Keys Storehouse

Keys to the Storehouse – The Battle

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How often the battle rages within our souls. Whom will we crucify in our lives—Jesus or Barabbas? The choice is ours. If we crucify Barabbas, the Lord Jesus is free to work a miracle in our hearts, but if we deny and crucify Jesus, we are left alone with no strength to battle the evil one. In the words of an old song written by F. E. Belden in 1908 from “Christ in Song,” pg. 1, came forth the real battle of our hearts: Christ or Barabbas? Whom will you crucify in your life?

Christ or Barabbas?

What shall I do with Jesus? He stands before me now,

Wearing the robe of purple, And thorns upon His brow.

This is the question now; What shall the answer be?

Shall I crucify King Jesus, And set Barabbas free?

 

Shall I release the robber, The carnal man of pride?

Sin or a sinless Saviour? O which shall be denied?

This is the question now; What shall the answer be?

Shall I crucify King Jesus, And set Barabbas free?

 

Solemn and awful question! How still the balance stands!

Mercy a moment lingers, It trembles in her hands.

This is the question now; What shall the answer be?

Shall I crucify King Jesus, And set Barabbas free?

 

Self on the seat of judgment, Dare you the world deny?

Louder and louder calling, “Away!” and “Crucify!”

This is the question now; What shall the answer be?

Shall I crucify King Jesus, And set Barabbas free?

 

Not to the sinner only, The question comes with pow’r,

Hear it, ye halting Christians, In every trial hour.

This is the question now; What shall the answer be?

I will crucify Barabbas and set King Jesus free.

Heavenly Father: The battle rages within my heart—who will reign, Jesus or Barabbas? Too many times I have crucified Jesus and allowed Barabbas to sit upon the throne of my heart. Every trial I go through comes down to the big choice “who receives my heart—Jesus or Barabbas?” Give me courage to shut the door to Barabbas and to open it to Jesus in each and every battle. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Ask Yourself!

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In reality, people often think themselves much more ready for the heavenly country than is actually true. Hearts are deceived as to their true condition—in fact, many of us think that we are ready for Jesus to come, but we are farther away than we think. Consider if Christ were to appear today. Would you, in your current spiritual condition, find yourself out of place or be able to blend in with holy beings?

“Suppose that today Christ should appear in the clouds of heaven, who … would be ready to meet Him? Suppose we should be translated into the kingdom of heaven just as we are.

  • Would we be prepared to unite with the saints of God, to live in harmony with the royal family, the children of the heavenly King?
  • What preparation have you made for the judgment?
  • Have you made your peace with God?
  • Are you laboring together with God?
  • Are you seeking to help those around you, those in your home, those in your neighborhood, those with whom you come in contact that are not keeping the commandments of God? …
  • Are we getting ready to meet the King?” Maranatha

And then the question is asked:

  • “If it were possible for us to be admitted into heaven as we are, how many of us would be able to look upon God?
  • How many of us have on the wedding-garment?
  • How many of us are without spot or wrinkle or any such thing?
  • How many of us are worthy to receive the crown of life? . . . Position does not make the man. It is Christ formed within that makes a man worthy of receiving the crown of life, that fadeth not away.”

“I was pointed to the remnant on the earth. The angel said to them, ‘Will ye shun the seven last plagues? … If so, ye must die that ye may live. Get ready, get ready, get ready. Ye must have a greater preparation than ye now have. … Sacrifice all to God. Lay all upon His altar—self, property, and all, a living sacrifice. It will take all to enter glory.’ …

“If you are right with God today, you are ready if Christ should come today.” Ibid.

Are you right with God today?

Heavenly Father: Prepare our hearts and actions to meet with You in the very near future. Open our eyes to the spots and wrinkles in our words and actions that will keep us out of heaven. Give us the courage to turn away from self and the devil’s ways and to walk only in heavenly places. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – Accept a Boost!

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Have you considered the energy and all the activity that is going on in heaven on our behalf? All this energy is over and above the sacrifice that God has made for us. What an amazing thought!

“Oh, let us contemplate the amazing sacrifice that has been made for us! Let us try to appreciate the labor and energy that Heaven is expending to reclaim the lost, and bring them back to the Father’s house. Motives stronger, and agencies more powerful, could never be brought into operation;

  • the exceeding rewards for right-doing,
  • the enjoyment of heaven,
  • the society of the angels,
  • the communion and love of God and His Son,
  • the elevation and extension of all our powers throughout eternal ages.” Steps to Christ,

These are the most wonderful incentives and encouragements to give our hearts to the loving service of our Creator and Redeemer. Read that list again. What a wonderful future may be ours if we are loyal in the heavenly way now to God’s glory.

We make choices every moment: “On the other hand, the judgments of God pronounced against sin,

  • the inevitable retribution,
  • the degradation of our character, and
  • the final destruction,

are presented in God’s word to warn us against the service of Satan.” Ibid., 21, 22.

Let each one cherish God’s mercy. Let us take advantage of all He has provided “… that we may be transformed into His likeness, and be restored to fellowship with the ministering angels, to harmony and communion with the Father and the Son.” Ibid., 22.

Remember, through Christ, earth is linked with heaven—in Him, we are individually linked to heaven. What a thought—linked to heaven! This earth is wearing out. God is giving us that extra boost so that through incentives and encouragements we may make it to that heavenly country and in the meantime be able to sit in heavenly places with Him through our Saviour. Accept that boost offered and look forward to fellowship with heavenly beings in the presence of our Lord.

 

Father in heaven: Thank You for all of the incentives which are laid out for our encouragement and comfort and hope. Though this earth is drear, my heart is lifted heavenward as I contemplate the wonderful future that is prepared for us. Thank You for allowing us to sit in heavenly places amidst the whirlwinds of earth. Thank you for Your longsuffering and mercy. Continue to “Hold up my goings in Thy paths, that my footsteps slip not” (Psalm 17:5). Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Stand and Trust

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Stand and trust in the word of God. We must stand my brother and my sister and trust in the word of God now. Consider some of those by whom we can be encouraged:

“How often those who trusted the word of God, though in themselves utterly helpless, have withstood the power of the whole world—

  • Enoch, pure in heart, holy in life, holding fast his faith in the triumph of righteousness against a corrupt and scoffing generation;
  • Noah and his household against the men of his time, men of the greatest physical and mental strength and the most debased in morals;
  • The children of Israel at the Red Sea, a helpless, terrified multitude of slaves, against the mightiest army of the mightiest nation on the globe;
  • David, a shepherd lad, having God’s promise of the throne, against Saul, the established monarch, bent on holding fast his power;
  • Shadrach and his companions in the fire, and Nebuchadnezzar on the throne;
  • Daniel among the lions, his enemies in the high places of the kingdom;
  • Jesus on the cross, and the Jewish priests and rulers forcing even the Roman governor to work their will;
  • Paul in chains led to a criminal’s death, Nero the despot of a world empire.

“Such examples are not found in the Bible only. They abound in every record of human progress. The Vaudois and the Huguenots, Wycliffe and Huss, Jerome and Luther, Tyndale and Knox, Zinzendorf and Wesley, with multitudes of others, have witnessed to the power of God’s word against human power and policy in support of evil. These are the world’s true nobility.” Education, 254.

We need faith in Jesus. Now is the time to take a bold step out from the world and walk in His presence where you will find fullness of joy. Trust as did Enoch and Noah. Take your stand now. Proverbs 3:5–8 says, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.”

It is time to stand and to trust. Stand my brother. Stand my sister. And trust in your Lord now—no matter what may happen.

 

Heavenly Father: Give us the strength to take a stand right now. We have been withering away from standing for truth and we now choose to stand, no matter what, for Your truth and to live according to heaven’s standards and not this world’s standards. We love You Lord. Help us to be strong as our brothers during Bible times to the present. Thank You Lord, for we know it is Your will. Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Between the Mountain and the Multitude

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God does not want any of us to become hermits or monks, but many of us have disappeared from the public eye to hibernate into our own little corners. The reality is that we will suffocate in our own little corners and our prayers will be smothered and die.

“The life must be like Christ’s life—between the mountain and the multitude. He who does nothing but pray will soon cease to pray, or his prayers will become a formal routine. When men take themselves out of social life, away from the sphere of Christian duty and cross bearing; when they cease to work earnestly for the Master, who worked earnestly for them, they lose the subject matter of prayer and have no incentive to devotion. Their prayers become personal and selfish. They cannot pray in regard to the wants of humanity or the upbuilding of Christ’s kingdom, pleading for strength wherewith to work.” Steps to Christ, 101.

How is your prayer life? Are you sustaining a loss?

“We sustain a loss when we neglect the privilege of associating together to strengthen and encourage one another in the service of God. The truths of His word lose their vividness and importance in our minds. Our hearts cease to be enlightened and aroused by their sanctifying influence, and we decline in spirituality. In our association as Christians we lose much by lack of sympathy with one another. He who shuts himself up to himself is not filling the position that God designed he should. The proper cultivation of the social elements in our nature brings us into sympathy with others and is a means of development and strength to us in the service of God.” Ibid.

What has happened to our spirituality? We need to get out of our comfort zone, open our hearts and move our feet and do the Lord’s work.

Following is good advice in order to be refreshed: “If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the love of God and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed and they would refresh one another. We may be daily learning more of our heavenly Father, gaining a fresh experience of His grace; then we shall desire to speak of His love; and as we do this, our own hearts will be warmed and encouraged. If we thought and talked more of Jesus, and less of self, we should have far more of His presence.” Ibid., 101, 102.

 

Heavenly Father: Get me out of my corner of death where I am smothering. I am not allowing Your light to shine through me onto others who are also perishing. My life is losing that distinctive affection and excitement of reaching out to others. Please Lord forgive me; restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation before others perish because of my lack. Help me to live, as Christ did, “between the mountain and the multitude.” Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Recalls and Footsteps

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We read in the Spirit of Prophecy that Satan will at the end recall all that he had done against our Lord. We also may have to recall similar things that we have done unless we make the necessary changes in our lives right now and become like Jesus. Satan has led many to walk the same road with him. Open your eyes now and see.

“[Satan’s] Memory recalls

  • the home of his innocence and purity, the peace and contentment that were his until he indulged in murmuring against God, and envy of Christ.
  • His accusations, his rebellion, his deceptions to gain the sympathy and support of the angels,
  • his stubborn persistence in making no effort for self-recovery when God would have granted him forgiveness—all come vividly before him.
  • He reviews his work among men and its results—the enmity of man toward his fellow man,
  • the terrible destruction of life, the rise and fall of kingdoms, the overturning of thrones, the long succession of tumults, conflicts, and revolutions.
  • He recalls his constant efforts to oppose the work of Christ and to sink man lower and lower.
  • He sees that his hellish plots have been powerless to destroy those who have put their trust in Jesus. As Satan looks upon his kingdom, the fruit of his toil, he sees only failure and ruin. He has led the multitudes to believe that the City of God would be an easy prey; but he knows that this is false. Again and again, in the progress of the great controversy, he has been defeated and compelled to yield. He knows too well the power and majesty of the Eternal.” The Great Controversy, 669.

“Satan sees that his voluntary rebellion has unfitted him for heaven. He has trained his powers to war against God; the purity, peace, and harmony of heaven would be to him supreme torture. … Satan bows down and confesses the justice of his sentence.” Ibid., 670.

What can you recall right now? Has Satan been powerless against your conviction, or has he successfully tricked you into following him on his path of destruction? We know the end of his story and it is each one’s choice now which path he or she will travel. Will you step out in faith and walk in God’s way and in the end be found without spot or wrinkle or will you take the broad way in the companionship of the enemy of heaven.

Heavenly Father: Let me not have to recall in shame what the devil has led me into but that all of my reflections be of what Jesus has done for me by the cleansing and purification of my character which will be seen in all my actions and words. I repent that I have ever followed Satan’s ways and acted like him. I pray that I may be granted eternal life with Jesus and avoid eternal death with the devil. Amen.

Keys to the Storehouse – The Bindery

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There are plenty of actions that cause either pain or pleasure, but it seems to me that many of these are the cords that Satan uses to pull us away from our Lord. In fact, Satan binds us to his snares by these cords. The Spirit of Prophecy describes it perfectly: “The pains of duty and the pleasures of sin:”

“One wrong trait of character, one sinful desire cherished, will eventually neutralize all the power of the gospel. The prevalence of a sinful desire shows the delusion of the soul. Every indulgence of that desire strengthens the soul’s aversion to God. The pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares. Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.” Testimonies, vol. 5, 53.

Today, many wrong acts are cherished or excused! These excused actions bind us to Satan for eternal death. One must consider, Is it worth it? We are in a real spiritual warfare—this is dealing with our eternal life plan.

“The Christian life is a warfare. The apostle Paul speaks of wrestling against principalities and powers as he fought the good fight of faith. Again, he declares: ‘Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin’ (Hebrews 12:4). Ah, no. Today sin is cherished and excused. The sharp sword of the Spirit, the word of God, does not cut to the soul. Has religion changed? Has Satan’s enmity to God abated? A religious life once presented difficulties and demanded self-denial. All is made very easy now. And why is this? The professed people of God have compromised with the power of darkness.” Ibid., 222.

We are living in a very compromising world! You are okay and I am okay—do as you please as long as you do not step on me. Wow, the devil has really brainwashed many people—he truly is binding many into bundles! What must happen?

“There must be a revival of the strait testimony. The path to heaven is no smoother now than in the days of our Saviour. All our sins must be put away. Every darling indulgence that hinders our religious life must be cut off. The right eye or the right hand must be sacrificed if it cause us to offend. Are we willing to renounce our own wisdom and to receive the kingdom of heaven as a little child?” Ibid.

Are you ready to take a stand on the side of right—on the side of Jesus our Saviour? I know that I do not want to be in Satan’s bundle. I want to give up my “darling indulgences” now while there is still time to stand for my Saviour.

Remember: “The pains of duty and the pleasures of sin are the cords with which Satan binds men in his snares. Those who would rather die than perform a wrong act are the only ones who will be found faithful.” Ibid., 53.

“Choose you this day whom ye will serve … but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15).

 

Father: Help us to choose now the path that leads to the heavenly country. Give us the courage to give up those darling indulgences that please the devil but are so offensive to You. I choose to stand with Jesus and not with the great deceiver and his temporary, fatal pleasures. Remove the binding which Satan has placed upon me. I choose You this day. Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – A Discordant Note

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I really struggled when I first became a Christian. Yes, I was raised in the Catholic school system for many years thinking that I was a Christian and that I was not going to hell because I was a member of the church. I received the shock of all shocks when I started studying the Bible with an acquaintance and found that there was no ever-burning hell and there was more to salvation than going to church on Sundays. But beyond that was the realization that I was sinful according to the Bible. What you need to understand is that I had a lot of self! I was good—I thought! I was not a sinner—I thought!

We may all “profess” to be Christians, but there are some things that will reflect in our hearts and lives that help us to understand where we are in our Christian walk. What are some of the attributes of an unrenewed heart?

“In his sinless state, man held joyful communion with Him [God] ‘in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (Colossians 2:3). But after his sin, he could no longer find joy in holiness, and he sought to hide from the presence of God. Such is still the condition of the unrenewed heart.

  • It is not in harmony with God, and
  • finds no joy in communion with Him.
  • The sinner could not be happy in God’s presence;
  • he would shrink from the companionship of holy beings.
  • Could he be permitted to enter heaven, it would have no joy for him.
  • The spirit of unselfish love that reigns there—every heart responding to the heart of Infinite Love—would touch no answering chord in his soul.
  • His thoughts, his interests, his motives, would be alien to those that actuate the sinless dwellers there.
  • He would be a discordant note in the melody of heaven.” Steps to Christ, 17.

I found that I really was a “discordant note” among Christians because I was so much of the world. I gave my heart to the Lord and an amazing transformation then took place. Have you searched your heart lately? Does it fit into heavenly places or is it more at home in this world? Is your heart renewed or un-renewed? Your heart is either one or the other!

Make a heart commitment right now and quell the discordant note.

 

Heavenly Father:  Thank You for the gift of a new heart, a renewed heart that You proffer to each one of us. I do not want to be a discordant note, or to shrink from the companionship of angels or of Christian brethren because I have not accepted that new heart. I thank You for the joy of being able to sit quietly in heavenly places here on earth and for the prospect of being admitted into heaven at Your coming. Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – Work While You Wait

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While meditating, a startling thought passed through my mind. What if I do not make it into eternity? Terrible loss! I found this quote that says, “Futures not achieved are only branches of the past: dead branches.” (By Italo Calvino) Our future to achieve is eternity! I began to pray more for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. I thought that all I needed was the refreshing of the Holy Spirit and I would be just fine. Wrong! There is much more.

“I was shown that if God’s people make no efforts on their part, but wait for the refreshing to come upon them and remove their wrongs and correct their errors; if they depend upon that to cleanse them from filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and fit them to engage in the loud cry of the third angel, they will be found wanting. The refreshing or power of God comes only on those who have prepared themselves for it by doing the work which God bids them, namely, cleansing themselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Testimonies, vol. 1, 619.

Wow. That was quite a reading! My thinking was wrong—I was really in shock! I have to do something!

Neglecting the preparation? “I saw that many were neglecting the preparation so needful and were looking to the time of ‘refreshing’and the ‘latter rain’ to fit them to stand in the day of the Lord and to live in His sight. Oh, how many I saw in the time of trouble without a shelter!

  • They had neglected the needful preparation; therefore they could not receive the refreshing that all must have to fit them to live in the sight of a holy God.
  • Those who refuse to be hewed by the prophets and fail to purify their souls in obeying the whole truth, and who are willing to believe that their condition is far better than it really is, will come up to the time of the falling of the plagues, and then see that they needed to be hewed and squared for the building.

“But there will be no time then to do it and no Mediator to plead their cause before the Father. …

  • I saw that none could share the ‘refreshing’ unless they obtain the victory over every besetment, over pride, selfishness, love of the world, and over every wrong word and action.

“We should, therefore, be drawing nearer and nearer to the Lord and be earnestly seeking that preparation necessary to enable us to stand in the battle in the day of the Lord. Let all remember that God is holy and that none but holy beings can ever dwell in His presence.” Early Writings, 71.

 

Our Father! Give us the victory over pride, selfishness, love of the world that we may receive the latter rain—the refreshing of the Lord, and be ready to dwell in Thy presence. Please forgive us for “just waiting” when we truly have a work to do to prepare for the heavenly courts. Have mercy on us for our slothfulness and grant us of Thy grace continually to not just wait but to overcome this world. We do not want to be dead branches. Amen.

 

Keys to the Storehouse – God or Satan?

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As I was perusing through one of Emilio Knechtle’s old books, I came across a list of questions which I had not heard in a long time. I realized that these questions may help to stimulate our thinking on some of the issues of the great controversy. He asks:

  • Who is the liar and who is the murderer of man? God or Satan?
  • Who brought illness, sin, and death into this world? God or Satan?
  • Who plans to ruin mankind? God or Satan?
  • Who loves man and wishes to make him happy forever? God or Satan?
  • Has God the right to forgive our sins, to grant mercy to sinners who were once the slaves of sin and Satan?
  • Do sinners who accept the righteousness of Jesus Christ have the right to enter heaven?
  • Is it possible for men other than Jesus Christ to be righteous, to desire to keep God’s commandments, and to possess the same faith that Jesus had?
  • Can man keep God’s moral law?

Other questions of the controversy:

  • Who is the Redeemer of mankind? Christ or the antichrist?
  • Whose righteousness shall man accept? The righteousness of Christ obtained by faith or man’s own righteousness acquired by good works?
  • Whose laws shall prevail and be obeyed? The laws of God or the laws of man? Christ’s Message to the Last Generation, by Emilio B. Knechtle and Charles Sohlmann, 20, 21.

We are living in very controversial times and we need to take a stand on the Lord’s side. Joshua said: “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15, last part). A battle is raging in this world! On which side are you standing? Pray that your eyes will be opened as you consider the answer to these questions, for time is running out.

 

Heavenly Father: Thank You again for the warnings and for reminding us that there is a great controversy going on around us and that we need Your word and Your Holy Spirit to guide us. Open our eyes Lord! Lead us in Thy righteousness moment by moment. Amen.