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The Word For Today-A Daily Update
TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

God will speak to you – if you listen
03 APRIL 2024

‘I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me.’
John 5:30 NLT

Jesus did only those things placed in His mind by His Father. And He wants you to learn to live that way too. You ask, ‘Is such a life possible?’ Yes, it’s not only possible, it’s essential to fulfilling God’s will for your life. The Bible says that Mary took time to listen to Jesus, but her sister Martha didn’t because she was too busy ‘serving’ (see Luke 10:40).

You can get so busy serving the Lord that you lose your sensitivity to His voice and end up preoccupied with secondary things. You learn to hear from God by making time to hear from Him! Fifteen times in the New Testament, Jesus said, ‘He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.’ When you became a new creation in Christ, you got new spiritual ears, but you must learn how to use them. Indeed, that must become one of the highest priorities in your life.

A newborn child has the ability to hear but doesn’t understand what he or she is hearing; understanding takes time, it takes learning, it takes attention, it takes intimacy with his or her parents. When Jesus met the two disciples on the road to Emmaus following His resurrection, they didn’t recognise Him. But He loved them, so ‘he opened their minds so they could understand’ (Luke 24:45 NIV). As you look back over your life, you recognise times when God walked and talked with you but you didn’t understand what He was saying. No problem! God is patient, and He will work with you and develop you.

Joshua 4-6, John 1:1-28
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Get out of debt and stay out of debt!
04 APRIL 2024

‘The borrower is slave to the lender.’
Proverbs 22:7 NIV

It’s not by accident that these two Scriptures are back-to-back: ‘Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it. The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender’ (vv. 6-7 NIV). Your child’s college university education, an affordable home, and a reliable car are okay to borrow money for. Otherwise, unless you can pay for something – learn to wait!

Jesus said, ‘If any man would be my disciple, he must deny himself’ (see Luke 9:23). We’re not very good at denying ourselves the things we want. But unless you want your kids to inherit your debt, end up getting into debt themselves, and passing the principle of instant gratification on to their children, break the cycle now. Get out of debt and stay out of debt!

Say: ‘Lord, I’m through making excuses. I take responsibility for the mess I’m in. I gave in to my impulses, overspent, ignored Your principles of good stewardship, and I repent. Give me the courage to face my debts and take an honest look at where I stand. Don’t let me live in denial. You warned us not to be ignorant of Satan’s tactics (see 2 Corinthians 2:11). He is attempting to keep me in financial bondage, and, as a result, I am unable to respond when it’s time to sow and finance Your work. Direct me to a trustworthy source that can help me develop a debt-eliminating strategy. Help me to stop having to make additional interest charges. Deliver me from emotional spending. Please, help me to get out of debt. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.’

Joshua 7-9, John 1:29-51
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Praying without saying a word
05 APRIL 2024

‘Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.’
Matthew 6:32 NLT

Jesus said, ‘Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need’ (v. 33 NLT). You ask, ‘When I think about God, is that the same as praying?’ It can be. We’re all familiar with the power of unspoken communication. Many of us grew up with parents who didn’t have to say a thing to make their will known. It may have been a certain look in their eye or some other unspoken signal. But we knew exactly what was being communicated and how we were expected to respond.

Prayer works that way too. When you think about God, it’s prayer; and when God communicates His thoughts back to you, it’s a form of answered prayer. A little boy wanted a bicycle for Christmas, and one night he was praying at the top of his voice telling God exactly what kind and colour of bike he wanted. His mother said, ‘Son, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you.’ He replied, ‘I know, Mama, but I need to shout if Grandpa is going to hear me and buy me that bike!’ The truth is, you don’t need to shout for God to hear you, and you don’t need to try and conjure up answers to your prayers.

Jesus said, ‘Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you even ask.’ So, why even take the time to pray? Because God wants you to approach Him with confidence, trust Him with all your needs, and build a relationship with Him. That’s what it’s all about!

Joshua 10-12, John 2
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Make an impact
24 APRIL 2024

‘Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus.’
Hebrews 12:1-2 NKJV

The men and women who made the greatest impact on the world were those who were totally focused and sold out to their vision. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, once said, ‘If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire.’

Jonathan Edwards, whose ministry sparked the Great Awakening in America, made this his life’s motto: ‘Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I will.’ C.T. Studd, one of England’s greatest athletes, shocked the world when he gave up fame and fortune to be a missionary to China. ‘If Jesus Christ be God and died for me, then no sacrifice can be too great for me to make for Him,’ he explained. Missionary Jim Elliot, who died as a martyr in South America, said, ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.’

The day you were born, God had a track for you to run on. But to win, you must get rid of 1) anything that weighs you down, and 2) anything that trips you up. ‘Let us strip off and throw aside every encumbrance (unnecessary weight) and that sin which so readily (deftly and cleverly) clings to and entangles us, and let us run with patient endurance and steady and active persistence the appointed course of the race that is set before us, looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus’ (vv. 1-2 AMPC).

1 Samuel 7-9, John 10:1-21
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be a disciple of Jesus
25 APRIL 2024

‘The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.’
Acts 11:26 NKJV

Did you know that the word ‘disciple’ occurs 269 times in the New Testament, whereas the word ‘Christian’ is found only three times? The word ‘Christian’ was first introduced to describe who they were, disciples of Jesus Christ! Dallas Willard uses the illustration of the car: ‘The disciple of Jesus is not the deluxe or heavy-duty model of the Christian – especially padded, textured, streamlined, and empowered for the fast lane on the straight and narrow way. He or she stands on the pages of the New Testament as the first level of basic transportation in the Kingdom of God.’

Becoming a Christian is the work of a moment; it happens when you place your trust in Christ. But becoming a disciple is the work of a lifetime; it calls for denying yourself and saying yes to the will of God every day of your life. What does it mean to be a disciple of Jesus? Three things:

1) To listen to Him and learn. That calls for reading, studying, memorising, verbalising, and applying the truths taught in the Scriptures to your life each day.

2) To follow Him wherever He leads. This may call for changing your plans, forfeiting some of your relationships, and giving Him access to things you would like to hold on to.

3) To be devoted to Him. One day Jesus said to Peter, ‘Do you love Me more than these?’ (John 21:15 NKJV). Note the word ‘more’. To be a disciple means to love Jesus more than anyone or anything else. And it’s the most fulfilling and rewarding life you can live!

1 Samuel 10-12, John 10:22-42
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Take time to wonder and worship
26 APRIL 2024

‘Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.’
Genesis 1:31 NKJV

The first reaction recorded in Scripture is God’s reaction to His own creation. He stepped back at the end of each day, looked at what He had made, and said, ‘It’s good.’ Then on the sixth day when creation was complete, He said, ‘It’s very good.’ This is why we feel so spiritual when we watch an ocean sunset or the towering summit of a mountain. Thomas Carlyle said, ‘Worship is transcendent wonder. Wonder for which there is no limit or measure; that is worship.’

It’s standing in amazement of the Creator and His creation. It’s translating the beauty of creation into worship of the Creator. It’s thanking God for splendid sunrises and dazzling stars and unique snowflakes. It’s giving credit where credit is due – to the Creator. The psalmist captured it in the words: ‘The heavens declare the glory of God’ (Psalm 19:1 KJV). The musical group U2 captured it in the words of their hit song ‘Beautiful Day’. Such wonder is also an act of worship.

One pastor writes: ‘The sunrise is so consistent that we take it for granted, but few things are as miraculous as the celestial dance that takes place on a daily basis. The earth spins on its axis at a speed of 1,000 mph. And while [it] rotates 360 degrees on its axis every twenty-four hours, it is also hurtling through space at the unimaginable speed of 67,000 mph. You may not have any big plans for today, but you will travel 1.6 million miles in your annual lap around the sun. Quite an accomplishment!’

So, take time to wonder and worship God.

1 Samuel 13-14, John 11:1-29
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Don’t be so controlling!
27 APRIL 2024

‘In honour giving preference to one another.’
Romans 12:10 NKJV

Do you get upset when you cannot control others? Or moody and irritated when people don’t do what you want? Do you react when your mistakes are pointed out? Or try to force people to comply with your demands? Do you exaggerate your pain, sickness, or need in order to gain attention or sympathy? Or criticise the opinions and choices of others, and position yourself as superior? Do you become angry and abusive when someone disagrees with you or challenges your authority?

Are you reluctant to compliment others, but quick to try and fix something you think is wrong in them? Do you find it hard to say, ‘I need you’? Do you try to drive a wedge between your loved ones and anyone else who gets close to them? Do you ‘give orders’ to those you interact with, rather than using the simple courtesies of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’?

If your answer to these questions is yes, then the word for today is – don’t be so controlling! The Bible says, ‘Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honour giving preference to one another’ (v. 10 NKJV). That means stopping to consider how your behaviour affects other people. You say, ‘But I just happen to have a strong personality.’ Sorry, that doesn’t let you off the hook! ‘A servant of the Lord must…be gentle to all’ (2 Timothy 2:24 NKJV). So if you’re a controller, start changing your ways!

And if you’re being controlled because you fear anger and rejection, it’s time to draw a line in the sand. Seek help from a trusted friend, church leader, or healthcare professional, especially if you feel at risk. Ask God to help you stand firm and refuse to be controlled any longer.

1 Samuel 15-16, John 11:30-57
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Be patient, God is at work
28 APRIL 2024

‘Hope in the LORD and keep his way.’
Psalm 37:34 NIV

When things don’t happen as quickly as we want them to, we can become anxious, frustrated, irritable, and negative. And if you’re a ‘make it happen’ person, you can rush ahead of God and get into trouble. ‘The steps of good men are directed by the Lord. He delights in each step they take’ (Psalm 37:23 TLB). Think about it: if you’re following the Lord, you can’t go faster than the One who is leading. So, just take the next step and trust Him to work things out for you.

God knows what you don’t know. At best, you are working with limited knowledge. Do you believe your steps are being ‘directed by the Lord’? Do you believe He has a plan for your life? Do you believe He cares for you and has your best interests at heart? If you do, then stand on this Scripture: ‘Don’t be impatient for the Lord to act! Keep travelling steadily along his pathway and in due season he will honour you with every blessing’ (Psalm 37:34 TLB).

God knows what He is doing. He works according to His schedule, not ours. When will God ‘honour you with every blessing’? Answer: ‘in due season’. Impatience is a sign of two things:

1) Immaturity. Babies cry until you pick them up, and children don’t want to wait for anything. But a wise parent knows that often the child is not ready to handle what they’re demanding.

2) Doubt and unbelief. ‘You need to keep on patiently doing God’s will if you want him to do for you all that he has promised’ (Hebrews 10:36 TLB).

Luke 8:1-25, Psalms 43-45
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

To be conformed is to be creative
29 APRIL 2024

‘To be conformed to the image of His Son.’
Romans 8:29 NKJV

Since God is both our Creator and our Redeemer, we are called to be ‘conformed to His image’ in both senses. So, to become more like the Creator is to become more creative. When we apply our sanctified imagination to serve His objectives, we are doing what God does best and loves most. And our heavenly Father takes deep pride and joy in it. Just as we celebrate creativity in our kids, so God celebrates creativity in us.

Have you ever noticed how often Psalms tells us to sing a new song? The creative command is repeated no fewer than half a dozen times. The more you discover about God, the more you love Him. And the more you love Him, the more you need new ways of expressing your love.

Most of us don’t classify ourselves as creative, but that’s because we narrowly define creativity. We think of it like we do a work of art, a new invention, or an entrepreneurial conception. But that’s a meagre slice. Creativity isn’t merely for artists, inventors, or entrepreneurs; it’s vital in all aspects of life. In the fullest sense, creativity is any use of the imagination. Yes, in the past we may have used our imagination for the wrong purposes. But at the new birth, your imagination is redeemed so that it can be used to glorify God. If God is infinitely creative and we are not just created in His image but called to be conformed to His image, then creativity isn’t optional. It’s a dimension of spiritual maturity.

1 Samuel 17-18, John 12:1-26
Prophet Ebankole

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TODAY'S WORD FOR TODAY™

Live in the ‘here and now’
30 APRIL 2024

‘This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’
Psalm 118:24 NKJV

God wants us to appreciate the season we are in; to live in the ‘here and now’. Some people live only for the future. ‘I’ll be happy when…’ Other people live in the past. Solomon addresses them: ‘Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this’ (Ecclesiastes 7:10 NKJV).

The New Yorker magazine once had a cartoon in which two monks in robes and shaved heads were sitting side by side, cross legged on the floor. The younger one, with a quizzical look on his face, is facing the older one, who is saying: ‘Nothing happens next. This is it.’ That’s exactly what it means to live in the here and now. We aren’t waiting for something else to occur, we aren’t distracted by anything around us, we aren’t trying to escape mentally to another time. We are fully alive because we are living in the moment! God may have done great things for you in the past, and you’re trusting Him to do great things in the future, but His presence, His power, His goodness, His favour, His blessing, and all that He is, can only be experienced in the here and now.

Question: ‘Are you living in a shell to keep from being eaten alive by the pain of life? Do you guard yourself by retreating deeper into your shell, being available only to what is pleasant, predictable, and safe?’ ‘This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’ Live in the ‘here and now’.

1 Samuel 19-21, John 12:27-50
Prophet Ebankole

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