An Open Heaven

Day 212

Reading: Ezekiel 1:1 - Ezekiel 4:17

Welcome to the Book of Ezekiel. Ezekiel was a priest and we are introduced to him when he's a captive in a foreign land. Priests presented the sacrifices to God and carried out duties in the Temple of God. Here was a priest living in the foreign land far from the place he was called to serve. Many believers today are like Ezekiel. They are prayerful but are crying to God far from the land they are ordained to live. Let me interject here, Ezekiel was not living away from Israel because of choice, he was captured and taken to live abroad. Many believers are living far from where God ordained for them bound by a captor who takes many forms. Ezekiel means God strengthens. It is amazing that the Book of Ezekiel opens with God strengthening him.

The heavens opened over Ezekiel and his eyes saw into the Heavens. Reading this phrase my heart began to yearn for the heavens to open and that my eyes would be opened to see the unseen. Too many times we find ourselves in painful situations that are tearful. In such a place, we pray for divine help and I believe one thing that would help is having an open heaven. When the heavens are open we have the backing of heaven.

In the vision of heaven that Ezekiel sees a beast with four faces symbolizing the nature every believer is to have. 

• Lion: God expects us to walk through life with the boldness of a lion. The roar of a lion announces to the animals not only of its presence but to the enemies of the domain. An open heaven empowers you to walk as a lion. 
• Ox: Farmers for long placed yokes on oxen to till the farm. God places a yoke on His servants that is different from the yoke of the world. Also, we see oxen as animals used for the sacrifice. Living a life of sacrifice opens the heavens. Let your life be a sacrifice to God alone. 
• Eagle: As you wait on the Lord, the prophet Isaiah, tells us that you will soar like an eagle Isaiah 40:31. An eagle is able to soar higher in a storm using the turbulent winds to go up and down. When one walks under an open heaven they soar higher in challenges. 
• Man: God created man with a purpose that was divine. Unless you operate in life under an open heaven your life will never fulfil the intention of God. The psalmist wrote and said that it is written in the books that I delight to do the will of God Psalms 40:7-8. Unless your life is lived from heaven's perspective you cannot be the human being God ordained. 

Ezekiel saw that the beast he saw with the four faces was wheeled. The wheels were full of eyes and moved in one direction that was spirit led. God desires that our movement be full of insight from the Spirit of God. Ezekiel on seeing the throne of God fell down and only stood when the Spirit of God entered him. May God's Spirit cause you to stand. 

Memory Verse: Ezekiel 3:17

Decree: 

Ezekiel 2:1-2

And He said to me, "Son of man, stand on your feet and I will speak to you." Then the Spirit entered me when He spoke to me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him who spoke to me. (italics mine)