Heaven is Open

Many believers are afraid of God because they perceive Him as being austere, waiting for someone to step out of line so that He can bring punishment through various means such as sickness, disease or all manner of struggles. However, the Bible reveals God in an entirely different light, "The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering and abounding in goodness and truth." (Exodus 34:6) We sometimes forget that the most potent characteristic of God is love. This is revealed in numerous scriptures, for instance, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) and "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8)

Another characteristic of God is one of a judge, but not in a negative sense, but as a righteous judge (John 7:24, 8:16) Job reveals another interesting concept concerning God's Character, "As for the Almighty, we cannot find Him; He is excellent in power, in judgment and abundant justice; He does not oppress." (Job 37:23) Notice that God is excellent in Judgment. Isaiah reveals a very important key when it comes to addressing God with the problems that the believer may face, "Put Me in remembrance; let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted." (Isaiah 43:26)

This is reflective of one trying a case in a court of law. Here God is asking His people to present their case before Him (the Judge) to see if they can be acquitted. To put Him in remembrance is to remind Him of His promises, not that He has forgotten them, but because His Word is truth (John 17:17) and it is the only thing that is worthy to bring before Him that gets a response, "I will worship toward Your holy temple, and praise Your name for Your lovingkindness and Your truth; For You have magnified Your word above all Your name." (Psalm 138:2) "Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven." (Psalm 119:89)

This very principle is what believers must do to have God move on their behalf. When we have any problem that arises we find scripture that addresses the problem and through faith, present our case before the Lord. For instance, if you have a health issue and are in need of healing you can say to the Father something like this, "Father according to your Word, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (Romans 8:11) or "who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness, by whose stripes you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

This puts the Father in the place where He has obligated Himself to answer our request, "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:23-24) However, we must remember to ask in faith, believing that we have received the answer even though there may not be any tangible evidence. (Mark 11:23-24). James states it this way, "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways." (James 1:6-8) We must remember when approaching the Father, "Without faith it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6)

John records, "Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him." (1 John 5:14-15) So, if you are dealing with a problem, circumstance or situation whether large or small and need the Father's divine intervention, state your case before Him in Jesus' name and believe that you have received the petition that you have asked of Him.