Open-Heaven

At times like this, if a church or a person or a people can operate under an open heaven,

it's to your advantage, to the church's advantage and to the advantage of the earth.

And so I want to talk about this idea of open heaven and ask the question, so if we say

the word open heaven, what is it? Why do we need it? When is it applicable? Where is it?

How does it work? So these are questions that we'll ask and we look at today because it's a

distinct advantage to have an open heaven at times like this. So let's go down that road.

So to begin with guys, an open heaven is not a place, it's not an event, it's not some kind

of a portal because there have been teachings like that which say that there's an open heaven

over this place or there's an open heaven in this particular city. It's almost like there's some

kind of portal that God does things through all that. This event is an open heaven. I'd suggest

those are just things that man makes up, charismatics in particular make up and so that's not where we

are going. We're going to look at what the Bible says and how often the Bible talks about heaven's

opening, the heavens being rent and what happens when the heavens are opened. That's what we'll

be looking at. So first let's start with the whole idea of this word heavens. So what are we saying

when we say open heavens? What do we mean by heavens? So we're talking about the invisible

throne of God and so it's not evident to the natural eye. It's the invisible throne of God

from where you have his rule, his kairos and by his kairos what I mean is God does things in perfect

time. In the fullness of time is the word that he uses. There's a fluidity to what he does.

Every so often in times that he ordained before the foundations of the earth, his intent, his

purpose and what he desires, events that he plans just break into history and that's unshackled by

deadlines, events on the earth. They don't oppose, stop, block what God wants to do.

When we talk about the heavens, we are talking about the invisible throne of God

from where his rule, his kairos, his decrees, his purpose, his angelic forces, his angelic forces,

his blessings and his resources.

His resources, Derek I might need a better pen. I've got one other pen here. His resources,

all these are sent forth from the heavens. All these are sent forth or issued from the heavens.

And strangely enough, according to Ephesians 2.6, we are located in heavenly places.

We are located in heavenly places with him. So this is not an inaccessible place that one

accesses only after one leaves the earth. We are located in heavenly places with him.

So we are located in heavenly places with him. So this is not an inaccessible place that one

accesses only after one leaves the earth. Yeah. So this is how we would define heaven. So when we

say open heavens, we are talking about the ability to access the invisible throne of God from where

his rule, his kairos, his decrees, his purposes, his angelic forces, his blessings and his resources

issue forth or are sent forth from. And then let's just look at another word to open. What do we mean

by open heavens? What does it mean to open heaven or what happens when there is an open heaven or

what happens? What's the idea of to open? To open is to cleave, as in rend. To open is to plow,

as in dig out. To open is to draw, as in draw out

or extract

that which is concealed in heaven

for the earth.

That which is concealed in heaven for the earth.

Kapish. So that is the idea of open heaven.

And so that is the what. If we are talking about open heaven, that is the what. What is open heaven?

This is what we can kind of begin to define it as. Any questions?

Great thing with doing live online services is that I don't have to wait for you to copy this.

I can just wipe it out. And nobody says nothing and even if you are, I can't hear you.

There are certain advantages.

So that's the what. Any questions?

And why is it important at times like this? Because at times like this, when it looks like

the heavens are shut, at times like this, when it looks like the heavens are shut,

it's because of the fact that we are in a place where we are in a place where we are in a place

where we are in a place where we are in a place where we are shut. At times like this, when it looks like

there's this iron-fisted hold upon the globe, if people don't realize that they have the ability to

cleave, to plow loose, to draw out and extract the rule, the kairos, the decrees, the purposes,

the angelic forces of God from the heavens, where we are actually seated with Christ,

then many of the things that must be effected on earth take longer. What's the problem with

things taking longer? Lives are lost and sometimes irreversible changes happen. We've talked about

that in that video which you must have watched where it's called Lessons from Genesis 1 to 12.

You should watch that, man, if you haven't seen it yet. I think it's a public video,

Lessons from Genesis 1 to 12. It gives you an idea of how things work because at the end of the day,

if you take chapters 1 to 12 from Genesis, you see the history of the world and from there on,

it's just on repeat. But we'll talk about that another time. So, if this is how we answer what

is open heaven, then the next question we need to ask is, so when does this happen? When does

this happen? What can we look at and see in scriptures that gives us an idea of when it is

important to access the heavens? So, if you look at Revelation chapter 4, Revelation chapter 4 verse

Revelation 4 · chapter mention Revelation 4:1

1, Revelation 4.1, and I know we are familiar with it. Revelation 4.1, it says, After this I looked

and there before me was a door standing open in heaven and the voice I had first heard speaking

to me like a trumpet said, come up here and I'll show you what must take place after this.

So, part of the reason we should at times like this begin to access and open heaven is because

God desires, God desires to show us more. In times of chaos, heaven desires to be opened.

In times of chaos, heaven desires to be opened. I do this with some of you. My dad used to do it with

me. I do this with some of you where I'll give you a glimpse of something and especially with

the young adults, I'll give you a glimpse of something and then I won't call you. I'll see

whether you'll call me to find out more because I want to see if there's a desire to open the door

and see what awaits and during times of chaos, heaven desires to be opened.

In Revelation 4, it says, here is a door that is standing open and God says, hey,

you want to come up and see, you want to come up and see what I want to show you must take place

after this and so when you look at say for instance Genesis 1 6 and in Genesis 1 6, it says

that the waters parted and the heavens opened. The waters parted and the heavens opened. In 2 Kings 2,

8 to 11, you see another story where waters part. Let me phrase it this way. You'll see many

occasions in scripture where heavens were created or heavens opened after the waters parted.

Waters represent chaos. Waters represent void. Waters represent the disobedience and the tumult

of humanity in the Bible. It's always represented that even in ancient

pagan documents, the tumult of waters was always representative of the chaos, the disobedience,

the void and the tumult of humanity and so you'll find that every time there is chaos,

there is a desire from heaven that someone rise up to plow it open. So in Genesis 1 6,

when the waters part, the heavens and the earth are created. In the second chapter,

2, 8 to 11, you see with Elijah. Elijah and Elisha just crossed through the Jordan. The waters part,

they crossed through the Jordan and guess what happens? Heavens open and chariots of fire come

down and they whisk Elijah away. You go to Mark chapter 1, verse 10 and you see Jesus and once

Mark 1:10

again, he steps into the waters and as soon as he steps into the waters, what happens? It says,

As soon as he steps into the waters, what happens? It says,

and the heavens were were rent open and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus.

So waters represent chaos, void, disobedience and tumult of humanity. By the way,

one of the things that always shuts heaven is disobedience. Deuteronomy 28, verse 23 says,

Deuteronomy 28:23

Oh God, because of our disobedience, the skies or the heavens are like brass and the earth is like

iron. And what God is looking for in times of chaos is for someone who can either divide the

water or step into the water, someone who will rise to swim against the evil tide,

someone who can break through and extract what God has for the earth. And open heaven is not really

for us to benefit because we are seated with him in heavenly places.

It is so that sons and daughters here on earth will rise up and swim against the tide. They'll

go against the tide and they'll somehow break through to extract what God has for the earth.

This is the intent. So let's look at some who opened the heavens. We look at some of the characters

in the Bible who opened the heaven and they were irreversibly affected in their own lives and then

they altered their world at that particular time. So that's what happens. On one hand,

if you begin to rise up and begin to break through and begin to extract things out of heaven that

God desires to release here on earth, then here's what happens first. You get irreversibly affected

and after that, because you have been irreversibly affected, irreparably damaged or infected for the

good, what then happens is you alter the world around you. Any questions?

Man, Aaron, I miss coffee so I brought my own. You're not very helpful during these times.

So here are some characters or people from the Bible who

were able to break through against the evil tide to extract what God had for the earth.

Their lives were irreversibly affected and they altered the world. And when you look at what they

did, you begin to get an idea of why the heavens need to be opened, how advantageous it is. So let's

look first at Jesus. In Mark 1-10, Jesus steps out of the house and says, I'm going to open the

house. In Mark 1-10, Jesus steps into the water and the heavens open. Jesus steps into the water

and heaven's open. Mark chapter 1 verse 10. You're putting it up, right, Josh?

Mark 1:10

Oh no, don't worry, I'll pull it. I'll read it. Mark 1-10.

It says in Mark 1-10, at that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the

Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the spirit

descending on him like a dove. And then it goes on to say, and a voice came from heaven,

you are my son whom I love, with you I am well pleased. Guys, one of the things that happens if

I am able to or we are able to access an open heaven is that you are validated by the empowering

delight, favor and the authenticating voice of the father. So one of the advantages of accessing

the heavens as in, oh God, you desire me to break through against the tides of the heavens,

break through against the tide around me where everyone is saying one thing, where there's chaos

raining, where the skies look like brass and at this time you are saying, come Jacob, come up

higher, let me show you what should take place. And if I'm able to consistently, persistently

follow after you and step into this chaos and not go with the tide but against the tide, then one of

the advantages that happens is that I'll hear the validating, empowering, authenticating voice

of delight from the father. And that's what happens in Mark 1 10, where the empowering delight,

where the empowering delight, the empowering delight, favor

and authenticating voice, authenticating voice of the father

validates you.

Why is it important that you be validated this way? Because it is a place of confidence that you

step into, a place of confidence that you step into, that even the demons,

that even demons are scared of,

that even the demons are scared of, that even the demons are scared of and even the demons recognize.

The same thing that happened to Jesus in Mark 1 verse 10 happens to Jesus in Matthew 17 9,

Mark 1:10

where they are on the Mount of Transfiguration and the voice comes again.

And it's strange how Jesus goes down from the mountain and guess what? There are these disciples

trying to cast out a demon from a person and they could not and Jesus comes and in seconds casts the

a person and they could not and Jesus comes and in seconds casts the demons out.

A people or a person that says in the middle of difficult times, in the middle of apostasy,

in the middle of chaos, someone who has the ability to say, oh God, I want to see what heaven has for

the earth at a time like this, is a man who will if he persists and if his desire is genuine

and if his intent is to seek the good of the earth which we are supposed to do. We are supposed to be

a benefit to earth dwellers. The word earth dwellers is actually used in the book of revelations

for those that are still on earth and do not know God. If you ask someone like this then immediately

what begins to happen is you begin to be empowered by the delight, the favor and the authenticating

voice of God and once I hear that I know that I now have the confidence to do what I need to do

and that even the demons will recognize it. In Mark chapter 1 shortly after he's baptized and

Mark 1 · chapter mention

he's driven into the, he's led into the desert by the spirit of God, Jesus comes out and in Mark

Mark 1:24

chapter 1 verse 24 he confronts a man with a demon in a synagogue and what does the evil spirit cry

out? What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are.

It's the same thing that happens in Acts chapter 19 verse 15 where the demons that had come out of,

Acts 19:15

that were in a man turned to the sons of Sceva and they say to them, Jesus we know, Paul we know.

They recognize those that have been authenticated by the voice of the father

but this is a voice that must come from heaven.

At a time like this church, man we got to be this for God and for the earth.

May he not have to use scriptures like Isaiah,

I don't remember Isaiah 57 where he says, I looked for a man who could stand and fight but I looked

and I found no one so I dressed myself up in a helmet of salvation and a breastplate of righteousness

and I cloaked myself myself with zeal because I decided that I would bring salvation by myself

because I could not find anybody else. May not have to repeat those lines, those lines are not

supposed to now be repeated. The church is supposed to step up at times like this.

Different roles for different churches but if this is the role given to us by God then we must step up.

Any questions?

Okay, the next person we look at is Elisha, 2 Kings 2, 11,

and then 2 Kings 6, 17.

2 Kings 2, 11 and 2 Kings 6, 17.

And so here was Elisha in 2 Kings 2, 11 and they've just crossed the Jordan

and the chariots of fire or the chariots of Israel appear, they whisk Elijah away and then

and then let me just go to that scripture, 2 Kings 2, verse 11,

2 Kings 2:11

as they were walking along and talking together suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire

appeared and separated the two of them and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.

And one of the things that Elisha had said was I want a double portion and that and to that Elijah

replies if you see me being taken up you will receive it. And so open heavens always announce

a new shift or movement of God. Open heavens always announce a new shift

or movement of God. A new shift or movement of God. It's a new shift or a new movement of God

and I would suggest to you just based on what I was saying during the announcement that man

I know that the church of Jesus Christ is being shifted into a place of great power that it

like it has never happened. I know that for Acts 29 and we are just one tiny church and so imagine

across the earth God is doing the same thing. The spirit of God does the same thing.

I want to share a story that is so not part of what I was going to talk about but I

I'm reminded of it. Guys remember one thing God is himself interested in

getting the church to a place where it's cloaked with zeal. I remember listening to this particular

preacher who was in a church in Scotland and he was talking about Elisha and the king who had to

take arrows and strike it on the ground and so as he was talking about that story there were

people who were listening and he was saying guys do not go halfway go all the way take the arrows

that you have in your hand and begin to strike the ground and as he's saying this an old man who

must be 92 or 93 gets up and somehow totters his way out onto the carpet in front of the church

and he begins to take his hand and begins to start slamming the carpet over and over again saying

I may be old but I will see the promises of God come to pass and he starts slamming the carpet

and another 19 year old who had earrings and was dressed in leather and had chains

watches for a while and then he comes up and he takes his hand and he starts slamming it on the

carpet saying we will see the fulfillment of God's promise and he starts to say

slamming it on the carpet saying we will see the fulfillment of God's promises to Scotland that

revival should come and as this preacher watches the entire church begins to cry out to God and

starts hitting the carpet with their hands saying these promises shall come to pass and the whole

church is cloaked in zeal and as it is happening this 92 year old and the young man get up and

they walk away and as this preacher walks watches they walk away and as they're walking away they

disappear now it's up to you whether you believe the story or not but this preacher goes on to say

that he saw that entire church lit on fire cloaked with the zeal of God because God himself sometimes

turns up as he did with Abraham as he did with Gideon as he did with Joshua as he did many times

in the Bible as he did with Paul on at least two occasions where God turns up and says guys

come on now let me cloak you with zeal so that you begin to walk with me and release here on earth

the things that I want for the earth from heaven and so

once we begin to access heaven like this you begin to see the chariots of fire begin to affect the

earth and what do you mean by you begin to see the chariots of fire affect the earth guys you begin

to see two things happen the chariots of fire were basically the armies of God and the army of God

was meant to do two things one it was supposed to be protection and deliverance for the people

two it was supposed to be the routing of the enemy and when sons and daughters of God begin to rise

upon earth and begin to say oh God I can hear your voice saying come come up higher let me show you

what to take place and when they begin to walk up to God here's what happens on earth like Rhonda

you suddenly become protection and deliverance to the people that are around you and you become to

the enemy an opposing routing force that defeats and tramples upon them

this is what happens I hope you take it to heart I've seen this happen guys I've seen this happen

in nations I've seen this happen at acts 29 where God begins to stand up and he begins becomes like

a dividing wall saying to you I shall become protection and deliverance where does he do this

he does this in Exodus chapter 12 he does this in Genesis chapter 3 Adam is naked hiding behind a

Exodus 12 · chapter mention Genesis 3 · chapter mention

bush God stands up says to you I will become protection I clothe you right now but I will

clothe you with myself the day is coming but right now I become to you protection I've become to you

deliverance even though I'm chasing you out of the garden it's for your good but to you Satan you

shall be trampled upon and you shall crawl on your belly you see that with Israel in the book of

Exodus where to the Egyptians he became darkness dullness and confusion to the Israelites he

became rescue deliverance and protection

this is what happens guys when a church or a people or a person rises up and says okay God

what does heaven have to say about what is happening on earth especially at times like this guys

where angelic forces begin to rise up because someone on earth takes a stand and it begins to

dismantle the demonic know that an open heaven always provokes the demonic okay Satan tries to

abort the new release of whatever God wants to do on earth strange how Jesus steps out of the

water the heavens are torn open the dove descends on him and then he's tempted in the wilderness and

what you need to understand when the demonic is provoked by an open heaven is now you get an

opportunity to slay Goliath now you get an opportunity to slay Goliath in this time of

chaos on the earth guys I I'm relishing the opportunities to slay Goliath

because what is happening on the earth right now is meant to cause irreversible changes that

accelerate decay and death and in the midst of that God is raising up sons and daughters who

can take a stance and say nope that is not what heaven has ordained our God is a God who has

purchased mankind our God is a God who paid with blood our God is a God who has property rights

and his plans are good and then when you begin to take the stance even though the demonic is

provoked in the wilderness you now slay Goliath and once you slay Goliath you realize that the

domain is suddenly increasing so when I send these videos out for prayer it's not a spiritual

exercise to keep us sharp during times of isolation I would suggest to you that every one of those

videos is crafted first with God I pray before I send them out that father may it be something

that heaven desires for earth through acts 29 or through whoever listens to this video

acts 29 is surprisingly the most not the most important thing in this church and it shouldn't

be it's odd but it shouldn't be it shouldn't be really it shouldn't be fake applause please

oh too late moving on to the next point

oh you did play it it's just that I can't hear it okay that's cool guys let's look at another person

any questions guys any questions

the next person I want to look at is Isaiah Isaiah yesterday when I was writing down this verse

I mean I had to stop and break into prayer eh

because Isaiah sees heaven's open Sheldon's back

Isaiah sees heaven's open

in the year that king Uzziah died verse one to eight I saw the Lord seated on the throne

the high and exalted and the train of his robe filled the temple

Sheldon I want you on the piano

um and the train of his robe filled the temple

verse two above him were the seraphs each with six six wings with two wings they covered their

faces with two they covered their feet and with two they were flying and they were calling to

one another holy holy holy is the Lord Almighty the whole earth is full of his glory and the sound

of their voices the doors posts and the threshold shook and the temple was filled with smoke

war to me I cried I'm ruined for I'm a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean

lips and my eyes have seen the king and the Lord Almighty then one of the seraphs flew to me with

a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from the altar with it he touched my mouth

and said see this has touched your lips your guilt has taken away and your sin atoned for

then I heard the voice of the Lord um saying whom shall I send and who will go for us and I said

here I am send me guys the reason I read that whole passage is so that Sheldon can come to the

piano had a delay but here's what I really want to say guys Isaiah saw heaven's open and one of the

things that happens when heaven is open is that first you are ruined by his majesty first you are

ruined by his majesty I can't I can't emphasize this point enough

when you actually begin to say to God father I know what's happening here on earth I know

things are chaotic I know this thing looks so negative it doesn't matter whether it's

COVID or anything else in the future but as you begin to look at heaven one of the things God will

do first is he will ruin you with a glimpse of his majesty

it's happened many times in the Bible where people suddenly catch a glimpse of God

and it ruins them they go woe is me it just ruins them and then after the ruining comes the

restoring and after the restoring comes this idea of being commissioned and so that's what happens

to Isaiah here heaven's open he's ruined by what he sees he can't he can't see what's going on

he sees he can't he can't stand before this God and then he's touched by God and restored restored

to a place he has never occupied before so much so now that he begins to hear like Paul heard

things that cannot be spoken but in this case he hears the simple voice of God saying who shall we

send and he says here I am and that begins his commission and begins a journey that

locates him as one of the greatest prophets that ever lived I just want us to sing this song

just a chorus of this song and as you do I just pray that we'll catch a glimpse of his majesty

there is this thing about God that is so kingly so majestic

that we would not be able to handle it even if he parted the curtain slightly

but I just want us to at least have a taste of what that looks like I so long for it yeah

yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever amen

yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever amen

and yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever amen

yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever

man yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever

man

is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever

one more time yours is the kingdom yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory

forever

oh

for I see a door standing open in the heaven

I hear the same voice that's forced to jump now say

hey

for yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever

yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever

let heaven

come

father we come up higher we come up higher oh god

because if heaven has to come let it come through your church

may not have to come through angels

may not have to come through invisible or visible hands writing on walls

may come through your church your voice your hands your feet you meant us to be your body here

yours is the kingdom yours is the power yours is the glory forever

man

bless you father ruined by your majesty about and then restored and commissioned

man

bless you father ruined by your majesty about and then restored and commissioned

this is what happens to Isaiah guys and then he begins to rise up with fear and trembling

and he begins to step into the role of a prophet same thing happens to these guys Peter John and

they see Jesus in his absolute divinity on as much as possible physically on mount on the mount

of transfiguration and later in second Peter's second Peter one verse 18 they talk about how we

witnessed his majesty we witnessed his majesty and we are we are genuine witnesses of his majesty

seek this a guys seek this during this time seek to be ruined and then rebuilt by his majesty

yeah any questions before we go any questions

any questions

hey these are times when God must be king and we must see him as king

not as comforter not as healer those things are important i'm not discounting them at all

but we need to see him as king

and the strange thing is when we see him as majesty and when people have encounters like Isaiah did

or like Paul did in second Corinthians 12 where he talks about how he entered the third heavens

and he heard things that were not to be mentioned the strange thing is there is no boasting there

is no elitism there is no fanfare there's no heroic spiritual recounting of what they saw

it's always kept on the lowdown eh it's strange how Jesus himself in Matthew 17

Matthew 17:9

verse 9 after the disciples see him in his blazing purity he tells them listen do not speak of this

to anybody till i'm risen again and while we are called to witness his majesty to be majesty to be

ruined and restored by it while we are called to hear things that God wants done on earth because

heaven has a different plan for the earth than what is happening right now as you begin to pray the

way you're praying elitism boasting fanfare oh we got this insight is just so contrary to what God

wants to achieve because strangely enough heaven is a humble place

heaven is a humble place just keep that in the back of your mind

let's look at one more guy Jacob Jacob Genesis 28 Jacob Genesis 28 12 to 16

he had this vision where he sees heaven's opening if you go to Genesis 28 12 to 16

Genesis 28 12 to 16

I really like Jacob Genesis 28 12 to 16

Genesis 28 12 to 16

taking one of the stones that he put under his head he lay down to sleep he had a dream in which

he saw a stairway resting on the earth with its top reaching to the heaven or a ladder resting on

the earth with its top reaching to the heaven and the angels of God were ascending and descending on

it there above it stood the Lord and he said I am the Lord the God of your father Abraham and the

God of Isaac I will give you and your descendants the land on which you're lying your descendants

will be like the dust of the earth and you will spread out to the west and to the east to the

north and to the south all the peoples on the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring

I'm with you and will watch over you wherever you go and I will bring you back into this land

I will not leave you until I've done what I've promised you beautifully see guys when you look

at that passage Jacob has this vision of an open heaven and he sees angels ascending and descending

and here's what we need to understand an open heaven gives you a grasp of your domain as in

once once you approach God and say father show me what you have at a time like this for the earth

God begins to show you what you need to understand so that you have a grasp of the extent

of your domain this is important day so I know what is given to me to steward I know what is

given to me to dispossess and possess because on earth because Christ has won the battle

everything first needs to be dispossessed as in drive out illegal squatters drive out the

inhabitants that no longer have a right and then possess what is rightfully God's

so an open heaven gives you the extent of your domain it gives you a grasp of the extent of

your domain it gives you his God's protective presence because God says hey now that I've

shown you the extent that you are going to get now that I've shown you the domain over which you

have influence let me assure you that my protective presence will be with you it's like God giving you

a letter of authority saying hey Jacob these powers in these lands I give to you this is what

God said to Joshua once God tells Joshua hey Joshua I'm the commander of the armies of Israel I love

the life that he says to Joshua next he says I'm giving Jericho over to you which meant that that

all the gods of Jericho all the defenses of Jericho all the offensive weapons of Jericho as we saw in

that 3d lego world with you begin to crumble before Joshua why because God said you have my

protective presence and you have my letter of authority this is something I always see guys not

just for Axmanian but for the different nations we go into father what is it that is my domain

here and once I know that once you know the extent of your domain you know the powers that now are

beginning to tremble having heard of the news of your arrival because they know that Jericho has

been given over all they can do is try and shut the doors hoping that you will not be able to enter

this is real guys it actually works

it's like when King Cyrus gave Ezra a letter saying hey Ezra take this letter when you go into that

province let the governors know that they got to pay for your upkeep they got to pay for your meat

and drink they got to pay for you the wood and the timber and the stone they got to pay for

everything because I have now ordained it and so it's this decree that releases to you the resources

that you need because heaven has said hey during this time of covid or during this time of chaos

or during this time of darkness during this time of difficulty here is what is yours go now and

clear the way possess what is rightfully yours bring heaven here on earth let heaven come

these songs that we sing let heaven come sound so ridiculous if there is no place to bring heaven

let heaven come sounds like a really nice song

but you got to bring it into a place right bring what into a place remember how we defined heaven

the riches of isaiah 61 being released through you

once you know the extent of your domain you have no apprehension or you have very little apprehension

and you have very little presumption you won't go battling goliath you're not supposed to

and you won't hesitate to bring down goliath you're supposed to very little apprehension

very little presumption sometimes guys boldness comes sheerly out of knowing what is appointed

to you to vanquish boldness comes out of knowing what is appointed to you to vanquish

it's that time of the day when i start coming towards the end of my teaching that josh starts

eating and it's always music to my ears you guys can't hear it

but the guy has to eat he works really hard he starts saturday evening and he keeps going

till sunday so though it's his wife who's pregnant he's the one who eats yeah

okay guys

uh sorry that cough was just choking on my laughter so you don't have apprehensions you

don't have presumptions and you align with the time of god you align with the time of god you

know god's timing that at present if i do this it'll have optimal results

no questions eh is diana listening to this teaching okay just checking

okay

no my no no no yeah

who ruined by if you read isaiah six verse one to six you'll get an idea where it is like oh god how

can i even another place where you see the majesty of god without i mean it came through

a carpenter but it just um it just dismantles a proud fisherman you see peter and he's just

pulled out the fish from one side of the boat and peter just goes down to his knees and says

get away from me it is suddenly becoming aware of who you are before

guys one of the scriptures that sometimes catches our eyes when you look at jacob's story and it

says that a ladder was set up from the earth to the heavens so that heaven could ascend and descend

and so i pray that we become that ladder during this time that the church becomes the ladder

that acts 29 becomes the ladder that your church becomes the ladder that heaven ascends and descends

on and ascend with a report of tasks completed

descend with descend with new commissions

and new orders

i pray that we become like this if we become churches like this i pray that

acts 29 will be a place where god will say yeah you can ascend now with a report of and he's

saying to his messengers be the spirit of god or be it angels ascend with reports of tasks

of tasks that have been completed by acts 29 or by the church you belong to

because i gave them things to do they've proven themselves faithful ascend and bring me a report

of it this is why guys please please understand that those videos that are being sent take your

time you don't have to do it on the day it happens if you worked and couldn't get to it but be

faithful so that god can say yep i gave them tasks to do it was not the leaders that did it

it was not the pastor that did it it was not the people and that did it it was the entire church

that did it where we finished the task and now you can ascend with reports of this task was finished

and once that ascension happens with a report of acts 29 has been faithful then guess what happens

you descend with new commissions new orders from heaven saying you have been found faithful in the

little that i gave you now let me give you more this is how god dispossesses the nations he would

say to israel i won't give it all to you in one shot because if i did you wouldn't be even able

to handle the wild beasts in the land so i'll give you bit by bit and as you prove faithful in the

bit bit that i give you i'll give you more let's take one more character steven

steven

in acts 755 he sees heaven open in act 755 he sees heaven open

and what happens when he sees the heaven open he gets bolder man he gets bolder to the point

where even death does not frighten him he sees heaven open and he sees christ standing up

and he begins to speak with greater boldness and so one of the things that happens when

when you have an open heaven is that it gives you boldness

and the courage to endure

go

and then it allows you then to sacrifice for heaven's sake even unto death

even unto death this is what you see in acts 26 19 where paul says king agrippa what can i do but

be faithful to the heavenly vision that i saw how can i move away from it i have to be faithful to

the heavenly vision this is why in revelations 12 john writes and they overcame the devil by the

word of their testimony by the blood of the lamb blood of the lamb that they did not live their

lives love their lives even unto death so there is this thing that happens when you see what god

has from heaven for earth through you that begins to cloak you with the kind of zeal that makes you

want to endure for the sake of king and kingdom to the point where you're willing to sacrifice

that which the world holds on to even your own life for the cause of heaven must come to pass

you ask with david is there not a cause

go ahead

how do you know you're aligned with god's timing

one there's an urgency that you begin to feel in your heart two you realize

that god has been setting you up for this for days and sometimes years on end three

you can't run away from it it just begins to gnaw at you four you look at the place and the situation

around you and you realize this place is begging for yeshua to enter or yavé to do something

five you know that you've been trained for a time such as this and there are skills and gifts and

abilities within you that are awaiting it's an ester like time where you have been raised for a

time such as this and six you are really scared and seven through the fear you see god and something

and you begin to leap up again saying i may be scared but i'm going to step out and not ask for

an errand or a hur but i'm just going to step out and as you do you know the outcome but you do not

know the process and as you walk towards the outcome you're not too scared of the process now

because you've got god walking with you god could do this on his own he doesn't need you but he likes

having you there

so

all righty guys an open heaven has a gate an open heaven has a gate jacob realized this in genesis

28 17 jacob realized it in genesis 28 17 where he sees his vision he sees the vision of heaven open

and then he gets up and he says this is the house of god this is the gate of heaven

and for him it was a place and so it was a town called luz and he renames it bethel

but that was in the old testament where god would visit places where his presence was located in a

place but since resurrection and ascension we are the gate of heaven the church is the resting

place of god the church is the temple of god we become the gate of heaven and open heaven has a

gate we are the gate of heaven today we are the house of god today we are the gate of heaven

the community of god on earth is the gate of heaven beautifully the community of the of the

the Holy Spirit. The community of the Spirit on earth is the gate of heaven.

The community of the Spirit on earth is the gate of heaven. So these things are

supposed to break out through us. Man, let heaven come. Yours oh God is the kingdom.

As in you have the only kingdom that actually has existed and will exist.

Everything else in between is counterfeit. Yours oh king is all rule and

reign. Yours is all power. Oh El Elion mighty possessor of the universe. Yours

is the splendor, the weight, the presence, the glory, the goodness, the laughter, the

joy. Yours is the glory. And we sing that and then we come to this line. That

line we sing with a lot of gusto because my God this is true. And then we sing let heaven

come. And when we think that we do one of two things, we either postpone it to the

future or we sing it like shalom, peace be with you. No man, it is let heaven come

through me, through us. At times like this the earth needs heaven more than

ever. Isaiah 60 verse 2. Arise and shine for your light has come and the glory of

Isaiah 60:2

the Lord is risen. Great darkness surrounds the earth but the glory of God

is risen. So I pray that just like Jacob did when he woke up the next morning and

poured oil on the stone that he had put his head on, that we ask the Holy Spirit

to pour his oil upon our churches. And what do we have to do now to, this is the

last part, we were talking about why heaven needs to be open and we talked

about these people and how they affected the earth. Now let's conclude with how do

we do this? How do we go about this? How? First, prayer.

Prayer. James chapter 5 verse 17. James chapter 5 verse 17 talks about Elijah as

James 5:17 James 5:17

a man who was just like us. Same frailties as us but he was in the old

covenant, didn't have the distinct advantage we have over him which is the

living breathing Spirit of God who was there at the beginning of the creation

of the universe, living in me right now, living amongst us right now. And so I

would not look at me as Elijah or you as Elijah, I would look at us as an Elijah

company. And so James 5 verse 17 says that even though these guys call Acts 29 or

James 5:17

these churches called households of faith wherever you are from, even though

you have the same frailties as Elijah, you have the ability to pray very

effectively. The fervent prayer of a righteous people who are like Elijah

accomplishes much. It is very powerful and effective. And so there are four

things I want us to look at. One is prayer because this is the kind of prayer

that opens and shuts doors, opens and shuts ancient doors. Psalm 24 verse 7 or

Psalms 24:7

opens and shuts heaven. Revelations 3, 7 and 8 when he talks to again a church

that was not big, was very weak, was frail, the Church of Philadelphia. You have

little strength but you have kept my word and therefore I now say to you who

am I? I am the one who shuts and no one can open and I am the one who opens and

no one can shut. I say to you that I now give you that power. This is the kind of

prayer we're talking about eh? That opens ancient doors, that opens the heavens,

that shuts demonic doors. Hey guys, man some of the prayers we are praying are

meant exactly for this. Because of COVID I can't meet with everybody but once a

week I'm meeting with a few and specifically strategically targeting

cities and watching as things begin to happen in those cities. When we come

together I'll give you a list of what is happening. You know don't reject the

acorn because you cannot see the oak tree yet. Don't reject the acorn because

you can't see the oak tree yet. One of the things that I love doing after I

finish praying is look for the fist-sized cloud. I look for the fist

sized cloud because God always has the fist sized cloud waiting and it just

begins to encourage me to keep going down the road I'm going because when it

rains the land will prosper it will be fruitful. So prayer is one thing and that

is why I've been encouraging this idea of specific strategic prayer. I mean some

of the places we prayed for eh? Very specifically West Java, downtown East

side, Wuhan, BC, specific powers that have been behind what is happening based on

what God has been saying. Boris Johnson and so on. I'm just giving you some of

the things that come to mind. The point being prayer is one effective way of

making sure that the gate of heaven which we are begins to release on the

earth the things of heaven that the earth needs to benefit from. The second

thing is giving. Okay we'll do Chris. The second thing is giving and I thought I

should include that because of Malachi 310. Malachi 310 it says bring your

tithes into the storehouse and I will open the floodgates of heaven. So during

this time guys be generous. Be generous. Be generous. It opens heavens. Keeps

heavens open because people see the goodness of God even though things are

collapsing around them. There's a group of people who aren't holding things to

themselves but are even more freely giving things away because they live by

this simple proverb freely you have received so freely give. Be generous. You

are God's distribution system. You are God's delivery system. You are heaven's

delivery system not only of money but of the riches of Isaiah 61 1 to 11. The

riches of. Be generous eh. Let the floodgates of heaven stay open through

you so that people realize that it is not Babylon the system of government

commerce and politics that alone can help but that there are a people who

during this time are more generous than when things are not going when things

are going well. Give. It opens the floodgates of heaven. It opens the floodgates

of heaven and that aside if you read Malachi 310 it says it rebukes the

devourer. It rebukes the devourer. You have no idea how difficult it is for

Satan when he brings in lack and famine and scarcity and the people just begin

it rebukes him. Third, we're talking about how do we go about opening keeping

heaven open at a time like this. Third, worship. Worship. Worship. If you go to

2nd Chronicles 5 13 to 14. 2nd Chronicles 5 13 to 14. It talks about how

120 Levites and trumpet players under the direction of Haman, Jadethon and

Asaph begin to worship and it says that as they began to worship a cloud entered

the temple which was a cloud of God's presence and it says the priests were

not able to function. There is this thing that happens from heaven when worship

happens. What kind of worship are we talking about? We are talking about the

kind of worship that echoes the voice of God which shakes the earth. That echoes

the voice of God which shakes the earth. I wanted us to go to Psalm 29. It's not a

Psalm that we often connect with worship but my God this is what we are talking

about. At a time like this when heaven is open this is the kind of worship we are

talking about. I pray God that the singers and psalmist in churches begin to

write new songs that will never make them famous but that will bless the

earth. Psalm 29 verse 3 onwards. Let's start at verse 1. Such a beautiful

Psalms 29:3

Psalm. And so it's talking about ascribing to God. Ascribe to the Lord

Almighty Ones. Ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. Ascribe to the Lord glory

due His name. Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness. Now listen to

the next bit. This is the kind of worship we are talking about. It must

carry in it the voice of God. What God is saying from heaven. This kind of

worship has a prophetic warring, declaring out of Zion goes the law of

God nature to it. And so now listen to this. The voice of the Lord is over the

waters. The God of glory thunders. The Lord thunders over mighty waters. The

voice of the Lord is powerful. The voice of the Lord is majestic. The voice of the

Lord breaks the cedars. The Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes

Lebanon skip like a calf, Syria like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord

strikes with flashes of lightning. The voice of the Lord shakes the desert. The

Lord shakes the desert of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and

strips the forest bare. And in His temple all cry glory. The Lord sits

enthroned over the flood. The Lord is enthroned as King forever. The Lord gives

strength to His people. The Lord blesses His people with peace. This is what we're

talking about. This kind of worship that carries in it the voice of God. So these

songs and this kind of worship begins to speak for heaven. Not speak to heaven.

Speak with and for heaven. Not speak to heaven. Speak with and for heaven.

This is raising a hallelujah in darkness. This is the jubilant shout of a king

voiced or announced by people who realize our shucks he's in our midst and

Belak and Balaam tremble.

And the last one. We got prayer, we got giving, we got worship. And the last one

is now that we got prayer, giving, worship, we begin to act on what God has

told us. We begin to act on what God has told us. We begin to act on what God has

told us. You know if you go to Exodus 24 18. Exodus 24 18. Earlier on in Exodus

you see Moses taking 70 of his elders and going up and they ate and drank with

God. And then around Exodus 24 18 or so here's what transpires. God says to Moses

hey I want you to come up the mountain. And so Moses begins to go up the mountain

and there's a cloud there and then Moses disappears. And now he sees heavens open

and the God of Israel descend upon that mountain. And he spends not one minute,

not 40 minutes, not two days. He spends 40 days and nights with Yahweh up on the

mountain. And then in Exodus 25 verse 40. Exodus 25 verse 40. You hear God saying

Exodus 25:40 Exodus 25:40

something to him. And God says to him hey listen you spent 40 days and 40 nights

here. You came up the mountain. People lost sight of you because you came above

the clouds. And now that you've spent 40 days and 40 nights here, make sure that

you build according to the patterns that I have shown you. Exodus 25 verse 40.

Exodus 25:40

What I'm trying to say guys is that open heaven, open heaven always reveals, open

heaven reveals patterns for building and reveals the actions that Yahweh is

planning to take. So it doesn't matter whether you're building a tabernacle in

the wilderness. It doesn't matter whether you're building Solomon's temple in

the times of peace. We must follow heaven's patterns. But in a time of chaos,

in a time of great evil, in a time that decay and death is ravaging the earth,

what better time than to seek heaven's patterns for what must happen on earth?

And then what about then taking steps or acting on what God is saying so that he

can show us how to build during this time and he can include us in the actions that

he is about to take. And when the four converge, when action, worship,

giving and prayer converge

at a time like this. You know what we've become, you know what it changes us into,

this is my setup for next Sunday. You know what we are supposed to become? I can't hear you.

Do you know what we've become? I'm just kidding. Guys, this is a setup for next Sunday and perhaps

a Sunday after. Guess what the earth is hungering for at times like this?

If the suspense is too much, just hold on for another 15 seconds.

Here's what the earth is hungering for at times like this.

Repairers of the breach.

Restorers of ruined streets that can once again be dwelt in. Isaiah 58 verse 12.

Isaiah 58:12

We'll talk about that next week, but this is God's desire. Where are the repairers of the breach?

For the earth has been breached. The streets have gone silent. So many sounds cry out,

David cries out, once again a time will come and bride and bridegroom, young and old,

will begin to dance in the streets. I want to take you, Acts 29 in particular, I say to you,

remember what God said to us in September or October of 2019 as a promise for 2020.

Turn to Zechariah 8. Zechariah 8. Remember what we sang this morning? Way maker,

miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkness. My God, that's who you are. Go to

Zechariah 8. Remember this promise that God gave us? Claim it now. Repairers of the breach.

Restorers of ruined streets that can be dwelt in again. Zechariah 8. This was a promise given to us

and it says in verse 4. This is what the Lord Almighty says. Once again men and women of

ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, of Vancouver, of New York, of Bahrain, of Sydney,

of Bristol, of Vernon, each with cane in hand because of his age. The city streets will be

filled with boys and girls playing there. This is what the Lord Almighty says. It may seem marvelous

to the remnant of this people at that time but will it seem marvelous to me declares the Lord.

This is what the Lord Almighty says. I will save my people from the countries of the East and the

West. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They will be my people and I will be faithful and

righteous to them as their gods. This is what the Lord Almighty says. You who now hear these words

spoken by the prophets who were there when the foundation was laid for the house of the Lord

Almighty, let your hands be strong so that the temple may be built. Before that time there were

no wages for man or beast. No one could go about their business safely. I'm reading this for the

first time. I didn't intend to read this out. As I read this out I see the brilliance of God. I say

rise up man. We were set up. We were set up by him.

No one could go about his business safely because of his enemy. For I have I turned every man against

his neighbor but now I will not deal with the remnant of this people as I did in the past,

declares the Lord Almighty. The seed will grow well. The vine will yield its fruit. The ground

will produce its crops and the heavens will drop their dew. I will give all these things as an

inheritance to the remnant of this people. As you have been an object of cursing among the nations

of Judah and Israel so will I save you and you will be a blessing. Do not be afraid but let your

hands be strong. This is what the Lord Almighty says. Just as I had determined to bring disaster

upon you and showers and showed no pity when your fathers angered me says the Lord Almighty. So now

I have determined to do good again to Jerusalem and Judah. Do not be afraid. These are the things you

have to do. Speak the truth to each other. Render true and sound judgment. You go to Isaiah 58,

it says the same thing. In your codes do not plot evil against your neighbor. Do not love

to swear falsely. I hate all this. Again the word of the Lord Almighty came to me. This is what the

Lord Almighty says. The fast of the fourth and the fifth and the seventh and the tenth month will

become joyful and glad occasions and happy festivals for Judah. Therefore love truth and peace.

This is what the Lord Almighty says. Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come

and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say let us go once at once to entreat the Lord

and seek the Lord Almighty. I myself am going and many peoples and powerful nations will come to

Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him. This is what the Lord Almighty says. In those

days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe

and say let us go with you because we have heard that God is with you.

Man I'm reading this and I'm thinking to myself my God Lord you set us up.

It encourages me man. I just read this. I hadn't planned this.

I'm going to ask

Jane to come up and end with that song.

No other name. One name holds weight above them all. There's a question. Go ahead.

God prefers working with the people and in the process individuals benefit.

So he works with the people and then every person in the people gets his plot of land

just like they did when they went through the desert and came into the land of promise.

Each one was allocated land but let the work begin as a people and then each one knows his

plot of land that he must cultivate. So I'm not saying no. I'm just saying it's great when we

work together as a people and it's great that we seek him as individuals both. So it's not one or

the other. Can he clarify that Jerusalem is not the city? Yeah in that scripture from Zechariah

when Zechariah was writing about it it was Jerusalem and Judah as cities but today Jerusalem is the

people of God and today the people of God are spread across the earth like salt so we must

benefit the earth. All this is towards the benefit of the earth guys. We are blessed in the Lord but

this has to now be distributed. We are God's delivery mechanism. Cool. I'll step out of the way.

Bless you guys.