Sermons

(EZE 1:1; LK 3:21, 22)

Ezekiel 1:1, “In the thirtieth year, in the fourth month on the fifth day, while I was among the exiles by the Kebar River, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God”. The word of God came expressly unto Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi in the land of the Chedeans by the river Chebar, and the hand of the Lord was there upon him”.

Luke 3:21, 22; “21. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened”.

Verse 22- “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”

May the Lord recommend you to the world in Jesus’ name. May God open the heaven over you for good in Jesus’ name.

A Christian rises or falls based on whether the heaven is opened or not. See Mal. 3: 10-12, “10. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 11. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts. 12. And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

Also, Deut. 28: 12-13, “12. The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. 13. And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them”

-Vision is critical to our destiny, Prov. 29:18, “18. Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he”.

You need to see the invisible to achieve the visible because the spiritual controls the physical; we also need to hear the inaudible.

God has to approve Jesus through open heaven before Jesus began his ministry. God advertized Him…see Luke 3:21-22, “21. Now when all the people were baptized, it came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, 22. And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased”.

Note: When your heaven is closed, you can’t see beyond the moment and the environment. Hagar could not see the pool of water just by her side. Her self and son Ishnael were thirsty to the point of death until God opened her spiritual eyes to see the pool of water. The pool of water was the open heaven she needed at that moment.

When one’s heaven is shut hardship becomes inevitable. Deut. 28:23 says, “And thy heaven that is over thy head shall be brass, and the earth that is under thee shall be iron.”

2Chr 7:13, “If I shut up heaven that there is no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people”

Records show in first Samuel that Eli was no longer hearing from God. When you no longer hear from God, it means the heaven is closed against you

1 Sam 3:1-4, “And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 2. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; 3. And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep, 4. That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, here am I –

As young as Ishmael, God heard his cry for survival. Gen 21: 17-19, “17. And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, what aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is. 18. Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation. 19. And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink”.  The Lord will hear your cry in Jesus’ name.

When heaven is closed you suffer from delayed miracles and answer prayers. Dan 10:12&13, “12. Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words. 13. But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.

When heaven is closed prayers are not answered, even Angels are hiked, you become unproductive and irrelevant. You struggle without result

Recycling is evidenced, failure and stagnancy become real. You will do same work for so many years without profit; you will find it difficult to pray or to serve God.

Note: Moses, Jacob, Ezekiel, Stephen and Jesus all experienced open heaven.

Deut. 28:12 says “The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. Heaven is referred as God’s GOOD TREASURE. When it opens rain comes down to earth and the works of our hands are blessed”.

WHAT DO WE MEAN BY OPEN HEAVEN?

-Is a situation whereby a door of divine relevance is opened, see Jn 1:50-51, “50. Jesus answered and said unto him, because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? Thou shalt see greater things than these, 51. And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man”.

-Unlimited access to the throne of God

-Angelic presence…read, Gen 28:12-17, “12And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it”.13. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed, 15.And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of, 16. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17. And he was afraid, and said, how dreadful this place is! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven”.

Jacob dreamt of open heaven and there was lather from heaven to the earth and angels were ascending and descending and God communicated with him.

Psalm 68:35 says, “The God of Israel is He that giveth strength and power unto His people”.

BENEFITS OF OPEN HEAVEN

1. When the heaven opens you experience divine Visitation, Exo 3:1-3, “1.Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb, 2. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed, 3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt”, It does not matter your location. Moses was at the back of Sinai when God visited him and he became relevant.

Gen. 28:10-17, “10. And Jacob went out from Beersheba, and went toward Haran. 11. And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep, 12. And he dreamed, and beholds a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it, 13. And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14. And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed, 15. And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of, 16. And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not, 17. And he was afraid, and said, how dreadful this place is! This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” Jacob experienced divine visitation.

Meshack, Sherdrack and Abednego had divine visitation –there was the 4^th person in the furnace. Read Daniel chapter three for the full story.

Paul and Silas while in the prison had divine visitation, the jailor became their servant…

See Act 16:25-26, “25. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them, 26. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed”

-God visited Elizabeth, Hannah and Solomon….1 Sam 1:27, “For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him”, Luke 1 sheds more light into this too.

1Kings3:4-12, “4. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there; for that was the great high place: a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon offer upon that altar.  5. In Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.  6. And Solomon said, Thou hast shewed unto thy servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before thee in truth, and in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with thee; and thou hast kept for him this great kindness, that thou hast given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7. And now, O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in.  8. And thy servant is in the midst of thy people whom thou hast chosen, a great people that cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude.  9. Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people? 10. And the speech pleased the LORD, that Solomon had asked this thing.  11. And God said unto him, Because thou hast asked this thing, and hast not asked for thyself long life; neither hast asked riches for thyself, nor hast asked the life of thine enemies; but hast asked for thyself understanding to discern judgment; 12. Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee”

2. When the heaven opens, the forgotten is remembered Exo 2: 23-25, “23. And it came to pass in process of time, which the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage, 24. And God heard their groaning, and God remembered his covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob, 25. And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God had respect unto them.” God will see your tears in Jesus name; see also 1Sam 1:4, 27, “4. And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and her daughters, portions”

Verse 27, “27. For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him”

Help comes from above to deliver Israelites from hundreds of years of bondage as God appeared unto Moses and commissioned. Exo 3:1-3, “1. Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb.  2. And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, beholds, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 3. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.” and God called Moses- When He opened the heavens on Moses God sent help to him.

Also in the case of Noah. Gen 8:1, “And God remembered Noah, and every living thing, and all the cattle that was with him in the ark: and God made a wind to pass over the earth, and the waters assuaged”, God remembered Noah and made a wind to dry up the water. When your heaven opens, the rain comes down.

God remembered Elijah. 1King 18: 1, “And it came to pass after many days, that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth”.  Verse 45, “45And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel”, God remembered Israel and the rain came down, this signifies end of poverty.

3. 3. When your heaven opens, you receive the ability to see God at work, 1King 17:2-16, “2. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, and 3. Get thee hence, and turn thee eastward, and hide thyself by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. 4. And it shall be that thou shalt drink of the brook; and I have commanded the ravens to feed thee there. 5. So he went and did according unto the word of the LORD: for he went and dwelt by the brook Cherith that is before Jordan. 6. And the ravens brought him bread and flesh in the morning, and bread and flesh in the evening; and he drank of the brook. 7. And it came to pass after a while, that the brook dried up, because there had been no rain in the land. 8. And the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, and 9. Arise, get thee to Zarephath, which belongeth to Zidon, and dwell there: behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee. 10. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel that I may drink. 11. And as she was going to fetch it, he called to her, and said, bring me, I pray thee, a morsel of bread in thine hand. 12. And she said, As the LORD thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die. 13. And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14. For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15. And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16. And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah”;

God made bridge at the red sea for the Israelites. Exodus 14 and 15.

You begin to dream dreams. Joseph started his journey with dreams, which is vision and creativity.

*We shall not be hewers of wood and fetchers of water in Jesus name.

It means time and chance are at your favor….see Eccl 9:11, “11. I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favor to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all”.

Zech 4:6, “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, this is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts”; 1Sam 2:9, “He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail”.

This means being at the right pace at the right time

4. When the heaven opens, you will have the ability to hear from God, Math 3:16, “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him”, Verse 17, “17. And lo a voice from heaven, saying, this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”.

Ps 37:23, “God orders the steps of the good man to prosperity”….see Psalm 2.

5. When heaven opens, you will have the ability to understand the word of God when you receive the word,

Ps 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”, that is, inspiration comes, and your eyes are enlightened.

Heb 4:12, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart”.

Psalm 107:20, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions”.

John 10:3, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out”.

Eph 1:17-19, “17.That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18. The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believes, according to the working of his mighty power”.

John 10:3, “To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out”.

You have a better insight, vision, and innovation.

Exo 3:3, “And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt”, Moses saw new things.

6. When the heaven opens, you will have the ability to understand the plan and purpose of God in your life. There will be no time wasting. We may take a look at the case of Cornelius,

Act 10:1-6 “1. There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2. A devout man and one that feared God with his entire house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always, 3. He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4. And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5. And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6. He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do”.

Verse 38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him”.

 Verse 47, “Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?” another case is that of Paul in Acts 9:3-6, “3. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4. And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5. And he said, who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do”, verse 15, “15But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel”.

7. When heaven opens, you have unlimited access to the presence of God-see the case of Isaiah

Isaiah 6:1-8, “1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the LORD sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  2. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  4. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.  5. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.  6. hen flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:  7. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.  8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me”, your sins are revealed and you are cleansed.

8. When heaven opens, you will enjoy supernatural strength and speed,

1King 18: 45-46, “45. And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel. 46. And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel”, Elijah outran Ahab –Psalm 68:35, “Strength and power comes from God”.

9. When heaven opens, you receive the ability to obtain breakthrough because of favor of God.
10. When heaven opens, Satanic forces are paralyzed,

Acts 12:4-11, “4. And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5. Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. 7. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. 8. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. 9. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. 10. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the Iron Gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him.  11. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the LORD hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews”.

11. When heaven opens, you experience open doors

Rev 3:8, “I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name”.

Doors open on their own accord; and in Acts2:1-4, “1. And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting, 3. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them, 4. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”

Acts 2: 1-4 the out pouring of the Holy Ghost on the day of Pentecost.

12. When heaven opens, there will be unprecedented revival and harvest of souls.

See Acts4:20 – 37