1/15/11
Greetings,
Last week we left off by saying that spiritual maturity, faith, spiritual authority, and other qualities that can be developed within us will increase the power released through gathering in unity. We’ll begin this conversation by establish a working understanding of the heavens.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1)
Most people are familiar with this passage both Christian and non-Christian. Anyone that has ever picked up a Bible to glance through it has probably seen this verse. It is vitally important because it establishes how the universe came into existence. It was not an explosion—it was God. The next level is easily overlooked. It actually explains how God created what we see and don’t see. There is a word in this phrase that is plural, and the importance of its plurality cannot be overstated.
The words “heavens” is plural in the creation account. Many assume this means the stars, planets, and distant galaxies of the cosmos. This is not entirely true. Notice the following passage:
“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.” (2 Corinthians 12:2)
From this passage we know that there are at least three levels of heaven. The third heaven is where God dwells. Therefore, if there is a third heaven, there must be a second heaven and also a first. Is the third heaven some distant place REALLY far out in space? No. Space is subject to time just like earth. We know this because the universe is expanding at a rate that can be calculated and measured. In order for God to reside outside of time (which He does) He must reside in a place outside of our universe. So where is the third heaven? It is in another dimension. This is why I call it the God dimension. This is where the third heaven is located because the third heaven contains God’s kingdom. According to Ephesians 3:10 and 6:12, the second heaven becomes the lower parts of the spirit realm where fallen spirits reside.
“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,” (Ephesians 3:10)
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12)
What are principalities and powers? Ephesians 6:12 tells us that they are the spiritual forces of darkness that we are at war with. Ephesians 3:10 tells us the church is to make the manifold wisdom of God known to these fallen spirit beings. Notice, these principalities and powers reside in the “heavenly places.” Does this mean that we are supposed to build a spaceship and hold wrestling tournaments on Saturn with spiritual hosts? It is less than likely that this is what the Bible is referring to when it describes us as wrestling with fallen spirit beings in heavenly places. Instead, it is referring to our assignment in the spirit realms. I make the word realms plural because there is more than one in the second heavens. The first heaven is the natural realm that we interact with. This comes from Genesis 1:6-8 when God creates the firmament (or sky) and calls it heaven.
With this explained we can properly understand this portion of the Lord’s Prayer:
“And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.” (Luke 11:2)
How does God’s kingdom come? Not in a spaceship! It manifests as a result of dimensional overlap. When we are instructed to pray for the kingdom of God to come, we are in essence asking God to conform the earth to the reality of His kingdom, which is His realm—the God dimension. Now let us focus on a unique story involving Jesus that illustrates this called the transfiguration. In this account, Jesus caused a literal intersection and overlapping of the kingdom of heaven (or the God dimension) and the earth, and allowed His disciples to participate. Before the transfiguration, Jesus told His disciples that some would not die until they saw the kingdom of heaven (Luke 9:27). Eight days later, Peter, James, and John went with Jesus to His prayer time. As He began to pray, His appearance changed and the glory put them to sleep (Luke 9:32). When they awoke, they saw Moses and Elijah standing with Jesus (Luke 9:30). Why? Jesus in His maturity, faith, and spiritual authority caused a literal portal to open to the God dimension, and when Peter, James, and John looked on, they were looking into the kingdom of God. When they entered the cloud they heard the voice of the Father (Luke 9:34-35).
In the account, when Peter, James, and John woke up they saw into heaven. No spaceship, no time travel, no telescope. The kingdom of heaven was there right in front of them. It was not separated by distance, but by dimension and Jesus caused it to overlap our dimension where they were standing. The disciples saw Moses and Elijah, and they heard the voice of the Father. Notice in this case that the maturity and authority of Jesus brought his disciples into this dimension apart from their influence. This illustrates that while unity reveals the presence of God, so can the maturity of a single believer. By participating with Jesus, the disciples had a deeper experience with God the Father. The spiritual maturity and authority of all leaders in the body of Christ should intensify the experience with God that others have when they are present.
This opens up for us potential beyond what we have ever thought or imagined. For instance, let me pose another question: Why was Jesus able to do this? The answer is because He had the Holy Spirit—just like us. The Holy Spirit caused Him to be present in both heaven and earth at the same time. How do we know this? Jesus modeled the potential life of any believer and operated according to the realities He purchased for us with His death and resurrection. Look at the following passage:
“And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:” (Ephesians 2:6)
Once we believe in Jesus Christ and receive Him as our Lord and Savior we receive the Spirit of Promise—the Holy Spirit. At that very moment we are seated in heavenly places with Jesus. God resides in the third heaven, and since Jesus is God, that is where we are also. In other words, once we become believers we are simultaneously in heaven and on earth. How? The heavenly dimension is higher than the earth, and our spirit participates in both because they overlap where we are. That means that once you receive Jesus: YOU TAKE HEAVEN WITH YOU EVERYWHERE YOU GO. The question is: are you actively working to release it as Jesus instructed us?
Releasing heaven works: but is most fully realized through the power of unity. For instance, the word translated “ye” in the following passage is plural. Believers must operate in unity in order to truly release the potential of this promise:
“Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18)
Discussion
1) What did God create in the beginning?
2) What can we expect to find in the third heaven? The second heaven? The first heaven?
3) Why was Jesus able to cause a dimensional overlap during the transfiguration account?
4) If the heavens are actually dimensions of the spirit realm, what does this mean for our interaction with the second heaven?
5) What are three practical ways this information can be applied in your life beginning now?
