Tag: Bible

“You must watch your heart so that you never, never turn your back on My people, Israel. In the times and seasons that are fast approaching, there will be many confusing issues about borders and alliances and other things concerning Israel. It is all part of My end-time scenario being played out in your midst. You must guard your heart and never come against My people or side with anyone who does. Too often you, My children, forget that you are grafted into the vine by My Son. You are there only because of My grace toward you. You had as much to do with the crucifixion of My Son as those at whom you point fingers. This may be hard for you to accept in your pride, but I am using you at present to bring those I also love deeply close to Me.

"For you to forget your isolated heritage, raise yourself above, and believe that you have a corner on My love is foolish thinking and destined for failure. It will only lead to confusion and unwise actions, leading you to heart separation from Me. I will never change My Word. I have promises in My Word that I will fulfill. If you decide to follow prejudices that are derived from a fleshly heart, you will find yourself directly opposed to My heart. You do not want to go there. I am not there, and you will be standing all alone with only your “wisdom” to protect you. Not a good place to be!”

Rom. 11:24-26 AMP

24) For if you have been cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and against nature grafted into a cultivated olive tree, how much easier will it be to graft these natural [branches] back on [the original parent stock of] their own olive tree.

25) Lest you be self-opinionated (wise in your own conceits), I do not want you to miss this hidden truth and mystery, brethren: a hardening (insensibility) has [temporarily] befallen a part of Israel [to last] until the full number of the ingathering of the Gentiles has come in.

26) And so all Israel will be saved. As it is written, The Deliverer will come to Zion, He will banish ungodliness from Jacob.

 

In a telephone conversation years ago, I was attempting to explain the attitudes of people driving on the road in the South Florida area. Included among several categories to explain the selfish attitudes, the words “rich Jew” came from my mouth as one example. I meant to describe a kind of person who went about his business with little care about anyone else. I don’t believe that I had ever thought in those terms before, and I am quite sure that they had never been said out loud. I certainly didn’t mean to say them, but I did. I didn’t know that any root of prejudice was in my heart, but it must have been there because it came out of my mouth.

Immediately, my Lord took issue with my astounding ignorance. He said to my heart very intently: “Watch your mouth and guard your heart. You do not know the spirit that you have sided with. It is part of the anti-Christ spirit that is in the world and will become more prevalent as the end times unfold.”

I understood very clearly that He meant business and was not pleased at how I would hold to such sin against His people - even though I didn’t know it, nor would I willingly ever want any harm to come to them, nor would I ever want to come against them. I thought that I had only love in my heart until then.

Over the next week, it was impossible for me to shake a feeling of emptiness, knowing that I had offended my Lord. I tried to repent over and over again, telling Him how sorry I was for the choice of words I had used, and the attitude that I unknowingly had. Only after I repented of my arrogance and pride, and acknowledged my “grafted in” status, did I see forgiveness. It was a much deeper issue with Him than a simple bad choice of words. It was a spirit that was sent by the enemy long ago to destroy the unity of the family of God, all of His family, which I had unknowingly accepted. (No wonder there has been such focus and such horrors done to the Jewish people over the centuries.  It is a sent spirit!)

In my time of repentance, the Lord brought to my remembrance a meeting that I had with a Jewish contractor long ago. He had heard that I’d given my life to Jesus. This was a man that I’d greatly respected even before I came to the Lord, so we had enough of a relationship to be able to talk freely. In the course of our conversation, he made a remarkable statement to me. It didn’t impact me then as much as it does now.

He said: “I suppose you will come against my people now, just like all the others have.”  He went on to tell of all the horrific examples of so-called Christians and their foolish actions, some right to his face. I saw the hurt and deep sorrow in his eyes while I was promising to never be part of that ignorance. After this week, I understand his hurt and our ignorance as Christians more fully.

Wanting to never, never hurt the heart of my Father in that way again,

Jim Corbett

“Look closely at those whom I have placed in your life. Pray to see why they are there. Some are there to expose who you really are. Others are there to represent who I am. Still others are there simply to bless you with what I have done in them. Nothing is by chance when you are part of My life. Make sure you begin to honor each moment that you have breath. Time is passing and you will miss much that I have for you if you only concentrate on your needs. Cherish everything. Enjoy the days that are yours. Make sure that when your time is complete, you have few regrets because of wasted moments, inordinate fears, or broken relationships. You can never recoup what was planned through them once they have passed. Stop looking only for results. Enjoy Our trip together and with others that I give you. I designed it especially for you.”

Eccl. 3:1 AMP

to everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:

Ps. 90:12 AMP

So teach us to number our days, that we may get us a heart of wisdom.

Romans 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 his neighbor for his good, to build him up.

3) For even Christ did not please himself, 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 endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

5) May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

6) so that with one heart and mouth 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.”

 

I have the great honor of being an observer and sometimes, it seems, almost a participant in the lives of certain people who are experiencing a Christ-like, God-ordained life modification. They are going through challenges that are forming them into the image of Jesus. It is incredibly exciting to witness astounding growth, as they submit to heavy trials, joyful times, and everything in between.

What is most interesting, as I observe their lives, is how real it all is. They are the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the work of the cross, and the power of the resurrection from the tomb being worked out and fulfilled right before my eyes. As they are being formed, I am seeing how truthful the Word and its promises really are. How horrible it would be to have missed the opportunity by deciding not to get involved.

Thank You for every Christ–life experience,

Jim Corbett

“Repentance is the only way to win My favor. There can be no intimate interaction between Us unless you maintain a humble, submissive heart. I have toppled kingdoms because of their pride in their own strength and resources. I have delayed My provision to them in time of need. I have used the unlikely, the underdog, the seemingly weak to destroy their pompous attitude and humble them for all the world to see. When they came to repentance, I restored My lifeline to them so that they once again could accomplish My work.

“For many years I have called you, My people, to repentance. I have asked you to humble yourself so that I can move freely through you. Instead of seeking Me with an open heart, allowing My Holy Spirit to expose every hidden sin, you have chosen to correct the wrongs that you see in those who do not know Me. You have attempted to change your world and call it My way of doing things. That is pride, and I am not with you in it. How much success have you had? How much closer has the world drawn to Me? If you are truthful, even with all your activity, things have gotten darker. You have also become weaker because you have been too busy to spend enough time with Me to gain My strength and hear My heart.

“How long must I continue to call you before you hear Me? What will it take before you understand that My goal is your proud heart, not your zealous activities that look like My work. You need to wake up! You need to rediscover what I originally taught you. If you look back through the corridors of time, you will observe the religious activity and the prideful attitude of those who believed they were doing My work. In reality, they were very busy maintaining their own lordship immediately before I humbled them, whether they be nations or individuals. It will be like looking in a mirror. That should terrify you enough to bring you to repentance. You know what is coming next if you don’t! I will humble you.”

 2 Samuel 14:14 NIV

“God does not take away life, instead he devises ways so that a banished person may no longer remain estranged from him.”

2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NIV

13) “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people,

14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” ( Another translation reads, ”I will hear THEM from heaven…”)

 

In the time that I have been a follower of Jesus Christ, I have lived through the foolishness of the fist-waving, foot-stomping, devil-commanding, power-praying, finger-pointing, people-condemning, sign-carrying, bible-thumping, rights-demanding, holier-than-thou spectacle that some call Christianity. In a specific time of need, I have seen thousands of people attend rallies designed to unite themselves against the enemy.

One such rally even called in a “Christian minister” who called himself a maledictionist. He was called to bring curses down upon the particular enemy of that time. Thousands attended that meeting. It was shameful. All the world saw the foolishness done in the Name of Jesus to change our world.

What is so fascinating about almost all of these functions is that the 2 Chronicles 7:14 verse above is used as a rallying cry for their justification. It is held high as the definitive verse to show the righteousness of our battle, the sureness of our victory.

I have meditated long and hard on 2 Chronicles 7:14 and have come to the conclusion that it means exactly what is very clear the first time you read it. God was calling His people (Christians) to repent of their own sins if they wanted their land healed, not come against the wrongs in the land and those committing them. We are to represent the character of Jesus to them so that they might accept Him and turn from their wicked ways through His power.

That is not a very popular position to take. The usual immediate response when pointing to the verse and taking it word for word is, “You mean we are supposed to sit around and do nothing?” It is as if humbling ourselves, praying, seeking the face of God, and turning from our wicked, prideful, not needing God ways is far behind “rallying for a cause” on the fruitful works activities list. Seemingly, praying, repenting, and seeking God with all our hearts are considered inactivity, rather than the most honored activity of our Lord.

A good friend of mine said the Lord told him that we are at a crossroads, as a people and as a nation. I totally agree with him. I would suggest, however, that we have been there for some time. God, in His graciousness, has been calling us to intimacy through repentance for quite a while. He has used the incredible sin in our land to drive those who see it to their knees and remind us of our own desire to be independent of Him. He has also used it to show us that we would rather proclaim His promises, use His Words, and flaunt our heritage before those who are needing Jesus, than humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from our wicked ways, asking for forgiveness of our sins. That act alone testifies of the pride and independence that He is after in each of us.

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett