OPEN HEAVENS DAILY DEVOTIONAL...
 
DATE: WEDNESDAY AUGUST 23RD   2017
 
THEME: THE CHURCH OF GOD II
      
Memorise:
 
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:                                                         Ephesian 4:13
 
Read:  1 Corinthians 1:1-11

1:1 Paul called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1:2 Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's:

1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

1:5 That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

1:6 Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you:

1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:

1:8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
 
Message:
 
The Church of God is the embodiment of Christ here on earth and for all eternity (Ephesians 1:23). God will continue to inhabit the praises of His people, and His people will continue to live in Him and worship His majesty forever (John 14:16). The Church of God on earth is the representation of his personality among men. She is the Body of Christ, filled and controlled by the Holy Spirit, and so, she renders all honor and adoration to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Although the Church is operating in the world, there is no room for the world in the Church (John 17:16).
 
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”           Psalm133:1

The Church of God is called to live in blameless unity. Unity is a characteristic that distinguishes God’s people. We derive this characteristic from the nature of God in us; therefore, God expects His Church to manifest unity, through commitment to one another.
In essence, the church of God is one, because it is founded on one gospel, united in one Lord and walking in one Spirit (Ephesian 4:4-6). However, the unity of the Church is constantly under attack because the enemy knows she is unstoppable when she walks in unity. Because it is inherent in our fallen human nature for people to be divisive, unity needs to be continually maintained and actively expressed in fellowship. The fellowship that Christians share as a result of our common union with God through Jesus Christ is expressed as we share the triumphs and challenges of life together. The Bible strongly emphasizes the importance of Christian unity. Acts 4:32
 
“And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.”
 
God exhorts the Church to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Ephesian 4:3-16). We as Christians are to preserve the oneness that the Spirit imparts to all who are baptized into the Body of Christ, which is identical to the oneness of the Holy Trinity. The unity of the Church should be evident in our love for one another, in worshipping together and in a practical commitment to one another, which is demonstrated through deep concern for the weak and a readiness to provide for the poor and needy.
 
 
Prayer Point:
 
Father, please baptize your Church with true love and bind the Body of Christ together with a strong cord of unity in Jesus’ name.
 
 
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
  
1 Chronicle 4-5
 
Ezekiel 29:10-30:4                                                                                                                            
 
 
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A. ADEBOYE
 
HYMN 18: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

Onward Christian soldiers!
  Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus
  Going on before.
Christ, the royal Master,
  Leads against the foe;
Forward into battle,
  See, His banners go! 
 
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers!
  Marching as to war,
With the cross of Jesus,
    Going on before.
 
At the name of Jesus
  Satan’s host doth flee;
On then, Christian soldiers,
  On to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver
  At the shout of praise:
Brothers, lift your voices,
  Loud your anthems raise!
 
Refrain:
 
 
Like a mighty army
  Moves the Church of God:
Brothers, we are treading
  Where the saints have trod;
We are not divided,
  All one Body we—
One in faith and Spirit,
  One charity.
 
Refrain:
 
 
Onward, then, ye people!
  Join our happy throng;
Blend with ours your voices
  In the triumph song.
Glory, laud and honor
  Unto Christ, the King;
This through countless ages
  Men and angels sing.
Refrain:

God bless and increase you Sir

��� *LET US PRAY* ���

.. _*WEDNESDAY, August 23, 2017*_

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

1. *THANKSGIVINGS* .

2. *INTERCESSIONS/SUPPLICATIONS.*

3. *PRAYERS FROM OPEN HEAVENS DEVOTIONAL.*

----- Father, I thank you because *YOU ARE THE SOVEREIGN AND THE SUPREME HEAD OF THE CHURCH.*

---- 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, 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 righteousness, unity and love, in Jesus' Name........

----- Everlasting Father, please grant unto me the grace to be an agent of unity in Your Church, in Jesus' Name........

4. *PERSONAL PRAYERS REQUESTS:*
-- John 16:23 - 24,
-- LUKE 18:1,
-- MATT 7:7 - 8......

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

Prayer Points on Today's Open Heavens: (Wednesday, August 23rd, 2017) - THE CHURCH OF GOD 2

1.Thank you, Father, for your transformation agenda, in my life, made possible, through my faith in Jesus.

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

3.Father, please, uphold me, blameless and without blemish, until the coming of Christ, in Jesus' name.

4.Father, please, unite your church and let there be no division or strife, in the body of Christ, in Jesus' name.

5.Father, let me dwell in you, and you, in me, forever, in Jesus' name.

6.Father, please baptise your Church with true love and bind the Body of Christ together with a strong cord of unity in Jesus' Name.

7.Father, when the enemies shall come against your church in one way, let them be defeated, disgraced and flee, in seven ways, in Jesus' name.

8.Father, arise and scatter all the enemies of your church, in this Nation, with fire and brimstone, in Jesus' name.

9.I decree that the gates of hell, will never prevail against the church of God, in Jesus' name.

10.Father, let every plant that you have not planted in your church, be uprooted, in Jesus' name.

11.Father, let every weapon and evil arrow, targeted against any of your true servants, boomerang, upon the senders, 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