Heralds Digest

  “ The name of the LORD is a strong tower: The righteous runneth into it, and is safe. The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; And the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. A man's gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men. ” Proverbs 18 : 10 , 15 - 16 KJV Soulwinning has always been a freestyle storytelling episode for those who can personalize their salvation story. We run into the house full of God’s love with our mess and He turns the mess into mercy by His grace offering, showing in every stage, setting, and statement of life. Simply put, life is a bundle and collection of messes and many people are merely skillful in tackling these messes through their own personal efforts and the benevolence of natural or material resources available to them. Unfortunately, even the most resourceful fellow on earth has no sufficient power to resolve life’s challenges, especially coupled with the avalanche of conspiracy against breakthrough. But the LORD God is every bel...

  “ For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. ” Romans 10 : 3 - 4 KJV Righteousness, according to the new age, is synonymous to morality, equity, fairness, freedom of speech, and even, liberalism. Little wonder, the world is plagued with human right abuses, terrorism, political and religious violence, etc. For example, the lifestyle and radicalism of Apostle Paul (once known as Saul) before his encounter with Jesus Christ perfectly fit his exposition to the Jews on wrong righteousness “ For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God“. Whatever we do to forcefully suppress the will of other people or their convictions in any attempt to get them to accept our own opi...

  “ Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein .” Hosea 14 : 9 KJV It is true that being created as a free moral agent implies ownership of our decisions. Unfortunately, our decisions, and not the prerogative of God, determine our destinies in life. When we think we are wise and have arrived, then comes the perplexity caused by confrontation with the sovereignty of God. Since human methods and mastery are perfectly subservient to sovereignty, acknowledging God’s ways as the only wise ways is not just the beginning of wisdom…it is the only available wisdom. And to the pride of Ephraim, the “ just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein” ; while the truly wise and prudent souls are known by their submission to the sovereignty of God. Whenever the hearts of men are trained to accept the sovereignty of God in all s...

   “ God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, And to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? Or to thy faithfulness round about thee?” Psalm 89 : 7 - 8 KJV As faithful Father to His obedient children, faithfulness is expected to begat steadfastness. Therefore, while the psalmist’s rhetoric question was targeted to God intentionally, and not man; it was a callout on self’s steadfastness and submission to the love of God. As rightly positioned by Apostle Paul in the New Testament,  “ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ( Romans 8 : 35 )”. While the agents of darkness and the architects of evil and wickedness against the lots of the righteous intend the spread of believers’ discouragement, this rhetoric question is often needed in the place of prayer for absolute reliance on the faithful...

   “ Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh And intermeddleth with all wisdom. A fool hath no delight in understanding, But that his heart may discover itself. ” Proverbs 18 : 1 - 2 KJV If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the right application of wisdom is understanding, it is not surprising why the absence of the fear of God or His existence is summarized as foolishness. Unfortunately, fools often masquerade as the intelligent application of human wisdom and the forceful expression of interests in politics, public services, project management and social contracts at homes and workplaces. While the adoption of these decorated desires is readily applauded as the mark of excellence in today’s world, the scriptures speak of a distinguished desire for excellence through a determination to remain undefiled. For example, Joseph separated himself from Potiphar’s wife and suffered temporarily in prison to get the divine promotion to the position of a Prim...

  “ Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. And the pride of Israel testifieth to his face: and they do not return to the LORD their God, nor seek him for all this. ” Hosea 7 : 8 - 10 KJV The amazing reflection of Ephraim is the sweet relationship with the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But when Ephraim began to develop an appetite for half-baked cakes, he began to make excuses for his frequent flights from the throne of grace to consult with earthly princes and mortal kings. And like Ephraim, believers are called and chosen to be peculiar and reflections of God’s praises. Our strength is anchored on the ability to understand the counsels of God through divine revelation and intimate relationships; and not through social networking, artificial intelligence, and political fraternity. These carnal resources and pr...