What do we mean when we ask God to “open the heavens” or for an “open heaven”? It seems that when we as God to open the heavens, we are asking Him to rain down His Spirit, miracles, and blessings. We want God to heal us, set us free, and provide for us. Not that any of those are bad things, but are we thinking before we ask? Essentially, we are asking for God to be willing to move. Asking God to open the heavens implies that Heaven is closed.
First, we should define “Heaven”. Heaven is that spiritual realm where God moves and where we can interact with God. Basically, Heaven is God’s presence and heart being made manifest. Jesus teaches us to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10) So, God’s heart is for heaven-on-earth, but how does that apply to us?
When Jesus was baptized, the Bible says that “At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him.” ([Matthew 3:17], Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21) From there on out, Jesus began to do those things we associate with an open heaven. The Bible never talks about it being closed back up again. So, if we have been united with Christ (Ephesians 2:6, Philippians 2:1), then we can walk in His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21) and under that same open heaven that He did.
The last key part of that verse is that the Spirit of God came upon Him. It is by the Spirit that Heaven touches earth. Holy Spirit was on Jesus; now, He has been given to us. (Acts 2: 1-4, John 14:15-17) If we have Holy Spirit, then we have Heaven on earth in us. If it is God’s will for Heaven to be made manifest on earth, then anything that is not in Heaven does not belong on earth. God has given us His Spirit and is fully willing to back up His Word and His heart. His Spirit is in us, the heavens are open, and we are free to live His heart.
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit,” Romans 14:17