“That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.” (Deuteronomy 11:21, KJV)
I pray for you this day that you will begin to experience heaven on earth. May the remaining days of this year be glorious for you and yours, in Jesus’ mighty Name. September was “A Great Harvest of Blessing”” where we plunged into God’s inexhaustible storehouse and received fullness of joy. In October, God permitted us to overtake our competitors by giving us the “Pharez Anointing to Overtake.” In November, we entered into the time and season when “God has Remembered us.” Consequently, December is the crescendo of God’s purpose and intentions for our lives this year, wherein we experience “Heaven on Earth” for the remaining days of 2019 and beyond.
The Biblical Perspective for Heaven on Earth:
In the key text found in Deuteronomy 11:21 quoted above, the LORD looked at the children of Israel and desired to give them a taste of heaven on earth. The same is true of His intent towards us, His children, even today. God wanted to give us a taste of heaven on earth. While everyone has an idea and a viewpoint, I believe God has spoken without stuttering. There are two answers to every question: God’s answer and everyone else’s; and everyone else is wrong! So, I will encourage you to bow to God’s answer on this issue of heaven on earth – believe it, live it and enjoy the blessing!
- You can experience heaven on earth in your personal life: 2 Corinthians 5:17
- You can experience heaven on earth in your family life:1 Corinthians 12:12-27
- You can experience heaven on earth in your church life: Matthew 16:16-19
- You can experience heaven on earth in your community life. God’s moral law enshrined in the Ten Commandments (not 10 suggestions) is eternal and unchanging (Exodus 20:1-20).
Talking about experiencing the days of heaven on earth, this is what God has promised, and this promise will be ours, in Jesus’ Name: the characteristics of heaven on earth, conditions of our heart for enjoyment on earth, and commitment to man’s whole duty on earth. We want to look ts these three things for you to enjoy heaven on earth:
- The Characteristics of Heaven on Earth: What does it look like, how do I recognize it? Deuteronomy 11:21 talks of a life of happiness and peacefulness for you and your children. All the good things God has promised, you and your children will be partakers, in Jesus’ Name.
- Deuteronomy 11:11 says, “But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven.” In other words, there shall be showers of blessing upon your life, your family and the work of your hands (Ezekiel 34:26-28). Deuteronomy 11:12 says, “A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” The caring, protecting and preserving eyes of the LORD watching over and protecting you to ensure no evil befalls you and yours – heavenly days on earth.
- The Condition of Our Hearts: Existing in a place of no pain, no curse, no sickness, no poverty, no lack, no loss, no limitation, etc., is contingent upon the condition of our hearts. Deuteronomy 11:13 says, “And it shall come to pass, if ye shall hearken diligently unto my commandments which I command you this day, to love the LORD your God, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,”
- The condition is: “hearken diligently” (KJV); earnestly obey (NKJV); faithfully obey (NIV) or listen obediently (MSG). Many come before God and are pregnant with ideas, rage, arguments, views etc., already preoccupied with what they’ll do in church. God says hearken diligently and intently like your whole life depends on what you’re hearing. Verse 14 further says, “That I will give you the rain of your land in his due season, the first rain and the latter rain, that thou mayest gather in thy corn, and thy wine, and thine oil.” So, God says He’ll give you these things how? By you paying attention!
- In that obedience, there will be freedom, possession, abundance and overflow for your life, in Jesus’ Name. Deuteronomy 11:24-25 says, “Every place where on the soles of your feet shall tread shall be yours: from the wilderness and Lebanon, from the river, the river Euphrates, even unto the uttermost sea shall your coast be. There shall no man be able to stand before you: for the LORD your God shall lay the fear of you and the dread of you upon all the land that ye shall tread upon, as He hath said unto you.”
- The conditions are spelled out. If you will hearken and fulfill the conditions, listen to the Word of the LORD, your heart desires shall be fulfilled, in Jesus’ Name.
- Commitment to Man’s Whole Duty: What’s the whole duty of man for him to enjoy heavenly days on earth?
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 says, “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” The conclusion of the whole matter. You’ve read Genesis, Deuteronomy, Matthew, Colossians and Revelations, let’s hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Many people come to church and yet do not know the conclusion. Many attend prayer meetings, fast and pray, and never come to a conclusion. Yet God Is telling us why He created us, and while we’re still alive, our only resolve needs to be the conclusion He’s provided. This is what God is calling you to: “fear God, keep His commandments and this is the whole duty of man.” That’s why we are here, why we travel, why we write inspirational words every month, why we preach holiness and righteousness. Why does this even matter? Verse 14 says, “For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”
- What God requires of you and me, as the conclusion of the whole matter, is found in Mark 12:29-31 – ”And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The LORD our God is one LORD: And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Love God supremely with your body, soul and spirit, and love man sincerely. You don’t want to be hurt, don’t hurt any man. You want the best for yourself, desire the same for others. That’s the conclusion of the whole matter.
- Luke 10:30-31 depicts well the lives most of us live. In church, we sing, pray, bind and loose, receive and give our offerings and leave. Once outside the church walls, we meet spiritually dead people and simply pass them by, like the priest with the armed robbery victim in Luke 10. In verse 32, the Levite too essentially says, “I’ve done my duty in the temple, or synagogue, or tent” and passes on by. What God is saying is that the condition of this heavenly life is pretty simple. No matter how many people you’ve ministered to in church, there are more people outside the church walls than within it. So, no matter how large your congregation is, there are many more out there in need of the bread of life and the water of life. Do not do like this Levite or like this priest in Luke 10.
- Verse 33 commands our compassion upon those we see in the office, the grocery store, the gym, the sports arena etc. You must have compassion on them and take care of them (verse 34).
- Jesus inquired in Luke 10:36 “Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves?” Verse 37 says, “And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.” The instruction for you, my friend, is to GO AND DO THOU LIKEWISE. Go and do likewise today and make this your lifestyle. If you know these things, happy are you if you do them.
Conclusion: You know now the conclusion of the whole matter, the whole duty of man, and that you must go and do likewise. Talk to the LORD in prayer saying, “You have eternal life, LORD, and I will tell other people.” Do this and the blessing and the blessedness shall be yours, in Jesus’ Name. Heaven is going to be a joyous place because it is a reflection of GOD. So, let your joy and celebration begin here and now. There should be celebration till eternity. In heaven, there shall be singing. We will be singing a new song; let your singing and celebrating of the King of Kings and LORD of Lords begin now. Earth is a rehearsal of what will happen in the life beyond; let’s start enjoying heaven on earth, lest we be strangers when we get up yonder.
“My Hope is Built on Nothing Less”
by Edward Mote,
1797-1874
| 1. My hope is
built on nothing less Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly lean on Jesus’ name. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. | 3. His oath,
His covenant, and blood Support me in the whelming flood; When every earthly prop gives way, He then is all my Hope and Stay. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. |
| 2. When
darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale My anchor holds within the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. | 4. When He shall come with
trumpet sound, Oh, may I then in Him be found, Clothed in His righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne! On Christ, the solid Rock, I stand; All other ground is sinking sand. |
Prayers:
- Worship the Creator of the heaven and the earth. Bless Jehovah El-Shaddai, the LORD of Lords, the King of Kings, the Monarch of the Universe. Daniel 4:3 says, “How great are His signs! and how mighty are His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.”
- Psalms 8:4-5 says, “What is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man, that Thou visitest him? For Thou has made him a little lower than the angels and crowned him with glory and honor.” We’re supposed to be covered with glory and honor; shame and dishonor were never part of God’s plan for man. I want you to pray that every manifestation of shame and dishonor in your life shall come to an end today, in Jesus’ Name.
- I command the spirit of ‘Esek’ (contention) and the spirit of ‘Sitnah’ (opposition) assigned against my inheritance to die by fire, in Jesus’ Name. (Genesis 26:20-22)
- Deuteronomy 32:13 says, “He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields; and he made him to suck honey out of the rock, and oil out of the flinty rock.” Father, let me ride on the high places of the earth, enjoying the best of life; what is hard for others shall be easy for me. Honey does not normally emanate from the rock – God will do the impossible for you!
- Father create in me a thirst and hunger for the return of the LORD Jesus, a deep longing for a fresh revelation of the soon-coming King. Help me to place an intimate relationship with you above making requests of You, in Jesus’ Name!
- Deliver me, O LORD, from a cold, calculated obedience. I know a servant can serve without love. Father, make me a lover of God and the things of God. I give myself away so I can love You more.
- I’m exempted from plague. I’m not a candidate for evil. I’m not a victim of evil association. In Genesis 11:31, Terah started the journey to Canaan (heaven on earth), however, the journey terminated in Haran. My journey to greatness will not be terminated at a bus stop of life, in Jesus’ Name.
- Thank you, LORD, for prayers answered – MARANATHA!
