Experiencing an Open Heaven

Have you heard the song Open Heaven?  The Christian worshipper Maranda Curtis states, “God is opening the window of Heaven. The miraculous is attached to that and makes room for miracles, signs and wonders.”  I agree, but might I add to this thought quoted.  An open heaven is the revelation, visitation, habitation and inundation of the Holy Spirit in relationship to the Christian individual, the church, and the nation. Let me present clarity.  The open heaven, quoted by myself and 5 others that assisted me in putting together the definition, is described as an “unhindered manifestation in the earth of all that heaven is, of God’s own presence and glory. Natural laws can be temporarily or permanently suspended as heaven breaks in. Signs and wonders, miracles and healings, revelations and unusual manifestations of power begin to occur. To varying degrees, poverty, sickness, disease, and human degradation are driven back by the overpowering love of God. The most unlikely are swept into the kingdom and significant wealth can flow into the church.” Powerful!

What do you mean by revelation? Well, God revealed it and said to you (me), the church and the nation that, “thy Kingdom come thy will be done on earth as is it in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). And look at Jacob’s dream (Genesis 28).  He communicated supernaturally in Jacob’s dream as the ladder was let down and rested on the earth with the top reaching into heaven while the angels ascended and descended from heaven to earth.   That is God opening heaven to earth sending down His ministering spirits to bear the commands and comforts of our heavenly Father, and in turn they bear the prayers and praises of the saints back to heaven. In Christ a divine interchange is now possible between heaven and earth.  Don’t you desire revelation?

Visitation comes with maturity (Ephesians 4:11-13). Many can testify of the Lord’s visitation. In the Bible, they witnessed a great visitation as the dove descended upon Jesus’ public ministry at the baptism commencement.  You know, “he went up out of the water…heaven was open, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him” (Matthew 3:16,17). The heavens will increasingly open over the church who incorporates Christ in greater seasons of divine visitation and blessings as it approaches this time. Do you desire revelation and visitation?

Then there’s habitation. When Jacob awoke from seeing the heavens opened and a ladder with angels ascending and descending his response was, WOW! He said, “’Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it. He was afraid and said, ‘How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; …” (Gen 28:16-19).   When God visits, he comes to stay. “Thus, saith the Lord, the heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: Where is the house that ye build unto me? And where is the place of my rest. Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?’ declares the Lord. ‘This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit and trembles at my word’” (Isa 66:1-2).  He is looking for a place to dwell.  So, open heaven is marked by a significant increase in the spirit of prayer and worship.  Do you desire revelation, visitation, and habitation today?

The inundation is knowing this: “The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. The Lord will make you the head and not the tail…”  (Deut.28:12, 13).  When we are living under an open heaven, not only is the Spirit poured out, but we can often experience increased financial blessing. God desires to bless his children materially. Read for yourself the following references (Psa. 65:9-13; 68:10; Isa 60:5-9; Jer. 31:12; 2 Cor 8:9).  However, this increase is for the kingdom of God because we are kingdom minded.  Being under an open heaven there is such a fundamental inner change that material things have no hold. In obedience to the Spirit they can be released for the benefit of the gospel. We can, therefore, be trusted with substantial material increase. Do you desire revelation, visitation, habitation, and inundation today?  So, what do you need? You need nothing because the Father has equipped you well with everything through Jesus Christ his son…The Word and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  However, let’s leave with a tip.  You definitely need faith and patience, to rest in the work of Jesus, and to obey the great commandment.  To end, entering the full experience of an open heaven whether personally, as a ministry, or as the larger body of Christ is dependent on the Father’s own timetable. The seasons of refreshing and restoration are determined by Him. But in the meantime, we are pressed into God as we wait in humility and faith. I pray that you, the church, and the nation will experience an open heaven. Signing off!

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Pastor Gwendolyn Wilson and her husband, Bishop Daniel Wilson, are the lead pastors of Refuge House of Prayer in Toms River, New Jersey.

Birthing Season

As women, we have the God given ability to bring things into being. (Gen. 3:16) Birthing comes natural to us. We can plan, initiate, nurture and grow things in the natural and in the spiritual. We cannot afford to forget what it is possible to accomplish through the power of God working in and through us. We are not our own. (1 Cor. 6:19) We often forget that the struggle is just part of the process. In this season, I believe God will direct you and give you what you need to bring forth the plans, ideas and dreams you have had.

We go through many seasons as women. Ecclesiastes 3:1 (Niv) states, “There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens”. As we go through each stage, and through each season, we experience life’s ups and downs. We make plans and map out our lives as best we can; however, there are times we experience the death of things around us and we feel hopeless and helpless to move forward. Pain and disappointment can make us feel as if we have nothing left to give and make us reluctant to nurture another dream or plan.

The book of Ruth has the story of two great women of God. Ruth’s story is inspiring and wonderful as it reveals our savior as our Kinsman-Redeemer. However, Naomi’s story is compelling as well. Naomi exemplifies a woman experiencing different seasons of life and unexpected outcomes. She is a woman who must adjust to radical circumstances and change in her life that sets her on a path alone. Nevertheless, with all of these changes, she is ultimately blessed as well as those around her.

Naomi’s life was very relatable. Many women can probably see themselves in her situation. As the story begins, Naomi, her husband, and her two sons were on the move to another country for better opportunity. Even though they were moving because of a famine, it must have been exciting to journey to a different land. The family was probably very hopeful that life would get better.

I can imagine Naomi looking forward to her sons marrying and their family expanding to include grandchildren. The bible goes on to say that the sons took wives in their new homeland. At this point, she probably believed they made a good choice to move to a new land. However, Naomi’s world was suddenly shattered by the death of her husband. She probably took solace in the fact that she had her boys even though her husband passed, but just as suddenly as the death of her husband, both of her sons died. Now, Naomi is truly broken, as the life that she built crumbled in a short period.

The loss of a spouse had to be crushing for her but to lose her sons also, was more than anyone could be expected to bear. In Ruth 1:20-21 (Niv), we see how Naomi feels about her life, she says, “I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty… The Lord has afflicted me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me.” Once a woman of dreams and expectation, Naomi’s situation has turned her into a woman of grief and sorrow. She has nothing. She has reached the end of her dream. At that time in history, to be a childless widow was devastating and she would have been at the mercy of strangers, as she was a foreigner in a new land. Naomi went from a woman of coveted status, with a husband and sons, to desperate and lonely in the span of a few years.

What Naomi did not realize was that she had not reached the end, because even when she thought she had nothing left, God was not finished with her. We, as women, have a unique ability. We have the ability to give birth. Each one of us has the capacity to birth over and over again, in the physical and in the spiritual. We know how to nurture something from the infant stage and bring it to maturity. When Naomi thought she was at the end of her birthing season and had nothing left to give, God’s plan was getting ready to unfold. She had a family connection that would bless both her and Ruth. Her job was not done. There was something she had to help birth in the life of another person. When she left Moab, the place of her devastating loss, she had no idea she was walking into a new season of life and promise. The loss of life or the end of your dream does not mean you are finished with your birthing process. That is what women do. We give life. We are built for it. Get ready to push. Whatever position you are in, get ready for birth. God has given you the ability and will continue to strengthen you…it’s birthing season.

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Joan Hayden is the wife of Rev. L. Anthony Hayden, Pastor of Mt. Zion Christian Center and the proud mother of Jordan, Julia and Daniel. She is a graduate of Oral Roberts University. Her goal in life is to advance the kingdom of God. Joan currently serves as the Assistant Pastor of Mt. Zion Christian Center.

Let Nothing Move You

GRACE GEORGE

My husband and I are blessed with two boys. I serve alongside my husband Biju George, who is the lead Pastor of Shalom COG, Oakland, New Jersey. We live in Long Island, New York. We are second generation Pentecostals from India before migrating to the United States in 2000. We are graduates of the Ministerial Internship Program and we conduct a vibrant women’s prayer line on Friday nights. God has proved Himself faithful in every situation and circumstance we face. I encourage you to keep trusting in Him and let nothing move you.

Prince Charming

New

Here we are!  It’s already April and we are experiencing the wonders of spring.  New flowers, new leaves, a new season.  The Lord spoke to me at the beginning of this year about the word new.  Isaiah 43:19 tells us He is doing a new thing.  He makes all things new.  We are new creations.  We have new mercies every morning!  So what’s new in you?  He also said that this year I will have new wine in new wineskins which means the old has to be destroyed.  A new me, a new way of thinking and a new way of responding.  The old has to go and new emerges!  The following devotion will help us walk in the new thing!

Leading Ladies need to have two qualities – to walk in HUMILITY and to be TEACHABLE. Are we humble enough to be taught?

“A scoffer seeks Wisdom in vain [for his very attitude blinds and deafens him to it], but knowledge is easy to him who [being teachable] understands.” Proverbs 14:6 AMP

As Leading Ladies, we spend a great deal of time encouraging and teaching others but who do we receive from? (I’m humbled that you’d take time to read my little devotion!) Holy Spirit can speak to us through anything and anyone. The scripture above said that our very attitude can blind and deafen us to receiving wisdom. So the question is what is our attitude when someone tries to teach or share something with us? Are we open to receive from the least likely sources? My daughter taught me a lot through the years, especially helped me to loosen up! I greatly value her opinion on spiritual and natural issues. The Lord has given her such wisdom!

I’m also open to hear from other Leading Ladies who might have been in ministry for a shorter time than I have. I’m blessed with several mentors that I can reach out to and they give me scriptural advice, not their opinion. These ladies are not in my church, not even in my state. (The people you lead can’t be your friends. You might be wondering why…reach out to me and I can share with you what I’ve learned.) You need a woman that you can believe her motives are pure and you can receive from. There is always something to glean from others. My pastor used to say, “Eat the meat and throw away the bones!”

Most importantly, are you humble to receive from your husband, your priest? Not receiving from your priest is a reflection of not receiving from the Lord (Eph. 5:22).  In my case, my husband is my pastor and my boss because I serve as the Women’s Ministries Director. It is difficult at times to not blur the lines. We make it a general rule to schedule ministry appointments in the office to keep our ministry relationship professional and respectful. It’s so easy for me to slip into wife mode! I have to make a conscious effort to humble myself and receive criticism and correction from him in the ministry. Learning how to humble myself and to be teachable has been key for my husband and I to flow in ministry together. Lord, help us as Leading Ladies to stay humble and teachable and may our responses to others be saturated with love!

Lorna Burch is married to her husband of 21 years, Raymond Burch, Jr.  She was born in Germany and was raised in various places due to her father being in the Army.   She has a passion for teaching the gospel, mentoring pastors’/ministers’ wives, and ministering to women in ministry alongside their husbands. Her mission in life is to support her husband in ministry.   Lorna currently serves as Women’s Discipleship Director of New Jersey Church of God State Executive Office.

Reclaiming Lost Glory

If you are like me, you can identify with the experience of loss at some period in your life. Losing a toy as a child, or a relationship during your adolescent years seemed devastating. Lost opportunities, resources or possessions can trigger a sense of failure and open the door for depression and dejection to take root in the recesses of our souls.

We can gradually become accustomed to loss and develop an immunity to it, where we settle and accept it as our lot. We can even develop a theology to justify our acceptance of it. When we experience loss, it is important to ask this question: Was this loss orchestrated by the enemy to sabotage my destiny and purpose, or was it a necessary part of entering a new season in my journey? If you can affirm that your loss occurred as a result of the enemy’s attack on your purpose, it is imperative for you to strategically and aggressively reclaim what has been stolen. Reluctance in reclaiming what has been stolen by the enemy only gives him greater claim and foothold on what rightfully belongs to you.

The pericope in 1 Samuel 30 is a classic illustration to us about how to reclaim lost territory that has been stolen by the enemy. David experienced a devastating loss when the Amalekites burnt Ziklag and captured all his possessions including his wives. In the process, he became depressed, but he did not stay in the place of depression because he knew his destiny hinged on his response to what the enemy had done and recovering what was lost.

His human expression of sorrow and dejection was not permitted to prevail over his passion to reclaim lost territory and possessions. He wept, but in his weeping and despondency, he knew where his strength lied. He arose from that emotional slum and called upon the Lord for direction and a strategy. Because he called in the midst of his pain, he received instruction. He was told by God to pursue the enemy and recover all. WOW! In other words, God told him to get his “fight back.” I feel like someone is reading this and needs to hear that again. It’s time to get your ‘fight back!’ This gives you strength to pursue the enemy and reclaim what is rightfully yours. What the enemy has stolen from you is directly connected to your destiny and purpose and you must arise and reclaim it!

The Word from the Lord gave David and his men strength for the battle and assurance of victory. Like David, God is with you in the fight, you will recover all. His Word endorses your authority to reclaim what the enemy has stolen, now arise and muster the troops like David did. Muster the weapon of prayer, use the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. Put His Word on your tongue and begin to dispel the enemy that is working against your purpose and destiny.

It is time to reclaim your health, prosperity, peace, passion, lost spiritual ground, your mind and every other possession from every encroachment of the enemy. Notice the things that the enemy stole from David were not killed, they were only captured. The enemy knows that capture is as good as dead. When he captures minds and passions, it cripples and paralyses our hope and faith. When there is no hope or faith, we cannot please God and anyone that displeases God cannot be used by Him.

I urge you to arise and do an inventory of the things that the enemy has clandestinely stolen from you and begin to intentionally pursue what is rightfully yours. It’s time to regain everything that the enemy has stolen from you! The Word of God declares in Matthew 11:12 (b) the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence and the violent take it or seize it by force. It is your Kingdom right to possess and enjoy all that God has ordained and decreed for you to have, and it is illegal in the spirit realm for the enemy to touch what God has given you. Make today the last day you live with the enemy having your possessions.

David arose and pursued the enemy after he prayed, and he recovered all! This is worth shouting about! Because he refused to accept what the enemy did, he arose and pursued. He was confident of God’s presence and knew that God was with him. Because of God’s presence he recovered all. God is with you, He is not only with you, He is in you and He is fighting for you! Arise, muster the troops, pursue the enemy of your destiny with new passion and conviction, because God said, you will recover all!

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Rev. Leanora Colley is the Executive Pastor at the New Covenant Church, a multi-cultural congregation located in Plainfield, New Jersey. She directly serves as President of the Women’s Ministries at New Covenant. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics and History. She later obtained a Master of Divinity Degree from the Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Cleveland, Tennessee.

She has taught at the high school level in the British Virgin Islands and taught New Testament Studies at Lee University, Cleveland, Tennessee. She served as the Clergy Representative on the Mayor’s Healthy Plainfield Coalition for the City of Plainfield, New Jersey. She recently received the distinguished award of “Women Who Shape and Change the Community” by the NAACP Chapter of Union County.

She is a conference speaker and a motivator of women. She has a passion and calling to minister hope, healing and purpose to women of the world. She has conducted workshops, seminars and conferences in various States of the United States and the Caribbean.  She is married to the Bishop Glen A. Colley and is biological mother to three budding world changers, Michael Judah, Gabriel Joshua, and Shekinah Joy.

As an ambassador of Christ, she is ardent about prayer and the knowledge of the Word of God. She enjoys writing and counseling. She can be contacted by email at executivepastornewcovenantnj.com. 

Today is the Day

Today is a day we have awesome choices available to us. Life with choices is amazing, don’t you think? We could be relegated to duties and tasks from the time that we wake up to the time that we lie down and even have those times dictated or assigned to us.

Glory hallelujah to God, the Creator of this universe, who holds all power in His hands. In His infinite wisdom, He did not feel the need to take away our ability to choose. He created us to be free-will agents, made with purpose and privilege I might add. Now that’s some serious creating.

So how will you spend your day of free choice? Will you be a loud gong or a clanging cymbal? Will you walk through your day as a valueless individual, second-guessing yourself all along the way? Will you walk in some faith and a little bit of hope? Heaven forbid.

I encourage you today to exist in the absolute truth that you are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, created with a good plan for your life. So choose today to serve Him by walking in your value and divine purpose of loving others and representing Him everywhere your feet are standing.   While you’re at it, enjoy your day!

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Rev. Lisa Adams joined the family of God in 1986 and received the baptism of the Holy Ghost in 1988. Empowered by God’s Spirit she has served the Lord in a variety of assignments including but not limited to Teacher, Preacher, Worship Leader, NJ Women’s Ministries member, Lay Minister, Outreach Coach and Children’s Pastor. She is a credentialed Minister through the Church of God in Cleveland, Tennessee. She is blessed to be the wife, confidante and ministry partner of her loving husband Bishop Douglas H. Adams for 37 years. They have served in ministry together for 32 of those years. They are the Lead Pastors of JOY Church in Passaic, New Jersey. Lisa received two precious gifts from the Lord, Douglas Hugh Adams II and Kandace Lise Adams ages 35 and 31. She is a grateful mother-in-law of 16 years to Christel Adams and the proud grandmother of Tre, Dylan and Leilani Adams. Lisa’s life mission is to serve God and in that to serve His people.