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9/09/21 The Greeter

There is a familiar story about an individual who belonged to a small church. Several years previously, he experienced a dramatic conversion to Jesus Christ and had followed Him diligently ever since.

One day, he enthusiastically approached the pastor to inquire how he might best serve in the fledgling congregation. The only open position was that of a greeter, which he joyfully accepted.

Every Sunday without fail for many years, this man greeted everyone who came to the church for services. The congregation grew, due in part to the hearty, loving welcome people received as visitors. This man's ministry made a difference at this church.

After a time, the man - now in charge of many greeters - grew disillusioned with his position, and wanted what he considered a more important position in the church. When he was asked to remain as the head greeter, he felt the church did not really appreciate him, so he left. Eventually he became more disillusioned, and fell away from the Lord.

The first love qualities of service, unashamed love, and child-like enthusiasm are the qualities of Jesus. When we lose them, we lose real life. Are you comfortable with being a servant to your wife? Do you consider it a privilege that you are supposed to care more about the significance of your children’s lives than your own vision? If your answer is “no" on either question, you might want to take it up with the Lord!

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

9/08/21 Waiting to Come Forth

“When Jesus was dead in the tomb, it was just a matter of time before I said, ‘Come forth.’ My intervention was inevitable. Remember, it was absolutely necessary for Jesus to die. It was also mandatory that He overcame death.

"So it is with you. When you submit to the absolute Lordship of Jesus, your old form of living ceases to exist. You die to who you were. If any area of your life has not fully submitted to that death in Him, I must complete that work in you. I cannot leave you as you are.

"When the time is right, however, and the work that needs to be done is completed in you, I will say ‘come forth’ to you just as I said it to Jesus. I will raise you up to a renewed life in Him. One more step has been completed for you to serve Me fully. I will intervene in your life to complete what has been started at the cross. It is inevitable. It is because I love you.”

Psalm 106:12-15 AMP

12) Then [Israel] believed His words [trusting in, relying on them]; they sang His praise.

13) But they hastily forgot His works; they did not [earnestly] wait for His plans [to develop] regarding them.

14) But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness and tempted and tried to restrain God [with their insistent desires] in the desert.

15) And He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their souls…

Galatians 2:20 AMP

I have been crucified with Christ [in Him I have shared His crucifixion]: it is no longer I who live, but Christ (the Messiah) lives in me; and the life I now live in the body I live by faith in (by adherence to and reliance on and complete trust in) the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

The heart revival that is being implemented all across this land in those who are submitting to the will of the Lord is a renewal of the absolute Lordship of Jesus in our lives and absolute trust in God. That means an absolute death to our own lordship in every aspect of our lives and a death to doing anything in our own strength. It means a conscious submission of all that we are to the cross.

True crucifixion means that a death must happen. We are called to be dead in Christ so that His life can be lived through each of us. The hardest thing about being dead in Christ is lying on the slab as if dead until He calls us forth.

Most of us, instead of patiently waiting for the Lord to intervene in our lives, get up off the slab, pace around the tomb, kick at the stone; and yell at God to roll away the stone because we feel we’ve been there long enough. When our patience wears out, we take a pry bar, move the stone ourselves (doing whatever we can do in our own strength to get us out of our pressure situation,) and go forth in very much the same manner as we did before - powerless, fully alive to our own strength, and “lean of soul” in the work of the Lord. We have no real power to give others because we have not allowed Christ’s power to be formed in us.

There is a little ditty that goes like this: “I anticipate the inevitable, the supernatural intervention of God, I expect a miracle...” As the Lord completes the needed work in you, lie on the slab of your spiritual grave as if fully dead, anticipating the supernatural intervention of God in your life. Expect a miracle. Let Him remove the stone. He will call you forth! He will raise you up in His power! He will fully live His life through you after He has removed every trace of your old life completely! It is His way. It is inevitable.

Getting back on the slab and staying there this time by Your power, Lord,

Jim Corbett

9/08/21 Corrections of Love

As God continues to reveal your shortcomings, be of good cheer! God is doing the wonderful work in you that He promised so you can fulfill your roles as husband and father. A while back, you didn't even know those things were part of you, did you?

I used to see everything I wasn't as a totally negative experience - probably my pride as much as anything else. Now, as the Lord gives me continual reminders of just exactly who I am and how far I have to go to be like Jesus, I am more able to give myself over to Him, knowing only He can change me and that He wholeheartedly desires to do so. My appreciation of Him has increased as He also builds the faith in me to believe that He really is Who He says He is.

What chance would my family have if I chose not to respond to the changes the Holy Spirit is always ready to do in me? Where would we be if God never exposed me for who I really am? Probably sitting comfortably in some church pew with no clue as to the rude awakening in store for me down the road. Have you seen any shortcomings lately?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

9/07/21 Do You Resemble Jesus?

“Are your days significant in My eyes? Personally, you are of great significance to Me because of Jesus. However, how close is your life to the most significant life that ever lived? How much do you resemble Jesus in your daily priorities and activities? You say that you are a follower of His life. In what ways are you doing that? Do you love others as He does? Do you commune with Me in the way He showed you? Do you care only about My will being done everywhere and in every way? In what way do you really resemble Him? Who are you really following while still calling yourself by His Name?”

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.

What does it really mean to be a follower of Jesus according to God? Could it be that every one of us has bought the lie to some degree that we can call ourselves by His Name and still go about our business, little resembling Who He really is?

If someone would take your name, claim your identity, and travel as your ambassador, but acted contrary to your wishes and beliefs, how would you feel? What if he cared little about what you stood for, spoke his own words, and gave his personal opinions to others - opinions that little resembled yours? If he cared little about protecting your reputation, defending your good name, or maintaining your integrity, how long would you desire that he continue to represent you?

Is that not what we do to Jesus every day? We say that we abide in Him but walk and conduct ourselves in a way that little resembles the way in which He walked and conducted Himself.

Forgive me for being so insensitive to You and Your Word, Lord,

Jim Corbett

9/07/21 Action Reaction

Men, in general, function on an action-reaction basis. If you hit a nail with a hammer - action, the nail will be driven into the wood - reaction. Sometimes it’s hard for us to understand God’s action-reaction principles. Let’s take prayer for instance.

If we take the time to pray - especially about something specific - we wonder why we don’t immediately see the results of our prayers. We forget that the simple act of praying - turning our need over to God instead of just handling it ourselves - glorifies God. That act in itself is the right thing to do, especially when we put aside something we deem important to do it. We honor God by praying and recognizing that He is the source of our answer. (In His great love, He even provides answers throughout our lives for things that aren’t even on our radar screen, just because He chooses to bless us.)

Those seeming delays to our prayer requests accomplish far more than we can imagine. Only God can see the whole picture. While we’re waiting, He’s refining heart motives, orchestrating circumstances, clearing a path, developing patience … and maybe even preparing our hearts to receive the answer to our prayers. This may take some time. In terms of action-reaction time, it could become days, months, even years! As husbands and fathers, we need to put aside the concept of immediate answers and trust in the principles of the kingdom of God.

If you are seeking God for a specific need, don’t give up if He hasn’t chosen to work on your timetable. He started swinging the hammer at the time of your prayer, maybe even before. The nail will be impacted in God’s proper timing.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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