Servias Ministries Blog

In Philippians Chapter 3, Paul speaks of worldly assets being Heavenly liabilities.  He starts out by referencing his past resume:

:4 though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.  NKJV

In that day, he was among the well-educated class of people and he had achieved great stature in his particular vocation.  He was the epitome of success in that day, and at a young age.  After his encounter with Christ, his priorities totally changed:

:7 But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  NASB

After Paul’s encounter with Christ, all of his past titles, education, and stature among the world were of no value to him… they were as a loss.  He realized that his loyalty to the worldly state of Israel was of no value.  It was time to change his citizenship status.  Those precious assets of the past were simply liabilities to him now.

Here in the U.S., many of us have examples of what we thought were assets, were truly liabilities.  Liabilities are a drain to the balance sheet.  They reflect debt and obligations that require some type of payment in the future.  Boat owners understand the concept of assets becoming liabilities all too well.  You buy the boat thinking that you are going to enjoy it every weekend in the spring, summer and fall.  At first, it is heavily used.  As each year passes, you use the boat less but spend money to store it and keep it in working order.  As time passes, your priorities change and the boat becomes a liability.  You finally reconcile the fact that it would be cheaper to rent a boat for the weekend than to own a boat year round.  The second happiest day of owning a boat is the day you sell it.  This is true with other “stuff” as well.

As we are led to change our citizenship from the world’s system to Heaven, we no longer need the trappings of the world.  The things of the world are counted as “loss”:

3:8 More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ,

This reality occurs in those who have truly seen a change in their life.  Their priorities are now focused toward the higher things in Heaven, thus their allegiance is toward the Kingdom of Our Heavenly Father.  When this change occurs we no longer rely on the “letter” of the Law, but instead on the “Spirit” of the Law.  Love, faith, and hope overtake us as our citizenship is transferred:

9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.

We now realize there is a cost of transferring our citizenship:  fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.  Our false self wants to retain those liabilities by convincing us they are assets.  The worldly assets are in constant decay.  They have no future and they provide temporary satisfaction at best.  Paul further states that those who are mature understand the goal: the upward call of GOD in Christ Jesus:

12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us press toward that goal and as a consequence, our citizenship will be transferred.  Our hearts will lead us into the change.  Love will draw us out of the world and its trappings and into the everlasting Kingdom.  We will shed any weight that would hinder our focus.  We will align ourselves with others who also have made the decision to transfer the citizenship upward.  When you move to a new residence in a distant land, you sell off the unwanted assets and remove all liabilities of the past.  You start fresh.  Your assets now equal your equity and you you are now free to minister Love and life without hindrance.

15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,fn let us be of the same mind.

Our Citizenship in Heaven:

17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

This is my helmet!

The Passover Conference this weekend is a sign of a much bigger picture.  The people around the world are gathering and dividing at the same time.  They are gathering in one accord to split away from the repressive system that has held them captive.  The Ukraine is an example of the situation.  The country is saddled with huge debt brought on by the western influence and the people in the eastern part of the country have had enough.  They want to change their citizenship back to Russia where the economy is much better.  This is happening in other countries as well.  People are tired of being controlled by some group of elites that live in some distant town, state, or province, enriching themselves at the expense of the rest of the citizens.  Think about it, you live your entire life submitting to a noble standard only to find that those in charge have been lying and stealing from you the entire time.  What do you do?  Distance yourself from them.  That is happening in many countries around the world.

What citizenship do you want to be associated with?  As for my wife and I, we choose Heaven.  This conference is about the initial, global gathering together of those who believe their citizenship is in the Heavenly realm.  These citizens reside across geographical borders on earth but are gathered together in the Spirit.  The Body of Christ must assemble together to operate in the fullness of its calling.  Spiritual battles have occurred and those who have been tasked in conducting spiritual warfare have been active as we approach the end of the age.  As I mentioned in my session on economics, there will be a bridge or time of transition while this age comes to its completion.  We should focus our attention and resources on embracing the fact that we are gathering together.  It is not business as usual.

The gathering will continue and our method of communication and sharing will allow our numbers to continue to increase.  There is still much to be done.  If you care to actively participate in working with us to build out the infrastructure to promote the gathering, share your resources by contributing.  We are looking for cheerful givers that are embracing this vision of gathering.  Clearly, the vision will manifest because Our Heavenly Father will provide.  The only question is who will be blessed in this aspect of the gathering of the saints of the Most High.  My wife and I are “all in”.

1 John 3:16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?  18  My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

Our Heavenly Father has orchestrated the coming celebration and my excitement is building.  Why?  The two topics HE has given me to speak on are relevant to the unfolding global events:  “Your Treasure” and “The Full Gospel of Love”.  Once again, HE awakened me at 3 AM for the purpose of preparation of these two topics.  I have found over the years that 3 AM is a Spiritually significant time.  Clearly it is very early in the morning and it is known as the fourth watch:

Matthew 14:25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea

Mark 6:47 Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. 48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. 49 And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. 52 For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

Let our hearts not be hardened in the upcoming conference, but let us be ready to have ears to hear what HE is about to reveal.

Conference information:  http://www.gods-kingdom-ministries.net/daily-weblogs/2014/04-2014/passover-2014-conference/

The theme of this year’s Passover Conference is “Unity” among the diverse group of believers.  We may be geographically separated but we are of one Spirit:

1 Corinthians 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ.

:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

:14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

Each of us has a unique purpose within the Body.  That reality creates a diverse group of people.  The one thing that bonds us together is Love.  That Love focuses on truth, not man’s doctrines, customs, or perceptions.  The Love of the truth is what we can all agree on and allows us to maintain a mutual respect for where each of us at in our walk.  We are to forebear one another as we all search out the truth.  We don’t need to defend the truth, it will actually defend us.  Our Heavenly Father established truth and ultimately judges those in error with the end result being restoration to the truth.

15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?

17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling?

18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased.

19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?

Each of us has a part in this upcoming Passover.  Embrace your purpose and gifts.  Don’t focus on the purpose of others, wishing you were operating in their calling.  They need your calling in full operation.  The mature body needs all of its parts working in unity, without blemish.  This is when the “body” can and will be presented to Our Heavenly Father.  One’s ego will subtly desire another’s calling.  Don’t let that “false” self have an audience in your mind.  Cast down that vain imagination.  Be content that Our Heavenly Father knows what HE is doing.  Place your trust in this reality.  Unity is the key and every person is necessary:

20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”

22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary.

Do not judge the weakness or ministry of others.  Our Heavenly Father places great emphasis on those we think to be less honorable.  HE established their calling and gifts for HIS specific purpose.  We have no basis to challenge or question HIS wisdom in placing them in those roles:

23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty,

24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it,

25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

We must suffer as Christ suffered.  When one of us suffers, we all suffer.  Let us minister in unity, loving each other.  If you see a need and you can minister to that need, do it.  The stronger are called to serve the weaker.  We should all pursue the Spiritual Gifts listed just before this passage.  Those gifts were given to minister to the maturing of the body into the bond of perfection- Love.  The suffering is only temporary until we are fully equipped to minister the fullness of life and Love to others.  As we mature, our focus moves from personal preparation to the preparation of others, that we may all obtain the inheritance together in Christ.

Romans 8:16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.