July 2022 | TFRC | The Faith Resource Community

7/14/22 Don’t Be Deceived

In today’s world, there are many opportunities to see the deception many people function in. People fight for things that are firmly against God’s Word with rabid zeal, unable to see the impact their ideas have - especially in eternity. As a husband and father, you must know God and His Word, or you will be deceived and become a blind guide for your family.

The most fascinating - and at the same time most horrendous - thing about deception is its insidiousness. I apologize for sending a two dollar word your way, but it makes the point so well. The word "insidious" has several definitions - awaiting a chance to entrap; harmful but enticing; having a gradual and cumulative effect; and developing so gradually as to be well established before becoming apparent.

Satan is no fool. Without God on our side, we are no match for him. Deception is a major weapon in his hands and all you need to do is look around you to see how well it's working - and that's in regard to what you can see. Don't be fooled; you are not invulnerable. I believe one of the enemy's tactics is to throw a blatant deception your way, which you catch; and then sneak an imperceptible (extremely slight, gradual or subtle) one through the back door.

It is only the grace of God and His keeping power that saves us from deception. Yes, we must know our God and His Word intimately, but we must also have childlike faith that He will reveal the deception to us - sometimes before and sometimes after the fact, depending on what He wants to teach us. It's our only hope.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

7/13/22 Never Alone, Never Late

“Learn to meet Me in the hard places. Learn to trust Me when there seems as if there is nowhere to go. I will always be there for you. I will never leave you without answers. You may need to wait until all things are in order before you see your direction, but I will be there. I am never late. You can count on My perfect timing if you stand and just know that I am God, because I Am.”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

“Be still, and know that I am God...”

Isaiah 46:9 AMP

[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

9) “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 66:9 AMP

Shall I bring to the [moment of] birth and not cause to bring forth? says the Lord. Shall I Who causes to bring forth shut the womb? says your God.

The solving situations part is easy; the hard part is being still and knowing that He is the God of any situation we encounter. It is amazing how many solutions to our challenges we can devise. We can usually have even the most difficult circumstances figured out if given enough time. Then we even suggest the solutions to God and have the audacity to suggest when He should implement them. When the answers do come, if we have His strength to wait for them, they are rarely even close to what we had in mind.

This amazing relationship with God always points back to truly trusting Him and learning to never again trust our own hearts and our own strengths. That lesson is easy to say, but it usually takes a lifetime to learn.

Teach me Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

7/13/22 What’s Going On?

A while ago, my family and I had the opportunity of having the Lord seemingly remove just about everything from us for about two-and-a-half years - friendships, finances, ministry. Sometimes it felt as if even His presence had left us. What were we going to do with that? We'd be the first to say that we spent a lot of the time simply surviving. If I could go back, that would be something I would like to have changed.

What impression did we make on those around us? It's hard to say because hardly anyone seemed to really want to talk about it. It probably didn't make any sense to most, and those that decided they "knew" what God was doing with us walked away. I don't think the world found our circumstances so strange, but the church did. (Isn't that interesting?)

Being relieved of most everything you're used to gives you the opportunity to ask yourself some valid questions. What is my picture of God, and is it accurate? What is suffering and how does God use it with those who are His? The point I'm coming to is that we, as a body of believers, need to have an accurate picture of God and an accurate view on His working in our lives, especially if we're going to share them with others. Being "blessed" continually is not an indicator that all is well, just as suffering is not necessarily an indicator that you're out of God's will.

The life of the believer here on earth is a totally submissive crucified life. God knows what it will take to accomplish that in each of us. Do we blow it along the way? Yes. God has taken that into account in His dealings with us. Keep going. God is in the business of putting an accurate picture of Himself in your life, not only for your sake, but for the sake of others. And isn't that an answer to your prayers?

"Lord, please don't take me out of the refiner's fire until Your goals are accomplished." That's hard to pray, but so rewarding!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

7/12/22 Prepare Now or Cram Unsuccessfully Later

“Do you hear the rustling in the heavenlies? Something is transpiring that will soon be felt in your world. I am orchestrating events that will mean unparalleled changes to that with which you have become familiar. Things as you know them will be modified to the point that you will eventually not recognize them as they once were. What is wonderful about all that is happening is that you will also be changed. You, My children, are on the threshold of your finest hour in Me.

"There is a plumb line that will run through My church. To those who are listening to what My Spirit is saying, you will be prepared for what is going to transpire. In fact, you will prosper, because you will have full knowledge of what I am doing and flow with Me as I do it. Our union will be a symphony to behold. You are a privileged people. You have the benefit of observing all of the wonders of My Word being performed in the lives of those who have gone before you. You have the delight in seeing prophecy fulfilled in your generation.

"Technology has caught up with what I foretold long ago. Most of all, I am drawing close to you, so that My heart and yours beat in unison. I have designed you so that you will be able to walk with Me intimately, as the fullness of your restoration comes to pass. Eternal history is in the making, and you are a vital part in its impact. As you walk with Me, you will be able to rise above the din of what is happening and move in the splendor of My love. You will be a spiritual light to the increasing darkness.

"Prepare now to receive all that I have for you. I am about to allow you to represent Me in the manner that I have planned from the beginning. Spend your priority time with Me. Draw close to My Word. It is about to be fulfilled in your life.”

1 Peter 1:3-5 AMP

3) Praised (honored, blessed) be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)! By His boundless mercy we have been born again to an ever-living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4) [Born anew] into an inheritance which is beyond the reach of change and decay [imperishable], unsullied and unfading, reserved in heaven for you,

5) Who are being guarded (garrisoned) by God’s power through [your] faith [till you fully inherit that final] salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time.

Isaiah 42:9 NIV

“See, the former things have taken place, and new things I declare; before they spring into being I announce them to you.”

I remember when I was in school. (Wow! Can it really be so many years ago?) I would be sitting in class, clueless to whatever the teacher was saying, dreaming about what I was going to do on the weekend; and the teacher would announce that a test was scheduled for the next week. “Next week! Man! I have a whole six days before I even need to begin thinking about that.”

“Next weeks” had an uncanny ability to sneak up on me every seven really quick days or so. The morning of the test, I would usually find myself cramming in all the information that I could, so that I wouldn’t fail too badly. I didn’t really care to learn. I just wanted to get the test over with and go on to whatever was important to me at the time.

I believe that this kind of scenario is played out regularly in today’s church. Our Father graciously proclaims to us that specific times and seasons are approaching in the near future. We seem to filter that information through our “priority meter” and decide that we will have enough time to prepare another day. Other things are more important to us.

I don’t believe any of us will have the luxury of “cramming” for God’s near seasons. I believe that it’s important to heed every call from the moment it is heard. God’s timing is perfect with both the seasons and our lives. He knows what it will take for each of us to be ready. He calls us in the proper time for our specific need. If we respond, we will be ready and on time for whatever He has planned.

Don’t want to “cram” for this one, Lord,

Jim Corbett

7/12/22 Absentee Ballots

Are you sending absentee ballots to your wife and children? Do you love them from afar because you are too busy to spend the proper time with them so they can know a Christ-like husband and father? If you are, your priorities are out of order, no matter what’s getting in the way of an intimate spiritual relationship with your family.

Every moment you take away from being with them is a moment for the enemy to gain a foot hold, so you’d better make sure you’re doing something more important than being with your family. Your offices of husband and father hold the power to guide and protect those you steward. They prosper when you are obedient to God and do only what He asks you to do.

Providing for your family is necessary. Neglecting your godly commitments to your wife and children for the sake of more money, more personal esteem, or more success than you require is out of order. It’s out of line with the way your Lord wants you to spend your time. You may think you are becoming more successful, but I challenge you to ask the Lord how He sees the value of your time spent. Your family is counting on you!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Posts navigation