Tag: From Our Father’s Heart

“Mark those who sit in judgment on you or challenge your authority in Me. Walk away from those who testify only of themselves and their testimonies of how close they are to My Spirit, when there is no fruit of being with Me in their lives. Beware of those who are self-proclaimed prophets, those who boast of their ability to hear My voice for others, when they hear nothing but their own folly, reeling back and forth in the foul stench of their own breath. They are fools who are listening to the leader of fools. I am soon to brand them for who they really are, blind guides heading for destruction. Have nothing to do with them.  Separate yourself from them, so that they might come to repentance and be restored.

“You ignore their vain attempts to destroy you; and bring forth life from the deep recesses of My heart, pouring it upon those who are in need of life. You spread love to those who hate you. You take the power of My Word and tear apart every stronghold of the enemy of souls so that the lost, lonely, and broken might be made whole. You lower yourself in your own eyes, so that I might be seen by those in need, those who have no vision of My glory. You stand using only My strength, walk using only My power; and speak using only My Words. You become a testimony of the work of the cross and My keeping power to those who carry it for Me to a dying world.

“The world is reeling in the weight of their sin and wallowing in their own vomit, totally out of answers. You reveal to them the only Answer, the only way to be set free. You show them Jesus. Bring forth His bright, beautiful life to their dark, useless world. Bring forth the wealth of your relationship with Me. Bring forth My immovable truth. Go forth in My love, in My Spirit. Reach into the darkness and represent My hand of deliverance, My road to freedom. Go now in the power of My might. I am with you.”

Ezekiel 13:3, 6-8  AMP

3) Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit [and things they have not seen] and have seen nothing! …

6) They have seen falsehood and lying divination, saying, The Lord says: but the Lord has not sent them. Yet they have hoped and made men to hope for the confirmation of their word.

7) Have you not seen a false vision and have you not spoken a lying divination when you say, The Lord says, although I have not spoken?

8) Therefore thus says the Lord God: Because you have spoken empty, false, and delusive words and have seen lies, therefore behold, I am against you, says the Lord God.

1 Chron. 29:5b AMP

…Now who will offer willingly to fill his hand [and consecrate it] today to the Lord [like one consecrating himself to the priesthood]?

2 Cor. 3:17-18  AMP

17) Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (emancipation from bondage, freedom).

18) And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

 

The enemy always attempts to divide, distract, and confuse. The Lord is always heading in the direction of saving souls and tending frail sheep. He constantly looks into the darkness, so that people living there will see the light. Once they are in the light, He nurtures, comforts, and changes people into the image of Jesus.

You and I have the astounding privilege of being brought into the light through Jesus. In that light, there is no room or reason to entertain darkness any longer. To do so brings discredit to the cross.

I believe that soon Father God is going to have His life break forth through His people in a powerful way; people who will be a credit to the cross once again. He is going to bring out into the open those who have been in training by His hand of testing.

Having been refined and brought to a death of their previous ways, they will shine in the brightness of our Lord. The dark world will notice them, not only because of their words, which will be endued with the power of God; but also by their lives, which will represent Jesus fully. There will be nothing false, nothing fleshly about them. Their humble submission to the Word of God will testify against the rebellion of those denying the cross.

Have you been in training? Have you lived under the refining hand of the Lord, scorned, laughed at, and misunderstood even by the church? Take courage; you are about to be brought forth. You are about to shine with the love of Jesus. You are about to be called forth to testify of His keeping power. You are about to praise Him with your life. You are about to rejoice in the wonder of your Lord.

Wanting to live only for Jesus,

Jim Corbett

“I am deeply involved in your life. Most of the time, you cannot see My hand at work or notice the orchestration of events that fulfill My overall plans. At times it may seem as if I have left you because of the degree of pain you are going through. It is vital that you seek My heart during these times, so that you can understand your situation from My perspective. Otherwise, you may misinterpret them. If you cannot see My heart, you will miss the whys and reasons for whatever I am doing. You will need answers, rather than trusting Me no matter what happens. You may even become discouraged to the point of cursing Me in your heart if your portion seems harsh or heartless.

“Everything I do is motivated by My great love for you and for others. Everything I do is for My plan to go forth, so that none should perish. Everything I do has an eternal impact. It is never designed to achieve carnal comfort.”

Matthew 26: 53-54 NIV

53) “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?

54) But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

Luke 12:19-21 NIV

19) “‘And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’

20) “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’

21) “This is how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Romans 5:3-5 AMP

3) Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance.

4) And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation.

5) Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us.

 

In my travels, I see so many people who say that they follow after the ways of Jesus but continually question what God is doing if their world becomes a wee bit uncomfortable. I have also been with people who are even afraid to go deeper with God because they know that the refiner’s fires that will be needed to get them there are too scary from their perspective. In turn, their lives are just a shadow of what they could be from an eternal perspective. They continually hover around the area of desiring to go deeper with God yet sit on the sidelines while watching others being used by God. Most of them moan about the fact that they are rarely involved with the real moves of God, not knowing that they have hindered Him from using them because of their focus on their own comfort and their fear of being refined.

Never allow my fear to hinder Your hand, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“You are valuable! I place great value on you, not for what you do; but simply for who you are. Because everything is right between you and Me, you are free to forgive those who come against you. You can love those who need love. You can bask in My love. Your life can become of great consequence once you understand how safe you are in My arms. Sit on My lap and receive the wealth I choose to give you. From that foundation, I want you to reach others. Tell them that they can have the same access to Me that you have. Tell them that I care for them. Tell them that Jesus has provided a way for them to be reconciled to Me. You come to Me to be filled. I love to be with you. I also love to send you to others.”

2 Cor. 3:18 AMP

And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Eph. 3:17-19 AMP

17) May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love.

18) That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

19) [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

1 Peter 2:9 NIV

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God…

 

In a world that spends most of its time seeking some kind of acceptance, almost any kind of acceptance, isn’t it wonderful that you and I have found total acceptance with Father God through Jesus? Isn’t it also wonderful that we have an answer for those who need to be loved? Not only can we love them because of Jesus, but Father God will love and care for them for eternity because of Jesus. We just need to introduce them to Him!

Help me to understand Your love and then tell others about it, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Just because I have chosen to be patient, do not take My warnings lightly. Generations before you have made the mistake of misunderstanding My love. They have seen it as weakness or have thought that I do not mean what I say, because I have not immediately fulfilled what I have said that I would do. While I was waiting for everything to be in order, their impatient and deceitful hearts led them into folly, and they perished. Do not make the same mistake concerning what I have been telling you. Do not think that because I have delayed My judgment, it is not on its way for those who choose to defy Me. My Word will always stand. My will always prevails.

“For a long time now, I have told you of a time of horror that is coming in your generation if it does not repent. I have also expressed My displeasure with the coldness of My church in many ways, and for many seasons. I have told those who will listen that they need to lay all other gods aside and serve Me with all of their hearts. Because I have not fulfilled My warnings immediately, do not think that I have forgotten them. In my perfect timing, when all things are in order as I see it, what I have said, I will do. You can count on it. If you have ears to hear, take note of My warnings, and give yourself completely to Me. Seek Me with all of your heart, and you will rise above all the impending horrors that will fall upon those who do not think that I mean what I say, because My love is having its perfect way.

“I love you. Come to Me now, before you find yourself without the power to overcome when you need it to survive. Do not misunderstand My delays. My holding back is an act of love, a function of mercy. When I strike against the rebellion, it will be sudden. That time will not be the time to decide to come to Me with all of your heart. You prepare now, so that you can walk in My wisdom and safety, when others flee and hide in horror.”

Isaiah 48:3 NIV

“I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”

Ezekiel 12:21-25 NIV

21) The word of the Lord came to me:

22) “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?

23) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.

24) For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.

25) But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

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.

 

What an incredible, patient, and merciful God, warning those who have ears to hear, so that they can be safe! What astounding love!

Off and on, the Lord reminds me of the warnings I have received over the years. In many ways, in different forms, He would have me write them down, publish some of them; and simply hold others until I was released to express them.

As I was waiting on Him, the thought of long delays before fulfillment came to me. It seemed that I was periodically hearing the same warnings over and over. They were said in many ways, but always had the same basic content - one of a strong call to holiness and a turning from serving other gods before impending judgment. Others that I trust were hearing the same thing. My foolish heart wondered if people would tire of hearing the same thing over and over and grow cold to the urgency imparted with each warning.

Recently, the Lord showed me that time as we know it means very little. Those who walked with Jesus felt that He was coming back in their lifetime because they misunderstood the timing of His words. Even though it did not happen when they expected it to happen, that belief kept their zeal alive and showed us, generations later, how to function as Christians. Many prophecies took generations to fulfill. Each one, however, was fulfilled in the timing of the Lord, often very suddenly, catching many unaware.

It is paramount for us to never ignore or minimize a strong, repetitive call, simply because the fulfillment seems to be delayed. The season of birth is indicated by the frequency and intensity of the birth pains; then the birth comes. In the same way, each day and every moment bring us closer to the fulfillment of every promise made by our Lord.

How foolish we would be to think that because He has held back His judgment this long, He does not mean what He says. Even more foolish is the thought that there is a lot of time left for us to turn from our sin because we misunderstand His mercy. History has proven that the Lord warns and warns, and then suddenly, He acts. We need to be ready now. Fulfillment might be today.

Needing to live as if tomorrow might not come,

Jim Corbett

 

“Do not harden your heart because it appears that I have forgotten you. Do not become cynical when you see others living without heavy pressures and you can hardly take a breath without pain. I hold you in your need. When you have completed this refining fire, I want you to understand the pain I feel for those who are so lost that they feel they have no need of Me. I want you to notice the dangerous position they are in and care as Jesus cares for them.

“You are being trained to have compassion for others who have forgotten their need of Me and learning to delight in My will being done in their lives. Don’t give up!  Press in to Me. I am with you!”

Romans 8:9-17 NIV

9) You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ.

10) But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.

11) And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

12) Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.

13) For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,

14) because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.

15) For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

16) The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

17) Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

2 Cor. 1:8-9 NIV

8) We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.

9) Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead.

 

We forget that after we come to Christ, we are being formed to allow the life of Jesus to be lived through us. When Jesus walked on this earth, He was showing us all how to live. He had the ardent desire and the God-inherited freedom to be deeply in love with His Father and with everyday, ordinary people. Most of those whom He loved freely, and therefore touched the deepest, didn’t have a clue as to who He really was at first. They only knew deep down in their hearts that this special man who lived in their midst somehow loved them in a way that they had never been loved before. It was a love that contained a mysterious kind of power and they wanted to find out what that power was.

Seeing His bright-eyed, mouth-open kind of happiness when they were healed or delivered, people knew He had something special to give them and that He was probably worth following, at least long enough to learn more about Him. When He put His hands on and embraced the outcast, or when He intimately contacted the lonely, chastised leper - something that just wasn’t done in His society - He was viewed as being noticeably different. When He laughed and bear hugged in the wonder of the healing moment with that same lower element of society, He broke their stony hearts and planted a new kind of hope in their souls.”

Teach me Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett