Tag: Christian

“Now is not the time to make eternal mistakes. Make sure that what you believe and who you are listening to align perfectly with My Word. If you have become complacent in your relationship with Me, do what it takes to draw close now. If you are not in My Word to have solid foundation for what you believe, drop everything and go there. If you have friends who say they know the Lord but are not serious about honoring Jesus, or care little about the sin in their lives, walk away from them. They are stumbling blocks and will hinder you from drawing close yourself.

"Whatever is consuming your time, whatever is hindering you from drawing close, whatever is stopping you from making Me your priority, remove it or nullify its influence on you. Time is too short to play spiritual games.”

 Haggai 1:7-10 AMP 

7) Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

8) Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and displaying My glory in it].

9) You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].

10) Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

Mark 4:24 AMP

And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Acts 15:36-40 AMP 

36) And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.

37) Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark [his near relative].

38) But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

39) And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40) But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.

 

Walking with the Lord is serious stuff. In fact, our relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship we will ever have. Why, then, is it placed behind most everything that seems more urgent or fun?

I am noticing that the Lord has noticed our reversed priorities. This is a topic He addresses quite regularly. He is serious; I think that we had better get serious.

Change my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Who is calling My people to holiness? Who is heralding the need to drop all pretenses of religion and bring the benchmark of Jesus back as truth? There is a plumb line from which I have never moved, even though some with loud voices may say that I have. When compromise is used to bring people to Me and teach Who I am not, a weak form of religion replaces a quest for holiness and a heart craving only My presence.

"Some of you need to reassess what My Word says about who you are supposed to be when you call yourself a follower of Jesus. Truth is truth, no matter how many times an attempt is made to dilute it. Find My truths again. Step out from the mire of those who have watered down My Word. Shake off the mediocrity that has invaded your life. Become passionate for Me once again.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

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

Isaiah 46:9-10 AMP 

9) [Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me.

10) Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

John 3:30 AMP 

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]

 

Have you noticed that in some cases, loud voices and manipulative tactics seem to be accepted as an anointing? People seem to flock to demonstrative speakers, sometimes at the risk of accepting another gospel, one that is self-serving rather than Christ-serving.

Everything that I read in the Word indicates that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are called to lay our lives down in service to the Lord. We are no longer our own. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus and are to live His life of holiness before a world that is minute by minute heading for destruction.

What kind of gospel are you proclaiming by your life? Is it the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed because you have studied His Word and His life, and will accept no other way; or is it a gospel that someone else has given you and you have only emotional feelings and someone else’s ideas on which you base your belief?

Teach me Your truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do you really know how often you walk in fear rather than in freedom? You simply don’t believe what I say. You don’t even believe My Word. If you did, peace would reign in your heart. There would be no doubt of My intentions for you. You, however, seem to desire to believe the lies of the enemy of your soul and the prince of this world, rather than the One Who made you. Would you consider that you might be believing a lie? Could it be possible that you have been wrong all this time, and need to redirect your life to become one of total acceptance of My Word in every area of your life?

"Maybe it is time for you to change your allegiance from listening to the habits and voices that contend for your thoughts to taking My Word as your only source of truth. I would really like that. It would delight My heart to see you walk in the power and authority that I intend for you. Much more could be accomplished if so much time wasn’t diverted by you needing Me to confirm My love over and over before you will move on My behalf and for the good of others. By the time you have been reassured of what you should have known long ago, most real opportunities have passed. I was not able to call upon you. I went to someone else.

"You need to settle My love for you and the absolute reliability of My Word in your heart once and for all. Come, let’s walk together. I will show you absolute truth. I will defeat your enemies. I will confirm My Word in your heart. Together We will bring souls to freedom. I am always with you. Begin to really believe that, settle it deep within your inner being, and your life will be in a position for Me to use you in ways far beyond your wildest dreams.”

Ephesians 3:16 NIV

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP 

16) Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

17) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB 

12) So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

13) Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

 

It really is time to get on with the business of moving in the direction in which God is moving. Indications all around us signify that our world is changing at a high rate of speed, heading toward the coming of Christ. Any moment, things as we know them could change as promised, unfolding the end-time plans of God even more clearly. The freedoms and liberties that we so enjoy may soon be a thing of the past. For the sake of the Lord, and for the welfare of those who are too weak to make it during promised great hardship, we - who call ourselves Christians - need to be ready.

As I was doing this study, I suddenly realized that I had the liberty to reference six different Bible translations to find the best version to complement the Father’s Heart. I could have gone to several more if necessary.

God has given us Christians in this country such access to Himself and to His Word, that there really is no reason for us to be weak in our belief of Him. He has allowed us free interaction with each other for developing additional strength. He has prospered us immensely. Most of us have enough for ourselves, and many of us have more than enough to share with others. His bounty is very evident. Still, we don’t hear His heart. We don’t accept His love fully. We don’t prioritize our lives to conform to His will. We say we do—and in comparison to others who are doing absolutely nothing to defend the Name of the Lord, we appear as if we are living only for Him—but we aren’t. We really don’t believe His Word. If we did, wouldn’t we be living our lives much differently?

Needing to see, hear, and trust. Time is short,

Jim Corbett