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4/29/24 The Gap

“Have you noticed that many more of you are confirming My teachings one to another? That shouldn’t surprise you. As you draw close to Me, My voice becomes clearer; My heart becomes more visible. I am proclaiming My heart to those who have decided to set aside the things of the world and focus on My desires. You will hear what I have to say from several different sources in different ways, but by the same Holy Spirit. It is My way of allowing you to walk in confidence. It is also a way for you to see those who are part of My plan in these days.

"The gap between those members of My body who are preparing for themselves, and those who are preparing for the fulfillment of My plans will be ever-widening as time passes. You must discern who is hearing from Me and who is closing their ears to My heart. You will need to know who is moving with Me, so that you and they can walk together. It is important to love every brother and sister, but it is also important to know who is walking in the same direction as you are.

"Find those of like heart and align yourselves with them. Grow with them. Seek Me with them. Submit yourselves to an accountability that takes the form of service to them. When it is paramount that you trust others for your safety, you will know who they are. You will already be walking with them. Best friends do not violate a trust.”

Ps. 94:11-13a AMP

11) The Lord knows the thoughts of man, that they are vain (empty and futile—only a breath).

12) Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of your law.

13a) That you may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity…

Prov. 16:1-3 AMP

1) THE PLANS of the mind and orderly thinking belong to man, but from the Lord comes the [wise] answer of the tongue.

2) All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart).

3) Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.

Amos 3:3 NLB 

“Can two walk together without agreeing on the direction?”

Acts 15:37-40 NIV 

37) Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them,

38) but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work.

39) They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company. Barnabas took Mark and sailed for Cyprus,

40) but Paul chose Silas and left, commended by the brothers to the grace of the Lord.

 

In a season when trustworthy friendships were very important for safety; but more importantly when the work required was at stake, Paul found little comfort in unity at the risk of his life or God’s purposes. He saw the fruit of Mark’s heart when the going got rough and made a call that caused sharp disagreement between himself and Barnabas.

In today’s church, there is an underlying fear of calling it like it really is. So many of us have been taught not to judge others, that we have even thrown wisdom and discernment out the door. It may not be a problem when all is peace and safety, but that kind of thinking is foolishness when perilous times require accountability.

We need to face the fact that some members of the body of Christ are in fellowship for their own best interests. They have not responded to the present heralding to draw close and be equipped for what lies ahead. When they will be needed, many will sell out to their fears and emotions, rather than to the quieted and unfamiliar voice of the Lord in their lives. They will not be trustworthy, because they will not be able to hear the Lord clearly. To walk with them will possibly cause harm when true alliances are needed.

God is calling each of us close to Him. He is preparing us for these closing hours of time and equipping those of us who are responding to His call. He will show us others who are responding to that same call and will allow us to see their true heart motives. Violations of our trust are clear indications of improper motives. We should love the person, but recognize the sign and trust God’s reasons for showing us his or her heart.

Many will not understand the decisions that we are being called to make and the choices that we must implement if we are to be obedient to our Lord. When absolute obedience is demanded, they will not know how to respond nor understand our peace and positive direction.

Today is the day to find those of like Spirit, those responding to the call of the Lord. Soon, a floundering, selfish heart will be seen for what it really is. It will be foolish and time consuming to deal with it when much more important work is being required of us.

Make me trustworthy, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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4/29/24 Respect

Saying that we have respect for someone is becoming a statement that is almost obsolete. The world has turned so dark, that the qualities determining if a person is to be respected are not qualities admired. The appearance of success or power has taken the place of a life that is worth respecting by those who are watching.

When was the last time anyone in your family said that they respect you as a father or husband? When was the last time that you have exhibited a life, or even an action, that was worthy of being respected in God's eyes, and then in those around you?

God has ordained the offices of husband and father as a covering for those he has been given. We are to provide a safe place for our families to function in as they grow in Christ. You, as the one functioning in that office, are to act as Christ would act if he were in your position. Obviously you will only be able to act worthy of the kind of respect He would have if you have been with Him enough to learn His ways.

The life we live in this world is important to God. How we function in front of others determines how they perceive a man of God should act, especially those in our families. Are you acting in a manner that garners respect from your wife or your children? Do others show respect for Jesus because you act in a way that represents Him properly? What are you going to do about it if you are not?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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4/27/24 Realignment

"It’s time to reevaluate your priorities. Soon everything in your world will change. My Word is going forth. Nations are aligning with what I prophesied long ago. In the heavenlies, I have spoken My will. It is soon to be loosed upon your land. Do not be confused by interim distractions. Many who deny My will are attempting to bring forth their rebellion through hatred and murder. That is not Me. I am realigning everything and bringing to a conclusion the necessary situations that will eventually usher in the return of Jesus.

"While all this is happening, you decide what is really important in your life. You make sure that you are functioning as I have ordained you to function. The coming times will give you the opportunity to see what is really important. They will bring many opportunities to love deeper and care more for the things that I care about. Some of the situations that you will find yourselves in will drive you to your knees. That is where I have wanted you to be all along. When I have your attention, you will experience a revival in your spirit. Useless goals will fall away. Unnecessary longings will be set aside like so much old news.

"Decide to flow with Me during these perilous times. Rise above the din of the world to a place of safety with Me. Prioritize your life to include what is important to Me. I am with you. I love you.”

Ps. 91:1-2 AMP

1) HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

2) I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!

Acts 12:6 AMP 

The very night before Herod was about to bring him forth, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, fastened with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison.

II Cor. 7:9-11a AMP 

9) Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [that turned you to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did.

10) For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].

11a) For [you can look back now and] observe what this same godly sorrow has done for you and has produced in you…

 

One day as I was contemplating many things, the Lord asked me what was important, really important. It immediately made me question my priorities. It stopped me long enough to redirect my thinking to what is actually of consequence. Then it occurred to me. The things that affect my life in the news and in the world around me seem to be urgent; the relationship we have with Jesus and with each other is what’s important. Duh!!!

I believe that what is important is about to overshadow what has been urgent for too long in our lives. Maybe it’s time to take a deep breath, sit with our Lord, and begin to really embrace this life and our fellow participants in it; and above all, if these times have pockets of relief in them, we need to remember to remain steadfast in this direction simply to honor our Lord.

Our loving Father is in charge of everything. He is Lord, and we are His children. I am convinced that these days are the beginning of the finest hour for those who love Jesus as their priority. We are going to have time to cleanse our garments of every blemish, spot, and wrinkle. It is time to get on with it. We all need to remember what our Lord has been saying to each of us for some time now. His wooing to come closer to Him seems like a most wonderful thing to do at this time, doesn’t it?

Show me the way, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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4/27/24 Why Are You Married?

Most of us would answer that question in some way that has hopefully grown past the "I really love her, man" kind of statement. Let's forgo the stupidity of the "I really can't keep my hands off of her" answer and get on with why our Father in heaven has given us permission to be married.

In a nutshell, God has had us men covenant with Him to marry the one He has chosen for us, for His honor and for her best interests. I know that kind of thought has rarely passed through our world-trained, pea-brain ability to understand His ways about marriage; but it is, none-the-less, true. We are to join together with one of His precious children so that she has fertile soil to become all that she can be in Him. That honors Him!

In Ephesians 5, we husbands are called to lay our lives down for our wives in the way that Jesus laid His life down for the church. He died so that we could live. That is how the Lord can use marriage as an example of the relationship of Christ and His church.

When two people are joined together, they are given the privilege of knowing the most intimate details of the other person. They get to see whatever is undone in the other. Most of the time, especially after many years together, those cute little habits or actions become a source of irritation, sometimes even separation, instead of looking at them with Christ's heart. Jesus would hold them before His Father so that we and our wives could be healed. So should we.

God sees our job in marriage as laying down our needs, our desires, and our comforts, and living for the best interests of our wife and our children. The best interests of our circle of influence violates every area of our fleshly comfort zone. It demands that we live in the spiritual zone where Jesus lived for us. That is why He has given us someone to go through our lives with. They are to be given an atmosphere to learn how to love Him with all of their hearts. We are to provide that atmosphere by the power of the Holy Spirit. How's that working for you?

Let's talk more!

Jim Corbett

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4/26/24 Access to God’s Presence

“Have you done what I’ve asked you to do? Do you even know what I’ve asked you to do or not do? Have you spent enough time with Me to know My heart? If you have, you know that I’m not looking for you to work hard for Me. I am looking for you to be with Me. That is what Jesus spent His life for. He gave you access to My Presence. I see you through the blood that He shed.

"I know you because you have responded to His Lordship. Stop attempting to impress Me with your works. They matter little if We are not doing them together. Come to Me through Jesus. We will talk. We will reason. We will work together after you have submitted to My heart.”

John 5:19-20 NIV

19) Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

20) For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does.

Luke 6:43-46 NIV

43) “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

44) Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers.

45) The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

46) “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

 

Submission to the Father’s heart is a priority. So many of us take the work of the cross for our salvation and minimize the fact that the work of Jesus has won back the right for us to be in the presence of God the Father. Jesus shed blood was the only sacrifice accepted by God. Most of us tend to forget how important it is to use this astounding privilege.

Take some time to think about how miserable our existence would be without access to God. Think how horrible it would be if we could not go to Him for direction, guidance, and assurance. Remember the price that was paid for you and me the next time you pray and those prayers are answered. Thank Him for devising a means for us to return to Him as often as we desire.

Let me never forget, Lord,

Jim Corbett

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