The Hour Before The Hour

“And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.” - Matthew 26:40 & 41.

“Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”- Matthew 26:45.

“When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” - Luke 22:53.

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”- Revelation 3:10.

“And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.”- Revelation 17:12.

The time is now upon us when the Mystery of the Gospel will be revealed/unveiled; and this unveiling will begin with two types of hours. The first is an hour of preparation - a time of “readiness” in anticipation of the Lord’s return. The second hour is an hour granted to the enemy - an hour when Satan will be given permission/authority to work all manner of evil and persecution in this world.

These two hours are not limited to sixty minute intervals, but rather divinely appointed times ordained to bring about the fulfillment of God’s Plan. The key to understanding these hours and our role in them lies in the scriptures stated above.

“And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.” -Matthew 26:40 & 41.

The first scriptures deal with Jesus and His disciples in the garden of Gethsemane, right before His trial and crucifixion. Jesus, knowing what terrible times lay ahead, went into prayer and preparation to have the strength and spiritual ability to endure what must come.  

Now, focus on the disciples - unable to stay awake or pray for just one hour. Lethargy had set in and the disciples thought, “This was a good time to rest” – failing to realize their greatest hour of temptation would soon be upon them - a time when the enemy would have “his own hour”, and be granted the power to manipulate the people and crucify our Lord.

Notice the second scripture, after Jesus warned the disciples not to sleep, but to “watch and pray” for an hour less they fall prey to the coming danger….the window of opportunity passes and we find Him saying, “sleep on now, ( it is too late.) The enemy’s hour has now come.”

Beloved, hear the Word of the Lord, “This is the state that we are currently in. There is an “hour before the hour”, a time when the window of heaven is open, access to God and His power is granted, and the ability to pray and receive strength and power to withstand the enemy’s HOUR is available….but not indefinitely.”

“When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.” - Luke 22:53.

God has set in motion a plan; and in that plan Satan will be granted time, an hour, of free reign to persecute God’s people and subdue the world. This time will be as Daniel declared - the worst time that has ever been on the face of this earth, or ever will be. Jesus called this hour, “the power of darkness”.

It will be a time when it appears God has withdrawn Himself, scriptures don’t comfort, prayer doesn’t produce any results….all seems lost. A time when evil men, under the control of an “Anti-Christ”, will rule and reign and all who do not worship him will be persecuted and/or killed. A time when obtaining food and medicine will “mark” you as one who has forfeited your place in heaven for eternity. A time when you will see loved ones tortured, murdered because they will not bow down to Satan’s will.

“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.”– Revelation 3:10.

But God, in His mercy, grants an hour before that hour - a time that we can be endued with power from on high, supernatural strength beyond what you can muster, so that we may boldly stand. Just as the martyrs in John Foxe’s book – “no matter if I starve, or if you kill me where I stand…I will not deny His name or worship your image!”

Beloved, be honest with yourself….does that kind of power lie within you….right now? Can you truly say, at this moment, if the rapture were to be delayed, you would be able to stand for Jesus and not submit to the seductive power of the enemy?

“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” – Romans 13:11.

This present hour - is a time of prayer, of finding where you stand with God, of repairing that backslidden relationship, renewing half-hearted worship and earnestly living for Jesus.

This present hour - is a time when we realize that fleshly desires and what the world has to offer mean nothing compared to knowing Jesus intimately.

This present hour - is a time to insure He is all that matters and reaching “the secret place of the Most High” - your key to surviving the coming enemy hour.  The time to prepare is now; the time to stay awake and alert is now. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

“Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” – 1 Corinthians 10:12.

I ask you now reader, the most important question of your life. And that question is not, “have you been saved?”, but “are you ready right now?” Are you prepared to gamble on the popular doctrine stating that you will get out of here before anything bad happens? Or are you one who will heed the warning from the Holy Spirit and declare, “I do not want a gamble, I want to be ready no matter what!”

 “Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.” – Matthew 24:44. 

In the 1950’s, men began building bomb shelters in case of nuclear war. No one had a guarantee that nuclear war would inevitably happen; still, men prepared a place to weather the fallout and protect their families. Until this day, these bomb shelters have yet to be used for the purpose in which they were designed. These men decided not to take any chances, adopting the wise old adage, “It’s better to have it, and not need it; than to need it and not have it”.

“From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock [that] is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, [and] a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in thy tabernacle forever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings.”– Psalm 61:2-4.

Beloved, God has prepared us a “bomb shelter” in the person and power of Jesus Christ. But having said a prayer when you were a child will not protect you - being baptized when you were eight years old, or eight days old, will not guarantee the power and strength needed should we be here longer than mainstream leaders have told us.

We are in the hour before the hour, a time right before the enemy is loosed and the restraint lifted. But God, in His mercy, invites us to reach out to Him NOW, to prepare spiritually NOW, to make sure we are in Him and He in us…intimately…at the critical moment!

Remember the ten virgins described in Matthew, chapter 25? A call was made to prepare them to meet the groom – to insure everything was in order in their lives - not caught unprepared or backslidden - half-heartedly waiting on the bridegroom. Five of those virgins failed to prepare….having no extra cruse of oil, they were left behind…and there wasn’t any “second chances”.

"Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.” – Lamentations 2:19.

Beloved, the “first hour” call is being made…NOW. Prophets and preachers are coming out of obscurity - God using people that no one would have believed capable or “qualified” - sending His word that the time to prepare is NOW.

If you wait any longer, like the five foolish virgins, this open door of opportunity will close on you. You will not have what it takes to survive the coming persecution and seductive power of the enemy. You will be part of the coming “apostasy” (great falling away) described in 2 Thessalonians 2:3.

Do not be deceived into a false sense of security; don’t be lured to sleep by the siren-song of the world and false doctrine. There are no irrefutable, defining scriptures guaranteeing us a pain-free, tribulation-free rapture. Prepare now. Reach out to Jesus and insure you stand with/for Him. Ask Him to prepare you - enslave you - make you ready to meet Him.

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. – Revelation 3:20. 

He is knocking on your door, right now. What will you do? Let Him in…or ignore the cry of the Beloved until He goes away? (Song of Solomon 5:2) The choice is yours….make it soon….time is running out.

(A new series will follow this posting describing in greater detail the subject of the Hour before the Hour - just follow the blog found at the weblog address listed below)

www.psalm25-4.blogspot.com

Your Storehouse of Faith (Part Three)

The Blueprint for Building your Storehouse of Faith....

"Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ." - 1 Peter 2:5.

The first three parts of this message were to convince our readers of the need to build a spiritual storehouse of faith - to impress upon our readers the significance of the appointed time that is fast approaching - to persuade our readers to "align" his/her "time and purpose" with the "time and purpose" of God's - to cause our readers to decide to "rise up and take action" before it is too late. We are trusting that the Holy Spirit has moved upon many of our readers and they now have "a mind to work" (Nehemiah 4:6).

The conclusion of this message will be one of a more practical nature, in that, it will no longer define the problem, nor seek to persuade or stir up our readers. This message is for those who have made an intentional decision to move forward, take action, and begin to build the storehouse. If there are still those not yet convinced of the need for a storehouse, Watchmen Ministries will continue to pray and hope for the continuation of the "long-suffering" of God and that His mercy will be mingled with the judgement.

"Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls..." - Jeremiah 6:16.

The first few tools for building your storehouse of faith that will be addressed will appear at face-value to be things many people feel they have already mastered. Many readers may feel tempted to "jump ahead" in this message, looking for something "new and fresh" or "profound". However, Watchmen strongly urges its readers to revisit these tools with an open-mind; or better yet, an "open heart" - if the Body of Christ had truly "mastered" the use of these familiar tools, there would be no need for this message and the church would not be in the shape it is currently in. So....are you ready to build? Then....let's get started.....

"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit." - Hebrews 6:1-3.

First, let a brief mention be made of the foundation on which we are to build our storehouse. Just as Paul stated in 1 Corinthians 3:11, "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ." Watchmen is writing this message with the understanding its main audience are those who are already called "believers"- if there are any readers that do not yet know Jesus as Lord and Savior....this message will be of no benefit to them. The intent of this message is to have the believer "work toward perfection" - to build on an already existing foundation that is true.

1.) Reading God's Word -

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17.

In order to "know" God - communicate with Him - and build a storehouse He will dwell in, one must first know His language. For example, someone may live near people of another nationality, such as Hispanics, and be close enough to hear an Hispanic group conversing in the Spanish language - but if that person does not "know" the language; he/she may hear the words being spoken, but will not be able to understand or gain knowledge/instruction from it. The same holds true for the believer. Many Christians today do not "hear" the voice of God simply because they do not know His language! God speaks in the language of the Bible!

If one truly wants communion and fellowship with God, he/she will read His word! Let Watchmen be frank and concise - if the only time someone reads the Bible is at church - that person is not a true disciple of Jesus and will not survive or "endure till the end"! Many believers today are easily deceived and tempted by Satan simply because they do not know God's word. Remember, the word of God is our sword! (Ephesians 6:17) - without it, you are weaponless and no threat to Satan!

"Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth." - 2 Timothy 2:15.

There are several ways to read and study God's word, but the two most productive ones are "saturation" and "meditation".

Saturation - First, make sure it is a good study Bible - preferably King James Version, as in most other versions are inaccurate and corrupt. Today's world is one of technology and innovation - we have the whole Bible on cassette, CD, video, and even mp3 - so, take advantage of every opportunity and moment you have - as you work, prepare meals, clean the house, drive, walk, relax - fill your mind with God's word.

The object of "saturation" is not to concentrate on a small amount/one chapter; but to inundate/flood/saturate your mind. The human mind has been blessed by God with the ability to record every second of life - every sight, sound, taste, touch, smell, etc. Filling your mind with His word will create a protective barrier and fortress against the enemy and his attacks - furthermore, "as a man thinks in his heart(mind), so is he." (Proverbs 23:7). Basically stated, "Garbage in....garbage out."

Meditation - This is where you take a small amount of scripture and really consume it, digest it, dwell on it. Whether it is a chapter/verse you are wanting to understand more/better; or you are "led" to a particular part of the Bible and the Holy Spirit has something in mind that He wants to teach you - show you - reveal more about God through it to you - this is where you will discover, with the help of the Holy Spirit, the "secret riches" and "hidden manna" of God. This will begin to give you "ears to hear" when God speaks the "intimate" things about Himself to you. You will also have more powerful weapons of warfare with which to engage the enemy!

2.) Prayer to God -

"And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." - Luke 11:1.

It is amazing how many ministers, teachers, and pastors that have defined prayer as simply "talking to God" - it is so much more than that! That is - if you want your prayer life to be effective. Think about it - both the disciples of Jesus and John the Baptist had to be "taught" how to pray. Why? Because when they compared their own prayer life to that of Jesus and John - they saw examples of a real, powerful, effective prayer life and realized theirs came up short! It should make us all "cringe" and tremble at the thought that no one is asking his/her leader to teach him/her how to pray today because the examples of the prayer lives of today's church leaders are nothing to be desired!

"The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." - James 5:16.

In order to have an effective prayer life, it must be "fervent"! The word "fervent" means "pain-staking hard labor". Ask yourself.....when has my prayer life ever been "painful" or "hard work"? Many believers will claim to have a strong prayer life these days, also claiming they are "intercessors" or "prayer warriors", when all they are really doing is simply "talking to God". So, how does one do more that just "talk to God"?

"....for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." - Hebrews 11:6.

First, if we want to begin effective communion and fellowship with God, we must approach God the right way. We must first "believe that He is" - He is what? He is God! Yes, He is your Father - but He is also God - the almighty, the all-powerful, the maker of heaven and earth! He is not your "buddy", your "pal", your "chum", or an "ole Joe"! We must approach Him with fear, reverence, respect and awe - knowing He has the very next beat of your heart - the very next breath of your lungs - in His hand. There is a wise old saying that if someone wants to be successful at a particular venture, that person should find someone else who was successful and do it the same way. A great example we can use for prayer is King David....for David knew how to pray!

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name." - Psalm 100:4.

Before you begin giving God your list of requests, demands, and petitions....LOVE on Him. Spend the first part of your prayer time in thanksgiving, praise, and worship to Him. Don't get in a hurry....remember, this is not just your time, but it is His time - if you want Him to stop commanding angels, creating worlds, governing the universe, and take time to listen to you - get His attention! Nothing gets a Father's attention like His children opening up their hearts and mouths and, in reckless abandon, loving on Him. According to Jesus' example of prayer in Luke 11 - we should start and end every prayer to God this way!

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." - 2 Corinthians 9:6.

It has been said that "quality is more important than quantity". This is a true statement; however, one must not ignore the fact that "the more seed that is sown, the larger the harvest". There was once a church billboard that stated, "Don't expect a million dollars from a ten-cent prayer". How much of God do you want when you are in trouble? How much of God do you need when you feel overwhelmed? How much of yourself do you want God to take to heaven when He returns? If you want all He has to offer, then He expects no less in return.

Furthermore, be specific! If a farmer just throws any type of seed into the ground without first confirming what type of seed it is, should that farmer expect one certain crop to grow? Remember, "whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." (Galatians 6:7) If your prayers are vague and ambiguous to God, you can expect God's answers to you to be vague and ambiguous as well.

3.) Praying "in the Spirit" -

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." - Romans 8:26.

There is a powerful prayer tool that comes by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in a believer's life. Paul makes mention in several different scriptures of instances in his own life when the Holy Spirit "took over" and prayed through and for him on his behalf and others. However, there is a large misconception about praying "in the Spirit" that must be addressed and placed in its proper prospective. Many believers have not tapped into this powerful tool of praying "in the Spirit" due to a great miss-teaching that praying "in the Spirit" solely means praying "in tongues." The Bible does teach that there are "heavenly" prayer languages and Watchmen Ministries stands firm on the belief that these types of prayers are still in effect today.

However, praying "in the Spirit" actually means praying "according/for the direct will of God", whether that be in a heavenly language or with understanding. For example, the word of God states, " If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." (James 1:5) So, if someone prays for "wisdom", he/she is praying "in the Spirit" - because the scriptures expressly command us to do so. So, in your endeavour to build your storehouse of faith through bible study, when you discover God's will for your life through the scriptures - pray for it! That is truly praying "in the Spirit". Praying for those things that God has already stated in His word that He wants for you will guarantee your prayer life to be "fervent and effectual". To give our readers a good "kick-start" to an "effectual and fervent" prayer life that is "in the Spirit", the Holy Spirit has permitted Watchmen to provide this list of things "directly pertaining to God's will for your life" -

1) Those who have not yet received - The Baptism of the Holy Ghost - Acts 2:38-39.

2) Those who have received - a fresh infilling - Ephesians 5:18.

3) All believers - to "align" your time and purpose with that of God's - Ecclesiastes 3:17

4) Serious, intentional believers - an intimate "heart-covenant" relationship with God - John 17:20-24. (More about this one in an upcoming message!)

"Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts." - James 4:3.

The main key to having an effective prayer life is "motive". Most believers do not experience an effective prayer life because their prayers are selfish and focused inward - 90% of the prayer is all about the one praying and 10% praying for others. Beloved, make the main intent of your prayers about becoming more like Jesus, seeking God's glory, about being a blessing to God and others - this will insure your prayer life is the most effective it can be - this is truly praying "in the Spirit"!

4) Eliminate all the distractions -

"And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." - Mark 1:35.

Consider the following question....How can one be intimate with his/her spouse unless the two are alone? Oh, yes....there are those who pervert themselves and share those things meant for privacy in front of others or for all the world to see - but this is not true romance - not true intimacy. If a believer would make a honest effort to pursue intimate fellowship with God, he/she must take those steps needful to remove the distractions....to get alone with God.

No one can truly study God's word in front of a television. No one can truly pray in the middle of a public place and expect to reach God in an effective way. It takes effort and determination on the part of a believer whose desire is to discover the "secret riches" and "hidden" glory of God. "Hidden" glory? Oh, yes, beloved....the "hidden" glory of God - not hidden "from" us - but "for" us...and for Him. (Matthew 13:44) And only those who truly seek Him will find out how marvelous....how breath-takingly beautiful our God is....and what a tender lover He is.

Is that something you desire? Then take the time to consecrate a place....dedicate a time...to meet with God! Without being able to fully explain it, meeting with God regularly at a specific time/place honors Him. At first, the enemy will attempt to discourage this from happening - the phone will continuously ring, people who never call or visit will suddenly beat a path to your door, problems will arise - constant "distractions" that seem to be "coincidental" will actually be Satan's efforts to stop you from dedicating a time/place to God.

But when God sees your determination, He will move on your behalf for this purpose. Soon you will discover with delight that God yearns to spend time with you just as much, if not more, than you do. Soon, you will go to the "secret place" at the "appointed time" and find Him already there....waiting for you!

5) Fasting -

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward." - Matthew 6:16.

Notice the Lord said in this scripture, "...when ye fast", not "if". In the main-stream "civilized" church of today, fasting has become an object of antiquity - placed in the same category with things like "foot-washing" or "snake-handing" - reserved for "radicals"....practised only by those "back-woods" folks. Oh, today's Christians will state they "believe" in fasting....but can you truly "believe" in something you seldom, if ever, participate in?

As a matter of fact, fasting has profound benefits for a person physically. Many physicians have reported that most people get sick simply because "they eat too much" and that a person that fasts on a regular basis will depleat the countless bateria and toxins inhabiting our bodies from the all the foods we consume and actually be heathier than those who never fast. But spiritually, fasting does for a believer's prayer life and Bible study the same thing an amplifier does for a guitar - and it will take your prayers and devotional time to a whole new level!

There have been many debates and opinions on what true fasting really is. Some state a fast isn't truly honorable to God unless it concerns only those things necessary for sustaining life - namely, food, water, and sleep. There have also been those who have stated that they have "fasted from television" or "fasted from coffee". The Bible gives us guidelines for an honorable fast to God as well as accounts of particular fasts - the "one-day" fast for direction, the "three-day" fast for deliverance, and the "forty-day" fast...a super-natural "God-called" fast that should only be done by the direct leading of the Holy Spirit.

"Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD? Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" - Isaiah 58: 5-7.

The unmistakable guideline for an honorable fast to God is the fact that it must be a sacrifice! It must cost the believer his/her comfort and be a true affliction. So, when one decides to fast or is led by the Holy Spirit to fast, he/she should ask himself/herself these questions, "Is the fast from something that is truly an afflicting sacrifice for me?" and, "What is the reason/motive for my fast?" Let's be honest with ourselves....giving up television is not a "sacrifice" nor an "affliction". On the contary, that would actually be a blessing! Just remember, anything you give God that is a true sacrifice and has a pure motive will honor Him. And the reward?

"Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward. Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am...." - Isaiah 58:8-9.

Why is fasting so powerful a tool for building your storehouse of faith? There are two reasons that can be clearly verified through the scriptures -

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." - Romans 12:1.

1) The word of God teaches us that the flesh is an enemy of God. (Romans 8) From our flesh come all the corruptions, enticements, lusts, and sinful deeds that separate us from God. Paul stated that the flesh cannot be redeemed; it must be crucified. (Galatians 5:24) Fasting is one of the tools for doing just that.

2) Fasting is also a form of "intimacy". When one gives himself/herself to God in fasting, it is submitting to God completely - spirit, soul, and body. Sacrificing the needs and wants of the flesh is "becoming naked' before the Lord. That why Paul admonishes us to obstain from any other forms of intimacy while fasting. (1 Corinthians 7:5) You are being intimate with God; and one cannot truly be intimate with two people at the same time.

6) Journaling -

"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." - Habakkuk 2:2.

Watchmen of the Wall Ministries has only shortly became aware of the powerful tool that keeping a journal can be. We were specifically instructed by the Holy Spirit to begin keeping a record of the the thoughts, words, and "secret things" that God has revealed to us. And we feel impressed to encourage anyone who desires to have another powerful tool for building, another weapon of warfare in his/her spiritual arsenal, and another resource of strength and encouragement to do the same! But don't just take our word for it - there are examples of this very thing in God's word!

"And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God." - 1 Samuel 30:6.

Beloved, how how do you think David "encouraged himself"? What "tool" can you recall David having available that would remind him of God's goodness?...His faithfulness? How about the vast amount of songs, testimonies, and recorded victories that God gave him stated in the Psalms? There is no doubt that, more than once, David would reflect on the very Psalms that countless numbers of saints throughout the ages have used as well to draw strength, encouragement - even use as prayers! It was David's own "storehouse of faith" that is still being used today due to the abundance that "storehouse" contains.

Beloved, we can also use our journals for that very same purpose. And one never knows if perhaps, just as David, the "storehouse" of your own songs, testimonies, and victories given by God becomes the "storehouse" that the next generation is sustained by too! Begin keeping a journal - perferably one that is plain and not pre-fabricated, meaning it is not already filled up with someone else's accounts, opinions, and ideas - God will provide you with plenty of your own songs, testimonies, and victories. Do it! - it will be a powerful tool - that's a promise!

7) Praise & Worship -

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord...." - Ephesians 5:19.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." - Colossians 3:16.

Never under-estimate the power of praise and worship to God! It destroys the walls of most fortified stronghold of the enemy! (Joshua 6:20) It breaks the chains of the oppressor a
opens all the prison doors! (Acts 16:26) Praise and worship to God acts as a battering-ram to the Gates of Hell and repels every evil spirit of heaviness and oppression! (Isaiah 61:3) The power of praise and worship unifies the church and manifests itself in a tangible force that causes creation to tremble around us! (Acts 4:31) Praise and worship to God is so powerful - it moves the heart of God into action and is, right now....at this very moment, causing the door-posts of Heaven to shake! (Isaiah 6:4) Why is there so much power in praise and worship to God?

"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them." - Psalm 22:3-4.

Beloved, when you begin to praise and worship God, you create around you an atmosphere that contains the very presence of the living God! When there is a song of praise to God in your heart and worship to God from your lips; the Spirit of God will surround you....go before you....permeate you....and, "where the Spirit of the Lord is...there is freedom!" (2 Corinthians 3:17). Moreover, we are commanded in God's word as ambassadors of Christ to demonstrate this very thing .

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light...." - 1 Peter 2:9.

Praise and worship is an important tool in building your storehouse of faith....and a very powerful weapon of warfare! Therefore, "....let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand...." - Psalm 149:5-6.

Beloved, these are the fundamental tools for building your storehouse of faith. These is another tool, one that is essential for the believer who would survive the days ahead - but it will be expounded on in a message of its own in the near future. It is imperative that you use them. Fail to take these tools and put them to use and you will "fall by the wayside" in these last days, a victim of Satan and a casuality of war! But for those who "purpose" thier heart to use them in these last days, they will endure to the end - they "shall be strong, and do exploits (rise up, take action, fight back, prevail)!" - Daniel 11:32.

So, what are you waiting for? Start building!

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".

Your Storehouse of Faith (Part Two)

Redeem your time.....Purpose your heart.....

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up....." - Ecclesiastes 3:1-3.

In part one of this message, we discovered the method in which God was able to preserve and protect the posterity of His people during a severe famine that engulfed the whole known world during the days and life of Joseph (Genesis 37 through 50). Divine providence had brought Joseph to the right place and position to become the instrument of God's plan. God, by His sovereignty and grace, insured that Joseph was in that particular place - serving in that particular position - at a particular time - for a particular purpose.

Joseph understood that he had been a recipient of God's word - that God had entrusted him with a supernatural calling - that God had revealed to him through his own dreams and those of the Pharaoh that He had a "time and purpose" for Joseph's life. However, there was one more thing needed....one thing so essential that without it....the salvation of God's people would not come to pass....Joseph must act.

"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." - James 1:22.

"What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?...Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. " - James 2:14 & 17.

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only." - James 2:20-24.

Beloved, it wasn't enough for Joseph just to receive the promise of God. Furthermore, it wasn't enough for Joseph just to believe the purpose of God. Joseph had to "redeem his time" and "purpose his heart" to see the fulfillment of the promise he received from God. Joseph had to "rise up and do exploits(take action)".....or the crops would never have been planted.....the abundance would never have been gathered....the storehouses would have never been build....and the people of God would have perished right along with the Egyptians.

The promise of God would have been made void had Joseph only received and believed....but Joseph had to, "by faith", align his time and purpose to that of God's in order to "see the salvation of God"!

"Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." - Mark 7:13.

Beloved, the same holds true for us as it did for Joseph. Although the bible is filled with the precious promises of God....and although "all God's promises are yea and amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20)....they are made void if we do not act upon them! There must be an intentional, deliberate pursuit of God to discover His "time and purpose" for our lives....then....we must "by faith", align our time and purpose to that of God's in order to "see the salvation of God"! But, as it was stated in part one of this message....the time of plenty(abundance) is almost over.....

"Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." - Ephesians 5:14-16.

Of all the commodities that God has gifted us with....food, clothing, shelter, material wealth and possessions.....the greatest gift and resource we have - and the one that, when invested wisely will give us the greatest return of reward - is TIME. Unfortunately, it is the one that we rob God most of....and the one God desires most of - our time.

Consider this.....most Christians believe in the principle of "tithing" - giving a tenth of all God gives us back to Him. Most Christian only practise tithing in our monetary lives; that is, we tithe of our income - our money. We do this because "traditional" doctrine and teaching has taught us that is all God requires a tithe of - our money. However, the true principle of tithing instructs us to tithe of all God has given us - what about our time?

"This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." - Psalm 118:24.

Do we give God a tenth of our time? A tenth part of one day is two hours and twenty-four minutes! Do we spend two hours and twenty-four minutes with God every day? A tenth part of a week is sixteen hours and forty-eight minutes! Do we spend that much time with God every week?......We complain if we have to stay past 12:00 noon in church on Sundays. Psalm 121 declares that God never sleeps and is constantly thinking of us.....when is the last time we stayed up all night with God?

The wonderful thing about the power of the Holy Spirit is that He can accomplish more in a believer's life in five minutes that we can in a lifetime in our own efforts. The secret to "redeeming" what little abundant time is left is to give it to the Holy Spirit...and He will greatly multiply the value of it and accomplish a "quick work" in our lives. But nothing will be accomplished until we stop spending....no.....wasting our time selfishly with our own interests....our own "purpose"....and align our time and purpose with His!

"Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will..." - Ephesians 1:8-11.

Now, let's discuss "purpose".....

When a person "purposes" in his/her heart to commit his/her "time" to God....a very powerful work will be the result;.....however,....when a person also aligns his/her "purpose" with the "purpose" of God - the result will be an unstoppable force that "even the gates of Hell will not prevail against"! A great example of this is found in the book/story of Nehemiah....

"And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven, And said, I beseech thee, O LORD God of heaven, the great and terrible God, that keepeth covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his commandments: Let thine ear now be attentive, and thine eyes open, that thou mayest hear the prayer of thy servant, which I pray before thee now, day and night, for the children of Israel thy servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel, which we have sinned against thee: both I and my father's house have sinned. We have dealt very corruptly against thee, and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the judgments, which thou commandedst thy servant Moses. Remember, I beseech thee, the word that thou commandedst thy servant Moses, saying, If ye transgress, I will scatter you abroad among the nations: But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of the heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. Now these are thy servants and thy people, whom thou hast redeemed by thy great power, and by thy strong hand. O LORD, I beseech thee, let now thine ear be attentive to the prayer of thy servant, and to the prayer of thy servants, who desire to fear thy name: and prosper, I pray thee, thy servant this day, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man. For I was the king's cupbearer." - Nehemiah 1:4-11.

"Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach. Then I told them of the hand of my God which was good upon me; as also the king's words that he had spoken unto me. And they said, Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." - Nehemiah 2:17 & 18.

"So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work." - Nehemiah 4:6.

"So the wall was finished in the twenty and fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty and two days. And it came to pass, that when all our enemies heard thereof, and all the heathen that were about us saw these things, they were much cast down in their own eyes: for they perceived that this work was wrought of our God." - Nehemiah 6:15 & 16.

In a record "time" of fifty-two days.....Nehemiah and the people of God rebuild the walls and gates of Jerusalem and restored the inheritance of God's people. If one reads the entire book/story of Nehemiah; he/she will discover that the enemy threw every weapon he had at Nehemiah in an effort to stop the restoration from happening.....fear, threats, violence, hunger, treason, etc......and nothing could stop Nehemiah....why? Because Nehemiah received the call of God, believed the call of God, aligned his "time and purpose" with the "time and purpose" of God, and "took action"! - rebuilding a city - rebuilding a people - restoring a nation!

"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.

"And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him." - Ephesians 3:9-12.

Beloved, "purpose" in your heart to commit your "time" to pursuing God as never before. Receive the word of the Lord being proclaimed in this message. Believe to the point that you begin to "align" your "time and purpose" with the "time and purpose" of God. Just as Nehemiah, "rise up and take action"....prepare to build your "storehouse of faith".....and when you build it....God will assure that it is filled....filled with His abundance....the abundance that will sustain you to eternal life!

Stay tuned for the conclusion of this message - "The Blueprint for building your Storehouse of Faith".....

Your Storehouse of Faith (Part One)

Time is running out....

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you." - Hosea 10:12.

One of the most beloved stories in the Bible is that of Joseph. His story spans from Genesis chapter 37 to the last chapter of Genesis, chapter 50. It compasses his life from age 17 till he dies at age 110.

There are many lessons that can be gleaned from Joseph's story - the fact that his life was a picture of Jesus - how he left his father's presence....was hated by his own brothers....was sold into slavery....thought to be dead....only to return and save his people from certain destruction.

What about the great life lesson of God's sovereignty? - Joseph was given a promise in his youth....the promise then appears to be "put to death"....his brothers, acting on what they believed was their own pretenses, give him over to the gentiles....only to discover God had been working through them the whole time to bring His promise to pass.

But the focus of this message will be on the main purpose God had for Joseph's life....which Joseph himself declares in Genesis chapters 45 and 50.

"And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance." - Genesis 45:4-7.

"And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them." - Genesis 50:18-21.

Although there were several goals God had in mind to accomplish through the life of Joseph, the main one was so that God could preserve the line and lineage of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - thus assuring the covenant made with Abraham would continue to be fulfilled.

Joseph, under the divine control of God, was made second in command to the most powerful person in the world at that time - the Pharaoh of Egypt. In the time appointed, Joseph was placed in that position to save countless lives, including that of his father, his brothers, and their families, from extinction.....and it all started with a dream.

"And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.....Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.....And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh. Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." - Genesis 41:1-7, 14-16, 25-32.

In the previous message entitled, "The Prodigal Gospel", it was explained and established through the scriptures that God used famines many times in the history of mankind to reveal and bring His purposes to pass. The story of Joseph is just one example of this fact. God warned Pharaoh in a dream of a coming famine that would cause the prosperous years to be forgotten for its severity.

God would use this famine to glorify His name among the Egyptians (Egypt has always been used in scripture as a reference to the world) and to preserve and perfect His people. God also gave Joseph, His prophet and spokesman for the time, the means in which to avoid catastrophe and save the nations from being destroyed by the famine.

"Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.....And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt. And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.....And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands." - Genesis 41:33-36, 46-49, 53-57.

Watchmen of the Wall Ministries has also warned of a coming famine, both physical and spiritual, that would cause the prosperous time of both the world and the church to be all but forgotten. And just as He did in the story of Joseph, God will use this famine to glorify His name among the nations of this world and to supernaturally preserve and perfect His people.

God instructed Joseph to build storehouses in which to lay up provisions against the famine. God is also instructing His children today, those who have ears to hear, to build spiritual storehouses. And just as Joseph was able to sustain others as well as himself through the famine; those who hearken unto the Holy Spirit and build these "storehouses of faith" will be able to use them in the days to come to sustain themselves and others.

And how does one build such a "storehouse of faith"? First, we must understand the principle of sowing and reaping.

"Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same." - Job 4:8.

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy." - Psalm 126:5.

"He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail." - Proverbs 22:8.

"Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." - Luke 6:38.

"And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together." - John 4:36.

"But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully." - 2 Corinthians 9:6.

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." - Galatians 6:7 & 8.

These are just some of the scriptures that explain God's principle for sowing and reaping. However, they are enough to establish the fact that whatever someone plants/sows/gives, that is what can be expected to return, both physically and spiritually.

Because the principle of sowing and reaping is an established law of God, it works just like the principle of gravity. God does not have to carefully watch over the earth for fear that gravity will stop working and things will begin to float off into outer space. God established both the principles/laws of gravity and sowing/reaping at the beginning of all things. These principles work as God designed them without His conscious attention.

Joseph used the principle of sowing and reaping during the years of plenty to build and store provisions in order to preserve many lives. His heeding of God's warning and wisdom brought about the kind of salvation the people of God needed most....at that time.

"And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully: And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God." - Luke 12:15-21.

Here in lies the problem....

Many ministers have used these scriptures and the principle of sowing and reaping to promote physical and monetary gain. Instead of the church using the years of plenty to build up spiritual storehouses.....the Body of Christ has been spending its efforts building a physical kingdom - one of bricks and mortar, of large bank accounts and big-time ministries - when the need for spiritual storehouses is the greater one.

Beloved, what is more important? the condition of your body? or the condition of your soul? What do you fear most about the future? your loss of resources and physical comfort? or the preservation of a strong relationship with your Lord and Savior?

"But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." - Jude 1:17-21.

Now, the years of plenty are almost over.....time is running out....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQVmR0jV52A