[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Rock your box
‘He…increases the power of the weak.’

Isaiah 40:29
The UCB Word for Today - 22 Jun 2017

A little boy was disabled and the doctors said there was nothing they could do to help him. So his mother took an orange crate, put him in it, tied a rope around it, tied the rope to her waist, and pulled him around with her.

After a while the boy developed a habit his mother didn’t like: he began to rock his box. Sometimes he rocked it to the point that it tipped over and he fell out. No matter how many times she put him back in, he kept doing the same thing.

Eventually he rocked his box until he was finally able to get out of it. Then to everyone’s amazement, he learned how to walk and ended up with a great life. That little boy did something the doctors and not even his mother believed could happen.

He refused to settle for life inside a box someone had put him in. Has someone put you in a box today? If so, keep rocking your box until you’re free! Other people are self-appointed ‘experts’ at telling us what we can and can’t do. They don’t always celebrate anything ‘out of the box’, which is something out of the ordinary.

One of the great promises in the Bible is: ‘He…increases the power of the weak.’ Start reading ‘rock your box’ Scriptures.

Here’s one: ‘But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD’ (Micah 3:8 NIV 2011 Edition). Here’s another: ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible’ (Matthew 19:26 NIV 2011 Edition). Today declare, ‘Lord, You promised it, I believe it, and that settles it!’

2 Chron 4-6, Acts 20:17-38

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Break out of the box!
‘He will bring us safely into that land and give it to us.’

Numbers 14:8
The UCB Word for Today - 23 Jun 2017

When others saw giants in the Promised Land and wanted to return to Egypt, Caleb said, ‘The LORD…will bring us safely into that land and give it to us.’ At that point two things happened. ‘The whole community began to talk about stoning Joshua and Caleb.

Then the glorious presence of the LORD appeared to all the Israelites at the Tabernacle’ (v.10 NLT). When the people around Caleb said no, God said yes – and all you need is His approval! When you have that, you can disregard the nay-sayers and move forward.

If you wait for everyone to approve, agree with you, and applaud you, you’ll get nowhere. There was a time when people thought the earth was flat, and that man would never walk on the moon. In 1899 the U.S.


Patent Office almost closed because the commissioner, Charles H. Duell, said, ‘Everything that can be invented has been invented.’ In retrospect this statement is ridiculous, but some of us have this same mindset.

We stop learning because we think we’re too old. We’re afraid to change careers in case we jeopardise our pension. We don’t pursue our dreams in case we fail or get ridiculed.

We’re so used to self-imposed limitations and telling ourselves, ‘I can’t do that,’ we think we can’t do anything. In essence, we’ve built a box, crawled inside, and now we’re looking for something or someone to blame for our lack of faith.

God didn’t box you in – you did – and you need to take the initiative for breaking out. Today decide to do it – and God will bless your endeavours.

2 Chron 7-9, Acts 21:1-17

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

Complaining doesn’t help
‘In everything give thanks.’

1 Thessalonians 5:18
The UCB Word for Today - 24 Jun 2017

The Bible has basically one thing to say about complaining – don’t do it! You say, ‘If you’d my problems you’d complain too.’ If that’s how you feel, read on: ‘Do all things without complaining’ (Philippians 2:14 NKJV). Here’s why: 1) Complaining usually makes things worse.


The cycle goes like this. You have a problem so you complain and stay stuck. You feel bad, so you complain even more and end up with stress, but not a solution. 2) Complaining won’t get you where you need to go. Instead of committing the situation to God, you’re doubting His wisdom and provision.

Thousands of Israelites died in the wilderness for doing that. Paul writes, ‘Do not grumble, as some…did – and were killed…These things…were written down as warnings for us’ (1 Corinthians 10:10-11 NIV 2011 Edition).

When you overlook your blessings and dwell on your problems, you lose your joy. 3) Complaining can lead to stress-related illness. ‘A calm and undisturbed mind and heart are the life and health of the body’ (Proverbs 14:30 AMPC).

Be honest; how many ‘calm and undisturbed’ complainers do you know? Instead of complaining, start counting your blessings. Author Barbara Johnson gives us this tongue-in-cheek example. ‘A hand-lettered sign nailed to a telephone pole read: “LOST…three-legged dog, blind in left eye, missing top of right ear, recently castrated…answers to the name of Lucky.”’ As a redeemed child of God luck has nothing to do with it, you’re blessed!

So the word for you today is: ‘In everything (not necessarily for everything, but in everything) give thanks; for this is the will of God…for you.’

2 Chron 10-12, Acts 21:18-40

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

When Jesus prayed (1)
‘Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.’

Luke 5:16
The UCB Word for Today - 26 Jun 2017

If you want to know about prayer, examine the life of Jesus: 1) He prayed when the pressures of life increased. ‘News about him spread…so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed…But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed’ (vv.15-16 NIV 2011 Edition). It’s when you think you don’t have time to pray, that you need to pray most.

Spending time with God is the secret to having power with Him. 2) He prayed when important decisions had to be made.

When it came to picking His closest friends, Jesus sought His Father’s guidance. He ‘went out to a mountainside…and spent the night praying to God.

When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve…[as] apostles’ (Luke 6:12-13 NIV 2011 Edition).

When you really think about it – the truth hits you on the side of the head! We can spend a year, not to mention a small fortune, planning a wedding. Yet amazingly we won’t seek God’s guidance when it comes to choosing a mate to spend the rest of our life with.

God is not just the creator of the universe; He’s the CEO who runs it. Can you imagine what He knows about operating a successful business? His CV reads: ‘I am the LORD…who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go’ (Isaiah 48:17 NKJV).


Before you hire an employee, form a partnership, formulate a plan, or invest a penny, God invites you to discuss it with Him and get His input. ‘Listen for GOD’s voice in everything you do…he’s the one who will keep you on track’ (Proverbs 3:6 MSG).

2 Chron 13-14, Acts 22

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

When Jesus prayed (2)
‘He went…to a solitary place; and…prayed.’

Mark 1:35
The UCB Word for Today - 27 Jun 2017

By failing to pray – you set yourself up to fail. The reason Jesus never failed is because He never failed to pray. Note the times when He prayed: when His heart was heavy.

During His ministry on earth, His cousin John the Baptist was arrested and publicly beheaded for confronting a king about his sin. ‘When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew…privately to a solitary place’ (Matthew 14:13 NIV 2011 Edition). Disappointment, desertion, divorce, and death will write their chapters in the book of our lives.

Thank God for therapists and doctors, but ultimately there’s no one who can heal a broken heart like God. ‘He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power’ (Psalm 147:3-5 NIVUK 2011 Edition). Whether placing stars or healing scars, no situation is too big or too small to get the attention of our loving God. To understand God’s healing expertise, look at the life of Job.

No one in history lost more than Job did, yet God brought him through it all. In Job chapter eleven we read: ‘You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away. Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning. Having hope will give you courage.

You will be protected and will rest in safety. You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help’ (vv. 16-19 NLT). Are you sad and heavy-hearted today? Do what Jesus did. Take time to pray about it.

2 Chron 15-16, Acts 23:1-15

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

When Jesus prayed (3)
‘He departed to the mountain to pray.’

Mark 6:46
The UCB Word for Today - 28 Jun 2017

Let’s look at another point at which Jesus prayed: when the pressures and expectations of others threatened to derail God’s plan for His life.

The Bible says: ‘While it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.

Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so that I can preach there also.

That is why I have come.” So He travelled throughout Galilee, preaching’ (Mark 1:35-39 NIVUK 2011 Edition). The lesson here is this: unless you get God’s plan and stick with it, others will try to plan your life for you.

Given the success Jesus enjoyed in every town He visited, many preachers would have stayed and built a church and enjoyed the accolades and rewards of their ministry. Not Jesus; He marched to the beat of a different drum.

As you look back on some of your mistakes, you find decisions made in response to pressure instead of prayer. When you’re prayerless you get careless. God has a plan for your life, and a schedule. To stay in sync with both you must pray regularly.

Jesus realised He had only enough time to do what His Father wanted done, and that gave Him the ability to say no to other things.

You’ve been called to love people – but please God. And your confidence in prayer comes from knowing you’re operating within His will (see 1 John 3:21-22).


2 Chron 17-18, Acts 23:16-35

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

When Jesus prayed (4)
‘Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you.’

Luke 22:31-32
The UCB Word for Today - 29 Jun 2017

Jesus prayed when He was concerned about the people He loved. He told Peter: ‘Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you…that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.’ And Peter did turn back.

The disciple who denied his Lord in a moment of weakness eventually stood before a crowd of thousands and preached the gospel to them, and three thousand were won to Christ. Jesus not only taught His disciples, He warned them of danger.

But ultimately He realised that the greatest thing He could do was pray for them. Unfortunately, that’s a truth we tend to arrive at later rather than sooner.

We promise, we rescue, we threaten, and only when all our other efforts have failed do we pray. Prayer shouldn’t be your last resort, it should be your first response.

Prayer takes the situation out of your hands and puts it into God’s. Do you remember the four men who carried their sick friend and laid him at the feet of Jesus? (see Mark 2:3-5).

That’s what you do when you pray for someone. It’s not easy to pick up the weight of another person and carry them to God each day in prayer. But it’s the most effective thing you can do for them.

The old-timers used to say, ‘Prayer moves the hand that moves the world.’ And they were right! When a loved one disappoints or wounds you, instead of lashing out, lift them up in prayer. Invite God into the situation, then stand back and allow Him to work.

2 Chron 19-20, Acts 24

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

When Jesus prayed (5)
‘He…prayed…“Not my will, but yours be done.”’

Luke 22:41-42
The UCB Word for Today - 30 Jun 2017

Jesus prayed before He faced the greatest crisis in His life. The Bible says: ‘Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

On reaching the place… He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared…and strengthened him’ (vv. 39-43 NIV 2011 Edition).

Jesus didn’t wait until the hour of His greatest crisis before He prayed. For three and a half years during His earthly ministry, He had built a life of prayer.

Before He raised Lazarus from the dead, we read, ‘Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me…that you always hear me”’ (John 11:41-42 NIV 2011 Edition).

Jesus had such an intimate relationship with His Father that in times of pressure and pain He could go to God, confident He would receive His sustaining grace. Can you do that? Until you do, you’ll be vulnerable to people and situations beyond your control.

Consider this question: do you think Jesus prayed so much because He wanted to, or because He thought He should? The answer is – He wanted to!
And if you want to follow in His footsteps and enjoy God’s richest blessings, you need to move from ‘should’ to ‘want to’. Here’s a truth that people who pray know: the less you pray, the less you want to pray. And the more you pray, the more you want to pray.

The power behind Christ’s amazing success in life was the power of prayer. Starting now, commit to praying each day.

2 Chron 21-22, Acts 25

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY

You’re called to a ‘special work’
‘Each part…helps the other parts grow.’

Ephesians 4:16
The UCB Word for Today - 1 Jul 2017

Paul writes: ‘As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body [church] is healthy and growing and full of love.’ There are two kinds of growth – symbiotic growth and parasitic growth.

Symbiotic growth is a give-and-take relationship in which both sides benefit. Parasitic growth is when one side feeds off another but gives nothing back. So when you come out of church and say, ‘I didn’t get anything out of that service,’ you may be practising parasitic growth.

Parasitic growth is characterised by such words as ‘pray for me, preach to me, counsel me, help me, but expect nothing from me’. Symbiotic growth is characterised by such words as ‘yes, I have needs, but I’m willing to give, too, because everyone needs to benefit’, Your body is made up of systems.

These include the nervous system, circulatory system, muscular system, lymphatic system, skeletal system, immune system, etc. These systems rely on one another. They are interdependent.

So when one of them goes down, the rest of the body is negatively impacted by it. Instead of saying, ‘I’m going to church,’ remind yourself, ‘I am the church.’ Paul writes: ‘The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up one whole body.

So it is with the body of Christ…and God has put each part just where he wants it’ (1 Corinthians 12:12, 18 NLT).

God wants you to be a fully functioning part of His church. And if you’re not sure what your ‘part’ is, ask Him and He will show you.


2 Chron 23-24, Acts 26

[Godreignssupreme]

Touched by this message. Happy new month my pastor.