Showing posts with label God is still on His throne. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God is still on His throne. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2020

THE HEAVEN EFFECT - God wants you to SEE the INVISIBLE. There’s a spiritual realm all around you, and it’s every bit as real as what you see with your natural eyes. In the midst of his troubling visions of the condition of the church and coming events in the world, the apostle John saw an open door in Heaven and the Lord sitting on His throne. If you are dealing with difficult situations in your life today, a glimpse into Heaven may be just what you need. No matter what you may see with your natural eyes, God is still sitting on His throne! God wants to bless you through His heavenly portals, enabling you to help fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea - Perhaps it sounds like a contradiction in terms, but God wants you to SEE the INVISIBLE. There’s a spiritual realm all around you, and it’s every bit as real as what you see with your natural eyes. The Message brings this out in paraphrasing Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.” This same principle was illustrated when the Syrian army attacked Israel in 2 Kings 6:8-17. Elisha’s servant was terrified when he saw the city surrounded by the Syrian horses and chariots. “Alas…What shall we do?” he asked Elisha. The prophet gave his servant a shocking reply: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them”.

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The Heaven Effect

God wants you to SEE the INVISIBLE 

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There’s a spiritual realm all around you, and it’s every bit as real as what you see with your natural eyes. In the midst of his troubling visions of the condition of the church and coming events in the world, the apostle John saw an open door in Heaven and the Lord sitting on His throne. If you are dealing with difficult situations in your life today, a glimpse into Heaven may be just what you need. No matter what you may see with your natural eyes, God is still sitting on His throne! God wants to bless you through His heavenly portals, enabling you to help fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea

by David Cerullo



Perhaps it sounds like a contradiction in terms, but God wants you to SEE the INVISIBLE.

There’s a spiritual realm all around you, and it’s every bit as real as what you see with your natural eyes. 

The Message brings this out in paraphrasing Paul’s statement in 2 Corinthians 4:18: “There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”

This same principle was illustrated when the Syrian army attacked Israel in 2 Kings 6:8-17.

Elisha’s servant was terrified when he saw the city surrounded by the Syrian horses and chariots.

“Alas…What shall we do?” he asked Elisha (verse 15).

The prophet gave his servant a shocking reply: “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them” (verse 16).

But the servant still wasn’t convinced. Couldn’t his master see the vast enemy army surrounding the city?

Finally, Elisha decided to pray for his servant to see into the spiritual realm:

Elisha prayed, and said, “Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.”

Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (verse 17).

Could it be that God wants to open your eyes in the same way?

The apostle Paul recognized that the believers in Ephesus needed this kind of spiritual enlightenment, so it’s likely that you do as well:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19 NASB).

In addition to Jacob, Paul, Elisha’s servant, and the church in Ephesus, the Bible is filled with other examples of people who were given a glimpse into the spiritual realm:

While everyone else was terrified of Goliath, David knew he served a God who was much bigger than the Philistine giant (1 Samuel 17).

When Stephen was being stoned to death by the angry crowd, he was comforted by the sight of Jesus in Heaven:

Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed steadily into heaven and saw the glory of God, and he saw Jesus standing in the place of honor at God’s right hand (Acts 7:55 NLT).

In the midst of his troubling visions of the condition of the church and coming events in the world, the apostle John saw an open door in Heaven and the Lord sitting on His throne (Revelation 4:1-2).

He gained a new perspective when Jesus told him, “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

If you are dealing with difficult situations in your life today, a glimpse into Heaven may be just what you need. 

No matter what you may see with your natural eyes, God is still sitting on His throne!

Opening Wide the Gate

What was true for Jacob is also true for us today.

God opens “gates of Heaven” in our lives through which He pours out His blessings… provision… healing… deliverance… guidance… breakthroughs… joy – and whatever else we may need!

As we draw near to Him “in the secret place” (Psalm 91:1), the Lord will touch our lives with Heaven’s supernatural bounty, healing power, and protection.

And once we experience the amazing resources God pours out through His heavenly gateway, we’ll want to share those blessings to bless and impact others.

As God’s love moves on our hearts, we will respond by sending out His hope, healing, and salvation to others.

Jesus has called us to preach and demonstrate the same transformational message that He brought, describing Heaven’s Kingdom as being “at hand” (Matthew 4:17).

When we meet those who need a financial breakthrough, we can boldly declare, “Heaven’s bounty is at hand!”

When we meet those who need God’s touch in their body, we can boldly declare, “Heaven’s healing power is at hand!”

When we meet those who need victory over addiction or oppression from the enemy, we can boldly declare, “Heaven’s power is at hand to defeat the powers of darkness!”

Because the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand, God can work through YOUR hands to bring about miracles in the lives of others.

The Bible teaches that the resources of Heaven are near you today, and all you have to do is receive them by faith:

The righteousness of faith speaks in this way, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, “‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (Romans 10:6-8).

God wants to bless you through His heavenly portals, enabling you to help fill the earth with the knowledge of His glory as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14).

Souls in eternity will be grateful you encountered the Heaven Effect – and were moved to share its blessings with them.

Excerpt from The Heaven Effect by David Cerullo.

Order your copy of The Heaven Effect by David Cerullo

David Cerullo is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Inspiration Ministries, located in Indian Land, South Carolina ­– a ministry dedicated to impacting people for Christ worldwide through media. The son of international evangelist Morris Cerullo, David took a less traditional approach to ministry, graduating from Oral Roberts University with a degree in business administration and management. He has authored over 20 books, and operates a global media ministry that powerfully impacts the world for Christ. More from David on Inspiration.org.

https://inspiration.org/christian-articles/the-heaven-effect/


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Saturday, December 21, 2019

BATTLING INTERRUPTIONS - Interruptions can stir fear and anxiety. Is this season hard for you? Perhaps the busy social schedules of some only highlight your empty one. Images of families together reinforce your pain of a family apart. Or, the sudden diagnosis. Emergency rooms do not wear Christmas decorations well. Through a scandalous pregnancy, an imposed census, an untimely trip and an overcrowded inn, God triumphed in Mary's story. And He triumphed in Jesus' genealogy in the book of Matthew. We don't often mention the lineage of Jesus in context with His birth, but Matthew does. The Messiah was born not because of His ancestors, but in spite of them. In spite of chaos, Christ came. In your world of short nights, hard work and high stress, don't you need to know Jesus holds it all together? God holds it all together. And He will hold it together for you. When everything shakes, God's purpose remains unshaken. He is in His holy temple.


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Battling Interruptions
MAX LUCADO






"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16-17 (NIV)


The calendar announces we're entering a season of interruptions.
Some we enjoy. Some we don't.
We enjoy interrupting diets for special desserts, work for staff parties and bill paying for menu planning.
But we could do without the Chicago snowstorm that grounds the Atlanta flight and strands us in Albuquerque.
We could do without the midnight phone call from Cousin Bert saying he and Mary Lou and their kids are going to be in the area for the holidays.
Could they park their Winnebago in the driveway for, "Oh, we promise, no more than 10 days"?
Interruptions. They can stir fear and anxiety. Is this season hard for you?
Perhaps the busy social schedules of some only highlight your empty one.
Images of families together reinforce your pain of a family apart. Or, the sudden diagnosis.
Emergency rooms do not wear Christmas decorations well.
If you're looking forward to December 26 more than December 25, I have a reminder for you: In spite of the chaos, Christ came. 
Through a scandalous pregnancy, an imposed census, an untimely trip and an overcrowded inn, God triumphed in Mary's story.
And He triumphed in Jesus' genealogy in the book of Matthew.
We don't often mention the lineage of Jesus in context with His birth, but Matthew does.
The list goes on for 16 verses. Yawn. 
Who needs to know about Tamar, Rahab and Ruth?
Why does Matthew mention David and Solomon before he mentions Joseph and Mary?
He is making a point. The Messiah was born not because of His ancestors, but in spite of them.
Tamar was abandoned.
Rahab was a harlot.
David was an adulterer.
Solomon was a philanderer.
In spite of sin and scandal, Christ came.
In spite of racism and sexism, Christ came.
In spite of chaos, Christ came.
Don't you need that reminder?
In your world of short nights, hard work and high stress, don't you need to know Jesus holds it all together?
"For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:16-17).
God holds it all together. And He will hold it together for you.
When everything shakes, God's purpose remains unshaken. He is in His holy temple.
His plan will not be derailed. God is unaffected by our storms. He is undeterred by our problems.
Remember the story of Joseph, sold into Egypt?
Or Moses, watching flocks in the wilderness - is this what he intended to do with his life?
Or Daniel, whose entire generation was marched into Babylonian captivity?
Joseph in prison.
Moses in the desert.
Daniel in chains.
These were dark moments. Who could have seen any good in them?
Who could have known Joseph was just one promotion from becoming the prime minister?
Who would have thought God was giving Moses 40 years of wilderness training in the very desert through which he would lead the people?
And who could have imagined Daniel would be the king's counselor?
God has made a business out of turning tragedy into triumph. Most of all, He did this with Jesus on the cross.
Does this upcoming Christmas look like a difficult one? Take heart.
God is still on His throne, still in control.
He still makes princes out of prisoners, counselors out of captives, Sundays out of Fridays.
And He still brings beauty out of Bethlehems.
He did then, for them. He still does now, for you and me.
Heavenly Father, You are in control, and yet so often I feel as if I have to hold it all together myself. Devastating interruptions make me doubt Your care for me and Your power over my life.
Please remind me of Your presence in my life and of Your nearness to my heart today. Thank You for coming to earth, amidst all the chaos.
Remind me that this time of year is a symbol of the lengths You will go to make Your love for me known. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 11:3-4
, "‘When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?' The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them." (NIV)
Proverbs 16:9, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps." (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Do you ever struggle with loneliness during the holiday season even though our culture says it’s the most wonderful time of the year?
You aren’t alone.
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
What's something you have no control over and need to release to the Lord's care today?

You can follow Max on social media! Find him on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
With more than 130 million products in print and several NYT bestsellers, Max Lucado is America's bestselling inspirational author. He serves the Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, where he lives with his wife, Denalyn, and their mischievous mutt, Andy.