Tag: From Our Father’s Heart

“My church and most of its leaders are now paying the price for rejecting My ways for hundreds of years. What is called My church has gone through a metamorphic change, from basking in My presence to becoming places where My Spirit is not really welcome. Now I will do what I have always done in the past. I will raise up a people who are truly Mine, with My heart and My love for others. Those of you who have finally admitted that all is not well have now become free to know that I am moving you closer to Me, even when those around you do not desire to do so.

“Church games are over. You will not find Me where there is a mixture of flesh and traditions. Do not be afraid to discern when I have left your fellowships. Become familiar with My presence by spending time with Me. Then you will know where I am and where I am not. Flee from where I am not. I will show you where to go and how to get there. Trust the Spirit of My Son. He will identify with His Spirit in others. That’s where I want you. You who are hearing are My people. I am delighted with you.”

Exodus 33:14-16 AMP

14) And the Lord said, My Presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.

15) And Moses said to the Lord, If Your Presence does not go with me, do not carry us up from here!

16) For by what shall it be known that I and Your people have found favor in Your sight? Is it not in Your going with us so that we are distinguished, I and Your people, from all the other people upon the face of the earth?

 

God will always have a people who are sold out to Him. They are distinguished by having the true presence of God in their midst. History has proven that when organized churches turn to traditions and lackluster functions, God moves His presence somewhere else. It has been that way throughout the ages and is happening now. Because of our books, we have the privilege of communicating with people all over the nation, even the world, who desire more of Jesus. For a long time we have heard the heart cry, “Where can I go where people are not playing games? My church is so cold!” It is the heart of the remnant bride calling out.

In the past, the Lord would raise up new fellowships or storefront churches that housed sold-out, dedicated believers who had only God’s heart in mind. They were available to hear from Him. He could freely move them to do His will, rather than deal with the “religion” of the stationary, complacent bodies that were so prevalent.  He is doing the same now.

Please understand, I also know of entire fellowships who have jointly scrutinized their lives and repented, pastors who have had a new encounter with God; and growing, vibrant fellowships that hear and teach the truth.  There are pastors who lead congregations directly from the throne room of God because they themselves have been there.

In areas where the traditional churches have become frozen, however, - where pastors have lost their first love and the desire to seek and teach holiness and are more concerned with sheep stealing or the business end of church - small Bible studies, home fellowships, and places where several families meet together with the Lord are springing up. Dedicated to prayer, honest praise and each other, and listening to the Holy Spirit, these little groups of devoted hearts are part of God’s representative people.

They understand the times and seasons in which they live and are returning to their knees for direction, rather than simply participating in another distracting program. They are examining what they believe and holding it in the light of the Word of God for accuracy. If it can’t stand up under the scrutiny of the Word, if it is a belief for the sake of believing, if it is only a baseless tradition, it is discarded.

God always has a people who desire to hear only from their Lord and seek His face, laying down their lives and building holy alliances to address the needs of the day. He is rebuilding His church, holy and strong in His power, all over this land – a church that is desperately needed by a dying world. If you have seen only cold, dead religion where you are, look closer. God always has a people that represent Jesus. You seek the Lord and His holiness and go find them.

Wanting to represent Jesus more clearly to others and with others each day,

Jim Corbett

“What are you doing for others? I have placed you in places and given you tasks to do, so that the people around you will see Jesus. That is one of the main reasons why you have been called into My kingdom. I want you to represent Me. Look away from yourself. Look to the needs of others as your priority. I will take care of you. Be an advocate for someone just as Jesus is an advocate for you. Love deeply. Care more. Walk with real purpose for your life. Serve instead of expecting to be served.”

II Cor. 5:20a AMP

So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were through us.

Heb. 12:2 NIV

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

  

As the Author and Finisher of our faith, Jesus, who functions as our advocate, delights to see us accepted and perfected. He would gladly go to the cross again and again, if He had to, so that we could prosper and be complete in His Father’s love; and so that His Father would continually have the pleasure of our company. (Praise God that everything was finished once and for all at Calvary!)

With Jesus as our example, and with the Father’s love flowing through us, we are to walk as advocates for our Lord, each other as believers, and then on behalf of those who have need. Our adoption into the family of God, our sonship, gives each of us the heritage and ability to do so through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Those walking as advocates delight in seeing others become all that they can be in Christ. Seeing any less motivates them to respond for the good of those individuals, even at a loss to themselves.

When someone comes against the advocate heart, there is a godly desire to have the offender eventually walk in all of the wealth of the Lord, for the sake of the Lord. To respond in any form of retaliation would be unthinkable. Advocates will love deeper than any argument. In fact, any accusation or injustice only causes them to desire that the other is forgiven and restored before the Father, never from a position of loftiness, but from the heart of lowliness.

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.

Teach me to ignore me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“If you seek Me with all your heart, you will receive everything you need to walk in the love of Jesus. I will hold nothing back. I love you and that is My promise. I also love others. They need to see Who Jesus is. If you begin to live like Him in their midst, they will be able to savor His presence. That changes things. It makes darkness light. You come to Me. I will build His life in you. Then I will give who you have become to others.”

Romans 12:1-2 NIV

1) Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.

2) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Cor. 11:1 NIV

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.

Colossians 1:9-12 NIV

9) For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

10) And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way; bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,

11) being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully

12) giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

 

As important as it is to suffer for Christ through the laying down of your own will so that the will of your Father can be accomplished, it is equally important that there are times when you are called upon to suffer with Christ. Few people in the church are willing to take on the burdens that Christ feels toward those who are not saved, or toward those who made a commitment, but are living far from Jesus. To care about what Jesus deems important, to hurt as He hurts for the lost, to be burdened with the things for which He is interceding is more than most of us delight in doing.

Not everyone accepts a suffering spirit when it is given. Some reject it because it is too difficult to carry. You simply do not fit in.  It is for those of you who have felt the burden of God and carry it with Him on behalf of another.

Until you understand that some of what you feel is God working with you for the sake of others, you will believe that there is something wrong with you. You need to know that the Lord is asking you to suffer with Him in that specific area, to carry the weight that He is feeling for a specific situation. It will be an intense time and you may need to be alone with Him. There will be a myriad of people in the church who will be delighted to give their opinion, confirming that you have gone nuts. Don’t listen to them. They cannot see and they do not understand intercession.

Teach me to live Your way, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Don’t doubt Me! Don’t doubt My Word. Stop questioning what you know to be true. I am in your midst working to make all things in order, even if there is no visible evidence of My presence. I have promised that I would always be for you. I have promised that you are Mine and that I would take care of you. I will never fail or forsake you. You are Mine and I love you. Now go and do what you know to do. Seek Me for My will and then move in the promises I have for you. If you have nothing to do, go find a need and fill it. Be the face of Jesus to someone. It will help you to get your eyes off yourself while I am working in your life.”

Ps. 139:7 AMP

Where could I go from Your Spirit? Or where could I flee from Your presence?

Matt. 24:35 NIV

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

Matt. 25:37- 40 NIV

37) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

40) “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’”

 

Most of us tend to lose sight of what our purpose on earth is when things start to get a little rough, especially when we are waiting for our Lord to move in a certain situation. We start to look inward instead of reaching to others as Jesus did and does for us. We get selfish, think about our own needs; and lose the true perspective of who we are and why we are saved in the first place.

This life is not about us and our needs. God doesn’t owe us a thing, especially a continually comfortable life. In fact, part of His promise to us is that we will have trials and troubles. Jesus did, His apostles did, many saints that have gone before us did. What would make us think that we have any right to a trouble-free life? Where in the Word does it say that we are ever to focus on ourselves and our needs? When are we supposed to stop looking out for opportunities to share the wonderful gift we have been given?

Open my heart and my eyes, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“You need to take some steps in the direction of your calling. It is time to set aside your fears, wounds, and excuses and begin to move with what you have in your hand. I will provide whatever else is needed along the way. Take a look around. Why would you think that you have time to sit on the sidelines when there is so much to do?

“Your days are cluttered with events that have little eternal consequence. Change that by responding to a need, lending a helpful hand, or assisting someone who is overburdened. If you have no direction, come alongside someone who does. They more than likely have need of what you have. Put aside the fear of rejection. Set the woundedness on the shelf for a while. If you have been unjustly used before, offer it up as a sacrifice.

“If you have little skill, use My skill. Start today. There are many people waiting for what you have to give. Look who I’ve placed in your path and move as I tell you to do so. You will be surprised how soon your life will have clear direction and purpose.”

Matthew 5:13 AMP

You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can its saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men.

John 4:34 NIV

My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”

 

Something needs to be put in perspective. Our lives have been bought with a price. We are not our own. We must have the same priority as Jesus - “to do the will of him who sent me.”

Most of us have our priorities backwards. We have a tendency to place the work of the Lord far behind the needs and desires of our everyday living, when the opposite is the desire of our Father in heaven. His work should be our priority. Whatever else that needs to be done should be fit into what we are doing for Him.

Most in today’s church rely on “those who have been called to ministry” to do the work of God, while lending fragments of time, energy, and resources to assist them. At the same time, most of the church is looking for some sort of revival that will somehow bring an outpouring from the Holy Spirit. We expect it to touch each of us as we sit on the sidelines of God’s plan and help ourselves to major portions of His bounty. Our perspectives are way out of line.

Revival of our hardened hearts begins by holding the hand of someone who has need of knowing our Lord, or by easing the burden of another, or by providing the tools to those who are working, or by coming alongside the fearful, or by helping the wounded, or by feeding the hungry every day, or by clothing the naked, or by praying for our enemies, or by…

Revive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett