Behold I See Heaven Open

Acts 7:54-58a

A table for us in the presence of our enemies

Psalm 23

When they heard this, they were furious and gnashed their teeth at him. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him.

Acts 7:54-58

At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective. But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, hardly noticed—he only had eyes for God, whom he saw in all his glory with Jesus standing at his side. He said, “Oh! I see heaven wide open and the Son of Man standing at God’s side!” Yelling and hissing, the mob drowned him out. Now in full stampede, they dragged him out of town and pelted him with rocks.

The Message

1. We won’t see heaven open if we only have eyes for earth.

The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.

Matthew 6:22

The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

Psalm 110:1

1. We won’t see heaven open if we only have eyes for earth.

2. The authority of heaven trumps the authority of earth.

1. We won’t see heaven open if we only have eyes for earth.

2. The authority of heaven trumps the authority of earth.

3. We want CATG to be a place on earth where people come under and enjoy an open heaven.

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. There above it stood the Lord...

Genesis 28

When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.” He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.

Genesis 28

But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.

John 12:32

4. Note the sacrifice required, this open heaven came at high price to Jesus, high price to Stephen and it’ll be costly for us to see it established here.