Tag: Jesus

“I would like to remind you of some things of great importance. I’m sure that you know what I’m about to tell you; but in this season, it would be good for you to place them a little closer to your heart. I love you. I have provided a way, through Jesus, for you to be free forever. You will never be separated from Me again, because of what He has done for you. Your relationship with Me has been reconciled forever. I am always for you and never against you. My Holy Spirit is available to you for comfort, encouragement, and guidance in whatever you do. I have also provided you with each other. You have an eternal family. As wonderful as that is for your future, some of them are near you right now, all over your world. You will never be alone. Wherever you go, if you are ever in need, you can count on your family to be there for you. You have a God and a family who love you. You also have been given the honor of loving back.

"As your world grows darker, you will be a brighter light because of this love for Me and for your family. You will also be safer because We are together. In addition to all of that, you have a purpose. I have crafted you Myself. If you seek Me, you will see the value that you are to Me; and you will also see the reason why you were born. Remember often: You have a God who loves you. You have a bright family in a dark world. You have a purpose for being born. It is important to Me that you be thankful for what I have done.”

John 13:34-35 AMP 

34) I give you a new commandment that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.

35) By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

John 16:7 AMP

However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

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.

Phil. 2:2 AMP

Fill up and complete my joy by living in harmony and being of the same mind and one in purpose, having the same love, being in full accord and of one harmonious mind and intention.

 

As I was writing this message, many thoughts came to me. Most importantly is the obvious - what our loving Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit have done and are doing.

What also came to mind is something that I find I have not considered of enough importance: God’s gift of family. Seeing the seasons as a watchman, my ministry is to encourage the body of Christ to draw closer to the Lord. To do that, the Lord reveals areas of danger and things that are out-of-line. Often I have to go to Him for refreshing after seeing these things. It is difficult not to become discouraged at these times.

What has come to me this morning is a renewed wonder of what is my high honor and great privilege. I have a loving family in Christ. That thought has often been placed somewhere behind mission, covered by the urgency of the times. Because of my zeal, I realize that I am often not as grateful as I should be for this privilege. How foolish!

Because we are in faith outreach, the only way we have been able to move forward over the years is because of the love of this Christ-like family. I am humbled by the love we receive - and very, very grateful. Thank you, Father!

In the upcoming season, let’s all remember and pray that our Lord will continue to remind each of us how much we need to be grateful for His abundant love, no matter what is happening all around us. God has given much. What has clouded your ability to remember how much?

Getting back to the basics of my Father’s heart,

Jim Corbett

“As I promised, I am going to make you into the likeness of My Son, Jesus. The challenges before you will be death to your flesh. Sometimes they will cause you to despair if you don’t understand that I am truly rebuilding you. While We are working together and you are being prepared, I have some suggestions to help you along the way. As you go, I will convict your heart and help you with other thoughts for your journey.

"Start here. Let’s delight in the journey together. Love passionately. Have more fun, knowing that you are in My hands. Sell or give away at least one third of all you own. Eliminate everything in your life that “owns” you. (Get rid of your TV and video games - they own you.) Do not walk closely with fools who talk of foolish ideas that are not in My Word. Eat right. Take long walks alone or with a friend. Decide to love people through My Son. Determine to see others as Jesus sees them. Smile a lot. Smile some more. Become a study of your mate’s needs.

"Love your mate passionately. Go on dates with your mate. Pray with your mate. (If you don’t have a mate, focus your love on Me.) Study your children as the gifts that they are. Love your children passionately with holy love. Spend time with your children or help someone with theirs. Find some way to honestly compliment everyone. Take more time to do everything; slow down. Be at peace with your relationship with Jesus. Sing more. Rest more. Sit and talk with Me anytime you can. Come to Me more often, simply to be together. Cultivate biblical reasons to be hopeful.

"Get your eyes off yourself and your own needs. Learn to devote yourselves to the needs of others. Tell others that they are valuable. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive some more. Seek to make new friends. Remember that this life is not a trial run; it is the real thing. Remember why you are living this life. Live it as Jesus would live it. He, in fact, desires to live His life through you. Be blessed in your comings and goings. I love you!”

2 Cor. 2:14-16a AMP 

14) But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.

15) For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ [which exhales] unto God, [discernible alike] among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing:

16a) To the latter it is an aroma [wafted] from death to death [a fatal odor, the smell of doom]; to the former it is an aroma from life to life [a vital fragrance, living and fresh].

 

Jesus endured the cross because of the joy of what it was accomplishing.  So many of us walk around prune-faced because God is doing some carving of our flesh. During those times, most people would not desire to serve the Lord because of us, no matter what we said. Our countenance would drive them away.

Why wouldn’t we approach this incredible walk with God - not only from a spiritual aspect, but from the physical also - so that we can be a proper witness all the time? We prepare for everything else we do. Why wouldn’t we take some logical steps to insure that things that hinder us from accomplishing our journey are eliminated? Why wouldn’t we add anything to our lives that would help us be a better witness?

Things that have no bearing on a proper relationship with our Lord get in the way. They are like rocks in our backpack. Why would we give notice to them, much less carry them?

This relationship that we have entered into because of Jesus is the most astounding life that anyone could live. Our future is bright. We need to do what it takes to eliminate anything that clouds our perspective of the inner joy we should be having in the journey, even in rough times.

Show me the rocks, Lord. Let me get rid of them now!!

Jim Corbett

“There is far too much compromise for the sake of peace and unity. Too many of My children remain in their sin because you, My mouthpieces, are afraid to tell them truth unto repentance. I am talking to those of you who have grown past selfish agendas, mindless doctrines, and the need for personal gain from others. Make sure it is My heart that you are expressing, not your pride, for I will call you to account for your words. If you have, however, taken up your cross for Me, seared your heart, and desire only the heart of Jesus, you must send out My wake-up call.

"Most of My church is asleep as if in a drunken stupor. Most of My people are not hearing the call to holiness. Who will tell them of their danger if you don’t? Who will herald My heart of urgency? You must! Love them enough to tell them truth. After and only after you have laid down your life in prayer for those to whom you are sent, tell them of their need to repent. You must do it for their good only. Some may still listen. Most will separate themselves from you, calling you names. That’s O.K. You be obedient when I send you. Time is too short for you to walk in fear and compromise. You must function in love. I call you to speak My truth, but only after you weep for those to whom you go!”

 Isaiah 8:11-13 AMP 

11) For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12) Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.

13) The Lord of hosts – regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].

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.”

Hosea 4:6 AMP

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you [the priestly nation] have rejected knowledge…

2 Cor 12:15a AMP

But I will most gladly spend [myself] and be utterly spent for your souls...

Gal. 4:19 NIV

My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you…

 

Paul spent most of his Christian life exhorting, challenging, and exposing the hearts of those in the church. He could be his Father’s mouthpiece only after he had ached for others as he knew His Father ached; and only after he had their best interests at heart. His words were never condescending, never for his own gain; and never from anyplace other than the throne of God. They could be focused, strong, and reprimanding because he spoke as one who cared more for his listeners than he cared for his own life. He was a mouthpiece to a generation who would establish a pattern for everyone else to follow. Their lives needed to be in order and the Lord called him to show the way.

In these end times, God is once again calling for surrendered vessels who will proclaim His heart to a needy church. Patterns and faulty practices, which some people follow in the Name of Jesus, need to be exposed for what they are and brought back in line with the Word of God. People who proclaim them or practice them are in danger. Someone who loves them must tell them before it’s too late.

Break my heart for others, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“There is nothing you could ever do to stop Me from loving you. It’s true. My love is beyond your comprehension. You look at the actions of all those who are in your world and determine if they deserve your love. I desire that you see past that childish way of thinking. Love is not supposed to be diminished when people fail you. It is supposed to be intensified because when someone fails to love, you can see and discern a need in that person. Look at Jesus! He loved those who hated Him. He had joy at the prospect of vile, hating people being made clean and new. You were once unlovable by the standards to which you hold others. Aren’t you glad that those are not My standards?”

Matt. 7:2 AMP

For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you.

I Cor. 13:5b-7 AMP

5b) …Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].

6) It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.

7) Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].

Heb. 13:5b AMP 

…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

 

I sure am glad that the ways of my Father are far above my ways. I hate to think what would happen if He used my standards for loving, and forgiving, and mercy, and …..

Forgive me, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Have you engaged in the battle for souls? Are you sure? Most of those who believe that they are engaged with Me have deceived themselves. They believe they are doing all that they must do to walk with Me into the front lines, when they are really only on the sidelines of the war. If they ever did enter in, they would be instant casualties. They have not really submitted to the training necessary to be effective.

"Where do you stand? Have you submitted to My training? Are you fully engaged? Do you even know that there is a battle for souls raging at this moment? Those who are not with Me are really against Me.”

Joshua 7:13 AMP

Up, sanctify (set apart for a holy purpose) the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow; for thus says the Lord, the God of Israel; There are accursed things in the midst of you, O Israel, you can not stand before your enemies until you take away from among you the things devoted [to destruction].

Amos 8:11-12 AMP

11) Behold the days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send a famine in the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but [a famine] for hearing the words of the Lord.

12) And [the people] shall wander from sea to sea and from the north even to the east; they shall run to and fro to seek the word of the Lord [inquiring for and requiring it as one requires food], but shall not find it.

Matthew 4:19 AMP

And He said to them, Come after Me [as disciples—letting Me be your Guide], follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men!

 

Have you ever met someone who is delusional about his own importance? I once sat across the table from a person who firmly believed that he had his life in order. He was even convinced that the life he lived was not only important to everyone around him, but that those around him were able to succeed only because of his valuable input. He was truly deceived. To magnify his delusion, he listened to no one about his ignorance. He was truly a blind guide, clueless as to his degree of deception.

From God’s perspective, how involved are you in His battle plan? He has a plan to use you and me in whatever way He chooses, so that everyone who decides to embrace Jesus can see Him in us before all things come to an end. He desires that none should perish.

How useful is your heart and your life in His plan? Are you deceived? Have you really submitted to His training and have you entered the war with every fiber of your being? Or have you deluded yourself into thinking that you are doing all that you can when you are really on the sidelines, not of much use to Him because of your worldly concerns and distractions.

Remove my delusions, Lord,

Jim Corbett