Open post

12/10/22 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

Open post

12/09/22 Wisdom for the Coming Times

“Have you noticed that things are changing very rapidly around you, just like I said they would in the end times? Have you noticed that your heart is longing more and more to be like My Son Jesus as each day progresses? I said that would happen also. Your awareness of just these two things sets you far ahead of most of the world and many of My children. Don’t put aside all of the coming events as coincidence. Everything is going as planned for your generation.

"You seek Me with all your heart. I will give you wisdom for the coming times. I will let you in on the things that I deem important during these times. You will not be caught unaware when birth pangs increase if you seek Me with all your heart. When others falter because of fear, you will be able to move with confidence because you will know that I am with you.”

Prov. 3:21-26 AMP 

21) My son, let them not escape from your sight, but keep sound and godly Wisdom and discretion,

22) And they will be life to your inner self, and a gracious ornament to your neck (your outer self).

23) Then you will walk in your way securely and in confident trust, and you shall not dash your foot or stumble.

24) When you lie down, you shall not be afraid; yes, you shall lie down, and your sleep shall be sweet.

25) Be not afraid of sudden terror and panic, nor of the stormy blast or the storm and ruin of the wicked when it comes [for you will be guiltless],

26) For the Lord shall be your confidence, firm and strong, and shall keep your foot from being caught [in a trap or some hidden danger].

Isa. 48:3 NIV 

“I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

Heb. 13:6 AMP

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

 

What an incredible privilege we have as believers! Just think! The ruler of everything - the One who knows the end from the beginning - is willing to share with us all we need to know for any circumstance in our lives. He has our best interests at heart. When the world will be bug-eyed, drooling at the mouth with fear, we will be able to have real answers for their questions. We will also be able to tell them about the One who is the answer, Jesus Christ. Boy, it’s good to be part of this godly family, isn’t it?

Wanting to hold up my end of the family,

Jim Corbett

Open post

12/09/22 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

Open post

12/08/22 Equipped in Your Need

“I want you to understand something. If you are My true minister, if you are really going to be available so that I can use you to present My life to those who are dying, if you are going to present My true heart to My church, you will need to be refined. I will take you to painful places, insurmountable circumstances, and hopeless situations, so that you will fully understand your need of Me. In that need, I will impart Myself to you and equip you to be able to help others in their need.

"When you have ascended above your training because of My strength, and when you have allowed the fires of trials to eliminate your flesh and soften your heart, I will send you to those who need Jesus. Most of the people to whom I send you will never fully realize what it took for you to have what they need. They will care little for the pain you had to go through to be trusted with My presence, nor the price that you had to pay. Some may even be the ones who scorned you or laughed at you when you were desperately in need of Me, while they lived in luxury.

"They may never thank you, but I will know. I will remember your anguish and subsequent submission to Me. I will never forget how faithful you are. It has always been that way. It is the path of Jesus. Are you willing to travel it with Him? Will you do it for Me?”

 Luke 9:23-25 AMP

23) And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

24) For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

25) For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?

Romans 5:1-5 NIV

1) Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2) through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

3) Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;

4) perseverance, character; and character, hope.

5) And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

 

Jesus did everything He did for us and for His Father. He gave His life because He loved deeply, knowing that those for whom He died would at times spit on Him, laugh at Who He was; and despise that for which He stood. He knew that most of the people He had created cared little about what He went through for them.

No one in the world cares about how much He gave and few of His children take enough time to remember all the reasons He left heaven, suffered, and died. Most think that His life and death is all about their salvation. Few understand that His life and death is really about the restoration of fellowship between God and man, because His Father desired it. He did it for us whether we cared or not, and for the Father.

If only for You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

Open post

12/08/22 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

Posts navigation

1 2 3 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 656 657 658
Scroll to top