[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Signs of the Times (1)
‘…what will be the sign of Your coming?...’

Matthew 24:3
The UCB Word for Today - 7 Oct 2015



When the disciples came to Jesus and asked Him, ‘…what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?’, He told them things were going to get worse before they got better. Then He added these words: ‘…see to it that you are not alarmed…’ (v 6 NIV).


The word ‘alarmed’ is one Jesus used only on this occasion; it means ‘to wail, to cry aloud’. In essence, what He was saying is this: ‘Don’t fall apart when bad things happen.’ For the next few days let’s look at some of the signs Jesus said would herald His return. Spiritual deception. ‘…Watch out that no one deceives you.


For many will come in my name, claiming, “I am the Messiah,” and will deceive many’ (vv 4-5 NIV). Notice, there’ll be many deceived, as well as many deceivers.



Jesus also said they’ll come ‘in my name’, masquerading as ministers of God and claiming special status and superior spirituality. They’ll boast of insider information and adorn their teachings with phrases like ‘God told me,’ implying they have access to information the common people like you don’t have.



Don’t be misled. Jesus also warned, ‘…false Messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive… even the elect’ (v 24 NIV). Multitudes and miracles—when you see them, be careful. Satan can counterfeit both.


Be doctrinally diligent. Focus on one question: ‘Is this person pointing listeners to Jesus?’ There is only room for one name on the marquee—and that’s His!



Jer 3-5, 1 Thess 5

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Signs of the Times (2)
‘…wars and rumours of wars…’

Matthew 24:6-8
The UCB Word for Today - 8 Oct 2015



Jesus said: ‘You…hear of wars and rumours of wars…see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.’

Those who suffered through two world wars have no difficulty comprehending the word ‘wars’. But for the next six decades or so, their children and grandchildren had a more limited concept of what war meant.


To them, wars were mostly regional and overseas but not on the homeland. Then came 9/11, and Americans began to understand the words, ‘Men’s hearts failing them for fear…’ (Luke 21:26 NKJV)). Some dates will forever stand out in our memory.



Like the day President Kennedy was assassinated, and the day three thousand people perished in the World Trade Centre. Today the political rationale is if we fight terrorism ‘over there’ we won’t have to fight it here at home. But don’t be deceived.


Borders will always need checkpoints. War correspondents will always have jobs. The world will never see lasting peace this side of heaven. Jesus said, ‘…All these are the beginning of birth pains.’ Rejoice! God is still on the throne.




His plan is still being worked out. The death throes of the old order we live in are the ‘birth pains’ of a new and glorious order, when Christ will return to set up His kingdom. An old Prudential Insurance Company slogan says, ‘Get a piece of the rock.’ But when you’re trusting in Jesus for your security, you have the whole rock!





Jer 6-8, 2 Thess 1

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Signs of the Times (3)
‘…you will be…put to death…because of Me.’

Matthew 24:9
The UCB Word for Today - 9 Oct 2015



Jesus said to His disciples: ‘..you will be handed over to be persecuted…put to death, and…hated by all nations because of Me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.


Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold,’ (vv 9-12 NIV). Notice the words ‘put to death’. Heaven is filled with those who have already fulfilled this prophecy—and hatred of Christians still abounds.



Voice of the Martyrs, a Christian agency that defends religious liberties, contends that more of Christ’s followers have been killed for their faith in the last century than in most of the previous centuries combined. The global evangelism movement reports an average of 165,000 martyrs a year, more than four times the number in the past century.



Today countries that facilitate religious freedom are experiencing increasing anger toward Christians. Professors publicly mock Bible-believing students.


TV talk show hosts denigrate people of faith. We can expect the persecution to increase, and when it does, fragile convictions will collapse and …‘the love of many will grow cold’ (v 12 NLT). The half-hearted will become the cold-hearted. Spiritual stowaways will jump ship. Many church attenders will be exposed as faith pretenders.


They’ll not only leave the faith, they’ll make the lives of the faithful miserable. When these things begin to happen, Jesus counseled, ‘…See to it that you are not alarmed…’ (v 6 NIV). When the outlook is bleak, the ‘…blessed hope…’ (Titus 2:13) of Christ’s return calms our fears.




Jer 9-11, 2 Thess 2

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Signs of the Times (4)
‘…this gospel…will be preached in all the world…’

Matthew 24:14
The UCB Word for Today - 10 Oct 2015


Jesus said when we see calamity and apostasy, don’t give in to fear because they’re signs of His imminent return.


‘But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come’ (vv 13-14 NKJV).


Every prophecy concerning Christ’s first coming was fulfilled in detail, and so will every prophecy concerning His second coming. Our mandate is to work, pray, give, and take the gospel to the whole world—then Christ will return. Though the church is winnowed down like Gideon’s army, and the world is in a state of upheaval, don’t overreact. ‘Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act.


Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes’ (Psalms 37:7 NLT). God’s hand is still on the wheel. ‘…the Most High ruleth in the kingdom of men…’ (Daniel 4:17). Avoid Pollyanna optimism. Though you may be personally blessed, the world order as you know it will continue to disintegrate.


But that doesn’t mean you should join the ‘Chicken Licken chorus’ and declare, ‘The sky’s falling down!’



Don’t give in to the extremes of blind denial or blatant panic. When the bombs of World War II levelled Warsaw, only one skeletal structure remained standing on the city’s main street. It was the British and Foreign Bible Society, and on its walls was clearly written: ‘Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away’ (Matthew 24:35).



Jer 12-14, 2 Thess 3

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Are You Selling Your Dream?
‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good…’

Genesis 50:20
The UCB Word for Today - 11 Oct 2015


In the movie Up in the Air, actor George Clooney is hired by a major corporation to handle big lay-offs. His job is to fire people.

In one scene when he’s about to fire an ageing middle manager, he notices on the man’s CV that he’d been trained as a French chef.



As the man expresses despair over losing his job, Clooney reminds him of his original dream and asks him this soul-searching question: ‘Back when you started, how much did it take to buy you away from your dream?’



At that pivotal moment the middle manager thought back to the time he decided to settle for a steady pay packet in exchange for what he really wanted to do with his life. Are you doing that? Understand this: the day you were born God had a track for you to run on and an assignment for you to fulfil.


So the question you must ask yourself is this: ‘Is the difficult situation I’m in right now a God-given opportunity for me to go back and fulfil the dream God gave me in the first place?’ Looking back on the most painful chapter in his life, when he was betrayed by his family, Joseph said, ‘You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good.’



His greatest loss led Joseph to the fulfilment of the dream God gave him in the beginning. Is that your story too? Are you realising that you’ve settled for second best, and now God’s giving you a second chance; a chance to do the thing He put you in the world to do?



Luke 19:28-48, Ps 105-106

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Sometimes You Must Confront
‘…go and tell him his fault between you and him alone…’

Matthew 18:15
The UCB Word for Today - 12 Oct 2015



Jesus said, ‘…if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.’ Confronting someone requires these three things: character, courage and caution.




Let’s look at each: 1) Character. Since Jesus was secure in His identity and character as God’s Son, He was able to let go of the need to please and be accepted by those around Him.



Being grounded in who you are in Christ and in what your heavenly Father created you to be, allows you the freedom to confront people when necessary without worrying about the fall-out or the negative consequences. 2) Courage.



The Pharisees had the power to undermine Christ’s reputation, which eventually led to His death on the cross. But He told them the truth nonetheless. And you must do the same.



You must be willing to take up your cross and follow Him, even when it means risking an argument and handling hurt feelings. To ‘confront’ means to get in ‘front’ of someone, look into their face, and deal with the issue honestly and lovingly because you value the relationship. 3) Caution.



Make sure you’re following God’s timing and not your own. It’s easy to use false courage or bravado to challenge others in order to get your own way. It’s easy to claim a confrontation is necessary, when what you actually want is control. No, you must ask God to show you when, how and where to confront others. Your goal should always be to reconcile and restore the relationship. So ‘go and tell him [or her]’.



Jer 15-17, 1 Tim 1

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY


Can You Give and Receive Correction?
‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.’

Proverbs 27:6
The UCB Word for Today - 13 Oct 2015



The word ‘correction’ is not one we are always comfortable with. It sometimes recalls memories of frowning parents and painful consequences.


Or we think of the risk of destroying a relationship rather than the possibilities of strengthening and enriching it.


‘Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.’ We all need someone to tell us the truth because others have 20/20 vision where we have blind spots.



Yes, someone may react defensively, but they may also be thrilled to realise you care more about their ultimate well-being than their immediate response to you.

Corrections made from a loving spirit, not a self-righteous, ‘I-know-what’s-best’ attitude are usually well received.

If others sense you are genuinely concerned for them and long for a better relationship, they are likely to consider what you have to say and be open to making changes.


Think of the courage Nathan the prophet showed in confronting David over his sin with Bathsheba. As king, David held the power of life and death over him. But Nathan loved David too much to allow sin to rob him of his destiny.


God often uses us in each other’s lives to restore us to the narrow yet rich paths of destiny that He has preordained. Looking back, David could say, ‘Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word’ (Psalms 119:67 AKJV).


There are times when wisdom says, ‘Mind your own business and stay out of it.’ And there are other times when wisdom says, ‘Because you love them, get involved.’


Jer 18-19, 1 Tim 2

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Called to Be a Priest (1)
‘…[You] have made us kings and priests to our God…’

Revelation 5:10
The UCB Word for Today - 14 Oct 2015


John writes, ‘For You…have redeemed us to God by Your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made us kings and priests to our God…’ (vv 9-10 NKJV). Since you’re called to be a ‘priest’, let’s see what that involves: They ministered in three different levels of light.


Picture the Old Testament tabernacle. The priests spent most of their time with the people in the outer court, which was illuminated by daylight. They spent less time in the inner court, where a seven-branched lamp stand, referred to as a menorah, illuminated the shewbread on the table.


Then once a year the high priest would go into the Holiest of Holies, where the light of God’s presence was so intense, and it was referred to as the ‘Shekinah’. So when God calls you to minister, you’ll spend most of your time in the outer court meeting people’s needs.


Sometimes you’ll go into the inner court where the light of God’s Spirit illuminates His Word and gives you something to say that’s worth hearing. But in times of crisis, when human wisdom won’t solve the problem, you’ll have to go into the Holiest of Holies and receive the kind of light that only comes from God Himself.


And people will know you’ve been there because, like Moses, when you come out they’ll notice something different about you.



Being a priest is a high calling. But God has called you to it, and if you’re willing to pay the price you can carry a sense of His presence with you wherever you go.



Jer 20-21, 1 Tim 3

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



Called to Be a Priest (2)
‘…the Lord spoke unto Moses face to face, as a…friend…’

Exodus 33:11
The UCB Word for Today - 15 Oct 2015


Not only do priests minister in three different levels of light, they operate on three levels of intimacy with God. The life of Moses is a great illustration of this.




When God first called Moses to lead the people of Israel, He spoke to him through a burning bush. And when it happened Moses said, ‘…I will now turn aside and see this great sight…’ (Exodus 3:3 NKJV). God’s willingness to speak to us is never in doubt.


The real issue is always our willingness to ‘turn aside’, interrupt our schedule and be responsive to what He has to say.



Could God speak to you during a commercial break in your favourite television show? He could—but He probably won’t.


He’s a king, and He wants us to observe the protocol for approaching Him that He outlined in His Word. Next, God spoke to Moses on a mountain and gave him the Ten Commandments.



And when He did, the entire mountain burned and smoked with God’s presence (Exodus 20:18 NKJV). When it happened, the people trembled and said to Moses, ‘You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die’ (v 19 NKJV).



Moments like that set the man and woman of God apart from the crowd! Finally, Moses became so intimate with God that ‘the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend’ (NKJV). Imagine ‘face time’ with God! What a privilege! And it should be the desire of your heart.


It’s when you’ve met with God face to face and heard from Him personally that you are equal to the task.



Jer 22-23, 1 Tim 4

[ebankole]

TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY



How’s Your Self-Talk These Days?
‘…People speak the things that are in their hearts.’

Luke 6:45
The UCB Word for Today - 16 Oct 2015



When John Roebling devised a plan to build a bridge between Manhattan and Brooklyn, experts thought it was impossible.



They said a bridge spanning that distance couldn’t withstand the winds and tides. But Roebling refused to concede defeat; instead, he and his son, Washington, worked to solve the problems. Then just as construction was about to start, Roebling was killed in an underwater accident that left his son brain-damaged and unable to walk or talk. The prevailing wisdom was to abandon the project, but Washington Roebling was determined to fulfil his father’s dream.



He developed a system of communication by touching a finger to his wife’s arm, and she in turn conveyed his ideas to the project engineers. For thirteen years that’s how he supervised construction—and in 1883 the first car drove across the Brooklyn Bridge.


The ‘impossible’ had become reality! Are you facing a seemingly impossible situation at home, on the job, with your finances, or in a relationship? If so, what you tell yourself about it is important. Your self-talk sets you up for joy or misery.



You can tell where your faith is by what comes out of your mouth: ‘Good people bring good things out of the good they stored in their hearts…’ (v 45 NCV). One pastor says: ‘When the pressure’s on, what comes out of your mouth lets you know if you need to make some adjustments…When you want something to show up in your outward man, deposit God’s Word in the inward man.


Feed on it continually…once you believe it, you’ll find yourself saying it, and once you start saying it, your entire being will reflect the treasure of His Word inside.’



Jer 24-26, 1 Tim 5