Tag: Faith

“Do you know that I can’t remember the last time that you failed Me? Do you know that you have an unlimited amount of times left that I will forgive you? Do you know that I knew how many times you would fail Me and I still asked you to spend eternity with Me? It’s true! No, I don’t have a bad memory. I am not easy on sin; it separates Us and I detest it. I also do not take lightly your representation of Jesus to your world, so I am sincere about you becoming like Him. I do, however, understand your nature. I have long understood how much you need second chances, so that you do not become discouraged. Our relationship changed from one of securing you before you gave your life to Jesus, to one of working with you to clean you up while blessing you. Your life is in My life because of Jesus. I do not take that lightly. Our fellowship was paid for. It was very expensive, but it was worth it. I love you.”

 Rom. 7:21-23 NIV

21) So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

22) For in my inner being I delight in God’s law;

23) but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.

Rom. 8:1-2 NIV

1) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,

2) because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

Phil 4:13 AMP

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].

 

I’ve often wondered why the Lord has allowed me to spend eternity with Him. I have failed Him more since I’ve met Jesus, than I did before I knew what sin was. Several years ago, I stopped trying to figure it out. There is no reason for me to be so blessed other than God’s reasons. My only position can be one of overwhelming gratefulness.

I am truly grateful, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do you know that if you are Mine and you ask Me for anything, I would put all the infinite powers of heaven to work to accomplish what you ask? It’s true! You need to know, however, that this promise is not for the immature Christian. Many of you use the Name of Jesus as flippantly as you would use something you’ve basically discarded, when at one time it meant something to you. You ingest what is needed for your own pleasure and then set it aside until the next time it is needed. Because there is so much power in the use of His Name, and all of heaven must respond in covenant response when His Name is used, you have little idea how much harm you are doing when you invoke it unwisely.

"You need to grow up so that you can be trusted with your covenant authority. It would be wise of you to step back and remember what your relationship with Me is all about. You are redeemed so that I have friends to work with for eternity, accomplishing My plans. Are there other benefits to you while you are doing this? Of course. In fact, the benefits to you are greater than you can ever imagine. If you have the mistaken idea, however, that your best interests supersede My plan, you will be greatly disappointed; and your relationship with Me will be out of order. Study Me; study My Word. Learn My purposes and flow in them. As you do that, all will be in order and you will be at peace.“

John 15:15b-16 NIV

15b) “…I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

16) You did not choose me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.”

James 4:2b-3 NLB

2b) “And yet the reason you don’t have what you want is that you don’t ask God for it.

3) And even when you do ask, you don’t get it because your whole motive is wrong – you want only what will give you pleasure.”

 

So many of today’s altar calls are an injustice to the work of God. To get a response from the listening audience and to build up churches, the one making the call normally paints a picture of health, wealth, and wisdom - not to mention eternity on streets of gold. Because of this, most Christians spend their days attempting to understand their salvation, instead of becoming mature vessels fit for the use of the Master.

I am convinced that the most important, missing piece of furniture in our churches today is the “tarrying bench.” The tarrying bench was a place where the one seeking salvation dealt with all the issues of salvation before making a commitment. Sometimes it took days as the person wrestled with the flesh, understanding its total depravity. Only after he understood that his life was no longer his own, and that he was bought with a bloody price, would the person be released to commit to Christ and His work on the cross. When he was finished, he understood his position in Christ with its benefits, but also its priorities. He was a servant, not a lord - especially of his own life and its needs. He understood that prayer was not a vehicle to accomplish his desires, but a two-way interaction. It was necessary to first find the will of God, and then be a surrendered vessel, who could be used to implement His will.

When a person in proper understanding of his relationship with the Lord prays, nothing can stop that prayer. A God-initiated, Holy Spirit-ordained prayer, presented in the Name of Jesus and designed to be in perfect unison with His plans, moves heaven, all of its powerful beings, and all of earth. Not only does it accomplish much for the will of God, it accomplishes much in the one who prayed. The seeking process, which occurs as the one who prays attempts to find the will of the Lord in a given situation, accomplishes untold benefits and multiple unseen changes in the seeker’s character. That, too, is in order with the will of God.

Needing to remember to seek first, then pray,

Jim Corbett

“Soon it will become evident that you will not be able to impart to others what they need to survive. Because they have not responded to My continuous wooing to draw close so that I can give them My Spirit, My wisdom, and My life, they will have nothing to offer anyone. They will not even have enough for themselves. They will ask you for what you have, but you can only send them to Me. I am what they need. They will ask for too much, too late.”

Matt. 25:1-12 NIV

1) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4) The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5) The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6) At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’

7) Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps.

8) The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’

9) ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’

10) But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

11) Later the others also came. ‘Sir! Sir! they said. ‘Open the door for us!’

12) But he replied, ‘I tell you the truth, I don’t know you.’”

 

To continually remain unresponsive to the Holy Spirit’s wooing to draw close to the Lord, which is clearly evident in this land, is foolish and will reap little reward in the future. When we need what only God can give us, it must be on tap. Future seasons will be overcome with what has been gained from today’s intimacy.

Open my eyes, Lord,

Jim Corbett