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10/27/23 An Incredible Freedom

One of the most overlooked events in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is the tearing of the veil in the temple. It was rent from top to bottom, a task impossible by anyone but God. That single act rings with the mercy and love of God. It was symbolic of our invitation into the unthinkable – access into the very presence of God. Even more amazing, we, as believers, not only have access to God; but we are now accepted by our Father in heaven with the same love, intimacy, and acceptance that Jesus has with Him!

In today’s Christian society, it seems as if we’ve somehow managed to sew the veil back together in our minds. We reject the thought that God has offered us entrance into a warm, Father-son (daughter) relationship with Him. For some reason, many of us - especially men - fail to grasp the concept of being able to enter into the presence of God, sit on His lap, and suck our thumb. Few of us feel free to enter His presence as needy, broken failures who have no answers. Few of us have the joy of understanding that our bankruptcy opens the compassionate heart of our loving Father, Who is waiting to embrace us with loving acceptance.

I believe one of the most important aspects of this book is that it, in essence, presents to you that when God tore the veil, He gave you and me permission to feel so small in our own eyes, that we would be able to really need Him for everything in our lives. He gave us permission to fail Him over and over again, and still be accepted. He told us that He would never ever condemn us or remove us from His heart. He invited us into an incredibly close relationship, one that permits us to walk side by side as companions with Him throughout our lives, and then throughout all eternity. As you go about the business of reclaiming your offices, you need to settle it in your heart once and for all that you are cherished. You have permission to love Him unashamedly and He promises to love you back - forever.

Men, I challenge you to put aside all your wounds, and the misrepresentations and misunderstandings of Who our Father God is, and embrace the truth that He loves, cherishes, and accepts you at all times. I challenge you to believe in your heart that He gives you permission to fail and have no answers. I challenge you to trust Him to love you just as you are, while walking with you so that you can become who He intends you to be.

(Taken from The Father Factor by Jim and Merry Corbett)

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

10/26/23 Fruitful Playgrounds for the Enemy

“Do you really understand the impact of whatever you do? I know that you have learned to function in your world with a relatively realistic approach to the impact of your actions. Do you have any comprehension, however, of what is happening in the spiritual realm with your every move, especially if you are My children? You need to know that your words really mean something. Your motivations, especially dark motivations, have consequences because of this higher law. When you curse, judge, and separate your hearts from one another, you allow fruitful playgrounds for the demonic forces. You nullify every good that you are attempting to do. You leave yourself and others wide open for the ploys of the enemy.

"Stop being so naive. Stop being so independent of My complete plan. You are no longer of your world even though you are in that world. You have become part of My world. Begin to function properly in it, not like the street corner hype salesmen; but like the holy children that you really are. Grow up and begin to work with Me for My reasons. Learn what I teach you, not what those who have little in common with My plan teach. Use My wisdom to release those in bondage and bring others to Me through Jesus.”

1 Cor. 4:2 AMP

Moreover, it is [essentially] required of stewards that a man should be found faithful [proving himself worthy of trust].

Gal.3:3 NIV

Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

Eph. 4:29-32 AMP

29) Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it.

30) And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God [do not offend or vex or sadden Him], by Whom you were sealed (marked, branded as God's own, secured) for the day of redemption (of final deliverance through Christ from evil and the consequences of sin).

31) Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil-speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind).

32) And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another [readily and freely], as God in Christ forgave you.

I remember many nights being locked up in some church with an evangelist goading me to do some kind of spiritual warfare, so that we could take our city in one fell swoop. We screamed, hollered, and shook our fists in the air. We commanded this, demanded that, and said some really lofty things that we perceived had happened due to all of our “warfare.” Then we went home with little to show for our effort, except for our pride being reinforced for a supposed job well done.

I remember doing all this because it seemed the right thing to do and others were doing it. I’m sure the Lord had mercy on some of us because our hearts wanted to know truth.

What I do remember is that few of us in that assembly really knew each other. I know for sure that some there would have nothing to do with some of the others present. One couple actually hated another brother and sister in Christ. We were attempting to function in the theory of love toward others, but didn’t even have that basic tenet of our belief in practice one with another.

I often see the body of Christ very much like a young child who has been given very powerful weapons to use. Even though we have the capability to actually fire those weapons, no good can come from our misuse of them.

Stop me from hindering Your work, Lord,

Jim Corbett

10/26/23 Seasons

There are seasons in our lives that make us change or allow us to change either our direction or our way of living. If properly addressed, each season can make the difference between success or failure, sometimes even life or death.

There is a season upon us that requires critical attention. Because of political, social, and physical pressures, husbands and fathers will soon be traveling uncharted waters. Never before in the history of this land - and even this world - has there been a more critical time to understand, prepare, and act, if we and our families are to survive the challenges on the horizon. Soon, our lack of preparation may cause us to be wide-eyed and out of answers. When those we love look to us for guidance and direction, we will have none unless we turn to the Lord with diligence now.

In the season that is fast approaching, only spiritual prowess, an intimate relationship with our Father, and a clear understanding of His plan for our lives and the lives of our families will allow us to overcome the enemy of all we hold dear. As a Christian man overseeing a Christian family, we have been given a mandate to prepare properly for any season, so that those we are stewards of have an environment where they can prosper spiritually, too. How prepared are you for the challenging season that could be upon us at any moment?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

10/25/23 Full Surrender

“Freedom comes only after you have fully surrendered to the Lordship of Jesus. Most people attempt to be free without that full commitment. They find themselves attempting to find things and participate in events to fill the emptiness that ensues because of their rebellion. Now is the time to give yourself completely away. Stop dealing in half measures. Freedom will begin as soon as you start functioning in the truth you will find under absolute Lordship. Do it today!”

Matthew 24:35 NIV

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

1Cor 6:19b-20 NIV

19b) You are not your own;

20) you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

2 Cor 5:14-15 AMP

14) For the love of Christ controls and urges and impels us, because we are of the opinion and conviction that [if] One died for all, then all died;

15) And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.

Because of past experiences, wounds, and fears, most of us have difficulty surrendering fully to anyone, even Jesus. If we do, we no longer have control of our circumstances. That frightens us.

We have a problem. There are no halfway commitments with Jesus. Either He is the Lord over all areas of our lives or He is not. If we are not fully surrendered, our Father is finding ways to make our surrender complete. We wonder what is wrong, why nothing is working for us. Most of the time, it is simply a call for us to do what we said we would do when we gave our lives to Him in the first place - give Him everything. Once that is done, the rest falls in place.

Search my heart and show me what is not completely Yours, Lord,

Jim Corbett

10/25/23 The Trojan Horse

We’re all familiar with the mythological story of the giant wooden horse that was left outside the walls of Troy and mistakenly identified by its citizens as a gift. Totally undiscerning, they brought it inside the city walls, making themselves completely vulnerable to attack. The Greek warriors inside the horse waited for the opportune moment, and then made a beeline for the city gates and opened them to let in the rest of the troops. End result: Troy is overrun and destroyed.

One of the most insidious measures used by the enemy in his attempt to destroy our marriages, wreak havoc in our families, and even weaken our walk with the Lord is busyness. It is a Trojan horse that incessantly tries to creep into our lives, sometimes without notice. It takes diligence and a watchful mentality to catch it before it is able to kill, steal, or destroy.

Urgency, other people’s agendas, job deadlines, church responsibilities, good causes, free time, etc. constantly surround us. All these things can be worthy of our attention, but not at the expense of neglecting our time with the Lord. When we become wrapped up in busyness, we lose our perspective on what really counts the most, and the enemy usually has little trouble defeating us in crucial areas of our lives.

Long ago, a very wise person shared with me that our lives are a series of decisions between the urgent and the important. The urgent looks very much like the important, but may have nothing to do with God’s plan for our lives. The important things are those things God desires us to address. They further the kingdom of God, glorify Jesus, reinforce family values, and undergird children who on their way to living significant lives.

Isn’t it time to become aware of any Trojan horses that have been sent your way to kill, steal, and destroy? Isn’t it time to practice discerning the difference between those things that are important and those things that are simply urgent? Better yet, isn’t it best to spend time with the Lord to know which things He’s asked you to participate in on His behalf?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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