Tag: Christianity

“Do not become weary because of the trials that I am taking you through. Do not harden your heart because I am showing you all that is out of order in you and around you.  Do not think that I have forgotten you because your prayers don’t seem to be answered. You are in school.  You are in My extreme training course because you have said that you wanted Me to be your everything. I am building the compassion of Jesus in you.  I am placing mercy for others in your heart, which before that held judgment.  I am placing the warrior spirit of Jesus in you and removing the warring spirit of the world.

"In this time of training, come to Me often. Apply My Word to your life. Commune with Jesus. Speak regularly to those of the same mind and heart. Remember that you had strength for all things when you functioned in the first-love qualities of Jesus. Get to know Him again. Lose sight of those things that seem urgent and regain the vision for the things that I consider important. Be strong in the power of My mighty power.”

Eph 4:12-13 AMP 

12) His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),

13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ and the completeness found in Him.

Phil 4:13 AMP 

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

 

Inspired by the wonderful book, In His Steps, there was a trend a while back that flowed throughout the body of Christ, and even touched the secular market. It was the phrase, “WWJD - What would Jesus do?” As wonderful as that phrase is, and even though the thought gave much to those who chose to follow it, it lacked something very essential. It lacked intimacy.

We, as followers of Christ, have been given an astounding gift. We have the privilege of communicating and communing with the Savior of the World, the Master of All Things – Jesus!     As with every trend, someone came up with a modification of the original idea. In this case, the modification is more accurate than the original. Have you ever seen the bracelet, “WWYDJ - What Would You Do, Jesus?” The intimacy of asking our Lord how He would deal with any situation is far better than studying His actions from a distance. Our ability to communicate with Him has been won for us at the cross. Sharing time with Jesus gives us everything we need to overcome anything we face, as we are being trained to be like Him. We also get to know Him when we talk to Him, as well as through reading the Word and following hard after Him.

Thank You for walking with me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“You may notice that I am requiring you to experience the messages you will be giving to those around you. I am finished with My messengers spouting other people’s lessons and teachings. Soon, only those who are willing to come to Me for their nourishment, and then live My teachings, will have My anointing to provide food for others.

"How can you give away what you do not own? Why do you feel that you have the right to be exempt from “owning” the lessons you want to give away? Most of you have been giving away predigested food; food received from Me by others. Because of the anointing on it, it has nourished those in need and you have been able to survive. You, however, have become malnourished because you have not received your life directly from Me.

"I am now requiring you to not only be the message; you must be well-fed from My hand, or your words will fall to the ground in front of you, giving little nourishment to others. Become hungry for My Word. Require Me as your source for life. Seek Me for your life and tell others to do the same.”

Amos 5:4b AMP

…Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live.

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 (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.

 

If you chose to give someone a car that was owned by your neighbor, your gift would be less than perfect, wouldn’t it? That may be a somewhat foolish example, but it does drive home a point. Unless you really own something, you have no right to give it away.

People, who are well-equipped to share the life of the Word of God, do so from having that Word completely formed within them, given from the One Who wrote it. It nourishes and brings life to their being and is fit to give life to others by the performance of that Word in their everyday walk. That kind of life only comes from spending time in the Word and waiting on the Lord to reveal its spiritual calories to your inner being.

Today’s malnourished church will listen to tapes, go to sermons, and read books, rather than go to God themselves for their food. These are all very good activities and well worth investing in, but they can never replace the life and wealthy counsel that is received at the hand of our Lord and from the lap of our Father.

Draw me close, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“People will see your humble submission to Me as weakness. They misunderstood Jesus. Even after He did mighty wonders in their midst, they had no respect for His power. Laying down His life for others meant nothing to them. In their eyes, their physical prowess and worldly station filled them with pride so deadly that they couldn’t discern truth. It is the same today.

"If you claim to have nothing of yourself, if you fully understand your bankruptcy without My influence on your life, if you realize that true wealth means you have no wealth or prowess of your own making, you will be one of My children who knows truth. If you confess your total submission to Me out loud and live it before others, you will be scorned, laughed at, maligned, and perceived as a weakling in the world and in most so-called spiritual circles. They did it to Jesus; they will surely do it to you. Be at peace. You are following My heart and My Word. You are flowing in the life and character of Jesus!”

Amos 5:4b AMP

…Seek Me [inquire for and of Me and require Me as you require food] and you shall live!

Matt. 5:11-12 NIV 

11) “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP 

24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

25) For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

John 4:34 NIV 

”My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to finish His work.”

John 6:57 AMP 

Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me [whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me] shall [in his turn] live through and because of Me.

 

God has placed us in a world that is actually out to kill us, so to speak. As Christians, we are oil floating on top of water and if we are true to our calling, we’ll never mix in because the spirit and flesh cannot function together. God has also called us to overcome that world. Our time spent with others and our responses to them allow us to seek the Father so that we can be changed in order to reflect Christ properly.

Phil. 2:12b-13 AMP  …work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

13 [Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.

Once we have given Jesus Lordship over our lives, it is the Father’s intent to refine, mold, and develop that salvation in us to the fullest extent. If we are going to tell others about Jesus, we will have to be changed so that we can represent Him properly. Our words alone will usually not be enough for others to see their need of Jesus. In fact, if our lives do not mirror Him, our words will more than likely be cast aside, and rightfully so. The world can spot a phony and they won’t listen to one.

Teach me to need only You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Because you are mature enough to understand, I wish to make something very clear to you. There is no you without Me. So many of My people have brought Me down to their level. I have become something they have added to their lives instead of their only source of life. Do not make that same mistake. Ponder what I’ve said until it becomes truth to your heart. It will change your life, increase your faith, and renew the proper sense of awe needed to trust Me fully once again.

"I gave the first breath to Adam. If I should turn My attention from you for a single moment, you would cease to exist. However, you don’t need to fear. Your days are planned by My desire and numbered by Me. No one and nothing will rob you of a single moment.

"Begin to see a larger picture of things. I spoke the universe into being. I formed you and I keep you. You will live by My will. It would be wise for you to live for My will.”

Psalm 46:10 NIV

“Be still and know that I am God...”

Psalm 150:1-6 AMP 

1) Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power!

2) Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness!

3) Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp!

4) Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes!

5) Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals!

6) Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Proverbs 20:24 AMP 

Man’s steps are ordered by the Lord….

Jeremiah 15:19 AMP 

Therefore thus says the Lord [to Jeremiah]: If you return [and give up this mistaken tone of  distrust and despair], then I will give you again a settled place of quiet and safety, and you will be My minister; and if you separate the precious from the vile [cleansing your own heart from unworthy and unwarranted suspicions concerning God’s faithfulness], you shall be My mouthpiece.

 

Most of our words about our Sovereign, Almighty God have lost their impact because of familiarity and loose usage. There is no question that the blood of Jesus has given us the right to call Him ABBA, but it never gave us the right to diminish Who He really is because of our pride. Because of His abounding mercy and grace, some of us have lost perspective and minimized Him as God in our eyes. Some have brought Him to the level of being made in our image, demanding that He serve our needs.

In this present time, there is an onslaught to destroy our faith. The best way that the enemy can destroy who we are, what has been done for us through Jesus, and the corresponding wonder of our relationship with Him is to diminish Who God really is in our eyes. We need to remember that this is the very same God Moses could not look upon because of His glory.

The “smaller” our God and Lord can be made to appear to us, the weaker He will seem. The weaker He seems, the less we will be in awe of Him. That is hazardous to our walk with Him; and, consequently, to our wonder of Him and trust in Him as God.

Remember; there is only One God. He is El Shaddai. He is more powerful than any need, greater than any foe; and worthy of all honor and glory. His will brought everything into being. He is God and there is no other. He held our first breath and owns our last. It is right to serve Him and live only for Him.

Never let me forget, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Have you ever pictured the straight path that I have called you to travel? First of all, it is very narrow and strewn with rocks, pitfalls, and other obstacles that will make you stumble if you don’t keep your eyes on Jesus. It is crowned in the center so that it slopes to each side where there are briars, entanglements, and multiple places where the unwary traveler could be stalled by hazards. Overhead, there is a canopy of foliage, which contains a mixture of nourishing and poisonous fruit and vegetables, its bounty sometimes hindering all light from brightening your path. This covering also conceals predators that are looking to devour anyone who is near the sides of the path and not in the very center. Off to the sides, there are winsome sirens, who call to hawk their wares and divert travelers to the side roads, which are smooth, wide, and very beautiful. These tangent paths are numerous and very tempting, filled with rest areas and refreshing places.

"Most of the time, it is very dark. Sometimes a blanket of dense fog covers the road, making visibility non-existent. The road is long, sometimes very steep, and often seemingly impossible—even to the most seasoned traveler. Anyone who decides to travel the road alone is sure to fall into the briars, become side-tracked by many of the beautiful tangents, or die from choosing wrong fruit.

"To each of you, My precious children, Jesus extends His nail-pierced hand. Keep your eyes on Him, never looking to the left or right, and place your feet only where He tells you to step. As you travel, He will tell you of the many wonders We have provided for you at the end of the path. You are very safe from the terrors that are waiting to harm you while you travel, and Jesus has any refreshment you will need.

"If you notice, the end of the path is approaching. Be sure to keep your eyes on Jesus. Most of the journey has passed, but there are a few dangerous steps ahead. The distractions will be more intense and the path will be steeper, but the hazards will not touch you if you continue to focus on Him. I am waiting to welcome you.”

Ps. 27:11 AMP 

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain and even path because of my enemies [those who lie in wait for me].

Prov. 4:25-27 AMP 

25) Let your eyes look right on [with fixed purpose], and let your gaze be straight before you.

26) Consider well the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established and ordered aright.

27) Turn not aside to the right hand or to the left; remove your foot from evil.

Heb. 12:1-2a AMP

1) THEREFORE THEN, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who have borne testimony to the Truth], let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us.

2a) Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, Who is the Leader and the Source of our faith [giving the first incentive for our belief] and is also its Finisher [bringing it to maturity and perfection].

 

I’m sure you’ve heard the story of the traveler who was walking on a very dark night in a mountainous area. He had traveled the road once, and was aware of the dangers and steep cliffs at every turn; so his steps were cautious, knowing that he could fall off the road if he should lose his footing.

At one very dangerous place, he did lose his footing and dropped over the edge of a cliff. Grabbing for anything he could, he snagged a branch that was protruding from the side of the sheer drop-off. There he hung in the black night, unable to see in any direction, hoping the branch would hold.

Throughout the long, cold night, he prayed fervently, hands straining to keep a grip, fingers weary beyond understanding. Periodically, the words, “Trust Me,” came to His heart. When they did, he felt the urge to let go of the branch, which he fought off for obvious reasons.

Morning light, however, revealed that he had grabbed a branch above a large ledge, just high enough above the ground to keep his feet about one foot from touching solid footing. He had hung there all night in fear, unaware that safety was close at hand.

I’m not quite sure how to equate this story with the word above, so you can fill in the blanks as they apply to your life. I do know, however, that our Father is faithful to protect us even though there is no sign of His hand anywhere in sight. I also know that Jesus has gone before us and is the provision for our journey. I guess that everything other than that is simply not worthy of notice.

Sometimes wearily hanging, when I should be letting go,

Jim Corbett