KEEP HEAVEN OPEN OVER YOUR FINANCES

1. INTRODUCTION

a) Open Heaven - We need an open heaven

· Open heaven - like a hole in the ozone layer - open window for blessing of God

· 1 Sam.3:1-4 - Word of the Lord rare - no open vision prophetic revelation.

· Eli - old, blind, no vision, overweight, compromise, backslidden.

· Sam - Young, spiritual, consecrated, fresh;  open to God

· Period of time when heaven not open, no healing, no move of the spirit, no understanding.

· No move of God - people dry, still do religious things, no substitute, spiritual reality.

· Spirit of God moving - joy, liberty, freedom, purpose, vision.

· People’s hearts hardened, “old” in attitude, lifeless, no joy.

· God everywhere - in some places not moving.

b) 4 kinds of heaven

Dt. 11:16-17  Lord shut up heaven, no rain, perish.

i. Closed heaven - demonic atmosphere over city, easily seen, felt.  E.g. Bangkok - prostitution, San Francisco - Homosexuality, Las Vegas - gambling.

ii. Resistant - not closed but have to fight, plough through.

iii. Ready - people ready for breakthrough for spiritual leadership to arise.

iv. Open - Spirit of God moving, people readily saved.  E.g. Korea.

c) Key to heavens over a city is the church

Mt.16:18-19 Strong Church - keys to bind, loose.

            Church has responsible to open heavens in city.

1 Pet.4:17 Judgment begins at the house of God.

· If God wants to open heaven over city must first visit the church.  If the church is responsive then God opens heaven over the church/city.

· Church is made up of individual lives, families, small groups.

Mt.23:13  Pharisess - religious people, no heart for God

· Pride, judgment, resistant - attitude closed up heaven not only to themselves but also to others.

· Lukewarm Christians don’t enter God’s blessing and hinder others entering (Rev.3:15-17)

Mt.3:16  Jesus walked under open heaven - move of Holy Spirit.

· Why?  Relationship with Father, love, obedience, lifestyle pleasing.

d) There is always resistance to an open heaven

Dan.10:12-13  Prince of Kingdom of Persia withstood me.

· Devil sees blessing coming and resists - how?

a) Blocks release of God’s provision  b) Discourages breakthrough.

· First place resistance faced is in the church.

E.g. Mary Alice - Prayer - opens heaven (Lk.3:21)           }

E.g. John Avanzini - Tithing - opens heaven (Mal.3:10)    }

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· People initially negative, resistant, indifferent, unresponsive. 

· Why?  Demonic resistance.

· As the Word preached, anointing released - breakthrough comes.

· After blessing released devil tries to steal the Word of God and close up the open heaven again.  Mt.13:20-21.

· Word of God must take root in your life.

e) Dealing with Spirit of Debt.

· Debt is a spirit that brings people into bondage - Prov.22:7

· Spirit pushes people to impulse buying, living on credit - Debt.

· One of the evidences of open heaven over finances lend not borrow.  Dt.28:12.

· Overcoming a spirit requires both spiritual and practical action.

· Don’t look for the “quick fix”

· Quick fix     -

· single solution, action that will solve all the problems

· appeals to the soul, emotions, without taking responsible

· attempts to place God under obligation.  God is God!

· The blessing of God requires faith (Heb.11:6) and obedient lifestyle.

· E.g. Acts 10:  Cornelius - memorial offering.

· Note:           -

· Devout man

· Feared God

· Gave alms

· Prayed always

· Just man

· Good report

· Head of household

· Fasted

· Influence on family and friends

· 5 aspects to breaking debt.

1. Things must know

2. Things must do

3. Establish open heaven - Tithe

4. Establish out of debt flow

5. Put faith to work - Memorial Offering

· 3 things must do - Ja.2:17  Faith without works is dead

1. Stop doing old things - running up debt

2. Establish vision/plan and stick to it

3. Develop confession of faith