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7/10/21 The Trojan Horse

We’re all familiar with the mythological story of the giant wooden horse that was left outside the walls of Troy and mistakenly identified by its citizens as a gift. Totally undiscerning, they brought it inside the city walls, making themselves completely vulnerable to attack. The Greek warriors inside the horse waited for the opportune moment, and then made a beeline for the city gates and opened them to let in the rest of the troops. End result: Troy is overrun and destroyed.

One of the most insidious measures used by the enemy in his attempt to destroy our marriages, wreak havoc in our families, and even weaken our walk with the Lord is busyness. It is a Trojan horse that incessantly tries to creep into our lives, sometimes without notice. It takes diligence and a watchful mentality to catch it before it is able to kill, steal, or destroy.

Urgency, other people’s agendas, job deadlines, church responsibilities, good causes, free time, etc. constantly surround us. All these things can be worthy of our attention, but not at the expense of neglecting our time with the Lord. When we become wrapped up in busyness, we lose our perspective on what really counts the most, and the enemy usually has little trouble defeating us in crucial areas of our lives.

Long ago, a very wise person shared with me that our lives are a series of decisions between the urgent and the important. The urgent looks very much like the important, but may have nothing to do with God’s plan for our lives. The important things are those things God desires us to address. They further the kingdom of God, glorify Jesus, reinforce family values, and undergird children who on their way to living significant lives.

Isn’t it time to become aware of any Trojan horses that have been sent your way to kill, steal, and destroy? Isn’t it time to practice discerning the difference between those things that are important and those things that are simply urgent? Better yet, isn’t it best to spend time with the Lord to know which things He’s asked you to participate in on His behalf?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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7/09/21 Home Church

Men, is your home a place that proclaims the Gospel, worships the Lord, and praises His Name continually? If it isn’t, it should be. In fact, it must be if you and your family are going to survive the coming onslaught against believers, or even make it day to day glorifying the Lord.

This country has fallen into the misconception that the church is some building you and your family visit on Sunday morning. It’s also considered a place where you send your children to learn about Jesus, expecting the children’s pastor or the youth director to teach them about a life in Christ, and give them the skills they need to relate with their peers.

This scenario leads to the taking in of predigested food, thinking that it is enough, and letting others go to the Lord for you, instead of cultivating an intimate relationship yourself and establishing the family altar. It produces weak, malnourished followers of Jesus, insignificant legacies, and few leaders capable of helping spread the Gospel without a program sponsored by other people in that church building.

God has ordained your home and the life created there by the Holy Spirit to be the real church of Jesus Christ. He has given you and your family a safe place to grow and be nurtured in Him. It’s up to you, as a father, to create the spiritual atmosphere where those you cover are free to go as deep as they please with Christ. What kind of atmosphere have you set in your family church?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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7/08/21 Time to Remember

“Please don’t forget that everything that happens to you is part of the training to equip you for greater things. Remember how far you’ve come. Remember from where you came. Look how different you are now than when you first came to Jesus. There was a time when you couldn’t or wouldn’t embrace proper things. There was a time when you had no hope. Now you are part of My family. You belong. You are completely accepted. If you focus on the difficulties of your training, you will miss the wonders of what has and is being accomplished. Turn your eyes toward Jesus. Remember!”

Rom. 8:28 NIV

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

2 Cor. 3:18 AMP

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Heb. 12:2-3 NIV

2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

 

So often we get so caught up in the circumstances that surround us that we forget the wonders of those things that have accompanied us along the way of our lives. Remember first love? Remember the first time you discovered that Jesus was real? Remember the astounding relief of forgiveness? Remember the wonder of belonging, really belonging to your new loving Father? Remember how mundane the world was and the useless days that were spent pursuing nothing important?

Teach me to never forget, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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7/08/21 Survival Skills

In any combat situation, there are certain skills needed if one is to survive, especially one who is called to lead others. It is very important to hone the skills necessary to win the war that’s raging against marriage and family. They may not be the typical weapons of warfare, but they are mighty In Christ.

Usually when a man enters a physical battle, he relies on his strength, his cunning, his knowledge of combat tactics, and his choice of weapon to overcome the enemy. However, the battle that comes against those a husband and father cares for is generally spiritual in nature, and only spiritual equipping will win it.

As men of God, every one of our battles is really the Lord’s to fight. The weapons we need are different than the ones we’d use if we were going to wage the war ourselves. Our strength comes from an intimate relationship with God. Our wisdom to face any challenge is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Our strategies are found in the Word. Real power is given to us as we surrender to the power of the Lord and learn to feast at His table while He wins the battle for us.

Husbands and fathers, there is no question that each and every day an attempt will be made to destroy our marriage relationship or our heritage through our children. It may not be visible moment by moment, but be assured that the enemy never sleeps. He’s always looking for weakness on any front, so that he can make inroads for his purposes. It’s time to become equipped with the ability to determine and understand the wars you will encounter as they arise. Who is going to win them for you, and what is your part in the battle?   In Christ, there is no battle too large or too small. If God is for you, who can be against you? You’re on the winning team. With His help, can He count on you?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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7/07/21 For Others

“You need to turn your heart around. Instead of focusing on yourself, you need to invest in other people. That is the heart of Jesus. He cared nothing for Himself, even unto death. His life on this earth was purposeful in the pursuit of the well-being of others. You are to do the same. I place My children in your path so that you can turn your heart toward their best interest. Instead of caring that they become all that they can be in Me, you consume them upon yourself in any way that you can. Then you set them aside when they are of no further use to you. Where is the compassion of Jesus in your life? Turn your heart now. I need you to exhibit His love.”

Rom. 15:1-7 NIV

1)We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

2) Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up.

3) For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

4) For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,

6) so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7) Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

 

The church of Jesus Christ is a motley gathering of former reprobates, unusual characters, and hard-hearted, self-serving former sinners—and those are our better characteristics. Father God, however, has chosen to call us His own. He has raised us out of the depths of our sin, and placed our face in the direction of wholeness. Why is it that, as soon as we have the ability to even see straight and breathe some fresh spiritual air, we become proud and self-serving in our salvation; instead of remembering how grateful we should be for it?

It’s really time to honor God by loving each other as Jesus loved us. Is not the highest form of praise the emulation of the One whom we are praising? Is not our praise to Him just empty words and spiritual gymnastics if we do not love our brother and sister the way that He loved us?

Change my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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