Servias Ministries Blog

Walking in pride inhibits FATHER’S grace toward us!

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in the epistle James chapter 4:

5   Does the Scripture mean nothing to you that says, “The Spirit that God breathed into our hearts is a jealous Lover Who intensely desires to have more and more of us”?

6 But He continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, “God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.”

I have experienced resistance in the past and discovered that the issue was me and my pride.  It crept in when I achieved success in certain areas.  I realized that I didn’t remain humble.  I eventually repented and the “wall” was removed.

7 So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will flee in agony.

Notice that the first thing we must do is to surrender to GOD.  Only then can we fully and successfully resist the devil.  HIS Truth must come out of our mouth in order for the adversary and his minions to depart.  Jesus gave us this example in the wilderness.

8 Move your heart closer and closer to God, and He will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting.

9 Feel the pain of your sin, be sorrowful and weep! Let your joking around be turned into mourning and your joy into deep humiliation.

10 Be willing to be made low before the Lord and He will exalt you!

When we walk in HIS Absolute Truth, we will find ourselves separating from worldly relationships and endeavors.  We inherently worship someone or something.  People worship themselves, other people, events, etc.  However, we are to only worship GOD and no one else.

When this shift occurs in your life, you will be less interested in people and events that required your focus.  As pride is cleansed from us by The Word, our worship will be focused on GOD alone.

Walking in pride inhibits FATHER’S grace toward us!

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 4:

14  Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

I am here today because of FATHER’S great grace and mercy!  I was brought up by an earthly father who promoted and expected worldly success.  Walking in pride was part of it.  I became performance-based in all my activities… I hated to lose or come in second place.  I was led by my carnal mind.  FATHER has had to have more than one corrective interview with me over time.  I have had to place my competitiveness on the cross.  HIS mercy is truly great.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in 2^nd Chronicles 26:

3  Uzziah was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecholiah of Jerusalem.

4 And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.

5 He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

15 And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong.

16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the Temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.

Said another way:

But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. He sinned against the LORD his God by entering the sanctuary of the LORD’s Temple and personally burning incense on the incense altar.

Deception is a primary means used by the adversary to move us away from the Highway of Holiness.  By definition, we do not know when we are being deceived.  This is why it is vital that you and I be led by The Holy Spirit in all areas for HE only guides us by Truth.

As we mature and grow strong in THE SPIRIT, let us critically assess our daily speech and activities to verify that pride is in no way entering in.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 12:

1  Beloved friends, what should be our proper response to God’s marvelous mercies? To surrender yourselves to God to be His Sacred, living sacrifices. And live in Holiness, experiencing all that delights His Heart. For this becomes your genuine expression of worship.

2 Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His Eyes.

3 God has given me grace to speak a warning about pride. I would ask each of you to be emptied of self-promotion and not create a false image of your importance. Instead, honestly assess your worth by using your God-given faith as the standard of measurement, and then you will see your true value with an appropriate self-esteem.

If you feel like you have hit a wall and don’t perceive HIS Presence and/or direction, you might want to do a “pride” assessment.  I have had to do this more often than I would like to admit.  Only by HIS great grace and mercy am I still here on this earth!

THE Fear of THE LORD releases the power of GOD in us!

FATHER wants us to walk in the supernatural blessings rather than to rely on miracles.

Miracles are short-term whereas walking in the blessings of GOD are long-term.   Your actions and your words reveal your priority of walking in the Fear of THE LORD.

Jesus spoke in Luke chapter 6:

43  “You’ll never find choice fruit hanging on a bad, unhealthy tree. And rotten fruit doesn’t hang on a good, healthy tree.

44 Every tree will be revealed by the quality of fruit that it produces. You will never pick figs or grapes from thorn trees.

45 People are known in this same way. Out of the virtue stored in their hearts, good and upright people will produce good fruit. Likewise, out of the evil hidden in their hearts, evil ones will produce what is evil. For the overflow of what has been stored in your heart will be seen by your fruit and will be heard in your words.

46 “What good does it do for you to say I am your Lord and Master if you don’t put into practice what I teach you?

47 Let Me describe the one who truly follows Me and does what I say:

48 He is like a man who chooses the right place to build a house and then lays a deep and secure foundation. When the storms and floods rage against that house, it continues to stand strong and unshaken through the tempest, for he built it wisely on the right foundation.

49 But the one who has heard my teaching and does not obey it is like a man who builds a house without laying any foundation at all. When the storms and floods rage against that house, it will immediately collapse and become a total loss. Which of these two builders will you be?”

FATHER wants us to flourish no matter what circumstances surrounds us.  The storms are on the horizon and they are coming toward the world system.  By all accounts, notable challenges are ahead.  Now is the time to lay a firm foundation in The Word and to be led by The Holy Spirit in ALL areas.  This means that you may be called to do and say things counterintuitive to what the world would recommend.  We must not allow ourselves to be guided by the world’s standards.

Don’t be fooled by the spectacular but instead seek the supernatural.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in 1^st Kings chapter 19:

9  And there Elijah went into a cave, and spent the night in that place; and behold, the Word of the LORD came to him, and He said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?“

10 So he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; for the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;

12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

13 So it was, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. Suddenly a Voice came to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”

14 And he said, “I have been very zealous for the LORD God of hosts; because the children of Israel have forsaken Your covenant, torn down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. I alone am left; and they seek to take my life.”

15 Then the LORD said to him: “Go, return on your way to the Wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, anoint Hazael as king over Syria.

16 Also you shall anoint Jehu the son of Nimshi as king over Israel. And Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel Meholah you shall anoint as prophet in your place.

17 It shall be that whoever escapes the sword of Hazael, Jehu will kill; and whoever escapes the sword of Jehu, Elisha will kill.

18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

When things get tough, we are not to hide.  As we are instructed of THE LORD, we are to be led by HIS SPIRIT and do all that HE commands.  The Remnant is enough to bring forth the Kingdom in this age.

FATHER remembers those of us who Love and fear HIM!

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm chapter 34:

1  I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.

3 Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His Name together.

4 I sought the LORD, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears.

5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.

6 This poor man cried out, and the LORD heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles.

7 The angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them.

8 Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

9 Oh, fear the LORD, you His saints! There is no want (lack) to those who fear Him.

10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger; But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.

11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.

The fear of THE LORD does not come naturally but must be taught.  Reading and studying The Word will teach us to reverently fear HIM and Love HIM.  When we obey HIM in all areas, it is a form of worship and walking in reverential obedience.

12 Who is the man who desires life, And loves many days, that he may see good?

13 Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.

14 Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.

15 The Eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His Ears are open to their cry.

16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.

17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.

18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

FATHER’S Eyes and ears are forever open and will respond to those in need of HIM.  HE looks to those of us who are willing to walk in Love and full obedience to HIS directives.  We are HIS Remnant!

Jesus spoke in John chapter 14:

23 Jesus replied, “Loving Me empowers you to obey My Word. And My Father will Love you so deeply that We will come to you and make you Our Dwelling Place.

THEY abide in those of us who truly walk in THE FEAR OF THE LORD and Love THEM.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Malachi chapter 3:

16   Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another, And the LORD listened and heard them; So a book of remembrance was written before Him For those who fear the LORD And who meditate on His Name.

17 “They shall be Mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels. And I will spare them As a man spares his own son who serves him.”

18 Then you shall again discern Between the righteous and the wicked, Between one who serves God And one who does not serve Him.

Let our books be full and complete!