Transcription downloaded from https://yetanothersermon.host/_/kc/sermons/23771/operating-under-opened-heaven/. Disclaimer: this is an automatically generated machine transcription - there may be small errors or mistranscriptions. Please refer to the original audio if you are in any doubt. [0:00] Thanks for checking in on this podcast. You are about to hear an inspirational teaching from Caris Ministries. If God has used this ministry to bless you in any way, please take a moment and write to us at amen at caris.org. [0:15] We are always inspired and blessed to hear how God is blessing people all over the world through what he is doing here at Caris. Also, if you would like to support this ministry financially, you can do so online at caris.org so we can continue making podcasts such as this available free of charge. [0:37] In Genesis chapter 21 verse 1, it talks about how the Lord visited Sarah as he has said and the Lord did for Sarah as he has spoken. [0:48] God will speak first, then he comes to do what he has spoken. All right. And then verse 2. Verse 2 says that, what do you mean by God visited Sarah? [1:01] Verse 2 says, for Sarah conceived. The word for is explaining the visitation. The practical effect, the practical result of the visitation was Sarah conceived and brought Abraham a son in his old age at the set time which God had spoken to him. [1:20] All right. So God, watch this. God spoke to Abraham and then went to Sarah and did it on Sarah. And then Sarah, the result became Abraham's benefit. [1:34] Do you understand that? Yeah. Because it said, for God visited Sarah, the Lord visited Sarah, verse 1. The Lord visited Sarah as he had said. [1:47] All right. And the Lord did for Sarah as he had spoken. God was behind it. When Sarah conceived, it wasn't just an Abraham activity. [2:03] It's a divine activity. Right. Am I making sense? God influenced that. God visited. So when God visits you, people see later. [2:15] And then verse 3. Verse 3 talks about how, and Abraham called the name of the son whom Sarah brought to him, Isaac. Verse 4. Then Abraham circumcised Isaac when he was 8 days old, as God has commanded. [2:31] See what? Abraham knew how to walk with God. So he played the game according to God's dictates. And verse 5. [2:42] Now Abraham was about 100 years old. When his son Isaac was born to him. Very old man. By circumcising, he did according to God's commandments. [2:55] Now, watch this. Thank you, Holy Spirit. God says something to you. And he takes the responsibility of doing what he has said. It's not your responsibility to make what God has said happen. [3:10] But I discovered, in his saying to you what he's about to do. He lives encoded and enshrined in what he says. Instructions you must follow. Instructions you must follow. [3:25] Almost every right gadget you buy, even if you buy it from China, there must be some instructions to follow. Especially, I mean, tables. [3:38] Even if you buy a table, it comes with instructions to follow. I care, they may not write it, but they may draw the instructions. Praise the Lord. [3:50] I know some of you have fixed tables from Ikea. When you finish, a table was like this. A table cannot stand. Because you said the people have made a mistake. [4:03] No, you haven't made a mistake. You have not followed the instructions well. Don't say our prayers didn't work. The prayers work. You didn't follow the instructions well. And Bible says that God and Abraham named him Isaac and circumcised him. [4:20] Verse 4. Abraham circumcised his son when he was eight days old. As God had commanded him. The same one who said it. Who takes the responsibility of doing what he has said. [4:35] Leaves a commandment in what he has said. For you to take a responsibility of doing the instructions he has given. So that the full package becomes your enjoyment. [4:51] Are you getting me? So important. In Genesis chapter 21. And I found Joshua 21. But that one is not from 1 to 3. [5:02] It's just one verse. Verse 45. Joshua 21. Verse 45. Which I think is the last verse in Joshua 21. Isn't it interesting? We started with Genesis 21. [5:14] The first verse in Genesis 21. And then the last verse in Joshua 21. Not a word fell from any good thing which God had spoken to the house of Israel. [5:29] Not a word. The whole nation of Israel. Everything God said. Not a word. Not a word fell. [5:41] Because anything God speaks comes to pass. Not a word filled of any good thing. Any good thing which the Lord has spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass. [5:52] All came to pass. All came to pass. Someone say all will come to pass. All will come to pass. In my life. In my life. Praise God. Hallelujah. So you just have to understand that. [6:05] That God has a way he does this. I want to talk about operating under open heavens. Operating under open heavens. When the Holy Spirit comes upon you. [6:16] It makes life easier. You operate under open heavens. Open heavens. What does it mean to operate under open heavens? You are operating with Islam. [6:28] I like this one. I like this one. You are operating under the sponsorship of God. We are doing a major event. [6:38] We are bringing different prime ministers around the world. But it's expensive. Oh no. BT is sponsoring it. So every bill you just send it to BT. BT with the bill. [6:49] You have sponsors. If you are embarking on a special course. And then your company is sponsoring you. You know what I'm saying? Maybe your company. You work with Pricewaterhouse. [7:00] You work for the Russian government. And something. What I'm saying is. If they are sponsoring you. Then you really don't bother about details of costs. [7:13] All you need is. Your ability to embark on what you've been asked to do. That's what it means to operate under open heavens. [7:23] Heaven is sponsoring you. Amen. So. Costs. And obstacles. And challenges. Are. Aptly. [7:36] Handled. By heaven. And. What does it require from your side? Because. Every. Declaration. Comes. With an instruction. Every covenant declaration. [7:49] God said. I will bless you. And make you a blessing. So if you read Genesis chapter 2. After God gave Isaac. To Abraham. Read Genesis chapter 22. Verse 1. Bible said. It came to pass. [8:00] After. It came to pass. After all these things. It came to pass. That God. Did test. Abraham. Genesis chapter 22. Verse 1. It says that. Now it came to pass. After these things. [8:11] That God. Did test. Abraham. And said to him. Abraham. He said. Here I am. So God. Tested him. God. Tested him. God. Sourced his heart. [8:24] To show him. Where his heart was. Not to show God. Because God knows you. He knows you already. He knows you already. But when he's testing. He's just trying to help you. For you to locate. [8:34] Where you are. That's what happened. When Peter told Jesus Christ. That hey me. I will never. Betray. He said. Do you know what he told Jesus? In. In. In John chapter 13. [8:45] I think verse 38. Yes I remember it. John chapter 13. Verse 38. He told Jesus that. Yeah. Jesus answered. He said. Will you lay down your life. For my sake. Mother's assurance. Go to 37. Look at 37. Look at 37. [8:56] Peter. Peter said to him. Lord. Why. Can I not follow you. Where you are going. I will lay down my life. For your sake. No. No. No. No. No. No. No. [9:06] No. No. No. He meant it. You know he meant it. He said. Listen. I will die for you. Jesus said. I am going somewhere. But where I am going. You cannot come. Peter said. [9:17] Ah. Why can't I come. Wherever you go. Because he knows that. If I am following Jesus. Me I will die. Because they have been in the boat. And everything. So. He said it. They did not know what he was saying. [9:30] He said. Jesus. I will never deny you. Jesus said. Listen. Listen. Listen. Let me tell you the truth. John chapter 13 verse 38. John 13 verse 38. Jesus answered. Will you let down your life for my sake? [9:42] Most assuredly I say to you. The rooster shall not grow. Till you have denied me three times. So before the. That same day. It was that same day I was talking. [9:53] Talking about. By next morning. Less than 24 hours. You have. The day will not start. You have denied me three times already. You have to say me. [10:05] I don't know you. I never know you. That's what some of us have been saying to God. God. Nothing will take me out from church now. Hmm. Me. I will say it faithfully. [10:17] Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm. It's good to mean it. But there are terms. [10:29] That you have to engage your life in. To make sure. Your desire. The desire of your heart is fulfilled. That is why when Peter. After he betrayed Jesus. Jesus didn't cast him out. God. [10:39] The guy meant it. He was a genuine guy. But he thought he could just say it. It's just. I mean. Some of you know. People who vow to you. He said. I will do anything. [10:51] Anything for you. I will do anything for you. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. So it's very important. We understand that. God will visit us. [11:01] He will bless us. Let's quickly run. Let me show you something. Open heavens. Let's look at 1 Samuel chapter 9 verse 15 and 16. 1 Samuel chapter 9 verse 15 and 16. [11:13] Now the Lord had told Samuel. In his ears the day before Saul came. Saying. Tomorrow. About this time. I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. And you shall anoint him commander over my people Israel. [11:29] That he may save my people from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon my people. Because their cry has come to me. [11:39] Alright. So. Now this is where. Samuel was the prophet of God. And God tells him that tomorrow I'm sending somebody. Meanwhile. Meanwhile. [11:50] Two days prior to that. That somebody wakes up in the morning. And his dad said. Our donkeys are missing. So go and look for the donkeys. [12:01] And the donkeys were prized family possessions. Actually business assets. Capital. [12:12] Serial business assets. So. They were going. He left their home. Their house. To go and look for the donkeys. He went to Ephraim. The land called Ephraim. He went to Shalim. [12:23] He went to where? Shalisha. Hallelujah. And then he went to. He went to Benjamin. The land of the Benjamins. And then he came to Zuf. And then when he got to Zuf. [12:35] He said. Now we are tired. Three days journey. No food. We are run out of resources. Let's go back home. And the servant said. We can't just go home. In Zuf. There is a prophet here. [12:46] Let's go and see him. So when the servant said. Let's go and see him. The day before. God has told the prophet. That I am sending somebody. Listen. God is involved. [12:56] In the small prince. And so we have to obey him. In the small prince. Don't wait for the big. Big. Big. Strange ones. The small. [13:07] Small. Small prince. Like. When the man of God is preaching. Open your heart. Listen. He is telling you something. Instead of thinking. What is he looking for from me? God is talking to you. [13:19] Sometimes people pick up on. The junk. Or the. The. Dross. And they leave the substance. When you are eating a banana. [13:30] You are supposed to just spill it. And eat the actual fruit. But in preaching. Sometimes it can come like a banana. You have to grow up and mature. [13:40] And realize the actual fruit inside for you. Because if you don't take care. You will be stepping on the pills. And you will end up falling down. Because. Why did he say that? So. I am sure. [13:51] It wasn't nice at all for him to say. That. Someone will break your heart. It wasn't nice. Well. But he wasn't talking. He didn't even know that your heart was broken yesterday. So. [14:03] He didn't know that. So. Stop getting distracted. You must know. Who God has sent. For your benefit. And then engage. With what God speaks through him. [14:14] Into your life. It makes life easier. For you. These are spiritual truths. Praise the Lord. And so. Sometimes. When God is speaking. [14:25] The enemy also tries to. Make sure we get distracted. Based on our own pre-existing. Mindsets. Ideologies. Unnecessary. Unhealthy information. [14:37] All kinds of things. That are on our minds. Distract us from the. Real meat. You know. Sometimes. You. Are responsible. For giving Satan a hold. [14:48] And if you are Christian. Anything that. Satan gets to do in your life. He can't take the credit. You must take the responsibility. The blame. Because Bible says. Clearly. In Ephesians chapter 4. [14:59] I think verse 26. Or 27. Verse 27. Ephesians chapter 27. He said. Give. Give no place. To the devil. Because he doesn't have a room. In your house. So. [15:10] Anytime. He has money. To come and eat. On your dining table. Then. Who should be blamed. Who is to be blamed. You. Because. Bible said. Give him no place. If you decide not to give him a place. [15:21] You won't get a place. So. God sent Saul. To Samuel. And God. Told Samuel. I'm sending a guy to you. He doesn't know. I'm sending him. [15:32] I'm sending him. So. When he met. He met the prophet. Verse 19. When he met the prophet. Look at verse 19. So. Someone. I say. Are you the one? Someone said. I'm the seer. [15:42] Go out before me. To the high places. For you shall eat. With me today. And tomorrow. I will let you go. And will tell you. All that is in your heart. Ah. [15:53] Now. I've come to eat with you. I've come to ask. I'm looking. I came with a purpose. But the prophet also met you with a purpose. Yeah. Yeah. [16:05] He met you with a purpose. I like this. Thank you. Holy Spirit. God told me. You are coming this morning. So he put a word in my heart. [16:16] I know you also know why you came. But I also know why you are here. And he gave me the responsibility. Of telling you. What he's going to do. [16:28] With your life. It does in your heart. Deep in your. Not watch on your mind. Because watch on your mind. Is what? Missing donkeys. I'm looking for my missing donkeys. I'm looking. [16:38] Me too. I want an encounter. Me too. I want this. I'm looking for missing donkeys. Okay. Sunday morning. It's just right to go to church. So let me just go. Go to church. So that the pastor can preach quickly. And I can go home. [16:50] Okay. So you are coming with. A missing donkeys mentality. But God has sent me to meet you. With a heart revealing agenda. Heart revealing information. [17:01] Your heart. God is about to cut your heart open. And then show you. What is in your heart. What does that mean? What you have really been designed. To become in life. [17:14] Your life will not be the same again. I've been saying this thing. For about two weeks now. And. He met the prophet. He stayed with the prophet. [17:26] The next day the prophet told him what he's seen. He prayed for him. He said I'll tell you what's in your heart. For as for the donkey. As for the missing donkeys. They have been found. They've been found already. [17:38] But you have to stay. Because the donkeys had to go missing. So that you can be found. Yeah. Wow. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. [17:48] Thank you Lord. And when they met the prophet. The prophet said. The donkeys have been found. I am here to tell you. [18:00] That those things that have been bothering you for so long. They are not a problem at all. They are not there. The real problem is that you yourself are missing. Yeah. Thank you to God. [18:14] You are missing. You are missing. Remember some vows you made to God. Remember when you were 15 years old. [18:25] You knew that by. That when you were 23. This is what you have done. You are going to be. The plans you had for your life. Where are they all missing now? They are all gone. [18:37] They are all gone. What I am trying to say is that. There are so many systems in place. To waste your life. There are so many. [18:48] You may not be actively aware. But there are so many systems in place. To waste your life. And then find something else to listen. To keep my spirit up. Because that thing is a very sorrowful news. [19:01] And there are always a lot of that. But there are so many of them. And so it is necessary. That God will bring you somewhere. [19:11] To make something out of you. Now quickly. When God is working on your life. He makes sure that you are not. He will give you a sense of awareness. That is working. It is called a witness inside. [19:23] Some of you. Some of the things I am saying. You are shocked. Because how. You know God is just addressing you. Spot on. Am I speaking the truth? So. I will not even know. How deep I am cutting in. [19:35] I will not even know. I am actually reading your mail. I may not know. Because. It is not my business. It is not my business. But God. So you have the inner witness. [19:47] In Luke chapter. 4. Jesus came out of the wilderness. Full of the Holy Spirit. And then when he came. He started. He went to the temple. 16 that was. [19:57] He went to the synagogue. To go and read. And then. You know already. Verse 18. He read. The proof from Isaiah. The spirit of the Lord is upon me. Anointed me to. And then the verse. 20. [20:08] 19 and 20. Bible says. When he finished. He handed the book. The scroll to the attendant. And he went and sat down. And Bible says that. 20 says that. The eyes of all those. Who were in the synagogue. [20:19] Were fixed on him. Alright. But look out of verse 21. I want to show you something quickly. Verse 21 says. And he began to say to them. Today this scripture. Is fulfilled in your hearing. Then 22. Says that. [20:29] So. All bore witness. To him. What does that mean? They knew. That what the guy just said. This. Something deep inside. [20:43] God has spoken to them. They knew. Deep in their heart. See. But their minds were stubborn. Because look at verse 16. Verse 16 said. Verse 16 said. This says when. [20:54] So he came to Nazareth. Where he had been brought up. Let's say that statement together. Phrase together. One more time. What do you know about Nazareth? [21:06] What is the relationship. Between Jesus and Nazareth? So. Those people in Nazareth. The Nazarenes. [21:17] They knew Jesus very well. Because. They saw him growing up. They played with him. And so. Their fathers and mothers. His classmates. His colleagues. [21:28] His playmates. Oh. Their parents. They knew him. So when the anointing came on him. Guess what? Fresh from the. Encounters with the Holy Ghost. He was going to Nazareth. [21:39] To go and. Help them. Do you know what grace does? Grace. Lifts. You. Into destiny. That's what grace does. [21:51] Because. Most of us. Have gone through so many things. That. We have lost touch. With destiny. Lost touch. With what God has called you to be. Some of us. All there is to us. [22:02] Is. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Make money. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. Work. And there is this. Cousin of yours. Called Bill's. [22:16] So you are working and feeding him. Working and feeding him. Watch this. Working is necessary. Bible said. He who does not work. Must not eat. Bible said. [22:27] God who bless their. Works. So if God is going to bless you. And you don't have works. He doesn't have anything to bless you through. [22:38] All right. Church growth is a hard work. It's harder than any man can prescribe to you. Praise the Lord. [22:49] Amen. Amen. So. So it's not. Work. It's necessary. But what I mean by some of us. All there is. Is just. Normal. [22:59] Secular work. You are not even considering. What you already. You originally created to do. And it's affecting. Everything about you. That's why you are unhappy. [23:12] Very unhappy. Do you know why? But you are. Your job pays well. But you are very unhappy. You live in such a nice house. But you can't eat the house. You are unhappy. You are living in a. [23:24] You know. A mansion. And you are dying in a mansion. Right. While someone is living. In a flat. And they are so happy. Ha. [23:35] Misha. Praise God. Do you know the secret? The secret to happiness in life. Is no more money. It is finding. [23:46] Your assignment. And your placement in life. Being there. Being there. Being there. Being there. So. [23:57] Don't just work to make money. Tell somebody. It looks like. God is talking to you. So. If you are not happy. Don't look at your bank account first. [24:10] If you are not happy. Don't look at your bank account. Look at your connection with God first. That's right. Because that is what. Bring you in alignment. Of your calling. [24:21] Of your lifetime assignment. Say amen. Amen. Amen. Jesus came in. The devil says. Put the 22 again. Look for 22. On the screen. [24:32] And he said. This scripture is fulfilling. And they all. Bore. Witness to him. They knew. God has spoken to them. [24:44] To him. They knew it. But guess what. When their spirit was crying. Yes. Suddenly. Their mental block. [24:54] Because of the. So many negative things. They have seen and heard. Familiarity. Familiarity. Too familiar. [25:06] Church. Church. Church. Church. Church. Church. Church. Church. Church. We have heard this so many times. Jesus Christ came with grace. To his hometown. To lift them. To another level. But they said. [25:18] They knew it. In their spirit. But they blocked it. They said. Is this not the capitan? Come on. The screen. They said. And marveled at the gracious ways. [25:30] They knew these ways were gracious. Gracious. Where we proceeded. And they said. Is this not just their stand? Look at the next. They warmed their teeth. And Jesus said. [25:41] You surely said to me. Physician. Heal yourself. Because they knew maybe. Some of his sisters were unwell. There were issues at home. You are coming to tell us. The scripture is fulfilling your hearing. [25:53] They knew in their spirit. And they could bear witness. To the gracious ways. But they knew him too much. I won't take it. [26:04] I won't take it. So. They switched off. And then when they switched off. Jesus said. You guys have denied. The opportunity. He told them. References. [26:14] Real life issues. That have happened. Based on how you treat a prophet. Look at. Look at what Jesus said later. Many people don't notice this. Look at. Then he said. [26:25] Surely I say unto you. No prophet is. Accepted in his own country. Go to the next verse. Listen to this. But I tell you the truth. Many widows were. In Israel. [26:36] In the days of Elijah. When the heavens was shut. Up three years. And six months. And there was a great famine. [26:46] Throughout the land. Say famine. Fire. There were many widows. Who were dying. But. To none of them. Was Elijah sent. Except. Zeraphat. [26:57] Okay. Zeraphat was not in Israel. Not in the places. Where. Zeraphat. In the region of Sidon. Sidon. To a woman. Who was a widow. Do you know what Elijah did to the woman? [27:10] The woman was about to die. Due to financial crisis. Yeah. But. God sent Elijah there. To sustain the woman. First. One of the first things. [27:21] Grace. Revival grace brings. Is financial sustenance. In terms of financial crisis. God sends a prophet your way. [27:31] You may think the prophet needs your help. But you. Need the help. Of the church. Anytime. God places a demand on you. [27:42] It's not that he needs something from you. But he needs to get something to you. Every time God places a demand on you. It's not that he needs something from you. [27:54] Because. You can't help God. But he needs something to you. So every wise man. Who knows how God does this. Walks around looking for opportunities in God. [28:08] Does God want anything done? Let me connect myself. Because. God doesn't do things. From heaven. He doesn't print money from heaven. Psalm 50. He said. [28:19] The silver. If I was hungry. I don't come and ask you. I can kill any cattle on the hill. Anywhere and eat. Psalm 50. Verse 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. God does not need. [28:31] Human help. But every human being. Certainly and always. Needs the help of God. He came with grace. To bring them out of financial crisis. [28:44] To sustain them. So when it's revival. One of the things that revival does. Is financial relief. But it only works. For people. [28:55] Who. Open their heart. To embrace the instructions. Number two. It comes with health relief. Read your Bible. Go back to the text again. [29:05] Let me show you something. No. He came. Ah. Lord. He came. And they said. These words are gracious. And they were about to embrace the words. [29:16] But they switched. Hey. Hey. I almost also got. We are praying. Receive the Holy Ghost. You are about to. You felt something was coming on you. I said. Ah. Me. I can't fall like this. [29:27] I don't go. Let you stop. Lift up your hand. Receive. An impartation. They lay hands on you. You can practically see that. Something. A force of the power. Of the Holy Ghost. Is entering you. [29:38] By saying. Oh no. No. I'm too gentle to fall. Ah. No. No. So you actually open your eyes. To distract the thing. Because. Your image is more important. Than your reality. Most of us are trying to save our image. [29:50] To leave our reality. The way it is. And our reality keeps getting. Worse. It's not getting better. And God wants to help. Your reality. Get better. [30:01] As long as you can open up. Even if it. Is at the expense of your image. Ah. Let me finish the text. Where did I end? Verse 26. [30:12] Is someone getting something? Oh God. Help me. Put it on. Is that verse 26? Okay. Now. Let's go to verse 27. So realize. This is an economic issue. [30:23] Look what's. Then he also spoke about. It. And many lepers. In Israel. In the time of. Elisha the prophet. The first one. [30:34] Was Elijah the prophet. The second one. Was Elisha the prophet. Two of the. Most respected. Prominent. Great prophets. Of Israel. No other prophets. [30:46] Worked miracles. Like them. And Jesus said. Someone can carry. The prophetic grace. And be sent to people. To help them. But. [30:57] The people. Will still suffer. Because they are not ready. Because they are too familiar. With the prophets. That's what you're trying to say. So first of all. A prophetic grace. [31:08] When a revival is released. Prophetic grace. First. It comes with financial relief. Secondly. It comes with health. Let's look at the health issue. He said. There were many lepers. In the days of Elisha. [31:18] The prophet. None of. Them was cleansed. Except. Ah. Nehman the Syrian. So how about the Israelites. They were not ready. They were too familiar. [31:32] It says that. Nehman. Was a Syrian. He wasn't a Jew. Wasn't an Israelite. A Syrian. The prophet. Carried the. Healing balm. [31:43] Of Gilead. To change people's health. Miseries. But he couldn't. Not that he didn't want to. He couldn't help them. Because their. Their responsibility. [31:54] Is on. Lies in the hands. Of the receiver. Not the deliverer. The one. The delivery man. Can't do much. If. [32:05] The one. Who is supposed to receive. He doesn't want to sign up for it. Sign up. But this morning. [32:16] I've said a lot. Anything that followed you here. That is not of God. It's going to leave you this morning. It leaves you alone this morning. It leaves you alone this morning. [32:28] By the power of the Holy Ghost. Shout amen. Thank you for listening. For more resources. Please visit. [32:39] Carious.org Or call us on. 0207 740 9960 God bless you.