Servias Ministries Blog

In Acts chapter 2, Peter spoke by THE SPIRIT:

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;

24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

25 For David says concerning Him:

​​‘​I foresaw the LORD always before my face,

​​For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.

26 ​​Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad;

​​Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope.

27 ​​For You will not leave my soul in Hades,

​​Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.

28 ​​You have made known to me the ways of life;

​​You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’ (Psalm 16:8–11_

I have not only observed FATHER’S miracles but I have experienced HIS miracle-working power in my own life.  This personal experience causes me to never question my faith IN HIM or HIS miracle-working power because I am well aware of HIS willingness to confirm HIS presence to me personally.  Thus men cannot dissuade me from walking according to HIS Word.  Without miracles, how can we expect men and women to be assured that we represent “The Way”?

Men and women all over this earth  have a deep desire for miracles and will spare no expense to be in the presence of one whom FATHER uses to confirm HIS Presence by miracles, wonders, and signs.  Today, there are many who assign “signs” to their work as though those signs are a direct and specific confirmation that they are being used by FATHER yet Jesus’ ministry did not follow such a path.  FATHER once told me that all signs come from HIM but not all signs are relevant to me and that HE would tell me which signs are relevant.  Otherwise, disregard all other apparent signs.

Jesus confirmed that He is The Way by explicit miracles done through His ministry.  This is why people flocked to hear Him and heed His Words for they were undeniable and fully endorsed by FATHER because of HIS manifested Presence before the people.  Peter continued on the Day of Pentecost:

32 This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.

33 Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear.

The mature Sons and Daughters should expect nothing less as we come into full maturity.  We should expect FATHER to confirm HIS Presence in our midst as well.  We should not simply look for signs which may or may not be confirmations, but we should expect HIS Presence and bona fide miracles working through us as a testimony of our ministry according to FATHER’S purpose.  As Hebrews 13:8 proclaims:  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  So is His ministry through us just like it was through the early church.

Should we expect a spiritual awakening to occur without miracles, wonders, and signs?  Is FATHER going to change HIS Ways and withhold such confirmations?  Isn’t even more critical today that HE manifest HIS Presence to this world which seeks after the counterfeit like never before?  Let us not be lukewarm in this area and skirt this issue any longer.  Jesus’ ministry drew men and women to Him when they heard of the miracles which accompanied His preaching for FATHER was confirming The Word with HIS Presence.  Once again, we should expect nothing less.

In Matthew chapter 7, Jesus spoke:

21   “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven.

22   Many will say to Me on that day [when I judge them], ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, and driven out demons in Your name, and done many miracles in Your name?’

23   And then I will declare to them publicly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me [you are banished from My presence], you who act wickedly [disregarding My commands].’”

And Jesus spoke in John chapter 15:

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.

12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”

There has been much written about the meaning of the holidays and the various traditions assigned to them.  It is as though there is virtually nothing we can celebrate that won’t be found later to be among the list of things “not to do or use”.  Why?  Because the emphasis is placed on counterfeits raised up by the enemy in order to dilute the original meaning given by FATHER.  As an example, the number “13” has been assigned as a superstitious negative number but if you look deeper, that number and many of its multiples are numeric values pointing to Our Heavenly Father, so which way will you look at this number henceforth?

To counterfeit means to imitate something authentic, with the intent to steal, destroy, or replace the original, for use in illegal transactions, or otherwise to deceive individuals into believing that the fake is of equal or greater value than the real thing.  Why did Jesus come to us in the first place?  The beloved disciple wrote in 1 John chapter 3:

8 He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

There are counterfeit ministries, practices, customs, traditions, and methodologies that try to emulate the ministry of the Son of GOD, but we are to mature into the fullness of Jesus’ ministry, not those counterfeit ministries which yield no true true fruit for the Kingdom.  Isn’t the following also a true statement:  For this purpose the Sons and Daughters of God were manifested, that they might destroy the works of the devil ?

Let us not shy away from the genuine because those who point to the counterfeit are acting as though the counterfeit “way” has some special claim as being the original nature, designation, or intent.  Let us proceed into the full cleansing process with the motivation of Love and without regard of what people would have us believe in order to dissuade us from living our lives to the fullest intent of FATHER.  There is only one path known as “The Way”, all others are simply counterfeit and will produce no true fruit for the Kingdom.

In the manifold intent of our writings, we are focusing the readers to become the Bride who is called to become one with Our Lord Jesus Christ.  The beloved disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in Revelation chapter 19:

6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.”

8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.

Brother Eby wrote:

         May I share with you now a revelation that has been a great  blessing and encouragement to me in my walk in  God.  First, let me say that the garment of salvation is the righteousness of Christ imputed to us by faith.  “For what saith the scripture?  Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.  Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, His faith is counted for righteousness.  Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are  covered.  Blessed is the man  to whom the Lord will not impute sin” (Rom. 4:3-8).  “Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”  This word “counted” translates the Greek word logizomai which means to reckon, number, account, impute, all of which mean to credit to one’s account.  Because Abraham believed God, it was imputed or credited unto his account that he was righteous. 

The Amplified Bible says, “Abraham believed (trusted in) God, and it was credited to his account as righteousness — right living and right standing with God…thus David congratulates the man and pronounces a blessing  on him to whom God credits righteousness apart from the works he does.”  Paul continues, “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; but for us also, to whom it shall be imputed if we believe  on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; who was delivered up for our offences, and was raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:23-25).

             This is the sphere with which most Christians are acquainted, and we bless God for this beautiful and precious truth, for it is the solid foundation upon which we can build as we experience God in His great dealings and plan and purpose in our lives.  Our practical, daily experience has revealed the undeniable fact that just because the righteousness of Christ has been “imputed” to us, “charged to our account,” doesn’t mean that there has been even one iota of change in our STATE OF BEING.  It doesn’t mean that we are any less carnal, any less sinful, any less bound  by weaknesses, habits, and addictions, any less likely to fear, be upset and angry, gossip, smoke, drink, lust, or be any more godly in thoughts, desires, and actions.   It means that we now possess by faith, and as a free gift, the GARMENT OF SALVATION, and clothed in this garment we are legally saved from (the guilt of, or punishment for) our sins, being forgiven, acquitted, and all our past, present, and  future has been covered by God’s matchless grace!  This garment of salvation was wrought out (or woven) on the loom of Calvary by Christ our Lord.  HE worked out this great salvation for us!  HE made the garment of salvation.  We never could.  We had absolutely nothing to do with it — it was His work, gracious, noble, profound, and eternal!  Ah, yes, my beloved, you have received all this as a gift, but you yourself have not yet been fully changed, transformed from the earthly into the heavenly, having experientially put on ALL HE IS!

             So, while imputed righteousness gives us a clean slate before God, we soon discover by experience that this leaves us far short in our state of being of the image and glory of God, far short of either maturity or perfection.  We still find in our nature the law, the very working of “sin and death,” and all the old emotions and cravings of “the flesh” are continually surging, seething, bubbling up just beneath the surface.  In our salvation experience we have found mercy, goodness, graciousness from God, a  covering, an atonement, and yet, is it not true, dear child  of God, that our hearts are not satisfied?  Why?  Is it not because we know in our deepest heart that the garment of salvation has covered over all our sins, but beneath that garment still lies our flesh — our INNER STATE OF BEING STILL REMAINS PITIFULLY UNCHANGED!

             God dearly loves all His little children unto whom He has imputed the righteousness of Christ by faith.  And they are His no matter how they are living today!  But He doesn’t want to leave us in this unrighteous state!  His plan and purpose is to change us, transform us into His very image and likeness, to actually make us pure as He is pure, righteous as He is righteous!  He wants to impart His righteousness to us, not just impute it.  “For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD  IN HIM” (II Cor. 5:21).  Can you not see that there is a  world  of difference between being counted righteous and being made righteousness!  

Every son of God is ordained and predestined to possess and become the righteousness of God, be righteous as He is righteous, to be holy as He is holy.  Who wouldn’t want to become this  righteousness?  Who would not desire to always be right in all we think, in all we desire, in all we say and do — to never again think anything wrong or have any wrong ideas, desires, or motives; but to always be pure, correct, and divine in everything.  What a blessed state!  Impossible?  Not at all!  It is what God has planned for us and is working on in us.  Of this very truth the Psalmist wrote when he said, “He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for His name’s (nature’s)sake.”   He leads me in paths that will bring me to this glorious state where my inward nature is righteous as He is righteous.  Blessed be the Lord!    -End Quote-

We as Sons and Daughters are making ourselves ready for the marriage, to present ourselves first to Our Bridegroom as a pure, unblemished Bride, arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen.  We trust our writings are promoting these qualities in all who read the site on a frequent basis.  Until we are in the proper state and “attire”, we expect to continue the preparation to become fully acceptable in His sight, then and only then, are we presented to the rest of the world.  At that time will  they see Jesus in us and through us, and without blemish.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Colossians chapter 2:

1 For I want you to know what a great conflict I have for you and those in Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh,

2 that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ,

3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The knowledge of Our Heavenly Father includes The Word and the underlying Divine Intent.  His Wisdom provides us with the correct path to take when we are confronted with multiple avenues to pursue, no matter what the others would suggest.  Wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of FATHER’S Divine Intent are all included in the treasures found in the Treasury of Heaven of which we are to access in order to fulfill our Divine purpose.  These are the riches found in the mystery of both the FATHER and of Christ HIS anointed.  We are to guard HIS treasure and not allow it to be stolen by the lawlessness and philosophies of men.

8  See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.

9  For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God].

10  And in Him you have been made complete [achieving spiritual stature through Christ], and He is the head over all rule and authority [of every angelic and earthly power].  AMPL

We are warned about being enslaved by the philosophies of men which steer us away from the teachings of Christ.  If we know Christ’s teachings represent FATHER’S Divine Intent, why we would want to seek wisdom, understanding, and knowledge from any other source?  After all, the great philosophers are all dead and remain in their coffins to this very day.  Yet Jesus is alive and well and His tomb remains empty.  Let’s be realistic about whose ministry we pursue.  Any ministry that fails to exalt Christ and His teachings are but philosophies arising out of the soul of man and have no inherent power or authority to change people’s lives.  Their treasury is empty.

FATHER’S treasury is never ending and can supply all of creation with HIS riches in glory by Christ Jesus for He is the head over all rule and authority!  Even the wind and waves are under His authority.  Men are constantly seeking the treasures of this current system which are subject to men’s perceptions.  One day an asset is sought after by everyone and the next day it can become worthless.  In 2 Kings chapter 7, Elisha spoke by THE SPIRIT:

1 Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the LORD: ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour shall be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, at the gate of Samaria.’ ”

2 So an officer on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God and said, “Look, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

And he said, “In fact, you shall see it with your eyes, but you shall not eat of it.”

Four leprous men dared to go into the camp of the Syrians who assumed the thought they were being invaded:

6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses—the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!”

7 Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact—their tents, their horses, and their donkeys—and they fled for their lives.

8 And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.

What was the result?  They left all their assets behind in their haste and the leprous men found the city abandoned and reported the good news to the king. Upon hearing this news, the king sent men to the Syrian stronghold only to find:

15 And they went after them to the Jordan; and indeed all the road was full of garments and weapons which the Syrians had thrown away in their haste. So the messengers returned and told the king.

16 Then the people went out and plundered the tents of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD.

In one day, the assets of the world lost tremendous value.  As Jesus said in Matthew 6:21 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”  Think about it.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Acts chapter 8:

1 Now Saul was consenting to his (Stephen’s) death.  At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles.

2 And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.

3 As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.

Saul gained notoriety for being an enemy of the believers, especially those who were vocal about their faith in Christ.  He imprisoned both men and women for their faith and trust in Christ thus he was ruining the lives of families throughout the region.  He was zealous in his mission to eliminate the message of Love preached among the believers yet Jesus was not move by Saul’s actions and current path when He appeared to him on the road to Damascus in chapter 9:

1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven.

4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”  Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.”

6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?”  Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

If there was anyone who needed to release the past, it was Saul.  His malicious intent and acts were to the extreme yet Jesus appeared to him anyway.  He was easily classified as a vessel of dishonor but later was to become a vessel of honor.

We must not allow our past determine our present focus and our future.  As we are cleansed by The Word, our carnal man will bring up the past in order to dissuade us from moving forward toward fully purifying us and bringing us to a state of being classified as vessels of honor.  By the fact that the Holy Spirit filled Paul (who was Saul) and enabled him to write what we know as 2/3 of the New Testament Epistles is a confirmation to us that no matter what our past would suggest, The Word can and will cleanse us so that we may be used for FATHER’S purpose.  This cleansing caused a nature change in Saul who became Paul, from dishonor to honor.

We must not allow the old man to win the battle in our mind by bringing up the past as though our past would define our future.  Let us see ourselves as FATHER sees us and move forward in boldness.  Let us not be discouraged as we persist in cleansing every aspect of our being even though past thoughts and events are brought into our consciousness.  Just consider that to be the dross or impurities being removed from us as the cleansing takes place, never to return to that state.

Why was Saul’s name changed to Paul?

Why was Jacob’s name changed to Israel?

Why was Ben-Oni’s name changed to Benjamin?

Why did the angel specifically tell Mary to name her Son Jesus?

Why have I been consistently writing about the requirement for us to change?

Isn’t it about our nature changing from self interest to Agape Love?

These are questions to ponder, especially if you are going to be joining our online meetings: http://www.servias.org/?p=6568

Isaiah recorded by THE SPIRIT in chapter 7:

1 Now it came to pass in the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, the son of Uzziah, king of Judah, that Rezin king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah, king of Israel, went up to Jerusalem to make war against it, but could not prevail against it.

2 And it was told to the house of David, saying, “Syria’s forces are deployed in Ephraim.” So his heart and the heart of his people were moved as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind.

3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, “Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-Jashub your son, at the end of the aqueduct from the upper pool, on the highway to the Fuller’s Field,

4 and say to him: ‘Take heed, and be quiet; do not fear or be fainthearted for these two stubs of smoking firebrands, for the fierce anger of Rezin and Syria, and the son of Remaliah.

5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah have plotted evil against you, saying,

6 “Let us go up against Judah and trouble it, and let us make a gap in its wall for ourselves, and set a king over them, the son of Tabel”—

Many of us came to understand the importance of names in both the Old and the New Testament as we continued pursuing the deeper aspects of The Word.  This realization added breadth to what we have been pursuing in order to gain a greater understanding of what FATHER is conveying to those who have ears to hear and eyes to see.  The name Ahaz means "he has grasped".  The name Rezin comes from a root word meaning will, desire, pleasure, self-will, i.e. self interest.  The name Pekah means “to open the eyes”.  Additionally, Remaliah means "protected by Jehovah".  This story was given to us in order to prepare us for the ministry of Jesus Christ and to open our eyes to the calling of the Sons and Daughters of Our Heavenly Father.

Trees often refer to men in Scripture (see Mark 8:24 “I see men like trees, walking.”).  Isaiah spoke to Ahaz and told him to “fear not” nor be fainthearted.  Rezin and Pekah had agreed to set a king over Jerusalem- the son of Tabel which means “ GOD is good”.  On the surface, their intent would be to replace Ahaz with one who professes “GOD IS good” yet we see by the events that this was not the intent of FATHER but rather the intent of man as we read on:

7 thus says the Lord GOD: ​​​“It shall not stand, ​​Nor shall it come to pass.

8 ​​For the head of Syria is Damascus, ​​And the head of Damascus is Rezin. ​​Within sixty-five years Ephraim will be broken, ​​So that it will not be a people.

9 ​​The head of Ephraim is Samaria, ​​And the head of Samaria is Remaliah’s son. ​​If you will not believe, ​​Surely you shall not be established.” ’ ”

10 Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying,

11 “Ask a sign for yourself from the LORD your God; ask it either in the depth or in the height above.”

12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, nor will I test the LORD!”

13 Then he said, “Hear now, O house of David! Is it a small thing for you to weary men, but will you weary my God also?

14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

The above prophecy given to Isaiah to communicate to Ahaz to express FATHER’S plan which would manifest centuries later in 2 B.C.  FATHER has expressed three progressive aspects of HIS Will: good, acceptable, and perfect.  Men were wanting to move the kingdom backwards to “good” rather than forward to “perfect” and this story is exposing what the self interest intends for mankind today yet FATHER was prophesying that “perfect” would be revealed to us and manifest Himself as “Immanuel”.  The Sons and Daughters are given this message in order that we move forward to “perfect” out of the realm of “acceptable” rather than backward to “good” and become lukewarm.  This story and prophecy is tied to the term “transformed” by the renewing of our mind.  Paul expressed this Truth by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 12:

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

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

The Amplified Version expresses in a more detailed manner:

1 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship.

2  And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

It is critical to ponder this Truth as we move forward.

My friend Alan wrote:

The historical value of the Hebrew language of the Old Testament contains the progression, in parable/metaphor/proverb format, from ‘adam’ to Christ. Contained in this historical progressive narrative are many ‘type and shadow’ analogies that reveal to us the natural and spiritual ascensions from our basic natural beginnings as ‘adam’, or mankind, a living soul, to our intended destination in Spirit Life, which is Christ. Each one of us can recognize and/or identify with many, or maybe even most, of these progressions in our own personal stories or ‘His-Stories’. The story of the progression of ‘Jacob’, as he ascends to his identity as ‘Israel’, is familiar to most who seriously study the Bible. And the spiritual messages available to us in the appearing of the sons of Jacob are of particular importance. This writing is to attempt to highlight and illuminate the names of the eleven sons of Jacob, and the one son of Israel. After the birth of Joseph to Rachel, Jacob experienced life changing events that led to the changing of his own name; from Jacob to Israel. His nature change, indicated in the name ‘Israel’, would have to come later.

The name ‘Jacob’ or, bq[y ((pronounced ‘yah-qove’, Strong’s # H3290) in Hebrew, has been greatly misunderstood, and maligned by religion for eons. The most common error in understanding the meaning of this name comes from trying to define, or describe, the name ‘Jacob’ by explaining the interpreted history of ‘Jacob’, son of Isaac. And there have been many ‘interpretations’ about ‘Jacob’ that are greatly distorted, and misunderstood. The name ‘Jacob’ has been loosely described as ‘supplant’; or ‘supplanter’. The story of Jacob is actually the story of each of us, in our own unique details. For Christ, in each of us, must ‘supplant’ ‘adam’ in us.

All names in the Hebrew language of the Old Testament come from three-letter action verbs.  ‘Yah-qove’ is no exception. ‘Yah-qove’, or Jacob, is derived from the verb ‘ah-qav’, Strong’s # H6119. The last letter in this word ‘ah-qav’ is the ‘beyt’ and is normally pronounced as our English ‘b’. But in this word the ‘beyt’ is pronounced with a softened ‘v’ sound, which is a common characteristic in many Hebrew pronunciations. This is why the English pronunciation of this word/name is ‘jacob’, but in Hebrew is pronounced as ‘yah-qove’, which can be confusing to many.  This verb is not used rolifically in the scriptures, but certainly enough times to get an idea of what this verb is communicating. The first use of this three-letter word is as a noun in Gen. 3:15 where it is translated as ‘heel’; hence the association with heel, or heel catcher. But there is so much going on in this very complex verse that relegating the understanding of this word ‘ah-qav’ to simply ‘heel’ is a disservice to the entirety of the scriptures, and to eons of seekers.

One of the prevalent uses of this word ‘ah-qav’ (Strong’s # H6119), when used as an adverb, is translated as ‘because’. This in itself can be confusing if not further clarified. Ultimately, this word ‘ah-qav’ is used to explain, or justify, actions resulting from specific consequences; or more simply put, of reaping what is sown. From this understanding, the word ‘ah-qav’ is translated in Psalm 19:11, 40:15 and 70:3 as ‘reward’; i.e., the ‘reward’ received as a consequence of actions taken. The ‘reward’ involved may be a positive, or a negative, in just the same way that we ‘reap from what we have sown’. From this same understanding of ‘ah-qav’ as the results of consequential actions, this word is translated numerous times as ‘heel’, ‘steps’ and/or ‘footsteps’. The verb expresses, in several different types of circumstances, the results or responses elicited because of specific actions; again, simply the result of reaping what is sown.

2 Samuel 12:10, as well as Gen. 26:5, are very clear examples of why this word is sometimes translated as ‘because’.  While considering this ‘explanation’ of the word ‘ah-qav’, let us return to Gen. 3:15 with the hopes of revealing and exposing some understanding that has been hidden in plain view.
KJV Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”

When considering this verse, the word translated as ‘bruise’ has been difficult to properly discern. The context of this verse makes the word ‘bruise’ indicate the activity of physically accosting or impacting another. While this may make sense in some contexts, the use of the word translated as ‘bruise’ in this verse is not describing physically impacting any one; or anything. The word translated as ‘bruise’ in this verse is the Hebrew ‘shooph’, Strong’s # H7779, which comes from the unused root ‘shah-phaph’. Words that are formed from this particular unused root ‘shah-phaph’ are words describing the condition of being ‘exposed; conspicuous; revealed’, etc. Strong’s # H7779, translated here as ‘bruise’, literally means to expose and reveal a specific characteristic or condition.

The prophecy told us that the ‘seed of the woman’ would ‘bruise’ (conspicuously expose) the head of the serpent, and the serpent would ‘bruise’ (conspicuously expose) the heel of the ‘seed of the woman’. Hopefully this is becoming more readily understandable as we proceed. For the ‘heel’ that gets conspicuously exposed is actually referring to the ‘rewards’, or the consequential responses to those that reap what they have sown. Therefore, we can just as accurately translate Gen. 3:15 as follows: “…the seed of the woman will expose (reveal; make conspicuous) the head of the serpent, and the serpent shall expose (reveal; make conspicuous) the consequence of reaping what is sown by the seed of the woman”.

How then does all of this revealing, and exposing and making conspicuous, pertain to the ‘heel’ that is translated from the Hebrew verb ‘ah-qav’ (Strong’s # H6119), from which we also get the word/name ‘jacob’ (Strong’s # H3290)? That is a great question. Jacob, the second-born twin son of Isaac, was observed to have grabbed the ‘heel’ of the first-born twin son, Esau. In the verse describing this event [Gen. 25:26], the Hebrew word translated as ‘took hold on’ is from Strong’s # H0270, and literally means to “…take possession of”. As coming forth from the womb, the second born twin son was actually illustrating that he, the second born, would supplant, or overtake and replace, his first born twin brother.

The activity/actions of the first born, Esau, would eventually expose/reveal/make conspicuous the reality that the first born twin had no desire or appetite or assignment to manifest and produce the fruits expected and sought for from the first born. The recognition of ‘first born’ is not privilege, as many have thought, but is instead a serious responsibility. As ‘yah-qove’ (Jacob; supplanter), the second born twin would supplant the first born, and therefore inherit the blessing/responsibility of the birthright which is afforded to the son that illustrated the qualities and characteristics
expected of the first born. Jacob stole nothing from Esau. He did lust after the birthright, but he did not steal it. Jacob did deceive his father, Isaac, but he dutifully and quite lawfully ‘took possession of’ the heel of Esau, which had been ‘bruised’ by the serpent, just as the scripture prophesied. Esau, we are told, ‘despised the birthright’, and sold it to Jacob. [Gen. 25:33-34]

By supplanting the ‘bruised’ heel of Esau, Jacob illustrated and manifested the fruitful maturity expected of the first born. By and through this series of events Jacob (yah-qove) was illustrating the pageant progression revealed in receiving a ‘name’ change, to be followed by a nature change, from ‘yah-qove’ to ‘Israel’. ‘Yah’qove’ could not possibly have stolen the birth right from Esau. He only took possession, as supplanter, of that to which he was destined. And as Jacob, the supplanter and receiver of the birth right from Isaac, he too would illustrate in his own life the prophecy of ‘bruising of the head’, and ‘bruising of the heel’. Jacob later had two wives, and two ‘concubines’ through which he ‘begat’ (sired) eleven sons. And as the revealer of the birth right, he ‘begat’ his twelfth son, ‘Ben-yamin’ (Benjamin), “…the right to be the son”.
…to be continued.

Mark recorded by THE SPIRIT in chapter 1:

6 Now John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey.
7  And he preached, saying, “There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
8 I indeed baptized you with water, but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

John the Baptist clearly differentiated the two baptisms: water versus The Holy Spirit.
One would be done by man but the other would be through Jesus and done by way of
The Holy Spirit.

After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Mark also recorded in chapter 16:
14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16  He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17  And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

What baptism is Jesus referring to? Isn’t He speaking of being baptized in The Holy Spirit as John prophesied in Mark 1?

19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20  And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.

Jesus made it clear that He would confirm their preaching with signs including: cast out demons, speak with new tongues, take up serpents without fear of being bitten, drink anything without fear of being hurt by the content, and heal the sick Why was the important to Jesus to confirm The Word? Wasn’t it enough for the Disciples to simply testify of being a witness to Jesus’ ministry? The unsaved would require indisputable evidence that The Word was from The Lord God Almighty and not from men’s philosophies, traditions, or ideas. Has mankind changed one iota in their requirement for such confirmation today?

What part of the Great Commission is generally missing from the preaching today? The confirming signs. The church has embraced water baptism on a widespread basis but Jesus was focusing on being baptized in The Holy Spirit thus He directed the disciples to go to Jerusalem and tarry. On the Day of Pentecost, 3,000 souls were saved as it recorded by THE SPIRIT in Acts chapter 2:
40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.
41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

Has Jesus changed His mind in His message to us who are maturing as Sons and Daughters?

There are major religions, customs, and beliefs which all claim to be “the way” that man should go.  What makes our path different?  A miracle-working GOD!  Even the most well-educated people and heads of state will seek out a simple, uneducated man of GOD if his ministry has the miraculous occurring.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Acts chapter 4:

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.

14 And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

15 But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,

16 saying, “What shall we do to these men? For, indeed, that a notable miracle has been done through them is evident to all who dwell in Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.

This Truth and reality separates The Way from all other paths created by man’s own philosophies, traditions, and customs.  The GOD of Love has shown us the difference maker when a mature Son or Daughter is ready to establish the Kingdom on earth, walking in boldness, power, and authority.  We should not settle for anything less but FATHER’S perfect will.  There is no technology, methodology, diet, essential oil protocol, procedure, or medicine that can come close to FATHER’S perfect Will of healing and restoration.  Sure, these may be classified in HIS acceptable will, but shouldn’t we be praying for HIS perfect Will to manifest in our lives and ministry to a dying world?  Any other method of healing entrenches mankind into remaining in HIS acceptable will until they pass away.

What caused Pharaoh to let the children of Israel go?  Superior miracles to those which had been performed by Pharaoh’s sorcerers and magicians.  These men had tapped into the supernatural in a lawless manner but their miracles were no match and were consumed by FATHER’S miracles.  Once an indisputable miracle has occurred, men will pay attention to the message of The Gospel no matter how the messenger looks or speaks, it is that simple.

We need not ask for FATHER to rain down hailstones and wipe out the heathen.  Instead, we need to do the same thing the disciples did: be in unity, pray for boldness, power, and authority, then expect FATHER to respond to our prayer by His Holy Spirit confirming our commission.  This is how we spread the Truth and gain an audience who are desperate for answers.  It is that simple.