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10/23/21 His Workmanship

“Count the days. Mark the hours.  A wondrous time is at hand! I am about to implement what I have been heralding for some time. You, My chosen people, will soon be delivered from the portions of flesh that have been hindering you for so long. You are soon going to experience freedom from fear, lusts of the flesh, and all forbidden desires. Everything will not come at one time; but when you need My power, you will be amazed that your submission has allowed My presence to rise up within you to accomplish what is needed to glorify Me. You will be My workmanship, visible to an unbelieving world.

"The world has been allowed to see the weaknesses in My church. They have chosen to scorn, mock, and laugh. In some cases, their ridicule has been justified. Those who supposedly represent Me have done nothing but flaunt their own immaturity. Human strength, ability, and manipulation will no longer be allowed to replace My anointing. My Holy Spirit will direct those who have been trained to flow in obedience. To the world, an honest representation of Jesus will, once again, be made visible. They will see His life in you, My beautiful children. They will observe His kind of life, even in the most trying circumstances. You will show them who He really is by your every action, and they will be in awe of His majesty.

"I am building character and responsibility in you. Soon it will burst from every corner of your being. You will flow with Me as naturally as I have intended Our relationship to be all along. Those, who have eyes to see, will see; and come to Me because of you. Jesus will be seen, glorified, and embraced by the wise. That is the way it should be. Watch! Watch and be amazed concerning who you have become. You may not see it now; but when it is needed, My Spirit will rise within you for My glory. You will look like Jesus! He is worth seeing!”

Acts 4:29-33 AMP 

29) And now, Lord, observe their threats and grant to Your bond servants [full freedom] to declare Your message fearlessly,

30) While You stretch out Your hand to cure and to perform signs and wonders through the authority and by the power of the name of Your holy Child and Servant Jesus.

31) And when they had prayed, the place in which they were assembled was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they continued to speak the Word of God with freedom and boldness and courage.

32) Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all.

33) And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.

 

A company of believers—anointed, blessed, and sent forth with power and selfless love—found favor for the appointed season, and changed the world forever. What a heritage! So often, when the promised carving away of my flesh becomes the focus of my days, I begin to forget that there is a time when the purpose for my Lord’s work in me will become evident.

We have an appointment with destiny. You and I, as believers submitting to the hand of God on our lives, have an astounding purpose. We are to represent Jesus Christ—the Redeemer and Savior of the world—to the world. There is no higher calling, no greater privilege, no more worthy mission. We are truly blessed.

Help me to always remember what it’s all about, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/23/21 Birth Pangs

Sometimes the responsibility of holding our offices of husband and father becomes pretty overwhelming, especially if we’re attempting to hold them in a way that pleases the Lord. Standing in the gap for another until Christ is fully formed in that person - which is very much a part of our duties as stewards - is hard work. Paul described the process as if being in the pains of child birth.

My own experiences in laboring for my wife and family have sometimes seemed more than I can bear. It’s not that they had gone astray or were in such dire need of prayer outwardly; I just knew that they needed spiritual intervention, possibly to thwart off intended warfare by the enemy. In those times, it’s vitally important to remain in the gap for them, no matter what the cost might be.

Being a husband and father is no light duty. These offices are highly regarded by the Lord. They carry major responsibilities that are designed to benefit others rather than ourselves. It is a continual death to our own needs for the best interests of those He holds dear. It is sometimes painful, but most often incredibly rewarding as we see those we love prospering in Christ.

As you wait on God for your family, be ready to fight the fight for them at every opportunity. The labor pains may be intense at times, but the joy you are giving the Lord through your involvement in their lives is worth every effort put forth.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/22/21 Safety and Protection

“Few of you realize the spiritual hazards that you invite into your lives when you do not allow Me to direct your steps. If you did, you would never venture out on your own again. Do you not understand that everything that has been provided for you is for your good? Of course, there is the corresponding side of accomplishing My will, but obedience and full submission to Me and My will are also provisions for your safety and protection. Stepping outside of their covering is really very foolish. You have little ability to ward off all the forces that are determined to destroy you when you choose to go your own way without consulting Me and do what seems logical to you.

"I have recreated you to be able to function in the spiritual world. Would you not think it wise to learn from Me how to exist there? Allow me to direct your every step. If you cannot do it out of love for Me and a desire to honor My request for obedience at this time, begin by listening to Me and My Word so that things might go well with you.”

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.”

Ephesians 6:1-3 NIV

1) Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

2) “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—

3) “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”

 

Have you ever noticed how children feel that they know so much more than they really do? I often stand back and watch the struggle that ensues after hearing the words, “I can do it myself,” or “I know how to do it.”  As a parent, my heart wishes that they could avoid the failure that is about to occur; but at the same time, I know the value of the lesson learned when they fail. My desire to teach them the proper way of doing something is not because I want to be “boss.” It is because I have more knowledge of the situation. I have been there before.

In a much greater way, our Father in heaven, Who knows all things, has set guidelines for us to function in so that it will go well with us—especially in the spiritual realm, a realm we know little about. We, however, choose to tell Him that “we can do it ourselves.”  Then, like little children, we cry out to Him when we have completely messed up the situation. A little silly, don’t you think?

I can’t do it myself, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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10/22/21 Nothing of Ourselves

If you are like most of us guys, plans, ideas, challenges, and a myriad of other mind games consume our time and cause us to seek outcomes that seem logical to us. We think our way into scenarios, feeling that it’s part of our function as husbands and fathers. Although planning for the future is good and necessary, plans that originate with “logical us” instead of God easily crop up, and a life ordained by us doesn’t glorify Him.

Although our Father in heaven wants us to steward our time wisely and make our days count, He is training us to leave every moment we live in His hands.  For most of us, that’s a hard thing to do even though we know that it’s right and it’s what Jesus did. He fully submitted to His Father’s will, doing nothing of Himself.

There’s probably not much you and I can do about how we’ve taken charge of our lives in the past. There is, however, an awful lot we can do from this time forward. Wisdom would say that it’s time for each of us to fully surrender to the Lord in every area of our lives. The example of Jesus fully surrendering His every thought, action, desire, and outcome to His Father is a pattern that pleases the heart of God. It’s also a formula for success as He sees it.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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10/21/21 Where Are You?

“Are you available to Me? Can I count on you to move when I ask you to move and do what I ask you to do? How rigid is your life? How entrenched are you? So many of My children think that they are available to do what I ask them to do, but they place restrictions on My hand because of their choices and responsibilities. Most are so in debt that they serve all of the other gods that own them. There is no question that I can and will use you where you are, but are you sure that you are where I have asked you to be? I ask you this question. Would you sell everything or give away everything that owns you, if I asked you to do so? Why not?”

Matthew 6:19-21 NIV

19) “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

20) But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.

21) For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Matthew 19:21 NIV

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

 

Some time ago, Merry, Jubilee, and I went on what turned out to be a five-year mission trip. We were called to go on faith, having just enough to get where we were called to go. Then we waited on the Lord for His next provision. Many judged us for living that kind of life. I’m convinced we were called to live this way so that we could “own” the messages we’ve been given for today’s church.

During our travels, we met and associated with the full spectrum of God’s people - from those who had the very basics to those who had enough for several lifetimes and craved even more. One major lesson that we learned about today’s church is, that even though most say that they are willing to serve God, they are in bondage to what they own; and it actually owns them. Very, very few would be able to go where the Lord might call them to go because of the entanglements in their lives.

We have discovered that many, in fact, have been called at one time or another by the Lord, and have refused the call for a myriad of reasons - all centered around their inability to let go of what they really serve. I believe that there are going to be a lot of very surprised people on the day they face Jesus.

Loosen my grip, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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