Servias Ministries Blog

As we walk in Holiness, we will be the light illuminating Jesus to the world!

In Exodus 25, there were three items in The Holy Place: the golden altar of incense, the table of the showbread, and the gold lampstand.  The gold lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place.  The gold lampstand was placed there to specifically give light to the table of the showbread.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 6:

33 For the Bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven and gives Life to the world.”

34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this Bread always.”

35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.

36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe.

37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.

Jesus reiterates:

48 I am the Bread of Life.

The table of the showbread represents Jesus Who is to be consumed in order to receive Eternal Life.  The church’s (candlestick) whole purpose and responsibility is to illuminate Jesus to the world.  If there is no oil (Holy Spirit) and there is no fire (action resulting from the energy created giving light), the church is effectively useless.

If the church is not set on fire for Jesus, then what is the point of the church?  If the church disregards the ministry of The Holy Spirit, then how can it truly illuminate Our Lord Jesus Christ to the world?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 4:

1 Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

The ministry of Jesus as well as the disciples had this vital aspect to their ministry, they were led by The Holy Spirit because they were filled with The Holy Spirit.  Can it be stated any more clearly than this?

The soul and body will try to reject this Truth at first.  Why?  They both don’t want to become servants to the spirit.  They will war with the spirit until your spirit becomes stronger than them.  We must bring both the soul and the flesh into captivity.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter12:

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.

Renewing our mind is achieved by reading the Word and hearing and responding to The Holy Spirit.  Responding to The Holy Spirit affirms your submission to the Word.

Apart from the candlestick, there is no source of light in The Holy Place.  Apart from the church, there is no light in the world!  The church can only give light when it is filled with The Holy Spirit and set on fire.

Our singular purpose is to cast light on Jesus Christ to the world.

As we walk in Holiness, we will ultimately see THE LORD!

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 5:

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Jesus described us as:

The salt of the earth

The light of the world

A city set on a hill that cannot be hidden.

When we publicly profess Jesus Christ as Our Lord, we become a city set on a hill that cannot be hid.  When this occurs, eyes will be on you at all times and from every direction.  People will ask themselves, “Is that person’s faith genuine, do they really believe what they claim to believe, do they live it out?”  People will analyze your every word and act, every aspect of your life.  They will form their judgment of Christianity from what they see in you.

We are THE light of the world for there is no other light in the world but the true believer.

Jesus spoke in John chapter 9:

5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

He has ascended from the earth and we are now His representatives, we are the light of the world.  The world has no other light and if we do not give light, there is no other alternative for the world to look toward.  The world is totally dependent on Believers to be the light.

In the Old Testament, the Tabernacle had two compartments: The Holy of Holies, and The Holy Place.  In The Holy Place, there was the golden altar of incense, the table of the showbread, and the gold lampstand.  The gold lampstand was the only source of light in the Holy Place.

Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT, the directions of how the gold lampstand was to be formed in Exodus chapter 25:

31 “You shall also make a lampstand of pure gold; the lampstand shall be of hammered work. Its shaft, its branches, its bowls, its ornamental knobs, and flowers shall be of one piece.

32 And six branches shall come out of its sides: three branches of the lampstand out of one side, and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side.

33 Three bowls shall be made like almond blossoms on one branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower, and three bowls made like almond blossoms on the other branch, with an ornamental knob and a flower-and so for the six branches that come out of the lampstand.

34 On the lampstand itself four bowls shall be made like almond blossoms, each with its ornamental knob and flower.

Note that the lampstand did not use candlesticks, but instead the bowls with their wicks were filled with oil and lit to provide light.  Almonds referred to eyes.  There were a total of seven bowls containing Holy oil, representing The Holy Spirit.  The seven candlesticks typify the sevenfold church begotten of GOD. 

These seven candlesticks also refer to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation.  If there was no oil and fire, there would be no light!  The lampstand was the only source of light in The Holy Place.  This is true of the church; we are the only source of light in the world.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Luke chapter 3:

16 But John the Baptist made it clear by telling them, “There is One coming Who is mightier than I. He is supreme. In fact, I’m not worthy of even being His slave. I can only baptize you in this river, but He will baptize you into the Spirit of Holiness and into His raging fire.

17 He has in His Hands a winnowing fork to clean up His threshing floor! He will separate the wheat from the chaff. The wheat He will gather into His barn, but He will burn the chaff in a fire that no one can ever put out!”

This is further described in the Book of Acts were Luke also recorded in Acts chapter 2:

1 When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.

2 And suddenly there came a sound from Heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.

3 Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them.

4 They were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues—empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!

To be a true, bright light, you must be filled with The Holy Spirit and walk in Holiness.

As we walk in Holiness, we will ultimately see THE LORD!

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Job chapter 42:

1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:

2 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.

3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.

4 Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

Once Job finally saw THE LORD, his eyes were opened to see his true condition.  In response to seeing True Holiness, he repented.

And it is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:

14 In every relationship be swift to choose peace over competition, and run swiftly toward Holiness, for those who are not Holy will not see the Lord.

If you want to see THE LORD, you must repent and pursue Holiness.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 5:

8  Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God.

In 1987, I was on a flight traveling to Chicago for business.  As was my custom, I got my Bible out and began reading the Beatitudes.  When I got to this verse, FATHER told me, “This is why I removed you from your last position.  You were in a spiritual battle and needed your heart to be cleansed.”

I look back and see that I failed to fully comprehend the implications of HIS Word.  I failed to fully focus on Holiness then.  Thirty-seven years later, I am finally getting it.  I thank HIM for HIS patience with me!

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Obadiah chapter 1:

17 “But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be Holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.

GOD’S goal is to bring GOD’S people back into their possessions. Deliverance leads to Holiness.  Without deliverance a lot of people cannot be Holy, because all demons are unclean.  Once you have dealt with the adversary and his minions, it is critical that you pursue Holiness.  This will lead to the blessings of Holiness.

Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 12:

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none.

44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order.

45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

A generation without Holiness is a wicked generation!  Once you have been delivered out of the demonic activity plaguing you, you must pursue Holiness in Its fullness.  Without Holiness, you will recycle into your previous state prior to deliverance.  This is why those with addictions return to their addictive state with its ramifications, generally in a worse condition.

Has the “church” sought Holiness as the primary focus?  Is this why the church has not received the inheritance associated with Holiness?  Is this why the world sees the church as being weak and is unable to draw the masses into its services?  Jesus walked in Holiness and had a ministry of healing and deliverance.  In response, the crowds came to hear and see Him.

Without Holiness, no one will see THE LORD!

It is written by THE SPIRIT in 1^st Chronicles chapter 16:

29 Give to the LORD the glory due His Name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of Holiness!

When we walk in Holiness, we become fully acceptable to enter The Throne Room!

The Beloved Disciple recorded what he heard and saw by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 4:

6 Before the Throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in the midst of the Throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures full of eyes in front and in back.

7 The first living creature was like a lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.

8 The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying:

“Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

9 Whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to Him Who sits on the Throne, Who lives forever and ever,

10 the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the Throne and worship Him Who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the Throne, saying:

11 “You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your Will they exist and were created.”

The emphasis in The Throne Room is clearly Holiness.  The Word Holy when used three times, uniquely identifies FATHER more so than any other descriptive attribute.  This is a clear indication of Its importance.  Notice that the twenty-four elders fall down before Him Who sits on the Throne and worship Him.  Their crowns are so inferior, they cast them down in full submission to HIS Holiness.  There is none greater than THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY.  HIS Son demands the same respect.  So does The Holy Spirit!

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Job chapter 1:

1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil.

8 Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

Both THE LORD and satan agreed that Job was blameless, upright, shunned evil, and feared GOD.  Would FATHER testify of us in the same manner?

THE LORD appeared to Job in a whirlwind and when Job was directly exposed to the glory of THE LORD, he responded in chapter 42:

5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You.

6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.”

This was the same response by Isaiah that I referred to yesterday in chapter 6.  You and I would respond in like manner.  Can we walk in a level of Holiness while on this earth?

Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 5:

21 Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah.

22 After he begot Methuselah, Enoch walked with God three hundred years, and had sons and daughters.

23 So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years.

24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

And it is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 11:

5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

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.

Enoch’s diligence and faith was rewarded while he walked on earth.  Enoch pleased GOD to the point where he was translated and did not see death.  Walking in Holiness is the prerequisite for fully pleasing GOD.  This level of Holiness is achievable for us else Enoch’s testimony would not have been revealed. 

FATHER is more interested in our internal development versus our external achievements.  Once Holiness is achieved internally, It will express Itself externally in ministry to others.

Walking in Holiness is a positive walk, not a walk of “don’ts”!

Many people focus on the negative rather than the positive when it comes to walking in Holiness.  As I pursue Holiness, my life becomes more peaceful even in the midst of turmoil.  I walk in the full assurance that GOD is on my side because I am actually on HIS Side.

Wisdom wrote in Proverbs 29:

18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; But happy is he who keeps the law.

In other Words, when there is no clear prophetic vision, people quickly wander astray. But when you follow the revelation of the Word, Heaven’s bliss fills your soul.

The real restraining influence in our lives is our vision.  We can try to follow a set of rules, but after a while it becomes wearisome, and we tend to throw them off and say, “I’ll do my own thing.”  We then go astray.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Ephesians 5:

25 Husbands, Love your wives, just as Christ also Loved the church and gave Himself for her,

26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word,

27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be Holy and without blemish.

The word “glory” means the impact of GOD on our physical senses.  One such example in the Old Testament is found in 2^nd Chronicles chapter 7:

1 When Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from Heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the temple.

2 And the priests could not enter the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD’s house.

3 When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever.”

GOD’S Presence was so powerful that nobody could stand up.

HIS Glory can be felt and seen.  Whenever you find Holiness, you find fire.

Luke recorded by The Holy Spirit in Acts chapter 2:

1 On the day Pentecost was being fulfilled, all the disciples were gathered in one place.

2 Suddenly they heard the sound of a violent blast of wind rushing into the house from out of the Heavenly realm. The roar of the wind was so overpowering it was all anyone could bear!

3 Then all at once a pillar of fire appeared before their eyes. It separated into tongues of fire that engulfed each one of them.

4 They were all filled and equipped with the Holy Spirit and were inspired to speak in tongues—empowered by the Spirit to speak in languages they had never learned!

When Holiness arrives, we can and will perceive HIS Glory.  Our Heavenly Father is very interested in us walking in Holiness and He will correct us for our own good.

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:

10 Our parents corrected us for the short time of our childhood as it seemed good to them. But God corrects us throughout our lives for our own good, giving us an invitation to share His Holiness.

I can look back and see HIS correction multiple times when I have wandered off the path to Holiness.  Some correction seemed harsh at the time but necessary.

Apart from GOD, the word holy has no meaning.  It only has meaning when you know GOD.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Isaiah chapter 6:

1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a Throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His Robe filled the temple.

2 Above it stood seraphim (angels of flaming fire); each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew.

3 And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”

4 And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”

6 Then one of the angels of flaming fire flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.

7 And he touched my mouth with it, and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; Your iniquity is taken away, And your sin purged.”

Sin cannot survive before HIS glory.  Holy Fire will remove iniquity.  As we pursue Holiness, anything contrary will be removed from us and will result in the removal of spot and wrinkle.  As a result, we will live exciting lives with purpose; we will walk with greater vision.

We are to prepare ourselves to be His Bride!

It is written by The Holy Spirit in Jeremiah chapter 2:

32 Does a young woman disregard her engagement ring, or does a bride forget about her wedding dress? Yet, My people have continually forgotten Me.

Likewise, how many believers are guilty of lack of preparation to be a part of The Bride of Christ?  Can you find any evidence that believers are getting themselves ready to be included, or have they simply forgotten?  How concerned is Jesus about His Bride?  Very!  How concerned is His Bride?

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Hebrews chapter 12:

14 Pursue peace with all people, and Holiness, without which no one will see the Lord

We are to actively pursue Holiness, sacrifice, and self-denial.

The Beloved Disciple recorded what he heard and saw by The Holy Spirit in Revelation chapter 19:

6 Then I heard what seemed to be the thunderous voice of a great multitude, like the sound of a massive waterfall and mighty peals of thunder, crying out: “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns!

7 Let us rejoice and exalt Him and give Him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come. And His Bride has made Herself ready.

8 Fine linen, shining bright and clear, has been given to her to wear, and the fine linen represents the righteous acts of his Holy Believers.”

9 Then the angel said to me, “Write these Words: Wonderfully blessed are those who are invited to feast at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” And then he said to me, “These are the True Words of God.”

Those who are qualified to be included as members of the Bride are known by their righteous acts.  Those who do nothing and serve no one but themselves will be disqualified to attend the wedding celebration.

What are righteous acts?

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 1:

27 True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans, and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values.

One category of righteous acts is to minister to orphans and widows.  We are not to neglect them.

James wrote by The Holy Spirit in James chapter 2:

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?

15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food,

16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?

17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Do nothing, then expect nothing!

Sanctification means “being made Holy.”

When Jesus was praying for all disciples (including you and me), He spoke in John chapter 17:

17 Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth.

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the Truth.

In other Words, Jesus said, “Your Word is Truth! So make them Holy by the Truth.  I have commissioned them to represent Me just as You commissioned me to represent You. And now I dedicate Myself to them as a Holy sacrifice so that they will live as fully dedicated to God and be made Holy by Your Truth.”

When we immerse ourselves in The Word and respond with righteous acts, we are being made Holy and acceptable in HIS Sight.  Being made Holy produces the righteous acts which adorn The Bride.  What a privilege!

We are to prepare ourselves to be His Bride!

Peter wrote by The Holy Spirit in 1^st Peter chapter 1:

13 So then, prepare your hearts and minds for action! Stay alert and fix your hope firmly on the marvelous grace that is coming to you. For when Jesus Christ is unveiled, a greater measure of grace will be released to you.

Who is Peter writing to?  To the Elect ones who have been sanctified of THE SPIRIT, for obedience and sprinkling of The Blood of Jesus Christ… thus you and me.  We should expect a greater measure of grace and peace to be released to us and multiplied.  We should have an anticipation to be used in a greater measure as our hearts and minds are being prepared in the Truth of The Gospel.

14 As God’s obedient children, never again shape your lives by the desires that you followed when you didn’t know better.

15 Instead, shape your lives to become like the Holy One Who called you.

16 For Scripture says: “You are to be Holy, because I am Holy.”

17 Since you call on Him as your Heavenly Father, the impartial Judge Who judges according to each one’s works, live each day with Holy awe and reverence throughout your time on earth.

18 For you know that your lives were ransomed once and for all from the empty and futile way of life handed down from generation to generation. It was not a ransom payment of silver and gold, which eventually perishes,

19 but the precious Blood of Christ—Who like a spotless, unblemished lamb was sacrificed for us.

If it weren’t possible for us to be Holy, The Holy Spirit would not express the expectation.  We are to live each day in Holy awe and reverence.  To keep this command fresh in our minds, my wife and I have begun taking Holy Communion each day before breakfast.  This prepares our hearts and minds for action. 

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

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He Who calls you is faithful, Who also will do it.

Who sanctifies you?  THE GOD of Peace Himself!

Jesus spoke in John chapter 17:

17 Sanctify them by Your Truth. Your Word is Truth.

18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.

19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the

Truth.

20 “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their Word;

21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.

22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:

23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one (unity), and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

In order to be included in the Bride of Christ, we must be Holy which in turn will assure us of being in unity with one another.  We are to be sanctified, or set apart, by the Truth of HIS Word.  With the Truth in us, we will discern what and who is before us and we will reject anything that is unholy.

Let us fully understand the Love behind the Holy Communion!

Many Christians casually take Holy Communion without understanding the revelation of Love found in this Sacred participation.  We are to reflect on the Divine significance of this Sacrifice given for us.

Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 8:

32 For God has proved His Love by giving us His greatest Treasure, the gift of His Son. And since God freely offered Him up as the Sacrifice for us all, He certainly won’t withhold from us anything else He has to give.

Holy Communion is THE solemn reminder of the brevity of His Sacrifice.  This Sacrifice opened the door to the Treasures of Heaven known as blessings provided for us as we walk in Holiness and faith.  If FATHER Loves each of us enough to give us HIS greatest Treasure, why would HE not provide other lesser treasures from Heaven?

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Malachi chapter 3:

10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My House. And thereby put Me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of Heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

11 I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the LORD of hosts.

12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the LORD of hosts.

Am I saying that the tithe is associated with Holy Communion?  Abram received that revelation when he gave a tithe to Melchizedek after their Holy Communion.

Moses recorded by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 14:

18 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was Priest of God Most High.)

19 And He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and earth;

20 and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave Him a tenth (tithe) of everything.

Abram connected the tithe as a form of worship and sacrifice to Holy Communion.  This occurred centuries before the Law was given to Moses.  This act prepared Abram to become Abraham.

FATHER sacrificed Jesus, HIS only begotten Son, for our benefit.  Abraham was intending to sacrifice his son as well.

Moses recorded as well by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 22:

1 After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

3 So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.

4 On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar.

5 Then Abraham said to his young men, “Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.”

6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. 7 And Isaac said to his father Abraham, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” He said, “Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?”

8 Abraham said, “God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” So they went both of them together.

9 When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built the altar there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood.

10 Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son.

11 But the angel of the LORD called to him from Heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

12 He said, “Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me.”

Worshipping THE LORD involves sacrifice.  In this case, Abraham was going to sacrifice to GOD by giving his only son.  Abraham proved himself in worshipping THE LORD by giving his greatest treasure… Isaac.  Abraham walked in the fear of THE LORD.

With this understanding, we are to treat the partaking of Holy Communion and reflect on the Truth that the bread and the wine represent FATHER’S greatest Treasure.  Not only that but also when we provide a tangible sacrifice of the tithe, we open ourselves up to blessings which will meet all our needs. 

Our willingness to give is actually meant to test our priorities: service to others or focus on one’s own needs and desires.  As for my family, we tithe every month, and FATHER has proven HIS willingness to bless our family.  I practice what I teach!