6/20/15

“Long ago I called you by your name to spend eternity with Me. I know who you have been. I know who you are and are not at this very moment. I know who you will become as you surrender more and more to Jesus and His work in you. You are part of My eternal plan. You are part of My heart. I will never leave you! I love you! You are Mine and I cherish you!”

Psalm 111:2 NIV

Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them.

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.”

Matthew 10:29-31 NIV

²⁹“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father.

³⁰And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

³¹So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

Hebrews 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, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

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Help me to understand the depth of Your love for me, so that I might walk in freedom. Help me to understand the depth of Your love for others, so that I might love them as You love them. Help me to love You completely, so that I might bring glory to Your Name.

I choose to love You with all my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/19/15

“Be careful! The enemy is a master of entrapment. He is giving commands to ensnare you, in order to destroy your witness for Me. You must walk in the Spirit that I have given you. Give no place for your flesh in your dealings with the world, or you could find yourself destroying the testimony that I have given you. A spirit of intolerance has been loosed on your land. That spirit, combined with hatred and anger, hold dangerous potential situations and volatile confrontations for you, if you succumb to their siren song rather than walking in the peace of My Spirit. You will find yourself in way over your head before you know it. Your time will no longer be your own.

When you are confronted, turn away. When Your reputation is challenged, allow Me to be your defense. When your rights are violated, be careful to consult Me and very wise counsel before you respond, or you may find yourself falling into the trap set for you. Love when you are hated. Forgive those who don’t know what they are doing. Pray for those who are serving other masters. Be wise in all of your actions.”

Matthew 5:7 NIV

“Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”

Luke 23:34 NIV

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

Gal. 5:24-25 AMP

²⁴And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.

²⁵If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]

Eph. 6:13 AMP

Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].

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Some time ago, the Lord made me very aware of the darkness that is beginning to cover this land. Part of it is an intolerant, warring spirit. This spirit is ready to fight at the slightest provocation. I’m not talking about a protection against evil mentality, such as a parent would exhibit guarding his child. Satan has loosed his spirit into those who have chosen not to serve the Lord. It is a spirit of murder and will manifest itself to the degree that the host allows.

We live in a dangerous world that is changing for the worse by the moment. Although this is foretold, we believers need to understand the Lord’s antidote for its hazards. Every protective mechanism available to us is found in the character of Christ.

The command to walk and conduct ourselves as He walked and conducted Himself is perceived as only a suggestion when there is peace and safety all around. When potential harm lurks within most encounters and everyday situations, responding to them as Jesus would becomes our only place of safety.

Study the Word, specifically those passages that reveal the Lord’s responses while He was with us. Study the Sermon on the Mount. Study Paul’s directions on how to act when confronted. The time for reckless actions and arrogant demands because we are “in the right” is soon coming to an end. I am convinced that the Lord is going to teach us through hardship what we would not learn voluntarily about living as Jesus lived in our world. Guard your heart from anger at any cost. Choose your words, actions, and responses prayerfully.

Teach me to respond as You do, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/18/15

“When I bring people into your life, it is for many reasons. One of the main reasons is so that you know how to pray for them. As you become more familiar with their lives, you will know what their spiritual needs are. If they can’t come to Me, you come on their behalf. If they can’t see truth, you pray that their eyes will be opened. If they have little strength to battle the enemies all around them, you do the warfare. If you are really following Me, then you will always give your best and always for the good of others. I gave Myself. Jesus gave Himself. Now you give yourself for others in need. It is the way of the cross.”

Exodus 17:12 AMP

But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.

Esther 4:13-14 AMP

¹³Then Mordecai told them to return this answer to Esther. Do not flatter yourself that you shall escape in the king’s palace any more than all the other Jews.

¹⁴For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance shall arise for the Jews from elsewhere, but you and your father’s house shall perish. And who knows but that you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion?

Gal. 4:19 NIV

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

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB

¹²So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

¹³Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

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It is so easy to judge someone and then turn away. So often we feel that if we are told to separate ourselves from someone who cannot hear or will not see, then that is the end of it. Most of the time, we miss God and His intent for the limited association. We are told to pray for our enemies. How much more should we pray for our brothers and sisters who have been blinded or are weak in the faith?

If you are trustworthy, the Lord will bring the wounded, the broken, the liars, the control freaks, and the hypocrites of the faith across your path. He will send you His needy, the ones everyone else would throw away as soon as they are exposed. You may be told not to walk closely with them, but you must pray for them. You may be the last in a line of warriors sent on their behalf before He turns them over to their sin. Your diligence is needed. Your faithfulness is required if you say that you abide in Christ.

Let me see with Your eyes, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/17/15

“Now is not the time to make eternal mistakes. Make sure that what you believe and who you are listening to align perfectly with My Word. If you have become complacent in your relationship with Me, do what it takes to draw close now. If you are not in My Word to have solid foundation for what you believe, drop everything and go there. If you have friends who say they know the Lord but are not serious about honoring Jesus, or care little about the sin in their lives, walk away from them. They are stumbling blocks and will hinder you from drawing close yourself.

Whatever is consuming your time, whatever is hindering you from drawing close, whatever is stopping you from making Me your priority, remove it or nullify its influence on you. Time is too short to play spiritual games.”

Haggai 1:7-10 AMP

⁷Thus says the Lord of hosts: Consider your ways (your previous and present conduct) and how you have fared.

⁸Go up to the hill country and bring lumber and rebuild [My] house, and I will take pleasure in it and I will be glorified, says the Lord [by accepting it as done for My glory and displaying My glory in it].

⁹You looked for much [harvest], and behold, it came to little; and even when you brought that home, I blew it away. Why? says the Lord of hosts. Because of My house, which lies waste while you yourselves run each man to his own house [eager to build and adorn it].

¹⁰Therefore the heavens above you [for your sake] withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its produce.

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.

Acts 15:36-40 AMP

³⁶And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along.

³⁷Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark [his near relative].

³⁸But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work.

³⁹And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus.

⁴⁰But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favor and mercy) of the Lord.

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Walking with the Lord is serious stuff. In fact, our relationship with Jesus is the most important relationship we will ever have. Why, then, is it placed behind most everything that seems more urgent or fun?

I am noticing that the Lord has noticed our reversed priorities. This is a topic He addresses quite regularly. He is serious; I think that we had better get serious.

Change my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/16/15

“Who is calling My people to holiness? Who is heralding the need to drop all pretenses of religion and bring the bench mark of Jesus back as truth? There is a plumb line from which I have never moved, even though some with loud voices may say that I have. When compromise is used to bring people to Me and teach Who I am not, a weak form of religion replaces a quest for holiness and a heart craving only My presence.

Some of you need to reassess what My Word says about who you are supposed to be when you call yourself a follower of Jesus. Truth is truth, no matter how many times an attempt is made to dilute it. Find My truths again. Step out from the mire of those who have watered down My Word. Shake off the mediocrity that has invaded your life. Become passionate for Me once again.”

Isaiah 43:21 NIV

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

Isaiah 46:9-10 AMP

⁹[Earnestly] remember the former things, [which I did] of old; for I am God, and there is no one else; I am God, and there is none like Me.

¹⁰Declaring the end and the result from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand and I will do all My pleasure and purpose.

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.”

John 3:30 AMP

He must increase, but I must decrease. [He must grow more prominent; I must grow less so.]

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Have you noticed that in some cases, loud voices and manipulative tactics seem to be accepted as an anointing? People seem to flock to demonstrative speakers, sometimes at the risk of accepting another gospel, one that is self-serving rather than Christ-serving

Everything that I read in the Word indicates that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, are called to lay our lives down in service to the Lord. We are no longer our own. We have been bought with the precious blood of Jesus and are to live His life of holiness before a world that is minute by minute heading for destruction.

What kind of gospel are you proclaiming by your life? Is it the Gospel that Jesus proclaimed because you have studied His Word and His life, and will accept no other way; or is it a gospel that someone else has given you and you have only emotional feelings and someone else’s ideas on which you base your belief?

Teach me Your truth, Lord,

Jim Corbett

6/15/15

“Do you really know how often you walk in fear rather than in freedom? You simply don’t believe what I say. You don’t even believe My Word. If you did, peace would reign in your heart. There would be no doubt of My intentions for you. You, however, seem to desire to believe the lies of the enemy of your soul and the prince of this world, rather than the One Who made you. Would you consider that you might be believing a lie? Could it be possible that you have been wrong all this time, and need to redirect your life to become one of total acceptance of My Word in every area of your life?

Maybe it is time for you to change your allegiance from listening to the habits and voices that contend for your thoughts to taking My Word as your only source of truth. I would really like that. It would delight My heart to see you walk in the power and authority that I intend for you. Much more could be accomplished if so much time wasn’t diverted by you needing Me to confirm My love over and over before you will move on My behalf and for the good of others. By the time you have been reassured of what you should have known long ago, most real opportunities have passed. I was not able to call upon you. I went to someone else.

You need to settle My love for you and the absolute reliability of My Word in your heart once and for all. Come, let’s walk together. I will show you absolute truth. I will defeat your enemies. I will confirm My Word in your heart. Together We will bring souls to freedom. I am always with you. Begin to really believe that, settle it deep within your inner being; and your life will be in a position for Me to use you in ways far beyond your wildest dreams.”

Ephesians 3:16 NIV

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being...

2 Timothy 3:16-17 AMP

¹⁶Every Scripture is God-breathed (given by His inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, [and] for training in righteousness (in holy living, in conformity to God’s will in thought, purpose, and action),

¹⁷So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Hebrews 11:6 NIV

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Hebrews 12:12-13 NLB

¹²So take a new grip with your tired hands and stand firm on your shaky legs.

¹³Mark out a straight path for your feet. Then those who follow you, though they are weak and lame, will not stumble and fall but will become strong.

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It really is time to get on with the business of moving in the direction in which God is moving. Indications all around us signify that our world is changing at a high rate of speed, heading toward the coming of Christ. Any moment, things as we know them could change as promised, unfolding the end-time plans of God even more clearly. The freedoms and liberties that we so enjoy may soon be a thing of the past. For the sake of the Lord, and for the welfare of those who are too weak to make it during promised great hardship, we - who call ourselves Christians - need to be ready.

As I was doing this study, I suddenly realized that I had the liberty to reference six different Bible translations to find the best version to complement the Father’s Heart. I could have gone to several more if necessary.

God has given us Christians in this country such access to Himself and to His Word, that there really is no reason for us to be weak in our belief of Him. He has allowed us free interaction with each other for developing additional strength. He has prospered us immensely. Most of us have enough for ourselves, and many of us have more than enough to share with others. His bounty is very evident. Still, we don’t hear His heart. We don’t accept His love fully. We don’t prioritize our lives to conform to His will. We say we do, and in comparison to others who are doing absolutely nothing to defend the Name of the Lord, we appear as if we are living only for Him: but we aren’t. We really don’t believe His Word. If we did, wouldn’t we be living our lives much differently?

Needing to see, hear, and trust. Time is short.

Jim Corbett

6/13/15

“I need you to be a true advocate for Me. What I’m asking is far from a complacent acceptance of Who I am and what Jesus has done. I want you to really defend Me when others mock Who I am. Stand up for Jesus when He is brought low in conversations, or His Name is maligned. Stop being so passive about your love for Me. Stop fearing what others would say if you defended My honor and the honor of Jesus. The world has attempted to quiet My people, so that their lies can be heard. It is working! Your complacency speaks volumes against the power of the cross and nullifies your words of love for Me. Your silence is deafening in the spiritual realm.”

Matt. 5:11-12 NIV

¹¹“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

¹²Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

Matthew 16:24-25 AMP

²⁴Then Jesus said to His disciples, If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself [disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests] and take up his cross and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying, also].

²⁵For whoever is bent on saving his [temporal] life [his comfort and security here] shall lose it [eternal life]; and whoever loses his life [his comfort and security here] for My sake shall find it [life everlasting].

Matthew 26:31 NIV

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will fall away on account of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.”

I Pe. 3:14-16 AMP

¹⁴But even in case you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, [you are] blessed (happy, to be envied). Do not dread or be afraid of their threats, nor be disturbed [by their opposition].

¹⁵But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

¹⁶[And see to it that] your conscience is entirely clear (unimpaired), so that, when you are falsely accused as evildoers, those who threaten you abusively and revile your right behavior in Christ may come to be ashamed [of slandering your good lives].

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Throughout history there have been many followers of Jesus who died rather than renounce their love for Him. There have also been weak, half-hearted believers who renounced Him when they were called upon to testify of their faith.

There is a very subtle form of denial of our faith present in today’s society. It is a practice of saying nothing.

Saying nothing, because it is politically correct, is denial. Saying nothing, when Jesus is made fun of or joked about, is denial. Saying nothing, when a proper word in season in defense of the Lord and His work is in order, is evidence of our weak faith and lack of real love for Whom we say we serve.

Teach me to properly honor You, Lord,

Jim Corbett