Tag: Christianity

“Fewer than you know are really following Me with all of their hearts. Most of My church is busy with their own agenda and calling it My plan. They are going about their own business and finding that they have little power in their lives because I am not where they are. You need to stop today and make sure that you are exactly where I want you to be, no matter how humble your circumstances may appear to others. Let nothing but My Word and My personal confirmation to your heart influence your decision.

"Settle it once and for all that I have called you to where you are before you move again. When you move, confident that you are in My perfect will, nothing will be able to hinder you or sway you. You will not be influenced by pressure, doubt, or any changing circumstance. You will be grounded in the knowledge that I have called you. Circumstances and situations may come and go, but you will remain steadfast and secure, knowing that I am with you right where you are.”

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB

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

13) Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.”

 

Someone once told me that true ministry is a whole bunch of ordinary days full of ordinary decisions, some producing extraordinary results. After many years of full-time ministry, I fully concur.

In carefully studying the events and decisions that led Paul on the path to prison, I marvel at God’s plan and preparation that unfolds with supernatural rhythm and purpose. Zealot Saul - humbled, shaken, shown truth, chastised, threatened, steadfast, determined, led to prison by love. Hindsight shows the fingerprints of God all over his daily travels and his imprisonment.

In that day, some thought he was insane. Some understood. Most had little comprehension of the incredible anointing that was on his life, thinking that imprisonment was the end of his ministry.

Carnal, success-oriented thinking clouds most of the real work of God. In a backslidden church, the foolish clamor of frothing preachers, who emotionally charge audiences and open pocketbooks, resembles an anointing. To the undiscerning, what looks like power and God’s presence is always accompanied by “feel good” situations and “bottom line” credibility. Rarely, however, is any real kingdom work accomplished from this kind of theatrics.

Like Paul, most of the real work of the Lord is accomplished in the trenches by unnamed, unheralded lovers of God and others, who simply follow the leading of their beloved Lord. Some follow that leading right into incredible poverty, others to prison, still others to unheard of conditions in foreign places. God is with them; most of the church is not.       If you look up from your daily toil only to observe that you are not fully understood and accepted by those around you because of your zeal for the Lord and His work, you are more than likely in the company of the many “Pauls” who have gone before you - those highly favored of God and mostly ignored by man.

Take me to Your places with You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Are you so foolish that you believe you will not be deceived when the world turns around? You are badly mistaken. Some of you already follow doctrines that are marginal at best and sometimes have little resemblance to My Word. You swallow the doctrines of manipulative preachers who have set out to thrill you with their spirituality, rather than preach the truth of Christ and Him crucified. You don’t even care that I am offended. You are not founded in My Word enough to confront them about their folly. I need you to stop following every wind of doctrine that sounds powerful or creative.

"If every aspect of what is being said does not line up with what I have already said in My Word, I am not in it. Don’t go near it! You should be outraged that I am being associated with winds of foolishness, instead of tolerating them in your midst. I don’t like that! You need to come back to the basics with Me. You need to remember what is absolute truth. Learn from My Word and My lap. Refocus your beliefs on Jesus and what He has done. Repent of your sins. Go back to honoring Me and My Word. Hold it in high esteem. Guard your heart and guard against the misuse of My Word. I am about to expose those who don’t with zeal.”

Galatians 1:6-8 NIV

6) I am astounded that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel -

7) which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.

8) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

 

In the above verses, Paul was talking about the Law and a system of works. I want you to notice, however, the intensity with which he is portraying the heart of Father God. The Lord is saying through him that if any man, even an angel, distorts the Gospel, let him be eternally condemned. That is a pretty clear call.

Today, we lift up and even herald so many foolish ideas, movements, and doctrines simply because they are preached with gusto or make us feel good. We buy into anything that has the Name of Jesus attached to it, never even attempting to find out if God is really at the heart of it. We have whole church movements based on weak premises, single portions of the gospel, personal charisma, large reputations, and promises of something that allows us to remain in our sin and still look as if we are close to God. We don’t even question some incredibly ridiculous activities because they appear to have power that is claimed to be from the throne room, even though they are identical to the same kind of manifestations that come from hell.

God is calling for a holy, discerning people who have spent enough time in the Word and with the Lord to know the truth. He is calling for us to fall deeply in love with Jesus and be willing to run from anything that does not glorify Him.

Foolish is still foolish, no matter how it is presented. Truth is still absolute truth. God determines the difference. He has made it abundantly clear how He feels about both and about those who preach or, for that matter, embrace a gospel other than His. It would behoove us to learn His kind of truth and discard anything else - no matter who it comes from or how godly it sounds.

Teach me Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Even though you may not see it now, there is real value in what I am teaching you through your present trials. You are gaining spiritual wealth and insights that those who scorn you will need from you someday. If that sounds foolish, you need to understand that it is the way of Jesus. He was ridiculed, scorned, and crucified by those who were in need of the salvation that He was providing for them. His heart was for the one who spit on Him.

"You are called to do the same. There are those in your life who are clueless to what you are going through. They have separated themselves from you because they don’t understand. Some have even come against you. You are to keep on loving them. You are to dig in with Me so that you can become all that I plan for you. I am doing the work in you for their good and for others who need to see Jesus. They will call upon you when they are out of answers. You be ready. You love them when they need you. I will be glorified.”

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.

Psalm 51:10 AMP  

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me.

Luke 23:34 NIV  

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

 

Although the Word of God is very personal and our relationship with Jesus is one of intimacy, our lives are to be spent for the good of others just as His was. Otherwise, the whole work of the cross is a sham. God is duplicating Jesus in each of us. Jesus did nothing of Himself, held nothing back when called upon to give His life; and continually intercedes for each of us every moment. Those are some pretty big sandals to fill!

The United States gospel of guaranteed prosperity and utopian goals is for the immature believer at best, and apostate thinking when brought to its final conclusion. It does not mirror the crucified life of Jesus; therefore, it must be flawed. Jesus went through all that you and I are going through and then some, all for the best interests of others. We are to do the same. It really is that simple.

Teach me Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“It is My desire that you fully appreciate who you are in Jesus. The most magnificent thing happened to you when you made Him Lord over your life. You were changed completely. You were made to exist with Me for eternity. You are under Our new covenant. You and I can share intimate moments because We have been reconciled. There is so much more. Study My Word. Spend time with Me. I will show you all that you have become. I will also show you all that I desire you to be. This is a wondrous time for you. Enjoy it!”

1 Cor. 1:2 NIV

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ - their Lord and ours.

2 Cor. 5:17 AMP

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ, (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!

 

Fully understood, what God has done for mankind is the most wonderful action ever taken for the sake of another. We were helpless and without hope. Instead of leaving us in our misery, mercy is extended to any one of us who chooses to accept it. By accepting the extended hand of God, we enter into a relationship unparalleled since the Garden of Eden.

I praise You for what You have done for me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Look around! What have I brought into your world today that is important to Me? Make it important to you. I may want you to pay a little more attention to your mate. You might be called to go the extra mile for someone who needs to see the love of Jesus. Maybe I will call you to give a simple smile in a place where they are rare. Just open your heart to what I might have in mind for someone today. Live My heart.  Bring the heart of Jesus to barren places. You will be amazed at what will grow beautiful.”

Matthew 11:12 NIV

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”

Mark 1:40-41a NIV

40) A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”

41) Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man.

Luke 6:36 NIV  

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”

 

Over the years, Merry and I have really attempted to define the life of Jesus in simple terms and then focus our lives in that direction. This has sometimes been a conscious effort and other times the Lord has forced us to desperately find His heart because of intense situations or extreme circumstances.

I can’t speak for Merry, but I have found that seeking the heart of God becomes relatively easy when I consider the Lord’s desires or the best interests of others before my own in any given situation. That may seem oversimplified, but it has taken quite a while to really go there.

I have also found that functioning in His kind of love usually is not the first reaction that presents itself. My old nature rears its ugly head and has to be quieted before I can see or hear clearly enough for truth to come to me.

God is love. Jesus lived His love as our example. Isn’t it about time that we allowed others to see that love, and subsequently see Him because of our bringing it to every situation to which we are called?

Show me who to love today, Lord,

Jim Corbett