Week 3: "Windows"

We have been studying about how to access the promises of God in our lives over the past several weeks. We've looked at the Walls, Rooftops, and today we studies the Windows. Each point of access has a different blessing that is waiting for us. Our job is pursue and take ownership of what God has for us.

Walls - The security of our lives is built and rebuilt by prayer, compassion, determination and focus.

Rooftops - The rooftops of God provide protection, health, vision, communion and anointing. Remember, He is Jehovah Nissi, The Lord Our Banner.

Windows - These are the openings in our lives where things go out and things come in.

In Malachi 3, God begins to confront Israel about their disobedience toward Him. He exposes the sin issue and also gives a way to become reconciled. He discusses with them in detail what the issues are so they know what to move away from in their lives. Because our God is a loving God, He will give us the opportunity to get restored back to Him. He is the God of reconciliation!

Israel had been allowing things to escape their lives because they were sinning against God. The next step was to recognize what God was saying and stop the movement of things out of their lives and get the access point of provision. When Israel began to question God and deny what He was saying, God cut the conversation short so He could get to the turn around. 

Malachi 3:10 - Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meet in mine house, and prove me now, herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it. 

This was and is the key to the turn around. How do we open the windows of Heaven? Tithing opens them. God's answer to their issue was giving. It is amazing how becoming a giver can set you free from all types of issues. God does not just bless or give back to us with money. He gives us ideas and things also that can sustain us for years to come. He provides for us.

He challenged Israel in this teaching and told them to "prove" Him. He wasn't saying to prove Him for His sake, but for their own. They needed to experience that God would do what He said He would do. This act of holiness toward God would allow them to see the hand of God moving toward them. That's a big moment in our lives when we release what is in our hand and trust that God will release what is in His. He only has holiness and goodness to release. So, why wouldn't we give and trust what He has waiting for us?

The Blessing From The Windows of Heaven:

• Super-Abundant
• God is a God of more than enough
• He can supply whatever we need
• The devourer is rebuked
• God will rebuke the enemy from your life
• Rebuke - express sharp disapproval of someone for their behavior
• The enemy cannot fulfill his desire for you when God rebukes him
• All nations shall call you blessed
• When the windows of Heaven open up for you, there's a good reputation that follows
• You will become known as blessed
• You shall be a delightsome land
• Delight - joy, happiness, pleasant, beauty, fun, peaceful
• The blessings of God make our lives a delight

Suggested Readings

• Malachi 3:1-12
• Deuteronomy 4:31
• 2 Chronicles 31:5-6
• Psalms 34:8-10
• James 3:17
• Proverbs 22:1
• 2 Corinthians 5:18

July 4

Happy 4th! What a wonderful day to celebrate our freedom with family and friends. We are blessed to live in the USA. Today, take time to thank God for the many blessings in your life.

Remember, there's a Family Freedom Service tonight at 7 pm at ALCC. I can't wait to see you there. Be blessed :)

Week 2: "Rooftops"

This morning Pastor Cindy ministered on having a Rooftop experience in God. There are several markers that were listed to identify this powerful experience. The divine protection of God is step one in this journey.

Joshua 2 tells the story of Rahab and how she protected the Israelite spies when thy came into her land. Her protection toward them yielded the divine protection of God for her and her entire family eventually. Psalms 91 also talks about how God will keep us safe and protected. This is the passage of scripture that Dr. Roberts said he read every day. It's a great chapter to spend some time memorizing and studying.

The story of the man who was let down through the roof at one of Jesus' meetings brings us to the next point - health. This man was healed when he came into the presence of Jehovah. God is still in the healing business today! When we make a choice to get into His presence no matter what, we will get our answer.

Vision is one of the most important phases of the Rooftop experience. Without vision, we can't progress in life. Developing our relationship with God is so important. It's through this relationship that we are able to receive a vision for our lives and pursue it. True vision will have a corresponding action with it. As Christians, we should always be actively moving toward fulfilling the vision God has given us (Acts 10).

Communion with God and the anointing sum up the Believer's Rooftop experience. Matthew 6:9 begins a section of scriptures that we all know very well - The Lord's Prayer. In this passage Jesus highlights the way we are to build our prayer lives. This communion with the Father will produce the anointing in our lives. The anointing breaks down all the issues we may have and produces a person who is worthy to be used by God. It's important to commune with God daily and live a life full of the anointing.

The five steps discussed today are all activated by one thing and that is f-a-i-t-h. Faith makes things happen. Rooftop experiences come because of faith in God. Keep this key element at the center of your heart and God's protection, health, vision, communion and anointing will stay at your fingertips.

Ladies Bible Study: "Walls"

We can build powerful Walls around our family with the Word of God. It is important to confess what the Bible says and tell the devil, "you have no place in my life!"  

Today's Thoughts:

Nehemiah had these elements working in his life:

1. Compassion 
2. Prayer 
3. Focus 
4. Determination 
5. Unity 
6. Favor 

Let's talk about favor. Everyone loves that word! We like to be favored in God's eyes and man's. Favor is defined as this: God making sure His blessings are active in our lives. Through confessing the Word of God we can speak favor into existence by faith. Proverbs 12:2 says that good people get favored by God. "Good" can mean behaviorally, spiritually, walking in obedience to God, etc. So, be good and expect God to add favor to your life!  

Your Turn:

What did you learn today? Which of the points about Nehemiah stood out to you the most?