Servias Ministries Blog

How do we die to the flesh?

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 8:

1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

And in 1 Corinthians chapter 15:

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

​55 ​​“O Death, where is your sting?

​​O Hades, where is your victory?”

We don’t have to die in order to live, we are to live by THE SPIRIT in order for us to die to the flesh!  As we embrace the Life of THE SPIRIT, our flesh dies and death is swallowed up in victory.  As we put on incorruption, the corruption of the flesh is removed, eliminated, and nowhere to be found.  What a blessing FATHER has bestowed on us!  HIS life in us is greater than death and destruction, for the spirit man is greater than the flesh.

The law of THE SPIRIT of life makes me free from the law of sin and death!  Life makes me free from death, not the other way around.  It is not getting rid of death that enables me to live. 

Only life can get rid of death!  You don’t destroy the death in order to become alive, you take on life to eliminate death.  It is Christ in me that causes Adam to be brought to death, yet I live.  It is not victory that gives you power, it is power that gives you victory.  As we take on life, all the death in us will be taken care of in our members.  An increase in life causes us to decrease in death.  This is a Divine Law of the Kingdom of Our Heavenly Father.  

He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.  This should be our focus each and every day: walk in THE SPIRIT of Life!

Paul further wrote by THE SPIRIT in Colossians chapter 3:

20 But we are citizens of the state (commonwealth, homeland) which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior,

21 Who will transform and fashion anew the body of our humiliation to conform to and be like the body of His glory and majesty, by exerting that power which enables Him even to subject everything to Himself.   AMPL

Christ will transform our body to be like His body of  glory and majesty because His Life is greater than death thus we should no longer focus on death but instead focus on walking according to THE SPIRIT.  If we were unable to do so, FATHER would not have revealed this precious promise of HIS Divine Intent.

In Romans chapter 5:

8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Jesus’ death reconciled us once and for all, but in addition, we are saved by His life.  The death of Christ, which is the atonement, reconciles us to FATHER; but only the life of Christ can come against the power of sin and death and deliver our life from destruction.  This is the victory over death and destruction.  In Romans chapter 8, we are given the explicit difference of the two paths presented before us:

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

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

The Sons and Daughters of GOD are set apart by our desire and focus to be fully led by THE SPIRIT.  We need not focus on dying to the flesh, we are simply focusing on the positive aspect of life in THE SPIRIT.  As we do, we put to death the deeds of the body and those deeds will no longer plague us as we move forward on the path known as The Way.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Timothy chapter 1:

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

FATHER has given us The Holy Spirit Who has the inherent life-giving, healing power to deal with every situation we find ourselves in.  The Holy Spirit has the fullness of Agape Love and expresses that fullness as we walk according to THE SPIRIT within us.

As we become accustomed to walking according the leading of The Holy Spirit, our minds become transformed and our thinking changes.  Paul also wrote 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.

As for me, one of the best things to do when confronted with adversity is to keep my mouth shut until The Holy Spirit instructs me what to say.  Otherwise, I might give a soulish reply out of emotion.  FATHER does not remove or eliminate our emotions but wants us to manage those emotions and not allow them to rule over us.  Our mind must be renewed so that it becomes a servant to our spirit rather than the taskmaster over our spirit and our body.

The good and acceptable and perfect will of God is accessible to all for HE has provided not only HIS written Word but also The Holy Spirit WHO communicates FATHER’S perfect Will.  We must not stop at the level of FATHER’S acceptable Will but should move on to walk according to HIS perfect Will.

THE SPIRIT revealed in 2 Corinthians chapter 3:

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. 18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

It is critical that each of us acknowledges the need to change.  This is what transformation is all about.  We are all at a lower level of glory and FATHER wants us to proceed to a higher level of glory.  This is done by submitting ourselves to The Holy Spirit WHO contains all the potential for us walking according to FATHER’S Divine Intent.

Until we tap into the potential of The Holy Spirit Who resides in our “temple”, we will not ascend to a higher level of HIS glory.  FATHER is not withholding HIS glory from us, but our unrenewed minds are the issue.  We are transformed by the renewing of our minds.

FATHER tells us to keep HIS Word at the center of our hearts and this is done by meditating on HIS Word daily.  Part-time believers will never become mature Sons of GOD.  They will only be observers of what FATHER is doing.  I choose not to be in that group.

What is the key to unlocking the power and authority of The Holy Spirit Who resides on the inside of us?  I am fully convinced that we must mature in Agape Love thus our intent aligns with FATHER’S Divine Intent and HE will release the flow of power and the authority to walk in HIS power without exception.  Self interest has place in operating with such power and authority.  FATHER will not allow the enemy any place by giving power to those who are manipulated and soulish in their intent.

John spoke by THE SPIRIT in 3 John:

2 Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

Our souls can only prosper if we are being led by THE SPIRIT of Truth in Love.  When our souls are prospering, we are not moved by the circumstances surrounding us and neither are we moved by the afflictions we are enduring.  We know FATHER will deliver us out of all our afflictions so we must let patience have its perfect work.  In the meantime, let us focus on the continual renewing of our mind and be led by The Holy Spirit.  Let our walk be a testimony to all those who come in contact with us.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Genesis chapter 39:

21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.

23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

And it is also written by THE SPIRIT in Acts chapter 10:

38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

With whom have you aligned yourself?  FATHER is the only ONE WHO has the power to prosper whatever we set our hands to as we walk out our lives.  HE has the power to produce fruit from seed thus life is in HIS Hands.  Men can come to false conclusions that they are especially gifted to be productive but none of them prosper without FATHER’S intervention and Laws of prosperity.

The wealth of the wicked are laid up for the just.  FATHER will use vessels of dishonor to store up resources for HIS vessels of honor thus we are not to align ourselves with the wicked in any fashion.  Joseph suffered much affliction but THE LORD was with Joseph every step of The Way.  Joseph had to get the “world” out of his heart and FATHER’S training plan was quite successful in achieving that result.

Man’s problem is being short-term oriented.  FATHER had no issue in allowing Joseph to endure affliction over the course of a decade in preparing his heart to rise up to his purpose.

Luke recorded by THE SPIRIT in Luke chapter 13:

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath.

11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up.

12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.”

13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.”

15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it?

16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?”

Was it worth waiting eighteen years for the woman to be fully healed?  Absolutely!  In Luke chapter 8:

43 Now a woman, having a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any,

44 came from behind and touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.

45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”  When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”

46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.”

47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

48 And He said to her, “Daughter, be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

This woman spent twelve years and all her money attempting to be healed.  Can you imagine living with a chronic disease for twelve years?  In our short-term thinking, it would be a life time of struggle.  Her faith in the teaching of Jesus and His power was all it took to finally get results for THE LORD was with Him.  She aligned her trust and faith In Him.  The physicians proved that they had no healing power… they only sustained her until she encountered Jesus.

As we fully align ourselves with Our Lord Jesus Christ, we will begin to walk “with Him” instead of walking according to our self interest.  The blessings are found by those who have fully committed to walk according to The Way.  Both women received their cure because of their alignment.  There is no such thing as an incurable disease.  FATHER is not moved by any circumstance that hinders us from fulfilling our purpose.  We simply need to align ourselves WITH HIM, not man.

FATHER spoke in Jeremiah chapter 33:

1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the prison, saying,

2 “Thus says the LORD who made it (the earth), the LORD who formed it to establish it (the LORD is His name):

3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

6 Behold, [in the future restored Jerusalem] I will lay upon it health and healing, and I will cure them and will reveal to them the abundance of peace (prosperity, security, stability) and truth.

7 And I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to be reversed and will rebuild them as they were at first.

8 And I will cleanse them from all the guilt and iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will forgive all their guilt and iniquities by which they have sinned and rebelled against Me.

9 And [Jerusalem] shall be to Me a name of joy, a praise and a glory before all the nations of the earth that hear of all the good I do for it, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace, prosperity, security, and stability I provide for it.

FATHER speaks according to HIS Nature and Divine Intent.  You don’t have to wonder what is in FATHER’S heart for HE expresses HIS Divine Intent of Agape Love in the Words HE speaks in Scripture.

FATHER’S Intent toward us who make up the “New Jerusalem” is health and healing in every aspect of our being, nothing to be left out.  Moreover HE promises us an abundance of prosperity, security, stability, and Truth.  Isn’t that environment we all wish to live in?

What is especially missing today is the abundance of Truth in our current system.  In the political, economic, and religious systems, lies and manipulation rule the day.  The darkness has been increasing for some time but FATHER promises us an abundance of Truth is coming.  The light will soon expose the lies which have been perpetrated by those who are sons of the devil.  All three systems will have the light directed to their nefarious plans and actions and the nations will be shaken to the core.

It is well known among those who follow the financial markets that they are totally manipulated and misrepresented to the public.  The sons of the devil have kept the perception of fair and equitable markets up while they fleece the public of its hard earned money.  FATHER knows who they are and will judge them with a righteous scale.  We must not be moved when the Truth is fully revealed for it will shake the foundations of the current system like a major earthquake.

The political system has a multitude of puppets who have compromised themselves through greed and the quest for power.  Their puppet masters have operated in the darkness for decades but will be unable to escape the abundance of Truth soon to be revealed.

The religious system is equally guilty of promoting man’s agendas while presenting themselves as GOD’S spokesmen.  They promote men’s doctrines and currently enjoy the power and status associated with their positions but once again, the abundance of Truth will prevail and expose the hearts of those who have misled the flock.

You might ask yourself the question: How do I prepare for the coming shaking?  I continue to urge those with ears to hear, we must focus on being led by THE SPIRIT and do whatever The Holy Spirit directs us to do.  Over the years, I have found this to be the only path which assures total success in dealing with coming events. 

FATHER is not willing that any should perish because of HIS Agape Love.  HE is not reluctant to lead and guide us through any judgments coming to the earth.  HE is the protector of HIS people and will be no different this time.  When Egypt was being judged, FATHER protected HIS flock and HE will do the same for HIS Sons and Daughters now.  Let us not fear the coming earthquake in whatever form it takes but let us trust in HIS Agape Love as the abundance of Truth is revealed.

Balaam was a prophet and is mentioned three times in the New Testament.  Peter wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Peter chapter 2:

12 But these, like natural brute beasts made to be caught and destroyed, speak evil of the things they do not understand, and will utterly perish in their own corruption,

13 and will receive the wages of unrighteousness, as those who count it pleasure to carouse in the daytime. They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you,

14 having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices, and are accursed children. 15 They have forsaken the right way and gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

16 but he was rebuked for his iniquity: a dumb donkey speaking with a man’s voice restrained the madness of the prophet.

17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever

Although a prophet, Balaam prophesied for money and he departed from the perfect Will and plan of FATHER to accommodate people from whom he could profit by pleasing them.  In their ministry, there is always a price on everything and there is always a plea for money for their various projects.  Their need of your money is the object of every meeting they hold, every magazine they publish, and every letter they write.  They will send you books, tapes, etc. for your money. They know the way of faith, but instead rely on carnal methods when it comes to raising finances.  There is always a gimmick to entice you to send your hard-earned money to fulfill their grandiose schemes to save the world or bring in the kingdom!  Every Son of GOD is responsible for knowing what he/she is supporting!

Jude wrote by THE SPIRIT:

10 But these speak evil of whatever they do not know; and whatever they know naturally, like brute beasts, in these things they corrupt themselves.

11 Woe to them! For they have gone in the way of Cain, have run greedily in the error of Balaam for profit, and perished in the rebellion of Korah.

The error of Balaam was in deviating from the will of the LORD.  Balaam represents a ministry or relationship with the LORD that brings a word from GOD.  Balaam was a prophet, a true prophet of the true GOD bringing a true word from the Lord but Balaam was also a teacher and his student was Balak.  Each of us is a “teaching” before we are a teacher.  We teach what we are.  Balaam prophesied out of the Spirit of the LORD, but Balaam taught out of who he was.  What we are is much more powerful and expressive than what we say.  Balaam taught Balak not only by his words, but out of his character and state of being.  The word of the LORD was in his mouth, but carnality, deceptiveness, greed, and rebellion were in his heart, and that is the error of Balaam.

The Beloved Disciple wrote by THE SPIRIT in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, chapter 2:

12 “And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,

‘These things says He who has the sharp two-edged sword:

13 “I know your works, and where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is. And you hold fast to My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days in which Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.

14 But I have a few things against you, because you have there those who hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols, and to commit sexual immorality.

  The doctrine of Balaam was the doctrine and method to corrupt a people who couldn’t be cursed.  They were corrupted by tempting them to be joined to the women of Moab, defile their separation unto the Lord, and abandon their holy character — union with the mind, ways, methods, and spirit of the world — which is spiritual fornication.  The doctrine of Balaam is union with the world, union with the fleshly ways of the carnal mind instead of a pure walk in THE SPIRIT and by THE SPIRIT. Do you know that God’s elect people have never been hurt from without?  FATHER’s called and chosen people can only be corrupted from within. 

The richest years of the early church were during its persecution for they loved not their life unto death as it is written in chapter 12:

10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.”

While the early overcomers were being imprisoned, beheaded, fed to lions, burned at the stake, boiled in oil, their property confiscated, and all the rest, there was great boldness, glory, and power upon the people of GOD.  Believers increased by the millions, shook kingdoms, and turned the world upside-down.  Do you think it will be any different today?  Jesus’ death ushered in the ministry of the anointed disciples.  Stephen’s death in Acts chapter 7 ushered in Paul’s anointed ministry.  As we die to the flesh in whatever form it takes, there will be a greater release of the anointing.

The church is made ineffective by corruption and that is the doctrine of Balaam!  All who follow in Balaam’s way, who have erred from the pure walk in the Spirit OF GOD, and yet make a profession of serving and doing the work of Christ with their tantalizing words of vanity, and yet run greedily after the error of Balaam for rewards, and seek money for their preaching, prophesying, programs, books, and electronic media; and that admire men’s persons, flattering the people for gain, and take titles to themselves of “Reverend,” “Doctor,” and others of this world’s recognition — are not these they of whom the Lord spoke when He said, “But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balak to cast a stumbling block before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.”

The way, the error, and the doctrine of Balaam are all based on self interest and greed whereas THE WAY of Jesus Christ is based solely on Agape Love.  If you listen intently to those who proclaim to be prophets, teachers, etc., you will be able to detect if they have self interest or attempting to exalt themselves above the ministry of Christ.  They will lead you to believe that the Kingdom cannot be established without them or their ministry thus they will subtly convince you to be a part, usually in the financial area. 

Agape Love will flourish without subtle attempts to extract your hard-earned money.  THE SPIRIT will make sure that funds will come forth to support what those with a pure heart are called to do.  This is why I constantly encourage the readers to be led by THE SPIRIT in their giving.  Otherwise, contribute nothing until you hear from THE SPIRIT.  I have been sucked in to giving substantial funds in the past due to my lack of understanding of the Balaam doctrine.  FATHER knew my heart and intent thus HIS great grace and mercy prevailed in our family’s finances.  I certainly learned my lesson!

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Galatians chapter 5:

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

What is joy?  One definition is: “Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise Our Heavenly Father in every situation.”  Given that joy is listed immediately after Agape Love, this definition is appropriate.  When we understand FATHER’S unconditional Love for us, we have the quiet confidence HE is ordering our steps in all situations we encounter, no matter what challenges we face.

James wrote by THE SPIRIT in 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.

As we are led by THE SPIRIT, we are no longer moved by the circumstances around us for those circumstances are testing our faith and producing patience.  When we are in the midst of various trials, we should only speak and respond according to FATHER’S Wisdom rather than out of our own understanding else we will suffer regret. 

Words will either be a blessing to others or they will sting causing hurt to the recipient.  Words of kindness are life-giving.  Our words will reflect double-mindedness if our heart has any doubt.  When we critically assess our words, actions, and responses to others, we will know what level of faith we are operating in.

If we are feeling sorry for ourselves then we are missing joy in our hearts and should return to FATHER’S Word and get that settled assurance that HE is in control of every situation we encounter.  I know there are times when it seems that I have been stretched beyond my capabilities but FATHER is building my faith and showing me that I am stronger than previously thought.  As Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in 2 Corinthians chapter 12:

9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Let no person or event steal your joy.  Walk in that quiet confidence knowing Our Heavenly Father will provide the necessary resources and strength to overcome.  Simply smile in the face of adversity for in the end, we will prevail through Agape Love.

Yesterday, I posted an explanation of the word “fear” by our beloved brother Alan.  To recap, he wrote:

God empowered creation with the Spirit of Truth in Love, which is the nature of God, and that empowerment was to perpetuate Good continually.  That action describes a God of Love, and not a God to be feared.  ‘Man’, in separation from the Love of God, began to distrust God, and promote that distrust and fear to others.  

Gal. 4:5  Only with the appearing of Yashua (Jesus if you prefer) did mankind have the opportunity to cease ‘seeing’ God through the eyes of fear, and begin to See God as the Father of Love.  “If you have seen me, you have seen The Father”.  And even till this very day does man continue to ‘see’ God through the eyes of fear (yara) rather than to See (Ra-ah) God as our loving Heavenly Father.   Also, the word ‘yara’, which is most often translated as ‘fear’, is numerous times translated as “…to see”.  When you ‘see’ correctly, and properly discern what you are ‘seeing’, it produces no fear.  Fear not.

How do we correct our misperception of what has been taught over the years?  We must meditate on the pure Word, not man’s teachings filled with their bias.  The term “fear” promotes a constant requirement of performance which few can obtain.  The rest of us would fall short in our quest to become acceptable thus we could never achieve full maturity.  Isn’t this the essence of “conditional” love?  We must overcome this view which is full of conditions and understand Agape Love.  To overcome this performance issue, we should fully embrace what FATHER’S Word says and set aside all the incorrect teachings of the past.  Let us allow The Holy Spirit to show us the fullness of Agape Love expressed to us by FATHER.  This will remove the deep-seated anxiety associated with never measuring up.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Philippians chapter 4:

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

How do we eliminate anxiety?  Meditate on The Word and peace will guard our hearts and minds.  As we focus on The Word, FATHER’S peace will begin to overtake all of our anxieties and cause them to dissipate.  We are to renew our minds daily so that the issues of life will not overtake us and steal our peace.

FATHER’S peace surpasses our understanding so we must not allow our minds to restrict this peace simply because we do not know how it works.  Man’s reasoning would have us believe that we can’t have peace unless we fully understand how it works in us.  We must trust Our Heavenly Father and rely on HIS Word in order to receive HIS peace which surpasses our understanding.  Have faith!

FATHER formed us in a manner where we become what we meditate on.  This is why we must guard our hearts and our minds in what we allow to enter in.  We reap what we sow.

8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.

9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

The verses in Philippians chapter 4 are excellent reminders which should be referenced daily until we have sufficiently trained our minds to pursue only those things mentioned in verse 8.

I choose to meditate on The Word every morning first thing.  It prepares me for the day and FATHER’S peace permeates my soul.  The issues of life become less important as I begin the day with a grateful heart.  Wisdom wrote in Proverbs chapter 8:

17   I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.

Our beloved brother Alan shared the following:

‘Fear’, as a normal response to whatever you may see as a danger or threat, is a common manifestation of the emotions of the soul; the mind, the will and the emotions we tend to rely upon for trusted information.  Reasonable fear can be very healthy.  Irrational fear, however, normally comes from ignorance of what you are ‘seeing’, or perceiving. 

There are many types of events or peoples or situations that may cause a logical fear because of not knowing, in advance, what the outcome will be.  This is the fear described by the word ‘pachad’ (Strong’s #6343, and pronounced ‘pah-hkhad’), and is usually associated with a negative physical response, sometimes referred to as quaking, shaking or rattling.  The idea of being rattled emotionally gives an adequate description of what this word ‘pachad’ is describing.  This word ‘pachad’ is usually describing a ‘fear’ of a threatening person or circumstance, and/or what that threatening person or circumstance may be able to do to you.

The other word most commonly translated as referring to ‘fear’ is the word ‘yara’, generally recognized as Strong’s #3372.  This word is more a description of a fear, intellectually or otherwise, produced from failing to understand what you are ‘seeing’.  This word ‘yara’ is a use of the common verb ‘ra-ah’, Strong’s #7200, which is translated loosely as ‘to see; to look at, or inspect or observe’.  However, the importance of the verb ‘ra-ah’ is that of having understanding or insight into what you are ‘seeing’.  The verb ‘ra-ah’, of which the word ‘yara’ is only one of many derivations from this root verb ‘ra-ah’, primarily is referring to ‘seeing’ with Spiritual understanding, or Spiritual insight. 

Those with keen Spiritual insight were called ‘seer’ before they were called ‘prophet’, and the word ‘seer’ is from this Hebrew verb ‘ra-ah’.  Consequently, because of man’s distorted mindset, and because men irrationally and ignorantly ‘feared’ God, because they couldn’t ‘see’ a physical form they could identify as ‘God’, they ‘feared’ what they could not see with their natural senses.  And this ‘fear’ was promoted and used by the leadership of the people to manipulate and herd the people into a manageable mentality.  The people were told to ‘fear’ YHVH, or God.  However, this exact same word that gets translated as ‘fear’ is also translated as ‘to see’ God.  What, then, is the understandable difference in these uses of the verb ‘ra-ah’? 

People were told, and taught, to ‘fear God’, because failing to please God would result in a negative response, or retaliation, from God.  Or, so the religious leadership preached to the people.  And the people, because they could never completely appease the demands of religion and religion’s hierarchy, ‘feared’ God because they couldn’t properly ‘See’ God through their own Spiritual understanding.  People naturally imagined a God that would treat people the same way that they themselves would treat others if they themselves could be God.  And because the people failed to See God Spiritually, they negatively responded to a God they could not see with their own natural senses.

How could I come to this conclusion?  The beginning verses of Genesis introduce us to a God of immense Spiritual Love, and investing that Spiritual Love into all of creation.   Gen. 1:31 “And God ‘saw’ (ra-ah) all that He had made, and behold, it was  very good.”  The Hebrew language translated as ‘very good’ literally means “…good that continues to perpetuate abundantly”.  That is, of course, my own definition, but I rest my reputation upon it. 

God empowered creation with the Spirit of Truth in Love, which is the nature of God, and that empowerment was to perpetuate Good continually.  That action describes a God of Love, and not a God to be feared.  ‘Man’, in separation from the Love of God, began to distrust God, and promote that distrust and fear to others.   And the pattern didn’t change for thousands of years.  Actually, that pattern continued until “…when the fullness of time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we can receive the adoption of sons”. 

Gal. 4:5  Only with the appearing of Yashua (Jesus if you prefer) did mankind have the opportunity to cease ‘seeing’ God through the eyes of fear, and begin to See God as the Father of Love.  “If you have seen me, you have seen The Father”.  And even till this very day does man continue to ‘see’ God through the eyes of fear (yara) rather than to See (Ra-ah) God as our loving Heavenly Father.   Also, the word ‘yara’, which is most often translated as ‘fear’, is numerous times translated as “…to see”.  When you ‘see’ correctly, and properly discern what you are ‘seeing’, it produces no fear.  Fear not.

It is written by THE SPIRIT in Deuteronomy chapter 7:

12 “Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgments, and keep and do them, that the LORD your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

13 And He will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.

14 You shall be blessed above all peoples; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or among your livestock.

15 And the LORD will take away from you all sickness…”

These promises were first given to the children of Israel yet they were unable to sustain their commitment because their spirit man had not been made new.  Their sin nature was dealt with on a temporary basis once a year.  However, our nature has been dealt with permanently as we submit to our spirit man and place our soul and body as servants, no longer to be placed above the spirit.  Now The Holy Spirit lives inside us rather than an external tabernacle with restrictions attached to it.

The blessings are still in place for those of us who purpose to keep the covenant of Agape Love which all the Law is based.  FATHER has not changed in HIS willingness to bless us with good fruit.  HE has called us to be fruitful in everything HE leads us to set our hand to as we spread the truly Good News of Jesus Christ.

The immature believer focuses on the “things” which are the results of walking in HIS ways but the mature believer places emphasis on The Way.  We look to be a blessing to others as we serve according to the leading of The Holy Spirit.  Simplicity is preferred over possessions.  Revelation is preferred over information.  Power and authority from Above is preferred over the world’s solutions.  Silence is preferred over the noise generated by the world’s relentless rhetoric.  As it is written by THE SPIRIT in Psalm 46:

​10 ​​Be still, and know that I am God;

​​I will be exalted among the nations,

​​I will be exalted in the earth!

I am grateful for each day and I trust you are too.  Each day presents an opportunity to bless others in whatever situation we find ourselves in.  Let us walk in kindness over criticism.  Nations are being divided yet we are called to be in unity.  Division was started in the Garden of Eden and it has been a primary tool of the adversary ever since.  We should be looking to find something in common with others rather than attempting to use “soulish” persuasion to further some agenda created by the mind.  We are to be a light to others and allow The Holy Spirit to draw them toward the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Romans chapter 8:

11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.

13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

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

What is the highest form of physical existence?  To be led by THE SPIRIT and be deemed as one of the Sons of GOD!  The things of the world along with the accolades associated with worldly success will pass away but those who have been redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb will live a blessed eternal life pleasing Our Heavenly Father.  The flesh no longer has power over us and we have overcome its enticements and destructive nature.  HIS blessings will overtake us as we walk according to Agape Love.

2 Chronicles 7:
 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Jonathan Cahn provides an excellent teaching on the above passage as it applies to America:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=041dQiYZI2c

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