Getting Under an Open Heaven

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here.

The Third Heaven
2 Corinthians 12:2-4
2I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4was caught up to paradise.

The Second Heaven
Daniel 10:12,13
12 Then he continued, "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.

A Peek into the Second Heaven
2 Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, "O LORD, open his eyes so he may see." Then the LORD opened the servant's eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

It’s generally accepted, considering first century Jewish thought, that the second heaven was a place of chaos. Some believe this is the realm between the dwelling place of God and the dwelling place of man. It’s possibly the place where the Prince of the Persian kingdoms resisted the heavenly messenger.

The First Heaven
It’s also generally accepted that the first heaven is the visible world or cosmos. Revelation 21:1 talks about the first Heaven and the first Earth passing away.

A Literal Portal into the Third heaven

Malachi 3:10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.


Jacob’s Dream
Genesis 28:10-15
10 Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Harran. 11 When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. 12 He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.  13 There above it stood the LORD, and he said: “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. 14 Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. 15 I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

Mark 1:10
Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.

John 1:51
He then added, “Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man.” (see also Gen 28:12)

Acts 7:56
“Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”


Mark 7:33-35
33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). 35 At this, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue was loosened and he began to speak plainly.

Our Lives as a Portal into the Third Heaven

Matthew 6:9,10
9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

54 of 65 references to the “Kingdom of God” refer to a present or relative to our time, past kingdom. 11 times when the term Kingdom of God is used in the New Testament it’s referring to a future or coming kingdom.

Luke 11:20
But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Luke 17:21
`21 nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”[a]
Footnotes: Luke 17:21 Or is within you

2 Corinthians 4:6,7
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.  7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Matthew 5:13-16
13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.    14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.


2 Corinthians 3:3,18
You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Timothy 2:20,21
20Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor. 21Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.

Conclusion:

I’m believing for an open heaven over my life and over the members of our church. We will be able, by faith to declare third heaven realities and “bring them down” into the 1st heaven or realm of the Earth. Whether it happens in the Spiritual realm and or in the lives of individuals I’m believing for it. Let’s pray.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all four videos.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.

If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


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God's Dream

By Tony V. Hammack

These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.  



God’s Redemptive Plan
From the very fall of mankind, God has been preparing a way to redeem him. From Genesis to Revelation we see the jealous, loving heart of God unfolding his redemptive plan. God desires to have a people that are His people and He is their God.

The Abrahamic Covenant
Genesis 17:8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”

God’s Heart is Redemptive
God does not rejoice in the destruction of the wicked.
God’s Heart is Redemptive
While Judah is in Babylonian Captivity

Jeremiah 24:7
7 I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Several reasons for the captivity but one was that the Israelis didn’t observe the sabbatical year for 490 years.
2 Chronicles 36:21 The land enjoyed its sabbath rests; all the time of its desolation it rested, until the seventy years were completed in fulfillment of the word of the LORD spoken by Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people. (Jer. 32:38)

They will be my people in Ezekiel
Ezekiel 11:20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 14:11 Then the people of Israel will no longer stray from me, nor will they defile themselves anymore with all their sins. They will be my people, and I will be their God, declares the Sovereign LORD.’”

Ezekiel 37:23 They will no longer defile themselves with their idols and vile images or with any of their offenses, for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Ezekiel 37:27 My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.

Zechariah 8:8 I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem; they will be my people, and I will be faithful and righteous to them as their God.”

A glimpse into the Redemptive Plan
Genesis 3:15 (The protovangelim – the first prophetic utterance in the Bible)
15 And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”


Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Matthew 1:23
“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).

God throughout the Biblical record has desired to have a relationship with people!

God’s plan is to redeem whosoever will receive God’s son by faith (adhering to, clinging to, and trusting in) Jesus Christ for eternal life.

A sacrifice for sin had to be made. God desiring to buy back fallen man from the enemy unfolds his plan of redemption throughout the ages.

God made a covenant with himself in Christ, fulfilling the law and making a way for the Jew and Gentile alike to become reconciled to God. The righteous requirements of the law are met by Jesus. We are required to believe God which becomes credit for righteousness.

Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

What part of the redemption story can you take out and it still has it’s power to redeem?
Can you take out the virgin birth?
Can you take out the teachings of Jesus?
Can you take out the scourging?
Can you take out the death on the cross?
Can you take out the resurrection?

Would you rather live without your brain, your heart or your liver?

Jesus Christ said that there is only one way to the Father, he called this a narrow way. He said that he was the sheep gate.

Luke the Apostle said it this way in Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”

Is it God’s will to be in a relationship with you?
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Yes.

Is now the right time?
2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.
Yes

Are you the right type of person?
God is interested in saving sinners. The Bible teaches that all have sinned and have fallen short of God’s glory.
Yes

If you were to stand before a Holy God and he were to ask you, “Why should I let you into heaven what would you tell him?” Do you know, that you know, that you know, that you are in right standing with God?

2 Timothy 1:12
That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.

The Gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. We inherit Eternal life and a relationship with God by confessing with our mouths Jesus is Lord and by believing that Jesus was raised from the dead.

Revelation 21:3,7
v. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
v. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.
Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:15 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


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The "W" in Christmas

By Tony V. Hammack (copied from an e-mail)

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six-year-old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."

I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage -- held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down -- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear:

"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"

And, I believe, He still is.

Amazed in His presence...

Humbled by His love.

May each of you have a Merry Christmas as you reflect on His Amazing Love

for us...

Have a blessed day! Happy Birthday Jesus !!!!!!!!

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here and watch all 4 videos.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V. If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


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Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

by Malcom

Dear Friends,

I wanted to share this video of my son Malcom singing his own version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. I hope it blesses you!

Pastor Tony




Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

870.793.9124

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You were Redeemed to Overcome

Your Destiny is to Kill Giants and take Ground for God’s Kingdom

By Tony V. Hammack



These notes are best when used in conjunction with the audio or video. To listen to the audio (podcast), click here. To watch the video, click here.

Philippians 4:10-13
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.


Philippians 4:13 (Amplified)
13I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].

This passage is about being infused with power from Christ to overcome any and every circumstance that the flesh, the world system or the enemy may throw at you. Specifically a lack of resources to fulfill your calling.

Don’t have a wait until things are a certain way attitude.  God is saying, “What’s that in your hand?” what can you do now with what you’ve got. Will you give it to me so I can use it.
God’s more concerned about your availability than your ability. He’s got enough ability for both of you.
We’re called to be faithful where we are.

Overcoming Inadequacy
What do you have now?
Often the Lord will use whatever we have to accomplish his purposes. God will ask you for what you have and then anoint it or make it effective and very useful for his purposes.

Consider Moses
Exodus 4:1-5,17
1 Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?" 2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?" "A staff," he replied. 3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground." Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."  17 But take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it."

You just be Natural let God be Super

Moses feelings of inadequacy drive him to say, what if they say, “The Lord did not appear to you”. Here God chooses to use something that’s already present in the life of the man of God, his staff, to perform miraculous signs.

God can and wants to use something that’s already present in your life to demonstrate Himself to this generation.

The Widows Oil
2 Kings 4:1-7
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, "Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves."  2 Elisha replied to her, "How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?" "Your servant has nothing there at all," she said, "except a little oil." 3 Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side." 5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."       But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

What do you have in your house?

1. Sometimes a bad attitude will disqualify us from a blessing. She corrects herself and says, just a little oil after saying she had nothing at all.
2. The only limitation is the number of jars that they got. Elisha told her to get more than just a few implying he knew what was going to happen and what was going to cause the flow to stop.
3. Elisha had her shut the door for privacy.
4. When the oil is flowing the statement, bring me another one, is a good statement. In the midst of a move of God the widow has more faith.
5. When the widow ran out of jars the oil stopped flowing.
6. I bet she wished she’d had more jars!
7. There was more than enough to pay the debt.

Matthew 9:29b
"According to your faith will it be done to you";

The 5 Loaves and 2 Fish
Mark 6:35-44
35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. 36Send the people away so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" 38"How many loaves do you have?" he asked. "Go and see."       When they found out, they said, "Five—and two fish." 39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.

You give them something to eat. Again God puts the demand on the person to act.
The disciples see the solution to the problem in a normal and natural way.
When they give all they have to the Lord He brings the increase.

God is the Source of Life
James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.


1 Corinthians 4:7
For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?

We must be faithful with what we have.
Matthew 25:21a
"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.

He sometimes chooses to use us in an area that's not necessarily our strength so He gets the Glory.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

Giant Killer Attitude
1 Samuel 17

1. David obeys his Earthly father
2. David gets the compensation package clear
1. Great Wealth (1 Samuel 17:25)
2. Marry the King’s daughter
3. Exempt family from taxes
3. David stands on the covenant he has with God
4. He gets the compensation package clear again v. 27
5. David has to overcome family objections
6. He gets the compensation package spelled out to him again in v.30
7. David resolves to go fight. Saul objects saying, you are only a boy or in other terms you are inadequate. V. 32 and v. 33
8. David is going to use “what’s in his hand”. A sling and a staff that he’s used to kill lions and bears. v. 34-37
9. David declares out of his mouth what is going to happen and why in v.’s 45-47
10. David runs to the battle. v. 48

How do we kill giants and take ground for God’s kingdom?
We have to allow God to take “our Kingdom”. The kingdom of our heart. He wants all our heart.
Mark 12:30
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’

When Jesus is taking Lordship of our hearts and lives we then move ourselves into a position to reach and help others.  Helping others become children of God through evangelism and discipleship.

If you'd like to learn more about becoming a Christian please click here.

Visit with us at Jubilee Family Church this Sunday at 10:00 AM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or Wednesday evening at 6:30 PM Central Standard Time U.S.A. or via internet video on Jubilee T.V.
 
If you live in Batesville please tune into KCCJ - 106.9 FM to listen to contemporary worship music.

Jubilee Family Church
45 Thunderbird Dr.
Batesville, AR 72501

(870) 793-9124


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