Keys Storehouse

Keys to the Storehouse – A Ruffled Collar

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Have you ever gotten your collar ruffled? Well, I must admit that I got my collar really ruffled not too long ago. The first place I ran to was to my corner—to my Comforter, the word of God. At this time, God directed me to Romans 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

The word I specifically looked at was “sufferings.” Looking up the meaning I found that it perfectly described me at that moment. That word suffering also includes emotions, a stirring perturbation or excitement of mind. I really enjoyed that word perturbed which means

  • To disquiet thoroughly
  • To disturb greatly
  • To agitate

That exactly described me at that moment—very perturbed!

  • I was thoroughly disquieted
  • I was greatly disturbed
  • I was really agitated

In fact, I was really in a state of perturbation! And then, as I prayed, God heard, as stated in Psalm 91:15, “He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.”

As God put a smile on my face, I felt all of the perturbation melt away! It is so much easier to bear life’s troubles when we take everything to God in prayer, for these troubles are really His workmen—and it worked! Our God is so merciful—He truly unruffled my collar right then!

I read my verse again, only putting my new word into it, “For I reckon that the ‘perturbations’ of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory (character of God) which shall be revealed in us.”

God had again saved me from the devil’s ploys, or schemes, to destroy me spiritually, emotionally and physically:

  • spiritually, because I did not represent Christ’s Character but the devil’s at that moment and
  • emotionally and physically, because uncontrolled emotions destroy the immune system and cause all kinds of reactions physically, mentally and spiritually.

Remember, trouble makes this earth undesirable and this causes us to lift our hearts to God! This ruffling of my collar caused me to run to God and to sit in heavenly places with Him. And, in His presence, His Holy Spirit put a smile on my face and all of the stress of that moment faded away.

Jesus said: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Prayer is the most appropriate thing to do in the times of trouble. Take everything to God in prayer. Go, talk to God!

 

Father: Thank You for drawing me into Your presence where truly I find fullness of joy. My ruffled collar melted under Your touch and I am so thankful that You protected me from the terrible results that would have happened had I hung onto that perturbation, which really was the attitude of the devil. Truly, in Your presence is fullness of joy! My time with You is always a blessing. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Examine Yourself

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All of us have, at one time or another, picked flaws in the motives and principles of others, thinking that we had good wisdom. Many have overlooked the Bible description of wisdom which says: “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy” (James 3:17). The very next verse states: “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Are you sowing peace or are you trespassing against your neighbor or your Heavenly Father? Another word for trespass is misbehavior or misconduct. It is conduct which does not represent your profession as children of the heavenly kingdom. Daniel felt bad and prayed because of the trespasses of God’s people (Daniel 9:7). In the Old Testament, the Israelites offered trespass offerings, but we rarely hear about these anymore. Is it because we do not think we are misbehaving or often consider whether our conduct meets with heavenly standards? We should examine ourselves to see if we have lost that connection with Jesus that so-called little sins or little misbehaviors seem OK and do not need to be repented of.

“We profess a great and holy faith; and our character must be in accordance with that faith, with God’s great moral standard. Let us shun every mean action, all dishonesty, all overreaching; and if any one is guilty of wrong in this respect, let him confess his sin, and make restitution to the one whom he has wronged, and in addition bring a trespass offering to God, that when the times of refreshing shall come, his sins may be blotted out, and his name retained in the book of life.” Gospel Workers, (1892), 432.

We want our names retained in the book of life! Identify all the sins in your life, repent and bring a trespass offering.

“It would be well to have a trespass-offering box in sight, and have all the household agreed that whosoever speaks unkindly of another or utters angry words, shall drop into the trespass-offering box a certain sum of money. This would put them upon their guard against the wicked words which work injury, not only to their brethren, but to themselves. No man of himself can tame the unruly member, the tongue; but God will do the work for him who comes unto Him with contrite heart in faith and with humble supplication. By the help of God, bridle your tongues; talk less, and pray more. …

“The converting power of God must come into your hearts and transform your characters before you can adorn the gospel of Christ with a well-ordered life and a godly conversation. Then there will be no evil-speaking, no evil surmising, no accusing of your brethren, no secret working to exalt self and disparage others. Christ will reign in your hearts by faith. Your eyes and your tongue will be sanctified, and your ears will refuse to listen to evil reports or suggestions from believers or unbelievers. Your senses, your appetites and passions, will all be under the control of the Spirit of God; they will not be given up to the control of Satan, that he may employ your members as instruments of unrighteousness.” The Review and Herald, March 12, 1895.

Heavenly Father: I have trespassed against you so many times without even considering it sin. I am so sorry to have become so slothful in my thoughts and actions. Please forgive me. Alert me to my danger. “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psalm 17:5). Cleanse my eyes, my ears and my tongue through Your word. I yield myself to Thy Holy Spirit’s control. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Restorers of Paths – The Hedge

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Ezekiel 22:30 says that we are to be that person “… that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap …” In Isaiah 58:12 “… [they that shall be] of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.”

When the enemy attacked a walled town in ancient times, people made up a hedge at the “breach” or the “gap” in the wall. The battle would then be fought right there at the gap. God is looking for a people to stand in the gap, to repair the breach. He wants an army to stand as a “hedge” so the enemy does not break through. Are you prepared to stand and defend God’s law?

God calls for you and me to restore His commandments that have been downtrodden. We restore them by holding them in high regard and obeying them.

Those who hedge that breach, not allowing the enemy to break through are described in Revelation 14:12: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” These saints have patience—that is, they exercise endurance and are steadfast; they respond to the work of the Holy Spirit who sanctifies them and makes them holy; they keep all ten of God’s commandments and they have the faith of Jesus. They are repairers of the breach in the wall.

“Where do we find the people who are thus addressed? Who is it that shall build the old waste places, and raise up the foundation of many generations? Where are the people who have had light from heaven to see that a breach has been made in the law of God?” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1152.

Not all Christians have faith in Christ. Jesus said in Luke 6:46, “Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Faith and obedience can never be separated.

“The Lord has sent us messages for this time to establish Christianity upon an eternal basis, and all who believe present truth must stand, not in their own wisdom, but in God; and raise up the foundation of many generations. These will be registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in. We are to maintain the truth because it is truth, in the face of the bitterest opposition.” “Ellen G. White Comments,” The Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 1152.

Decide today to be one who is “registered in the books of heaven as repairers of the breach, the restorers of paths to dwell in.”

Heavenly Father: I choose to stop tearing down Your law, Your character, and stand with those who are repairing the breach, and restore the paths that lead to Jesus. Help me to be steadfast and earnest in my faith while maintaining the truth in the face of the bitterest opposition. Grant me of Your grace to strengthen me as I join those who are making up the hedge and standing in the gap by maintaining the truth. Amen.