Category: From Our Fathers Heart

“Most of you, My children, have become thin-skinned and easily offended. You can receive nothing because you run from correction. You immediately take offense when you are challenged to rise to a higher standard in Me. You will separate yourself from those who call you to places you need to go so that you can mature. What will you do when those who hate you enough to kill you are in your face? What will you do when those who thrive on hatred are in your world? Will you hate them back? Will you despise who they are and harbor unforgiveness and murder in your own heart?

"You are missing the very essence of My Word and what I am doing in those who are My remnant. I am moving those who love Me to be able to love even their enemies. It is the way Jesus loved. I call you to love as He does.”

Jeremiah 12:5 AMP

[But the Lord rebukes Jeremiah’s impatience, saying] If you have raced with men on foot and they have tired you out, then how can you compete with horses? And if [you take to flight] in a land of peace where you feel secure, then what will you do [when you tread the tangled maze of jungle haunted by lions] in the swelling and flooding of the Jordan?

Amos 3:3 KJV 

Can two walk together except they be agreed?

Luke 23:34 NIV 

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Rev. 3:19 AMP 

Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I tell their faults and convict and convince and reprove and chasten [I discipline and instruct them]. So be enthusiastic and in earnest and burning with zeal and repent [changing your mind and attitude].

 

The Lord is developing the character of Jesus in His remnant/bridal believer. We must be like Him in our hearts, if we are to intimately walk with Him. Can you imagine Jesus coming for a bride who is selfish, self-centered, and harbors murder in her heart? Can you imagine Him enjoining Himself to one who looks to delicacies around her that please her more than He pleases her? Does it seem possible that Jesus would function in a relationship where His bride would not have the same desires, the same motives, and the same purposes in all that They do together? To think so is ludicrous!

How, then, is Jesus going to form us, who need His character developed in us during these end days before He comes?  He is going to allow us to see who we really are. He will allow us to face ourselves so that we can come to repentance. He will do what it takes to expose our sin. Each time we repent, He will change us to be more like Him. It is an act of astounding love on His part. It is also our choice to respond or reject His efforts.

There is so much to be done in me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Look around at your life. What are you consuming upon yourself that could be used for my work? Where are you spending your time and talents because of your plans and denying My plans? What are you doing to allow others to proclaim My Word? By whose standards are you sharing My wealth? I am asking you these questions now. Make no mistake; I will ask them again when We make an account of your life. Now, you can still do something to change whatever is not in line with My heart. Please do so! When we meet face to face, it will be too late.”

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.

Hosea 13:6 NIV

“When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me.”

Matthew 16:22-23 NIV 

22) Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23) Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Out of My sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

 

Jesus considered the “things of men” to be in league with Satan. Have you ever really looked at your life as if Jesus were physically there with you? Have you ever really judged your actions, examined your heart, and questioned your behavior in all that you do, as if you were going to be called to account for them by the Lord one day?

We live in a church society that condones—in fact, teaches—selfishness as part of the Gospel. What amazes me is that no one seems to say anything about those who teach such nonsense.

Jesus lived a selfless life. He harbored nothing as His own. He gave everything He had so that His Father’s plans would be fulfilled. He even died so that others could live. We say, “Thank you for all of that, but I’m going to take what you have accomplished and use it so that I can prosper. Then I’m going to teach others to do the same, so that I don’t look so selfish sinning alone.” That’s not what we say consciously; but it is, in essence, what we do when we choose to live that lifestyle.

Lord, help me to understand the impact of my actions here and in the future,

Jim Corbett

“When was the last time you determined to live the life of Christ for the good of someone else? I don’t mean the last time you preached at him. When was the last time you decided to show him Who Jesus is, no matter what it cost you? How far did you go before you stopped? What price was too high? That price is the god you really serve. That is your focus, no matter how you have justified it. It is not Jesus. It is not His way. He would not give your excuses. He would not stop short of everything. You need to come to Me to gain His heart.”

John 10:17a & 18a NIV

17a) “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life…

18) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord…”

1 Cor. 13:11 AMP 

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside.

1 John 2:6 AMP 

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

 

Somehow, many in the church interpret parts of the Bible as if it does not say what it really says about how we, as followers of Jesus, should live. If you simply study the three verses above, there is an undeniable heart position that Jesus had and requires of us. There are no limits to His love. He held back nothing. All that He owned was given for the sake of others—you and me. He never stops giving. His intent is to do it through us.

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Few understand how patient I am. I have waited eternities past to bring forth a people that will serve Me from their hearts. I have waited thousands of years for the salvation of that creation to become complete. I have waited generations for lessons to be learned and specific plans to be accomplished. I will wait your lifetime for you to surrender fully to Jesus.”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

“Be still, and know that I am God...”

Psalm 111:2 NIV 

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Psalm 150:1-6 AMP 

1) Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!

2) Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!

3) Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

4) Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!

5) Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

6) Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)

 

Instead of becoming intimate with Father God, so many of us have taken the privilege of entering into the presence of God, which Jesus won for us at the cross, as a license to walk in pride and familiarity. We have forgotten that the One to Whom we now have access is the same One Who simply spoke and universes were formed, life became a reality, and eternities had purpose. I believe that it is time we brought the awe back into our relationship with the One True Living God.

Break my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“The world is changing rapidly. It is accelerating toward the conclusion that I have determined from the beginning. Soon, nothing will be as it once was. Safety will no longer be in what you have. Who or where you are will mean little.

"How are you planning to overcome what is ahead? Where does your safety lie? What are your plans? Are they designed to protect you and what you have? Are they born out of fear, so that you can survive? Or have you provided for those who need to know Me and My will for their lives by becoming who I plan for you to be?

"Have you forgotten that once you have seen the truth that Jesus is Lord and that He is your Lord, you are to be concerned only about others? You are to live as Jesus would live. This is no longer about you! Everything is about how many will come to Him before I bring all things to My conclusion.”

Acts 4:29-35 NIV 

29) “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

33) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

34) There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

35) and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.

Acts 8:4 AMP 

Now those who were scattered abroad went about [through the land from place to place] preaching the glad tidings, the Word [the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].

Romans 1:8 NIV

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

 

What is the world around you reporting about your life? Are they talking about your faith? Are they seeing Who Jesus is? Are they marveling at your tremendous joy, no matter how difficult your circumstances?  What about your relationships? Are you a true friend? Can you be trusted when those who trust you are in trouble? Are you available for the hurting, the needy, or the ignorant?

You and I are called to be a representation of the character of Jesus Christ to the world in which He has placed us. We are to act like Him so that others can see Who He is and embrace Him, all so that the will of the Father is completed. If today is the day that you realize the world is heading for many changes, what are you going to do about it? How are you preparing for those changes? Who are you serving?

Teach me to serve only You, Lord,

 Jim Corbett