newsletter
Servant Ministries, Inc.
Issue No. 96 Ira & Judy Milligan May 1, 2006

This Issue Marks our Newsletter's Eighth Anniversary! 

Eight years ago on June 4th, 1998, we mailed out our first Servant Ministries Newsletter. We haven't missed a single issue since. If you're one of those who've been with us from the beginning, please drop me a note and let me know. I'd love to hear from you! 

2007 United Ministers' Fellowship Conference
Advance Dates 

For those of you who need advance notification so that you can plan your vacation or ministry schedule early, the dates for our 2007 United Ministers' Fellowship Conference in Branson are March 29th. ­ 31st. As before, the conference will start Thursday 29th noon and conclude 2:00pm Saturday 31st. Make your plans early so that you won't miss it. 

Have Sword, Will Travel
(but not as much!) 

After May of this year, we will be cutting back on traveling and ministering in individual churches. Instead, in addition to our usual missionary work, our intentions are to hold three or four conferences each year in different cities in the US. If you are interested in sponsoring a conference in your area, now is the time to call while we are still in the planning stages. At present, we have tentative plans to hold one in the Kansas City area in late September.

The Prophet's Perspective 
God's Will, His Way and Work 

Heavenly things often come in threes. An example is the quote from Paul's much beloved 1 Corinthians 13:13: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity". Another example is John 14:6, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Of course, the Trinity is a prime example, too.

Some threes are not so obvious, such as the doctrine of the three witnesses, or the principle of knowing God's will, walking in His ways and doing His work. For instance, in Psalm 103:7 David wrote, "He [God] made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel." Although the Israelites witnessed the mighty deeds that God performed through Moses, they never understood that Moses ministered by faith, and not by works.
Although we may know God's will, and even witness His works, often we are ignorant of the way He goes about doing what He does.

In Ephesians 5:17, Paul exhorts the Saints to "be not unwise, but under-standing what the will of the Lord is." Of course, the only way we can do that is pray and ask Him to show His will to us. As Paul said, it is unwise to assume that we know it without asking.

Although Paul goes on to say, "it is God who works in you both to will and to do His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13), simply knowing His will and having a desire to please Him is still not enough.

After discerning His will, before attempting to fulfill it, we must first learn the way He wants it done. Only His way is acceptable. "Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein" (Jer 6:16). As Jeremiah said, there are many different ways but only one that conforms to God's will.

Abraham ran into this problem after God revealed to him that it was His will to make Abraham "a father of many nations" (Gen. 17:4). Abraham's problem was his wife was barren! How can one become a father of anything if he doesn't have any descendants? Sarah proposed a solution ­ simply have Abraham take Hagar, her hand-maid, and raise up children to fulfill God's will. The problem with that way was it didn't glorify God, and that's what it's all about!

The real solution was to wait upon God's timing and directions, and although Abraham finally did just that, the awful consequences of his presumptuous actions have reverberated all the way down through history even to this very day. The duel line of descendants created by his error are still battling over who the promised inheritance belongs to.

God's work can only be performed by God, Himself. We can't do it of ourselves. Although by working with Him, we become His witnesses, He, alone, does the work (see John 5:17-20).

"Helping Hands"

Thanks to our many wonderful friends, we've just about recovered from last year's diabolical attack upon our finances. I am in the process of preparing for my next overseas mission (Central and South America), as well as saving toward purchasing the land and building the house and training center in Colorado. To everyone who has responded to this need, I offer a special Thank You! And may God's favor be continually upon you for being such a blessing! 

Prayer Partners' Update


We really appreciate those who take time to pray for this ministry! Even with your prayers, we are often under attack, one way or another. I can't imagine how it would be without your help. Several have asked about Judy's health. Her heart is much better, but she still needs healing in her back, hips and knees (joints). She has difficulty walking. Also, as we stated last month, our move to Colorado is getting closer, so we ask for your prayers concerning both finding the right place and obtaining the finances to purchase the land and build the house. Thanks, and God bless!

Testimony Time


(The following testimony was received via e-mail and edited for space.)

Be encouraged! Not only do I read your newsletter, I have kept almost every one I've received since I got on your mailing list in 1995. They are stuck in either my old copy or my new copy of Understanding the Dreams You Dream and I reread them from time to time, especially The Dreamer's Corner.
On 2/26/95, my family visited your church in Monroe as guests, and you prophesied over each of us. You told me two things of significance ­ God was calling me to sing (I had laryngitis that day and couldn't even talk, much less sing) and God was going to show me how to knock down some hurdles the enemy had erected in my life in my teens. Since then, both of those have been accomplished.

You called my husband an "encourager" and said that God would give him a ministry in that area. Our pastor calls him his personal Barnabas...You encouraged my older daughter to pursue all the education the Lord opened for her and said that He would provide the resources... So He did! She went to a Christian college on scholarship and what wasn't covered by scholarship was covered by a cd that came due at that time that her father and I had forgotten purchasing when she was a little girl. You also told her that she would speak to the church. She is currently on staff at the church and is working with the preschool ministry and a women's bible study.

You told my younger daughter, who was 6 at the time, that God brought her into the world to be a vessel of joy. And so she is... She is a gifted pianist and plays on the worship team. Frequently people tell me how much it blesses them to see her worshiping on stage and how the younger girls look up to her as a godly example of what a teenager should be. I am very thankful for your ministry and totally blessed to be on your mailing list. Please keep exhorting the church! We will continue to pray for you. K. S.