Your Storehouse of Faith (Part 2.5)

"......and God shut the door."

"And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still." - Revelation 22:10&11.

When Watchmen of the Wall began writing this series, "Your Storehouse of Faith", it was believed it would contain three parts. However, recent events and a word from the Holy Spirit have compelled Watchmen to add another part to this series in an effort to drive deep into the hearts of our readers the most important part of this message.

In fact, Watchmen first believed the most important element of this message would be the last part; but thanks be to God that the Holy Spirit saw fit to also drive deep the most important part of this message into the heart of this ministry as well.

In the first two parts of this message, we recounted the stories of Joseph and Nehemiah....how God took these men from obscurity and used them as vessels of honor to bring salvation and restoration to the people of God. Joseph - being given a word and a dream from the Lord - built storehouses to hold provision against a severe famine that would have destroyed the children of Jacob - insuring the continuation of the covenant made to Abraham and his descendants. Nehemiah - upon hearing the desolate condition of God's people and their homeland - was given the provisions from God necessary for the rebuilding of the walls and city of Jerusalem - thus restoring the people to the Lord and a nation to their God.

This particular part of the message will focus on another man in biblical past - also used as a means of preservation - who "believed" the word he received from God - who "aligned" his time and purpose with the time and purpose of God - and who "by faith" rose up and took action - seeing the promise he received from God fulfilled right before he very eyes......a man called Noah.

"And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD....And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. Make thee an ark of gopher wood....And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant....Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." - Genesis 6:6-8, 13 & 14, 17 & 18, 22.

"And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation....And they that went in...., as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in....And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth...." - Genesis 7: 1, 16, 10.

God promised Noah he would destroy the earth and everything living thing upon it with a flood. Then God instructed Noah on how to make provision for the survival of himself and his family. Noah obeyed God's instructions and built an ark - an ark that provided safety from judgement AND carried within it those things necessary to sustain life until the promise of God was fulfilled. But it was not the ark that "saved" Noah.....no, it was his righteousness! And where did Noah get this "righteousness"?

"By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith." - Hebrews 11:7.

Noah was called a "man of righteousness". Why? Because he was moved by his faith in the promise of God! Now, many readers are saying within their hearts, "But this is not a new message.....in fact, not even a deep message. Where is this deep understanding....this driving meaning so intense....causing the normal flow of this message to be interrupted....that Watchmen of the Wall claims to have received from the Holy Spirit?" It starts with this realization - it wasn't just a normal faith that moved Noah - it wasn't just your "ever day" faith that drove Joseph - it wasn't just the plain kind of faith that stirred in the heart of Nehemiah - it was a special type of faith....

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." - Hebrews 11:1.

Beloved, we know that the people who were led to write the scriptures were done so by the power of the Holy Spirit - 2 Timothy 3:16 states, "all scripture is inspired of God" - 2 Peter 1:21 states that they, "spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost". So, it is no accident that the writer of Hebrews used the words "now faith" in the first verse of Hebrews Chapter 11. This is the type of faith it took for Noah to be saved - for Joseph to build - for Nehemiah not to give up - Now Faith! Now Faith - the faith that responds to the call of God now! - at the appointed time! - when the window of opportunity to respond to God's call comes....at that moment!

Consider the following questions.....What if Noah had waited two more weeks to start building the ark? What if Joseph had waited two years to begin building storehouses and gathering the harvest? What if Nehemiah had waited until a more "safe and convenient" time to fast and pray before approaching King Artaxerxes with his request? The word of God states that Noah finished and entered the ark only seven days before the flood! The word of God declares that the seven years of famine were so severe, the seven years of plenty could not even be remembered! The word of God states that Nehemiah was sad in the king's presence - a crime that was punishable by death!

These men saw the promise of God fulfilled in their lives because they responded to God with a "Now Faith" - they recognized a powerful truth that Watchmen of the Wall Ministries has only begun to tap into....and, unfortunately, the church has yet to realize - there is not only the need to have the right purpose - a vision ordained of God, birthed out of the heart's cry and a womb of desperation - but the need for the right time - an appointed time, ordained of God before the foundations of the earth - and these two must come together as one!

"For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." - Habakkuk 2:3.

"We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain. (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)" - 2 Corinthians 6:1 & 2.

Beloved, please hear and understand.....Joseph, Nehemiah, Noah....were all given a promise from God....and in order for these men to see that promise fulfilled AND to be saved, restored, survive - to be the beneficiaries for good, and not evil, through the promise....these men not only had to "receive" the word of God, not only "believe" the word of God....but also had to respond with a "timely" and "purposeful" faith.....with lives whose time and purpose were "aligned" with God's time and purpose. It is not enough to "just have faith" or to "just trust"....it is not even enough to have a right and God-given purpose - you must respond with a "now faith" when the window of opportunity is open.....that is, you must respond in God's timing - an appointed time - both your time and purpose must match both God's time and purpose or the promise, even though given by God, will not work for you!

Had Noah tarried to build the ark.....had Joseph tarried to build the storehouse and gather the harvest.....had Nehemiah tarried in his efforts to rebuild the walls.....these men would have missed the "window of faith" and responded too late. The promise of the flood....the promise of the famine....the promise of a restored Jerusalem....they would have all come to pass in the appointed times.....but these men would have been recipients of judgement rather than mercy - of reproach rather than reward.

Beloved....so will we....if we do not respond to this word/warning/promise that has been given from God in the appointed time, when the "window of faith" is open....for very soon it will be shut!

"Wherefore (as the Holy Ghost saith, To day if ye will hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years....For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation." - Hebrews 3:7-9, 14 & 15.

"Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." - Hebrews 4:1.

Beloved, Watchmen of the Wall Ministries has been warning of a time when the darkness will prevail for a season....when the restraint will be lifted and the enemy will have the power to deceive/persecute/try the saints as never before! If you do not respond with a "now faith" - at the appointed time - "align" your time and purpose with that of God's - you will not survive! The promises/purposes/words of God are delivered in such a way, that He gives those who heed them just enough time to prepare! Even if you tarry and then later repent, decide this word is true, and then pursue the right purpose....missing the window of faith will make that purpose, even though it is a God-given one, of no effect! Let this scripture be your guide....

"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:" - Isaiah 55:6.

The phrases, "while He may be found", and, "while He is near", not only teach us we can only find Him and get near Him when He chooses; but that there is coming "an appointed time" when He cannot be found! - when He will not be near! Do not be like the "foolish virgins" found in the parable in Matthew 25 - although they were betrothed, although they were virgins - because they did not seek provisions(extra oil) when the market place was open, they were not prepared at the midnight hour and did not inherit the promise of the bridegroom!

"By faith", prepare yourself now! "By faith", build your storehouse now! Soon, the plenteous years will be over....soon the door will be shut.....soon God will hide Himself. Respond Now!

"And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light." - Romans 13:11 & 12.

Stay tuned for the conclusion, "The Blueprint for Building your Storehouse of Faith".