able and wanted to heal us of our sickness and disease.  Likewise, Jesus expressed FATHER’S Love in the same manner when we walked the earth.  In addition, the disciples also preached this message of healing, the people listened intently, and they were healed.  It is still true and applicable to us as well.

Mankind tends to be negatively oriented thus we need to hear the Good News until we become positively oriented and allow our faith to grow with the good seed of the Gospel planted in us.  The result is we become optimistic rather than pessimistic and cynical.  Look at your words to see which category you are in for out the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.  Is is time to hear the true Gospel of Jesus Christ and allow HIS Word to remove the world’s impact on us.  In response His healing power will overshadow us and we will look to share the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who also desire to hear intently and desire to be healed and restored.

Please read the following closely for they are words of life to those who have ears to hear.  There are several places in the Old Testament where we find the Hebrew word for “hear” which is shama` used twice in a row- shama` shama`. FATHER wants us to pay very close attention when HE repeats the word shama`.

In Exodus chapter 15 THE SPIRIT wrote:

26 and said, “If you diligently heed (shama` shama` ) the voice of the LORD your God and do what is right in His sight, give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put (or permit) none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians. For I am the LORD who heals you.”

FATHER wants us to know most assuredly that HE is JEHOVAH RAPHA (THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY OUR HEALER) and we should never forget this Truth.  THE SPIRIT wrote in Deuteronomy chapter 11:

13 ‘And it shall be that if you earnestly obey (hearken to) (shama` shama` ) My commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,

14 then I will give you the rain for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine, and your oil.

15 And I will send grass in your fields for your livestock, that you may eat and be filled.’

In this case FATHER once again describes HIMSELF this time as JEHOVAH JIREH, Our Provider, for HE gives and sends provision for us in our time of need.  Now in Deuteronomy chapter 28 where we find the blessings of obedience, FATHER tells us to listen closely, harken diligently, or he who has ears to hear, let him hear what is about to be said:

1 “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey (shama` shama` )  the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.

2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:

3 “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country.

4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.

5 “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl.

6 “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out.

7 “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

8 “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

9 “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.

10 Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you.

11 And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you.

12 The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

13 And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them.

14 So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

The next occurrence takes place in Jeremiah 17:24 concerning the Day of Rest.  Each of us needs a Day of Rest during the seven day cycle.  We should take the opportunity to take Holy Communion and keep its meaning before us the entire day without any major distraction.  FATHER spoke to the Israelites concerning the Sabbath:

21 Thus says the LORD: “Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the Sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

22 nor carry a burden out of your houses on the Sabbath day, nor do any work, but hallow the Sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers.

23 But they did not obey nor incline their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction.

24 “And it shall be, if you heed Me carefully,” says the LORD, “to bring no burden through the gates of this city on the Sabbath day, but hallow the Sabbath day, to do no work in it,

25 then shall enter the gates of this city kings and princes sitting on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their princes, accompanied by the men of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and this city shall remain forever.

FATHER’S promises to us are not hidden to only those who can find them through exhaustive study but instead FATHER emphasizes them by pointing them out to us in an obvious and clear fashion.  “Hearken diligently” means to listen and pay very close attention.  Let us ponder the above passages as we are reminded that FATHER changes not and HIS Love is consistent and reliable throughout all of Scripture.  HIS promises are applicable today just as they were when THE SPIRIT wrote them for all to read and “shama` shama`”.

Reading the above out loud will be of additional benefit for we will read, see, and hear!

When our soul is satisfied our youth is renewed, our iniquities are forgiven, we are healed of all our diseases, and our life is redeemed from destruction.  THE SPIRIT wrote in Psalm 103:

1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!

2 ​​Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

3 ​​Who forgives all your iniquities, ​​Who heals all your diseases,

4 ​​Who redeems your life from destruction, ​​Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,

5 ​​Who satisfies your mouth with good things, ​​So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

As we study, contemplate, and dwell on HIS Word, our faith grows and our realization of HIS benefits comes into focus.  If we turn our focus to the world’s issues, slowly but surely we begin to forget what we once knew to be sure and true in our lives.  Then one day we wake up and find ourselves in a troubling situation and wonder how we arrived there.  Virtually no one forgets to eat food daily yet many lose focus in eating Spiritual food in the same manner.  I know that the cares of the world can creep in and demand your focus but we must guard our hearts from allowing such distractions which compromise our Spiritual nourishment.

THE SPIRIT wrote in Isaiah chapter 55:

​​2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?

​​Listen carefully (to hear, listen to, obey) to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 ​​Incline your ear, and come to Me. ​​Hear, and your soul shall live;

​​And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— ​​The sure mercies of David.

Let us take this passage in Isaiah seriously and be determined to maintain a full commitment to hearing The Word for HIS Word is life and health to our bones.  There is such benefit to walking in HIS Word and being led by THE SPIRIT and we should not allow ourselves to become lukewarm.  To listen means to pay attention, concentrate, heed and obey.  We must incline our ear or be willing or favorably disposed toward hearing FATHER.  If we become reluctant or unwilling to hear then we will not receive the benefits FATHER has for us. 

We are to listen with a willing heart and I believe this becomes easy as we embrace the revelation of Love for then we are passionate about what FATHER has to tell us each and every day.  When HIS Spirit speaks to me I purpose to incline my ear to HIM and as I do, the Word HE speaks comes alive in me even though it contradicts what I previously thought.  A revelation corrects our thoughts else it would not need to be revealed to us.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 8:

19 Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd.

20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”

21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus gave us the key to being Sons and Daughters of FATHER when He said “those who hear the WORD of FATHER and do it”.  As we keep HIS Word before us, hear It, and do it, then not only are we remembering HIS benefits but we will receive them as well.

THE SPIRIT wrote by the hand of Paul in Romans chapter 10:

14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

17 So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

The word “hearing” is not past tense but is present tense thus faith comes by repeated hearing the Word of Our Heavenly Father.  We must keep HIS Word before us continually to maintain and grow our faith.  It is simply the way we are created.  In order to remain strong we must exercise whether it be in the physical or the Spiritual else we will grow weak in the area which receives no exercise or use.   Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 2:

16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.

When we hear The Word we should always hear in the context of Jesus Christ for we are justified by by faith IN HIM not by the works of the law.  Faith is necessary to live and grow in Christ thus we should keep His Word before us at all times.  We must not allow Christ to be deemphasized in any teaching because He is the manifestation of FATHER for our benefit both now and in the future.

Continuing in Romans chapter 10:

15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:

​​​“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, ​​Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

Hearing the Gospel of peace tells us there in no more war between us and Heaven for we are reconciled to FATHER through our Lord Jesus Christ Who put away all our sins and this is extremely good news.  Our focus should be on glad tidings of good things rather than the negative reports constantly being originated and repeated by the world.  Because of the blood of Jesus Christ, FATHER sees us Holy, perfect, and blameless.  Paul emphasizes this Truth in Colossians chapter 1:

19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

21 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled

22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Paul urges us to continue in faith being grounded and steadfast and not allow ourselves to be moved away from the hope of the Gospel.  I too urge all of us to remain steadfast in this Truth.  FATHER gives me the grace each day to hear HIM and write to my brethren to encourage us all to remain in this walk of faith.  Our faith in Jesus Christ may be challenged by the world but we must remain steadfast for Jesus Christ is the only true door to eternal salvation.  As Paul state earlier in Colossians:

15 He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.

17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.

The word “preeminence” means: the fact of surpassing all others; superiority.  There is none which will supersede Christ thus our faith must be in His preeminence over all things both in Heaven and in earth.  Any teaching omitting His preeminence must be carefully considered and tested for its relevance to our walk.  I would rather receive a deeper revelation of Christ than a multitude of facts which contain no life.  As we live a Christ-centered life, we begin to live a more abundant life.  Consider Isaiah 55:

1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, ​​Come to the waters;

​​And you who have no money, ​​Come, buy and eat.

​​Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

2 ​​Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?

​​Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 ​​Incline your ear, and come to Me. ​​Hear, and your soul shall live; ​​And I will make an everlasting covenant with you— ​​The sure mercies of David.

Let us hear HIS Word so our soul shall live for it gives nourishment and we will be satisfied with its abundance.  In order to come into the this state of being satisfied we must incline our ear to hear and hear and hear.

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.

A key word in this passage is “diligently” which means: to seek out for one’s self, search for, investigate, scrutinize, crave, or require.  When we diligently seek HIM we are rewarded.  In Mark chapter 5 there was a certain woman with an issue of blood:

25 Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years,

26 and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

27 When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment.

28 For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

The woman had faith in Jesus’ Body being the source of healing in her life and this revelation aligns itself with the bread of Holy Communion.  The healing power resided in His Body and her faith was able to access this power to heal.

29 Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”

Jesus responded when she touched His clothes for He knew power had flowed from Him to someone else.  In her past she had placed her faith in the physicians of the day but to no avail.  Jesus did not criticize her or the physicians.  The past is the past and we must not dwell there when we seek the healing power of Jesus in our lives.  The woman was already healed and Jesus provided the “why” of her healing and assured her of the completeness of her healing as well, including the affliction which caused the issue of blood:

32 And He looked around to see her who had done this thing.

33 But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth.

34 And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

In Matthew chapter 15, a woman from Canaan sought healing for her daughter who was demon-possessed but Jesus told her that He was called to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, not the Gentiles.  However, her faith prevailed and Jesus out of His Love did not deny healing her daughter:

22 And behold, a woman of Canaan came from that region and cried out to Him, saying, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.”

23 But He answered her not a word.  And His disciples came and urged Him, saying, “Send her away, for she cries out after us.”

24 But He answered and said, “I was not sent except to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”

25 Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!”

26 But He answered and said, “It is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the little dogs.”

27 And she said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the little dogs eat the crumbs which fall from their masters’ table.”

28 Then Jesus answered and said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be to you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Timothy chapter 6:

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, Love, patience, gentleness.

12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

We don’t need to fight the devil, we need to fight our flesh if need be in order that we walk by faith and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, Love, patience, gentleness.   Our faith should work by Love so that we keep our faith pure before FATHER when we petition HIM to meet a need in our life.  We must not allow our minds to convince us that we should seek out some formula for success but we must place our trust and faith in FATHER to guide us in accordance to HIS perfect plan. 

FATHER has healed me miraculously in a quick fashion but HE also has directed me to go to a doctor and do exactly what the doctor recommends causing the healing to occur over a period of time.  By faith I purpose to respond to HIS Word for my healing.  Both methods resulted in healing.  He will test us to see if our pride will keep us from getting the intended result.  Some people believe if you go to the doctor then you are not walking in faith.  I say that if FATHER says go to the doctor then you are walking in faith trusting in FATHER’S Word, no matter what method or person HE chooses to use.  In the Gospels, Jesus used mud in healing a man’s eyesight.  The healing did not come from the mud but from the obedience of FATHER’S Word.

We must fight to remain in faith.  THE SPIRIT wrote in Hebrew chapter 12:

1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,

2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus not only originates faith but He also completes it as well thus we are to walk in this faith by keeping our eyes on Jesus Christ.  The temptation of the devil is to bring us out of faith therefore we must fight to stay in faith and not allow the world to cause us to place our focus elsewhere.  This is why I like to start each day in HIS Word thus setting the stage for another day of walking in faith by HIS Love.  The more time we spend in THE WORD, the greater our faith will grow.  Romans 10:17 confirms this:

17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD.

Those who spend no time hearing, reading, and contemplating FATHER’S Word will have difficulty receiving by faith.  Each of us establish our individual priorities so it is our individual decision to either grow in faith or walk in little or no faith.  I encourage us all to fight the good fight of faith by immersing ourselves in HIS Word and mature to the point of being known for our great faith.  We must expect to receive from FATHER and distribute to others according to our faith IN HIM.  Our acts will be a great testimony to those who are searching for answers.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 6:

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.

54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.

56 He who eats (trōgō) My flesh and drinks My blood abides (menō) in Me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.

58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats (trōgō) this bread will live forever.”

The word “indeed” means truly, of a truth, in reality, most certainly.  Jesus is providing us a very important Truth in this passage and we should not take it lightly.  When we take the bread representing His Body, all the virtues of His broken Body are released in us and this is what we should contemplate as we receive His Bread.  He gave His Body for the zoe life in the world.  As I shared in a previous writing, trōgō means to gnaw, crunch, or chew meaning to thoroughly contemplate, consider, and dwell when taking His Body.

When we eat His flesh and drink His blood we abide in Him.  Abide (menō) means to manifest Him in our lives thus we will live because of Him.  He abides in us in a practical way as we properly take Communion.  As we take Communion in this manner, our faith in healing most assuredly grows even though it may grow slowly, nevertheless it is growing.  This will provide us with a firm foundation of faith as we deal with whatever lies ahead for each of us individually.

Communion reminds FATHER of HIS Son thus when we take Communion we have the attention of FATHER.  The Spiritual is greater than the physical thus as we take Communion we align ourselves with FATHER and HIS healing characteristic.  Our mind and body begins to respond to the Spiritual.

In Acts chapter 20: THE SPIRIT wrote:

6 But we sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread, and in five days joined them at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

In addition:

11 Now when he had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.

The disciples viewed Communion as a priority and Paul remained through the first day of the week to break bread with them thus his presence confirmed his priority as well.  When we take Communion, let us first examine ourselves.  Paul received a direct revelation from THE LORD and wrote by THE SPIRIT in 1 Corinthians chapter 11:

23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread;

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

Paul also confirms to us the importance of discerning, contemplating, considering, and dwelling on Jesus Christ’s Body which was broken for our healing and restoration.  This is not just an isolated teaching on Communion but is of major importance to our maturing process.  We must keep The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ at the forefront in our walk and never forget what it stands for.  Paul continues:

27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged.

32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

It is critical for us to understand that we never take Communion as a ritual.  When it becomes a ritual or a custom, the focus is on us which in turn causes us to take Communion in an unworthy manner.  But when we take Communion properly, Jesus’s body and blood are the sole focus.  The result of taking Communion in an unworthy manner causes us to be weak, sick, and in some resulting in death.  When we take the blood we are reminded that our sins are remitted thus we should not be “sin conscious” because His blood has taken care of those sins.

When we take Communion we proclaim The Lord’s death till He comes.  His offering on the altar brings victory and favor in our lives.  The prophet Samuel understood the importance of the lamb sacrifice when the Israelites needed victory over their enemies.  In 1 Samuel chapter 7:

7 Now when the Philistines heard that the children of Israel had gathered together at Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the children of Israel heard of it, they were afraid of the Philistines.

8 So the children of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry out to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”

9 And Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. Then Samuel cried out to the LORD for Israel, and the LORD answered him.

10 Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

When we take Communion we are effectively proclaiming Jesus’ Body and Blood as the perfect sacrifice on the Heavenly altar and FATHER responds by overcoming the enemy in our lives just as HE did for Israel when Samuel offered up a lamb to HIM.  When we eat we must remember that it is His Body that bore our sicknesses and diseases which makes our act worthy of Him.  In addition, when we drink His blood we are conscious that our sins are remitted and that is being worthy of Him.  When we proclaim The Lord’s death our enemies are defeated at that moment.

If we take the bread being conscious of our sickness or disease then we are taking the bread in an unworthy manner.  If our focus is confessing our sins then we are taking the wine in an unworthy manner as well for Jesus has given us the victory over all sickness, disease, and sin.  Many have either been ignorant of the importance of Communion because they were never properly taught or they have forgotten its importance.  Paul reestablished the importance to the church by his direct revelation from Our Lord Jesus Christ when he wrote this epistle to the Corinthians.  It applies to us as well.

For those who do not take Communion and know to or take it in an unworthy manner, then they open themselves to be subject to judgment.  When we are taking Communion unworthily we are judged resulting in weakness, sickness, disease, and possibly an early death so let us keep the revelation of Communion before us.  Let us partake of it in a worthy manner.