Servias Ministries Blog

Delay causes us to see what is in our hearts that needs to be dealt with!

It is estimated that David waited between 13 and 15 years to become king after he was anointed to become king.

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Samuel chapter 24:

3 So Saul came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs. (David and his men were staying in the recesses of the cave.)

4 Then the men of David said to him, “This is the day of which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you.'” And David arose and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

5 Now it happened afterward that David’s heart troubled him because he had cut Saul’s robe.

6 And he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.“

7 So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

David had within his own power to bring the prophecy of becoming king to pass.  However, he didn’t.  He was not moved by what others were recommending.

8 David also arose afterward, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, saying, “My lord the king!” And when Saul looked behind him, David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed down.

9 And David said to Saul: “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?

10 Look, this day your eyes have seen that the LORD delivered you today into my hand in the cave, and someone urged me to kill you. But my eye spared you, and I said, ‘I will not stretch out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD’s anointed.‘

11 Moreover, my father, see! Yes, see the corner of your robe in my hand! For in that I cut off the corner of your robe, and did not kill you, know and see that there is neither evil nor rebellion in my hand, and I have not sinned against you. Yet you hunt my life to take it.

12 Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.

This is a valuable lesson for us to not get ahead of what THE LORD is doing.  Let us wait on HIS timing and not allow ourselves to take matters into our own hands thus circumventing HIS timing.  We must not trust our own understanding above HIS.

David refused to bring about fulfillment of his own promise.  That is the temptation in delay… to move things forward by our own ability.  Instead, David participated in Kingdom fashion with GOD’S process.  Maturity developed in David’s journey to the throne developed his character to be able to successfully  reign.

Perceived delays in our walk are meant to develop our character as well in preparation for success in our individual callings.

Those who we are in conflict with, are actually tools to help us become patient and longsuffering.  Conflicts and challenges make us aware of our need for dependency on THE LORD.  Those who feel they are entitled have placed their own will above GOD’S Will and that is a recipe for disaster.

Delay causes us to see what is in our hearts that needs to be dealt with!

The children of Israel feared men more than they feared GOD.  That was true of King Saul as well. Delay revealed this fear in both stories.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

GOD is sovereign and, in the end, HIS Divine Intent will prevail over any issues you are dealing with.  Even though you are going through tests and trials, you should give thanks that HE will work things out on your behalf.

Anxiety is the cause of spiritual dementia.  You have forgotten all HIS benefits.  Anxiety causes you to forget GOD’S promises, to forget what HE has done, we don’t recall the testimonies of THE LORD. 

Learning how to simplify in the delayed seasons is critical.  We need to simplify our lives so that we are not spread to thin so that we can keep anchored in what FATHER has said. 

Complexity encourages confusion.  Simplification encourages clarity.

We should go back to confessing what THE LORD has said, declaring what HE has promised.  The battle over the hearts and mind is huge in seasons of delay.  Our progress is that we have remained faithful during the time of delay.  Our hope has not wavered, and we have not allowed ourselves to become depressed or filled with anxiety.

THE LORD is constantly measuring us in what we can handle or carry.  Our stewardship of what we are successful with now will determine what we will be given later.  With this understanding, let us look at the Parable of the Talents.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 25:

14 “Again, Heaven’s Kingdom is like a Wealthy Man Who went on a long journey and summoned all His trusted servants and assigned His financial management over to them.

It is vital that we understand the servants were all believers.

15 Before he left on his journey, He entrusted a bag of five thousand gold coins to one of His servants, to another a bag of two thousand gold coins, and to the third a bag of one thousand gold coins, each according to his ability to manage.

FATHER will only give us what we can potentially manage at the time.

16 “The one entrusted with five thousand gold coins immediately went out and traded with the money, and he doubled his investment.

17 In the same way, the one who was entrusted with two thousand gold coins traded with the sum and likewise doubled his investment.

18 But the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.

19 “After much time had passed, the master returned to settle accounts with his servants.

20 The one who was entrusted with five thousand gold coins came and brought ten thousand, saying, ‘See, I have doubled your money.’

21 “Commending his servant, The Master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be My loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you have been a faithful steward to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of your master, who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of Your Lord!” ’

With what we have been given, we are to prove ourselves loyal and trustworthy.  In return, we will be entrusted with greater responsibility and resources.

22 “Then the one who had been entrusted with two thousand gold coins came in and said, ‘See, My Master, I have doubled what You have entrusted to me.’

23 “Commending his servant, The Master replied, ‘You have done well, and proven yourself to be My loyal and trustworthy servant. Because you were faithful to manage a small sum, now I will put you in charge of much, much more. You will experience the delight of Your Master, Who will say to you, “Enter into the joy of Your Lord!” ’

We must not compare ourselves to others who may have greater resources.  We are to focus on our own calling.

24 “Then the one who had been entrusted with one thousand gold coins came to His Master and said, ‘Look, sir. I know that you are a hard man to please and you’re a shrewd and ruthless businessman who grows rich on the backs of others. 25 I was afraid of you, so I went and hid your money and buried it in the ground. But here it is—take it, it’s yours.’

26 “But His Master said to him, ‘You’re an untrustworthy and lazy servant! If you knew I was a shrewd and ruthless businessman who always makes a profit, why didn’t you deposit My money in the bank?

27 Then I would have received it all back with interest when I returned.

28 But because you were unfaithful, I will take the one thousand gold coins and give them to the one who has ten thousand.

THE LORD judged the man for being not only lazy, but also untrustworthy.  He did nothing for The Kingdom.

29 For the one who has will be given more, until he overflows with abundance. And the one with hardly anything, even what little he has will be taken from him.’ 30 “Then the master said to his other servants, ‘Now, throw that good-for-nothing servant far away from me into the outer darkness, where there will be great misery and anguish!’ ”

Those who are trustworthy will overflow with abundance.  Those who aren’t, will suffer severe judgment.  It’s your decision.

There is value in delay!

Yesterday’s writing revealed that Aaron’s sin was a result of the fear of men versus the Fear of GOD.

It is recorded by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Samuel chapter 13:

5 Then the Philistines gathered together to fight with Israel, thirty thousand chariots and six thousand horsemen, and people as the sand which is on the seashore in multitude. And they came up and encamped in Michmash, to the east of Beth Aven.

6 When the men of Israel saw that they were in danger (for the people were distressed), then the people hid in caves, in thickets, in rocks, in holes, and in pits.

7 And some of the Hebrews crossed over the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. As for Saul, he was still in Gilgal, and all the people followed him trembling.

Fear of men caused Saul to respond and take matters into his own hands.

8 Then he waited seven days, according to the time set by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him.

9 So Saul said, “Bring a burnt offering and peace offerings here to me.” And he offered the burnt offering.

10 Now it happened, as soon as he had finished presenting the burnt offering, that Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.

It was unlawful for the king to make a burnt offering.

11 And Samuel said, “What have you done?” Saul said, “When I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you did not come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered together at Michmash,

12 then I said, ‘The Philistines will now come down on me at Gilgal, and I have not made supplication to the LORD.’ Therefore I felt compelled, and offered a burnt offering.”

Saul made a soulish decision which cost him the kingdom.

13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which He commanded you. For now the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. The LORD has sought for Himself a man after His own heart, and the LORD has commanded him to be commander over His people, because you have not kept what the LORD commanded you.”

Saul walked in the fear of men whereas David walked in the Fear of THE LORD, a man after GOD’S own Heart.

As we saw in the previous writings, Aaron was under pressure from the leaders wanting him to make a golden calf.  The fear of the opinion of people and here in this case where the people were scattering out of fear, Saul responded in the same manner.

Whenever THE LORD is exposing insecurities in us, HE is doing us a favor.  Insecurity is wrong security exposed.  It reveals our level of trust in THE LORD.

Saul told Samuel, “You did not come within the days appointed.”  Saul did not take ownership of his own actions; he blamed Samuel for his sin.  Illegal sacrifices are totally unacceptable to THE LORD!

By deflecting responsibility, we delay our own progress.  You cannot speed up GOD’S process, but you can slow it down.

In both situations (Aaron and Saul), we have delays caused by THE LORD.  Why would THE LORD cause a delay?  It is never punishment.  When a breakthrough has been delayed, something we prayed for, things that are in us that we didn’t know were in us, rise to the surface and they must be dealt with.

When HE exposes what is in my heart, I can confess because when I recognize what I didn’t see before and I recognize it and acknowledge it, I can repent and remove the hindrance in my walk.  The delay will result in strengthening the foundation which HE can build something more significant in my life.  He can entrust me with greater power and authority.

Delay will reveal our level of the Fear of THE LORD.

As Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5:

18 in everything give thanks; for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This includes delays!

There is value in delay!

Old Testament examples are symbolic pictures, as examples providing us with a warning so that we can learn through what they experienced.

To continue from yesterday’s writings:

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 32:

7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.

8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!'”

Notice that THE LORD referred to the children of Israel as Moses’ people.

9 And the LORD said to Moses, “I have seen this people, and indeed it is a stiff-necked people!

10 Now therefore, let Me alone, that My wrath may burn hot against them and I may consume them. And I will make of you a great nation.”

There are things set in motion that THE LORD wants to do when sin manifests.  Sin requires judgment. If there is no one to pray, it will happen.  However, you have the ability to stop what is set in motion by interceding.  Had Moses not interceded for the people, they would have been wiped out.

11 Then Moses pleaded with the LORD his God, and said: “LORD, why does Your wrath burn hot against Your people whom You have brought out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a Mighty Hand?

12 Why should the Egyptians speak, and say, ‘HE brought them out to harm them, to kill them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth’? Turn from Your fierce wrath, and relent from this harm to Your people.

13 Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your Own Self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven; and all this land that I have spoken of I give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever.'”

14 So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people.

FATHER will hear our prayers of intercession on behalf of those who are in desperate need of our prayers.

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 2^nd Peter chapter 3:

9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Don’t give up on those who are currently unrepentant.  FATHER is longsuffering.  What does FATHER want, someone to pray!

Jesus interceded for you and me when He spoke in Luke chapter 23:

33 And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the Right Hand and the other on the Left.

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.

And Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ Who died, and furthermore is also risen, Who is even at the Right Hand of God, Who also makes intercession for us.

Additionally, it is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 7:

22 So all of this magnifies the Truth that we have a superior covenant with God than what they experienced, for Jesus Himself is its guarantor!

23 As additional proof, we know there were many priests under the old system, for they eventually died and their office had to be filled by another.

24 But Jesus permanently holds His priestly office, since He lives forever and will never have a successor!

25 So He is able to save fully from now throughout eternity, everyone who comes to God through Him, because He lives to pray continually for them.

26 He is the High Priest Who perfectly fits our need—Holy, without a trace of evil, without the ability to deceive, incapable of sin, and exalted beyond the heavens!

When delays occur, don’t be concerned.  Jesus Himself intercedes on our behalf as we are tested so that we will display our trustworthiness to ascend to a higher level of fruitfulness.  Intercession is vital!

There is value in delay!

Old Testament examples are symbolic pictures, as examples providing us with a warning so that we can learn through what they experienced.

Moses recorded by The Holy Spirit in Exodus chapter 32:

1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.”

The people had just been delivered from the jaws of Egypt, they experienced the parting of the Red Sea, they had been given the Ten Commandments, they had been nourished with manna daily, they satisfied their thirst from the water that came from the Rock, yet they quickly corrupted themselves because they were impatient.

2 And Aaron said to them, “Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, your sons, and your daughters, and bring them to me.”

3 So all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.

4 And he received the gold from their hand, and he fashioned it with an engraving tool, and made a molded calf. Then they said, “This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!”

5 So when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made a proclamation and said, “Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD.”

6 Then they rose early on the next day, offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.

Of all people, Aaron facilitated the corruption of the people.  Aaron is the same one whose rod was used in front of Pharaoh to bring forth a miracle by casting down his rod that became a serpent swallowing up the sorcerers’ rods.  He was 83 years old at that time.  Clearly, Aaron’s mindset was corrupted.

7 And the LORD said to Moses, “Go, get down! For your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves.

8 They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them. They have made themselves a molded calf, and worshiped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘This is your god, O Israel, that brought you out of the land of Egypt!'”

The test of time will determine whether you are qualified or not to enter into your Promised Land.  Whatever you trust in will manifest during any perceived delay in receiving your promise.

Idolatry in the Old Testament is called greed in the New Testament.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Colossians chapter 3:

5 Live as one who has died to every form of sexual sin and impurity. Live as one who has died to the desires for forbidden things, including the desire for wealth, which is the essence of idol worship.

6 When you live in these vices you ignite the anger of God against these acts of disobedience.

When you tithe and are charitable, you express the death of those acts of disobedience related to greed.  Greed will talk you out of giving your firstfruits as well as giving to those in need.  Idolatry is in the spirit what adultery is in the natural.  Those two areas of disobedience often go hand in hand.

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Delay tests your faith and patience.  If you are double-minded, it will surface during a delay.  FATHER opens the door to those who HE can trust with greater power and authority.  Your trust IN HIM is tested by delay of the promise/prophecy given to you.