Servias Ministries Blog

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Hebrews chapter 11:

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony (a good report).

3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Before the worlds were manifested in the physical, did they exist?  Yes for they resided in the invisible state, not yet observable except in THE SPIRIT.  FATHER’S Divine Intent is reality even before the manifestation occurs in the lower state of the natural.  Jesus made it abundantly clear in the Gospels.  FATHER spoke to Jeremiah in chapter 1:

​5 ​​“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;

​​Before you were born I sanctified you;

​​I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Did Jeremiah exist before his body began to form in the womb?  Absolutely.  FATHER knew all of us in the same manner.  As we proclaim HIS Word in our lives, we are effecting change not only in our physical state but also in circumstances around us.  This is what faith does.  Abram was childless and Sarah was barren when FATHER changed his name to Abraham (the father of many nations).  Every time Abraham’s name was spoken, faith expressed itself in his life and The Word grew in Abraham and changed his circumstances as well as that of Sarah.  It all began when FATHER spoke in Genesis chapter 17:

4 “As for Me, behold, My covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of many nations.

5 No longer shall your name be called Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you a father of many nations.

6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you.

7 And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.

8 Also I give to you and your descendants after you the land in which you are a stranger, all the land of Canaan, as an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

Had FATHER’S Words already manifested in the natural when HE spoke them to Abraham?  No, it was a number of years before the manifestation came forth but nevertheless it did.  Once FATHER’S Word was spoken and received by Abraham, it was simply a matter of time.  This is true for you and me as well.  Once we hear FATHER’S Word directed to us and receive it in our hearts, it is only a matter of time before it is manifested in the natural.  However, we have a responsibility to guard that Word in our hearts and not allow the enemy to plant unbelief in us and choke the Word.  Jesus explained the parable of the sower to His disciples in Matthew chapter 13:

18 “Therefore hear the parable of the sower:

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

20 But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy;

21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he stumbles.

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

23 But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”

What is good ground?  Jesus tells us who has “good ground” by telling us who doesn’t.  A person with no understanding or one who allows the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches to be the focus of his or her life.  As we focus on the Truths found in Scripture and seek FATHER’S wisdom and understanding to enlighten us, our faith will properly produce results and bear good fruit in notable quantities.  We must fix our eyes on Jesus Christ Who is the first begotten Son of FATHER and embrace His teachings.  Above all, we must embrace and walk in the commandment of Love.  Without Love, our faith will not be pure nor will the ground be deemed totally “good.”  In the 70’s and 80’s, faith was taught without any emphasis on Love.  In many cases, Love was never mentioned.  How do I know?  I was there at the meetings, watched the TV shows, read the books, and listened to the audio tapes.

We must not worry about what others think when we are proclaiming The Word in our lives.  The world would try to pressure us into staying in the muck and mire of their state, but FATHER intends for us to flourish and walk in faith perfected by Love.  How can I proclaim The Word in some areas and be “faithless” in other areas FATHER addresses in HIS Word?  Let us study to show ourselves approved and know that FATHER will supply all our needs relating to our individual callings.  If I get sick, I expect to recover.  If I need resources for my calling, I expect to acquire them.

Paul wrote to the Philippians in chapter 4:

16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities.

17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Paul’s necessities for his calling were supplied by the Philippians out of Love, and he knew FATHER would bless them in response.  He gave FATHER all the glory as we should.

Until we are perfected, all of us have to deal with error in our beliefs.  I look back at my early years and see that even though I was sincere in my beliefs, I was sincerely wrong.  My actions reflected my error as well.  The apostle Paul admitted his past error as well and his actions had a substantial negative impact on many believers while he was known as Saul.  In Galatians chapter 1, Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT:

1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

2 and all the brethren who are with me, To the churches of Galatia:

​3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,

4 who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

5 to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

We often skim through the salutations at the beginning of each epistle but here we see Who selected Paul to be an apostle.  He was not selected by the casting of lots but by Our Lord Jesus Christ AND GOD the FATHER.  Paul knew that Jesus only spoke those Words FATHER directed Him to speak to Paul at his conversion.  Paul knew THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY as FATHER thus he had the revelation of Love and wrote to the church at Corinth about this revelation.  Paul had firsthand experience of being taught the error of another gospel.  He was in error before his conversion, and his zeal was very destructive toward believers, yet FATHER forgave him, and he became a vessel of honor.  He was then able to see problems arising in the churches:

6 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

7 which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.

8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.

We must be vigilant to protect ourselves when we study or hear teachers preaching what appears to be the Gospel.  When the Gospel is perverted in some manner, we will get a “check” in our spirit, and we must not disregard that check but search the Scripture to see where the problem lies.  We must not let the high regard we hold for people to cause us to overlook errors in their teaching.  Even a reported supernatural encounter must be validated even though we all long for such an encounter.  Paul knew his writings might not be popular and would go against those who were attempting to defend their gospel and associated actions:

10 For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.

I only answer to My Lord Jesus and FATHER and am willing to expose teaching in error to protect the flock from taking the wrong path.  I do it out of Love for the brethren just as Paul found it necessary to correct those in Galatia.  If I was taught in error and suffered judgment associated with that error, then it is incumbent upon me to share this with the brethren.  Paul shares this reality in his writings:

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.

14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

It is up to each of us to seek out the Truth and not allow man’s teaching to be the final word in our lives.  We were given The Holy Spirit to help us when we are exposed to teaching in order to determine its validity.  As we seek to be sensitive to The Holy Spirit, our ability to quickly discern Truth will improve.  If our ego gets stroked by the teacher, our sensitivity decreases because our ego begins to overpower that still small voice.  As we mature, we will not allow men’s accolades affect our discerning of their spirituality and as a result we will not be moved away from the Truth.

Once we correct the error of what we have been taught, we must let FATHER deal with those who taught us in error rather than take it upon ourselves to evoke some sort of judgment.  HE will deal with them in the appropriate manner while we go about doing FATHER’S business.  It is up to each of us to guard hearts so that we can receive greater revelation from Above.

Prior to receiving the impartation of The Holy Spirit recorded in Acts 2:4, Peter had determined that Judas Iscariot needed to be replace.  In Acts chapter 1 it is written by THE SPIRIT:

1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,

2 until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen,

3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.

4 And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me;

5 for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

6 Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?”

7 And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority.

8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

9 Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

Jesus spent forty days with the disciples and did not select a replacement for Judas yet Peter determined to replace him after Jesus’ departure.  Wouldn’t Jesus have made the selection before He departed if it was FATHER’S perfect plan, Will, and purpose?  I am sure Peter’s intent was good but yet Jesus made no mention of it during the forty days of instruction.  Peter took charge:

15 And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred and twenty), and said,

16 “Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;

17 for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

…

21 “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,

22 beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

23 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

24 And they prayed and said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen

25 to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.”

26 And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

After that day we hear no more mention of Matthias.  Why didn’t Peter wait until the Day of Pentecost or wait upon FATHER to instruct him?  Instead, he said a prayer requesting FATHER to endorse the casting of lots.  It all sounded good but there is no observable fruit of Matthias after being designated as the twelfth apostle.  Men continue to use physical means in order to get spiritual direction and answers.  Gideon did so and FATHER answered him because of HIS great grace and mercy.  However Gideon had already received the directive and simply wanted confirmation.  Peter initiated the plan to replace Judas without any directive from Jesus.

A physical sign or use of physical means to discern FATHER’S Will was used in the Old Testament but since we have The Holy Spirit, any use today can lead one into the area of divination and witchcraft.  False prophets used divination to foretell the future and FATHER expressly forbid its use (Lev. 19:26) as well as witchcraft (Deut 18:10).  Any alternative to access the spiritual versus hearing FATHER places a person at risk of judgment.  FATHER’S grace and mercy will prevail for those who are immature but at some point we must refer to Scripture to determine the validity of any teaching, prophecy, or method of receiving answers.

The Beloved Disciple John was totally silent in Peter’s decision to replace Judas and we hear of no mention of Peter’s decision later.  There was simply no fruit produced.  Could it be that Paul was meant to be counted as the twelfth disciple?  After all, he did pen two-thirds of the New Testament after his conversion from Saul to Paul.  In Acts chapter 9 Jesus spoke to Ananias:

15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

Jesus clearly chose Paul to be an apostle and I suspect Peter may have repented once he heard Paul’s testimony and saw the fruit of his ministry.  It appears that Peter missed the mark but it did not prevent him from fulfilling his calling.  I too have missed the mark countless times in the past but FATHER has continued to deliver me from death and destruction because of HIS Son’s perfect sacrifice and HIS great grace and mercy.  We have all missed the mark from time to time and it is comforting to know that even the disciples were not yet perfected even though they spent 3 1/2 years with Our Lord Jesus Christ.  There is hope for us all!