WHAT IS AN OPEN HEAVEN?
To understand an Open Heaven, we need to grasp the concept of resources. There are two primary resources that we can access. These are physical or earthly resources and spiritual or heavenly resources. We are human beings who live in a physical body here on earth. Therefore, we can access resources from the realm that we live in – the physical or earthly realm. We are also able to access resources from the spirit realm through Holy Spirit, who is person of the Godhead, not some kind of force or thing.
An Open Heaven gives us access to the resources of heaven so that we can accomplish everything we need to do for the Kingdom of God whenever we need it (Philippians 4:19). An Open Heaven therefore has to do with accessing all of the promises of God.
The Purposes and Impact of Fasting
Why do we fast?
Fasting has many benefits. Some of these include:
For our Body:
• Helps us to practice and maintain self control over the desires of our body by virtue of us denying our “flesh” the food that it craves, we are able to deny our body other cravings that are not good for us.
• Helps with the maintenance of good health because it is a way of detoxifying the body of impurities.
Scripture: Proverbs 25:28; I Corinthians 9: 24- 27; Galatians 5: 16- 24
For our Soul:
• Helps us to deal with the giants in our lives that are often too big for us
• Helps with the healing and wellness of our soul
Scripture: Mark 9: 14 – 29; Daniel 10
For our Spirit:
• Helps us to grow in the maturity of the fruit of the Spirit
• Helps us to situate ourselves in a place of quietness, away from the various noises – including the noises of our expectations, so that we can perceive God and what God is saying
• Refreshes our spirit
Scripture: Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Kings 19: 9-18, Psalms 23: 2b, Psalms 46:10
Important Fasting Notes
For this 3-day Fast you can choose to abstain from food & water, food alone, meat alone or depending on any health concerns, adapt as applicable.
Physical Preparation: If you are not doing a complete fast of food and water-
• When you get up in the morning, hydrate your system and prepare your body for fasting by drinking warm lemon water. It is best to use real lemons as prepared lemon juice often has sulphates in it. Lime can also be used. However, lemon is generally thought of as being gentler on our stomachs. Alternately, apple cider vinegar can be used. It is your choice to use one of these consistently or to alternate their use (e.g., every other day).
• Wait 10-15 minutes to allow your body to absorb the lemon water etc., and then drink another cup of warm water to start your day.
• For all fasts except total abstinence, remember to keep your body hydrated throughout the day by consuming a variety of clear liquids such as water, decaffeinated tea, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, and clear broths. Eating any kind of solids on a liquid only fast can increase and extend your feelings of hunger.
• If you are eating fruits & vegetables, it is best to use fresh or frozen versus canned.
Spiritual Preparation: In order to fast properly, one needs to take on a spirit of Repentance and Consecrate oneself to God.
Understanding Repentance:
Repentance in Christianity means a sincere turning away, in both the mind and heart, from self to God. It involves a change of mind that leads to action- the turning away from a sinful course to God.
The Eerdmans Bible Dictionary defines repentance in its fullest sense as "A complete change of orientation involving a judgment upon the past and a deliberate redirection for the future."
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-repentance-700694 (November 29, 2018)
“The doctrine of repentance as taught in the Bible is a call to persons to make a radical turn from one way of life to another. The repentance (metanoia) called for throughout the Bible is a summons to a personal, absolute and ultimate unconditional surrender to God as Sovereign. Though it includes sorrow and regret, it is more than that. It is a call to conversion from self-love, self-trust, and self-assertion to obedient trust and self-commitment to God. It is a change of mind that involves a conscious turning away from wrong actions, attitudes and thoughts that conflict with a Godly lifestyle and biblical commands, and an intentional turning toward doing that which the Bible says pleases God. In repenting, one makes a complete change of direction (180° turn) toward God. The words "repent," "repentance," and "repented" are mentioned over 100 times in the Bible.
Repentance typically requires an admission of guilt for committing a wrong or for omitting to do the right thing; a promise or resolve not to repeat the offense; an attempt to make restitution for the wrong, or in some way to reverse the harmful effects of the wrong or the omission where possible.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Repentance (November 29, 2018)
Understanding Consecration:
What are the steps that we need to take to “consecrate” ourselves as commanded in Joshua 3:5? Do we really understand what the term means? In truth, we cannot really consecrate ourselves. Instead, our role is to set ourselves apart from the “earthliness” of life or the business and routines of life, in order to present ourselves to God and ask God to wash us and to take us unto Himself for the time or task at hand.
The Wiki article, “How to Consecrate Yourself” (https://www.wikihow.com/Consecrate-Yourself),
defines consecration as, “The act of dedicating oneself to a specific purpose or intention. To “consecrate” yourself essentially means to wholly dedicate yourself to something of greatest importance” (February 23, 2019). It is about setting yourself apart, personally dedicating yourself and being “made sacred.” Here are some excerpts from the article:
• When spoken plainly, however, "consecration" refers to the act of setting yourself aside and dedicating yourself to a deity, and that deity almost always refers to the God of Christianity.
• The term can also be used to refer to ordination into a sacred office. For most believers, however, it only refers to a basic, personal act of dedication.
• To “consecrate” something, one makes that thing holy or sacred. In that sense, the act of consecration can also be defined as the act of being made sacred.
God’s Role in Consecration
We need to understand God's role in consecration. God calls humanity to be consecrated to Him. The ability to consecrate yourself is only made possible by God, and the calling to do so comes directly from God.
• All holiness comes from God, and any holiness demonstrated by a human being is transferred to that person from God. Only God has the power to transform a human into something sacred, so in a sense, God is consecrating you—making you holy—once you decide to consecrate yourself.
• As the Creator, God wants each person to live in God's image and likeness. As such, God wants to dedicate each person to a sacred or consecrated life.
How to Consecrate Yourself to God
Dedicate your heart to God: To consecrate yourself is to answer God's call to spiritual consecration. This means making a conscious, willing decision to dedicate your soul, mind, heart, (I will also add – emotions as well) and body to God. I will also add that we need to present our spirits as well because the Bible teaches that we need to cleanse our spirits from “filthiness of the flesh” (2 Corinthians 7:1)
• This decision must be one of will, intelligence, and affection. Only you can make the decision to consecrate yourself to God. No one else can push you into it.
• Reflect on your motives. Since consecration is something that must be done voluntarily, you need to ask yourself if you are truly dedicated or if you are caving into outward pressures.
• Only you and God know your heart, so don't worry about whether you appear to have the right motives.
• You should view your commitment to Christ as a priority, not a secondary option or passive experience.
• You should also be able to feel gratitude and love in your heart for God. If your heart is ready to be consecrated to God, it will love God in response to the love God has for you.
• Stay committed. Consecration is not a single, one-time-only decision. It is a way of living. When you make the decision to consecrate yourself, you must be prepared to continue pursuing God for the rest of your life.
Time with God:
• Saturate your spirit with praise and worship unto God throughout the day. This may include keeping a song in your heart, playing praise & worship music, singing unto the Lord with raised or clapping hands, etc.
• Follow the prayer guide daily. During your prayer times, be sure to pray the actual Word of God we have included because “His Word will not return void” (Isaiah 55:11).
• Meditate on the Word daily. Ask Holy Spirit to show you what Scripture from the guide you should focus on, ask the Lord for a personal revelation of that scripture, pray that scripture throughout the day.
• Make it high priority to spend time in the word. Use the guiding scriptures to help you. Ask Holy Spirit to minister to you as you meet with God. Daily ask “Abba Father” to show you the “wonderful things that are in His law” and the “things that are unseen” (Psalms 119:18; 2 Corinthians 4: 18).
• Spend a few minutes soaking* in Abba Father’s presence daily. This will allow you to come away from the business of life so that Abba Father can share with you. It will also allow you to hear what God is saying to you.
• Establish a sustainable routine that enables you to get a lot of rest. Remember that fasting impacts your physical body: Be wise and take care of it! If your spirit is strong and your body is weak it may be difficult for you to continue, so get a lot of rest!
* For information on Soaking Prayer we recommend going to
https://www.crosswalk.com/church/pastors-or-leadership/the-joy-of-soaking-prayer-1463841.html (February 17, 2019)
Accessing the Promises of God
2 Corinthians 1:20 states, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.” Under an Open Heaven, when God’s promises are realized in our lives, we glorify God! The question is, how do we position ourselves to ensure our access to these promises are not blocked? Here are a couple of key things you and I can do:
1. Be open to what God wants:
• Maintaining an intimate relationship with God is key (James 4:8)
• Do not harden your heart (Hebrews 3:7-11; Mark 6:42)
• Delight in God’s desires (Psalms 37:4)
2. Take up your position in Christ Jesus
• Remember who you are and whose you are (Ephesians 2)
• Trust in God’s protection (Deuteronomy 31:6)
• Trust in God’s provision (Hebrews 13: 5-6)
3. Mix the Word of God with your faith
• Don’t pray for victory while speaking defeat (Hebrews 4:2; Matthew 12;34)
• Speak and proclaim God’s word (Romans 10:10-17)
• Believe what you hope for (Hebrews 11)
Helpful Hint: If you want to see the promises of God take root in your life, get a “Book of Promises”, pray through the Scriptures and watch God supernaturally work.
Friday, March 1, 2019: Day One Fasting Focus:
Position yourself under the Open Heaven:
A). Cleanse yourself through repentance and consecration
B). Position yourself to access all that God has for you, your family, you community and Afrikan people everywhere
Focus:
• Repentance
• Consecration
• Access
Scripture:
• Act 2:38
• Joshua 3:5
• 2 Kings 4: 8- 17
Our Scripture Prayer for the day is based on Ephesians 1: 17-18
Additional Specific Personal Areas of Focus:
As you journey through this fast, Holy Spirit will bring additional areas for you to focus on. Take note of these areas and ask Holy Spirit to be your guide and deal with them.
PRAYING THE WORD OF GOD
Abba Father,
My desire is that You give me the Spirit of wisdom, the precious fear of the Lord. I call forth the spirit of revelation on my life. I welcome the fullness of Your Holy Spirit. Grant this to me that I might be enabled supernaturally to know Jesus intimately. Grace me with Your presence so that I may know You beyond informational knowledge. I want to know You Lord, just as I am known by You.
Now I ask that you open the lens of my heart as You thrust forth shafts of revelatory light into my inner being. Fill my heart with Your glorious presence so that I can know the hope-the positive expectation of good-of Your calling, Purposes and destiny in my life. Grace me so that I may be in touch with the rich deposit of Your glorious inheritance placed within me, as I am now a temple of the Holy Spirit. I declare that there will be many deposits and withdrawals out of this treasure chest.
I also pray that Your light, O God, will flood my being so that I may know and experience the surpassing greatness of Your power toward me. Make me into a believing believer. I call this forth for the honor and glory of Your great name in the earth.
Amen!
-Adapted from James Goll
Quotes of the Day
“We live in a world so full of injustice, hate and oppression. Our Black sons and daughters are dying violently every day at the hands of those that are supposed to serve and protect them. Women are still being sexually and physically abused by men in positions of power; by men who have vowed to love them. The news would have you believing that is all there is for us. But God continuously tells us and shows us a different truth.”
-from “Suit Up!” written by Caprice Duncan in My Divine Appointment’s Black History Month Journal published on February 2, 2019
“E is for Expectation…We are full of Expectation!”
-from “R is For Reparations” C. Denise Gillard, editor
