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12/27/21 Men as Teachers

As we accept our ordained offices of husband and father, we become teachers of those who steward. That doesn’t by any means imply that we are the only ones imparting knowledge to others. It does, however, mean a higher accountability to God. In reality, those who call themselves followers of Jesus teach others by the life they live.

God holds those who teach others to a higher standard because of the incredible value He places on His Word. We present His Word by what we say and do. In His eyes, He is calling us to get it right. Because He holds His Word and the work He has done for all mankind so close to His heart, He asks us to do the same.

Men, it’s time to understand our accountability and the impact our offices hold. Our children should see a little more of Who God is because of our words and actions. Our lives mean something to them. The world sees the relationship between Christ and the church through our marriages. Are we exhibiting something dead and lifeless, or are we showing them a vibrancy that is worth looking into?

Whether you know it or not and whether you like it or not, you’re a teacher. Your portion is to first learn from God, the cross, and the Word. Then you’re to present what you’ve learned every day to everyone you meet. Are you bringing them a bright, wonderful picture of Who Jesus is, or are others seeing a dull, powerless God through what you’re teaching them by your words and actions?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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12/24/21 Who More Important than What

“Some of you are so busy looking for My will for your life that you miss what I have planned for you. My plan for you is to fellowship with Me. As We talk, you will know My heart and your place in what I am doing. You miss so much when you miss My reasons for getting together. Make Our time together your priority, and you will never be uncertain as to where I desire to apply My life through you.”

Eph. 3:14-19 AMP

14) For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15) For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].

16) May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].

17) May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

18) That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19) [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

 

When my daughter Jubilee was just old enough to walk, she and I headed for a tool barn on our property.  We started walking and I remember being very frustrated with her as she picked up little stones, smelled pretty flowers, and pointed to “the birdies.” I remember turning to her, urging her to walk faster, when the Lord spoke to my heart. He impressed upon me that my daughter was going for a walk with me, while I was just heading for the barn. I was so intent on the destiny that I missed the privilege of being with her.

So often it is the same with our relationship with our Lord. We become so busy “getting there,” that we even use our time with Him only to find answers, rather than experience the wondrous fellowship to which we have been invited. How foolish!

Teach me to go for quiet walks with You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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12/24/21 Looking in All the Wrong Places

God’s plan for life is most successful when people function within the confines of a powerful family. He’s designed the family for safety, love, nurturing, protection, and a myriad of other positive influences. Most of all, the offices of husband and father are meant to show God’s character and love to the family through the power of the Holy Spirit. Is it any wonder the enemy of God does all he can to destroy the family as God planned it?

Satan loves it when family members seek out other avenues for meeting the needs that should be met by the family unit. Disruption in the family unit - especially the loss of a father’s positive, Christ-like influence – produces broken and fractured people. It leaves family members pursuing other avenues to fill the void that should’ve been filled through God’s heart being alive and well in the entire family unit. (I’m not referring to a family where the father has passed away. The Lord steps in to complete the family in that situation.)

Dads, look around! What has the enemy done to replace your Christ-like influence within your family? What has held your family captive and minimized its effectiveness in impacting a world that has no answers? What siren songs do your wife or children choose to answer because you’ve failed to be who you’re supposed to be in Christ? Maybe you’ve been deceived into thinking your family isn’t so bad. Or maybe you believe it’s too far gone. Either way, once the Lord shows you what worldly influences have infiltrated your family, what are you going to do about it?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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12/23/21 Good Still Wins

“When you love deeply, you commit a violent act against the powers of darkness. When you choose the ways of Jesus over the ways of the world, you destroy strongholds set up to minimize your life. The ways of God are violent against spiritual darkness. They aggressively advance truth.

"Good has won over evil with the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Good still wins over evil when you live as Jesus lived, love as He loves, and lay down your life for others as He did. It is a violent way to live, for the enemy has no power over a crucified life. The life of Jesus lived through you wins every battle, destroys every evil scheme, and aggressively advances My kingdom. His kind of love is unstoppable warfare.”

Matthew 11:12 NIV 

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”

Matthew 11:12 KJV

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.

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.”

 

Jesus was brought into a world so perilous that children were killed at the whimsical edict of an evil king, crucifixions were as commonplace as morning walks, and people were held in slavery to ignorant teachers and foolish guides, yet He was absolutely fearless. His passionate love, His intimacy with His Father, and His zeal for imparting truth made Him “Teflon” in a world seething with infectious evil and eternal danger. His presence in any society was a gift of love from His Father God. We are in training to be the same kind of gift to those around us wherever our Father sends us.

Jesus could be fearless because He loved perfectly. He cared only for others and desired nothing for Himself. Even though He had all power, He was under full submission to the will of His Father. In His heart, He had given away everything, so He had no fear of someone robbing Him, even of His life. He held Himself in lower esteem than everyone, even the lowly leper, so no one could destroy His reputation. Jesus’ love was so pure that He was absolutely free from any peril that the world would attempt to place on Him.

Teach me to love as You love, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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12/23/21 I Miss My Daddy!

I miss my daddy! I wonder how many times those words have been said or written by children with broken hearts? Whether yesterday or thirty years ago, if those words have ever been uttered by your child because you were simply not there when you should’ve been there, you may still need to address your absence.

I just saw a movie where those words were written by a little boy pining for his father, who one day decided to up and leave him when life became difficult. I know it was just a movie, but the trauma the now grown young man was still experiencing is typical of traumas played out day after day by thousands of children who have lost their father’s influence.

Fathers, if those words pertain to you, please get on your knees in prayer and ask the Lord how to repair the damage done to your child or children, no matter how old they are. It’s time to break the cycle of pain for them.  It doesn’t matter if you’re simply ignorant of your sin, lied to by the world, broken yourselves, or you’ve made what seem like irreparable mistakes. You can still repair the breach of your office through the power of the Holy Spirit. Begin with prayer and repentance, and then move in whatever direction the Lord gives you. He is waiting to help you get in line with your office as father. So are your children.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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