Tag: Christianity

“How trustworthy are you? At what price do you feel that you would deny Me? When would you deny My Word? Never, you say! You are doing it every day! Each time you place your own interests above Mine, you are opposing My Word. Stop and think of that truth. I have called you to be like Jesus in your world. He lived a life of sacrifice and service, owning nothing for Himself, and caring only for others. He gave up everything, so that you could be at peace eternally. Caring nothing about His own well-being, He hung on a cross so that you could be forgiven. Even though He was part of your creation process, He gave up total control of His life, so that you could learn obedience.

"That is the kind of attitude that I desire to be in you. You daily deny Me simply by attempting to be in control of your life in any way. It is the opposite of the character of Jesus. Why would your remaining in control of any area of your life not be a denial of My Word? I know that you don’t see it that way, but it is one of the main reasons that I can’t trust you. It is the very basis for all My dealings with sin. It is called rebellion.

"You need to turn from the ownership of your life and surrender fully to the understanding that you have been purchased at a very great price. You no longer own your life and anything that is associated with it. You need to consider obedience to My will to be your only reason for living. Surrender fully to Me now. Repent of your rebellion. Submit totally to My will. Become trustworthy, so that We can walk closely together. I desire to tell you the intimacies of My heart. I am waiting!”

1 John 2:6 AMP 

Whoever says he abides in Him ought [as a personal debt] to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

1 Cor. 6:19b-20a NIV

19b) …You are not your own;

20)  you were bought at a price…

 

Surrendering fully to the Lord is Christianity 101. Those of us who have walked with the Lord for many years sometimes feel that we have this walk pretty well figured out. In reality, most of us haven’t even left the starting gate.

Let’s say that we finally allow the Lord to work in our lives to the point that we learn obedience. Carrying that thought even further, let’s graduate to total obedience, understanding that our obedience is required if we are to be in line with God’s Word. Pretty cool, huh!

In reality, if we are obedient only because it is required, we are not even close to the heart of Jesus. Our obedience is still implemented so that things will go well with us. We will benefit from our obedience.

Jesus was obedient so that His Father would be glorified; and so that others would benefit, even at a great loss to Himself. He had given the ownership of His passions, desires, and every element of His life so completely, that even the remotest possibility of being disobedient was a horrible, unthinkable prospect.  To do so would have harmed His Father and each of us. He would rather have died than have that happen. Oh, yeah! He did die instead of being disobedient, didn’t He?

Needing to drop my pride and go back to square one,

Jim Corbett

“Deception has become so commonplace that few of My people even anguish over it anymore. The line of holiness has been moved by those who do not pursue holiness. Standards that I have not set have become the guidelines for behavior, even in My church. No one grieves over sin. My people care little about those who have no idea of My perfect will for their lives.

"So many have been allowed to go their own way because My people fail to show them Jesus through the way that they live in their midst. When there is no visible evidence of real truth, the foolish make up their own truth from deceiving influences. How sad it makes Me to see My creation become blinded, lame, and stumbling in folly.”

Hebrews 12:12-13 TLB

12) So take a new grip with your tired hands, stand firm on your shaky legs,

13) and mark out a straight, smooth path for your feet so that those who follow you, though weak and lame, will not fall and hurt themselves, but become strong.

 

When I was a kid, one of the other kids in my neighborhood took great joy in getting everyone else in trouble. He was about two years older than the rest of us, so naturally we all followed him wherever he decided to take us. The tone of our lives was directly affected by what he did, how he felt, and whether or not you were his friend at any given time. I remember that it was very important to be his friend. If you were, somehow, you were more important than the others. The problem was, he accepted and discarded “friends” on a whim, accepting another into his fold. Each of us took turns in his favor. This caused continual disharmony. No one was able to have peace, as we were all pitted against one another many times at his bidding. He would then sit back and enjoy the strife that he had caused.  (I hate to say this, but he became a lawyer when he grew up.)

I remember one day, for some reason, we all woke up. Somehow, within about a week, we all realized that he was really a friend to none of us. His actions were exposed, and we all quit playing his game. Soon afterwards, he found people outside of our neighborhood to influence. He was old enough by then to leave our little circle, so he went on to others, no doubt following the same pattern with them. When he left, peace prevailed.

The above Father’s Heart and the Bible verses remind my heart of the importance of influence. We, as Christians, have been given the joy of truth. We have also been given the authority to lead anyone who will come to the saving grace of Jesus. Our mission is clear, and our influence is important to the world.

The problem is that we are not really leading, and few are following us. Because we have ourselves rejected the passions and desires of our Lord, few can see the wonder of His love and come with us. Our direction is unclear and without authority. People are gladly following someone who does have a clear direction and a passion for what they do, even if it is wrong.

So here we are. God has called us to be the strong influence in the world. We are called to make straight paths for people to follow, protecting them from harm as they go about their lives. Instead, most of them follow any big kid in the neighborhood who will take great joy in leading them to a path of strife and bondage. How pitiful! One day everyone will wake up to a truthful account of their lives, but more than likely it will be too late.

Needing to follow closer to Jesus, so that I can lead others to truth,

Jim Corbett

“The outcome of your life really depends on the decisions you make now. I know that sounds simplistic to you, but it is more important than you know. You have choices to make regarding what Jesus has provided for you at the cross. You can walk in the power of My life through Jesus or choose not to enter into My presence, where I long to give you Who I am for what you need.

"Each choice is very much like that. If you understand that I mean what I say, if you believe that what Jesus has provided for you is as effective as it was the day He rose from the dead, if you accept the fact that you are fully accepted by Me and use every opportunity We have provided for you, your life will be far more significant than if you wallow in unbelief and stand on the sidelines of My plans.”

Jeremiah 15:19-20 AMP

19) 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. [But do not yield to them.] Let them return to you – not you to the people.]

20) And I will make you to this people a fortified, bronze wall; they will fight against you, but they will not prevail over you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, says the Lord.

Amos 3:3 KJV

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30) And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Matthew 25:23 NIV

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’”

 

Can you imagine the audacity of not believing God? Can you imagine not taking Him at His Word and in essence calling Him a liar? That’s what we are actually doing each time we don’t go to Him because we don’t believe we have a right to or don’t trust that He will take care of us when He said that He would. We are so foolish and so blinded by our fears and lack of faith. Still He keeps on loving us and loving us through our unbelief.

Thank You for Your patience, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“The outcome of your life really depends on the decisions you make now. I know that sounds simplistic to you, but it is more important than you know. You have choices to make regarding what Jesus has provided for you at the cross. You can walk in the power of My life through Jesus or choose not to enter into My presence, where I long to give you Who I am for what you need.

"Each choice is very much like that. If you understand that I mean what I say, if you believe that what Jesus has provided for you is as effective as it was the day He rose from the dead, if you accept the fact that you are fully accepted by Me and use every opportunity We have provided for you, your life will be far more significant than if you wallow in unbelief and stand on the sidelines of My plans.”

Jeremiah 15:19-20 AMP

19) 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. [But do not yield to them.] Let them return to you – not you to the people.]

20) And I will make you to this people a fortified, bronze wall; they will fight against you, but they will not prevail over you, for I am with you to save and deliver you, says the Lord.

Amos 3:3 KJV

“Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30) And even the very hairs on your head are all numbered.

31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Matthew 25:23 NIV

“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!’”

 

Can you imagine the audacity of not believing God? Can you imagine not taking Him at His Word and in essence calling Him a liar? That’s what we are actually doing each time we don’t go to Him because we don’t believe we have a right to or don’t trust that He will take care of us when He said that He would. We are so foolish and so blinded by our fears and lack of faith. Still He keeps on loving us and loving us through our unbelief.

Thank You for Your patience, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“How are you preparing your house so that it is in order? What kind of training are you participating in to become a leader in the future activities of My design? What are you teaching your neighbors and your children by your style of living? There are three postures that My church has taken in these dangerous times and seasons. Some have chosen to continue in the false hope that everything in their selfish world will remain the same. They have made the decision to not prepare themselves for what is ahead and rely on others to determine their belief system. Foolishly going about their puny lives, they push aside conviction of sin, refuse to address issues in their lives that are out of order; and separate themselves from anyone who is seeking holiness. They are useless to My cause and have been nullified from My plan to save those around them.

"Others have observed the seasons, have chosen to seek Me because of fear; and are preparing their places of safety. They are oblivious to My heart and will not enter into My chambers to receive instruction for the times ahead. These dry souls will fail Me at the first sign of danger and distract My people because of their own needs. I am sad for their wasted lives.

"You, My children, have sought My heart and have embraced the training that I have sent your way. You have seen that the only place to be is in My presence to receive what is needed to rise above all that is about to occur. I am teaching your hearts to run to every need with which I am concerned, bathed in My presence and basking in the light of My glory. I am delighted with you. I will use you to bring those who will hear into My kingdom. You will be harvesters in the ripe fields that are all around you. You will prosper as I see prosperity, defending My Word and My Spirit before those who are oblivious to the truth. You are My holy, prepared people. I am with you as you rush, fully equipped, to the needs I present to you.”

Eph. 4:22-24 NIV

22) You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

23) to be made new in the attitude of your minds;

24) and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

Merry and I once had the sad opportunity to observe a couple who chose not to address some sin issues in their lives. More than likely this was not the first time they had the opportunity to be washed from their chosen folly. It was pitiful to watch them tap-dance around the issues presented with well-rehearsed and practiced denial of any wrongdoing when challenged. Instead of embracing the opportunity to repent of their sin, they pointed an accusing finger toward others and wallowed one more time in the same sin with which they were presently being confronted, right before our eyes. It was really slick to watch, but horrible to see as they refused any accountability for their harmful actions.

They had probably refused accountability so often that their hearts were hardened to any kind of counsel, because the Lord had us back off from further discussion of the matter with them. We are afraid that the Lord may have since chosen to turn them over to their sin because of their refusal to respond to His prompting once more. It is frightening to observe and more frightening to understand that they did not fool God. He is relentless against harbored sin in the lives of His children.

Christians are being given the opportunity to make proper life choices each and every day. God is weeding out those who refuse to be washed in the cleansing fire of His love from those who are really His with all of their hearts. He is separating those whom He will be able to trust with His anointing from those who have cast off His convicting presence to embrace worldly folly and familiar sin for a season. Anyone who consistently denies God’s opportunities to repent is truly a fool, and fools will never have the privilege of flowing in the presence and power of God.

Remove all foolishness from my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett