1/09/21 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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1/08/21 Learn Your Lessons Well

“Do you know that you are to be a herald and an ambassador, representing and proclaiming the glories of your Lord? My Holy Spirit is to precede you wherever Jesus chooses to make His presence known. After He prepares the way, you are to move with Him, bringing the character of Jesus to those who need to hear and see. Learn your lessons well. Become a study of your Lord. Learn His heart. Put aside any other gods you served at one time, so that you don’t represent them to the ones to whom I send you. Bring His clear life where it is needed through the Holy Spirit’s power. Watch how His life, flowing through you, changes things.”

Acts 4:29-35 NIV

29) “Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness.

30) Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”

31) After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

32) All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.

33) With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all.

34) There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales

35) and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.”

2 Cor. 2:14-16a NIV

14) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.

15) For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.

16a) To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.

2 Cor. 5:20 NIV

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

 

Sometimes we forget that one of our primary purposes is to take the indwelling Spirit of Jesus to everyone to whom we are sent. That is who we are, what we do, and one of the very important reasons that we have been born again.

Thank You for reminding me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

1/08/21 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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1/07/21 Whatever It Takes

“Where are you going to find truth when truth is non-existent in those you trust? Where are you going to find help when the powerful become helpless? Who will be your source for peace when your world falls apart? You need to really see the signs all around you and make some decisions. If you choose “business as usual,” I will not be able to use you when your seasons change. If you choose to do whatever it takes to bring My presence into your life, We will commune in intimate ways. You will see the wonder of what happened at the cross. You will observe hearts that fail from fear from the safety of My Holy Place. You will understand what is happening when others reel in confusion. You make the choice. If you do nothing to draw close to Me at this moment, you have made a choice. It is not a good one!”

Amos 3:3 KJV

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

 Phil. 3:10-11 AMP

10) [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power out-flowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

11) That if possible I may attain to the [spiritual and moral] resurrection [that lifts me] out from among the dead [even while in the body].

 Phil. 4:8-9 NIV

8) Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

9) Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

 

In the above verses, Paul understood the difference between making a real difference and simply existing. He grasped the concept of finding the heart of Jesus and tailoring his every moment to pursue it with zeal.

Jesus had a single purpose.  Paul had a single purpose.  Any person that was truly used by God was, first and foremost, sold out to God.  God moves on behalf of one who is determined to be in line with His causes.  Most of us aren’t willing to pay the price; and therefore, never receive the joy of knowing the powerful hand of God in our lives.”

What is your determined purpose in life? Really, for what do you get up every day and pine?

Make my life devoted to Your purpose, Lord,

Jim Corbett

1/07/21 Concealed Carry

There is a license called a concealed carry license. It means you have the freedom to carry a weapon to protect yourself. To obtain that license, you need to attend school to learn about weapons and your responsibilities when you carry one.

As a member of the body of Christ and as a husband and father, you have been given spiritual weapons to overcome every enemy that would attempt to harm you or your family. They are weapons that allow you to war on behalf of those you steward to win seen or unseen battles that confront them. You, in essence, have a concealed carry license from God!

How are you using your spiritual weapons? Are they concealed to the point that the enemy has free reign to overcome your wife or children? Does anyone around you know you possess these weapons, because they know you and your family understand your place in God, and they witness the freedom you and your family function in?

In a world that desires to destroy any trace of Christ-like character in you and your family, you’re not helpless. You have license to destroy the enemy’s challenges and tactics. You have a concealed carry license of unbeatable spiritual weapons. Don’t flash them to show your bravado, but use them to help win the battle for the Lord!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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