Servias Ministries Blog

As we discussed in the Bible Study yesterday (http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-baptism-of-love), patience is the first attribute mentioned in the Love Chapter, 1 Corinthians 13.  All of us will be tested in this area, without exception.  Those who have the revelation of glorification are eager for it to happen.  They are anxious for others of like mind to receive the revelation.  We must be patient.  Have you considered that you might be the one chosen to plant or water the seed for those with less revelation?  Kemper wrote about the need for “horizontal” ministry in his book “Raising the Remnant”.  Love focuses on others’ needs rather than your own aspirations.  We must allow patience to be perfected in us.  One aspect of our patience being perfected is ministering to others who have full or partial blindness to the revelation you have given.  Your responsibility is to plant seed or water existing seed.  Watering occurs after the planting and denotes a time of focus.  Until you are either rejected or the revelation is accepted, you must be patient.  Are you interceding on behalf of that other person?  Are you a testimony of Love to that other person, drawing them closer to you?  If not, you may be operating in “conditional” love rather than agape Love.

James 1:4    But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

There is a “perfecting” of patience.  Are you perfected yet?  Patience requires an interaction with others and/or events.  Be assured that we will be tested by both.  Paul understood these tests as he wrote:

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I am convinced that Our Heavenly Father foreknew that I would be willing to receive the revelation of Love.  In this body, it must be perfected and impatience must be overcome.  The world has trained us to expect results quickly.  Revelation does not abide by the world’s requirements of instantaneous.

29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

In the above passage, “HE” is the key.  Our Heavenly Father is the ONE who provides the increase in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge.  HE is the ONE who gives revelation to those HE foreknew.  HE is the ONE who changes our hearts and minds.  We must accept HIS time frame for manifestation.  Let patience have its perfect work so that your Love will also be perfected:

1 John 4:17  Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.

In John 8, the Pharisees once again challenged Jesus.  Effectively, these were church leaders of the current day.  They were known by their outward ceremonial acts and customs.  They were strict in their beliefs and outward observances of ceremony.  They were bitter enemies of Jesus and His cause.  He would rebuke them for their greed, ambition, hollow reliance on outward works, and affection for religious devotion to outward spirituality in order to gain popularity… and money.

In verse 13, they challenged Jesus:

13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”  NKJV

The response:

14 Jesus answered and said to them, “Even if I bear witness of Myself, My witness is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going; but you do not know where I come from and where I am going.

15 You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one.

16 And yet if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone, but I am with the Father who sent Me.

17 It is also written in your law that the testimony of two men is true.

18 I am One who bears witness of Myself, and the Father who sent Me bears witness of Me.”

The Law was necessary to reveal the sinful nature of man but we were not intended to remain under the Law.  Instead we were to move on to a higher relationship with Our Heavenly Father whose primary characteristic is Love.  If you don’t know Love, you really don’t know Our Heavenly Father.  You may know HIM as GOD, but not as FATHER.

Many who call themselves church leaders today must ask themselves the same question.  Though claiming to have much revelation, if they have little or no revelation of Love, they are walking the path of The Law.  How can you say you understand grace and mercy and spend no time pursuing a greater revelation of Love?  How can you subject the “flock” to the threat and punishment of an eternal hell and say you know Our Heavenly Father of Love?  Why spend hours upon hours studying all the nooks and crevices of Scripture as the Pharisees did, and not know Our Heavenly Father’s Son Who came as the full expression of Love, enough to die on the Cross?

What do you devote your time to?  Love and its expressed character or everything else under the sun?

Jesus was further challenged by their arrogance:

19 Then they said to Him, “Where is Your Father?”

Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also.”

Jesus has clearly identified two paths here:  The outward focus of justification by acts of the flesh versus the inward revelation of a higher spiritual understanding.  The Pharisees had no idea of who His FATHER was.  They had no relationship with Our Heavenly Father.  They were no different than those who died in the wilderness.  They spent all of their time trying to impress everyone with their spiritual understanding rather than pursuing the heart of Our Heavenly Father where the Divine Intent of Love resides.

Where specifically in the Temple was Jesus when He spoke of this division?  The treasury:

20 These words Jesus spoke in the treasury, as He taught in the temple; and no one laid hands on Him, for His hour had not yet come.

Where is your treasury?  As we pursue the fullness of Love, we lay up treasures in Heaven.  The Pharisees sought man’s treasures and took the path of the Law, ultimately resulting in death.  Jesus makes this clear:

21 Then Jesus said to them again, “I am going away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin. Where I go you cannot come.”

Which path are you on?   Look at the fruit of your life and the fruit will bear witness of your path.  If you are on the wrong path, it is never to late to repent (turn away) and take the other path.  HIS great grace and mercy allowed for this change in direction… because HE Loves us.

I am compelled by the Love of Our Heavenly Father to urge you to focus on this very same Love that motivates me.  Why?  It is beyond comparison.  It is the only solution to all of the problems facing the world today.  Yes, it sounds like an extremely simple solution in a complex world but it obviously isn’t so simple.

The sin of Adam revolves around self-preservation.  The answer to this issue is to die to the flesh, a simple but allusive task.  Mankind has been so focused on self-preservation that much of the infrastructure built today was created around that intent.  Walls of isolation were built to keep out those who would challenge this attitude of self-preservation.  Controls and laws were put in to place furthering this view of protection.  Now even sin is protected under the guise of individual rights.  The “greater good” once meant something virtuous.  Now it is a term coined by those in control who want to retain their position by touting some secret agenda that must be maintained in order to keep us all safe.  This spirit of self-preservation has deep roots that don’t want to give up dominion but it must.

The Apostle Paul was getting ready to share Our Heavenly Father’s Divine Intent for all of us to embrace.  He began the Love Chapter with:

1 Corinthians 12:31  But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.

Why settle for less?  Why not pursue the More Excellent Way?  As you pursue The Way, you will tap into the Treasuries of Heaven.  This is where all of the solutions to the current dilemma reside.  Man’s wisdom has failed.  His ego has brought us to the point of destruction of the current system.  Those who find The Way will be the ones others will follow as their previous pursuits and assumptions of life disintegrate before their very eyes.

I believe that Servias was raised up to help show The Way.  After all, HE could have shown me and my four and no more, but instead we are to broadcast The Way for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear.  Only Love will bring forth full and complete unity, it is truly the More Excellent Way!

Galatians 3:21   Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law.

There are usually two camps of Christians: those that focus on the Old Testament and those that focus on the New Testament.  Both were given by Our Heavenly Father and both apply to us today.  HIS Divine Intent reside in both.  To set aside the Old Testament only provide an incomplete understanding of HIS character and ways.

22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Most people don’t want to expose a problem or mistake they made.  They want you to give them a solution without fully understanding the problem.  The Law confined or imprisoned everyone.  It exposed the problem but did not provide a long-term solution.  Each year the priest provided a temporary solution to show how man was unable to fulfill the Law.  Year after year this temporary solution reflected man’s inability to become lawful by his own power.

23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

Until “faith” came, we were under guard by the Standard of the Law.  No man could claim full maturity in righteousness.

24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The Law revealed our lawless state and established the need for Christ in our lives.  Without the Law to point us to a solution to our lawlessness, we might remain blinded.  It provided a standard of Truth and Love to assess our current state.  How could you say all have sinned without the standard to compare our conduct and our path toward death and destruction?  A tutor in an instructor toward enlightenment in a particular area requiring a greater understanding.  Wisdom tells us we need a tutor in the first place.  As Solomon was preparing to build the Temple (the dwelling place of HIS Presence):

1 Chronicles 22:12 “Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God.

Back to Galatians 3:

25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 

The Law held you accountable and is the basis for correction to those who remain lawless, even unto physical death.  Correction will come to all.  Wisdom demands change.  Man starts out blind but then his eyes are opened when he sees the Standard.

Once we have accepted Christ by faith, the Law has done its job in that it directed us toward Christ.  However there is a time of maturing into the fullness of our walk with Christ.  The Law still applies to those who are immature and lawless in their immature state.  HIS grace and mercy applies accordingly as we seek forgiveness of sins. The Law still operates today as a tutor.  Those who have matured no longer need the Law to direct them to their destination, they are already in route to the fullness of Christ and HIS anointing in their lives.

Jesus effectively made it simple for all to understand when He said the Law is summed up by Love.  If you don’t Love Our Heavenly Father or your neighbor OR your enemy, you are “lawless”.  These three place the focus away from “self”.  Isn’t that the intent of the Law?  No matter how you look at it, Love defines our state- either lawless or righteous.  Check the mirror.  Which state are you in?  Faith in Christ by itself is not enough:

1 Corinthians 13:2  And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

The vast majority of pastors believe church success lies in:

• Attendance

• Giving (money)

• Number of programs

• Number of staff

• Square footage (of facilities)

At Servias Ministries, we believe our success is based on spreading the Gospel of Love and Truth:

– We have no facilities

– We pay no salaries

– We have one live program per week (most weeks), recorded for later viewing.  Available on a global basis.

– Attendance is optional, but appreciated

– Giving is optional, but appreciated

– We give to those in need, cheerfully.

I guess our definition of success is based on hearing and responding to Our Heavenly Father’s Voice.  HE set up our infrastructure and determines our focus.

In 2010, a complimentary copy of the first book we published “Circumcised Heart of Love” was sent to the senior pastors of the top 100 churches in the U.S.  We never heard back from 99 of the 100 churches.  The one church that responded returned their complimentary copy.

Laws can serve or they can put you into bondage.  Often, it is your own actions that determine which life you live.

When you walk in Love, you live a simpler and more fulfilling life.  You move toward living in the “now” rather than always fretting about the past or future.  Your expectations of others change dramatically.  You allow people to be themselves without your laws being placed on them.  By doing this you remove your yoke of bondage on them:

Galatians 5:13 For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this:“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”fn 15 But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I have heard of many instances where a woman who is a believer marry an unbelieving man, hoping to change him.  They start their marriage unequally yoked.  Unless Our Heavenly Father specifically tells you to take on this task, you will probably fail.  Men are not women’s “construction projects”.  Those women who think that way are simply manipulators who want to control others.  In the above Scripture, the term neighbor does include your spouse.

Manipulation is a yoke of bondage in any relationship and it can be very subtle.  We are called to encourage our spouse, our friends, and family to a greater level of Spiritual maturity.  However, we cannot force or manipulate them by making them feel guilty or inferior to our spiritual standard.  Love in action draws people to a higher level, not control, force, or manipulation.

The Kingdom of Our Heavenly Father is magnetic in nature, not force-based.  People are drawn to Love.  On the other hand, they resist the proud who place demands of performance on them.  If you want people to join you in some form of unity, you must attract them by your Love in action.  Otherwise you simply further alienate them and at least one of you will continue to walk in bondage to a law, probably the one in the mirror.  Setting people free from bondage brings them into a liberty which in turns brings them into unity with you.  Interesting how that works!

We found out that Dave Dixon of California recently suffered a major setback.  His boat sank.  Not just any boat, the one he lives on.  His guitars and sound equipment along with other possessions went down with the ship.  He is now in recovery mode.  Though he has not requested assistance from Servias Ministries, we would like to send him an offering of Love.  Dave has blessed the brethren over the years with his musical gifts and calling.  His anointed baritone voice is always a welcomed addition to the songs of praise and worship.

You can send your offerings by way of the Internet at:

www.unity153.net  and clicking on the Donate button to give by credit card

or you can send a check, etc. to:

Servias Ministries, Inc.

PO Box 1471

Bethany, OK 73008

Please write “Dixon” on the check so that we know it is to be included in the offering we send Dave.

My family will be participating in this expression of Love as well.   This is Love in action.

2 Corinthians 9:7  So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

In 1 Timothy Chapter 6, we are given things to flee and things to pursue.  Our ego would make success highly complicated and unattainable by most so that you feel special and unique in your quest for success.  This leads to the attitude of entitlement.  Wealthy people tend to view themselves in this light and that is why they are frequently warned of the snares associated with money.  Incidentally, those who are poor and focus solely on money have the same issue.  Greed spans all income levels.

3 If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to godliness, 4 he is conceited and understands nothing; but he has a morbid interest in controversial questions and disputes about words, out of which arise envy, strife, abusive language, evil suspicions, 5 and constant friction between men of depraved mind and deprived of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain.  NASB

As I said in Sunday’s Bible study: at a minimum, read the words Jesus spoke in the Gospels.  Paul emphasizes His Words here.  The words Jesus spoke conform us to godliness.  Anyone who tells you otherwise understands nothing.  These people who do not know the words and intent of Jesus create controversy and disputes.  They create friction among the brethren because they are deprived of the Truth.  If your words or actions are creating friction, division, or strife among the brethren, Stop!  This person is moved by control and manipulation, not by the spirit of Love.

We are told in Chapter 2 to pray for all men:

1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. 3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If all men could not be restored to a full and complete relationship with Our Heavenly Father, we would not be urged to pray for them.  We must view others through the eyes of Jesus.  We must align our intent with the Divine Intent of Love.  If you are doing nothing for others then you have not aligned yourself with HIS Intent.  As you align yourself with HIM, you will lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.  We brought nothing into this world and we will take nothing out so we must quit focusing on the temporal things in life, money being the most temporary on the list.

6:9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

We are being warned of the snares associated with money and greed.  It also refers to those who have strayed from the faith.  We must be vigilant to pursue the things that matter to the long term and consistent walk of godliness.  What must we pursue?

11 But you, O man of God, flee these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, gentleness.

Each one of these areas of pursuit will be tested in your life.  The test is designed to determine your level of maturity in each aspect.  You must actively pursue them for they will not just drop down on you one day as some entitlement bestowed on special people.  We are called to mature as sons and daughters, tried and tested in our preparation.  There are actions we are called to take. We are told to “pursue”!

These areas of pursuit deal with our interaction with others.  We are called to minister by being an example for others to see and experience.  Those who cannot hear directly from Our Heavenly Father need our ministry.  Yes, there will be some who reject the Words Jesus spoke and will pursue those things which we are fleeing from.  At some point, we must let them take their chosen path toward judgment and correction.  It may be painful but necessary to remove the root of bitterness and other deep-seated issues in their life.  Our prayers for them will help sustain them through their time of correction.  Until then, we must patiently endure their immaturity with gentleness.  As we walk in faith when adversity comes, it will be an encouragement to them that are still immature.  We must not let the immature keep us from focusing on what we are called to pursue.  We must be strengthened in our own prayer time in order to help others set the proper course of pursuit.