7 Ways to Prepare the Storehouse and Feed Others
Learning how to prepare the storehouse is especially meaningful to anyone in ministry. As an example, the pandemic arrived and ministries all over the world experienced an upsurge in visits and salvations.
People wanted answers to questions.
I’m not surprised.
What’s happening now is described in this scripture.
Amos 8:11 (AMP)
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God, “When I will send hunger over the land, Not hunger for bread or a thirst for water, But rather [a hunger] for hearing the words of the Lord.
When life is scary people don’t want a religious message. They want to hear God speak to them. They’re hungry inside and don’t know why because they feel empty and need help. When I wrote, “God On the Back Pew”, I knew people cried out to God and He met them exactly where they were.
What an exciting time to live!
You and I can deliver the Good News message of salvation. To do that, you must feed your spirit with the Word of God, full to the brim or you’ll have nothing to give.
Prepare the Storehouse: How Do You Do That?
First, what exactly is a storehouse?
A storehouse can be a building for storing goods but it also means an abundant supply or source of something.
Guess what? Christians fit both definitions. Spiritual goods are stored in our earthen vessels in the form of God’s Word. Christians that are abundantly full pursue God the most.
When you feed your spirit with the Word of God it has to go somewhere. This scripture describes a person bursting full of God.
I Peter 4:1-10 (NKJV)
Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
3 For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. 4 In regard to these, they think it strange that you do not run with them in the same flood of dissipation, speaking evil of you.
5 They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 6 For this reason the gospel was preached also to those who are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.
7 But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
7 Ways to Prepare the Storehouse
Unbelievers need Christians now more than ever. They need a strong foundation that doesn’t crumble under adversity. You fill the storehouse to feed others. Additionally, your spiritual storehouse keeps you strong.
- Be a warrior: You don’t engage in spiritual battles by defeating evil in the flesh. You’ll always lose. Instead, you allow God to teach you how to be a warrior, when to engage, and what to do. You learn how to be a warrior to stand in the gap for others by praying. Prayer is the biggest weapon you have alongside believing that God is bigger than the battle.
- Stop pleasing the world: Your natural appetites ruled by the flesh don’t define who you are as a Christian, What defines you as a believer is displaying Christ’s love to others. If you do that all the time, you’ve consecrated your life for His purposes and work to bring others to Christ.
- Live for God: Dying to self doesn’t happen all at once. God changes a Christian devoted to Jesus day by day and year by year. After a while, God is on your mind all day long including when you wake up briefly from sleeping. He consumes your every thought and you don’t resent that. You enjoy His presence and want to do everything for His Kingdom and others.
- Become sound-minded and self-controlled to pray effectively: Satan spends lots of time getting Christians off course so they don’t focus on God’s will for them. As I Peter 4 above indicates, we pray better prayers when we concentrate. We need sound and controlled minds to communicate with unbelievers.
- Love others: Have you noticed when you decide to love others what irritates you about them fades? To love others is an important commandment that undergirds a Christian’s faith and exemplifies your allegiance to God.
Two More Ways to Prepare the Storehouse
- Don’t complain: Complaints never build up anyone. When you feed others, you can’t do it while grumbling and moaning. Remember the Israelites did that and they wandered in the wilderness for 40 years. You don’t want that! You want to live in your Promised Land now!
- Use God’s gifts He gave you: I’m joyful when serving others. What gifts did God give you? Are you compassionate, a good teacher, or an encourager? You probably already know what gifts God wants you to use to serve others.
Prepare the Storehouse: Closing Thoughts
Like Jesus told Peter, He wants us to feed His lambs. As John 14:23 indicates, all those who keep God’s Word love Him. You prepare the storehouse (a receptacle for spiritual goods) by continually feeding on scripture.
Feeding others comes down to one thing. Who do you love more—God or yourself? That determines how you fill the storehouse, specifically yours, and give to others your bounty. Keep your storehouse in overflow mode so you have something to give!