9/24/20 The Trojan Horse

We’re all familiar with the mythological story of the giant wooden horse that was left outside the walls of Troy and mistakenly identified by its citizens as a gift. Totally undiscerning, they brought it inside the city walls, making themselves completely vulnerable to attack. The Greek warriors inside the horse waited for the opportune moment, and then made a beeline for the city gates and opened them to let in the rest of the troops. End result: Troy is overrun and destroyed.

One of the most insidious measures used by the enemy in his attempt to destroy our marriages, wreak havoc in our families, and even weaken our walk with the Lord is busyness. It is a Trojan horse that incessantly tries to creep into our lives, sometimes without notice. It takes diligence and a watchful mentality to catch it before it is able to kill, steal, or destroy.

Urgency, other people’s agendas, job deadlines, church responsibilities, good causes, free time, etc. constantly surround us. All these things can be worthy of our attention, but not at the expense of neglecting our time with the Lord. When we become wrapped up in busyness, we lose our perspective on what really counts the most, and the enemy usually has little trouble defeating us in crucial areas of our lives.

Long ago, a very wise person shared with me that our lives are a series of decisions between the urgent and the important. The urgent looks very much like the important, but may have nothing to do with God’s plan for our lives. The important things are those things God desires us to address. They further the kingdom of God, glorify Jesus, reinforce family values, and undergird children who on their way to living significant lives.

Isn’t it time to become aware of any Trojan horses that have been sent your way to kill, steal, and destroy? Isn’t it time to practice discerning the difference between those things that are important and those things that are simply urgent? Better yet, isn’t it best to spend time with the Lord to know which things He’s asked you to participate in on His behalf?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Open post

9/23/20 Part of God’s Eternal Plan

“Long ago I called you by your name to spend eternity with Me. I know who you have been. I know who you are and are not at this very moment. I know who you will become as you surrender more and more to Jesus and His work in you. You are part of My eternal plan. You are part of My heart. I will never leave you! I love you! You are Mine and I cherish you!”

Psalm 111:2 NIV

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

Isaiah 30:21 NIV 

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

“the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30) And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Hebrews 13:5b AMP 

…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

 

Help me to understand the depth of Your love for me, so that I might walk in freedom. Help me to understand the depth of Your love for others, so that I might love them as You love them. Help me to love You completely, so that I might bring glory to Your Name.

I choose to love You with all my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

9/23/20 Home Church

Men, is your home a place that proclaims the Gospel, worships the Lord, and praises His Name continually? If it isn’t, it should be. In fact, it must be if you and your family are going to survive the coming onslaught against believers, or even make it day to day glorifying the Lord.

This country has fallen into the misconception that the church is some building you and your family visit on Sunday morning. It’s also considered a place where you send your children to learn about Jesus, expecting the children’s pastor or the youth director to teach them about a life in Christ, and give them the skills they need to relate with their peers.

This scenario leads to the taking in of predigested food, thinking that it is enough, and letting others go to the Lord for you, instead of cultivating an intimate relationship yourself and establishing the family altar. It produces weak, malnourished followers of Jesus, insignificant legacies, and few leaders capable of helping spread the Gospel without a program sponsored by other people in that church building.

God has ordained your home and the life created there by the Holy Spirit to be the real church of Jesus Christ. He has given you and your family a safe place to grow and be nurtured in Him. It’s up to you, as a father, to create the spiritual atmosphere where those you cover are free to go as deep as they please with Christ. What kind of atmosphere have you set in your family church?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

Open post

9/22/20 Responding as Jesus Would

“Be careful! The enemy is a master of entrapment. He is giving commands to ensnare you, in order to destroy your witness for Me. You must walk in the Spirit that I have given you. Give no place for your flesh in your dealings with the world, or you could find yourself destroying the testimony that I have given you. A spirit of intolerance has been loosed on your land. That spirit, combined with hatred and anger, hold dangerous potential situations and volatile confrontations for you, if you succumb to their siren song rather than walking in the peace of My Spirit. You will find yourself in way over your head before you know it. Your time will no longer be your own.

"When you are confronted, turn away. When Your reputation is challenged, allow Me to be your defense. When your rights are violated, be careful to consult Me and very wise counsel before you respond, or you may find yourself falling into the trap set for you. Love when you are hated. Forgive those who don’t know what they are doing. Pray for those who are serving other masters. Be wise in all of your actions.”

Matthew 5:7 NIV 

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Luke 23:34 NIV

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

Gal. 5:24-25 AMP

24) And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

25) If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

Eph. 6:13 AMP

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

 

Some time ago, the Lord made me very aware of the darkness that is beginning to cover this land. Part of it is an intolerant, warring spirit. This spirit is ready to fight at the slightest provocation. I’m not talking about a protection against evil mentality, such as a parent would exhibit guarding his child. Satan has loosed his spirit into those who have chosen not to serve the Lord. It is a spirit of murder and will manifest itself to the degree that the host allows.

We live in a dangerous world that is changing for the worse by the moment. Although this is foretold, we believers need to understand the Lord’s antidote for its hazards. Every protective mechanism available to us is found in the character of Christ.

The command to walk and conduct ourselves as He walked and conducted Himself is perceived as only a suggestion when there is peace and safety all around. When potential harm lurks within most encounters and everyday situations, responding to them as Jesus would becomes our only place of safety.

Study the Word, specifically those passages that reveal the Lord’s responses while He was with us. Study the Sermon on the Mount.  Study Paul’s directions on how to act when confronted. The time for reckless actions and arrogant demands because we are “in the right” is soon coming to an end. I am convinced that the Lord is going to teach us through hardship what we would not learn voluntarily about living as Jesus lived in our world. Guard your heart from anger at any cost. Choose your words, actions, and responses prayerfully.

Teach me to respond as You do, Lord,

Jim Corbett

9/22/20 Survival Skills

In any combat situation, there are certain skills needed if one is to survive, especially one who is called to lead others. It is very important to hone the skills necessary to win the war that’s raging against marriage and family. They may not be the typical weapons of warfare, but they are mighty In Christ.

Usually when a man enters a physical battle, he relies on his strength, his cunning, his knowledge of combat tactics, and his choice of weapon to overcome the enemy. However, the battle that comes against those a husband and father cares for is generally spiritual in nature, and only spiritual equipping will win it.

As men of God, every one of our battles is really the Lord’s to fight. The weapons we need are different than the ones we’d use if we were going to wage the war ourselves. Our strength comes from an intimate relationship with God. Our wisdom to face any challenge is given to us by the Holy Spirit. Our strategies are found in the Word. Real power is given to us as we surrender to the power of the Lord and learn to feast at His table while He wins the battle for us.

Husbands and fathers, there is no question that each and every day an attempt will be made to destroy our marriage relationship or our heritage through our children. It may not be visible moment by moment, but be assured that the enemy never sleeps. He’s always looking for weakness on any front, so that he can make inroads for his purposes. It’s time to become equipped with the ability to determine and understand the wars you will encounter as they arise. Who is going to win them for you, and what is your part in the battle?   In Christ, there is no battle too large or too small. If God is for you, who can be against you? You’re on the winning team. With His help, can He count on you?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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