Tag: From Our Father’s Heart

“Now is not the time to make eternal mistakes. Make sure that what you believe and who you are listening to align perfectly with My Word. If you have become complacent in your relationship with Me, do what it takes to draw close now. If you are not in My Word to have solid foundation for what you believe, drop everything and go there. If you have friends who say they know the Lord but are not serious about honoring Jesus, or care little about the sin in their lives, walk away from them. They are stumbling blocks and will hinder you from drawing close yourself.

"Whatever is consuming your time, whatever is hindering you from drawing close, whatever is stopping you from making Me your priority, remove it or nullify its influence on you. Time is too short to play spiritual games.”

 Haggai 1:7-10 AMP 

7) Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

8) Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and displaying My glory in it].

9) You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].

10) Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

Mark 4:24 AMP

And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.

Acts 15:36-40 AMP 

36) And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.

37) Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark [his near relative].

38) But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

39) And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

40) But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.

 

Walking with the Lord is serious stuff. In fact, our relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship we will ever have. Why, then, is it placed behind most everything that seems more urgent or fun?

I am noticing that the Lord has noticed our reversed priorities. This is a topic He addresses quite regularly. He is serious; I think that we had better get serious.

Change my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Who is calling My people to holiness? Who is heralding the need to drop all pretenses of religion and bring the benchmark of Jesus back as truth? There is a plumb line from which I have never moved, even though some with loud voices may say that I have. When compromise is used to bring people to Me and teach Who I am not, a weak form of religion replaces a quest for holiness and a heart craving only My presence.

"Some of you need to reassess what My Word says about who you are supposed to be when you call yourself a follower of Jesus. Truth is truth, no matter how many times an attempt is made to dilute it. Find My truths again. Step out from the mire of those who have watered down My Word. Shake off the mediocrity that has invaded your life. Become passionate for Me once again.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

“…the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

Isaiah 46:9-10 AMP 

9) [Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me.

10) Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.

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.”

John 3:30 AMP 

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]

 

Have you noticed that in some cases, loud voices and manipulative tactics seem to be accepted as an anointing? People seem to flock to demonstrative speakers, sometimes at the risk of accepting another gospel, one that is self-serving rather than Christ-serving.

Everything that I read in the Word indicates that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are called to lay our lives down in service to the Lord. We are no longer our own. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus and are to live His life of holiness before a world that is minute by minute heading for destruction.

What kind of gospel are you proclaiming by your life? Is it the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed because you have studied His Word and His life, and will accept no other way; or is it a gospel that someone else has given you and you have only emotional feelings and someone else’s ideas on which you base your belief?

Teach me Your truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do you really know how often you walk in fear rather than in freedom? You simply don’t believe what I say. You don’t even believe My Word. If you did, peace would reign in your heart. There would be no doubt of My intentions for you. You, however, seem to desire to believe the lies of the enemy of your soul and the prince of this world, rather than the One Who made you. Would you consider that you might be believing a lie? Could it be possible that you have been wrong all this time, and need to redirect your life to become one of total acceptance of My Word in every area of your life?

"Maybe it is time for you to change your allegiance from listening to the habits and voices that contend for your thoughts to taking My Word as your only source of truth. I would really like that. It would delight My heart to see you walk in the power and authority that I intend for you. Much more could be accomplished if so much time wasn’t diverted by you needing Me to confirm My love over and over before you will move on My behalf and for the good of others. By the time you have been reassured of what you should have known long ago, most real opportunities have passed. I was not able to call upon you. I went to someone else.

"You need to settle My love for you and the absolute reliability of My Word in your heart once and for all. Come, let’s walk together. I will show you absolute truth. I will defeat your enemies. I will confirm My Word in your heart. Together We will bring souls to freedom. I am always with you. Begin to really believe that, settle it deep within your inner being, and your life will be in a position for Me to use you in ways far beyond your wildest dreams.”

Ephesians 3:16 NIV

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP 

16) Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

17) So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB 

12) So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

13) Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

 

It really is time to get on with the business of moving in the direction in which God is moving. Indications all around us signify that our world is changing at a high rate of speed, heading toward the coming of Christ. Any moment, things as we know them could change as promised, unfolding the end-time plans of God even more clearly. The freedoms and liberties that we so enjoy may soon be a thing of the past. For the sake of the Lord, and for the welfare of those who are too weak to make it during promised great hardship, we - who call ourselves Christians - need to be ready.

As I was doing this study, I suddenly realized that I had the liberty to reference six different Bible translations to find the best version to complement the Father’s Heart. I could have gone to several more if necessary.

God has given us Christians in this country such access to Himself and to His Word, that there really is no reason for us to be weak in our belief of Him. He has allowed us free interaction with each other for developing additional strength. He has prospered us immensely. Most of us have enough for ourselves, and many of us have more than enough to share with others. His bounty is very evident. Still, we don’t hear His heart. We don’t accept His love fully. We don’t prioritize our lives to conform to His will. We say we do—and in comparison to others who are doing absolutely nothing to defend the Name of the Lord, we appear as if we are living only for Him—but we aren’t. We really don’t believe His Word. If we did, wouldn’t we be living our lives much differently?

Needing to see, hear, and trust. Time is short,

Jim Corbett

“I need you to be a true advocate for Me. What I’m asking is far from a complacent acceptance of Who I am and what Jesus has done. I want you to really defend Me when others mock Who I am. Stand up for Jesus when He is brought low in conversations, or His Name is maligned. Stop being so passive about your love for Me. Stop fearing what others would say if you defended My honor and the honor of Jesus. The world has attempted to quiet My people, so that their lies can be heard. It is working! Your complacency speaks volumes against the power of the cross and nullifies your words of love for Me. Your silence is deafening in the spiritual realm.”

 Matt. 5:11-12  NIV

11) “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

12) Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP 

24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

25) For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

Matthew 26:31 NIV  

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will fall away on account of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

I Pe. 3:14-16 AMP 

14) But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].

15) But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

16) [And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].

 

Throughout history there have been many followers of Jesus who died rather than renounce their love for Him. There have also been weak, half-hearted believers who renounced Him when they were called upon to testify of their faith.

There is a very subtle form of denial of our faith present in today’s society. It is a practice of saying nothing.

Saying nothing, because it is politically correct, is denial. Saying nothing, when Jesus is made fun of or joked about, is denial. Saying nothing, when a proper word in season in defense of the Lord and His work is in order, is evidence of our weak faith and lack of real love for Whom we say we serve.

Teach me to properly honor You, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Your life is vitally important and very significant in My eyes. However, it is too important in your own eyes. You need to let go of things. You need to give away more than you keep. You need to care more for others than you do for yourself. Decrease and allow Jesus to increase in you. Become less and allow Me to make you more significant.”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV 

29) “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

30) And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

31) So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

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.”

Luke 12:48b AMP

For everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required; and of him to whom men entrust much, they will require and demand all the more.

Luke 9:23-25 AMP

23) And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].

24) For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].

25) For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?

 

Recognizing their acceptance with God, their heritage, their rights, and their privileges (which come via the work on the cross,) but esteeming others more significantly than themselves or their own needs, people walking with the heart of an advocate are wonderfully free. Jealousy, loss of reputation, perceptions of others, fear, and pride have no hold on them.

They are the leaders who serve, the advocates of their accusers, the servants of those who wrong them; and the comforters of those who are against them. Because they are confident and comfortable in their position with God, there is no negative response when falsely accused, no need to be right when wronged; and no desire to be lifted up in any way.

As John the Baptist desired to decrease so that Jesus could increase, those living for the good of others ardently choose that others increase in their walk with the Lord. They are motivated to do something, anything, so that it might happen.

Any desire to see “more of Jesus” in someone else is the spirit of advocacy in action as it thrives and pours itself out to address the need. It is the catalyst to any form of outreach – the desire that the lost or hurting be brought back into fellowship with the Father, for His sake as well as for the sake of the individual. The rally cry, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do,” transcends the corridors of time, and exists as if fresh from the lips of Jesus in the hearts of those who are poor in spirit, thriving in the spirit of advocacy.

Teach me to become less, Lord,

Jim Corbett