Tag: Christianity

“In this season, I am raising you up to be a victorious people, who are looking only to Jesus as your model for living. It is a training to be a warrior, a preparation to be a bride. You, My special warriors, are being called, appointed, cleansed, and prepared to represent Him to a world that is completely out of answers. You will give those who will listen the only answer - Jesus. You will also present to those who will not hear, the One who will seal their doom; that is also Jesus. Jesus will be seen to either be accepted or rejected. The preparation for your presentation is taking place in you this very moment. As this training for My kind of presentation is being accomplished in you, another wonder is also happening. You are being prepared for a wedding feast. You will notice a shift in your motives as this second phase transpires. You will be well aware of the war that is at hand, but you will be looking only to Jesus while it takes place. That may seem simplistic, but it is paramount to your place with Me. The ability to see the need to be at war is an elementary stage of preparation. Almost anyone who observes daily happenings can do so.

"Implementation can take many forms, some of which are not My kind of warfare. True preparation, however, involves becoming like Jesus. In doing so, you also become ready to meet Him because you will be like Him. Your progress is marked by how little you focus on the war at hand, knowing that I will handle that; and how much you long to be with Him, while you engage in the battles all around you in His power. That heart position separates those who have fully submitted to My kind of training, and those who have stopped short. You, My fully equipped warrior bride, will soon long only to be with Jesus; but you’ll also be willing to remain at war for His sake and His glory. The battles that rage all around you will simply be catalysts used to cleanse your garments, rather than to strengthen your resolve to win. I love who you are becoming!”

II Cor. 2:14-16a AMP 

14) But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victories] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.

15) For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which] exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:

16a) To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].

I John 4:4 AMP

Little children, you are of God [you belong to Him] and have [already] defeated and overcome them [the agents of the antichrist], because He Who lives in you is greater (mightier) than he who is in the world.

 

In this world, there are players who determine how most of the world runs. Players are continually positioning themselves to be seen, heralded, and brought to the forefront in everything they do. They are usually strong, popular, visible, and appear to be in control of every aspect of their lives. They look and smell successful.

The training to become a player in life is rigorous and all-consuming. To really enter the game, one must consider the game as all important. To win the game, family, friends, and fellow players must be secondary to whatever it takes to succeed. There can be no compromise; second place is not an option. After the game is over, most players find themselves in need of attempting to pick up the pieces of their lives and mend the relationships that were destroyed during the game.

The training to become a real “player” in the kingdom of God is the antithesis of what is called “winning at life.” The goal of the true servant of Jesus Christ is to decrease and have Him increase. His priority is not so much what he can accomplish, but his ability to submit and have Jesus’ life accomplished in him.

All training for “players” in the kingdom of God is designed to crush the life out of the player, so that the life of the King can replace it. Submission must replace strength, independence must give way to obedience; and self motives fall to the honor of seeing Jesus glorified everywhere and in everything. True success in the kingdom of God happens when the person in training disappears completely and the Son of God is all that is seen in his life. Quietly, without fanfare, a “player” in the kingdom will go about the business of his appointed role, lovingly observed by God; but ignored and scorned by the world.

Wanting to see no good in the world’s ways anymore,

Jim Corbett

“Come away with Me. I encourage you to seek fresh manna each day and also find the hidden manna that will satisfy the hunger of your soul. Both will be needed in the coming times. The defining line has been drawn. It is a line that determines who will prosper and accomplish My will and who will simply survive, making it from day to day without direction or purpose. For many seasons, I have called you to an intimacy with Me. I have called you to make the time We spend together your priority. Those of you who have heard My call are accustomed to receiving the needed spiritual manna for each day. You are familiar with the strong meats that I have given you to eat - meats such as faith in adversity, absolute trust, and the ability to allow Me to be your defender. You have received spiritual tools too numerous to mention. You have received the nourishment to overcome the difficult places designed to eliminate your flesh and either expose your sin or testify of your faithfulness.

"Now you are able to receive My hidden manna, nourishment that comes only through intimacy and unattainable to the irresponsible. I can trust you to move with Me and be immovable by circumstances and pressures. I will now give you the power of My Word because you can be trusted with it. Those of you who have not heeded My desire to come close will be tossed around by your changing world. You will be looking for ways to maintain your comfort rather than walking with Me. You will have no ability to gather the proper manna to overcome. You will be blind guides, all because you wouldn’t come when I called.”

 Zechariah 7:13 NIV

“When I called, they did not listen; so when they called, I would not listen...”

Hebrews 13:10 NIV

We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

 

When the Lord gave these verses to me as an amplification of the word above, I had to really seek His heart. They seemed marginally in context to me, but at the same time did amplify the heart of what He wanted to show me.

I know that because of the cross, our God always answers when we call. He will never leave us or forsake us. That is an unbreakable promise. I also know that when we identify with Jesus, He is always there to hear our call.

I finally understood the image that the Lord was attempting to show me. It is a degree of association, not one of acceptance. Every one of us is equally accepted in the eyes of our Lord. We all have been saved by the blood and can have confidence in its redeeming power on that day.

What the Lord was bringing home to me was the issue of being capable and steadfast in difficult times because of our choice and habit of being infused with His power, rather than functioning in our own wisdom, strength, and old spiritual food. It is that continual call to intimacy, a time when He gives us Himself rather than things, that so has the heart of God for His people.

Recently, I was perusing some old teachings. While I was reading them, I remembered when I had used them in a college and career class that I held. It amazed me when I remembered the issues that captured our thoughts then, compared to the issues we face today. Our world has changed so much that the wisdom and strength that was needed to make it through those days is completely inadequate for today’s needs. It is a comparison of elementary school to college.

We are on the threshold of even greater changes to our world. I am convinced that is why the Lord continually brings up the issue of intimacy. He knows that we need to fully receive who He is in us in order to rise above what is about to occur, and not just muddle through it ineffectively.

It fascinates me how much time He has to spend calling and wooing us to a place we should readily want to go, especially as we see what is on the near horizon. We are so hard of heart that we don’t even want to pray except when we are in trouble. The thought of true intimacy, fresh manna, and especially the hidden manna of His heart eludes most of us. What a pitiful shame.

Please do not stop wooing me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“You need to sell out completely. Come away from all the distractions that hinder Our relationship. Step away from those who choose not to come closer to Me. They will slow you down and confuse you with their religious talk. In the near future, you will need to have clear direction. You will need to know exactly which steps to take. You will need to be spiritually alive to My direction. That is a learning process. Start now!  Learn to hear My voice over the din of other voices that are dead ends. You will die where they take you.”

Psalm 25:14 NIV

The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NIV

8) “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

9) As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Amos 5:4b AMP

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

 

Breaking free from the religious spirit is one of the biggest challenges that remnant believers face. I recently talked to a teacher of many people who would rather hang on to his arguable religious dogma than allow those under him to be brought to a deeper walk with the Lord by challenging them to sell out and seek the Lord’s truth for themselves. This man is to be pitied. He is in a fearsome position and will one day have to answer for his actions face to face with Jesus.

Teach me in Your presence, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“I want you to be free from the bondages the world would attempt to place on you. Draw close to Me and I will teach you how to love unashamedly. I will free you from the fear of loss. You can stop defending your reputation, for I will be your defender. In times of trouble, I will be your strong tower, your rear guard, your most capable warrior. You will never need to worry about the day’s hardships, for I will always provide for you. Others will prosper, for I will provide for them through your life. You will be blessed in your comings and goings, for you are Mine. You will be able to freely bless others, for I am with you. I love you. I love to set you free. I love to make you complete in Me through Jesus!”

 2 Chr. 16:9 NIV

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him...”

Psalm 3:1-6 AMP

1) Lord, How they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

2) Many are saying of me, there is no help for him in God. Selah [pause and calmly think of that]!

3) But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4) With my voice I cry to the Lord and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah [pause and calmly think of that]!

5) I lay down and slept, I awakened again, for the Lord sustains me.

6) I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.

Psalm 18:1-2 NIV 

1) I love you, O Lord my strength.

2) The Lord is my rock, my fortress and deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, He is my shield…

 

In this present time, there is an onslaught to destroy the faith of weak or ignorant Christians. The best way that the enemy can destroy who we are, or 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 must never forget 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 and our faith will become. 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.

Fact is, 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 by simply speaking it into existence. 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.

Teach me to understand Who You really are, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“I know that this is not what you normally hear, but I want you to count the cost of serving Me when you are in the dark valley, not from the mountain top. Mountain top commitments fade when times get difficult. When you have nothing to offer, when there is no escape, when you have come to the end of yourself and still commit to serve Me, I know you mean it. That is when I change you. That is when your heart becomes more like the heart of Jesus. Never be afraid to go to the place of needing Me. Each time I drive you to the end of yourself, it is My love in action. When I am all that you have and I am needed for your next breath, I will be there for you. You can trust Me. That is when We can really talk.”

Psalm 3:1-6 AMP

1) Lord, how they are increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me.

2) Many are saying of me, There is no help for him in God. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

3) But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4) With my voice I cry to the Lord, and He hears and answers me out of His holy hill. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

5) I lay down and slept; I wakened again, for the Lord sustains me.

6) I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me round about.

Isa. 38:17 NIV

Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

 

Unless we really understand that everything God does is for our good, we will never be able to communicate with Him properly in times of anguish. Usually in those dark places, we begin to accuse God of being unfaithful and question His promises, instead of releasing our desperate need of Him and crying out for help.

We forget that He has taken us to those places, so that we finally come to the end of ourselves and He can get to our real need - more of Jesus. What we say and how we act toward Him in those desperate moments reveals our true heart. At that time, He either releases His compassion and changes us or allows us to remain there until our need of Him is more powerful than anything else.

We spend so much time trying to prove that we are getting better and becoming more Christ-like, when our Father is working to get us to acknowledge that we are bankrupt and in need of Jesus. When we do acknowledge our need, He can change us.

 Do what it takes to make me whole, Lord,

Jim Corbett