(Written by Dr. Rudi Swanepoel)

The Lord spoke to us long before the start of the New Year about 2007. He said: "2007 will be about an Open Heaven". This is so much more than just a  slogan! We believe the Lord has prepared and purposed for this year something amazing and profound. We will revel under the open heaven and experience His mighty power in very special ways. Are you ready for an open heaven? Let's look at what an open heaven brings to our lives:

Results of an open Heaven

1. Visions and Revelations

. . . as I was in captivity beside the river Chebar, the heavens were opened and I saw visions of God.

Ezekiel 1:1b

 

The prophet Ezekiel was an exile in Babylon. He was removed from the Promised Land, the territory the Lord promised to him and his people. The root Hebrew word for, captivity, here means exile, uncover, expose, stripped. His captivity left him exposed, stripped and uncovered. He was not in desirable circumstances. In fact, things were not favorable for him at all. Yet, in the midst of this turmoil the heavens were opened and he saw vision of God!

 

Friend, you do not have to wait for perfect circumstances in your life to experience God's revelations. Regardless of where you are and what is going on in your life, God wants to reveal Himself to you in a very special way this year! He wants to open the Heavens over your life. Ezekiel needed something new to focus on. Everywhere he looked he saw the Babylonians. Interestingly enough the the word Babylon comes from the root word that means confusion  or to confuse. So Ezekiel was surrounded and held captive by the kingdom of confusion! Do you know someone in a similar situation? Are there areas in your life where clarity and understanding eludes you and leaves you somewhat confused and disillusioned? Know that an open heaven over your life with bring Divine perspective into your life! Ezekiel saw visions of God. Do you want to see visions of God? Wouldn't it be awesome to see Him? To experience His true nature? You will when He opens the Heavens over your life!

 

The Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:1

I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord

 

He was determined not to be complacent with his past achievements. Not to rest on his laurels or assume a posture of passivity in life. He was moving on! He was positioning himself towards visions and revelations of the Lord. Paul continues to describe to us how to move on to visions and revelations of the Lord. In verse 2 he describes how he was caught up into the third heaven. He had an open heaven experience! Can you see the connection? An open heaven over your life will result in visions and revelations of the Lord.

 

2. Blessing and Treasures

Another result of an open heaven over your life is blessings and treasures. We read in Deuteronomy 28:1,2 and 12:

I you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which i command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God. The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. . .

 

The Lord wants to bless all the works of your hands but there is a condition attached to it. You must obey His commandments; do His will. God's blessings are connected to the opened heavens. When He opens the heavens over your life, you will experience tremendous blessings. See how the Lord refers to the open heaven as His treasury. We believe this year the Lord will open up His treasury and give treasures from Heaven to those who will dare to obey His word! 

 

3. Prophetic Utterance and Foresight

We read of an open heaven in Revelation 4:1:

After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the voice which I had heard addressing me like the calling of a war trumpet said, Come up here, and I will show you what must take place in the future.

 

The prophetic realm was opened to John as he entered through the open door in heaven. The Lord showed him things concerning the future, things that were to come. We believe the Lord wants to reveal more to His children than ever before. He is a revealing God by nature. He loves to disclose things to those who walk close to Him. Are you in the market for greater prophetic revelations and foresight? You need an open heaven and the Lord is making it available to you!

 

4. Fire

Elijah prayed before the altar on Mt. Carmel. He challenged the false prophets and priests and Baal. "Let the God that answers by fire be God!" he said. Suddenly fire came from an open heaven and consumed the altar along with the sacrifice on it. (1 Kings 18) Another result of an open heaven is fire from heaven! God's children need to be set ablaze with the fire of the Holy Spirit again. He says in the word: "He makes His servant flames of fire" Are you on fire for God. Is there a burning of Holy zeal in your heart?

 

5. Angelic Activity and Heavenly Encounters

Jacob slept with his head resting on a stone. While sleeping he had a dream of an open heaven. A ladder reaching from earth to heaven appeared and angels was ascending and descending on the ladder. When he woke up he called the place Bethel (House of God) and said it was the gateway to heaven. An open heaven brings angelic activity into your life. God will give His angels charge over you! Your dreams will become more than dreams. They will become heavenly encounters and life changing experiences await you under and open heaven.

 

6. Anointings and Mantles

Elijah was received up into heaven by a whirlwind. As he was received into an open heaven his mantle fell back to the earth. Elisha just asked for a double portion of the anointing that was on Elijah's life and ministry. Elisha picked up the mantle of Elijah. Biblical history teaches us that Elisha performed twice as many miracles as Elijah. (A full double portion!) Mantles represent anointings. We believe under the open heaven this year the Lord is making available mantles and anointings for special and specific Kingdom purposes. You will find a special endowment of power and ability under an open heaven. 

 

How we can promote an open heaven in our lives:

1. Obedience (Deut 28:1-2)

2. Christ mindedness (Gen 28 / Rom 8:5-6)

3. Being Holy Spirit controlled (Rev. 1:10)

4. Giving and Benevolence (Mal 3:10)

5. Sacrificial living (1 Kings 18:30 / Acts 7:56)

6. Hunger and Desire (Isa. 64:1 / 2 Cor. 12:1)