Tag: Christianity

“You need to guard your heart in the coming times. There are many ways in which the enemy has access to you. He will use any means to rob you of your relationship with Me. I know that you have learned to place yourself in My hands and use My Word to protect yourself from the deceits with which you are familiar, but many unfamiliar forms of treachery are on the horizon. They are designed to destroy the uninitiated. Make sure that you are aware of them, so that you will not fall. If you were to walk into familiar surroundings, you would know how to function there. If, however, your everyday surroundings become so unfamiliar that they are unrecognizable, you will be faced with challenges never seen before.

"Be prepared for ever-increasing changes that are soon to come. New challenges will require an ever-increasing depth to Our fellowship, so that you will function above the presented situations. Fear will be the predominant spirit that you will need to overcome. Replace it with trust in Me. Continually be renewed by My Word, so that you have a benchmark to work from when all is turned upside down. Anger and hatred will follow closely behind astonishment at what you are observing. Do not allow them a foothold in your heart, or you will not be able to hear Me clearly when I need you to know truth.

"You must remember that these are the times for which you have been created. I have been preparing you for this very moment in time. I am training and equipping you with My right hand. You will not fail, because I am with you.”

Ps. 10:17-18 AMP 

17) O Lord, You have heard the desire and the longing of the humble and oppressed; You will prepare and strengthen and direct their hearts, You will cause Your ear to hear,

18) To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man, who is of the earth, may not terrify them any more.

I Cor.3:18-20 NIV 

18) Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a “fool” so that he may become wise.

19) For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”

20) and again, “The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.”

II Cor. 4:16-18 AMP

16) Therefore we do not become discouraged (utterly spiritless, exhausted, and wearied out through fear). Though our outer man is [progressively] decaying and wasting away, yet our inner self is being [progressively] renewed day after day.

17) For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],

18) Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting.

I Pe. 5:7-10 AMP 

7) Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

8) Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour.

9) Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world.

10) And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.

 

I usually seek out news items that come from sources other than mainstream television or radio reports. As I was updating myself the other day, I drew back for a moment to really make myself aware of what I was reading. As little as two or three years ago, some of the items that are news today would bring such fear and disgust, that they would be unbearable. Now, they are so common that we have become desensitized to their horror. We accept them as part of daily living.

There is no question that our world is changing at a rapid rate. Truth is, it will never be the same as it was, even as recently as ten years ago. Back then, there seemed to be familiar standards and reasonable responses to most situations. Now, receiving the news - whether on TV or other sources - is chilling because of illogical, almost inhuman actions, some almost unbelievably sadistic, which are presented as everyday occurrences.

Over the years, godlessness has taken its toll in our land to the point that we’ve become a people who would be unrecognizable as human, in many instances, if someone would observe us with even mid-twentieth-century eyes. We have changed drastically in our actions, in our responses to challenges, and even in how we resolve our conflicts. I am convinced that we, as the human race, are seeing the results of our sin in this land. I would almost go so far as to say that we have been turned over to our sin. If that is so, we haven’t seen anything compared to what is ahead.

We, those of us who have been in training to represent Jesus - the only antidote for what is occurring - must stop playing the “Christian” game; and accept the position intended for us while there is still time. Souls are in desperate need of a Savior.  The world is screaming for answers. How we represent that Answer is up to us. Will we heed the wooing of the Lord and function as we were intended to function in the world in which we live, prodding ourselves to truly hear our directives; or will we continue to play “ostrich” and openly display our self-serving, disobedient hearts to the hopeless world?

Needing to start implementing what I have been taught,

Jim Corbett

“I am calling you back to first love. That means a one and only love. That means a priority love. It also means that you love only what I love, just as Jesus does. There can be no other loves ahead of your love for Me and My Word, if you say that you are a follower of Jesus. If you are Mine through Him, you have His heart. You have His priorities. You should be caring only about the things He cares about and what I care about.

"Why do you serve so many loves? Who has deceived you into thinking that you can love anything of the world and still be in line with My desires for your life? You are like an unfaithful bride, looking to find other more fulfilling partners just before your wedding day. Repent now! Turn completely to Me. I will share My best only with those who desire all of Me, those who have surrendered themselves fully to Me.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.

Zechariah 7:13 NIV

“‘When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

Joshua 7:13 AMP 

Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel; There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel, you can not stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].

Amos 5:4b AMP

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

James 4: 8-10 AMP 

8) Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery].

9) [As you draw near to God] be deeply penitent and grieve, even weep [over your disloyalty]. Let your laughter be turned to grief and your mirth to dejection and heartfelt shame [for your sins].

10) Humble yourselves [feeling very insignificant] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up and make your lives significant].

Rev 2:2-5 NIV

2) “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false.

3) You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.

4) Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

5) Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

 

The person who is pure in heart sees God in every encounter and every situation because he has a pure heart for God. He also continually sees others as God sees them. The pure heart knows that God does everything out of love and understands that anything done in the flesh is opposed to God and embraces God’s desire to remove it.

The pure heart willingly trades his legal rights for the higher calling of submission, repentance, and forgiveness; and will do whatever God asks, no matter what the cost, simply because God is pleased. The pure in heart no longer listens to any dictates of the flesh, so God is able to use him in any way that He chooses. He is subject to God’s higher laws and obeys only what God has determined to be true. He sees God’s truths. Pleasing God is the highest calling to the pure in heart.

 I choose to love only You, Lord. Create first love for You in me,

Jim Corbett

“Few of you realize how you are supposed to live your lives. You have been given Jesus to show you the way for you to prosper. When He overcame death, He destroyed every stronghold that has any power over you. He demolished your enemies and provided the proper tools for you to live in absolute prosperity as I see prosperity. You have the means to tread on every demonic power, so that nothing can in any way harm you.

"Walk in the freedom that has been provided for you. Nothing has changed; Jesus still provides the same safety for you. Draw upon His power. Submit to His work. Find the situations around you that concern Him and allow His life to flow through you. See that eternal wealth demolish whatever comes against you over and over again, any time you need it. Your job is to praise Him in the midst of whatever He is doing for you.”

Matthew 5:38-48 NIV 

38) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’

39) But I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

40) And if someone wants to sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

41) If someone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

42) Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43) “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’

44) But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,

45) that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteousness.

46) If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?

47) And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

48) Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

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.

2 Cor. 10:3-5 NIV

3) For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.

4) The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.

5) We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

 

The most violent act in the history of mankind was the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we think of His death, we usually think of the way in which the soldiers made hamburger out of His flesh and hung Him on a cross. When we think of His resurrection, we think of the tomb and the stone that was rolled away. We have these holy card pictures of a white-robed man with sparkle dust all around Him, who emerges from the burial chamber with His arms in the air. The world says “big deal,” and people continue on their way without breaking stride.

The violence that occurred on the actual battlefield - the heavenly realms - was beyond our most active imaginations. Every demonic force executed their pent up vengeance on the One who they knew was God. It was their opportunity to release their sadistic hatred for what had been done to them in the eternal past. They were seizing their unbelievable opportunity to inflict horror on the One they hated most, knowing that their counterparts, the angels, had turned their backs while they gleefully took their turns.

When God the Father said “enough,” every demonic stronghold was shattered by the Word as it enforced its eternal authority throughout every region of heaven. Unfathomable havoc was implemented against every rebellion that ever existed. The demonic realm suffered a deathblow over any power they once had. It was violence personified.

All powers in that dark realm are still under the Lordship of Jesus. Whenever He is called upon to be the Truth in that world of lies on our behalf, the battle is already won. There is no struggle. There are no options for our enemies. It is finished! Praise His Holy Name!

Always calling on You, Jesus,

Jim Corbett

“Too often the cares of your day hinder your ability to trust Me. You look at the challenges before you and they loom big in your eyes. Trust Me! Trust My promises to you. I am faithful. Often I delay answers to make you turn your heart around to Me. When I am more important than your problems, answers will come. I love you! You are Mine. I will take care of you!”

Mark 4:18-19 AMP 

18) And the ones sown among the thorns are others who hear the Word;

19) Then the cares and anxieties of the world and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless.

 2 Cor. 1:8-10 NIV  

8) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9) Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

10) He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us…

 

Father God is developing a bridal heart and the same character that Jesus has in those who will respond. We must be like Him in our hearts if we are to intimately walk with Him and live passionately for Him. Can you imagine Jesus coming for a church that is selfish, self-centered, and harbors murder in her heart?

Can you imagine Him enjoining Himself to one who looks to the delicacies around her that please her more than He pleases her? Does it seem possible that Jesus would function in a relationship where His bride would not have the same desires, the same motives, and the same purposes in all that they do together? To think so is ludicrous!

How then is Jesus going to form us, who need His character developed in us during these end days, before He comes?  He is going to allow us to see who we really are. He will allow us to face ourselves, so that we can come to repentance. He will do what it takes to expose our sin. Each time we repent, He will change us to be more like Him. It is an act of astounding love on His part. It is also our choice to respond or reject His efforts.

Make me who I need to be, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Purity has a purpose. The pure in heart will be able to understand My heart. You will be able to gain insight into Who I am and why I do what I do. As you remove all of the clutter that darkens your reasoning process, you will be able to move closer to Me. We will move in concert. I will be able to trust you with more of My plans, for you will desire to implement them with honest motives. Come to Me today to be cleansed from everything that the world has to offer. Come to gain My heart in everything you do. If you see with My heart, you will see Me and your world much differently.”

Ps. 24:3-4 AMP

3) Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place?

4) He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully.

Matthew 5:8 NIV 

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”

Luke 12:1 NIV

Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Phil.4:8 AMP

For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].

 

One year, Merry and I had the opportunity to watch the Super Bowl with some fellow believers. Actually, we watched very little of the game, but had a delightful time simply being with those who loved the Lord and are pursuing Him with all of their hearts.

When half-time came, the so called “entertainment” intruded upon us with the kind of filth that violated the senses of everyone in the room to the point that we turned the TV off and began to pray. The program was embarrassing and an intrusion upon everything we believed.

I know that what is happening to the world is predicted. I know that we are coming closer to the coming of our Lord and that the world is being prepared to accept anything that is not of Christ. I see the world getting darker, but I also see the remnant believer desiring to be separated from anything that is of that world.

As we are able to see Who our Lord is with less distorted vision, anything having true value is compared only to His beauty. He becomes the benchmark for what is worthwhile in our lives to the point that dark values become distasteful and putrid. Those who love them are seen as pawns who need Jesus, rather than those to be envied and idolized.

Create in me a clean heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett