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10/16/21 The Gap

“Have you noticed that many more of you are confirming My teachings one to another? That shouldn’t surprise you. As you draw close to Me, My voice becomes clearer; My heart becomes more visible. I am proclaiming My heart to those who have decided to set aside the things of the world and focus on My desires. You will hear what I have to say from several different sources in different ways, but by the same Holy Spirit. It is My way of allowing you to walk in confidence. It is also a way for you to see those who are part of My plan in these days.

"The gap between those members of My body who are preparing for themselves, and those who are preparing for the fulfillment of My plans will be ever-widening as time passes. You must discern who is hearing from Me and who is closing their ears to My heart. You will need to know who is moving with Me, so that you and they can walk together. It is important to love every brother and sister, but it is also important to know who is walking in the same direction as you are.

"Find those of like heart and align yourselves with them. Grow with them. Seek Me with them. Submit yourselves to an accountability that takes the form of service to them. When it is paramount that you trust others for your safety, you will know who they are. You will already be walking with them. Best friends do not violate a trust.”

Ps. 94:11-13a AMP

11) The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (empty and futile—only a breath).

12) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law.

13a) That you may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity…

Prov. 16:1-3 AMP

1) THE PLANS of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.

2) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

3) Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Amos 3:3 NLB

“Can two walk together without agreeing on the direction?”

Acts 15:37-40 NIV

37) Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,

38) but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

39) They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

40) but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

 

In a season when trustworthy friendships were very important for safety; but more importantly when the work required was at stake, Paul found little comfort in unity at the risk of his life or God’s purposes. He saw the fruit of Mark’s heart when the going got rough and made a call that caused sharp disagreement between himself and Barnabas.

In today’s church, there is an underlying fear of calling it like it really is. So many of us have been taught not to judge others, that we have even thrown wisdom and discernment out the door. It may not be a problem when all is peace and safety, but that kind of thinking is foolishness when perilous times require accountability.

We need to face the fact that some members of the body of Christ are in fellowship for their own best interests. They have not responded to the present heralding to draw close and be equipped for what lies ahead. When they will be needed, many will sell out to their fears and emotions, rather than to the quieted and unfamiliar voice of the Lord in their lives. They will not be trustworthy, because they will not be able to hear the Lord clearly. To walk with them will possibly cause harm when true alliances are needed.

God is calling each of us close to Him. He is preparing us for these closing hours of time and equipping those of us who are responding to His call. He will show us others who are responding to that same call and will allow us to see their true heart motives. Violations of our trust are clear indications of improper motives. We should love the person, but recognize the sign and trust God’s reasons for showing us his or her heart.

Many will not understand the decisions that we are being called to make and the choices that we must implement if we are to be obedient to our Lord. When absolute obedience is demanded, they will not know how to respond nor understand our peace and positive direction.

Today is the day to find those of like Spirit, those responding to the call of the Lord. Soon, a floundering, selfish heart will be seen for what it really is. It will be foolish and time consuming to deal with it when much more important work is being required of us.

Make me trustworthy, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/15/21 Realignment

“It’s time to reevaluate your priorities. Soon everything in your world will change. My Word is going forth. Nations are aligning with what I prophesied long ago. In the heavenlies, I have spoken My will. It is soon to be loosed upon your land. Do not be confused by interim distractions. Many who deny My will are attempting to bring forth their rebellion through hatred and murder. That is not Me. I am realigning everything and bringing to a conclusion the necessary situations that will eventually usher in the return of Jesus.

"While all this is happening, you decide what is really important in your life. You make sure that you are functioning as I have ordained you to function. The coming times will give you the opportunity to see what is really important. They will bring many opportunities to love deeper and care more for the things that I care about. Some of the situations that you will find yourselves in will drive you to your knees. That is where I have wanted you to be all along. When I have your attention, you will experience a revival in your spirit. Useless goals will fall away. Unnecessary longings will be set aside like so much old news.

"Decide to flow with Me during these perilous times. Rise above the din of the world to a place of safety with Me. Prioritize your life to include what is important to Me. I am with you. I love you.”

Ps. 91:1-2 AMP

1) HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2) I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

Acts 12:6 AMP

The very night before Herod was about to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

II Cor. 7:9-11a AMP 

9) Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [that turned you to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did.

10) For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].

11a) For [you can look back now and] observe what this same godly sorrow has done for you and has produced in you…

 

One day as I was contemplating many things, the Lord asked me what was important, really important. It immediately made me question my priorities. It stopped me long enough to redirect my thinking to what is actually of consequence. Then it occurred to me. The things that affect my life in the news and in the world around me seem to be urgent; the relationship we have with Jesus and with each other is what’s important. Duh!!!

I believe that what is important is about to overshadow what has been urgent for too long in our lives. Maybe it’s time to take a deep breath, sit with our Lord, and begin to really embrace this life and our fellow participants in it; and above all, if these times have pockets of relief in them, we need to remember to remain steadfast in this direction simply to honor our Lord.

Our loving Father is in charge of everything. He is Lord, and we are His children. I am convinced that these days are the beginning of the finest hour for those who love Jesus as their priority. We are going to have time to cleanse our garments of every blemish, spot, and wrinkle. It is time to get on with it. We all need to remember what our Lord has been saying to each of us for some time now. His wooing to come closer to Him seems like a most wonderful thing to do at this time, doesn’t it?

Show me the way, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/15/21 Your Word

At one time, I was blessed to live in a farm community where the longtime farmers have a higher code than you see most places. In essence, their word is their bond. To shake on something is closer to the covenant meaning in which that gesture originated. Shaking hands (actually wrists) was a blood tie contract. To break it meant possible death if the one you made covenant with followed through according to law.

In this day and age, we have lost that kind of commitment level. (I don’t know if lawyers were a catalyst for that or the lowering of standards created the need for lawyers). Today we break our vows to each other and to God. In reality, we died to every right we hold dear when we gave our lives to the Lordship of Jesus. That’s what lordship means. When we don’t function in it with Him, it spills over into our relationships with others and we excel in finding ways to nullify contracts we’ve entered into when our agreements become inconvenient.

As a man, you have entered into a marriage contract with your wife in the eyes of the world, and of even greater importance in the eyes of God. A commitment made before God is no small thing, whether we believe it or not. He has called you to love your wife as Christ loved the church. It matters little if she knows how to love you back; you have committed to love her no matter what.

If you’re having marital challenges, remember first that your marriage is under contract with God. How you feel or how your wife feels matters little. You, as a husband, will be held accountable for the spiritual atmosphere in your marriage, an atmosphere where your wife should have the freedom to prosper spiritually. It’s dangerous to break that contract. Keep your word with God, and watch what He chooses to do about everything else.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/14/21 Access to God’s Presence

“Have you done what I’ve asked you to do? Do you even know what I’ve asked you to do or not do? Have you spent enough time with Me to know My heart? If you have, you know that I’m not looking for you to work hard for Me. I am looking for you to be with Me. That is what Jesus spent His life for. He gave you access to My Presence. I see you through the blood that He shed.

"I know you because you have responded to His Lordship. Stop attempting to impress Me with your works. They matter little if We are not doing them together. Come to Me through Jesus. We will talk. We will reason. We will work together after you have submitted to My heart.”

 John 5:19-20 NIV

19) Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.

Luke 6:43-46 NIV 

43) “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

44) Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

45) The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

46) “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

 

Submission to the Father’s heart is a priority. So many of us take the work of the cross for our salvation and minimize the fact that the work of Jesus has won back the right for us to be in the presence of God the Father. Jesus shed blood was the only sacrifice accepted by God. Most of us tend to forget how important it is to use this astounding privilege.

Take some time to think about how miserable our existence would be without access to God. Think how horrible it would be if we could not go to Him for direction, guidance, and assurance. Remember the price that was paid for you and me the next time you pray and those prayers are answered. Thank Him for devising a means for us to return to Him as often as we desire.

Let me never forget, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/14/21 Stewards, Not Owners

If you are a believer, it’s a given that God owns everything. He’s the sole owner of every heartbeat of all who have ever had blood pumping through their veins. The cattle on every hill are marked with His brand.

Then why is it we, as humans, have the audacity to claim anything as our own? The idea of “we’ve worked for it, so it’s ours” is a detrimental attitude if we are to serve the Lord with all our might. That right to ownership in our minds hinders us from ever coming to the full realization of the sovereignty of God. It stops us from truly glorifying Him in all we do.

As husbands and fathers, you really own nothing. Your wife and children are the Lord’s. Your friends and all the things you have called your own really belong to the Lord. You have only been given a stewardship of everything in your midst. Totally embracing that concept is quite sobering to say the least.

As a steward, you will answer to the Lord for the outcome of your existence. How did you steward everything God asked you to care for? Will the results of your life as a caretaker of people and the things that are important to Him - family, friends, time, etc. – be in accord with His wishes? He gave them to you for a season. How did you handle your responsibility?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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