Tag: Bible

“Fear is a tactic used by the enemy to nullify your effectiveness. When you fear, you make improper decisions and rash judgments. You tend to look at your circumstances and then attempt to change them on your own. Usually that brings you to a place that is not My perfect place for you. When you are driven anywhere by fear, much time is required to bring you back to a place of real safety in Me.

 “I ask you, My children, to determine in your heart to stand in the freedom that you have found in Me. Do not be moved by those things that challenge your physical security. Be moved by the things that allow you to remain free, no matter what is transpiring around you. That is your real place of safety.”

Luke 10:19 KJV

“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”

2 Cor. 10:5 AMP

[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),

Gal.5:1 NIV

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 

During my early years with the Lord, one of the subdivisions near my home blocked off two streets during the Halloween season. About sixty houses on those two streets went all out in decorating their homes with the most macabre scenes I have ever seen. Most were animated in some way, and sometimes people would hide behind bushes and jump out when you passed by. You could only walk down the streets, which added to the fright of the night. There was an astounding darkness that encompassed the times that the displays were up, and thousands upon thousands of people came with their children.

(To combat the darkness, we set up a brightly lit, human demonstration of the recording, “The Champion,” by Carman. In the midst of all of the horror, every five minutes or so, the words “Jesus is the Champion” rang out throughout the night. Many people came to the Lord. The Halloween celebrants of the subdivision didn’t like us at all, but that’s another story)

During one of the evenings, a man - having just walked through one of the dark roads with his screaming four or five-year-old child on his shoulders - dropped the child hard to the ground and proceeded to scold him. The child was frightened beyond normal fear. He was shaking uncontrollably. Then the dad jerked the child away after repeated tongue lashings and nasty remarks, mainly focused on what a wimp he considered his son. He kept asking, “Why are you always so afraid?”

Fear is a very real weapon, which Satan will continually employ to try to nullify us. He uses it to capture his people. He also tries to inundate God’s children by using fear to get us to react to whatever is making us afraid, instead of relying on God. The most important action anyone can take when fearful is to draw close to God. He calls us to become familiar with His presence, to practice it during times of peace, so that we are comfortable being there when things get rough.

God is the source of our peace. He knows that when we are in His presence - sitting on His lap, and viewing our challenges from His lofty perspective, high above the din - we are where we have been born to be. From there He whispers His love to our heart, drowning out any clatter of fear.

Throwing down the junk and tucking in with my Father,

Jim Corbett

“When Jesus died, He was thinking of everyone but Himself. It was the perfect act of selflessness and set the pattern for you to live. If you focus only on yourself and your needs, you have little or no time to think of the needs of others. Not only are you useless to My plans, but you become useless to those around you. Selfishness is murderous to any relationship. It hinders Me from pouring My wealth into you because you will misuse it. It eventually kills any hope of service to others. It also destroys the ability for those around you to see the heart of Jesus through how you act. Overcome selfishness through service. Serve as Jesus served. Come to Me to learn His heart and to gain Mine. Then walk in Our love toward others.”

Exodus 17:12 AMP

But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Joshua 24:15 NIV

“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Luke 12:19-21 NIV

19) ‘And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink, and be merry.” ’

20) “But God said to him, ’You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21) “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Luke 23:34a NIV

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

 

The fastest way to stop someone from seeing the heart of Jesus in your actions is to think and act only for yourself. Walking past the needs of others is the opposite of the heart of Jesus. Going to Father God with a continual laundry list does not resemble nor define the kind of relationship for which Jesus died. Consuming what you have been given on yourself consumes wealth designed for Kingdom use.

Teach me Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Intimacy with Me is where your new life is fulfilled. Your inner being thrives in My presence. It is where you learn My heart and the heart of Jesus. It is where you receive grace and mercy. You will receive power to overcome all the challenges you face. You become changed when We are together. Come to Me. I will give you rest. I will give you My time. I will give you what is needed for your life and for My plan. Make intimacy with Me your priority. Jesus won that place for you with Me. You are invited and welcome; why would you not come?”

Luke 23:44-45 NIV

44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

 

For some unknown reason, most of us avoid the most incredible privilege known to mankind. We have been invited into the presence of the Creator of all things. We have been asked to come into His presence because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Other generations were not even allowed to look upon Him. We are invited to spend intimate time with Him.

But we don’t go! We do all kinds of activities for Him. We come to Him with our laundry lists. We tell others about Him; but we deny the work of Jesus, nullify the torn veil, and minimize the astounding privilege that has been earned for us. How foolish!

I no longer want to be a fool, Lord,

Jim Corbett