Tag: The Family Rescue Campaign

“You have been wonderfully made to perform My calling on your life. You are not formed to do powerful accomplishments in the flesh; anyone can do that. You are created to accomplish mighty works in the Spirit, in places that sometimes only I can see and understand. You may never be appreciated by the world, so accept that and be comfortable with it, or you will never be at peace.

"In your associations, have you not found that the deeper spiritual walk is not attainable by anyone who thrives on having earthly accomplishments? Their need to succeed blinds them from placing value on what I call valuable. You can never be like them because I have called you to a higher purpose. I have called you to function in the heavenlies with Me.

"Over the years, I have trained you to release your worldly desires and crave My Spirit. It is a treasure that few can understand. I have set you free from the distractions that hinder you so that We can be together. I have invited you to learn at My hand, dwell in My peace, and be really comfortable only in My presence. I am forming you to take My presence to your world.”

I Corinthians1:23-29 NIV

23) but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,

24) but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

25) For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.

26) Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth.

27) But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

28) He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are,

29) so that no one may boast before him.

1 Cor. 2:3-5 NIV 

3) I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

4) My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,

5) so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power.

 

None of the world and few in the body of Christ really understand what the full spectrum of faith is. Of course it is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Faith, however, is also allowing weaknesses and human frailties to be exposed in us so that the power of God is manifested and glorified. It is the assured equipping for service in spite of, more likely because of, our personal inabilities.

The first kind of faith is often used by those who tend to rely on their own strength and abilities as Christians to “stand strong” in every challenge and for every need. It caters to their inability or refusal to surrender fully to the total Lordship of God over their lives. They can control their world by using faith in their own faith.

The second kind of faith appears to be weakness to most who observe it. It is the kind of faith that is willing to express fears and cautions; being scared to death as Paul often was, but flowing in and accomplishing the will of God anyway. It is a depth of faith that is in full acknowledgment, surrender, and submission to the power of God, replacing any worth or wealth in self.  It is Paul’s kind of faith. It is Jesus’ kind of faith. He never relied on His own strength or abilities.

If you choose to walk in the second fully-submitted kind of faith, understand that you will be judged, condemned and scorned, especially by the “strong” in the church. You will be condemned for your “weakness” as you display your total submission to God’s strength for any accomplishment. Few will be able to separate your anointing from your frailties. God, however, will flow through you to those who are wise enough to bypass what is not evident in the flesh. They will give glory to the power of the Holy Spirit Who is at work. Your ripe fruit will feed many.

Wanting Jesus’ kind of weakness,

Jim Corbett

“I am always for you. Because of what Jesus has done for you, I will never turn My back on you, no matter how many times you fail to do what I ask of you. He established Our bond, an unbreakable bond. He established your new nature that desires to serve Me. He established Our relationship. Walk with Me. I will show you what real life is as your old life falls away. As We spend time together, you will cease attempting to be good before Me out of obligation. You will understand what real love is and desire that more than you desire to sin. It is the way of the cross. It is My way. I want it to be your way.”

Gen. 1:31 AMP 

And God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good (suitable, pleasant) and He approved it completely….

Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

5) Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

(6) in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Romans 5:17 NIV 

For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.

 

The pursuit of Jesus usually begins for our good and pleasure. He meets our needs, brings us to salvation, and makes us feel good every time we go to Him. That’s good for us. There comes a time, however, that we understand the Father’s plan more clearly.

He shows us that this relationship is not only about us and our needs. He brings us to an increasing level of maturity. As we begin to understand His character better, we understand and move with His heart more often. As this action, response, action, response relationship continues, we gain more of His heart, and love more and more as He loves. We also begin to identify with His heart so closely that it becomes our heart.

The closer we get, we actually fall in love with His ways and move from admiration of Him to a love for Him. Getting to know Him and His ways leads to increasing love for Him, because we are changed more and more from being in His presence. Once we know Him, we act in a way that pleases Him because of the love for Him that has been placed in our hearts.

I submit to Your love, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“There is going to come a time in your land when I will ask you to feed many when there is no visible food around. I may ask you to bring someone back to life after they have by all appearances taken their last breath. I may ask you to go where it is unsafe, so that I can be your safety. If I do, will you go? Will you believe in the unseen if I tell you to do so? Will you speak into existence something that is not to be found unless you do what I tell you to do? One day, your life may depend on your ability to believe in Me and hear Me correctly when I speak to you. That day is not far off. I suggest that you get serious about Our relationship.”

Isaiah 30:21 NIV

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying “This is the way; walk in it.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV 

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

Matt.16:19 AMP

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth must be whatever is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth must be what is already loosed in heaven.

John 14:12 NIV

“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”

 

I believe that there is coming a time when many of us will be used to display the wonders of our Lord. These wonders will be far from the shams and manipulations that are so rampant these days. I am convinced that when Jesus is our only hope, He will be there for us. I further believe that the training that we are going through at this present time is building our faith and preparing us for the days ahead.

It is vitally important to realize that we are in training. We must learn the lessons that we are being taught and be willing to one day be used to implement them for our Lord’s higher purposes.

Teach me Your ways, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Would you be ready to move the instant I call you to do so? Would you be willing to go whenever and wherever I tell you to go? Would you need to know what awaits you when you get there? I want you to be prepared to do what I ask you to do, when I ask you to do it, no matter what the cost is to you. If that seems harsh, you have become complacent in your calling as My servant, and too comfortable in your world. If I can’t move you, I can’t use you as I desire. I need you to be ready to hear My voice in the season ahead. Set your heart to My ways now so that you are ready when I call upon you to do whatever I ask.”

Matthew 16:22-23 NIV

22) Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!”

23) Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Out of My sight, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”

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. Then come, follow me.”

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.”

 

Why would we be the only generation that thinks it is too inconvenient to give up our comfort to do the bidding of our Lord? I wonder how many of us would sell everything we have and go wherever the Lord asks us to go. What kind of force would He have to use to convince us that it really was Him who asked us to go?

If you study the patterns of the lives of those who were powerfully used by the Lord, they were asked to do some unique things. Some were called to the arena to be eaten by lions and mastiffs. I would call that pretty radical and quite far from a comfort zone of any kind. Others were driven from their houses. Paul was beaten with rods and then got up to go preach some more.

Maybe we are more special in God’s eyes. Is that it? Maybe He doesn’t think that we should be uncomfortable because He loves us more than those poor folk. What do you think?

I think that we have hardened our hearts to the point where He can’t move many of us in the manner He would like. I think that He has called us, but we don’t love Him and His Word enough to respond. Lord, help us!

Open my ears and my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

“Do you remember what Jesus said? He said that He came to give you life and to give it to you in abundance. As you trust in Him, you have every means at your disposal to have the most abundant life available to mankind. The world has only half of the story. They can only see what is directly in front of them and try to find happiness from those limited resources. Because of their choices, or their lack of knowledge, they must make decisions based on half-truths and conjecture. Their basis for truth is limited in scope because they have no knowledge of Me and of what Jesus has done for them. Their eyes have not been opened and their hearts have not been renewed.

"You, on the other hand, have been given a gift of astounding worth. The full impact of that worth will only be revealed to you when you are with Me. For now though, you see from both sides of the cross. In your new birth and in all the resources that come with it, you have every tool necessary to thrive during this lifetime. Because of Jesus, you know the beginning, the middle, and the end of everything that would impact your choices and decisions. You have hope, no matter what is before you. You have unlimited help in time of need. There is nothing that you lack, should you receive. Everything that you need is yours in abundance. Draw close to Me and I will show you what is yours because of what Jesus has done. You have inherited an abundant life now and for eternity.”

John 10:10b AMP

I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

II Cor. 3:16 AMP 

But whenever a person turns [in repentance] to the Lord, the veil is stripped off and taken away.

 

Did you ever watch a movie where only one half of a map was found? Until the other half was joined with it, there was no way that the treasure could be discovered. That is really the essence of the story of the cross of Jesus Christ.

Before our new spiritual birth - one that we received when we accepted His life, death, and resurrection as absolute truth, making Him Lord of our lives - we were blind, foolish, and ignorant, groping for answers and using limited resources. Once our eyes were opened, we realized how dangerous our former existence was.

I came to the Lord as a dope-smoking, stupid person, totally out of answers. I didn’t even have any questions or comments left, other than: “God, if you’re real, and you want my miserable life, you can have it.”  I had no idea that a completely different life, one totally opposite to my almost surreal existence, was available to me all along.

Once, when I was just sitting in the woods enjoying Jesus, He showed me that this world has two parallel roads. At any time, we can get off the one that leads to destruction and begin traveling on the other that leads to eternal life. Before we come to Christ, however, we can only see the road that is under our feet. After we come to Christ, we have eyes to see both the new road that we are on, and the one that others are on - the one we just left. He showed me that my job was to tell those who only know of the road that they are on that another one is available to them.

Holding the other half of the map for anyone who wants to see it,

Jim Corbett