The Windows of Heaven - the “windows of heaven” are shower and outflow of God’s blessing abounding in every part of your life and every circumstance of your experience. If you would like to see a harvest of overflow, of spiritual blessing, and provision from heaven’s sources into your earthly setting, then He’s calling you to make this sowing into the realm of the Spirit. When you praise it is as though there are gushing torrents that burst forth as from a mighty dam

 “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” - (Malachi 3:10)

In the three places in the Old Testament where the Scripture speaks of the “windows of heaven,” the Hebrew word refers to sluice or sluice gates. 

The windows of heaven are like sluice gates.

Imagine, if you will, an enormous dam, a majestic concrete structure cutting across a great river, the water backing up behind it. 

The sluice gates are opened, and out of the front of the dam there are gushing torrents of water being released. 

The water churns through the generators, sending power to distant areas, and rushes down to fill the area below. 

Like a flash flood, the water surges forth along the riverbed, clearing debris where it has accumulated, and later on, the water will flow more smoothly in the river, eventually depositing into a lake where people will gather for refreshing.

The spirit of praise is like the gushing forth of a mighty dam

Amidst a torrent of praise, this image also reflects the dynamism that takes place when people praise the Lord. 

It is something that rises on the tide of the sense of the Spirit’s presence when people gather for prayer and offer their wholehearted praise.

When you praise it is as though there are gushing torrents that burst forth as from a mighty dam. 

Power is generated and will go forth as people move in the spirit of praise and worship in the Lord’s name.

Praise Him, and His power will be manifested at a distance as well as in your midst.

The river of praise, rising from the living water within the people of God, sends the overflow of the Spirit to sweep before it the “debris” that gathers in the realm around you, where the powers of darkness have created filth and confusion, making way for the entry of God’s kingdom rule. 

As a result of praise, there will be places where people will gather for refreshing, to walk by the still waters, and be nourished. 

Let the spirit of praise abound, for it shall be like the gushing forth of a mighty dam.

Flourishing growth and increase

This great text on stewardship and giving is well known as the classic passage on tithing, that is giving the first ten percent of your income to the Lord.

People who learn the Lord’s way learn that you can never outgive God. 

To walk in His way only releases more of the blessings that He’s promised, not blessings you buy or earn. It’s an action of faith.

The “windows of heaven” are shower and outflow of God’s blessing abounding in every part of your life and every circumstance of your experience. 

The Bible shows that only in response to people who know the Lord and then obey Him in their giving with tithing will the way be opened to the windows of heaven of God’s blessing upon them. 

Why would anyone want to be closed up to what God can do in the massiveness of His blessing?

The expression “windows of heaven” don’t just refer to financial blessing. 

It refers to God releasing flourishing growth and increase in our lives.

Where else does the Bible refer to the “windows of heaven”?

There are three places in the Old Testament where the expression “windows of heaven” is used:

- The flood in Noah’s time (Genesis 7:11) – The surging torrent here represents judgment.

- In the midst of a famine (2 Kings 7:19) – In the pouring out of blessing from heaven, God increases the natural resources around us.

- Spiritual resources (Malachi 3:10) – God says He wants His people to sow in the physical realm in a way that indicates they’re sowing to the spiritual.

Why tithe?

There is nothing that tests a person’s true view of the invisible realm more than taking ten percent of your income and laying it on the altar before God. 

It is illogical to give it away, but it is an act of faith that declares, “I believe in the Living God, and I sow my faith into His promise.”

He doesn’t say you have to do it to go to heaven, to be loved by God, or in order to know the kindness of His mercies along the way of your life. 

But He says that if you would like to see a harvest of overflow, of spiritual blessing, and provision from heaven’s sources into your earthly setting, then He’s calling you to make this sowing into the realm of the Spirit. 

Then you make up your mind whether you’ll do it.

Tithing is not an Old or New Testament principle, it’s a life principle. 

When you come to the life principle and respond, something opens.

There’s more than you can imagine

The term “sluice gate” means a channel which regulates flow by a valve or a gate. 

Those resources are held in reserve until, by the action of the person who opens the sluice gates, they are disbursed. 

The term also refers to the enormity of the resources that are behind it. 

A “slue” or “slew” is something there is a whole lot of. The “sluice” is that great reserve that is behind the gate.

This picture of the sluice gates or the windows of heaven, is a reserve that is held and waiting to be disbursed, and the disbursement is measured out by the person who controls the gates.

This simple picture has profound implications. 

God is saying, There is more than you can imagine, and it’s held in reserve in heaven. 

God is not stingy. He’s not saying He’s only going to do this when you pay up. He doesn’t need the cash. 

What He’s saying is that He’s only going to be able to release these spiritual blessings when you encounter spiritual reality in the physical dimension – when you act in faith that costs you at a dimension of real, practical commitment. 

So the Word of God sets forth on the subject of tithing.

To open the windows of heaven, sow to the Spirit

There are two ways to sow to the Spirit. 

Let’s commit to this life principle in the season ahead in order for God to release flourishing growth and increase in our lives:

Feed on the Word of God. Cultivate the possibility of increase and fruitfulness in your life.

Let the Lord increase your faith in your giving. 

It’s not a matter of making your church rich, but that it opens up the possibility for ever expanding ministry.

Step forward into a season that increases the release of God’s purpose in you.

It’s a proportionate thing: as you give, the Lord says He will measure the disbursement from heaven. 

There is more backed up waiting to come your way than you realize, and He wants to open the windows of heaven so there can pour out a blessing you won’t be able to contain. 

How many people would welcome that kind of blessing? 

Put up the other hand and welcome it with the beginning of praise to the Lord:

Lord, I open up to Your Word, to Your way, I want to be receptive to the way that You do things, O God, to the ministry of Your Spirit. 

God, I believe Your promise, I believe Your Word, and I present myself as available to You.

Written by Jack Hayford

Jack Hayford served as Chancellor of The King’s University (formerly The King’s College and Seminary) in Southlake, Texas, which he founded in 1997. From 2004 to 2009, he also served as President of The International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He was probably best known, however, as “Pastor Jack,” founding pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California, where he served as senior pastor for more than three decades. A prolific and best-selling writer, Pastor Hayford was the author (or co-author) of more than fifty books and composed 500 hymns and choruses, including the internationally known and widely recorded “Majesty.”

jackhayford.org

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God over-answers prayer - Israel asked for mercy, forgiveness and acceptance. God opened the windows of heaven and poured on them blessings they dared not even hope for. God generously over-answered their prayer. God has done the same for you. When you repented, all you asked God for was a clean heart, forgiveness and peace. Look at how he has over-answered you. He gave you a hungering heart and a thirst for more of Jesus. He gave you eyes to see and ears to hear. He has protected you from Satan and flooded your soul with hope, joy and gladness. You asked only to be saved and cleansed, but God has poured out blessing upon blessing to you

God Over-Answers Prayer

“Lord, have mercy! 

"Cleanse us and receive us back into your grace.” - Hosea 14:2

One of the most common phrases we hear in church is “God answers prayer!” 

That is only half the truth. 

The whole truth is “God over-answers prayer!”

Hosea prophesied to Israel, “You are backslidden, but you are still God’s people” (see “Lord, have mercy! Cleanse us and receive us back into your grace.” ). 

“Take words with you, and return to the Lord. Say to him ‘Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously’” - (Hosea 14:2, NKJV).

Israel’s prayer was simple. All they asked of God was to take away their sin and receive them graciously. 

“Lord, have mercy! Cleanse us and receive us back into your grace.” 

God not only cleansed them and received them back graciously; he also added blessings beyond imagination.

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for my anger has turned away from him. I will be like the dew to Israel; he shall grow like the lily, and lengthen his roots like Lebanon. His branches shall spread; his beauty shall be like an olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon. 

"Those who dwell under his shadow shall return; they shall be revived like grain, and grow like the vine. Their scent shall be like the wine of Lebanon” (Hosea 14:4-7).

The dew of heaven is the presence of the Lord. 

Up to this point, there had been drought; everything was dying because God’s favor had been taken away. 

Now because of true repentance and a heartfelt prayer, God said he would cause life to spring up on all sides. 

Israel not only would be forgiven but revived as well.

They would become well-rooted and spread out, and they would thrive.

All they asked for was mercy, forgiveness and acceptance. 

Instead, God opened the windows of heaven and poured on them blessings they dared not even hope for. 

God generously over-answered their prayer!

God has done the same for you. 

When you repented, all you asked God for was a clean heart, forgiveness and peace. 

Look at how he has over-answered you. He gave you a hungering heart and a thirst for more of Jesus. 

He gave you eyes to see and ears to hear. 

He has protected you from Satan and flooded your soul with hope, joy and gladness. 

You asked only to be saved and cleansed, but God has poured out blessing upon blessing to you. 

He has over-answered you!

David Wilkerson 

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Look Up! The Windows of Heaven are Open - a window of opportunity speaks of a moment of possibility, within our grasp. But Heaven’s windows are not like earthly windows. They are not fragile or limited. They are not bound by time. A door may be closed in front of you, but your Father has a supply above you. Today, wherever you are, no matter what's taking place. Look up. There’s a miracle in Heaven’s window above you. Heaven’s open windows are more powerful than earth’s closed doors

Prophetic Word: Look Up! The Windows of Heaven are Open

This word is for those who are faced with closed doors — it may be one closed door in particular. [1]

And with it, there has been a sense of being held up, or held back.

If you can relate to this, hear God saying, “Look up! For the windows of Heaven are open above you.”

Be assured of this:

Heaven’s open windows are more powerful than earth’s closed doors.

God is the Source of Your Supply

A door may be closed in front of you, but your Father has a supply above you!

In the Bible, the “windows of heaven” being opened, was first used of the downpour of rain. (Genesis 7:11, 8:2) [2]

So, receive this as a word for you, your family, work and ministry today:

“The Lord will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand.” - (Deuteronomy 28:12, NKJV) [3]

Prophesy at Your Closed Door

This is your time to rise up and say, “There may be a closed door before me, but there’s an open Heaven above me!

A powerful story about Heaven’s open windows took place in the era of the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 7).

The city of Samaria was shut tight against the onslaught of the enemy.

And while closed doors offered protection from their foe, it also meant that the residents couldn’t trade or access food

It is echoed in today’s COVID lockdowns — designed to keep out the enemy, yet damaging the economy.

One day, when the famine was desperate, Elisha brought a prophetic word: “Tomorrow, food will be cheap and plentiful!”

Don’t Listen to “Official” Unbelief

When Elisha prophesied that food was on the way, the king’s official expressed disbelief.

“Even if God were to open the windows of Heaven, how could this be?”

Perhaps you have had “officials” in your life, now or in the past — those who say, “that could never be!”

They may have even been people in authority.

But your Father says, “Look up!” For I am indeed opening the windows of Heaven!

And Heavens windows are more powerful than earth’s closed doors!

They had Nothing to Lose

That day, God chose an unlikely team to discover — and deliver — the good news.

A group of lepers who lived outside Samaria’s gates, decided to risk approaching the enemy’s camp.

Starving, they felt they had nothing to lose.

But when they arrived at the Syrian encampment, the army had already fled, leaving a feast behind them.

It seemed, God opened the windows of Heaven and released His host of angels!

For the sound of chariots and horses had cause the enemy to flee

And so, it became just as the prophet Elisha had said.

Poverty turned into plenty.

Famine became feasting!

And their enemy had melted away.

The doors and gates of the city were open again.

Shut Out but Chosen

This is the grace of God!

He can use a prophetic word, and a group of lepers — unintentional heroes — trembling with fear.

And what was true then, is true today!

You may have been shut out by the opinions of others.

You may have felt weak or disempowered by a closed door.

But in Christ you are powerful! You are chosen, and you will lead the way.

The Enemy is Being Toppled

There are times when the enemy is seeking to occupy the windows.

We look up, but it is difficult to see God.

A spirit of intimidation has been coming against us.

Queen Jezebel occupied the upstairs windows of her palace (2 Kings 9).

She viewed the fast-approaching Jehu in his chariot, thinking she would conquer him, as she had all the rest.

But her time to rule had come to an end, for Jehu had come in response to a prophetic word from Elijah

In fact, Jehu did not even need to lay a hand on Jezebel.

He just heeded God’s word and gave a word.

Jehu shouted out to allies inside, who threw that evil queen out of the window and to her death. (2 Kings 9:30-33)

Has there been an enemy that has sought to intimidate and control you from a high place — perhaps in your thinking? (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

It is a masquerader.

Today, know that you have power to overcome your enemy.

Every threat is being cast down at your word, declared in Jesus’ Name!

A Window of Opportunity

A “window of opportunity” speaks of a short space of time; it is a moment of possibility, within our grasp.

But Heaven’s windows are not like earthly windows. They are not fragile or limited.

They are not bound by time.

In early March, I saw a window of opportunity to visit my family in New Zealand.

And I literally flew through that window, just as it was closing.

The timing was such that I arrived in Auckland just hours before a 14-day quarantine order began!

I know it was a move of the Holy Spirit that held open that window of opportunity, enabled me to postpone a ministry engagement, and caused a miracle to take place.

After a few days I was able to return home — this time, through Australia’s closed border.

There’s a Miracle in Your Window

Today, wherever you are.

No matter what is taking place.

Look up! For there’s a miracle in Heaven’s window above you.

And no matter what door is closed — even though it has caused frustration or distress — be encouraged by this word for you today:

“Heaven’s open windows are more powerful than earth’s closed doors!”

Notes

[1] “In the New Testament, an ‘open door’ is a metaphor for an opportunity and access — whereas a ‘closed door’ means that access to something is currently being denied or blocked. The Apostle Paul often used the imagery of closed and open doors, with regard to his ministry and opportunities to preach the Gospel.” 

[2] The word “windows” has also been translated “floodgates”. (Strong’s H699)

[3] A memorable Scripture is from Malachi — in reference to tithing:

“And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” (Malachi 3:10 NKJV)

The Hebrew word translated blessing, means “blessing, gift, prosperity” (Strong’s H 1293).

Study today’s stories in 2 Kings 7 and 2 Kings 9

By Helen Calder

Helen Calder is a prophetic minister and writer, and founder of Enliven Ministries. Helen has a unique gift of equipping in prophetic ministry and prayer. She is known for Enliven Blog (est. 2009), an online resource that reaches thousands of people globally.

enlivenpublishing.com

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What does it mean that God is able to make all grace abound (2 Corinthians 9:8)?

In 2 Corinthians 8:1—9:15, the apostle Paul speaks about God’s grace in the context of generous giving.

Earlier, the believers in Corinth had promised to help the famine-depleted church in Jerusalem (see Acts 11:27–30; 1 Corinthians 16:1–4; cf. 2 Corinthians 9:5) but still had not sent their offering. 

Paul now challenges them to give generously and cheerfully (2 Corinthians 9:6–7). 

He knows that, when Christians give with big hearts and open hands, God blesses them abundantly: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” - (2 Corinthians 9:8, ESV).

Paul draws from an agricultural proverb to illustrate his point: “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” - (2 Corinthians 9:6; cf. Proverbs 11:24). 

“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed,” affirms Solomon (Proverbs 11:25).

In the style of the Beatitudes, Proverbs 22:9 agrees: “Blessed are those who are generous, because they feed the poor” (NLT).

When Paul received financial help from the believers in Philippi, he wrote a similar encouragement: “I want you to receive a reward for your kindness. At the moment I have all I need — and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus” - (Philippians 4:17–19, NLT).

Sometimes we struggle with giving — even more with giving generously and cheerfully — when we have pressing needs of our own. 

We think we must hold on to what we have instead of giving it away. 

But Jesus Himself taught, “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you” -  (Luke 6:38).

The God of the harvest provides a bounty for the farmer and his family to live on, plus a supply of seed for the next season and even some extra to feed the needy. 

In the same way, Jehovah Jireh, God our provider, blesses us with enough to meet our needs and plenty left over to share with others.

This concept that God is able to make all grace abound to us is not unique to the New Testament and Proverbs. 

In the time of the prophet Malachi, the people had turned away from the Lord, robbing Him of the tithes and offerings He was due (Malachi 3:8–9). 

Through Malachi, God challenged His people to test Him: “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do,’ says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, ‘I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!’” - (Malachi 3:10, NLT).

Every Christian is a recipient of God’s abundant, amazing grace made known through Jesus Christ in His wonderful gift of forgiveness and redemption by His blood (Romans 5:15). 

His generosity in showing grace to sinners is our example. 

God’s grace poured out on us should be replicated in our graciousness toward others. 

And since God’s grace abounds in infinite, unmeasured supply, we who receive it are to show it to others without measure or stinginess.

God desires His people in every generation to be generous-hearted givers. 

He wants His children to trust “that God is able to make all grace abound.” 

And He bountifully provides all we need.

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Arise Shine - Chris Christensen - Arise, Shine for Your light has come Your light has come And the glory of the Lord has come upon you arise, shine arise, shine Arise, shine for Your light has come

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3HRu_mfsNE

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-7H_gDYk18

Arise Shine for Thy Light is Come – Steve Kuban

lyrics

Arise, Shine for Your light has come
Your light has come
And the glory of the Lord has come upon you
arise, shine
arise, shine

Arise, shine
for Your light has come

we have a reason to celebrate
we have a reason to sing
the windows of heaven are open
blessings are flowing
overflowing
the light of His glory
has filled our hearts

Chris Christensen

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