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Tuesday,
September 16, 2008
Who’s Minding The Storehouse?
Hebrews 2:1-3 Therefore we ought to give
the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time
we should let them slip. (2) For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast,
and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of
reward; (3) How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at
the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them
that heard him; (KJV)
Thayer’s definition for ‘slip’:
3901
pararrhueo- to glide by: lest we be carried by; to pass by
a) lest the
salvation which these things heard show us how to obtain, to slip away from
us
b) a thing
escapes me
c) it slips my
mind
If you were hired as a night watchman in
charge of a storehouse, how long would you have a job if the owner showed
up the next day to find it robbed and cleaned out? Then to add insult to
injury, he found out you slept most of the night during the heist. A
storehouse of treasures which would be profitable to the owner as well as
those around him is now empty, useless and unprofitable. Basically the
first question you will be asked is, ‘what was more important to you that
you neglected your duty, the one you promised you would watch over; what
was it exactly that was more of a priority than watching over the
storehouse’? You know, you too (as many others have) can neglect this
salvation also, something that seemed so important in the beginning is now
on the back burner being replaced with something you decided was more
important. You may not even be aware that the theft is taking place. Like
with a bank fraud, little by little you were being robbed until the time
comes that you really need to make a withdrawal and there is nothing left
in your account. Spiritually many of God’s people are being robbed blind
because the person they have allowed into their house was actually a thief
and a robber, and not someone that could be trusted. How many doctrines
have you allowed into your storehouse; you know the one that should be a
treasure chest of truth? Will there be sufficient funds to draw from in
time of need, or will it be empty with an IOU left on the floor?
1 Timothy 3:1-5 This is a true saying, If
a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. (2) A bishop
then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good
behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; (3) Not given to wine, no striker,
not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous; (4)
One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with
all gravity; (5) (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how
shall he take care of the church of God?) (KJV)
You wouldn’t hire a blind person for a
watchman would you? What makes you think God is going to call someone who
is spiritually blind to be a watchman over His house either? Many people
neglect their own home life, taking it for granted, when in reality that is
the proving ground for the believer in Christ before they will be given any
responsibility in the Church. So if you are not vigilant at home and
watching, why would the Lord want you watching over His flock either? If
you had valuables to store up in a safe deposit box and you were looking
for someone to keep a watch over them, you wouldn’t hire someone who had a
history of not showing up for work, or choose a place that had been robbed
before. What makes you think the Lord is going to put a thief in charge of
His precious goods, that being His flock? In fact as a parent wouldn’t you
double and triple check the credentials of someone you were thinking of
hiring to watch your children? The reason many don’t know how to rule their
own house is because they have taken it for granted and allowed the thief
in to pilfer and steal, something that would happen all over again if they
were put in the position of Church leadership.
Ephesians 2:4-7 But God, who is rich in
mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead
in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
(6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly
places in Christ Jesus: (7) That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus. (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation
of Ephesians 2:4-7
4. But God, who is so rich in mercy on
account of the great love He has for us, 5. has made us, though dead
because of our shortcomings, live again in fellowship with Christ -- it is
by His unmerited favor that you have been saved. 6. And He raised us with
Him and through union with Christ Jesus He made us sit down with Him in the
heavenly realm, 7. to show, throughout the coming ages, the boundless
generosity of His unmerited favor shown us in His goodness to us through
Christ Jesus.
Do you know why satellites are put up in
space, in the heavenly realm? The countries of this world have spy
satellites so that they can get the view from above and keep a watch over
their lands. The Lord Himself has given us access to a realm which is above
as well, above and beyond this fallen realm of mankind. This is the first
place God would like to see His people seated in so that they can see the
view from above and avoid the pitfalls of the things below. The more you
stay seated in the realm of the Spirit the less likely you will be
blindsided and robbed in the realm of the flesh, no longer operating or
being influenced by it. So what are you seeing today and how is your
vantage point; is it the things which are above, or are you still blinded
by the things below? If someone from a foreign country was going to launch
an offensive on another country most likely it would be spotted from above
by one of the satellites put in place to warn them. But only if someone is
watching and knows how to operate the equipment will they be alerted, while
anyone else will get hit by a sneak attack. Many times the first thing the
enemy will do is try to knock out the satellites before an attack. The same
holds true in the spiritual realm also, the enemy would like to knock out
your communication system with the Lord so that you won’t be alert and
ready for an attack.
Revelation 3:2-3 Be watchful, and
strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not
found thy works perfect before God. (3) Remember therefore how thou hast
received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not
watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I
will come upon thee. (KJV)
Who’s minding your storehouse so that
when the Lord comes to see what is in your vault, will He find it full of
treasure, or will it be empty and useless? If you were watching you would
know for sure that it was full, and not have neglected so great a treasure
that you have in the gift of eternal salvation. Be watchful.
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