Living Under Open Heavens
Genesis 28:10-16NKJB
Willie Mays began his major league baseball career with only one hit in his first 26 at-bats. Though he went on to hit 660 home runs (third on the all-time list), and steal more than 300 bases, his debut was so unimpressive it seemed unlikely he would last more than a few weeks as a big-leaguer, let alone become one of the greatest to play the game. He had a very uncertain future in baseball.
The turning point for Mays occurred when his manager, Leo Durocher, found him crying in the dugout after yet another miserable performance at the plate.
The coach put his arm around Mays and said, "What’s the matter, son?" Mays said, "I can’t hit up here. I belong in the minor leagues."
Durocher said this to Willie Mays: "As long as I’m manager of the Giants, you’ll be my centerfielder."
You know how the story ends. It wasn’t long before Mays began hitting the ball, and he was on his way to becoming a baseball super-star!
As we read Genesis, chapter 27& 28 we read about the story of Esau and Jacob, the reader finds out rather quickly that neither man was a saint. These brother’s pulled a lot of pranks and told a lot of lies. Not to mention their integrity flaws. However, like Willy May’s coach, God saw potential, He saw the finished product of each man.
Be reminded that God knows how to work His grace, faith and love within every person’s life, and many times He uses an entire life-span to do it.
Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. 11 So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. 12 Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” 16 Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!”
Notice Jacob said surly the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it. Testimony: “As I look back throughout my life, even when it seemed terrible, I have come to the realization that the Lord was in that place!” P.H.
Sometimes I hear people say that they were born in the wrong era, but they weren’t. These folks who say this continually think if they could have been born in another time, they would have been happier, done better, and fit in. “I want you to realize this morning that you were born for this era, this year, this month and this day. God created you to flourish in the year of 2016 and so forth. This is the generation you were called to, and He called you to prosper; He called you to live under an open heaven.”
Going back to the story, Jacob had been running for dear life knowing that his brother Esau wanted him dead. Esau had lost the blessing of His Father Isaac, he sold his birthright for a bowl of stew. He acted foolishly squandering his birthright.
However, right in the middle of the mess, while Jacob falls asleep on a rock, God speaks to Jacob and confirms, I Am with you; I am blessing you, you are mine! God shows Jacob a ladder with angels going up and down on it. Proving 103:20 His angel excel to do His word. In fact, this ladder reached heaven while the Lord was above the ladder in the heavenly’s.
Again, Right in the middle of a mess was the time that God spoke to Jacob.
Genesis 28:15 I Am with you…
Think about this, God and heaven came down to the very place where Jacob was sleeping.
Jacob’s name meant trickers; however, God was about to rename Jacob to Israel, meaning, God restores.
So remember, The Heaven’s were opened to Jacob, and God always speaks under an open heaven!
I said all this to tell you that “Presently you live under an open heaven!” Say that, “Open heaven!”
Let me explain, Luke 3:21-22NKJB When all the people were baptized, it came to pass that Jesus also was baptized; and while He prayed, the heaven was opened. 22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
When the heavens opened, it brought confirmation and approval from God to His Son Jesus. Open heavens solidified his calling; Open heavens stayed with Jesus His entire ministry.
Everyone needs approval, everyone needs confirmation- Even Jesus.
God’s approval and confirmation for you is written plainly from Genesis 1:1 ~ Revelation 22:21.
One Example: 2 Peter 1:3NKJB as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
After this occurred Jesus’ ministry was accomplished through an open heaven.
The Bible say’s in Acts 10:38NKJB How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
Everything Jesus said and did came, because of this open heaven.
After 31/2 years of Jesus completing His Father’s will under this open heaven. Jesus was crucified, buried, resurrected, and finally ascended.
Jesus’ crucifixion brought an eternal change for every believer.
The Bible teaches us in Matthew 27:51NKJB Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split…
This veil separated the common from the Holiest. No one but the priest could enter this holy place; however, presently because of this torn veil every believer can live under an open heaven.
One more thing to point out, the “Holy Place” once was set in one geographical location in Israel.
However presently, wherever grace can be found, that location becomes the holy place.
* You might not be aware of it, but you’re strategically positioned right this very moment in the holy place, and open heaven has been given to you.
Hebrews 4:15-16NKJB For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Without believer’s obtaining knowledge and understanding that they dwell under an open heaven while living on this earth, believer’s won’t act like genuine believer’s that can do what Jesus did.
With this open knowledge, may I add, that it isn’t based on feelings, but its solely based upon what Jesus completed. Every believer has the ability to flourish and be fruitful just like Jesus.
That’s why Paul said in Ephesians 3:20NKJB Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…
Right now you can prosper, flow and grow in the Holy place.
A word from God: The church of the living God is like sail boats in a harbor, the boats can’t leave the harbor without the wind. When the veil was torn from top to bottom, Jesus gave believer's complete access to the winds of the Holy Spirit; therefore, we have the ability to leave the harbor and sail forth in the spirit!
There’s several things you need to receive and keep for the rest of your life.
Salvation.
Knowledge of the open heavens.
Grace, to do anything.
Holy Spirit, authority and power.
God’s fruit, you are fruitful.
God’s gifts, you can pray for the sick, cast out demons Etc.
You live under an open heaven, you have the words of eternal life; You can do all things through Christ that strengthens you. Nothing is impossible!
In closing, after Jacob received this revelation, He took oil and poured it on top of the stone on which he slept to consecrate it unto the Lord.
Although Jacob made a conditional promise to be faithful to God, He based it on God's promises to him. You can do the same!
Benediction. (As part of the benediction today, if you would like to be anointed with oil today, and make a faith pledge unto God that you understand and that you will live under this open heaven please come.)
