Sacred Servant (Paladin level -3 = Cleric Level)

[Driver 325 yards]

Does Paladin level - 3 mean that you don't receive the domain powers outlined in the various domains until three level later or does it simple mean that whenever a domain power says that it operates off of you cleric level, you calculate your level to be three levels lower.

For instance, there is a first level power for all the domains. Does a Sacred Servant only gets those first level powers at 4th level.

At first read, I assumed this was not the case. However, I want to make sure because if it is the case, Sacred Servant is horrible.

[blahpers]

Correct, the Sacred Servant will always lag behind an equivalent cleric by three levels in terms of acquiring and using domain powers.

Even were this not the case, the sacred servant doesn't get domain powers until she gains spells, which is at 4th level.