OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL
 
DATE: THURSDAY AUGUST 24th 2017
 
THEME: THE CHURCH OF GOD III
      
  
Memorise:
 
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:27
 
 
Read:  Ephesians 1:1-4
 
1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
 

Message:
 
The Church of God is a living entity that thrives upon the life of God. The life of Jesus circulates freely through His church, just as blood flows through the human body. The Church of God feeds on heavenly food, which is the word of God, breathes the atmosphere of heaven, which are the commandments and principles that guide her operations, and thrives on the life of God that flows through her vein, which is the Holy Spirit. By implication therefore, the primary qualities and attributes of God automatically become the primary characteristics and nature of His Church.
 

In Isaiah 6:3b, the primary quality and nature of God is announced in this proclamation from Heaven:
 
“…Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”
 
For this reason, today’s Bible reading declares that the Church of God was chosen by God to be holy and without blame before Him in love. Holiness is the moral excellence of God that unifies His attributes and is expressed through His actions. The Bible presents holiness as a nature that includes moral purity, separation from evil and a devotion to God’s glory. God is Holy, His Name is Holy, His words and everything about Him is Holy. As a result, in the Old Testament, the place of worship, the altar, the priests and the people had to be sanctified and made Holy before rendering service to God (Exodus 29:44). To be dedicated to God’s service, we also in this new dispensation must be set apart from the evil and sins of this world. Hebrews 10:22 says,
 
“Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.”
 
God’s holiness provides a pattern for His people to emulate (1 Peter 1:16). Holiness simply means separation from sin and devotion to God (2 timothy 2:19). As a child of God, sin should not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14). You are expected to make holiness your lifestyle by walking in the fear of God always (2 Corinthians 7:1). To this end, Colossians 3:5a says,
 
                “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;”
 
This means you should put to death or destroy everything that is carnal in you, using the sword of the Spirit (Hebrew 4:12). It means your heart should continually be cleansed from carnality, using the water of God’s word. Even though you are genuinely born again, your body still has passions, desires and appetites that must be allowed to break out beyond their legitimate bounds in the Lord. Be holy, and be sanctified!
 
 
Prayer Point:
 
Father, grant me grace to keep myself under the control of Your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name.
 

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
1 Chronicle 6-7
 Ezekiel 30:5-19                                                                                                       
 

AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
 
 
HYMN 6: DEEPER DEEPER

1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
 
Refrain:
Oh, deeper yet, I pray,
And higher every day,
And wiser, blessed Lord,
In Thy precious, holy Word.
 
 
2. Deeper, deeper, blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus,
And His perfect will.
 
Refrain:
 
3. Deeper, higher, every day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqueror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
 
Refrain:
 
4. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His power and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
 
Refrain:

God bless you Sir and increase you in all good things in Jesus name

��� *LET US PRAY* ���

.. _*THURSDAY, August 24, 2017*_

*PRAYER POINTS* :- _THE CHURCH OF GOD (III)_.

1. *THANKSGIVINGS* .

2. *INTERCESSIONS/SUPPLICATIONS.*

3. *PRAYERS FROM OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL.*

----- Father, I bless and thank you because *YOU ARE HOLY.*

---- Father, I thank you for saving me and for the salvation of my soul.....

---- Father, I thank you for the grace given to me to be a member and a part of Your Church......

----- *_Father, grant me grace to keep myself under the control of Your Holy Spirit in Jesus’ Name._*

---- _*Father, please baptize your Church with true love and bind the Body of Christ together with a strong cord of unity in Jesus’ name........*_

*_-----Father, please fill our churches with Your fullness, power and love, in Jesus Name....._*

----- *_Father, please make our Churches models of holiness, righteousness and sanctification, in Jesus' Name......_*

----- *_Everlasting Father, please grant unto me the grace to be totally separated from sin and the world, in Jesus' Name........_*

----- *_Father, from today, please let my devotion to you enter a new level of intimacy and connection to you, in Jesus' Name........_*

----- *_Father, from today, please take charge over my entire body soul and spirit, in Jesus' Name........_*

----- *_Father, from today, please set me aside personally for Your use and Your Glory, in Jesus' Name........_*

4. *PERSONAL PRAYERS REQUESTS:*
-- (John 16:23 - 24,
-- LUKE 18:1,
-- MATT 7:7 - ......

---- FATHER, I thank you for the answers, for in *JESUS HOLY* Name I have Prayed.....

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens: (Thursday, August 24th, 2017) - THE CHURCH OF GOD 3

1.Thank you, Father, for blessing me with all spiritual blessings, in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.

2.Thank you, Father, for creating and ordaining me before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless, before you.

3.Father, in anyway, l have fallen short of your glory, please, have mercy and forgive me, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, order my steps in your word; do not allow sin to have dominion over me, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, purge and sanctify your church from every form of pollution and defilement, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, sanctify me holy and without blemish or wrinkle, till the coming of Christ, in Jesus' name.

7.Father, empower me to live above sin, and let every appetite for sin, in my life, be destroyed, by the blood of Jesus.

8.Father, let every plant you have not planted in my life and in your church, be uprooted, in Jesus' name.

9.Father, let every faulty foundation, in my life, be reformed to conform to your original design, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, let the purpose of my creation and election as your child, be fulfilled in my life, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, grant me grace to keep myself under the control of Your Holy Spirit, in Jesus' Name.

12.Your Personal petitions.
( Philippians 4:6)
13.In Jesus' name I pray.
(John 14:13-14; 15:16)
14.Thank you Father for answered prayers.
(1 Thessalonians 5:18).
#GodBlessOurNation