God’s love for us is great.  If He promised it he will do it!
Today we learn about Covenant Relationships with a Special focus on THE MARRIAGE COVENANT. It is THE INSTITUTION GOD HAS ESTABLISHED FOR THE FAMILY AND FOR SOCIETY AT LARGE.

​Our God is a God that establishes and keeps covenant.

“Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;”  Deuteronomy 7:9 (KJV)
 
A covenant is a contract, promises made to fulfill obligations by both parties.   What’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.  There is an exchange and giving of ourselves one to another.

What he promises, He will fulfill.  “He is not a man that He should lie”
Numbers 23;19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?
Psalm 103:17, Psalm 105:42
He made a covenant with Noah to build an ark. Noah and his family and the animals were protected on the ark.
With Abraham,  blessed with faithful Abraham through faith. 
Abraham and his seed after him; those blessings are still being manifest today.
Natural and spiritual seed. The blessings of Abraham have come upon the Gentiles through faith. We have a powerful Abrahamic covenant. Those of us who have put their trust in God.
Understand the relationships blessings we are to have especially in the marriage covenant.
Genesis 17:1-6  KJV   And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly.
3And Abram fell on his face: and God talked with him, saying, 4 As for me, behold, my covenant is with thee, and thou shalt be a father of many nations. 5 Neither shall thy name any more be called Abram, but thy name shall be Abraham; for a father of many nations have I made thee. 6 And I will make thee exceeding fruitful, and I will make nations of thee, and kings shall come out of thee. 7And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. 8And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.
 my covenant is with thee… a father of many nations   commitment to obligation from both sides
 
There are 4 or 5 levels of covenant in life
Priorities are based on LONGEVITY,   length of time the relationships will be maintained…
1.Eternal marriage to God himself forever and natural marriage to a spouse on earth ‘til death do us part”.
Our eternal relationship with God:  the strongest of all covenants, established by the born again experience.  We have an everlasting covenant with God.
Everlasting covenant with God - John 3:16  “I will never leave you or forsake thee
Except you be born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God
2. Earthly Marriage – until death do us part  a man shall Leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife.  They shall be one flesh. 
In heaven there will be no marriage, only one marriage (to God) in heaven -  the marriage feast of the Lamb.  Behold the bridegroom cometh. God ye out to meet him. 
Mathew 25:6
IThes 4:16,17  16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
3.*Parental covenant – God has blessed many marriages with children/ the heritage of the Lord
Train them up, be examples to them  
children learn more about what they see you do than what you say,  children obey your parents in the lord..  honor thy mother and father In the Lord that your days may be long in the earth.
parenting is a great challenge, but it is a powerful covenant
it is a responsibility with great  promise
Ephes 6:2,3 "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise-"that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life on the earth.
Exodus 20:12 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
as children you are commanded to obey, as older adults, your responsibility is to honor them
 
4.  occupation/calling/job/ministry
There are seasons of assignment, the longevity in those changes also.
*hobbies in our free time but honoring children above marriage is not good,  more time spent on hobbies than job puts the job in danger.
  
In the days to come we plan to discuss relationships and communication.
 
God established the blueprint for marriage.
God created woman from the rib of Adam and brought her to Adam.  Adam says she is “bone of my bone” and flesh of my flesh
Marriage is honorable above all…
 Hebrews 13:4 “Marriage is honorable. in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremungers and adulterers God will judge.” King James Version (KJV)  
Over 50% of marriages end in divorce
 
Whatever God establishes has an adversary
Satan roams around seeking whom he may destroy (1 Peter 5:8)
 Marriage is the main institution he will attack
If he can, he will destroy the foundation concerning the tenants of the faith concerning marriage
One of Satan’s greatest desires is to destroy marriage because there is power in the marriage bond. There is a domino effect  If he destroys the marriage, the family, the church the community,  society as a whole are in a domino decline.
 
There is power of agreement in the word.
Amos 3:3 how can two walk together except they be agreed…   
Psalm 133 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments.
Two that are in agreement has 10 times more power and spiritual authority than you by yourself.  Satan brings deception to anything God has established.
 
There is power in agreement and unity
4 affirmations
Covenant goes beyond legal agreement
 Lifelong commitment to bring good into the life of another and to help them  fulfill their God-appointed purpose
On one accord, agreement to fulfill a purpose and plan for God.
So many distractions causing people to drift away in their minds.  They find themselves drawn away.    James 1:14-16 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. 15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. 16 Do not err, my beloved brethren. 
Drawing away in media, etc.  drawing people away from commitment.
 
We have substituted God with selfishness,
No longer about you when you go into a marriage or relationship.   Selfishness will try to rise up and must be dealt with.
It’s commitment that takes work and character to have a successful marriage
Endeavor
Ephesians 4:3-5 (KJV) 3 Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord one faith, one baptism,  
Character must be above convenience, above comfort.   Communication and some compromise necessary.
It ensures the strength of the covenant.
Psalm 89:34 my covenant will I not break nor alter the thing that goes out of my lips.
Do what’s right regardless of the cost.  Integrity built on hard decisions

4 affirmations in the success of a marriage (settle in your heart and mind)
      1. God must be first in your life and personality: in marriage in everything. 
Proverbs 3:5  trust in the Lord…  seek Him Ephesians 5  husbands love our wives…
Wives be submitted to your own husbands as unto the Lord
    2.  Pledge to protect,  Defend one another, Not publicly humiliate but  speak good one of another. Pledge to protect and defend, not to damage.      
Genesis  - Satan came in the form of a serpent, Presented the tree to Eve,  tempted her to partake of the tree. Eve took of the fruit and gave to her husband with her.  Fight for, pray in spiritual warfare for one another!.  Although Adam was there when  the lord warned them and then again when Satan tempted Eve, he failed 
   3.  Promise to be honest, even when it hurts Be open and transparent.  Adam and Eve were naked and unashamed.  Nothing hidden from one another  speak truth in love .  Honest and upright.
   4.  Make a vow never to leave - “to death do us part – God gives strength to do what is right.  If God is not first, none of these things can work. If God is your priority you can work to maintain those vows and  have the strength to love one another as you love him.…God will keep and bless that union.
      Elisha (Elijah’s younger understudy) made a promise to Elijah (the older prophet of God)  2 Kings 2:4 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Please stay here, for the LORD has sent me on to Jericho." But Elisha replied, "As surely as the LORD lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went to Jericho
He knew there would be a blessing as a result of his faithfulness to stay with the man of God.
Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
10 And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.
11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.
12 And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces.
 
Great blessings come if God has established In these last days, it is as Jesus said it would be in the area of covenant:  the love of many waxes cold.
 Covenant relationships in other relationships as well.
 Ruth 1:16  But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.  If all but death part thee from me.
 
Jesus said I will never leave thee or forsake thee.  He warned that love would wax cold and men would be lovers of themselves.*

​
Be people of character and integrity.  The grace to be faithful to whatever commitments we make.  Faithful to follow through with what you say you will do.
 
If he promised it he will do it!

God is our Source  - El Shaddai,  The God that is more than enough.  He gave sacrificially.

John 3:16 is the cornerstone on which Old and New Testaments stand.
 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
Today, we focus on LOVE.  Especially in respect to giving.  LOVE GIVES SACRIFICIALLY OF ITSELF
 

The Love of God – all that we do should be motivated by the love of God.  HE HAS GIVEN THE COMMAND TO LOVE
Our giving and our serving, all that we do for Him, even toward one another, should be motivated by the love of God.
 
In this message, we focus on Three Types of Love, and on the concept of  seed time and harvest time.
STEWARDSHIP, GIVING AND SOWING REAPING
The blessings of the Lord maintain an open heaven.  Keep resources flowing from heaven. KNOWING THAT GOD IS OUR SOURCE.

There is a difference between love that gives and love that takes.
 
There are 3 aspects of God’s love.
Sacrificial giving– those that give sacrificially receive a greater portion .
Ie: the church of Macedonia : gave of themselves out of their lack, although impoverished. They had great joy in giving because they understood God’s love for them.     The greater the sacrifice the greater the reward. They had first given themselves to the lord. Not a problem for them to gave to the people of God.
 
God loved us and demonstrated that love by giving
 
1JOHN - if our life is not motivated by love it is easy to forget the Love of God.
God’s love for us is sometimes easy to forget
Jude 1 says build up ourselves in our most holy faith will keep us in the love of God.
Holy Spirit in us intercedes for us when we don’t know how to pray. How to respond, what scripture to quote…   Romans 8 Causes us to be reminded that perfect love casts out fear. 
 
Jude says it keeps us in the love of God.  Reminding us of god’s love for us.  enemy’s greatest attack is to make us feel that God is not aware or does not care
 
The Devil tries to attack your mind and give you a spirit of fear.  Holy Spirit reminds us that
God is in control and all things do still work together for your good,  because you love him because he first loved you.
 
I John 4:9 the love of God toward is manifested because God loves us
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him….sent his son to be the propitiation for our sin
Not that we love God but that he love us….
Love is not an emotion, it is more than a feeling
1John 3:16  hereby perceive we the love of God…lay down our lives for the brethren
Love takes action, not just an emotion a feeling a promise but acts of mercy
God love to us was a deliberate choice,  not good works 
Titus 3:3-6   3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
There is nothing we can do to deserve His love.  Without the love of God, we’d stlll be on the way to destruction.
 
Sin entered into the world, and after that it is impossible to enter into the kingdom of God.  “except a man be born again, he cannot enter in…
We were dead in trespasses and sin.
The spirit of God came into us
Ephes 2:8.9 “ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast ."
 
Salvation is a gift that God gave.  It is not of works and it is nothing to boast in!  He has nade us his workmanship!
Our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.  We were purchased.  We were in sin until justification came
He is our mediator: the name of Jesus!
 
1John 3  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Be encouraged, we shall be like him n
And we shall see him as he is!
 
Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard the great things He has in store for us, but He reveals and the Holy Spirit of God is revealing truth about Hs return!  He is coming quickly!
4

1. Agape Love – Does not demand love in return.  Jesus says “deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me!

If you save your life in this world, you will lose your eternal life
Works for the welfare of all, ill toward no one!
Love God with all your heart and mind and soul, treat people as you would have them treat you.
Love one another as He has loved us. Do good to all, especially those of the household of faith,  Love our enemies.  Bless them, pray for them, forgive them.
Forgive and bless them who despitefully use you
Regardless of how deep down you are, when you cry out for mercy He answers.  He expects us to do the same
5
    2.  Phileo love is comparative love …   “more than these “ We sometimes hold security, money, business to be of more importance than God.
Jesus says we must love him more than mother or father, etc. 37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me 
 
Brothers and friends, love, bloodline.  Natural has greater responsibilityEROS  physical, sexual intimacy in marriage between a man and a woman Marriage is honorable but whoremungers and idolaters God judges
 
    3.  LUST:  love verses lust:  Love gives, lust takes
Programmed to take from others…whatever it takes to make one feel happy.  Satan causes man to expect help above the love of God!
Mankind has a sin nature, a selfish nature
Love gives of itself to the benefit of others.  Lust takes.
We are commanded to imitate the Lord.
GIVE should be our nature,  love gives of itself to benefit others.
Lust takes.
  
“Give” should be our nature.  “if you love me, keep my commandments”
The way of transgressors is hard.
We love because He first loved us.

John 12  as long as the earth remains…seed time and harvest  
Sow bountifully and you will reap.
 
The sower went out to sow 
sowed on stony ground, thorny ground and good  ground and reaped 30 fole, 60 fold and 100 fold from those efforts
Good seed always produces a good harvest
You reap what you sow.  The anointing determines the amount of harvest
 
John 12:23,24  And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
Jesus referred to himself as a corn of wheat
A seed looks as lifeless as a little rock/pebble but something in the seed has life
It must die first.  If you hold it and don’t sow it, it will not produce.
It has the power to produce after its own kind
Sow into the kingdom and reap a harvest
Sow money, time, friendship.
Or sow into the wind and reap a whirlwind
Expect a harvest for whatever you sow,
 
Jesus sowed.   He was the seed that was sown     
Vs. 32 – if I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.
God desires that sons be brought into the kingdom. 
He was the first fruit, the first born from the dead.
We are the harvest of Jesus’ death.
He was sown to bring many sons into glory.
 
Hebrews 2:9-12  9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
11 For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
 (He calls us brothers, the saints, the beloved of god,)
 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
 
We see Jesus!  We would have no life had he not died.
He made this great sacrificial investment to bring many sons into glory.   He came to destroy the devil and grant supernatural favor to the people of God.
 
Honor God with the tithes.  God gave his son that we should not perish.
Invested to bring many souls into glory.
 
Understand these principles of giving
If we are faithful to honor God in giving, He blesses us in all aspects of our lives.
Remain in the mindset of giving and sowing, investing into the kingdom of God, knowing that God will cause the windows of heaven to be open to us, He will rebuke the devil for us, fight battles for us. 
Honor the lord with the first-fruit of your income, Trust in Him and lean not to your own understanding.  Be grateful for the ability to get increase.

Recognize and reverence that it is He that has given you power to get wealth, favor to get wealth.
Lean not to your own understanding.
 
We are confident of this very thing, that he who has begun a good work in us will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
​

Windows in Heaven  1/31/21
2Kings 7
Our God is a God that supplies.  He gives a supernatural supply.  He is El Shaddai, the God who causes nature to operate in ways contrary to itself.  He is the God who nourishes, supplies and satisfies
We wiIl continue to focus on the principles of sowing and reaping,  learn how to honor Him with the first fruits of our increase.
We will learn how 2Kings 7 relates to this principle and where we are in the world today.
“1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be?”
Elisha was responding to the King, who was in desperation. THERE WAS GREAT FAMINE IN THE LAND,   Like the king’s servant, people trust in the arm of the flesh rather than the wisdom of God.  Our trust must be in God!  WITHOUT God there is no hope in this world,  Ephesians
The King came to Elisha understanding that if there is any way for the famine to stop, it has to be by the hand of God.
In the last days we will see chaos and confusion, men’s heats failing them for fear,because of the things coming on the earth, and the hearts of many will wax cold.  The evil of man’s heart will manifest at a higher level,
 
We must have the spirit of Christ or we won’t know what to do.
The King sent a messenger to Elisha for instruction.
2Kings7:33
Behold this evil is from the Lord, what shall I wait for the Lord any longer?
Famine, pestilence and war were signs of God’s judgement on Israel.
I Would not be surprised if It is not God’s judgement on the earth right now,
In the midst of judgement on Egypt,  there was bondage in Egypt, but the people of God were in a place of peace. Light in great darkness, peace in great confusion.
God takes care of His people. In gross darkness, His favor shines.
 
If we maintain a covenant with God, He will supply all our need, according to his riches in glory.
 
Currency:  heavenly supply From God
Operate in the economy of heaven
Principles we must walk in to partake in the blessings of the Lord.
We place our trust and confidence in operating under the authority of heaven.
(If we refuse and rebel, we shall be devoured by the sword.)
The King recognized God’s judgement on the land and sent his servant to Elisha for answers.
Elisha responded that in a 24 hour period, a turn around would come.
When people are in crises, they will lean toward anything.   When desperate, they do desperate things.
Verse 26 – When Benhadad, King of Syria, besieged Samaria the people became desperate.
Inflation had gotten so bad that a donkey’s head sold for 80 pieces of silver while dove droppings sold for 5.
Get better or get bitter,
 Hard times either make you grow closer to God, or drift away from him. Two different responses/reactions to hard times:   Choose humility or pride.   Draw nigh or become bitter and run away)
We hold to foundational scriptures in our spirit at all times to maintain joy.     
(Romans 8:28  )And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
And even when we don’t know how to pray the Spirit prays through us. 
(Romans 8:26,27) 26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God
The Spirit of God prays through us.  We must keep ourselves praying in the Holy Spirit. Knowing that God is in control, He loves us.  When a man’s ways please God, He makes even his enemies be at peace with him.
People will be looking to see how you react.  How can they have hope in a hopeless situation?  Elisha said that God would turn it around.
God sometimes used miserable people to show his grace. We look at 3 examples  of this here:
1)The Lepers-  deadly, contagious diseases Isolated outside the city,
“what do we have to lose?
2Kings 7:3,4  And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die.
The Syrians had left all spoils in the camp.  God had caused a great sound of a great army to cause the armies to flee!
In time of famine, chaos confusion and lack
God used people not normally respected n the eyes of society
He will give a testimony through them that God is real!
Lepers brought word of abundance to the King and the people came out of lack!.
Elisha reminded them of what God had said.
Some mock us for believing God
They may say it’s not going to work, but
contrary people will see God’s glory in your life!
It’s happening even now in other lands.
 
 
2) the Macedonian Church
. Macedonians’ response in great trial of affliction:  abundance of joy, deep poverty and liberality.
We need a A double portion of humility and trust like never before
Grace bestowed on the Macedonian church
2Cor 8Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
6 Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also.
7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
the riches of their liberality abundance of joy in obvious poverty
They knew that giving was their way out to give…
Understood the principles of reciprocity, giving and receiving
Keeping the windows of heaven open for free flow from heaven
Willing to give of themselves
tithes, offerings, vows and alms gifts to the poor
 
3) the widow with two mites acknowledged by Jesus  - giving out of need brings greater response
“beyond their power
Receive the gift and take on the ministry to the saints

As ye abound in all things
1)they gave willingly  (give and it shall be given unto thee)
2) gave themselves unto the lord
 
What if you gain the whole world and lose your soul
 They realized that their lives were not their own because they belong to God
 rejoiced in tribulation and gave all
 
we want this same grace to be upon you                                                                                   
 
we want the grace of God so we can have more faith, more utterance, wisdom of God
 
make sure you abound in this grace also
 
I speak not by commandment.  This is proof of your sincerity

Malachi 3  Pouring out blessings
Reciprocity
There are principles to maintain in the world today
Creation groans, waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God
 
They must see an example that we set.
He came that we might have life abundantly.  His word cannot return void.
Lord impart unto us to be faithful in giving.
Help us keep the windows of heaven open so we can  be a blessing.
Malachi 3:8-10 8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. 9 Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.10Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Resources are needed to get work done in the house of God
We put God to the test when we tithe!
God says “try me!  Watch and see if I don’t do just what I promised!
We acknowledge him with our first fruit  
God will prosper you if you do what He says
 
Our barns will overflow
He will open the windows of heaven and close the doors of the adversary
 
10
He pours you out a blessing
Causes favor to come in resources, supernatural
If you are not faithful, the enemy comes in and devours your seed
If you are faithful, He guarantees your seed sown will produce a great harvest
Many kernels come from one single kernel of corn
Gods favor will cause others to bless you as they see that God takes care of his people.
 
He proves himself faithful as we prove ourselves faithful to Him.  Windows of heaven are open all around us.