Faith | TFRC | The Faith Resource Community

5/29/21 Distorted Obligations

Many years ago, I met a man who was having difficulties at home. His family was disjointed in opinions, needs, and direction for their lives. He spent most of his time putting out fires and filling the wants of some very needy family members. After several instances of pouting, crying, and just plain self-focus, it became very clear what the dynamics of his family were. In the course of a conversation, the man expressed to me that his goal in life was to keep his wife and child happy. It was all he wanted to do. It was the reason for his life. This goal kept him incredibly busy on a never-ending journey from morning ‘til night each and every day of his life.

As I observed the family in action, it became very clear that the pattern he had set was joyfully embraced by those involved. His wife and child were very needy and continually looked to him to fulfill the need, whatever it might be. Yes, there were legitimate needs, but whims and personal desires became gods to be served. His days were quite involved in finding ways to bring comfort rather than taking the time to figure out with his family a more reasonable way to function.

The saddest part of the whole situation was the fact that the man had been called to a faith ministry. For several years, he walked in his calling. As the Lord was building his faith through trials and difficult circumstances, his wife grew increasingly alarmed and uncomfortable. What changed the direction in his life and caused him to abandon his calling began with her statement, “I never want to walk in a faith ministry again.” So began the dissolution of an outreach that was touching many people.

Men, your job is not to find ways to keep your family happy. Your job is to provide an atmosphere that allows them to become everything they can be in Christ. Sometimes that will mean hardships and journeys far from their comfort zones. It may require you to stand by, dig yourself in with the Lord, and watch them squirm while He is dealing with their selfishness. It’s called real love. Will you walk in it?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

5/27/21 Time to Rethink Something

“When Adam fell, any possibility of you having a relationship with Me was destroyed until Jesus bought that right back for you. He destroyed anything that stood in the way of Our being together. You now have free access to Me for any need you might have because of the blood covenant that was made in your honor. Why, then, do you not come to spend time with Me? You come with your lists, your needs, and your desires. You come when you are afraid or need to be cleansed; and when you have run out of answers. You, however, rarely come simply to spend the kind of time together that was lost in the garden and gained back at the cross. Our relationship is why you were created in the first place. It is time for you to rethink your idea of what Our relationship is all about. From My side, it’s all about love. Why do you think Jesus spent His blood?”

Genesis 3:8 NIV

Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Luke 23:44-45 NIV

44) It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour,

45) for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.

Ephesians 5:1-2 AMP

1) THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father].

2) And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

Col. 1:20 AMP

And God purposed that through (by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross.

How many times have you opened your heart up to someone only to have that person use you, abuse you, and then throw you away after he or she is done with you? Just think of the price that was paid for you to have access to the Creator of the world. How have you honored that privilege?

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

5/27/21 Mighty Men of God

According to Ephesians 6:12, our real war is against the principalities and powers in the spiritual realm - not flesh and blood - and the Lord has equipped each of us to overcome those powers. The covenant He has established with us is an unbeatable contract, which supplies all we’ll ever need to function high above the demands of this world and its harmful challenges.

As I’ve stated many times before, the highest offices God has created are the offices of husband and father. To help us function in those offices, He has given us an amazing spiritual arsenal we can call upon whenever we face a battle. It’s called the armor of God. These spiritual weapons are crucial in addressing and overcoming any obstacle, and they are readily available and effective for the man whose heart, thoughts, and actions are aligned with God.

All you need to do is look around to see the havoc the enemy has created through distorting the criteria God established for these offices in the minds of both men and women. Through misinterpretation and the foolishness of worldly reasoning, he has accomplished a great deal to help nullify the effectiveness of the roles of husband and father, which results in a standard for the family unit that is far from God’s intentions. The standard of today is a disjointed, weak, unruly, powerless family that has little ability to overcome the world.

Men, it’s time for you to do what’s necessary so the Lord can reveal the spiritual power that is available to you to reclaim your marriage and family. If your marriage and family are not bright, world-overcoming examples for others to follow, perhaps you need to make some changes prior to standing before the Lord. He has given you a stewardship and every tool that is necessary for you to see that stewardship prosper and function as God intends. What is stopping you from pleasing God by flowing in what He desires and knows you can be?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

5/26/21 Designed Moments

“Treasure every moment I give you. I have created them with My own hand. I have made them especially for you until We are joined forever. Seek Me as to what you are to do. Seek Me, so that you can know your purpose for living. I will show you what I plan to accomplish through you. There is purpose in it all. Waste no moments. They are Mine. Use them as I have designed you to use them.”

Matt.7:13-14 NIV

13) “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.

14) But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Col. 4:5-6 AMP

5) Behave yourselves wisely [living prudently and with discretion] in your relations with those of the outside world (the non-Christians), making the very most of the time and seizing (buying up) the opportunity.

6) Let your speech at all times be gracious (pleasant and winsome), seasoned [as it were] with salt, [so that you may never be at a loss] to know how you ought to answer anyone [who puts a question to you].

Those who are aware of the times and seasons in which we live are divided into two groups. One group is preparing with moderate zeal because they understand how wonderful it would be to be part of what might soon take place. They are flowing in their usual “this is gonna be good for me” attitude and believe that it will be adequate for whatever happens, whenever it happens.

The other group, those of you who have chosen to live as Jesus lived, have heard the same call, only you have learned from intimate times with the Father that compromise is not part of the character of Jesus. You know that the kind of heart that finds satisfaction in anything other than the Father’s will is in no way similar to Jesus’ heart.

You have learned that it is important to the Father that Jesus recognize Himself in those who are waiting and/or working for Him. You know that responding to the present call to intimacy is important to God and are willing to do so for no other reason than to glorify the Father and please Jesus. You know that falling in love with Jesus, a vital and often missing part in the fulfillment of God’s plan, is necessary and you desire to do what it takes to go there.

Make my days count, Lord,

Jim Corbett

5/26/21 Offices of Importance

It is rarely understood how important the offices of husband and father are to God. He has placed these often-misunderstood offices in a key position in creation and shows favor to the man who comprehends their value and endeavors to walk in the roles of husband and father with God’s purposes in mind. He even revealed Himself to all mankind as Father, so we could begin to comprehend the worth He places on that office.

In the spiritual realm, God has set a ranking and order in place to accomplish His plans. This order is followed by all of His creations, beginning with the angelic beings right on down to all of mankind. Within that structure, God has designated the offices of husband and father as the primary offices through which He can display His power, mercy, and love. A man, who is truly in line with the Word of God in regard to his wife and family, is an example of the relationship between Christ and His church. This is very important to Father God because that relationship is meant to display His character to those who are watching.

Regardless of your station in life, the testimony you give to others falls pale if your relationship with your wife is even remotely cold or your children’s actions show your lack of understanding of your offices. If you really want to touch people and be in line with the perfect will of God, then make what is important to God very important to you. He considers the offices you hold of immense importance. It would be wise to do whatever it takes to function properly in them.

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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