Open Heaven

In Acts chapter 7 Stephen has given his major speech in the face of opposition. He is resolutely following Jesus, but his opposers cannot accept any reference to Jesus as Lord - their hearts are hard towards God and His purposes. The exchange gets towards its climax when Stephen has a real-time in-the-moment vision of the glory of God and Jesus standing at God's right hand.

He relays what he sees to the crowd:

"I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."

This was too much for the antagonisers and precipitates Stephen's mob execution, but the vision still stands, because it sits in the purposes of God. It echoes Jacob's dream (see Genesis 28:12) of an open heaven with a 'ladder' or 'staircase' on which angels could freely descend and ascend. Stephen could see that Jesus had opened the way for that 'open heaven' and flowing connection between heaven & earth through which blessings to all peoples could flow.

As we live and work on an emerging new housing estate, we now strategically and persistently pray for that same sense of 'open heaven' to over all the estate. May each new dwelling, cul de sac and road be within a zone that has a flowing connection between heaven & earth, that people might be open to and receive His blessings.