Keys Storehouse

Keys to the Storehouse – Springing Forth

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As I was sitting for my morning study I began reading Isaiah 61:11, “For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth …” I paused. My mind was drawn out to my own garden. My heart was awed at the thought that God was causing my little seeds to spring forth into beautiful plants providing vegetables. All I could do was lift up my heart heavenward to praise and thank Him for the miracle He has brought forth in my backyard!

I then read a little further, “… so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.” That righteousness and praise is going to spring forth through you and through me! We are plants in the Lord’s vineyard and the thought that the Lord is causing righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations, before our neighbors, our family, our workplace is so awesome!

  • Wow, what a miracle the Lord hath wrought within each one of us.
  • What a miracle that the world is removed from our hearts and our lives.
  • What a miracle that we can walk in heavenly places right in our own little circle of life.
  • We are walking miracles! Praise the Lord!

My dear brother and sister, “God can breathe new life into every soul that sincerely desires to serve Him, and can touch the lips with a live coal from off the altar, and cause them to become eloquent with His praise. Thousands of voices will be imbued with the power to speak forth the wonderful truths of God’s word. The stammering tongue will be unloosed, and the timid will be made strong to bear courageous testimony to the truth.” The Review and Herald, July 20, 1886.

God will breathe new life into you just as He causes new life to sprout from a seed in your garden. Read again Isaiah 61:11 and ask God to “cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all” through you today. He has promised—He will never fail you if you truly believe and follow Him.

“May the Lord help His people to cleanse the soul temple from every defilement, and to maintain such a close connection with Him that they may be partakers of the latter rain when it shall be poured out.” Ibid.

 

Father:
Breathe new life into my soul and cause praise to flow forth. I desire to serve Thee. Touch my lips with a live coal from off the altar and cause them to become eloquent with Thy praise. I want my stammering tongue to be unloosed, and be made strong to bear courageous testimony to Your truths. Cause new life to spring forth through me to Thy glory. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Undimmed Flame

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An undimmed flame is not dull, faint, gloomy or blurred; it is bright! “Their light burned with undimmed flame through the night of watching. It helped to swell the illumination for the bridegroom’s honor. Shining out in the darkness, it helped to illuminate the way to the home of the bridegroom, to the marriage feast.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 414.

We are in that night of watching! What is that light burning with undimmed flame? What is that light that is shining on the path of many people, directing their eyes heavenward? It is God’s character shining forth through us! This is that “undimmed flame … shining out in the darkness.” This is God’s character, His thoughts and feelings, shining through us. We are told that the “thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 310. This is that undimmed flame!

“So the followers of Christ are to shed light into the darkness of the world. Through the Holy Spirit,

  • God’s word is a light
  • as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 414.

As God’s word becomes a transforming power in our lives, it becomes that light shining forth into the darkness! “By implanting in their hearts the principles of His word, the Holy Spirit develops in men the attributes of God.

  • The light of His glory—His character—is to shine forth in His followers.
  • Thus they are to glorify God,
  • to lighten the path to the Bridegroom’s home,
  • to the city of God,
  • to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” Ibid.

Is your light burning with undimmed flame, lighting the path to the city of God? Has the light of God’s word become a transforming power in your life?  Remember: “Through the Holy Spirit, God’s word is a light as it becomes a transforming power in the life of the receiver.” Ibid. [Emphasis supplied.] Are you transformed?

The foolish virgins had light from God’s word, but had not the transforming power in their life. “We cannot keep Christ apart from our lives here, and yet be fitted for His companionship in heaven.” Ibid. Do you belong to Christ or the world? Do you shine or are you beclouded?

To His people God says, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and His glory shall be seen upon thee” (Isaiah 60:1, 2).

 

Father: Let the Holy Spirit transform my life that I may shine forth. May the Holy Spirit, through Your Word, develop in me Your attributes. I do not want to end up a foolish virgin. Let the light of Thy character shine through me. Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Don’t Shirk

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A shirker is somebody who gets out of responsibility. Do you shirk? Do you allow others to bear the responsibility while you sit back and watch or maybe even murmur? Or do you bear and strengthen the team?

“Caleb was faithful and steadfast. He was not boastful, he made no parade of his merits and good deeds; but his influence was always on the side of right. And what was his reward? When the Lord denounced judgments against the men who refused to hearken to His voice, He said: ‘But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.’ ” Testimonies, vol. 5, 303.

Which class do you occupy: cowards and murmurers or are you classed with the faithful Caleb? While the cowards and murmurers perished in the wilderness, faithful Caleb had a home in the promised Canaan. The Lord God of Israel saith, “… for them that honor Me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed” (1 Samuel 2:30).

“Hannah prayed and trusted; and in her son Samuel she gave to the Israel of God a most precious treasure—a useful man, with a well-formed character, one who was as firm as a rock where principle was concerned.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 304.

What treasure do you offer to our Lord—a  well-formed heavenly character or a well-formed earthly character?

“In Joppa there was a Dorcas, whose skillful fingers were more active than her tongue. She knew who needed comfortable clothing and who needed sympathy, and she freely ministered to the wants of both classes. And when Dorcas died, the church in Joppa realized their loss. It is no wonder that they mourned and lamented, nor that warm teardrops fell upon the inanimate clay. She was of so great value that by the power of God she was brought back from the land of the enemy, that her skill and energy might still be a blessing to others.” Ibid.

Are your fingers more active than your tongue? Do you offer sympathy and comfort when needed?

“Such patient, prayerful, and persevering fidelity as was possessed by these saints of God is rare; yet the church cannot prosper without it. It is needed in the church, in the Sabbath school, and in society. Many come together in church relationship with their natural traits of character unsubdued; and in a crisis, when strong, hopeful spirits are needed, they give up to discouragement and bring burdens on the church; and they do not see that this is wrong. The cause does not need such persons, for they are unreliable; but there is always a call for steadfast, God-fearing workers, who will not faint in the day of adversity.” Ibid.

Heavenly Father: Keep me from becoming a coward or a murmurer. Make me like faithful Caleb. Use me as an instrument of Thy righteousness. I offer you my heart to fill with Your love and mercy and sympathy and comfort so that others around me may be blessed. Don’t ever allow me to shirk, but to strengthen all around me through Thy grace, which is truly sufficient. Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Personalizing God’s Word

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What do I say to the Lord? How do I talk to Him? Would you like to sit in His presence where you will find fullness of joy? Come, let us “talk” with our Lord. Let us transform the word of God into personalized prayers which will draw our hearts heavenward and which will cause us to sit in heavenly places.

Do you really want to know what God’s will is for you so that you may walk worthy of Him? Then let’s look at one of the many “keys” in God’s word that will cause your heart to plead for such a knowledge with such heart yearning, that the Holy Spirit will carry it heavenward and you will receive the thing you ask for if it truly is your heart’s desire and your heart is in unison with the Father’s will. This key is very appropriate to use when you come to spend time with Him in His word.

Open the word of God to Colossians 1:9–11. Read these three verses as they are in your Bible. My KJV reads: “For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”

Beginning at the word desire, add I and personalize these verses:

Father in heaven, I desire to be filled with the knowledge of Thy will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding that I may walk worthy of Thee unto all pleasing; being fruitful in every good work and increasing in a knowledge of Thee. It is my desire to be strengthened with all might according to Thy glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.

“How complete this prayer is! There is no limit to the blessings that it is our privilege to receive. We may be ‘filled with the knowledge of his will.’ The Holy Ghost would never have inspired Paul to offer this prayer in behalf of his brethren, if it had not been possible for them to receive an answer from God in accordance with the request. Since this is so, we know that God’s will is manifested to His people as they need a clearer understanding of His will.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 7, 906.

What did you just pray for? Is this the desire of your heart? Do you delight yourself in the Lord? If this is so, turn to Psalm 37:4 and claim that most wonderful promise. My KJV version reads: “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” What a promise! Send up a prayer right now claiming that promise:

Oh Lord, I do delight myself in Thee and You have promised to give me the desires of my heart if I delight myself in Thee. I know that it is Thy will that I be filled with a knowledge of Thy will that I may walk worthy of Thee unto all pleasing and be fruitful in every good work. Lord, I want to be strengthened with all might unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. I claim this promise right now that you will give me the desires of my heart because I delight myself in Thee and this is my heart’s desire.

Turn the words of God into your prayer, your “key to the storehouse,” and then claim the promise found in Psalm 37:4. Just remember that if you truly delight thyself in the Lord, He will give you the desires of your heart because your heart is pleading to be one with His. May God bless you tremendously as you use this “key.”

Keys to the Storehouse – Lord, Give Me Strength

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We have no strength except what comes from God. We need to ask Him for that strength daily. I have a hard time finding just the right words to speak to God. I know what is in my heart, but I cannot find the right words. Yes, I know He knows my heart, but I want to talk to my Father in heaven, as I am sure you do also. I want to commune with Him personally, and I want Him to commune with me. Sometimes as I sit searching for words, He inspires me with exactly what I need to say because He already knows what is in my heart.

In the morning hours, especially when I see everything that needs to be done, I tend to feel overwhelmed. My Lord shared this prayer with me one day while I was reading and the words were just what my heart yearned for, but had been unable to verbalize. Now I can speak what my heart wants to say and I know that He hears me. He will hear you also as you lift up your heart to Him.

O Lord, give me strength to fulfill the duties of this day and to meet its temptations and trials. Help me to bring into my work Christ’s sweetness of character. Help me to speak words that will draw those around me nearer to Christ.

You will see the answers to this heartfelt prayer throughout the day. Lift your heart heavenward and plead with your Father to give you strength. Plead for the sweetness of Christ’s character to flow through you and touch others that their hearts also may be lifted to Him. If Christ’s sweetness of character is working in and through you, other hearts will be lifted up because you first reached for the Lord’s inspiration.

We are told that “character is the great harvest of life. And every word or deed that through the grace of Christ shall kindle in one soul an impulse that reaches heavenward, every effort that tends to the formation of a Christlike character, is laying up treasure in heaven.” Thoughts from the Mount of Blessings, 90.

It is my desire to lay up treasure in heaven. Is it yours? Is it the desire of your heart that the words you speak may cause another person’s heart to be lifted heavenward? Then ask for it. He will give you words to speak that will draw those around you to Him. He will give you strength to fulfill your duties today, if you ask Him.

God has promised you that if you delight yourself in Him, He will give you the desires of your heart. (Psalm 37:4.) Tell Him that this is the desire of your heart for today.

May God bless you and those hearts you touch as you use this Key to the Storehouse.

Keys to the Storehouse – Crossing the Boundary

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Not too long ago, I was reading and relaxing on a Sabbath afternoon. After a short while I realized that my attention had been removed from what I was reading and focused on the clock. After several times of being redirected to the clock, I realized that the devil had found an area where he was hooking my attention and directing it to the cares of the world. He was drawing my mind to things that I had planned to do after sunset! He knew what I had planned and so now here I was watching the clock, counting down until sunset. What a shock to catch myself like that!

My mind was then directed to something I had read. “Truth that is not lived … loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue.” The Ministry of Healing, 149.

I believe in keeping the Sabbath holy and thinking upon heavenly things and here I was thinking about and looking forward to this event after the Sabbath—I was clock watching! I was drifting away from doing right. Do you understand the meaning of iniquity? It is deviating from right!  There was iniquity in my heart at that moment—I was deviating from the right! What a shock for me.

I caught myself transgressing the 4th commandment by crossing over the bounds of the Sabbath—not keeping it holy! Oh, my heart broke, knowing that I had broken over the bounds of the law—knowing that I had transgressed the law. Do you see how sneaky that devil can be? I am so thankful that I had read about how the truth can lose its life-giving power if not lived. I am so thankful that the Holy Spirit brought that to my mind as a warning! I want to always live the truth!

We need to always fill our minds with Bible and Spirit of Prophecy so that the Holy Spirit can alert us to the danger we may be in. I bowed my knees and asked for forgiveness and I am thankful that God has promised, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Remember:

  • Iniquity = deviation from right—even if it is just a little thing, a wrongful act
  • Transgression = to break over the bounds of the law, even a little over the boundary
  • Sin = transgress, neglect or disregard the divine law or any requirement of right or duty

God loves us and sends all heaven to alert us of our danger! Praise God for His unrelenting love.

O Heavenly Father: I am so thankful for Your mercies to each one of us—to alerting us to the dangers on our pathway and redirecting us away from those so-called little sins and little distractions. Each of us continue to pray, “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psalm 17:5). Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Sly Change

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Satan does not like it when you reflect the character of Jesus. He is out to corrupt your character without you realizing what he is doing—on the sly. Why do you think you have all of those little temptations? That is part of the brainwashing of the devil. Those temptations may seem “little” to you, but look at the damage they cause when you fall.

“Every act of transgression reacts upon the sinner, works in him a change of character, and makes it more easy for him to transgress again.” The Faith I Live By, 84.

Understand that is just what the devil wants—he wants you to change your Christlike character to reflect his character. Look around and see how many are reflecting the devil by representing his character!

1 Corinthians 2:16 tells us that we have the mind of Christ. The devil does not like that. He did not like it when Jesus walked this earth and he could not turn Him from right. Are you an easy prey? Can he turn our minds, little by little, from doing well and to thinking like he does? He sure can!

Wow, watch out! Satan is sneaky—he has caught me off my guard several times! We are God’s by creation and redemption.

“God would have us realize that He has a right to mind, soul, body, and spirit—to all that we possess. We are His by creation and by redemption. As our Creator, He claims our entire service. As our Redeemer, He has a claim of love as well as of right—of love without a parallel. This claim we should realize every moment of our existence.” The Review and Herald, November 24, 1896.

Remember, the devil has done nothing for us but cause heartache and trouble. We want the heavenly universe to rejoice over us. “The inhabitants of unfallen worlds and of the heavenly universe are watching with an intense interest the conflict between good and evil. They rejoice as Satan’s subtleties, one after another, are discerned and met with ‘It is written,’ as Christ met them in His conflict with the wily foe. Every victory gained is a gem in the crown of life. In the day of victory all the universe of heaven triumphs. The harps of the angels send forth the most precious music, accompanying the melody of the voice.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 6, 1088.

I want evidence of many victories in my crown—how about you?

Father: I want the unfallen worlds to rejoice as they see me gain the victory over these little temptations with a “thus saith the Lord.” I want to join them when Jesus returns. I choose to give to You my entire service and not to serve the devil—even in the little things. I do not want that sneaky devil to catch me off guard. Bless me Father that I may be faithful to You. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse — Finding Favor?

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“And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Luke 2:52

It is our desire to be in favor with both God and man! That may not always be possible today, especially if you are serious about wanting to remain in favor with God. So, the searching question is: whose favor is first in your life? Is it your children? Is it your spouse? Is it your taste buds? Or maybe you favor appearances? What is your desire in finding favor?

“They [the children of Israel] desired something which they could look upon to resemble God. The gods of the Egyptians were in their minds, and Satan was improving this opportunity, in the absence of their appointed leader, to tempt them to imitate the Egyptians in their idolatry. They suggested that if Moses should never return to them, they could return into Egypt, and find favor with the Egyptians, by bearing this image before them, acknowledging it as their god.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 274, 275.

Are you “bearing this image” of television, movies or the way you dress, to find favor with the world? “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. … I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me” (Psalm 101:2, 3).

“… and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play.” Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 273.

We are living in the tarrying time—waiting for our Lord to return. During this time many would like to be “part of” or “accepted by” the Egyptians—the world, the “house of bondage.” God said to each of us: “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).

Why would you choose to return to the house of bondage—the worldly ways from which you were delivered? Why would you want to eat, drink and be merry with those who are not walking with your Lord? Are you looking to be friends with the world because your Lord has not yet returned? Many have lowered the Christian standards of dress, diet, and lifestyle, to “find favor” with and fit in the world.

Tragically, mingling with the world will cause many to lose favor with the Lord. Will you be called a “stiff-necked people” having lost your piety and consecration to God, and forfeit His protection? (see Spiritual Gifts, vol. 3, 282.)

While we tarry, focus on the preparation of our hearts and minds for the soon coming of our Lord. We want to find favor with God and not with fallen man.

“… choose you this day whom ye will serve …” (Joshua 24:15).

Heavenly Father: Preserve us from the ways of this world which lead us away from Thee. Give us the strength to stand for right and to not be moved by any attractions that may beckon us to return to Egypt from whence You have rescued us. We choose to find favor with Thee. We choose not to be a stiff-necked people. “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psalm 17:5). Thank you Lord. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Actions Speak Louder Than Words

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What are your actions speaking to others? What is your lifestyle saying? You may speak the words of Christianity, but actions speak louder than words.

John the Baptist protected himself from worldly influences.

“John did not feel strong enough to stand the great pressure of temptation he would meet in society. He feared his character would be molded according to the prevailing customs. … In the wilderness, John could the more readily deny himself and bring his appetite under control, and dress in accordance to natural simplicity. And there was nothing in the wilderness that would take his mind from meditation and prayer. Satan had access to John, even after he had closed every avenue in his power through which he would enter. But his habits of life were so pure and natural that he could discern the foe, and had strength of spirit and decision of character to resist him.” The Spirit of Prophecy, vol. 2, 47. [Emphasis supplied.]

“If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” Mind, Character and Personality, vol. 2, 660.’ ‘

“Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord …” (2 Corinthians 6:17).

If actions truly speak louder than words, then, like John the Baptist, we must pull away from the world and its lifestyles, its ways of eating, drinking and living so that we may be under the control of the Holy Spirit and not under the control of the unholy spirit. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” (1 John 2:15).

“… a man may profess to believe the truth of the soon coming of the Saviour, that the end of all things is at hand; but who will care for that, so long as he acts as though he was expecting a great while to come; so long as he continues absorbed in his worldly interests, and is heaping up treasures to himself, adding house to house, and land to land? A person’s life never lies; and whatever he preaches by this, no amount of profession or precept will counteract; for ‘actions speak louder than words.’ But when he begins to live out this belief, when he is willing to let himself and his possessions be a consuming sacrifice upon the altar of the Lord, when he is active and energetic in warning his fellow-men of the wrath to come, and presents in all his actions an example consistent with his profession, there is a sensation at once in the ranks of the enemy.” The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, vol. 7, March 13, 1856, 188.

“Be not deceived …” (Galatians 6:7).

Do not be led astray by the customs and actions of the world which seem to be okay because a multitude is following them. “Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil …” (Exodus 23:2). If your thoughts and actions are more on worldly ways than on the Lord and His ways, you have been deceived! Your actions speak louder!

Heavenly Father: Do not allow me to be so involved with worldly interests that I am drawn away from Your presence and led astray by the customs and actions of the spirit of this world and thus people will not be touched by Your Holy Spirit through me. Oh the terrible loss of souls because my worldly actions may speak louder than my words. Lord, remove the worldly ways from my heart that You may shine through. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Little Sir Echo

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There is a children’s song that used to be quite popular many years ago called Little Sir Echo. There are good echoes and there are evil echoes. There is an echo which preceded that song which carries with it a spiritual loss, a loss of eternal life for many who believe it. It is an echo from the Garden of Eden, a lying echo. As Eve was questioning God’s withholding of the beautiful fruit, we are told: “Eve was surprised and startled as she thus seemed to hear the echo of her thoughts.” Patriarchs and Prophets, 54.

Her thoughts were questioning God’s request! It is even now that many will question God’s wisdom in withholding foods, etc., and, wonder of wonders, they will hear an echo of their thoughts. Satan cannot read your thoughts but he can tell by your actions, what you are looking at and coveting after and he will make sure, through the voice of friends or family, that it is okay to question God and to go against His will.

“What is this but an echo of the voice from Eden, ‘In the day ye eat thereof’—transgress the divine requirement—‘ye shall be as gods’ (Genesis 3:5)? Satan claimed to have received great good by eating of the forbidden fruit … .” Ibid., 55.

Oh how many times we hear that God is love and it will be okay to transgress a little and it tastes so good so it really can’t be that bad anyway. Little Sir Echo—the echo that does not tell the whole truth! What was the whole truth?

“… he [Satan] did not let it appear that by transgression he had become an outcast from heaven. Though he had found sin to result in infinite loss, he concealed his own misery in order to draw others into the same position.” Ibid., 55.

He concealed his misery! He concealed his loss! Will you be blinded by following that little echo for temporal pleasure and become an outcast? For Adam, “Love, gratitude, loyalty to the Creator—all were overborne by love to Eve.” Ibid., 56. Are you following that little echo through friends and family and choosing them over God’s precious Word? Will you be found in that same misery when the books are opened and the Great Judge looks upon your actions? We cannot use the excuse: “the devil made me do it.”

God offers you eternal life through Jesus Christ and a life with Him for an eternity of unbelievable happiness. Will you follow the little echo and live for now in disobedience or will you follow on in obedience to the glory of God, and be called to live for eternity with all of the heavenly family?

Do not be like Eve who fell when she listened to the little echo but stand strong in the Lord’s army not allowing anything to turn your feet from walking with Him.

Heavenly Father: Thank You for the warnings You have given in mercy because of Your love toward me. I am so thankful for freedom of choice, but I need the mind of Jesus to work in and through me. I need to recognize the little echo that may be drawing me into evil thoughts or actions. “Lead me, O Lord, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face” (Psalm 5:8). Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. Amen.