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6/19/25 The Greeter

There is a familiar story about an individual who belonged to a small church. Several years previously, he experienced a dramatic conversion to Jesus Christ and had followed Him diligently ever since.

One day, he enthusiastically approached the pastor to inquire how he might best serve in the fledgling congregation. The only open position was that of a greeter, which he joyfully accepted.

Every Sunday without fail for many years, this man greeted everyone who came to the church for services. The congregation grew, due in part to the hearty, loving welcome people received as visitors. This man's ministry made a difference at this church.

After a time, the man - now in charge of many greeters - grew disillusioned with his position, and wanted what he considered a more important position in the church. When he was asked to remain as the head greeter, he felt the church did not really appreciate him, so he left.  Eventually he became more disillusioned, and fell away from the Lord.

The first love qualities of service, unashamed love, and child-like enthusiasm are the qualities of Jesus. When we lose them, we lose real life. Are you comfortable with being a servant to your wife? Do you consider it a privilege that you are supposed to care more about the significance of your children’s lives than your own vision? If your answer is “no" on either question, you might want to take it up with the Lord!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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6/18/25 Spiritual Warfare

“I’m looking for aggressive warriors who are willing to win at My kind of warfare. I am at war against your flesh. You can win through submission to My will. When I show you your sin, repentance brings forgiveness. As I explain the truth of My Word, We overcome the lies of the enemy of your soul. Fear is removed as you see who I am. Spending time with Me is the most powerful kind of warfare. There is no way to counter these weapons and the many others that I have provided for you. Stop choosing the ways of the world. Choose My ways. I always win.”

Psalm 127:1 AMP

Except the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Isaiah 2:22 AMP

Cease to trust in [weak, frail, and dying] man, whose breath is in his nostrils [for so short a time]; in what sense can he be counted as having intrinsic worth?

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.”

 

I have found no better explanation of true spiritual warfare than this example from a pastor friend of mine, who went home and is now enjoying the presence of the Lord in heaven.

“Many intercessors and leaders in spiritual warfare seem to think we have to some way, somehow, “deliver” a city from spiritual oppression or past evil curses in order to have the way paved for the presence of God to come into that city. However, the goal of spiritual conflict is not to usher in the presence of God by that means. Spiritual warfare is not the way to bring in the presence of God, but quite the opposite.

It is not the battle that ushers in the presence; but rather, it’s the presence that originates the battle. The presence of God is the starting point. Because of the presence of God, there will be war since the inhabitants of darkness cannot stand His presence. All of our strategies, banners, chants, and shouting “per se” will do no harm to the devil. In fact, we can be sure that the devil will help us do our “spiritual warfare” as long as we are replacing the presence of God with our own battle turmoil. I believe along with some others that the devil has been teaching the church how to do spiritual warfare! The Israelites marched around, shouted, sang, worshipped, broke pots, suddenly pulled out torches in the middle of the night, and fought battles in usual and unusual manners; but it was not the strategy or the activity that gave them victory. It was the presence of God who went before them. Without the presence, they would have been the most foolish army in history.”

 Wanting to win Your way, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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6/18/25 Corrections of Love

As God continues to reveal your shortcomings, be of good cheer!  God is doing the wonderful work in you that He promised so you can fulfill your roles as husband and father.  A while back, you didn't even know those things were part of you, did you?

I used to see everything I wasn't as a totally negative experience - probably my pride as much as anything else.  Now, as the Lord gives me continual reminders of just exactly who I am and how far I have to go to be like Jesus, I am more able to give myself over to Him, knowing only He can change me and that He wholeheartedly desires to do so.  My appreciation of Him has increased as He also builds the faith in me to believe that He really is Who He says He is.

What chance would my family have if I chose not to respond to the changes the Holy Spirit is always ready to do in me? Where would we be if God never exposed me for who I really am?  Probably sitting comfortably in some church pew with no clue as to the rude awakening in store for me down the road.  Have you seen any shortcomings lately?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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6/17/25 Another Gospel

“Soon, any doctrines of men will not be able to survive. All of them have one single factor that will not be able to stand true when difficult seasons are upon you. They all have self-fulfillment of some sort as their foundation, even though it is masked as serving Jesus. Many manipulate My Word to pad their comfort zones. Others provide justification to remain strong and have faith in their own faith. Still others say that they will not be touched if they speak themselves positively out of any harmful situation.

“Do not be deceived. The only proper focus of your belief is Jesus. Follow His life. Emulate His desires. He held nothing as His own. He had complete disregard for His reputation, safety, and even His very life, when it meant following My will. You are in a war for the souls around you. You are in training to lay down your life for the best interests of My Word and the welfare of others. You are to glorify Jesus. Any other doctrine is another gospel. Do not be part of it.”

I Mark 4:24 AMP

And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Luke 9:23-25 AMP

23) And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

24) For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

25) For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?

 

We are hearing of saints, who have ministered for many years, falling away because the doctrines that they have purported are not standing the test of the pressures they are experiencing at this time. Their formulas simply aren’t working anymore. They have become disenchanted, disheartened, and angry at God when He does not respond to their demands and commands and faith strategies.

Create in me a clean heart and a proper spirit, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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6/17/25 Action Reaction

Men, in general, function on an action-reaction basis. If you hit a nail with a hammer - action, the nail will be driven into the wood - reaction. Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand God’s action-reaction principles. Let’s take prayer for instance.

If we take the time to pray - especially about something specific - we wonder why we don’t immediately see the results of our prayers. We forget that the simple act of praying - turning our need over to God instead of just handling it ourselves - glorifies God. That act in itself is the right thing to do, especially when we put aside something we deem important to do it. We honor God by praying and recognizing that He is the source of our answer. (In His great love, He even provides answers throughout our lives for things that aren’t even on our radar screen, just because He chooses to bless us.)

Those seeming delays to our prayer requests accomplish far more than we can imagine. Only God can see the whole picture. While we’re waiting, He’s refining heart motives, orchestrating circumstances, clearing a path, developing patience … and maybe even preparing our hearts to receive the answer to our prayers. This may take some time. In terms of action-reaction time, it could become days, months, even years! As husbands and fathers, we need to put aside the concept of immediate answers and trust in the principles of the kingdom of God.

If you are seeking God for a specific need, don’t give up if He hasn’t chosen to work on your timetable. He started swinging the hammer at the time of your prayer, maybe even before. The nail will be impacted in God’s proper timing.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

 

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