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3/04/22 Distorted Obligations

Many years ago, I met a man who was having difficulties at home. His family was disjointed in opinions, needs, and direction for their lives. He spent most of his time putting out fires and filling the wants of some very needy family members. After several instances of pouting, crying, and just plain self-focus, it became very clear what the dynamics of his family were. In the course of a conversation, the man expressed to me that his goal in life was to keep his wife and child happy. It was all he wanted to do. It was the reason for his life. This goal kept him incredibly busy on a never-ending journey from morning ‘til night each and every day of his life.

As I observed the family in action, it became very clear that the pattern he had set was joyfully embraced by those involved. His wife and child were very needy and continually looked to him to fulfill the need, whatever it might be. Yes, there were legitimate needs, but whims and personal desires became gods to be served. His days were quite involved in finding ways to bring comfort rather than taking the time to figure out with his family a more reasonable way to function.

The saddest part of the whole situation was the fact that the man had been called to a faith ministry. For several years, he walked in his calling. As the Lord was building his faith through trials and difficult circumstances, his wife grew increasingly alarmed and uncomfortable. What changed the direction in his life and caused him to abandon his calling began with her statement, “I never want to walk in a faith ministry again.” So began the dissolution of an outreach that was touching many people.

Men, your job is not to find ways to keep your family happy. Your job is to provide an atmosphere that allows them to become everything they can be in Christ. Sometimes that will mean hardships and journeys far from their comfort zones. It may require you to stand by, dig yourself in with the Lord, and watch them squirm while He is dealing with their selfishness. It’s called real love. Will you walk in it?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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3/02/22 It’s Your Turn

“Will you pour your life into someone who doesn’t care if I ask you to do it? Will you continue to give and give when the ones to whom I send you can only take? When will you say, “Enough”? When will you lay down the cross I give you?

"I need lovers of those who hate Me. I need examples of the crucified life of Jesus. I need a people whose love is deeper than the hate that comes against them. Will you love as Jesus loved for My sake and for the benefit of someone who has no idea of your pain? Will you stay on the cross I give you until I remove you? Jesus stayed there for you! Now it’s your turn.”

Matt. 5:11-12 NIV

11) ”Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

John 4:34 NIV

“My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

John 15:12-14 NIV 

12) “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

13) Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.

14) You are my friends if you do what I command.”

I Cor. 13:7-8a AMP

7) Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

8a) Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end]…

 

Compassion, which is stimulated by the spirit of mourning ever-present in the heart of Father God, is the conduit of the flow of power to heal infirmities and touch hearts. If it does not function in each of us, nothing eternal can be accomplished; only fleshly results will materialize. No wonder most of the church is powerless in so many situations.

Those who share the spirit of compassion with the Lord will not “weary in well–doing,” and will work unflaggingly until the last soul has been brought into the Kingdom of God. As Paul said, “I am again as if in birth pains until Christ is formed in you...”

When the last soul has been brought in, when all the intended work of the Father is finished, the compassion of the Father and those who have been made like Him will be satisfied. Only then will the compassionate be comforted and cease from laboring towards that end (mourning.)

Thank You for Your example, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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3/02/22 Mighty Men of God

According to Ephesians 6:12, our real war is against the principalities and powers in the spiritual realm - not flesh and blood - and the Lord has equipped each of us to overcome those powers. The covenant He has established with us is an unbeatable contract, which supplies all we’ll ever need to function high above the demands of this world and its harmful challenges.

As I’ve stated many times before, the highest offices God has created are the offices of husband and father. To help us function in those offices, He has given us an amazing spiritual arsenal we can call upon whenever we face a battle. It’s called the armor of God. These spiritual weapons are crucial in addressing and overcoming any obstacle, and they are readily available and effective for the man whose heart, thoughts, and actions are aligned with God.

All you need to do is look around to see the havoc the enemy has created through distorting the criteria God established for these offices in the minds of both men and women. Through misinterpretation and the foolishness of worldly reasoning, he has accomplished a great deal to help nullify the effectiveness of the roles of husband and father, which results in a standard for the family unit that is far from God’s intentions. The standard of today is a disjointed, weak, unruly, powerless family that has little ability to overcome the world.

Men, it’s time for you to do what’s necessary so the Lord can reveal the spiritual power that is available to you to reclaim your marriage and family. If your marriage and family are not bright, world-overcoming examples for others to follow, perhaps you need to make some changes prior to standing before the Lord. He has given you a stewardship and every tool that is necessary for you to see that stewardship prosper and function as God intends. What is stopping you from pleasing God by flowing in what He desires and knows you can be?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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3/01/22 What Gospel Do You Follow?

“Don’t tell me that you love Me if you close your heart to those to whom I send you. Don’t sing your praise to Me with your fists clenched tightly around what is Mine for you to give away. Do you really believe that you are acting like Jesus when you have no compassion for the needs of others? What gospel are you following? Who are you really following?

"The world loves its own and provides for the needs of those who fall or are hurt. Where are My hands of compassion? Where is the extension of My love? Everything that you own has been bought from you by the blood of Jesus. I gave it to you in the first place. How can you reach out in the love of Jesus with your hands in your own pockets?

"That is not the way of Jesus. That is not My way! Whose example are you following? Where is the cross in your life?”

John 15:13 AMP 

No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends.

I John 3:17-18 AMP 

17) But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?

18) Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

 

We really need to take stock in our lives. What are our priorities? What do we value? For what does our heart long?

Let’s rephrase those questions in a way that will be asked of us on the day we stand before the Lord face to face. What priorities did you place above Mine? What did you value more than Jesus and My desires for your life? What did you long for in your heart that had no eternal value?

Let me walk in the truth of Your Word, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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3/01/22 Offices of Importance

It is rarely understood how important the offices of husband and father are to God. He has placed these often-misunderstood offices in a key position in creation and shows favor to the man who comprehends their value and endeavors to walk in the roles of husband and father with God’s purposes in mind. He even revealed Himself to all mankind as Father, so we could begin to comprehend the worth He places on that office.

In the spiritual realm, God has set a ranking and order in place to accomplish His plans. This order is followed by all of His creations, beginning with the angelic beings right on down to all of mankind. Within that structure, God has designated the offices of husband and father as the primary offices through which He can display His power, mercy, and love. A man, who is truly in line with the Word of God in regard to his wife and family, is an example of the relationship between Christ and His church. This is very important to Father God because that relationship is meant to display His character to those who are watching.

Regardless of your station in life, the testimony you give to others falls pale if your relationship with your wife is even remotely cold or your children’s actions show your lack of understanding of your offices. If you really want to touch people and be in line with the perfect will of God, then make what is important to God very important to you. He considers the offices you hold of immense importance. It would be wise to do whatever it takes to function properly in them.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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