Tag: Christianity

“Your weakness is one of the most powerful offerings that you can give to Me. You honor Me by understanding that you need My power to overcome your world. Your reliance upon Me for all your needs shows Me that you understand the concept of Lordship and all that it offers. It transfers your attempting to overcome vast powers with your very limited abilities to My unlimited resources. Think about this. If I asked you to attempt to engage a vast army, blindfolded, would you consider Me to be a friend? If I then gave you plastic weapons, told you very little about the weapons and the style of warfare that the enemy engages in; but sent you to the battle front, would you think that I expect you to win any battles? Of course not. It would only show My lack of love for you.

"Because I love you so much, I give you authority over all of the enemy’s power and mighty weapons to tear down strongholds, but it is still My strength in Jesus’ Name that overcomes. I plead with you: Do not engage in battle with the enemy in your own strength. I know that you cannot win. Because that is absolute truth, I promise you that I will fight your every fight. Even though the enemy’s power was no match for the power exhibited at the cross and was annihilated at the resurrection, you are still no match for anything that comes your way in your carnal power.

"Thank you for trusting Me. Thank you for believing in Me. Thank you for being wise and giving Me the privilege of intervening in your life. I hold your needs in high priority. I will never let you down. You are Mine and I love you.”

Psalm 23 1-6 NIV

1) The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

2) He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

3) He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4) Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

6) Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

 

When the Lord was teaching me a little more about the covenant that I had entered into when I gave my life to Jesus, he gave me a vision. I was standing before a vast, angry army of many soldiers. They were in an open field with implements of war such as catapults, longbows, and mighty swords. In the distance, I saw thousands and thousands of troops ready to war against my every move. They were screaming and hollering, jumping up and down. Every one of them was having quite a time of strutting their scary war stuff. Standing in that field all alone, needing to fight such a formidable foe was frightening beyond belief. I had no hope.

All of a sudden, I had the feeling that I was not really alone. Turning around, my Lord Jesus was right behind me, standing calmly with a loving smile on His face. He was magnificent. Behind Him were countless hosts of giant angels, dressed in splendorous heavenly battle gear, with indescribably mighty weapons ready for war on my behalf. They covered the landscape for as far as I could see. I remember how calmly they stood there. My horrible battle was an afternoon’s joust for only one of them. The overwhelming show of force was for my benefit. It was to show me how little I had to worry about any battle, no matter how large I thought it was.

Then something wonderful happened. Jesus asked me to take a walk with Him in the fine meadow off to the side of the battlefront. Foolishly, I commented to Him that I had a battle to fight; that I was needed.

In an instant, He showed me the folly of my concerns. First, He showed me that the battle was no longer mine now that I was His. Second, He allowed me to ponder my chances if I were to take the foe on single-handedly. Third, He explained to my heart the awesome power of His troops. Knowing my foolish heart, He also allowed me to understand how little help I would be if I decided that it was my job to lend them a hand.

My lightning-fast mind finally got it. The battle was no longer mine, so the most productive thing I could do would be to go for a walk near the stream, over in the meadow, off to the side of the battle front, while my enemies were being soundly defeated by probably only one of the mighty angels while the others were watching over us. It finally made sense.

I then woke up and once again began to worry about whatever battle was before me at that time. Now that many years of defeated foes have passed, I remember that vision, and walk by the stream with my Jesus when the battle rages more often, rather than trying to go it alone.

Needing to remember who I am in Jesus more often,

Jim Corbett

“Do something today that points to Jesus. Love someone the way He would. Testify of His life. Bring hope to someone who has no hope. Live His life as if you mean it! Someone is waiting for that to happen.”

 II Cor.1:3-4 AMP

3) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of sympathy (pity and mercy) and the God [Who is the Source] of every comfort (consolation and encouragement),

4) Who comforts (consoles and encourages) us in every trouble (calamity and affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort (console and encourage) those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort (consolation and encouragement) with which we ourselves are comforted (consoled and encouraged) by God.

II Cor.5:20a AMP

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us.

I 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.

 

Our every breath should testify of the love of Jesus. We should act as He would act in every situation that comes our way, because there is no better way to live. His life is passionate and deeply involved in the lives of others. His ways are monumental.  What an incredible honor to have that same life indwelling in us!

Burst forth, my Lord,

Jim Corbett

“I call you to a quiet place with Me. It is a place of refreshing for you and a desire fulfilled for Me. Jesus lived and died so that We could be together again after Adam’s sin. He opened the door. You have been born of the Spirit so that you are able to be in My presence. Set aside your lists and requests. Come to speak of the deep things of the Spirit. I will show you My heart and My ways. As you submit yourself to Me, I will show you truth.  Come to Me often. It is your redeemed place for eternity. I love to be with you.”

 Matt. 14:22-23 NIV

22) Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.

23) After he had dismissed them, he went up into the hills by himself to pray...

Mark 6:30-32 NIV

30) The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.

31) Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”

32) So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.

 

I’ve always wondered why so many of us attempt to do God’s will and spend so little time with Him to know what that really is. A pretty scary pattern has emerged in the church. We take a couple of favorite scriptures and base almost all of our actions on them, thinking that that small piece of His heart is actually the whole.

Is it any wonder that most of us are confused about so many things in life? How often we walk in blindness, when the light of God is available to us if only we took the time to find it by being with Him. It almost seems that we would rather grope in darkness than be with the One who really desires to be with us and show us the way.

I’m sorry for my independent attitude, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“My heart awaits the completion of promised events in your world. Make no mistake; they are unfolding as we speak. Soon you will witness the confusion of those in My church who haven’t heeded My warnings and heard My call. They will miss so much because they have perused their own selfish motives and have not heeded the warnings I have given. Those who have not turned their lives to Jesus will need answers; but there will be none, except in Him.

"You, however - those of you who hear and respond - will not be surprised. Keep close to Me. Continue to listen carefully to My heart. Move as I tell you to move. To you I can whisper whatever is on My heart. You will hear everything I say because you practice being close to Me. You will miss nothing.”

Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV

1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

2) Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

3) Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Rev. 22:17 AMP

The [Holy] Spirit and the bride (the church, the true Christians) say, Come! And let him who is listening say, Come! And let everyone come who is thirsty [who is painfully conscious of his need of those things by which the soul is refreshed, supported and strengthened]; and whoever [earnestly] desires to do it, let him come, take, appropriate, and drink the water of Life without cost.”

 

The heart separations that are subtly happening in the ranks of those who say they are following Jesus and those who have really committed everything to His Lordship are important to notice. I am convinced that they indicate a season coming to fulfillment. Those who have learned to practice the heart of the Lord above all the din of religious activity are being defined and equipped for honest service to their only Master, Jesus Christ. A strong, vibrant, honorable bridal heart is rising from the fires of adversity and testing. She has purchased gold and proper clothing from the lap of her Father and God, and been formed to receive only what is served at the Master’s table.

Oh, God! Let me hear and obey,

Jim Corbett

“To gain a bridal heart, you need to become a study of Jesus. It must be your priority for living. It is imperative to learn what thrills Him, what grieves Him, what He will not tolerate, and what breaks His heart. That is just the beginning. You are to take the heart posture of holding Him in high esteem to the world, defend His reputation; and maintain His honor out of love for Him. This can only be achieved by devoting yourself to learn of everything that He is and all that He desires. You must gain an understanding of His heart and take on His desires as your own.

"Few feel the need to invest so much of their time learning of Him. You will have little company as you pay the price required to gain this knowledge on your way to a love relationship. Stay the course, however. You have found the innermost desire of My heart. I am with you.”

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 outflowing 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].

Rev. 19:7 NIV

Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

 

Those who have responded to the call that the Holy Spirit has issued know that their relationship with Jesus is much more than the initial salvation experience. It is far beyond a system of good works, greater than any and every program, past functional obedience, and continually resisting the temptation for personal gain. Their quest is to have selfless intimacy and a personal love relationship with Jesus. They have begun to understand His heart and pray for the power to mirror it at any cost. To please only Him has become their goal.

We choose to love only You, Lord,

Jim Corbett