(Matthew 1:18-25 NKJV) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. (19) Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. (20) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. (21) And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” (22) So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: (23) “BEHOLD, THE VIRGIN SHALL BE WITH CHILD, AND BEAR A SON, AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,” which is translated, “God with us.” (24) Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, (25) and did not know her till she had brought forth her firstborn Son. And he called His name JESUS.
Jesus was born as a manifestation of God being present with His people; “They shall call His Name Immanuel.”
- Jesus came to give us some of Heaven on Earth.
Deuteronomy 11:18-21 (KJV) Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes. [19] And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. [20] And thou shalt write them upon the door posts of thine house, and upon thy gates: [21] That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, in the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers to give them, as the days of heaven upon the earth.
The Great Preacher Charles Spurgeon said in a sermon on these verses:
“AS this text was originally written, it referred only to the length of life and the length of endurance which God promised to His obedient Israel. If they walked in His statutes, the kingdom was to abide from generation to generation, without end, “as the days of heaven upon earth.” But it seems to me that such a phrase as this ought to mean something more, if it did not, and might be used to express—and must be used to express many of those happy seasons which we have enjoyed when the Lord has manifested Himself to us—and which have been to us “as the days of heaven upon the earth.” But is not the expression exaggeration? Is it not too strong? Brothers and sisters, I think not. There were days of heaven upon earth once. Every day upon earth was a day of heaven before our first parent stretched out his hand and broke his Lord’s command. When he walked through the Garden of Eden, by the side of the rippling Hiddekel, or the streaming Euphrates, which rolled over sands of gold. As he reclined under the shadow of the trees from the heat of the sun, and plucked the generous fruit, God was with him as his companion and manifested Himself to His favorite creature. Those were, indeed, days of heaven upon earth! There was no strife, no sin, no sorrow—everything was happy! There were days of heaven upon earth—and we know from the sweetest prophecies, as sure as they are sweet, that there will be days of heaven upon earth again, and that for a continuance!”
- Jesus preached about Heaven on Earth:
(Mark 1:14-15 NKJV) Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
- Jesus even prayed about Heaven on Earth:
(Matthew 6:10 NKJV) Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven.
- Jesus lived out of that Heavenly realm.
(John 6:38 NKJV) For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.
Some Heavenly Gifts
- Jesus came to give us life, just as there is life in Heaven.
(John 5:26 NKJV) For as the Father has life in Himself, so He has granted the Son to have life in Himself,
Life (Greek:Zoe) – life in the absolute sense, life as God has it, that which the Father has in Himself, and which He gave to the Incarnate Son to have in Himself
(John 3:16 NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
(John 10:10 AMPC) The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
- Jesus came to give us peace, just as there is peace in Heaven.
(John 14:27 NKJV) Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
(John 16:33 NKJV) These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
- Jesus came to give us healing, just as there is healing in Heaven.
(Matthew 9:35 NKJV) Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
- Jesus wants us to have the supernatural provision of Heaven on the earth now!
(Philippians 4:19 AMPC) And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
Where Do We Begin?
Days of heaven on the earth! Days of supernatural provision on the earth! Days of increase on the earth! All this awaits us when we honor God and keep His ways. God has always wanted a people who would hear and do what He says, so He could manifest Himself and give us days of heaven on earth.”
- The first thing we have to do is begin to set our thinking on heavenly things.
(Colossians 3:1-2 AMPC) IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. [Psa 110:1] (2) And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
(Colossians 3:2 MSG) Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.