Tag: Devotional

“There is far too much compromise for the sake of peace and unity. Too many of My children remain in their sin because you, My mouthpieces, are afraid to tell them truth unto repentance. I am talking to those of you who have grown past selfish agendas, mindless doctrines, and the need for personal gain from others. Make sure it is My heart that you are expressing, not your pride, for I will call you to account for your words. If you have, however, taken up your cross for Me, seared your heart, and desire only the heart of Jesus, you must send out My wake-up call.

"Most of My church is asleep as if in a drunken stupor. Most of My people are not hearing the call to holiness. Who will tell them of their danger if you don’t? Who will herald My heart of urgency? You must! Love them enough to tell them truth. After and only after you have laid down your life in prayer for those to whom you are sent, tell them of their need to repent. You must do it for their good only. Some may still listen. Most will separate themselves from you, calling you names. That’s O.K. You be obedient when I send you. Time is too short for you to walk in fear and compromise. You must function in love. I call you to speak My truth, but only after you weep for those to whom you go!”

 Isaiah 8:11-13 AMP 

11) For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12) Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.

13) The Lord of hosts – regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].

Jeremiah 2:13 NIV

“My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Hosea 4:6 AMP

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge…

2 Cor 12:15a AMP

But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls...

Gal. 4:19 NIV

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…

 

Paul spent most of his Christian life exhorting, challenging, and exposing the hearts of those in the church. He could be his Father’s mouthpiece only after he had ached for others as he knew His Father ached; and only after he had their best interests at heart. His words were never condescending, never for his own gain; and never from anyplace other than the throne of God. They could be focused, strong, and reprimanding because he spoke as one who cared more for his listeners than he cared for his own life. He was a mouthpiece to a generation who would establish a pattern for everyone else to follow. Their lives needed to be in order and the Lord called him to show the way.

In these end times, God is once again calling for surrendered vessels who will proclaim His heart to a needy church. Patterns and faulty practices, which some people follow in the Name of Jesus, need to be exposed for what they are and brought back in line with the Word of God. People who proclaim them or practice them are in danger. Someone who loves them must tell them before it’s too late.

Break my heart for others, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“There is nothing you could ever do to stop Me from loving you. It’s true. My love is beyond your comprehension. You look at the actions of all those who are in your world and determine if they deserve your love. I desire that you see past that childish way of thinking. Love is not supposed to be diminished when people fail you. It is supposed to be intensified because when someone fails to love, you can see and discern a need in that person. Look at Jesus! He loved those who hated Him. He had joy at the prospect of vile, hating people being made clean and new. You were once unlovable by the standards to which you hold others. Aren’t you glad that those are not My standards?”

Matt. 7:2 AMP

For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

I Cor. 13:5b-7 AMP

5b) …Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6) It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7) Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Heb. 13:5b AMP 

…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

 

I sure am glad that the ways of my Father are far above my ways. I hate to think what would happen if He used my standards for loving, and forgiving, and mercy, and …..

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Have you engaged in the battle for souls? Are you sure? Most of those who believe that they are engaged with Me have deceived themselves. They believe they are doing all that they must do to walk with Me into the front lines, when they are really only on the sidelines of the war. If they ever did enter in, they would be instant casualties. They have not really submitted to the training necessary to be effective.

"Where do you stand? Have you submitted to My training? Are you fully engaged? Do you even know that there is a battle for souls raging at this moment? Those who are not with Me are really against Me.”

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 8:11-12 AMP

11) Behold the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord.

12) And [the people] shall wander from sea to sea and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord [inquiring for and requiring it as one requires food], but shall not find it.

Matthew 4:19 AMP

And He said to them, Come after Me [as disciples—letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!

 

Have you ever met someone who is delusional about his own importance? I once sat across the table from a person who firmly believed that he had his life in order. He was even convinced that the life he lived was not only important to everyone around him, but that those around him were able to succeed only because of his valuable input. He was truly deceived. To magnify his delusion, he listened to no one about his ignorance. He was truly a blind guide, clueless as to his degree of deception.

From God’s perspective, how involved are you in His battle plan? He has a plan to use you and me in whatever way He chooses, so that everyone who decides to embrace Jesus can see Him in us before all things come to an end. He desires that none should perish.

How useful is your heart and your life in His plan? Are you deceived? Have you really submitted to His training and have you entered the war with every fiber of your being? Or have you deluded yourself into thinking that you are doing all that you can when you are really on the sidelines, not of much use to Him because of your worldly concerns and distractions.

Remove my delusions, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do you have any idea how much you take for granted? Has it occurred to you that what you have makes up the majority of who you are in your own mind? Picture the concept of losing everything. I don’t mean having a little chink in your routine, I mean losing everything that you use to remain in a position of strength and peace.

"What if tomorrow you lost your health, all your money, had no place to live, no hope to help yourself or your family in any way; and all those who claimed to be your friends walked in other directions. What if, instead of being able to use your resources to gain everything back, they all were gone and there was absolutely nothing you could do to help yourself – ever. Who would you be?”

Exodus 33:3-5 NIV

3) “Go up to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”

4) When the people heard these distressing words, they began to mourn and no one put on any ornaments.

5) For the Lord had said to Moses, “Tell the Israelites, ‘You are a stiff-necked people. If I were to go with you even for a moment, I might destroy you. Now take off your ornaments and I will decide what to do with you.’”

Psalm 51:10 AMP

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

Matthew 16:23 NIV 

Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Out of my sight Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

Luke 9:23-25 AMP

23) And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

24) For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

25) For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?

 

An extended season the Lord once had Merry, Jubilee, and me in was one of bringing us almost to the point indicated in the Father’s Heart message above. We had to go without almost everything, received food from others; and lost any semblance of a reputation in the eyes of some. We were judged, condemned, told that we must be in deep sin; and rejected by those who had not heard the same thing that we had.

Even though many people were nourished by what the Lord chose to share through us during that time, we - at times - cared little about the fulfillment of the needs of others; we wanted our portion. Many times, “What’s in it for us?” was a thought that had to be cast aside as our needs became gigantic before us, and our “self-worth” diminished accordingly.

Often we found that our flesh was alive and well and following us wherever we went. Once the mask of exterior coverings had been removed, we squirmed, became fearful, despaired; and, at times, held anger in our hearts toward others – even God - as He walked us through our circumstances. We sometimes reacted like little children holding our breath during a trial, or wept at our loss of any honorable position; and even spent time attempting to prove to others that we still had value. Much repentance went on as these sins were exposed in us.

Over time, the incredible mercy of our Lord has allowed us to see past our false security in things, as He continues to make Himself our only hope - not due to any spiritual wealth on our part; but simply because all other options are disappearing. At the beginning of the realization of what our world was becoming because of where He has called us to go with Him, Jesus was Lord to us because there was nothing else that we could hang on to. Over time, He is becoming absolute Lord to us because He alone is worthy of our allegiance and trust. To have Him as our only source for anything, while we do what we have been told to do, has become more comfortable than hanging on to the fleeting things that gave hope in the past.

Our portion in the Lord now is teaching us that who we are is not found in what we have, what others think of us; and how we can use our own resources to maintain some sort of position, power, or safety. We are beginning to get the idea that who we really are is in Him alone.

Absolute Lordship means that we have no source or worth except in the Lord. We have begun to see that the real definition of Christianity is the thorough understanding of our desperate need of a Savior every day of our lives in Whom we are to place all of our trust.  I am sure that is where He wants all of us.

I don’t think I want to move from here until You are finished with me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Your prayers never fall on deaf ears. I always hear what you say, and I always consider your requests and petitions very important. How and when I answer those prayers is something that you need to fully understand. I take every option, physical and spiritual, into account. I consider the eternal consequences of what you are asking, and how it affects your personal growth and My eternal plan. In the proper moment, My kind of answer is implemented. In the meantime, I promise perfect peace to you if you trust Me. I promise that I am for you and never against what is best for you. Be confident that I hold you very close. Because you are Mine, I will do nothing to harm the eternal you.”

 Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV

11) “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

12) Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.

13) You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Phil. 4:6-7 AMP

6) Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests) with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God.

7) And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison andmount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Turning to God in our need is one of the most perfect forms of honor we can give Him. Joyously submitting to His plans is perfect obedience. Seeking His will in all things is true wisdom.

After so many years of fulfilled promises, answered prayers, and wonderful miracles, I find that I still carry burdens that I should never carry. They should be given to my Lord and placed in His care with confidence. I repent of my faithless times.

Create in me a clean, trusting heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett